December 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, and other specials

Ambergris Today

Adopt A Bear, Give A Smile For Christmas
Adopt-A-Bear Christmas program is back and invites the community to help in making a childs wish come true, There are plenty of bears still yet to be adopted. This year's adoption centers are Sandbar, Wayo's Beach Bar, Crazy Canucks, Marbucks and Truck Stop. Here's how it works ... You choose a bear which is hung with care on one of the adoption center's Christmas trees and purchase three gifts for the child identified on the bear ... 1 item the child NEEDS, 1 education item identified and 1 item that the child WANTS. The location you adopt your bear from IS the location your WRAPPED gifts are dropped off to. December 16th is the deadline for your WRAPPED gifts to be returned to the adoption center. The children who are part of this program were identified by one or more of the following organizations: Social Services, San Pedro Police Department, San Pedro Food Bank, Holy Cross School, ACE's, San Pedro Aids Commission, Cancer Society and the Liberty Children's Home.

Belize Defence Force Lieutenant Receives Silver Medal Award
Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Velasquez of the Belize Defence Force was the proud recipient of a Silver Medal award from the Central American Armed Forces Conference (CFAC) on Wednesday November 30th, 2016 during its meeting in El Salvador. This award is in recognition of Velasquez’s meritorious participation and contribution to the greater cooperation of the armies of the Central American region. The award was presented to him by the President of the Superior Council of CFAC, Lieutenant General, David Mungia Payes, Minister of Defence of El Salvador, on behalf of the armies of the region. Other recipients of the award included Peruvian Vice Admiral Gonzalo Polastri and British Colonel David Stradbridge.

Prime Minister’s Return Delayed Due to Possible Viral Gastroenteritis
The Office of the Prime Minister issued a press release yesterday afternoon informing that the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow could not return to Belize yesterday as originally planned. The Prime Minister was experiencing symptoms seemingly consistent with viral gastroenteritis prior to his departure and had to be admitted to the Belize Medical Associates overnight last Thursday. The symptoms have persisted during his travel and he saw a doctor and was advised to run tests, some of which could not have been diagnosed in Belize. For this reason, Prime Minister Barrow’s return is delayed until Sunday, December 11, 2016.

Misc Belizean Sources

BSCFA hosts press conference
According to CEO Oscar Alonzo, only the Sugar Cane Producers Committee can remove Eloy Escalante from the official list of cane farmers. But the BSCFA no longer associates with Escalante who formerly belonged to the San Estevan Branch. Removing him from the Association's books, it is hoped, will restore relations with Fair trade. The suspension covers only new contracts with Tate and Lyle and may be lifted if the corrective measures submitted by the Association are found acceptable. Alonzo says the suspension was somewhat harsh considering the BSCFA's powers and those of the SCPC.

Ocean academy Jingle Mingle Gala Fundraiser Dec. 10, 4-6pm Central Park
Support high-school programs and enjoy a great evening out. Dinner features pibil and relleno, appetizer, dessert, wine. Live band Caribbean Kings from San Pedro. Contact Ocean Academy (226-0321/630-3652) or buy tickets from any student. Thank you, in advance, for your partnership in quality island education!

Saving a Tamandua
Another emergency rescue. Fingers crossed for this severely injured tamandua with a fractured hand and a septic joint, likely caused by a small carnivore attack a couple weeks ago. And what a treat to have received a donation of a new (used) and working pulse oximeter right in time today, BIG thanks to our kind clinical rotation intern Doug! It came in perfectly handy today and our Drs. were as excited as kids for christmas to have this wonderful addition to our anesthesia monitoring equipment (in addition to our eyes, ears and fingers...). Follow up treatment is due tomorrow.

Reggae Fest 2016
The 2016 Reggae Festival is this Saturday, December 11th, at Victor Galvez Stadium. The World Culture Band will be performing. "Come and experience a fun day of events... football, poetry, kids talent show and more... then finish the day with a concert of Reggae/Dancehall/Rancheras and Mexican love songs, from locals and International Mexican Artist, Antonio Osorio Jr. Place: Victor Galvez Stadium, San Ignacio, Cayo. Date: Sunday, December 11th 2016. Time: 10am until... Entrance: $20"

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
Storks, The Magnificent 7, Sully, Pet.

Illegally Harvested Rosewood Discovered in Benque Viejo Town
On Wednesday 7th December 2016, officers of the Forest Department conducted a site inspection at a wood works factory in Benque Viejo Town where they discovered over 30,000 board feet of illegally harvested Rosewood in flitch form. The wood was found to be without official marking and documentation and consequently crow footed by the Forest Department officers. The owner of the wood workshop in whose possession the illegal wood was discovered was notified of the offence and it is expected that charges will be prepared and levied against him. The Ministry of Forestry takes this opportunity to advise the general public that Rosewood is an endangered species monitored under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and, as such, cannot be cut without a valid license and without ensuring that harvest is both legal and sustainable. If these conditions are unmet, rosewood cannot be traded internationally. The public is reminded that according to the Forest Act Chapter 213 of the laws of Belize, no tree shall be felled for timber without the prior written permission of the Forestry Department. Anyone found cutting a tree without permission or in possession of lumber so gotten is committing an offence and liable to prosecution under the law.

Unacceptable: Violence against Children Must Stop Now
The National Committee for Families and Children (NCFC) joins the nation in mourning the tragic loss of another innocent Belizean child. It is truly a tragic outcome. Media reports about the questionable circumstances surrounding the tragic death of baby Janeeka Campbell leaves the NCFC with grave concerns and a number of questions. The death of any child is regrettable. Sadly, the recent results of the Belize Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2015 indicate that children below the age of five experience the most severe forms of violence against them. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that parents have all the support they need to raise happy and healthy children. Together, with its partners the NCFC continues to work on strengthening the support that Government and NGOs give to families. However, as citizens we need to remember that “it takes a village to raise a child”. The general public is reminded that every citizen has a moral obligation to act when we see warning signs of violence against children and report all suspected cases of child abuse to the relevant authorities.

Wounded tamandua
Thanks to the efforts of many people this tamandua is in our care now. She was passed by a farmer who found her in the corn field, and realized that she was sick,, he brought her to the sugar farm office and they caleld Belize Bird rescue, who called us right away. We rushed to the Wildlife clinic. The animal is in very serious condition and the prognosis is unclear. But she is trying very hard to survive. I cannot even post the pictures of her injured paws- they are soo badly infected from the bites of another animal( 2-3 weeks ago). We come for the follow-up visit to the Wildlife clinic every day, meds, painkillers and 24 hours attention that is all we can do- the rest is up to the "little fighter." She eats every 2 hours at night and it gives us hope. Keeping fingers crossed. Thank you, Wildlife clinic- enormous amount of time is spend on her care every day!C

Rotaract Christmas Food Drive
The Rotaract Club of Benque is having their 3rd annual Christmas Food Drive. Help them out if you can. Food can be dropped off at the Benque DYS office. "Rotaract Club of Benque is having their 3rd annual Christmas food Drive Food Baskets will be given to needy families from Benque and & sounding Villages on Dec 17 &18. We Seek your most generous donations monetary Donations are welcome as well..."

Cayo Art Festival 2016
The Cayo Art Festival was great this year. Happy anniversary, SISE House of Culture! "The Cayo Welcome Center was the spot to be on Saturday. This year's Cayo Art Festival 2016 went very well, and a lot of local artisans and culinary artists were in attendance. Emmeth Young was there to drum some too."

Cayo Christmas Expo 2016
The 2016 Cayo Christmas Expo is next Saturday, December 17th, at Macal River Park. If you want a booth, contact the SISE Town Council. "It's here once again folks, our second Cayo Christmas Expo brought to you by the Local Economic Development Strategic Planning Team of our twin towns. Last year was good but this year we want to make it GREAT!. Spread the word. "

Las mañanitas a la virgen de Guadalupe (Happy birthday to the virgin of Guadalupe)
Monday, Dec. 12th, from 4:00 am to 6:00 am, San Pedro Catholic Church, Breakfast @ 6:00 am.

Las Mañanitas A La Virgen De Guadalupe
December 11th, at 7:00 pm, San Pedro Catholic Church.

Channel 7

Baby Janeeka, Post Mortem Inconclusive, She Didn't Die From Natural Causes
What caused Baby Janeeka's death? The one year old toddler was just days away from her second birthday when she died at her St. Matthews village home on Tuesday. The police said she had bruises to various parts of her body. Tonight, the news is that a post mortem which finished just an hour ago is inconclusive. It only confirms that she did not die of natural causes. But the post mortem does not say what did cause her death. Police and the police pathologist will meet tomorrow to try and piece together the clues from the post mortem and the police investigation. They will use physical and forensic evidence, plus information from the mother and father who have both been questioned – to try to form a clearer picture of what caused her death. So, tonight there are more questions than answers. I went looking for some at her home, and at the hospital today. Here's what our news team found out about the life and premature death of Janeeka Campbell:…

Freedom Street Savagery Leaves Stepmom Critical
At around 10:00 this morning, police responded to a violent and bloody scene on Freedom Street in Belize City. Nineteen year old Linsdale Flowers was found chopping his own stepmother, Consuelo Pop and his neighbour Diangelo Figueroa with a machete. Police immediately arrested Flowers, and the badly injured Pop was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. Senior Superintendent Alden Dawson briefed us on what the police know about the grisly crime… Sr. Supt. Dean Dawson - Deputy OC, ED South: "Sometime after 10 AM this morning police responded to a chopping incident on Lewis Bevans street. Upon the arrival they conducted an investigation into the incident which reveals that 19 year old Dinsdale Flowers had inflicted chop wound to his step mother 52 year old Consuelo Pop and a neighbour Diangelo Figueroa. Consuelo received chop to her hands and her forehead whilst Diangelo received chop wounds to his back. At this Consuelo is listed as critical and the motive for this recent incident is unknown at this time however the accused is in police custody."

Corozal Murder Victim Was Chopped/Shot
Tonight, Corozal police continue to investigate an early morning murder which has some very puzzling aspects. This morning before 3 a.m., the cops happened upon 36 year-old Corozal Town Resident Armando Pelayo Jr. He was right next door to his G Street home, and he was suffering from 2 gunshot wounds and several chop wounds to the face and the forearms. They rushed him to the Hospital but he succumbed to his injuries. Before he died, police did try to learn from him the identity of his attackers, but he refused to cooperate. Now, how the cops happened to be in the area at the time is a coincidence that may have some connection to the crime. A night patrol spotted a suspicious, heavily tinted car and followed it. That vehicle led them to the house belonging to Pelayo, who is very well-known to them. That's when they happened upon Pelayo in distress. He had fled his home begging for someone to help get to the hospital because had just been shot and chopped.

Hon. Julius Not Ready to Duke It Out After All
Tomorrow will be deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber's first time in the chair where the Prime Minister usually sits. That's because the PM is in New York seeking specialist's advice on a persistent case of gastro-enteritis. But the PM won't be the only one missing tomorrow's house meeting; so will PUP Cayo South Representative Julius Espat,. Tomorrow's meeting is the first since he was suspended on August 26th. He went to the Supreme Court claiming that Speaker Michael Peyrefitte had abridged his rights. But on Tuesday, the Chief Justice sent him right back to the Speaker saying that they have to work it out under the House Standing Orders. That's when Espat told the media that he will still go to the House, and he was quote, "ready to box" if necessary.

BSCFA Fights Phantom Farmers to Keep Fair Trade Monies
Since Friday, we've been telling you all about the suspension that the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association is trying to reverse. Fair Trade has audited the organization, and found that one of its members committed a major act of non-compliance. As a result, 1.2 million dollars in Fair Trade premiums is at risk of being withheld from over 3,000 farmers. That farmer is Eloy Escalante and he entered into a business relationship with the son of Cabinet Minister Edmond Castro. You saw how Castro explained in detail that his son bought out Escalante's quota of sugar. Castro became Escalante's administrator, which means that he can farm his land, and deliver cane in his name. The problem is that Escalante admitted to a Fair Trade Auditor that he was not producing cane for the past 3 years. So, it immediately called into question whether the Castro family was practicing what is referred to as phantom farming. That's where a person licensed as a cane farmer, is not producing cane, but he or she either buys cane from unlicensed farmers, or sells his rights to deliver cane to the mill.

Where Do The Phantom Farmers Lurk?
So, what about those phantom farmers we've been telling you about? No one knows for sure how many persons are registered as farmers, who don't actually farm cane. Insiders say that it is a widespread practice. This week, we got a chance to speak to leaders within all 3 cane farming associations. We asked if there might be undetected ghost farmers within the 3 organizations. Here's how those conversations went: Daniel Ortiz: "Is there any information that the BSCFA management team has to lend credibility that there be other members within your association or outside who are engaging in this same sort of activity?" Oscar Alonzo - CEO, BSCFA: "Well as far as you know this same situation with this farmer in San Estevan we are not aware of any other than that."

GSU Busts 40 Pounds Of Weed
The GSU made two large drug busts in two days. Late last night, acting off intelligence, the GSU searched a bushy lot behind a house on Caesar Ridge Road. They found three crocus bags each containing several parcels of cannabis. The first bag had sixteen parcels weighing just over ten pounds. The second had twelve parcels that together weighed almost 19 pounds. The final parcel also contained 12 parcels that came up to sixteen and a half pounds. Altogether, the GSU came up on forty parcels of cannabis, weighing a total of 45 and a half pounds. They believe that the drugs belong to key members of the South Side Gang, but no suspects were around the scene so the parcels were entered as found property.

Three Years For Career Criminal
He’s a career criminal and 43 year old Robert Popper is tonight starting to serve a three-year jail sentence. Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith sentenced him after he pled guilty to theft of a security guard’s tote bag. At 3:00 pm on October 15th, Dwayne Michael Crawford was walking on Princess Margaret Drive, near Nazarene High School, when Popper snatched his bag and dashed down an alley. None of the items valuing hundreds of dollars were recovered but police did catch Popper. The Chief Magistrate sentenced him to 3 years because he has a long criminal history.

Rosewood Found At Benque Woodshop
The great Rosewood rush of 2013 should have mostly decimated Rosewood stocks. After all those trees were felled and shipped off to China there probably wasn’t much rosewood left to root out anyway… And then Belize signed unto a CITES convention which made Rosewood export illegal. That should have been the end of an ugly episode in logging, but apparently not. The highly prised hardwood continues to appear. The forestry Department says their officers found 30,000 board feet in the form of flitches at a wood works factory in Benque Viejo Town. The wood had no official marking and documentation and was illegally harvested. Forestry confiscated it. The owner of the wood workshop will also face charges.

Lunch Sponsored By Red Kettle Bells
Every year the Salvation Army’s red kettle bells remind us that Christmas is about giving as much as it is about getting. And the centerpiece of their fundraising drive is the children’s luncheon and parties. This year’s version was held at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall and Salvation Army Commander, Joliker Leandre, gave us the details… Leandre told us that the Salvation Army is planning more events in Belize City as well as in San Ignacio and Georgeville.

Dorothy Bradley And Senate Duel It Out
Yesterday, we showed you how Auditor General Dorothy Bradley had a very tough afternoon in the Senate Hearings. The senators are trying to get to the bottom of the mass irregularities in the Immigration and Nationality that her audit has revealed. First though, they're examining the work that she and her audit team did, and they are trying to ensure that it accurately reflects what had been happening at Immigration between 2011 and 2013. In last night's newscast, we showed you how under persistent questioning, she had to abandon her assertion that it is "illegal" for ministers of Government to intervene in the Visa application process. She instead amended to say that she now asserts that it is "irregular" for those ministers to have sent letters of recommendation asking for special consideration for certain applicants. But, even then, the Senate Members did not let the matter lie. The Senate Committee Chairman, Aldo Salazar, then challenged her on her position that it is irregular for these letters to have been sent. Here's how that back and forth went yesterday:

Channel 5

Corozal Town Man Chopped and Shot to Death
The month of December, celebrating peace on earth and goodwill to all men, has started off violently across the country. One of the latest victim of the violence, is thirty-six [...]

Baby Janeeka’s Death Not Natural; Who’s Responsible?
There are still lingering questions on the death of Janeeka Campbell, a two year old toddler, who succumbed to injuries on Tuesday night under dubious circumstances. The child was visiting [...]

NCFC Weighs In on Baby Janeeka
The death of Janeeka Campbell has prompted reaction from the National Committee for Families and Children.  The NCFC says it joins the nation in mourning the tragic loss of another [...]

Stepson Chops Mom and Neighbour in Belize City
Just after ten this morning screams echoed in the distance off Louise Bevans Street in south side Belize City. A most horrific chopping incident occurred which was witnessed by neighbors [...]

Nationality Rush Before 2012 Elections Exposed
Tonight there is more hanky-panky to reveal about the putrid state of affairs that was pervasive at the Immigration Department in years past. The Senate Select Committee on the Special [...]

Julius Espat to Stay Away from House on Friday; Will Compromise Allow Him In?
Cayo South Area Representative Julius Espat will not be attending Friday’s Sitting of the House of Representatives.  In fact, he will be keeping a fairly safe distance away from the [...]

Will Leading Parliamentarians Will Be Able to Agree on Letting Julius In?
So what became of the discussion among senior parliamentarians on both sides of the floor to have Espat reinstated?  According to the embattled politician, U.D.P. Party Whip, Michael Finnegan, is [...]

Julius Vs. Sedi On What to be Ashamed Of
On Wednesday, when asked to comment on Espat’s situation, Pickstock Area Representative Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington proceeded to upbraid his colleague.  He went on to say that it is a shame [...]

Opposition Files Motion to Discuss Net Vasquez Integrity Commission Appointment
The appointment of Nestor Vasquez to the Integrity Commission remains a hot button issue for the People’s United Party.  Opposition Senator Eamon Courtenay has raised serious concerns about Vasquez’s selection [...]

Woodwork Factory Owner Nailed with Possible Illegal Rosewood
An operation conducted by officers attached to the Forest Department has yielded a significant haul of illegally harvested rosewood.  On Wednesday,  a site inspection at a woodwork factory in Benque [...]

Police Tight-lipped on Planned Arrests for Libertad Murder
While we were up north, we got an update on the November fifteenth murder of twenty-two year old Sherman McFarlane, who was ambushed and shot dead in Libertad village after [...]

Cane Farmers’ Association Tries to Make Up with Fairtrade; No Love for Eloy Escalante
The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association today stepped forward to tell its side of the Fairtrade suspension debacle. The B.S.C.F.A. was suspended for the third time in eight years after [...]

B.S.C.F.A. Rebuts Combative Edmond Castro
While the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers’ Association has made it clear that it wants no further part of Escalante, a combative Edmond Castro is a different story. He has threatened [...]

Salvation Army Feeds the Kids at Christmas Party
Christmas parties for needy children are popping up at this time of the year. The annual party of the Salvation Army took place at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall in [...]

Peace Begins With Me, Declares City Residents
The unending spate of crime and violence which continues to grip the streets of the Old Capital has given rise to a social movement where friends and families of countless [...]

Healthy Living: How You Can Keep Off the Holiday Pounds
The countdown to Christmas has begun. We know how much splurging takes place around this your time of year – and we’re not talking about splurging on presents – but [...]

LOVE FM

Baby Janeeka Suffered Head and Chest Trauma
The post mortem on baby Janeeka Campbell was conducted today in Belize City. The pathologist has classified baby Janeeka’s death as Traumatic asphyxiation multifocal subarachnoid hemorrhage due to head and chest trauma. It’s a very scientific classification that Belmopan police are having a difficult time to understand and so are we. We are no medical […]

Suspension of BSCFA to be Lifted Pending Corrective Measures
Two weeks ago, an audit revealed that a cane farmer attached to the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association was employing irregular practices as it relates to cane delivery. This revelation caused the BSCFA to be suspended by FLO-CERT from Fairtrade. That’s a big deal for BSCFA because if the situation is not remedied in about […]

An Arrest Warrant for Honorable House Member?
Cayo South Area Representative, Julius Espat will not attend tomorrow’s sitting of the House of Representatives. Espat called a press conference today in Belmopan where he explained that a warrant for his arrest has been issued. JULIUS ESPAT “The Honorable Said Musa wrote a letter to the Speaker of the House and it is under […]

Belize’s Former Consul Denies Details in News Item
An online news site based in the north had filed a news report on Tuesday, December 6 stating that the Belize dollar would soon be accepted for purchases across the board in Chetumal as opposed to just a few places in that city. It is a report that even indicated that the Honorary Consul for […]

Government Terminates Services of Honorary Consul in Chetumal
After operating in the capacity of Belize’s Honorary Consul to Chetumal for about six years, the Government of Belize has bid goodbye to Jorge Valencia. Valencia’s term ended on Friday, December 2 in Chetumal, Quintana Roo. Love News spoke with him today via telephone where he spoke of the role he played and the letter […]

Killer Leaves Behind a Bloody Knife, Machete and Expended Shells
Corozal Police is trying to figure out who killed 36 year old Armando Pelayo Jr and why. Just before three o’clock this morning, Pelayo ran out of his home on G Street shouting for help. He had been shot and chopped several times. According to Corozal’s Commanding Officer, Superintendent Dennis Arnold, his officers were on […]

Step-mother and Neighbour Chopped in Port Loyola
His name appears nowhere in our archive on news but tonight it will be submitted after Police caught him in the middle of chopping his stepmother at their home on Louise Bevans Street in the Port Loyola area of Belize City this morning.The 52-year-old woman, Consuelo Pop received multiple chop wounds to the head, shoulder […]

Senior Officers Trained on Refugee Laws and Policies
A two day workshop is being hosted by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) with participation from law enforcement officers in the Belize Police Department, Belize Coast Guard, Immigration Department and Belize Defence Force. It is a workshop that is looking at laws and policies guiding the refugee process for Belize. UNHCR Representative […]

Farmer Charged in San Roman Murder
A farmer of San Roman Village, Stann Creek District is at the Belize Central Prison on remand after he was charged for the murder of 30-year-old, Gabino Choc. 25-year-old, Himencio Ical was arraigned in the Independence Magistrate’s Court today following four days of intense investigations by police in that area. Choc was found dead at […]

Commander’s Home Burglarized on Military Base
Reports of a burglary at the home of the Brigadier General, David Jones surfaced earlier this week and raised several questions particularly since the incident happened on Belize’s military base and the amount of money stolen was reportedly in the tens of thousands. We have been unable to get comment from Commander Jones but according […]

UN Brings Multi-Country Program to Belize
Resident Coordinator to Belize and El Salvador for the United Nations, Christian Salazar led the launch of the UN’s Multi-country sustainable development framework for the Caribbean for the period 2017- 2021. Simply put, Belize is getting fourteen million Belize dollars to spread in various sectors depending on the needs of the country. Foreign Affairs Minister […]

Belize Contributes to the Global Health Agenda
The Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization are hosting a 2-day conference that seeks to contribute to the Global Health Agenda. Prior to the start of this conference, however, stakeholders met yesterday to prepare for this gathering at the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize City. Dr Marvin Manzanero is the Director […]

Austria Looks at Cancer Care in Belize
There are two initiatives currently taking place in Belize and Vienna, Austria with a focus on cancer care in Belize. The team from Austria is currently in Belmopan with plans for a debriefing for Thursday. We asked Dr Marvin Manzanero to speak on this activity. DR MARVIN MANZANERO ” The 7-member team currently in Belize […]

Going Armed at Magistrates’ Court
A young man who was busted with a firearm this morning in front of the #1 Magistrate’s Court, pled not guilty to kept firearm and ammunition without a gun license when he appeared this afternoon before the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith. He is 19 year old John Orosco, a construction worker of New Road. […]

The Guardian

Supreme Court says it does not have Jurisdiction on matters of Parliament
Julius Espat, the “wannabe” PUP Badboy elected by the voters of Cayo South, has lost his case in the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice, Kenneth Benjamin has ruled that his suspension from the House needs to be handled by Parliament, and that the matter falls outside of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. As readers will remember, he was suspended from the House in August of this year after he disrespected House Speaker Michael Peyrefitte, and continuously disregarded Standing Orders, ignoring decorum. He has a long, well-documented history of doing just that, and the Government’s side put it to vote for him to be named and suspended from attending Sittings of the House of Representatives. Believing his constitutional rights were violated, he filed a lawsuit against the House Speaker and the Clerk of the National Assembly, Eddie Webster. He was asking for the court to grant an injunction restraining the National Assembly and its agents, namely the police, from enforcing what he believes is an unlawful suspension. Additionally, he was asking the court to overturn it because in his view, the Speaker did not properly follow the Standing Orders to carry out the suspension through proper procedure.

Father suspected of beating baby to death
On Tuesday of this week, Belmopan police were in Saint Matthews Village when they were alerted that a female child was in need of medical attention. Police officers immediately intervened and began transporting the child to the Western Regional Hospital. On their way they encountered an ambulance and the child was handed over to emergency personnel who administered first responders care to the child. Despite best efforts the child was unresponsive and was later pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. The child has been identified as Janeeka Campbell, a one year 11 months old, who was seen with bruises to various parts of her body. She also appeared to be malnourished.

Auditor General admits ministers visa recommendations not illegal
Auditor General Dorothy Bradley has been forced to abandon the very wrong assertion that it is illegal for Ministers to “intervene” in the application process for visas, passports, and nationality certificates for persons they want to help. Under duress, she had to concede in the continuation of the Senate Select Committee hearing that she has to remove that from her report. That moment of clarity came in the Wednesday, December 7, hearing of the Committee. Bradley was back under oath giving testimony in the hearings to review the alleged irregularities that her Audit Report outlines between 2011 and 2013 in the Immigration and Nationality Department. On page 9 of her report on Visas, she wrote, “We found recommendations and requests made by Ministers of Government for Individuals to be approved Belize Visas. The purpose of the Ministers’ requests were to assist specific applicants to obtain visas to visit or visa extensions to stay longer in Belize...We noted that Ministers of Government recommended and requested that a number of Asian individuals be issued Belize visas to enter… Belize”

Julius Espat will be barred from Friday’s House Meeting
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Michael Peyrefitte told the Guardian Newspaper that the suspension of Area Representative for Cayo South, Julius Espat remains in effect. There will be a meeting of the House on Friday December 9 which means that Espat will not be allowed to enter the House. Peyrefitte is maintaining his position after Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin accepted the submission which had been made by Solicitor General Nigel Hawke and Agassi Finnegan on Peyrefitte’s behalf. They were defending Peyrefitte from an action brought by Julius Espat in which he was seeking to be reinstated into the House of Representatives after he was named and unceremoniously forced out of the House of Representatives on August 26th. Hawke and Finnegan submitted that the matter be struck out since the Judiciary does not have jurisdiction in matters of Parliament. CJ Benjamin agreed and struck out the case but not before pointing out that Espat’s moves were ‘woefully inadequate.’

Minister of State in Home Affairs Hon. Elodio Aragon meets with Officers to discuss Strategies
On Monday of this week, the Minister of State with responsibility for the Police Department Hon. Elodio Aragon met with the Commissioner of Police Mr. Allen Whylie and the two Police Attorneys; Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams and Sr. Superintendent Bart Jones. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss new strategies which are to be implemented as early as January of the coming year. Matters ranging from improving on professionalism of the department to steps to be taken in addressing the current murder situation were discussed. The attorneys were asked to look at existing legislation governing certain aspects of the Police Department and to come up with recommendations of possible legislation to improve and strengthen them.

2017 sugar cane crop starts with no problems
The 2016-2017 sugar crop season began on Monday, December 5, which is right on schedule to make the most of the grinding season. There is an estimated 1.39 million tonnes of cane in the fields, and the millers, Belize Sugar Industries Limited (BSI), and their majority shareholder, American Sugar Refineries (ASR), want to make the best effort at milling the entire crop. It marks the second consecutive season since the turmoil at the end of 2014 that the season is starting on time, and without any sort of in-quarrelling or controversy. It is hoped that gone are the days when cane farmers will intentionally delay the start of the season due to disputes as in 2013 and 2014, which caused the season to start some 47 days late, or 7 weeks behind schedule. The 3 Associations, the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers, the Progressive Sugar Cane Producers, and the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers, were all represented at the opening ceremony, lending support to the process. In fact, they were the ones who were first to officially open the season with a ceremony which involved them throwing the first stalks of harvested cane onto one of the dumping tables for BSI’s Tower Hill Factory.

Belize Defence Force Lieutenant Colonel receives Silver Medal Award
Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Velasquez of the Belize Defence Force was the proud recipient of a Silver Medal award from the Central American Armed Forces Conference (CFAC) on Wednesday November 30th, 2016 during its meeting in El Salvador. This award is in recognition of Velasquez’s meritorious participation and contribution to the greater cooperation of the armies of the Central American region. The award was presented to him by President of the Superior Council of CFAC Lieutenant General David Mungia Payes, Minister of Defence of El Salvador, on behalf of the armies of the region. Other recipients of the award included Peruvian Vice Admiral Gonzalo Polastri and British Colonel David Stradbridge. The CFAC was created in 2007 and has as its mission the promotion of a permanent and systematic effort of cooperation, coordination, and mutual support among the member armed forces. It includes professional development exchanges, cooperation on dealing with shared issues and threats to democracy, peace, and freedom in the region.

Belmopan now has the prettiest tree in Belize
A 25 feet Christmas tree was lit with great ceremony on Saturday night at the Sir George Brown Field, at the corner of Libertad Avenue and South Ring Road in Belmopan City. Hon. John Saldivar, Area Representative and Minister of Defence, accompanied by his Worship Mayor Khalid Belisle lit up the towering Christmas Tree to the cheering of residents from Garden City. It was a full night of entertainment as a prelude to the Christmas tree lighting featuring the Panerrifix Junior Steel Band. Santa Clause was also present cheering and giving gifts to the children. In his discourse with the Belmopan audience at Sir George Brown Field, Mayor Khalid Belisle stated: “We believe in being our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper.” He urged residents to complete one act of kindness for this Christmas Season and to take that into the New Year.

The Buy and Sell effect
We so often hear Belizeans say, a job is so hard to find, or that they have or know a child who graduated but cannot find a job. There are also employment surveys and polls of various types that are done for one reason or another on a consistent basis. Then there are those persons like those PUP Propagandists who like to speak of a high rate of unemployment. Well we don't believe those figures are indeed factual based on what we have been seeing on the ground . For us employment is not just about an employee going on a job to work for an employer. There are some folks who are entrepreneurs who either because of choice or circumstances work for themselves. They too are employed, although they are self employed. There are the entrepreneurs such as the Store Owners, Restaurateurs, Cosmetologist &Furniture; Makers, Artists, Artisants, Farmers, Trades Persons, Fisherfolks, Fishscrapers, Car washers, Grass cutters, Vendors, Bakers and persons in the Manufacturing industry. These are the people we would readily think of when we speak of entrepreneurs because they are the ones we know are out there, either because they have a place of business or we know of their products.

Belize represented in Mexico to strengthen parliaments
Belize was this week represented in Mexico at the 13th Plenary Assembly of Americas. Held in Mexico City the focus of the gathering was on strengthening Parliaments and building resilient Societies to achieve the sustainable goals. Representing Belize was Senator of the South, Hon. Macario Coy who for two days on the 6th and 7th of this month had the opportunity to dialogue with representatives of 25 different countries of the ParlAmericas. The purpose of the meeting was to evaluate the Sustainable Development Goals( SDGs) on the global , regional and national level. The distinctive political and Socio-Economic features of each country were taken into accounts in determining the corresponding actions and strategies. The parliamentarians’ delegation in attendance offer their heartfelt recognition to ParlAmericas on the occasion of its 15th Anniversary and expresses their gratitude for its notable efforts in promoting democracy and strengthening of parliamentary diplomacy in the Americas and the Caribbean, facilitating dialogue and the exchange of best legislative practices on the topic of hemispheric relevance.

Can’t slow Castro down
For the last 4 month or so Honourable Edmond “ Clear the Land “ Castro, has seen his political capital go up. He has been consistently producing the goods and services for the citizens of this country and much more for the people from some of the poorest communities in the country including but not limited to the residents of Belize Rural North. Charity begins at home and many persons from his constituency have been recipients and beneficiaries of his hard work. Like a true and tested veteran, Castro has not hidden his accomplishments under a bushel. He has been putting it in the public media. The congratulations, accolades and popularity that Castro has earned for his hard work in delivering for the poor people of this country has been causing the PUP restless nights and they are now desperately trying to throw a spanner in Castro’s wheel to try and slow him down. Castro now as a full minister is free to fly and as long as he spends wisely, as he usually does, more and more people will benefit from his hard work. The PUP as usual, have called on some of those persons they have planted in key positions to do the bidding of the party whenever the needs arise.

Artists and artisans come out for Cayo Festival 2016
In a drive to support its artists and artisans, the Cayo Arts Festival 2016 was held on Saturday of this past weekend at the Cayo Welcome Center in San Ignacio Town. There were no shortage of arts and craft as some 50 artisans showed up to showcase their varied products. Amidst the full day of cultural events, it was also time for the main organizer, the San Ignacio and Santa Elena House of Culture, under the umbrella of the National Institute of Culture and History, to celebrate its 6th anniversary. Good weather provided an avenue for tourists and visitors alike to visit the Cayo Welcome Center on Saturday and buy products from the artisans. Lupita Ferguson, the Director of the House of Culture says that this result is deliberate as she wants to encourage the artisans in their work.

NEMO receives donation from Chile
On Monday December 5, Minister of National Emergency Management Hon Edmond Castro received a donation of 50 Thousand US Dollars from the Government of Chile on behalf of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) to assist with ongoing hurricane recovery efforts in the Agriculture Sector, specifically for small farmers impacted by Hurricane Earl. The donation was presented by Chile’s Ambassador to Belize resident in El Salvador, Maria Inez Ruz. Also on hand was Chile’s Honorary Consul in Belize H.E. Joe Mena. The groundwork for the donation was done by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), whose representative in Belize is Christian Salazar. Mr. Salazar was also on hand for the presentation.

Defence Minister comments on completed countrywide tour of BDF installations
Last Friday, Minister of Defence, Hon. John Saldivar completed a nationwide tour of BDF installations countrywide. The national tour started back in September, one month after Saldivar was named Minister of Defence and appointed a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Felix Enriquez. Accompanied by CEO Enriquez and BDF Commander General David Jones, the Minister first visited BDF National Headquarters at Price Barracks in Ladyville, the Air and Maritime Wings at the Phillip Goldson International Airport, and Militia Hall on the George Price Highway just outside Belize City. Following the month-long September Celebrations and a few unexpected delays, the Minister resumed his national tour in early November, heading up North to Corozal and Orange Walk where he visited BDF bases and posts, including those involved in curbing contraband and other illegal cross-border activities. On that leg, he was accompanied by BDF Deputy Commander Colonel Steven Ortega.

Dale Tillett killed on Hydes lane
Dale Tillett Sr., a 44 year-old father of 8, was mercilessly slain in Belize City, almost 5 years after his son, Dale Jr., lost his life to gun violence. The incident happened sometime after 3:30 a.m. on Hyde’s Lane. Tillett was walking on Hydes Lane with a group of friends, one of whom was a relative. They had just purchased food from one of the street vendors after a night out. Tillett and his companions were on their way to their destination when two assailants rode up on a motorcycle. They approached from behind, and before the men could react, one of them pulled out a gun and fired a barrage of shots at them. One of those bullets struck Tillett in the neck, while 28 year-old David Garcia, one of his companions, was injured in the left shoulder. That gunshot injury killed Tillett on the spot, and when the police arrived, they rushed his companion, Garcia, to the KHMH for medical treatment.

Accused Killers of Joshua Abraham Walk Free
Randy Green, 30, and Michael Young, 26, the two men who police believe were responsible for the shooting death of 9-year-old Joshua Abraham, are out free after the prosecution’s case fell apart in trial when key witnesses recanted their statements. Joshua Abraham, who lived around the Victoria Street area, was murdered on Independence Day 2011 as Belize City residents were enjoying the uniform parade. Joshua also went out to watch the annual uniform parade that passes by the intersection of Victoria Street and North Front Street. About 30 minutes after the parade had passed, he went to a nearby store and that was when two men approached the area from the intersection of New Road and Victoria Street. They hid behind a few parked vehicles stalking their targets.

Chester Noralez charged for Sexual Assault
A year ago, he was accused of almost killing his 93-year-old neighbor and now Chester Noralez, 36, is in trouble with the law again. This time it is for a crime against a minor. Noralez was back in court on charges of sexual assault and using insulting words on a high school student. A 17-year-old girl reported to police that she was at a shop on Mahogany Street when Noralez forcibly hugged her and then squeezed her buttocks. When the teen pushed him away and said she did not know him, Noralez allegedly threatened her saying that he was from PIV (a criminal gang from the Lake Independence area). Noralez appeared in court unrepresented before Magistrate Carlon Mendoza. He was offered bail in the sum of $3,000 plus one surety of the same amount, which he was able to meet. Noralez is scheduled to return to court on January 30.

Handyman murdered in Teakettle
A 19 year old handy man Abner Vasquez was discovered murdered at about 7:15 am this past Saturday behind a warehouse in Teakettle Village. Found near his body was a slippers and a hat, which had fallen from him while he was being pursued by an attacker sometime between Friday and Saturday. He had injuries to both the back of his head and right jaw. A post mortem has revealed that he had been manually strangled. A candle light vigil was held in Teakettle on Tuesday night to recognize Abner Vasquez, who in life was widely known to be a peaceful person. He had last been seen by his family on Thursday evening of last week. About a week ago, Abner Vasquez had complained to his aunt Isolita Hewlett that a man had hit him in the eye. Belmopan Police continue investigating this case.

House keeper accused of theft
Maria Reina Vargas Lainez, 31, is on remand at the Belize Central Prison for a single charge of theft. Her employer, Carlos Perrera, Director of Finance of the Public Utilities Commission, reported to police that she stole two of his wrist watches from inside his Bella Vista residence. The incident allegedly took place on Friday, December 2. Perrera said he left the watches in his chest of drawers and later noticed that they were missing. He made a report to police on Saturday, December 3, and told police that Lainez was his cleaner and only she had access to his home that Friday. Police later arrested Lainez for theft. Lainez, a Honduran national of Belama Phase 2, appeared before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith on Monday, December 5, to answer to a single charge of theft. She was unrepresented in court and since she speaks only Spanish a translator was provided. Lainez pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Michael McDonald sentenced to 3 years for firearm
King Street resident Michael McDougal, 23, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment after he was found guilty of keeping a firearm without a gun license and discharging that firearm in public. Police responded to a shooting near BTL Park at 3:09 a.m. on Sunday, September 28, 2014 and allegedly saw McDougal shooting at another man. This incident took place shortly after the conclusion of the Arthur Guinness memorial festivities. Police say that when McDougal saw them he threw the firearm behind a parked SUV. Police apprehended McDougal and searched the area. They found a .38 special revolver with serial number 796694 and five expended shells. He was arrested and charged with one count each of discharging a firearm in public, causing public terror, keeping a firearm without a gun license and being a member of the George Street Gang.

Pregnant woman accused of drug trafficking
Conch Shell Bay resident Carolee Orosco, 21, is expecting twin babies in late January but this is not a happy time for the mother to be. That is because she is facing a charge of drug trafficking and disclosure is to be handed over to her by January 30, 2017. Police claim that Orosco and others were busted with 544 grams of cannabis on Thursday, December 1. According to police, officers of the Gang Suppression Unit were conducting mobile patrol on Ebony Street when WPC Wiley saw a pregnant female abruptly stepped back into a yard when her attention was drawn to the police. This caused the officer to become suspicious of the woman and because of that they followed her into the yard. There they saw her standing next to a stairway. When the officers approached her she said that she just wanted to use the bathroom. She was informed that a search would be conducted on her. This resulted in nothing incriminating being found. Officers then proceeded to search the bathroom and this led to the discovery of a bag with weed stashed within some plycem trim. Inside the house, police also found a Belizean passport belonging to the woman who owns the house. Though she was not at home at the time of the search, the owner is being jointly charged with Orozco and two other males who were at the residence at the time.

Youth gunned down near his home
Emmerson Skyers, a 26 year-old man with a troubled past, and who was trying to transform his life, was shot and killed near his home in the Taylor’s Alley area. The incident happened on Sunday, December 4, at around 1:30 p.m., when Skyers was in front of a grocery store at the corner of Orange and West Streets. He was reportedly in the company of a friend who was with a young child. He was caught off-guard by the gunmen who drove by in a white car. Those shooters fired several shot in their direction, hitting Skyers multiple times to the body. He was immediately rushed to the KHMH, but he died just under 15 minutes after the incident.

Teenager Busted with Gun in Front of Court
Police believe they foiled an execution plot when they busted New Road resident John Charles Orosco, 19, with a 38 special in front of the Belize City Magistrates Court on Wednesday, December 07. A police officer in civilian clothing noticed the teenager acting suspiciously outside of court. The incident occurred around 9 a.m., just as the names of individuals scheduled to appear were being called. The cop alerted officers on duty at the court who pulled out their guns and ordered the youngster to freeze. The officers conducted a search on the suspicious individual and inside his pants waist they found a .38 Special revolver with two live rounds. John Orosco was arrested and charged for possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition without a gun license. He was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith on Wednesday afternoon and claimed, “Neh police planted that gun on me because I never had no gun.”

Traffic accident in Cayo
One man in Cayo was killed by a heavy white Chevrolet after coming to render aid to his mother-in-law, who had ran out of fuel on the road. The accident took place between mile 56 and 57 on the George Price Highway on Sunday night of this past weekend. San Ignacio Police visited the accident scene where they observed a six wheeler truck with extensive damages to the passenger side and a minivan with damages to the back of the vehicle. Police also observed the motionless body of a male Hispanic, Carlos Medina, a Honduran of a Santa Elena Town address. Investigators at the scene determined that Marleni Wellington, a 56 year old was driving the Mazda minivan on the George Price Highway towards San Ignacio Town. But upon reaching miles 56 and 57 the vehicle driven by Wellington experienced mechanical problems.

Franklin Velasquez caught with Hipolito Novelo’s laptop
Honduras national, Franklin Velasquez, 18, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith for handling stolen goods on Monday, December 5. Allegations are that he assisted in the retention of a black Asus laptop that was stolen from Love News’ reporter Hipolito Novelo on Wednesday, November 30. Novelo reported to police that his home at #12 Douglas Jones Street was burglarized and the laptop, a grey Galaxy S6 cellphone and a heavy duty charger were stolen. Police investigation led to the arrest of Velasquez who took officers to pick up the laptop. He was then charged with one count of handling stolen goods.

Belmopan Bandits undefeated in regular season competition
The Premier League of Belize Opening Season regular competition came to an end on Sunday 4th December, 2016, with three games on the schedule. On Saturday 3rd December, 2016, at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan, the league’s leading Belmopan Bandits wrapped up its undefeated regular season with a 0-0 draw against the Belize Defence Force. The Belmopan Bandits completed the regular season with a 12 wins and 4 draws record. On Sunday 4th December, 2016, at the MCC Grounds, FC Belize blasted the Freedom Fighters by the score of 6-1. The goals for FC Belize were scored by Russell Cassanova in the 4th minute of play followed by Hector Martinez in the 17th, 39th and 71st minutes of play and he was followed by Jorge Aleman in the 35th minute of play and then by Oliver Hendricks in the 85th minute of play.

Football Federation of Belize calls footballers to National ‘A’ Team training camp
In an effort to be competitive in the upcoming 2017 UNCAF Copa Centroamericana Tournament, the FFB is calling on the following players to its training camp which commenced on Tuesday 6th December, 2016, at the Football Federation of Belize training facility. Belize has been selected to compete in Group A which consists of Panama, Honduras and Nicaragua. The tournament will be held from January 13-22, 2017, in Panama City, Republic of Panama, at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez. The top four teams will qualify for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, while the team that place fifth will advance to the playoff against the team that places fifth from the 2017 Caribbean Cup for the final berth for the Gold Cup.

Youth footballers to play in Jamaican Youth League
The Football Federation of Belize informs the general public that whilst it was the youngest team to participate in the recently concluded UNCAF U-17 elimination tournament, the individual talent of our youth players did not go unnoticed. Based on scouts that were present at the matches, four youth players were selected to play in the youth league in Jamaica. The invitation that was extended includes boarding and schooling, with the potential of the youth players being drafted to play in professional leagues. It also informs that a Costa Rican player agency is offering several of the youth players the opportunity to attend major colleges in the US on football scholarships, to develop their skills while obtaining their degrees. According to the Football Federation of Belize, this falls in line with the “Football for Education” programme, the it is currently pursuing to place less fortunate footballers in school, so that after their football careers, they have an education to rely on.

2017 National Elite Basketball League season to commence on January 13
The Commissioner of the National Elite Basketball League Karim Juan informed the general public that the NEBL will commence its fourth season on Friday 13th January, 2017. The fourth season will see eight teams competing for the top prize. The teams that will be competing in the 2017 campaign will be the Orange Walk Running Rebels, Belize Hurricanes, Belize City No Limit, San Pedro Tiger Sharks, Belmopan Bandits, Dangriga Warriors, Cayo Western Ballaz and a new franchise from Chetumal, Mexico. It is noted that games will be played in Chetumal, and the Chetumal team will also play games in Belize, using the same home and away format. For the up-coming season, each team will have a shot clock, which will greatly enhance the competitive nature of the game.

The Belize Times

DANGER: BAD DRUGS!
“I can’t say with certainty that some of the providers gave us medication and items that did put the population at risk. What I can say is that because we were not enforcing those standards there is a high possibility that that could have happened.” As we go to press, the Ministry of Health is under intense scrutiny as a result of bizarre and appalling revelations by current CEO Dr. Ramon Figueroa. Those revelations indicate not only that the Ministry of Health has been operating as another hotbed of corruption, but incredibly that patients may have lost their lives as a result of the direct negligence of MoH officials where the monitoring of pharmaceutical and medical supplies is concerned. In a candid interview granted by the Figueroa came the admission that a lack of monitoring and controls as it relates to the provision of pharmaceutical and medical supplies possibly put the lives of patients at risk. Other health officials we have spoken with have also expressed a strong belief that the lack of proper and consistent testing of pharmaceuticals has, in fact, led to a loss of lives over the years. Still others say that even members of the Tender Committee in the Ministry of Health resort to purchasing medicinal drugs for personal use from outside because they are aware that some of the medications circulating within the public health system in Belize simply do not work.

Castro Caught AGAIN!
It seems that no matter how hard he tries Edmond “Clear the Cane” Castro can’t stay out of trouble. Some Belizeans would say that somebody “obeah” the man. We on the other hand would argue that this is just who he is—a magnet for underhanded behaviour! The latest escapade involving Castro is the revelation that as a result of his “arrangement” with one Eloy Escalante the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) has lost its Fairtrade certification. The permanent suspension of the BSCFA’s Fairtrade status would mean an immediate loss of more than one million dollars; the longer term impact would be even more dire and could cost cane farmers around 5 million dollars over the next 3 years. In an effort to avoid this hardship the BSCFA has expelled Eloy Escalante with the hope that his expulsion would stay the decision of the Fairtrade certification agency. The BSCFA is yet to find out if this is enough to avoid the problems brought on by the Escalante-Castro debacle.

Baby Tameeka is Dead! – Did A Father Murder his Child?
Belmopan Police are on a manhunt for the father of baby Tameeka Campbell, missing since last night when the child, not yet two years old, was pronounced dead at the Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan, fresh and faded bruises covering her upper body. Is it possible that the St. Margaret resident pummelled his daughter to death on Tuesday night…that the man who should have been her protector instead took her life? Police are still trying to piece together all sides of this tragic story. What they have confirmed so far is that officers were on patrol in the village sometime around 8p.m. Tuesday when they came upon two men in distress with a child who required medical attention. The Police picked her up from the duo who were later learned to be family friends. While on their way to the Western Regional Hospital they met an ambulance that was responding to a request for emergency assistance. The child was transferred to the ambulance but was already unresponsive. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

A Hollow Victory
Following the 11-day strike of teachers under the BNTU’s mantle from October 3 to October 18, those determined educators were saluted as heroes, hailed as the warriors who had triumphed over an administration’s despotic and corrupt ways. After all, they fought for good governance and an end to corruption. They fought for checks and balances and accountability where none existed. They fought for responsible spending. By October 18 it seemed apparent that the Prime Minister had folded. YES to the 13th Senator. YES to the ratification of UNCAC. YES to the Integrity Commission. YES to the Senate Inquiry. The angels sang the hallelujah chorus. Oh how the teachers must have felt like the mighty Spartan 300, with the difference that they lived to tell the tale of glory. Except we were all – teachers, right-thinking Belizeans, those who wanted a real change with no political agenda – just a real change for Belize as Belizeans – bamboozled by the Prime Minister’s trademark brilliant bullshit. It is no fault of the teachers. They are to be praised because they stood alone and stood strong. In fact, many of us should feel a twinge of shame when we remember the determined stance of those teachers. What they fought for would have benefitted each and every one of us (with the exception, perhaps, of those who have already raped and raided our coffers and continue to pillage with impunity).

Leaked Documents Reveal: The Sky IS Falling!
The government of Belize, in its presentation to Bondholders last week, leaked to the media, outlined the very grim economic situation Belize is now faced with as a result of poor decisions made by the United Democratic Party (UDP) government. GOB also acknowledged, for the first time, in its presentation that Belize public debt is now at 100 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Barrow’s administration also finally took responsibility for pushing Belize’s debt over the edge: “The government’s balance sheet was hit by the financial cost of intervening in two key utilities, taking over ownership, in the case of Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), to ensure proper functioning of the country’s power system, and in the case of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), to terminate a contract that had proven to be very expensive for the government. The result of these two re-nationalizations: much higher government debt, and debt servicing costs.”

Questions to Ministers
Would the Member for Queen Square and Prime Minister please confirm or deny reports that when he said he was meeting with bondholders in New York early this week he was actually meeting with Lord Michael Ashcroft at an undisclosed location to discuss a new cruise port? Would the Member for Queen Square and Prime Minister be willing to disclose exactly how much his brother attorney Denys Barrow made from litigation over the BTL acquisition, and also how much his law firm made from the settlement with BTL? Would the Member for Queen Square and Prime Minister please disclose what was discussed when he and Pastor Ashley Rocke met at his Seashore Drive mansion at 10:45am on Saturday? Would the Member for Corozal Bay and Minister of Health please confirm or deny reports that he has come under increasing pressure to remove Ms. Danini Contreras from her post as Drug Inspectorate Inspector since their intimate relationship has become public knowledge and is considered a blatant conflict of interest?

If Dah Noh Soh
Pastor Ashley Rocke, Senator representing the Churches (actually Senator representing a few UDP-owned Church leaders and of course the UDP) was seen walking into the home of Prime Minister Dean Barrow at 10:45am Saturday morning. Maybe he was there to hear confession. Maybe he was there to counsel the troubled Prime Minister and to comfort him before his travels abroad. Reliable word reaching this cynical scribe is that Godwin Hulse, the man formerly known as the people’s champion, had been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and is refusing to take his medication. Medical authorities were recently alerted to the troubling condition at the opening of the sugar cane crop recently. At the podium, Hulse vowed to get rid of phantom farmers in the industry, stating “I am unabashed to say there is no place for shopkeepers who pose as cane farmers and who buy quotas and that sort of thing. We need to be serious.” But minutes after, when asked about his friend Clear the Cane Castro, a minister posing as a cane-farmer, Godwin stated, “Let’s be real. He has cane and he should be able to sell his cane.” Reliable sources have confirmed to this intrepid reporter that the Special Envoy for Women, Children and really Foolish People has scheduled an intervention with Minister Edmond Castro as soon as he returns from the canefields. We are told that his repeated use of the ‘R’ word was reported to the Special Envoy and she was irate that Castro would dare to do so when she even made an ad forbidding it. We are also reliably informed that she attempted to get hubby to shuffle the shameless Minister, suggesting that he assume the portfolio of Shameless Actions, Stupid Commentary, Disrespect and Sexual Harassment, created just for him.

More Secret Deals to Remedy Bad Decisions…?
Prime Minister Dean Barrow left for New York this week, allegedly for Superbond discussions, but the Belize Times has learned Barrow’s presence may signal a bigger move by government in the months to come. The Belize Times has learned that Economic Ambassador Mark Espat was left in charge of handling negotiations with bondholders. Sources also indicate that Barrow’s arrival in New York may indicate one of two things: either bondholders are driving a very hard line and need assurances only the Prime Minister can give or there is another deal being made to help relieve GOB of some of its more immediate expenses and free up cash for Barrow and company.

Candelaria ‘Canned’ Under Public Pressure
If the public had not become outraged at the continued pampering (at taxpayer expense) of Candelaria Saldivar, sister of Minister of Defence John Saldivar, it is likely that she would still be sitting at home collecting her CEO salary plus $18,000 housing/entertainment allowance and $3000 phone allowance and all other perks. But the Belize Times has confirmed that via letter dated November 24th, 2016, Saldivar has been put out to pasture. In that correspondence from Cabinet Secretary Carlos Perdomo, Saldivar is advised that “His Excellency the Governor-General, on the advice of the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister…has approved your retirement on compulsory terms on the grounds of the above mentioned and continuing organizational restructuring and for the purpose of facilitating improvement in efficiency…”

Guatemalans Make Huge Drug Bust in Belizean Waters
Guatemalan law enforcement agencies are reporting that they have caught four cocaine smugglers who were trying to traffic about $45M worth of the drug to what is believed to be a North American destination. The Guatemalans report that the drug bust happened in “international waters”, but experts in Belize have strong reason to believe that these men were caught in Belizean territorial waters. News reports coming out of Guatemala suggest that the Guatemalan law enforcement agencies received intelligence of this drug smuggling operation under way in international waters. They mobilized quickly, and the Ministry of Defence and Special Naval Force moved quickly to intercept these traffickers. In the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, they managed to catch one of 2 vessels which were travelling the Caribbean Sea at that time. On that vessel were 4 Hondurans, 34 year-old Walter Orlando Portillo Portillo, 26 year-old Jose Miguel Andrade Saldivar, 21 year-old Julian Avila Suazo and 42 year-old Zablo Amilcar Portillo Portillo.

City Resident Gunned Down in Broad Daylight
On Sunday afternoon, at around 1:30, Emerson Skyers, 26, was at the corner of West Street and Cemetery Road socializing with friends when a white car pulled up and a gunman started firing. As the car fled the scene residents in the area and friends of Skyers tried desperately to resuscitate him but he died at the scene. According to ASP Alejandro Cowo, Officer Commanding CIB, “”Emerson Skyers was walking on Cemetery Road almost at the corner of Cemetery Road and West Street when a vehicle coming from the direction of Cemetery Road towards Albert Street passed him and a person from the vehicle fired several shots at him causing the fatal injuries. Up to now we do not have a motive in regards to the death of Mr. Skyers.”

Tour Guide Killed in Motorcycle Ride-By
Violence sparked up in the old capital this weekend and claimed the life of well- known tour guide Dale Anthony Tillett Sr. the incident happened at around 3:45am Saturday as Tillett and friends were heading home after a night out. Police held a press conference on Monday to provide as much information as they had been able to discover. They relayed that they were called to the scene at the corner of Hyde’s Land and New Road and observed the lifeless body of Tillett with an apparent gunshot wound to the back of the head.

Man Allegedly Brutalized by Police Dies Mysteriously
At mid-afternoon on Saturday December 3rd, the body of Altreed Williams was found on Lawrence Avenue in the Lake Independence area of Belize City. Strangely, his body which was partially in a drain was just outside of his car. The sudden death is said to have been preceded by a beat down doled out by Police two weeks before (a screenshot of a conversation between Altreed and a friend confirms the date of the police brutality as November 18th). Roxanne Williams, his wife who he had been living with for 12 years—sharing two children, explained that he had been pepper sprayed and left with bruises to the forehead. She recounted that during the entire time since the incident with Police he was unable to work because the constant headaches he began suffering would cause him to tumble down and he was not eating. The previous Wednesday, November 30th, his family took him to the hospital where a CT scan was done and some medication prescribed before he was sent home. However, she says that he did not improve.

A BURNING VIOLIN
Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin Dance me through the panic ‘til I’m gathered safely in – Leonard Cohen The first show of the Belizean Women’s Art Collective titled RADICAL comes weeks after Donald Trump won the American presidency. We live in a world of absurd contradictions, bizarre distortions and feigning frivolity. So it is urgent that artists rise up and disrupt the social space to offer voices that seriously address the taking charge of our lives. The concept of a collective is hard to comprehend in an era of extreme individual self-promotion and exposure. These women are fearless foragers inside a shopping mall of digital paradoxes. Belize is still yet to shed its hyper misogynistic and blatant male dominated cultural entrenchment, so this small band of BWACs offer not just hope in the face of social melting and insanity, but an opportunity to seek some clarity about what our lives are really about, and how we could pursue some tangible concepts of deep revolutionary thinking.

THE WONDERER AND NEGLECTED/CRASHED BELIZEAN INDUSTRIES
The Wonderer was wandering on Google Earth and wandered on certain areas that brought back memories of good industries that employed thousands and thousands of Belizeans, but because of the neglect of government(s) they all came to pass into history. These projects all needed help from Government but for some reason help was denied. Help was actually denied to the Belizeans who directly and indirectly depended on those industries. It seems you have to own an island for tourism that employs a few Belizeans in the “servant” industry and ban us other Belizeans from visiting their white premises in our country. Only so and after some dealing then you obtain tax and duty exemptions or sometimes called fiscal incentives, which could save the industries from collapse. The following industries now RIP.

Stann Creek & Toledo Win at Special Olympics 2016
The Stann Creek and Toledo athletes were the big winners at the 2016 Special Olympics held at the Holstan Chan Stadium for 5-a-side football in Corozal Town on Friday. The 5th annual Law Enforcement Torch Run raised over $7,000 for the Games, and the arrival of the torch signalled the start of the Games after Police Commissioner Allen Whylie personally carried the torch up the ladder to light the Flame of Hope, which remained alight for the duration of the Games.

Devesh Hukmani Wins BNE Table Tennis Championship
The Belize Table Tennis Association closed off a rather successful year with the final tournament on the calendar, the Belize Natural Energy national championships at the BES auditorium on Sunday; where 11-year-old Devesh Hukmani emerged as the youngest Men’s champion ever! Some 39 players contested the men’s singles championship which was a single elimination format and the final 4 were all teenagers. SJC’s Rohit Pagarani won 2nd place while the two 3rd place winners were Kevin Chen and Amiri Hoare. In the Women Singles championships, Su Sen won 1st place: 3-2 over 2nd place winner Nikki Chen in the finals. Kelly Liu and Aejelee Thurton both won 3rd place

Police United & FC Belize Win Thru to PLB Football Playoffs
Yabra FC, Survivors FC and the undefeated Coast Guard posted wins when the Conscious Youth Development Program (CYDP) football playoffs kicked off at the MCC Garden on Saturday. In Game 1, Ladyville FC and Kelly Street drew 1-1 when Shawn Young scored for Ladyville in the 8th minute and Kadeem Myers equalized for Kelly St. in the 25th minute. In Game 2, Yabra FC won 2-1 over Tut Bay. Dalton “Chicken” Cayetano scored Yabra’s 1st goal in the 17th minute. Carlos Lino answered for Tut Bay in the 35th minute. Yabra’s Keron Patnett scored the game winner in the 2nd half. In Game 3, Coast Guard won 3-1 over Hattieville United when Adier Duran scored the Coast Guard’s 1st goal, Steven Martinez added a 2nd goal and Orvin Wade converted a penalty. Marcus Lewis scored Hattieville’s only consolation goal.

MY PERSPECTIVE – ACTIVISM AND ACTION
It’s amazing…all this activity during the Sixteen Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence. I don’t know if we have really come a long way but all the events certainly have. I am not at all knocking the candlelight vigils, dancing in the street and marching. It is all meant to bring awareness, and we have to be aware and internalize the challenges at hand before we can actually do something. But we need action too. Last week the Social Work Students Association of the University of Belize held their first Gender Based Violence Evening of Expressive Arts at Spoonaz Cafe on North Front Street, Belize City. I was happy to have received their invitation to address them as guest speaker, and, as I usually do, I jotted a few notes and bullet points of what I wanted to say to them. I am not given to writing out long speeches, preferring instead to have some few ideas and to go with the mood and flow of the event.

TOURISM: BELIZEANS SHUT OUT
IF Belizeans have not yet been shut out of the tourism industry, they continue to get a thinner and thinner slice of their homemade pie. Soon they will be getting only the crumbs. Most of this industry is dominated by foreign investors with a small number of local investors owning principal stakes. On the other hand, some Belizeans own considerable capital in providing services to this industry, including transportation, but in some instances even the latter is at risk because of loose policies within the industry. Foreign real estate companies are also dominating that market. Added to this is the rampant corruption in the Ministry of Lands that goes on unabated. Real estate is prohibitively expensive putting it out of the reach of local investors. In the earlier years of the industry, many innocent Belizeans were fleeced by land speculators who bought their land for cheap.

Thinking Out Loud
According to a press release from the Ministry of Natural Resources, now under the control of Attorney-General Vanessa Retreage, a letter was sent to Gaspar Vega’s son Andre and UDP-affiliated attorney Sharon Pitts telling them that they had 30 days to return $800,000 ($400,000 each). They got that money when Gaspar Vega was Minister of Natural Resources, in a move that stinks to high heavens of the most worthless corruption. Those 30 days have gone. But nobody anywhere wants to talk about that money now. The Minister of Natural Resources isn’t saying a word. I’m not going to hold my breath waiting for that money to be given back to Belizean taxpayers. That’s not really going to happen.

That Dreaded Corruption
How can Belize promote development?? Poverty has so long and gravely sparked concern because many people are experiencing hardship, misery, starvation, and so on. The causes of poverty in Belize are various. But the most common cause that is pervasively found in every developing world is corruption. Corruption has negatively and greatly influenced the growth and welfare of the country and has also been one of the most important matters with which Belize is struggling to deal. It is mostly spotted in a wide range of different organizations and levels starting from government, private sector, judicial system, education and so forth. It is not difficult to understand why corruption is so dreadful for us. Corruption has drained out a large sum of money from our national income. The money could instead be used to help the poor by improving infrastructure, agriculture, the health care system or to build more schools. Furthermore, corruption is seriously discouraging foreign investments. Investment is very crucial in boosting Belize’s economy. It provides countless jobs for our population and enlarges the tax income. However, investors will become greatly reluctant to run their large scale business in a country that is marred by corruption.

Breaking Belize News

BSCFA responds to Minister Castro
The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) met at its Orange Walk branch office today to respond to criticisms raised by the Minister of Transport & NEMO, Edmund Castro as well as those raised by the Sugar Cane Production Committee (SCPC). According to the […]

Copa Airlines marks 1 year anniversary flying to Belize
Today, December 8th marks the one year anniversary of Copa Airlines flying to and from Belize. Last year on December 8, 2015 Copa began offering direct flights from Belize City to Panama City, Panama connecting with other destinations throughout the American continent. The flight […]

Over 30,000 board feet of illegally harvested Rosewood found in Benque Viejo
Yesterday, officers of the Forest Department conducted a site inspection at a wood work factory in Benque Viejo Town where they discovered over 30,000 board feet of illegally harvested Rosewood in flitch form. The wood was found to be without official marking and documentation […]

NCFC says violence against children must stop
The National Committee for Families and Children (NCFC) issued a press release this afternoon joining the nation in mourning the tragic loss of another innocent Belizean child. “It is truly a tragic outcome. Media reports about the questionable circumstances surrounding the tragic death of […]

Belize to host international yoga festival this month
Rhythm of Change(ROC) Om Shanti Belize is about to embark on its first large project, the Belize International Yoga Festival, which will take place on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2016 at Harbour view greens on # 12 Fort Street in Belize City from 6am to […]

Man murdered in Corozal; Police are investigating
Police in Corozal are investigating a murder that happened in that district this morning. BBN contacted Corozal police who confirmed that police were patrolling in an area off the San Andres road in Corozal when they heard a woman asking for help. When police […]

67 year old woman from Maskall village is missing
Gabriela Mendez, 67, is missing. Mendez is from Maskall village and has been missing for the last two days. She was last seen on Monday at Spanish Town in Maskall village. Yesterday Maskall police and villagers conducted a search in her village but couldn’t […]

BPP holds National Party Congress
On Saturday, the Belize Progressive Party (BPP) held its inaugural National Party Congress at its headquarters in Belize City. The party’s business over the past year was discussed and presented along with their developments. The BPP’s financials were conferred and a reiteration of the […]

Blogs

The Best Swimming Dock in Belize is ALMOST Back & Our December Heat Wave
It’s surprising how a shift of winds, a 10% rise in humidity and a slight rise in temperature can really crank up the heat around here. Just a few weeks ago, we were all wearing sweatshirts at night (and being laughed at by visitors) as the temperature plummeted into the high 70s and the wind roared from the north. Now the wind has a southerly flow and in the high 80s? It’s HOT. A change of clothes, carry a bandana HOT. Today will be about 87 with a SE wind. Good thing for us there is a polar vortex acomin’…. But all this hot weather gets one thinking about swimming…and, lucky for all of us, my favorite FAVORITE swimming dock and yoga platform on the island is being rebuilt as I type. Ak’Bol Eco-Resort and Yoga Retreat. I’ve written about it many times over the years and then Hurricane Earl took it. Yesterday I stopped by to take a look at the construction. The water at the end is crystal clear with a beautiful sandy bottom. And a look back at the VERY CUTE bar and restaurant. This is really a great spot to spend an afternoon.

Meet Ms. Anna Silva, an activist against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the Cayo District
An advocate for abused women and children and a survivor of domestic violence herself, Anna, along with Ms. Marilyn Greig, founded Mary Open Doors (MOD) in 2008 in an effort to assist victims like herself. The organization was formed to empower women, children, and men affected by domestic abuse. With the support from the government, businesses, church, community, and other organizations, MOD provides services in two main areas: as a temporary emergency shelter for victims and their families and as a resource center to educate, advocate, and raise awareness of GBV and its effect on families and the greater community. Currently, MOD provides only overnight and short term housing. The temporary emergency shelter can house only 3-4 families or 6-10 people. Throughout the years, MOD, alongside the community and other organizations, have given victims the opportunity to build on their existing skills and/or to develop new skills to help them become self-sustainable. This is done through traditional or nontraditional training sessions or simply by linking victims with existing resources. While no longer responsible for the daily operations of the organization, Anna has remained on the Board of Directors as Trustee of the organization and continues to be involved with the women and children seeking assistance. She always makes herself available to GBV victims. Anna continues to work with families in her community, through counseling and referrals for medical attention and provides information on available resources.

International Sources

What DNA reveals about St Helena’s freed slaves
Fascinating! St. Helena is a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. Investigation of a 150-year-old burial site is helping to unlock the mysteries of one of humanity’s darkest chapters.
In 1849, Anglican bishop Robert Gray described a slave ship being unloaded on the island of St Helena. “I never beheld a more piteous sight,” he observed of the people on board. Some were dead; many more were close to it. “They had a worn look and wasted appearance, and were moved into the boats like bales of goods, apparently without any will of their own.” These men and women were refugees of the British Navy's campaign against the slave trade. The United Kingdom had outlawed the trade in 1807, and anti-slaver patrols were intercepting boats along the Middle Passage — the trade route from Africa to the Americas — even venturing into the harbour of Rio de Janeiro. Situated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, St Helena became a favoured drop-off point for people freed from the ships. From 1840 to the late 1860s, scores of ships carrying some 27,000 slaves were captured and brought to the island. The slaves who survived were granted freedom and most were eventually relocated, but for nearly 10,000, many of them children, a rocky valley on St Helena became their final resting place.

Language, dance and music of the Garifuna
What is "intangible heritage?" UNESCO defines is as "oral traditions and expressions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe and the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts." Read about where Belize fits in!
A population of mixed origin incorporating cultural elements of indigenous Caribbean and African groups, the Garifuna settled along the Atlantic coast of Central America after being forced to flee from the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent in the eighteenth century. Today, Garifuna communities mainly live in Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Belize. The Garifuna language belongs to the Arawakan group of languages and has survived centuries of discrimination and linguistic domination. It is rich in tales (úraga) originally recited during wakes or large gatherings.The melodies bring together African and Amerindian elements, and the texts are a veritable repository of the history and traditional knowledge of the Garifuna, such as cassava-growing, fishing, canoe-building and the construction of baked mud houses. There is also a considerable amount of satire in these songs, which are accompanied by various drums and dances, which the spectators may join in. These traditions are still very important to the life and survival of the Garifuna people. The elders are the ones who maintain many of the ceremonies, festivals and oral traditions. However, economic migration, discrimination and the complete absence of the Garifuna language from the school system are endangering its survival. Although the language is still widely spoken, it is now taught in only one village.

Belize Fishing Report: November 27th – December 3rd, 2016
Bonefish are the staple of our existence here. Even without these beautiful fish in such large numbers, we would still be left with an impressive permit and tarpon fishery. That by itself would make a for a great destination. With millions of bonefish, it's an unmatched destination for a potential grand slam. This week we had one boat with over 50 bonefish in a single day! Wow, they were busy! Also, we had a couple of big fish up to 5 pounds. 4 pounds is a big fish here with the biggest coming in around 7 pounds. Total pounds per day per angler is the highest I have seen anywhere!

Climate Prediction Center’s Central America Hazards Outlook December 8 – 14, 2016
Compared to the previous week with the passage of Tropical Cyclone Otto, a large decrease in precipitation was observed throughout much of Central America during early December. The highest weekly accumulations (>50mm) were received over several costal departments of Costa Rica Nicaragua, and Panama, with more moderate totals (10-25mm) throughout the northern coastal departments of Honduras. Little to no rainfall was received for many interior departments of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Since early November, many areas in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Belize have experienced below-average rains leading to late season moisture deficits. The anomalous dryness across central and eastern Guatemala and western Honduras has been associated with a longer-term trend of low and erratic seasonal rainfall, as several areas have received less than 80 percent of their normal rainfall accumulations since early September. The suppressed Postrera rains in the region are likely to lead to unfavorable ground conditions and may negatively impact cropping activities. With precipitation normally decreasing in December, recovery of moisture deficits appears unlikely. During the next outlook period, precipitation models suggest an increase in rainfall throughout much of Central America, with the potential for heavy rainfall amounts (>75mm) over northern Guatemala. Seasonable rainfall amounts are expected throughout the Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama during the next seven days.

38-year-old cold case cracked
Imagine if two of your loved ones were killed, and authorities knew it was murder but never caught or charged anyone with the crime. When a case goes cold many tend to loose hope, but a small lead decades later can crack a case back open. That's what happened when a former Sacramento man was arrested Dec.1 and charged with killing two people almost four decades ago. 75-year-old Silas Duane Boston was tracked down by the FBI and arrested in a Paradise convalescent home. Boston is accused of killing an English couple, Christopher Farmer and Peta Frampton in the summer of 1978. Court documents show that the murder happened between June and July of 78' off the coast of Guatemala. Both Farmer and Frampton were tortured and hog tied and thrown in the middle of the ocean to drown. Records show that Farmer and Frampton were once aboard the boat Boston owned and operated in Belize. Statements from Boston's two sons Vince and Russell stated that their father moved them from Sacramento to Belize running away from statutory rape charges. In interviews both boys said their dad illegally gave boat tours which is how they met the couple.

Former Sacramento man, 75, indicted in double killing at sea. Could he have killed others?
A federal judge announced a double murder indictment Thursday against a 75-year-old former Sacramento resident, 38 years after the hog-tied bodies of two British tourists were found after a boating excursion from Belize. Silas Duane Boston, who was arrested last week in the rural town of Paradise, was charged with two counts of first-degree maritime murder in the killing of Christopher Farmer and his girlfriend, Peta Frampton. The tourists from Cheshire, England, recent graduates of medical and law schools who were both in their mid-20s, had taken an excursion on a boat that Boston was operating in Belize, earning money by taking tourists on scuba diving or snorkling expeditions. The complaint also suggested Boston may have been involved in a fatal hit-and-run in Sacramento’s Lemon Hill neighborhood in 1972. The same traveling companion also allegedly listened to Boston’s story about killing his wife. The FBI complaint says Boston told his traveling companion that he killed his wife and buried her body after taking her to an undisclosed location where he liked to go shooting. A man who traveled with Boston in Mexico told authorities that Silas Boston had said that after Mary Lou Boston exited his truck, he told her to run and then shot her. Silas Boston told the man that he “was unsure if he hit her in the back of her skull or the base of her skull but the shot didn’t kill her,” the complaint states. The man said Boston told him he approached his wife as she pleaded for her life – asking “What about the kids?” – before Boston delivered the fatal shot. Authorities said Boston told the man that he was left with blisters on his hands from burying her.

Could Fortis Inc Gain Strenght? The Stock Reaches 52-Week Low
The stock of Fortis Inc (TSE:FTS) is a huge mover today! About 108,298 shares traded hands. Fortis Inc (TSE:FTS) has declined 1.84% since May 3, 2016 and is downtrending. It has underperformed by 9.70% the S&P500.; The move comes after 9 months negative chart setup for the $16.26B company. It was reported on Dec, 8 by Barchart.com. We have $36.59 PT which if reached, will make TSE:FTS worth $1.46B less. Out of 9 analysts covering Fortis Incorporated (TSE:FTS), 6 rate it a “Buy”, 0 “Sell”, while 3 “Hold”. This means 67% are positive. $50 is the highest target while $38 is the lowest. The $45.78 average target is 13.85% above today’s ($40.21) stock price. Fortis Incorporated has been the topic of 16 analyst reports since August 4, 2015 according to StockzIntelligence Inc. The stock of Fortis Inc (TSE:FTS) earned “Outperform” rating by Raymond James on Thursday, September 22. The firm earned “Sector Perform” rating on Wednesday, July 20 by IBC. The rating was maintained by RBC Capital Markets with “Outperform” on Wednesday, October 7. The rating was maintained by Desjardins Securities with “Buy” on Thursday, November 24.

“Brexit” Won’t Stop Central America from Finishing Integration Process
Central America’s economic integration process has undergone various phases since its beginnings in the 1960s but is still alive and remains a goal so highly coveted by its members that British exit – “Brexit” – from the European Union will not cause it to falter. “I don’t think there’s a danger of ‘Brexit’ making Central America question its interest in integration. This is a longstanding desire in the region, dating back since long before the EU existed,” the head of the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA), Carmen Gisela Vergara, said in an interview with EFE. Central America, a region that is rich in natural resources and strategically located, launched its roadmap toward greater union in 1960 with the General Treaty on Central American Integration and later continued that effort with the Protocol of Tegucigalpa and Protocol of Guatemala in the 1990s. Since the outset, each generation has done its part to consolidate the integration project.

Videos

December 8, 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, and other specials

Ambergris Today

San Pedro Comes Together In Support of Fallen Angel
The San Pedro community once again rallied together in support of one of their own and displayed once again how united, strong and caring the people of La Isla Bonita really are. #StrongWithKat a fundraiser for Katherine Portillo took place this past weekend for a friend in much need. Local Sanpedrana, Kathy Portillo was in a tragic car accident and suffered extensive injuries that include a severe spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed from the chest down. She is undergoing a complex recovery process and needs assistance with all daily living activities. The #StrongWithKat fundraiser (Dec. 2 &3) that included a radiothon, dollar drive, food sale, run/walk and T-shirt sales was a fundraiser that will help to provide 24/7 nursing care and physical therapy.

25 Individuals Receive Wheelchairs From The Wheelchair Foundation of California
Twenty five individuals living in San Pedro and Caye Caulker have received wheelchairs donated by the Wheelchair Foundation of California on December 6, 2016 at the San Pedro Lions Den. Residents of the San Pedro and Caye Caulker communities attended this event. San Pedro Mayor Daniel Guerrero gave his gratitude, along with Mr. Glenn Perry from the Wheelchair Foundation. Eiden Salazar, San Pedro Red Cross Board President, was master of ceremonies for the evening. Over the past months, the Wheelchair Foundation officials have been working with the San Pedro Branch of the Belize Red Cross and the medical staff on the islands to compile the list of individuals who need wheelchairs.

Unmasking the Many Faces of Gender Based Violence
The University Of Belize Social Work Student Association (SWSA) and the University of Belize Social Work Department held an event entitled “ Stop Gender-Based Violence via Expressive Arts” to raise awareness of gender-based violence in Belize. This event was inspiring, empowering, innovative, and an avenue for UB social work students to express their talents and to learn from prominent activist in the Belize about all forms of gender-based violence. The event was a part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign. It was held at Spoonaz Photo Café on Wednesday, November 30, 2016, at 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Students and visitors packed the Spoonaz Café, where the event was held and were treated to a range of powerful and profound performances and testimonials. There was a celebratory mood enveloped in a sobering spirit that more needs to be done to end gender-based violence. The night touched on serious and sensitive topics such as: women empowerment/leadership, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, gender stereotypes, and gender identity & Sexuality.

Misc Belizean Sources

Prime Minister’s Return Delayed
The Office of the Prime Minister informs that the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow will not be returning to Belize today as originally planned. The Prime Minister was experiencing symptoms seemingly consistent with viral gastroenteritis prior to his departure and had to be admitted to the Belize Medical Associates overnight last Thursday. The symptoms have persisted during his travel and he saw a doctor and was advised to run tests, some of which could not have been diagnosed in Belize. For this reason, Prime Minister Barrow’s return is delayed until Sunday, 11th December 2016. During his absence, Hon. Patrick Faber will continue to act as Prime Minister, and the signing of the UNCAC and the meeting of the House of Representatives will proceed.

Self-Defense for Women and Girls
Learn to use observation skils and vocal skills to prevent a situation from ecalating into violence. Learn physical skills to defense yourself including defense against gun, knife, machete, strangulation, suffocation, choking. Learn how to respond to a home invasion. Have fun, too! Saturday, December 10 at 8:30 AM - 12 PM, Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Belize, Belize City

Caye Caulker 3rd Annual Christmas Party
FREE ,FREE, FREE TICKETS ! December 18, Baskerball Court 4pm. Tickets will be available on December 1st to the 12th. During the hours of 2pm to 6pm at Step By Step Tutoring Center . Parents must come for the tickets. PLEASE NOTE--------"ONLY FOR CHILDREN LIVING ON CAYE CAULKER AGES 1 TO 10 YRS".

La Isla Carinosa Academy Christmas Show 2016
LICA playground, December 15th, 6:30pm. Its that time of the year once again! LICA CHRISTMAS SHOW. Those who attended last year can attest to all the fun we had. Don't miss out on the fun again this year. See you there!!! You can purchase your tickets at our office or with any of our students or teachers.

Poets Corner: Disability Registry
By Abdulmajeed K Nunez We need a report from the Special Envoy For all the trips and perks she has enjoyed Under the guise of fighting the diversely-abled ploy This the people of Belize a cannot be denied Since neither for us and nothing without is the diversely-abled cry This decadence hurts the I Belize became 148 signatory On 9th May 2011 fortunately To the Convention on the Rights of Person with Disability Promising protection of those with vulnerability Yet we have no disability registry BCVI, BAPDA, and NARCIE Claim they have theirs individually Inspiration Center has a personal registry What will it take to have national registry? This enables us to serve this community Persons who are most vulnerable in society It was Mrs Barrow who attended the signing ceremony Prior to her Judith’s visit to Hawaii

Yucatec Maya Huipil style blouse
Preserving our Maya heritage and culture in these modern times. Sometimes our youths do not want to wear our traditional Yucatec Maya Huipil due to western influence. Many Yucatec Maya in Belize only use the traditional Huipil for cultural presentations. What do you think of bringing our Maya wears back? How many of you young women would wear this Yucatec Maya Huipil style blouse? Season greetings to everyone from the Yucatec Maya of Corozal.

Wanaragua Workshop
Ever wanted to learn? Now is your chance... December 10th, 8:30am - 3:30pm. Helpage Building, Dangriga

Learn Spanish in a Most Practical and Easy Way
Spanish lessons are underway here in Corozal at the House of Culture, each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Interested persons are invited to attend.

Google Timelapse
This is really neat. Google Earth has made a time lapse of evolution of the world over the last 30 years. Click on the link on the far right, directly underneath the graphic, which says "Explore the World," and type in "Caye Caulker." See how Caye Caulker has changed over the last 30 years. You might have to use the zoom feature to zoom in to Caye Caulker.

BelizeINVEST, BELTRAIDE PARTICIPATES IN THE 7th EDITION OF INDIA – LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN (LAC) CONCLAVE 2016
On November 28 , 2016, BelizeINVEST a unit of BELTRAIDE, participated in the 7th Edition of the India – Latin America & Caribbean (LAC) Conclave in Guadalajara, Mexico, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN ECLAC) and the Government of Jalisco, Mexico. The event served as a platform to foster trade and investment opportunities between India and Latin American & Caribbean countries. As India – LAC cross – country investments continue to thrive to a total of an estimated $23 billion USD in 2014, key thematic areas, such as the role of regional groups and trade agreements in the India – LAC relationships, were discussed through plenary sessions which comprised of approximately 120 key public and private representations. Through strategic relationships built at the event, BelizeINVEST seeks to continue its investment promotion endeavors for the generation of Indian investments to Belize.

Temporary closing of Baking Pot Ferry
Thursday and Friday 8-noon. Public Announcement from the Ministry of Works. Baking Pot is the name, former name of Central Farm. If you mail from there, the postal stamp says 'Baking Pot' and the archaeological work there is also named Baking Pot. aThis release is first i am hearing about a bridge there! The new high rise bridge (very high ) over Macal should open in March 2017.

Belize Defence Force Lieutenant Receives Silver Medal Award
Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Velasquez of the Belize Defence Force was the proud recipient of a Silver Medal award from the Central American Armed Forces Conference (CFAC) on Wednesday November 30th, 2016 during its meeting in El Salvador. This award is in recognition of Velasquez’s meritorious participation and contribution to the greater cooperation of the armies of the Central American region. The award was presented to him by President of the Superior Council of CFAC Lieutenant General David Mungia Payes, Minister of Defence of El Salvador, on behalf of the armies of the region. Other recipients of the award included Peruvian Vice Admiral Gonzalo Polastri and British Colonel David Stradbridge.

Aquatic Homicidal Death Investigation Training
The Embassy’s Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) program facilitated an Aquatic Homicidal Death Investigation Training for 39 people from several sections of Belizean law enforcement including Crime Scene Technicians, Crime Investigators, Coast Guard Dive Team, a Medical Examiner, and several others. As part of CARSI’s overall commitment to assist in improving citizen security in Belize, the goal of this course was to equip law enforcement managers and supervisors with the specific forensic and behavioral knowledge necessary for handling aquatic death investigations. Few things in a democracy are as important as ensuring that citizens have confidence in their rule of law institutions. Ensuring all types of death cases are properly investigated is a key element in maintaining citizen confidence in the police department. Since 2008, the United States Government has provided US $40 million to the Government of Belize through CARSI to assist in enhancing citizen security and rule of law in Belize.

BTL Job Fair
This Saturday, December 10th - Belize City. Belize Telemedia Limited is looking for qualified Technicians to join our winning team!!! Applicants should possess an Associates Degree (Preference will be given to those with Computer Networking or equivalent technical field) Vacancies are available only in Belize City, San Pedro and Caye Caulker. Interviews will be held from 8am - 1pm on Saturday, December 10th at our BTL Office on Church St. in Belize City. Remember to bring along your resume and two references.

Cockscomb Basin Bird Count
Annual Belize Audubon Society bird count for this area. Open to anyone with an interest in Birds, and a great opportunity to meet professionals in the field. The Pre-count meeting starts at 7.00pm on the 15th, at the Cockscomb Basin Head Quarters. There is where we will split in teams, decide who covers which area and team members. If you plan to attend the Bird Count the following day, this meeting is a must. Dec 16 at 1 AM to Dec 17 at 12 AM, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Meet Ms. Dorla Bowman, an activist against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the Toledo District
Dorla is a social justice activist who has worked throughout Belize promoting gender equality, economic development, and peace through self-help and self-reliance. She has been actively addressing the issue of the full participation of women in the development of Belize and GBV since 1981. In her quest to address the issue of discrimination against woman, she lobbied for the ratification of the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the formulation of the first National Policy Statement on Women. Dorla has also served as the Public/Educator Trainer and Director of the Women’s Bureau (now known as the Women’s Department), the founding President of Women Against Violence, President of the National Women’s Commission, and one of the founders of the Belize Women’s Political Caucus. Additionally, Dorla has served as one of the founding members of Socio-Economic Outreach (SEO), which works to reduce poverty in the Toledo District. She developed socio-economic outreach programs focused on fighting poverty and malnutrition, in-service volunteer training, information sharing, and fundraising. Dorla also established and is the current President of Building People Movement, a local non-governmental organization with a vision of economic empowerment for marginalized communities.

Channel 7

Another Case Collapses, Joshua Abraham's Alleged Killers Go Free, DPP Laments
When 9 year old Joshua Abraham was killed on Independence Day, 2011, it was a tragedy that shook society to its core. The Standard 2 student had just returned from watching the 21st. Parade. He was standing on the sidewalk in front of his home on Victoria street - when two men rode past on separate bicycles and began to fire indiscriminately. One of the bullets hit Joshua, and he died shortly after. It happened in broad daylight, and based on eyewitness accounts, Police said the gunmen were Randy Green and Michael Young. The pair have been on remand for 5 years – but tonight they are free. That's after the prosecution could not get their confession statements admitted and could not get key witnesses to back up their statements in the courtroom. Christelle Wilson represented 30 year old Randy Green while Baja Shoman represented 27 year old Michael Young. Wilson told us that after Crown Counsel Janelle Tillett closed her case, and neither caution statements nor witness statements were compelling, she made the no case submission:…

Was Baby Janeeka Beaten To Death?
Did child neglect or abuse cause the death of a one year old baby girl? That's what Belmopan police are investigating after one-year-old St. Matthews Villager Janeeka Campbell was picked up by police yesterday in an unresponsive state. Police were in the village when they were told that a small child was in urgent need of medical care. Police picked up the child and started rushing her to Belmopan's Western Regional Hospital. They transferred her to an ambulance along the way. But the one year old was pronounced dead on arrival at the Western Regional. What's concerning is that she was found with bruises to various parts of her body. We are told she also appeared underweight. Tonight her father is detained and her mother was also questioned today. Is it a case of criminal parental neglect? Police don't know much and they aren't jumping to conclusions. The officer commanding Belmopan told us what they have at this point:…

Butane Leak Caused Chateau To Burn
A gas pipe leak caused the fire that destroyed the iconic Chateau Caribbean. That's the official report from the fire department. In a briefing today, Station Manager, Orin Smith explained that there was a leak in a section of the pipe connecting the butane gas tank to one of the stoves in the kitchen. That leak filled the air with highly flammable butane, and that's what caused the source for the ignition which burnt down the building. Reports are that employees were in the kitchen cooking at the time. Smith told us this is not the first fire at the Chateau Caribbean and that there are measures that hotel and restaurant owners can take to prevent fires. Orin Smith - Station Mgr, Fire Department: "The Chateau fire investigation had concluded. That investigation reveals that the fire originated as a result of a gas leak from a galvanized pipeline that was used to transfer gas supply to the main stove within the kitchen on the third story of the building. The pipeline had a small leak that I would believe eventually build up over time and this section of the pipeline that had the leak was within a double layer wall of concrete block and when that ignition took place that Sunday morning it cause a sudden ignition that sounded like an explosion and in actuality it actually was because of the build-up of vapour within the wall."

PM's Return Delayed By Gastroenteritis, Will Miss First House Meeting As PM
Prime Minister Barrow's return to the country has been delayed by illness. He was scheduled to return from New York today after a few days meetings relating to the refinancing of the Superbond. But a press release issued at midday announced that the PM has viral gastroenteritis and is awaiting the results of tests done in New York. The release discloses that he had to be hospitalized overnight last week Thursday with the same illness. He travelled on Saturday, but the symptoms persisted, and so he visited a doctor in New York. He is now awaiting the results of those tests and will not return until Saturday. And, so, what about the house meeting on Friday? And the signing of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption which is also scheduled for Friday?

GOB Offers Bondholders "Consent Solicitation Statement"
And while the Prime Minister is in New York, the meetings with bondholders have concluded. According to a release on the Central Bank website, government is proposing to bondholders something called a "Consent Solicitation Statement." This is kind of like a first offer, which government will send to bondholders in early January 2017. Government is asking for responses by mid-February of 2017. If at that point, 75% of the bondholders agree with the terms in the Consent Solicitation Statement – well then Government hopes to finalize a new agreement with bondholders before the next Superbond payment is due on February 20, 2017. But that's only the plan; it could get a lot more complex and drawn out, if fewer than 75% of the bondholders give their consent. Likely, bondholders will want the Government and the people of Belize to "share the pain." And that's why the press release says that , quote, "Government is seeking Parliamentary approval for a rigorous fiscal reform agenda." These fiscal adjustment measures, include refinancing the Superbond, and, in the release, Government is inviting bond-holders, quote, "to comment on possible structures for amending the financial terms of those instruments in order to put the Bonds on a sustainable footing."

The Senate's Deep Drill Begins Into Immigration Irregularities
After exactly a month's break, the Senate Select Committee resumed its hearings, drilling deep into the Auditor General's Report on the Immigration Department. They're trying to get to the bottom of the mass irregularities that her report has catalogued. Today's session was a marathon 5 hours where Auditor General Dorothy Bradley was back under the public lens as they dissected the work of her audit team piece by piece. Today, the 5 member committee, in meticulous fashion, started with the portions of the document in which she and her team complained of what appeared to be deliberate attempts at frustrating the audit process. Now, in her interview with us in September, former Acting Director of Immigration Maria Marin, flatly denied any attempts to get in the way of the auditors. She told us that she did all she could to help them, but in some instances, the department could not, for example, provide files because the Police had taken them in their own investigation.

Auditor General Makes Major Concession On Allegation of Ministerial "Illegal" Acts
So, in the afternoon session, when the hearings resumed, the Senate Committee members turned to some of the Auditor General's findings in which persons who obviously did not qualify for visa's, nationality or passports, managed to get them anyway. Some of these people got these documents approved at lightning speed, some in a matter of days, some right after they had been given visas to travel to Belize. Here's the Senate questioning the auditors on these findings: Hon. Eamon Courtenay - PUP Senator: "We found recommendation and request made by ministers of government for individuals to be approved Belize visas, paragraph 7. First sentence; do you have any examples of these letters, recommendations and requests made by ministers?" Dorothy Bradley - Auditor General: "Yes." Hon. Eamon Courtenay - PUP Senator: "Do they form part of your report?" Dorothy Bradley - Auditor General "Yes." Hon. Eamon Courtenay - PUP Senator: "Right... The actual letters? I'm asking you these documents that you gave us, you have the actual letters from the ministers?"

Man Found With Loaded Gun At Courthouse
In June of 2010, gang leader Andre Trapp was slain outside the courthouse building in Belize City.That incident proved that predatory gunmen lurk there because that’s often the only place where they can catch major street figures outside the protection of their home turf. That’s why an arrest today is troubling to police and court security. The cops found a man at the courthouse with a loaded double – barrelled 38 pistol. 19-year-old John Orosco was acting suspiciously and fidgeting with the waist of his pants. Police searched him and found a silver, double-barrelled .38 special tucked in his waist. The gun contained 2 rounds of gold coloured ammunition. We are told the weapon appeared to be relatively new.

GSU Gets A Ruger
The GSU says they took ammunition and weed off the GSG’s turf yesterday. The unit searched an abandoned house on Caesar Ridge Road, where they found four ounces of weed, and (13) live rounds of .45 ammunition. And on Tuesday night, the unit scored with the discovery of a 9 millimeter pistol. They searched the home of a person they refer to as a “known drug peddler on Iguana Street Extension” where they found a 9 millimetre Ruger pistol. It was loaded with 6 live rounds of ammunition. No one was around and the gun was labelled as Found Property.

Accountant Nestor Vasquez Says Senator Courtenay Has It All Wrong
Last night on the news, you saw Senator Eamon Courtenay explaining why the Senate's appointment of Net Vasquez as accountant for the Integrity Commission has to be rescinded. Courtney argues that Vasquez is not a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants because his certificate of membership has expired. Today Net Vasquez responded to that criticism:… Nestor Vasquez - Accountant, Integrity Commission: "Certificate I provided when the cabinet asked for a resume is this one. It's dated January 1st 1985 okay and this certificate if you can look it carefully and show me an expiration date, if you can find one show it to me, it has none okay. I have remained a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Belize without any interruption. The internal arose when I was given the post of executive chairman at Belize Telemedia, I no longer needed a practicing certificate so I did not apply to have a practicing certificate. I closed my office okay, I discharged my staff with their compensation, I have no clients, I haven't been practicing then but I remained a member a of the Institute of Chartered Accountants."

The Belize Barrier Reef: 20 Years As A World Heritage Site
Belize's Barrier Reef is not only one of the country's largest income generators, but it's also a marvel of nature. The Barrier Reef Reserve System which includes the atolls, mangrove forests and cayes was officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Now 20 years later, the organizations and industries that benefit and make their livelihoods off the reef gathered to celebrate the second largest barrier reef in the world. We spoke to John Burgos, the Executive Director of the BTIA, one of the ceremony's organizers about the importance of our reef being recognized by UNESCO… John Burgos - Executive Director, BTIA: "Well basically this is the beginning of a series of events that we've been organising over the last 5 months to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the World Heritage Site of the Belize Barrier Reef is being recognised by UNESCO community. We would like for Belizeans to really get to understand how much value it brings to the economy and to what Belize stands for not only for the tourism industry, we're looking at everything that resides within the coast line and marine ecosystems in Belize are influenced and impacted by the Belize Barrier Reef System."

Services Sector Strategy, the Real Deal
ICT, Tourism and Culture are important service sectors and the Ministry of Economic Development want to strengthen them through regional strategies. Now we know, whenever the words report or strategy are used we lose interest and faith, because almost all the time, these draft documents don't really do or change anything. But the Ministry's Acting CSME Focal Point Berisford Codd, told us they plan on seriously putting these strategies into action. At today's consultation session at the Princess hotel, Codd told us how this process works and why it is important for the service sector and the economy. Berisford Codd - Acting CSME Focal Point, Ministry of Investment: "It's not one strategy, its one strategy per sector so there are different sectors we are looking at, health and wellness, which deals with both medical providers and the persons who deal with spa and wellness that type of field, there is ICT and we also have professional services that touches architects , engineers and that sort of thing and there is culture and entertainment services , we also have some other in the pipe line such as tourism, education, and sports, so each of these sectors will get their own strategy. What we really are doing is to bring all the partners today to the table so everybody can get a greater sense of where we are going as a group."

BDF Lieutenant Colonel Stands Out In El Salvador
In June the Guatemalan President referred to Belize’s army as unprofessional – and though he’s a comedian, Jimmy Morales was dead serious when he made that cutting remark. But, the BDF is proving otherwise – and right in Guatemala’s back yard. Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Velasquez earned a Silver Medal award from the Central American Armed Forces Conference (CFAC) on Wednesday in El Salvador. A release states, quote: "This award is in recognition of Velasquez’s meritorious participation and contribution to the greater cooperation of the armies of the Central American region.” The award was presented by el Salvador’s Minister of Defence Lieutenant General David Mungia Payes, quote “on behalf of the armies of the region." CFAC promotes cooperation, coordination, and mutual support among the regional armed forces.

UN Framework Launched
Today the Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with the UN launched the United Nations Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework in the Caribbean. It’s a long and complicated name for an agreement between the UN and several countries in the Caribbean, where the UN provides funds to support the growth of developing countries. We spoke to Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington and the UN Resident Coordinator, Christian Salazar, about the signing of the agreement, and where the funds will be allocated… Health, poverty reduction, climate change and citizen security and justice were chosen because they were identified as key areas in raising the quality of life for Belizeans.

Praying For Peace
The wave of crime in recent weeks has left Belize City shell shocked. It’s not so much the number of murders but the types of killings: 7 year old Tyler Savery gunned down for no reason, 44 year old Dale Tillett Sr. gunned down, again, no reason. I could go on….but you get the idea…it’s just too much senseless killings. That’s why today, the Belize City Council and other members of the community came together in protest of those crimes and in solidarity for their victims. The council along with the police and other stakeholders marched through the streets of Belize City in a Walk for Peace. We spoke to the event’s major organisers and participants about why this walk is necessary in this climate of crime and violence… The event ended with a rally at BTL park where several citizens gave their testimonials and performed for the crowd…

Mayor On Foreshore Frustration
The Belize City Council has been paving roads for years. One of those roads, Southern Foreshore in Belize City, was fully cemented and equipped with a drainage system about two years ago. The street's drains were covered with metal grills that have been proven as sub standard. While the grills worked for a while, they have recently come undone, and are more of a traffic hazard than anything else right now. We asked the Mayor if there are any plans to repair this eyesore and traffic hazard urgently... These grills have been re-done a number of times.

The Death Aquatic
Belize has many traumatic deaths on land – and there are also a good many at sea, including homicides, and drowning’s of Belizeans and tourists. Now it’s hard enough to get crimes solved or causes of death identified when they occur on solid ground, so you can imagine the challenges when the deaths occur in water. That’s why last week several members of the Coast Guard dive team, police crime investigators and medical examiners participated in an aquatic homicidal death investigation training course. The course was organised by the US Embassy, and aimed to equip law enforcement with the skills necessary for analysing all aspects of aquatic death cases in the country. Participants were taught how to determine the cause of death of victims along with proper case and forensic management skills.

Belize Bank Throws A Party For Stella Maris Kids
Who doesn't love a good Christmas party? Well the students from Stella Maris certainly enjoyed theirs today. Every year the Belize Bank hosts over 100 kids at the Radisson for a fun Christmas party. Even Santa drops by bearing gifts. The senior Marketing officer, Denise Godfrey told us why they keep on organising this party and what it means for these kids with Diverse Abilities. 108 kids attended this year’s Christmas party.

Maskall Woman Missing
Belize District rural Police are asking your help to find a 67 year old woman form Maskall who’s been missing since for two days. Gabriela Mendez was last seen at Spanish Town in Maskall Village on Monday. Maskall Police searched for her from 11 this morning to 5:00 this evening and found nothing. Anyone knowing her whereabouts sis asked to contact police.

Channel 5

Toddler Dies in St. Matthew’s: Accident or Murder?
We begin tonight’s newscast with shocking news of the death of a baby girl under most mysterious circumstances, where authorities are not sure if it was an accident or a [...]

Family Claims It Was an Accident; Police Wait for Post-Mortem Results
Late-breaking information from an aunt of the deceased, who spoke to News Five via telephone this evening, is that according to Janeeka’s father, they were sleeping in bed together when [...]

No Justice for Joshua Abraham; Accused Killers Set Free
While police are yet to conclude that a two-year old girl from Saint Matthews was murdered, in the courtroom today, two murder suspects of another child walked free. The case [...]

Sick P.M. to Miss House on Friday; Faber Steps Into Top Job
Prime Minister Dean Barrow did not make it back to Belize from New York for health reasons, following meetings with bondholders.  A release today says the PM is receiving medical treatment [...]

Wilfred Elrington Stands by “Naming” of “Rude, Disrespectful” Julius Espat
On Tuesday, the Chief Justice struck out a case brought against the Speaker of the House by Cayo South area rep Julius Espat. Espat argued that his removal from the [...]

Maybe Some Cheer for Christmas This Year; Gov’t Reps Will Be Resourceful
The Christmas Cheer was introduced by the Barrow Administration to U.D.P. ministers, caretakers and other political officers.  Thousands of dollars from the public purse were also disbursed, albeit disproportionately to [...]

Irregular, But Not Illegal: Auditor General Revises Position on Minister’s Visa Recommendations
The second session of the Senate Special Select Committee recalled Auditor General Dorothy Bradley, who was joined by direct assistant and Supervisor of Audit Carla Faber to answer further questions [...]

Will Immigration Go After Beneficiaries of Visas, Passports and Nationality?
Among the many irregularities found in the Immigration Audit Report’s three volumes is the curious process by which persons who had never set foot on Belizean shores were able to [...]

Michael Modiri’s Caretaker Exposes Blackmail and False Evidence Plot
The bitter land dispute in Frank’s Eddy Village between businessmen Michael Modiri and Bradley Paumen, over access to Paumen’s Dark Night Tours, is unceasing.   Despite their names making headlines on [...]

Are Senior Police Behind Blackmail and Abuse of Jerome Crawford?
Crawford claims that he was physically abused by the arresting officers, a matter which is presently before the court.  He also says that in visiting the Belmopan police station on [...]

Wilfred Elrington Supports A.G. in Case Against Andre Vega and Sharon Pitts
The government is filing a lawsuit against Andre Vega for not reimbursing to government a four-hundred-thousand-dollar compensation that was paid to him in a land scandal surrounding a property near [...]

Still Time for Sarstoon Protocol Before 2016 Ends?
The last we spoke with Minister Elrington, he made it clear that communication with his counterpart in Guatemala, Carlos Raul Morales, was non-existent and that things relating to the territorial [...]

Leaking Gas Pipe Took Out Historic Chateau Caribbean
An investigation into the cause of a massive fire that decimated the historic Chateau Caribbean Hotel a week and a half ago, has concluded.  According to officials at the National [...]

Accused Hitman or Police Victim? John Orozco Jailed Over Firearm
A teenager, who was busted in front of a Belize City Magistrate’s Court room this morning, is claiming the police planted a gun on him. Authorities suspect they may have [...]

Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework Officially Launched in Belize
Today, the Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework was officially launched following the signing of the agreement between the Government of Belize and the United Nations. The five-year program links the national [...]

Stella Maris Kids Get Christmas Treat from Belize Bank
Christmas is a time for giving and in the spirit of goodwill the Belize Bank, threw a huge party for the children of Stella Marris at the Radisson this morning. [...]

CTV3

Senate Select Committe Meets And Discusses Recommendations Made By Ministers
The senate select committee’s much-anticipated hearings on the Auditor General’s special audit report on immigration resumed for second session today at the National Assembly building in Belmopan. Today’s hearing resumed right where the first one in mid-October had ended, with the Auditor General Dorothy Bradley appearing before the committee members for interrogation. If you can recall, on her first appearance Bradley entered a statement on the record, admitting to committing an error in her report which said that House Speaker Michael Peyrefitte had committed an irregularity when he signed an application for passport. Flanked by her two attorneys Derek Courtenay and Phillip Palacio, Bradley was asked to respond questions and requests for clarification on a number of aspects of her 700-page report. She was joined by a member of the auditing team to assist in the responses to questions about the auditing process.

Prime Minister's Trip Back To Belize Delayed
Prime Minister Dean Barrow left the country on Saturday to attend a meeting in New York City to further carry out Superbond negotiations with bond stakeholders. While the PM was expected to return to the country today following those meetings, a release issued by the office of the Prime Minister earlier today indicates that Prime Minister Dean Barrow will not be returning to the country until Sunday December 12th. So what does his late return mean for Friday’s special House sitting and the signing of the UNCAC, both set for Friday December 9th? Well, according to the release, both the House meeting and UNCAC signing will continue as scheduled with acting PM Patrick Faber. According to the release, PM’s delayed return is attributed to matters regarding to his health, “The Prime Minister was experiencing symptoms seemingly consistent with viral gastroenteritis prior to his departure and had to be admitted to the Belize Medical Associates overnight last Thursday. The symptoms have persisted during his travel and he saw a doctor and was advised to run tests, some of which could not have been diagnosed in Belize.”

Pitts, Vega And GOB To Meet Face To Face In Court
The 30 days given to Andrea Vega and Sharon Pitts by the Attorney General’s office, to respond to the Government’s order requiring the return of $800,000 which Vega and Pitts obtained as compensation in questionable land deals, has expired. CTV-3 News has confirmed that neither Vega nor Pitts responded adequately to the Attorney General within the period given. Pitts, who received $400,000 as compensation for land she was sold by the Government for $10,000, reportedly did initially respond through an attorney, in which she committed to responding properly by December 1st, but that letter never materialised.

BDF Lieutenant Receives Silver Medal Award
Belize Defense Force Lieutenant Anthony Velasquez has received the Silver Medal Award from the Central American Armed Forces Conference (CFAC) on Wednesday November 30th, 2016 during its meeting in El Salvador. This recognition was awarded Velasquez in recognition of his meritorious participation and contribution to the greater cooperation of the armies of the Central American region. The award was presented to him by President of the Superior Council of CFAC Lieutenant General David Mungia Payes, Minister of Defense of El Salvador, on behalf of the armies of the region. The CFAC was created in 2007 and has as its mission the promotion of a permanent and systematic effort of cooperation, coordination, and mutual support among the member armed forces. It includes professional development exchanges, cooperation on dealing with shared issues and threats to democracy, peace, and freedom in the region.

Breaking Belize News

Two trucks collide
Reports reaching our newsroom is that a Toyota Hilux and a Wingle pickup truck collided on the George Price highway this afternoon near the entrance to Camp Belizario. The drivers were both treated at the San Ignacio Community hospital and have been released. Information […]

BDF Lieutenant awarded Silver Medal
Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Velasquez of the Belize Defense Force was the recipient of a Silver Medal award from the Central American Armed Forces Conference (CFAC) on Wednesday November 30th, 2016 during its meeting in El Salvador. This award is in recognition of Velasquez’s meritorious participation […]

Belize National Football Team called to camp
The following article was sent The Football Federation has decided to call players of the National Football Team, just one month away from their participation on the upcoming UNCAF Copa Centroamericana Tournament to be held in Panama on the 13th-22nd of January. How […]

PM Barrow not returning in time for House Sitting and signing of UN convention against corruption
The Office of the Prime Minister issued a press release this afternoon informing that Prime Minister Dean Barrow will not be returning to the country today as originally planned. According to the release, PM Barrow was experiencing symptoms seemingly consistent with viral gastroenteritis prior […]

Parent detained for questioning in death of infant daughter
Police have detained the parent of an infant child for questioning after the child died suddenly yesterday. Belmopan police reported that the child was seen with various bruises to several parts of her body. A post mortem has been scheduled to determine the exact […]

Two-year-old boy drowns in Toledo
A two-year-old boy drowned yesterday in Jalacte village, Toledo. According to reports, Clara Coc Koy, 33, reported to police that around 12:10 p.m. on December 6, 2016 while she was serving lunch to her children, she noticed that her youngest son 2-year-old Samuel Koy […]

Police find 1238 grams of marijuana in Teakettle village
Acting on intelligence, Belmopan police discovered 1,238 grams of cannabis in Teakettle village yesterday morning. According to reports, at around 8:30 am police conducted the search in an empty lot in Teakettle which led to the discovery of the cannabis in a black plastic […]

Questionable medication in Belize
There are shocking revelations that the people of Belize were possibly being treated for health conditions with medicine that doesn’t meet Ministry of Health standards. The CEO in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ramon Figueroa, has not confirmed this frightening possibility but did confirm […]

Manatee dies in boat collision
.A 7 foot manatee too big to fit on the scale at the Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic (BWRC) was reported dead yesterday. According to the BWRC, the manatee may have been the largest patient seen at the clinic’s facility in Central Farm so far. […]

Pitts and Vega to be summoned to court
The Acting Solicitor General is preparing to file a claim against attorney Shaton Pitts and son of former Cabinet minister, Andre Vega. On November 4 the Government of Belize had written the duo requesting that they return the $400,000 they had each received as […]

Letter to the editor; 60% is a 75% but a 70% is not?
The following is a letter submitted to the editor 60% is a 75% but a 70% is not? Belize Defence Force Math (101) I write as a concerned parent of an Officer of the Belize Defence Force, who wakes up […]

Gas tank explosion caused Chateau inferno
A leaking gas tank caused an explosion which ultimately led to the fire that destroyed the historic Chateau Caribbean almost two weeks ago, according to Fire Chief Ted Smith. The fire reportedly began near the rear of the building close to the kitchen of the […]

Blogs

PUDDLES: A MAN OF TWO COUNTRIES
Puddles was born on Caye Caulker and now divides his time between Canada and Belize. On Caye Caulker he’s usually seen in a bike basket toodling around with his people Al & Jo-Ann. I imagine that in Canada he spends his time rolling on grass and hiding from snow. As you can see from the candid shots below, Puddles is a bit of a partier.

Mexican Beef Tortilla Bake
Very easy to make and delicious for every last bite.This dish will be a hit if you take it to your next potluck.

Why visit Belize? 10 Good Reasons Why You Should Travel To Belize Now
From since I started blogging about Belize, the most frequently asked question has been: why visit Belize? This is only logical when one is considering whether Belize a good place to travel. After all, the Caribbean offers a lot of options. When I ask myself why should someone choose to travel to Belize as opposed to another place? For me, the reasons are pretty simple. vacationing in Belize is relaxing and soothing. It’s also physically and mentally stimulating. Many visitors love it so much that they later choose to retire there. So, I’ve prepared a photo collage to show you why Belize is awesome, and let’s see if I can convince you. 1. The key to having good conversations is having interesting stories. How about adding scuba diving with whale sharks to your recent activities? They are gentle and docile creatures but something about having the words whale and shark next to each other makes it sound intimidating. Or maybe that’s just me? 2. Hiking is more fun in Belize. Imagine after a two-hour hike, you end up at the mouth of an amazing cave such as Actun Tunichil Muknal. Getting inside involves swimming and squeezing yourself through narrow areas. Old Mayan pots, cool rock formations and sacrificial remains make the trip worth it.

International Sources

Volunteers provide dental care in Belize
A local dental team of three recently travelled to Belize to provide volunteer dental care to people living there. Dr. Cindee Melashenko, when still in dental school, had travelled to West Africa and Guatemala to do volunteer dental work and had found the experience to be very “inspiring” and “humbling.” Since that time she had bought a dental practise and become a mother, two things that tend to keep one tied down. This past year she decided that it was time to do another trip. She mentioned it to her co-workers Karen Bradley, a Registered Dental Hygienist and Jenna Pederson, a Certified Dental Assistant and they both asked if they could go along. The trio discovered the Belize Mission Project, founded by Dr. Frank Whipps. Once a year he organizes a trip to Belize. The group that travels there are made up of those who have a desire to volunteer their time and talents to serve the less fortunate people of Belize, who have dental and medical needs. It is a non-profit trip, which gives the participants the chance to do something for others out of pure love.

Enculturation and Preservation
The late Andy Palacio, a native of Belize, sang these words as he fought for the preservation of Garifuna music and culture. As a volunteer, an outsider, merely living and working among the people of Belize for two years, the question has entered my head over and over – what does this look like for me? What is my place in cultural preservation? In the efforts to learn from and be with people here, I find there is a certain push-and-pull between the enculturation and preservation of my own self. Having been born to Japanese and Portuguese parents living in the United States, I’ve always had a difficulty defining my culture. I find it much easier to identify the culture in the other than I do in myself. And while I’ve been taught to celebrate the cultures of all peoples, it can, a t times, be awkward to figure out how to do that in a way that honors and respects different cultural sensitivities–to both respect and celebrate the sacredness of culture. Over the year and a half I’ve lived in the rural south of Belize, I’ve had the privilege of partaking in different celebrations of the diverse culture here: the Mayan deer dance, the battle of the drums, Garifuna Settlement Day, and Belizean Independence Day. As I continue to encounter these experiences, I find myself cherishing culture not just in the fireworks of celebrations, but also in the subtle steady candlelight of everyday living.

The traditions and origins of tamales
Back in the late 1930s and the early 1940s, my parents would often drive to Montebello in California to buy tamales from a market where the building was shaped like a giant tamale. I can’t remember much about their tamales accept there was a cornhusk with a dough filled with some kind of meat. What is a tamale? It is generally a meat filling surrounded by dough. The dough is called “masa harina” and is made from white corn flour mixed with lard and a meat broth. The masa is spread out on a cornhusk or banana leaf – each present a difference taste to the tamale – and filling is spread on top of the masa. The mixture is folded over, thus filling is surrounded by the masa. The cornhusk or banana leaf is tied and is placed in a steamer and steamed for three or more hours. Masa harina is available in many supermarkets. Today, in most Mexican restaurants, the tamales are about two ounces. I like to call them border tamales. When I lived in Texas I called them TexMex tamales. In San Antonio I went to the tamale factory where some were handmade. Once you go south of the border, tamales are all different. Tamales originated in Mexico by the Mayans in about 1,200 BC. The Aztec, Olmeca, and Tolteca moved south into the Inca Empire and all along the way different countries made their own version of the Mayan tamale.

Videos

December 7, 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

The Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage provides update on offshore oil exploration in Belize
An update on the controversial situation regarding offshore oil exploration in Belize was held at the SunBreeze Hotel in San Pedro Town on Friday, December 2nd. Hosting the informative public meeting was the Belize Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage, who along with members of the Belize Tourism Association Industry (BTIA) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), discussed the most recent development of this issue of national importance. The public meeting was attended by a handful of concerned island residents eager for an update. Coalition and Communication Officer Jacinta Gomez commended them for having made history in the country after they stood against the government on October 20th. “People power exist, and it does make a difference when we all come together to fight for a worthy cause,” said Gomez. “The San Pedro community got together and made a change for the entire country.”

SPHS celebrates Founders Day in grand style
Founder’s Day was celebrated at San Pedro High School (SPHS) on Monday, December 5th. The occasion commemorated the key individuals who helped establish the high school in 1971, while also celebrateing Former President of SPHS Rafael Angel Nuñez’ birthday. The day’s events also included acknowledging the athletic achievements from both the male and female basketball team, as well as the male and female volleyball teams. The assembly took place at the Rafael Angel Nuñez Auditorium, from invited guests, students of First to Fourth Form, teachers, and were in attendance. Al Felly (deceased) played a significant role in founding SPHS, and guest speakers Celi McCorkle, Martha Guerrero, and Rafael Nuñez spoke about Felly’s dedication that helped SPHS strive to this very day. A short burial ceremony followed after, and invited guests were able to witness Nuñez bury Felly’s ashes amongst the school plants. After a few musical and dance performances, students cheered as the female and male basketball players were awarded with trophies after recently winning the regionals. The male volleyball team was also awarded with medals and a banner, while the female volleyball team received certificates from CODICADER (The Central American Council of Sports and Recreation).

Ambergris Today

Threefold Celebration at San Pedro High Founder's Day
December 5 is an annual celebration at San Pedro High School and this time around the student body and staff celebrated Founder's Day. It was in observance of former Principal Angel Nuñez's birthday and also celebrated the life of Al Felly, the biggest benefactor of the institution. Al Felly became on love with San Pedro and San Pedro High School since the 1970's and contributed immensely to the growth and well being of the school and the island. Before his death earlier this year, he and his family's wish was for part of his ashes be spread in the grounds of the school. On this occasion that honor was fulfilled and his remains now lie near the entrance beside a plaque that reads: "HERE LIES PAPA FELLY IN HIS ISLAND IN THE SUN". It was a touching celebration with testimonials by Celi McCorkle, co-founder and chair lady of the Board, Martha Guerrero also co-founder and lifetime supporter and charlady, and Angel Nunez, co-founder and first Principal for 37 years. A student body of 660 and staff, as well as the Mayor of San Pedro Danny Guerrero, witnessed the celebration and partook in enjoying Papa Felly's favorite song, Island In The Sun.

Misc Belizean Sources

Founder's Day at the San Pedro High School
On Monday, December 5, 2016, Mayor Daniel Guerrero was invited to a special occasion of Founder's Day at the San Pedro High School. Every year in December, the San Pedro High School celebrates founder's day, where the students prepare presentations such as skits, dances and musical performances for the founders and invited guests. This year, was a special Founder's Day event since they present founders along with the entire student body, SPHS staff and invited guests witnessed the memorialization of SPHS ' biggest benefector, Mr. Al Felly, or as he was dearly known as Papa Felly. The official ceremonies initiated with a flute rendition of Belize's National Anthem by the SPHS choir, followed by the School's Song performed by the same.

International Volunteers Day Celebrated
On this very special day when the great work of Volunteers is especially mentioned, The Belize Red Cross would like to take the opportunity to say a special THANK YOU to ALL our Volunteers across the country. Without them we would never be able to reach almost 75% of the entire population of Belize with our different programs and services. It is because of them that the National Society continues to be an organization of compassion and service to all those marginalized and vulnerable people living in our midst and who almost never have a voice. Thanks to the Volunteers for being that voice for them, always looking for different ways to meet their needs and to advocate on their behalf for improved living conditions and alternative livelihoods. The Belize Red Cross, together with all its Volunteers will continue alleviating suffering and promoting a culture of non-violence and peace wherever it is needed.

Saving the Manatee: sometimes there are losses
Sad picture and news snippet... We rarely have time for boredom at BWRC and yesterday was no exception with the necropsy of this 7 foot manatee to determine its' immediate cause of death. This patient was too big to fit on our scale but she must have been the largest patient seen at the clinic facilities in Central Farm so far (previously that was the 7.5 foot 138 pound, hooked American crocodile seen in 2015). Thanks to the whole BWRC team for joining in on this respectable workout and sorry for the sad news. Why did the manatee die? Due to a severe boat strike with 8 propeller cuts across it's entire back, three of which penetrated into its body cavity and leading to broken ribs, rupturing kidneys and one lung with fatal bleeding. How can this sort of accident be prevented? By respecting no wake zones and watching out for these gentle giants. Manatees are slow moving and need our protection

3rd Annual Sarteneja Community Day!
The Sarteneja Fishermen Association Invites Everyone to their Sarteneja Community Day on December 16th! There will be a 6-A-Side Football Marathon starting at 8:30 a.m., Displays of Informational Booths (Lionfish, Jewelry, Conservation, Coral Reef, Manatees, Monkeys, Books, Embroidery, Honey Bees & Marine Life). For those wanting to perform for Talent Night, please register before December 14th (Register at the Library). This event is Organized by local NGO's and community groups based in Sarteneja.

Would YOU run to the end of the world to end violence against women and children?
We are proud to share that these two Embassy colleagues, Claudia Membreno Swasey and Michelle Carrasco, recently ran the End Of The World Marathon (Run Belize; Placencia End of the World Marathon and Half Marathon) in Placencia!

NATIONAL CONSULTATIONS ON THE CARICOM REGIONAL STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR SERVICES
The Directorate General for Foreign Trade in collaboration with the CARICOM Secretariat is hosting national consultations in Belize on the Draft Regional Strategy and Implementation Plan for the Services Sector, which has been developed under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF). The two-day consultations will be held on 7th and 8th December, 2016 at the Ramada Princess Hotel and Casino, Belize City with participation by both the public and private sectors. CARICOM Secretariat officials along with Public Sector representatives will engage in discussions on the regional strategy and implementation plan for priority services sectors which is aimed at identifying priority needs of several services sector including: ICT, Professional Services, Health and Wellness Services, Cultural and Entertainment Services and Tourism Services.

Christmas Edition of ART IN THE PARK
Row, row, row your boat to the Corozal Central Park this weekend. It's the Christmas Edition of ART IN THE PARK. Come out and enjoy this special night with your loved ones at the Central Park on Saturday December 10th. This Corozal Daily would like to wish a Merry Christmas to everyone at home and abroad. Peace Belize!

Rotary Donates 18 Wheelchairs
The Rotary Club of San Ignacio donated 18 wheelchairs to the Rotary neighbors next door. "Our club has a longstanding wheelchair program working with clubs in the US. John Acott has led the donation efforts for many years. 18 chairs were donated to the Tikal Peten Rotary Club in Flores. The handover took place between the two border posts. 9 of the wheelchairs will be distributed in the Flores/Santa Elena area and the other 9 in Sayaxché, which is a town about 1 ½ hours south of Flores. It is an interesting place as you cross a large river on a huge car and truck ferry, powered by a tiny outboard motor at one corner."

Community Outreach in southern Peten
FCD’s Executive Director met with the Consulate of Guatemala, Mr. Edgar Chan to discuss Community Outreach needs in the rural communities of southern Peten.

Meet Ms. Terese Brechin, an activist against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the Corozal District
Terese Brechin is the coordinator of Festive Creation, a local women's group in the Corozal District in Northern Belize. The mission of the group is to empower women who are going through hardship. Terese holds training sessions for women at her house in Corozal Town. Since its inception in January, the women have undergone skills training in fruits preservation, financial management, and have participated in an informational session with the Social Security Board (SSB) about enrolling as contributors to the SSB system. Products that are made by the women are sold to retail and wholesale businesses in the Corozal District. The group’s main support agency is the Women’s Department. Terese and the group have organized a series of trainings on GBV issues. She is proud of the women she works with and considers them dynamic and determined. "If each one of us teaches each other to do things and to help ourselves, I believe we will do so much for our society," emphasizes Terese.

Channel 7

Hon. Julius Rejected By Supreme Court, Speaker Urges Conciliation, Espat Ready For War
In August it made the worst kind of history when PUP Cayo south Representative Julius Espat was forcibly ejected from the House of Representatives. And while the rough handed removal from the house floor provided those indelible images, the fact is he is still on suspension from the House. He hasn't received his pay as a representative from September, and he is not welcome on the premises of the National Assembly. So, Espat went to the Supreme Court, asking for relief. In a matter heard by the Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin, he claimed that the Speaker misused his authority, and failed to follow the procedure for a suspension. Espat claimed his constitutional rights were violated by these abuses and oversights, and asked to court to remedy it - basically by telling the Speaker and the National Assembly Clerk Eddie Webster how they should have handled the matter.

GOB Will Sue Andre Vega and Sharon Pitts
Andre Vega and Sharon Pitts - they both got huge compensation payouts from the Ministry of Natural Resources when the Lands Department gave them title for parcels of land which were already privately owned. It's a transaction and subsequent scandal which effectively ended the cabinet tenure of former lands Minister Gaspar Vega - who is Andre's father. But, that wasn't the end of it, because on October 31st the Ministry of Natural Resources wrote to Pitts and Vega demanding that they refund the compensation money within one month. Well, the news tonight is that they didn't - and so, next week, the Solicitor General is expected to file suit against both Pitts and Vega.

The Curious Case Of General Jones' Home Burglary
He's the commander of Belize's Army - but tonight even Ladyville Police have questions about Brigadier General David Jones. They want to know why he didn't complete a statement he was making about a burglary at his residence at Price Barracks. Police sources tell us that on Saturday Jones dictated about one quarter of a police statement - and then said he had something to do, and would return. But he hasn't and police say that he is presently not cooperating with them. Police don't have the full details on what transpired. The burglary happened on Friday night and reports say thirty thousand dollars in cash were stolen from a drawer. We are told that a firearm and some more cash were in another drawer but those were not stolen.

PUP Senator Stridently Against GOB Pick For Integrity Commission Accountant
Last week Wednesday we told you about that fiery Senate meeting in which the Integrity Commission was appointed, among much other government business. This is supposed to be the watchdog keeping elected politicians honest while they are in office. But, even before the Commission starts doing its work, the members are already embroiled in controversy. The complaint is that all the Prime Minister's appointees, who were approved by the Senate last week, are UDP friendly, or outright UDP allies. So, their objectivity is being questioned given that they are part of the mechanism set in place to curb corruption within the UDP Government. Nestor Vasquez, the Integrity Commission's accountant, has come under particular scrutiny because it was revealed that up until last week, he was not a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in good standing. Added to that is the fact is that the Prime Minister chose him over another accountant named by the Institute. The Opposition is now on a full court press against Vasquez, and their lead Senator Eamon Courtenay has written to Godwin Hulse, the Senate's Leader of Government Business.

Police Say Abner Was Strangled, Not Bludgeoned
Last night we told you about gruesome Teakettle murder of 19 year old Abner Vasquez. Vasquez's body was found at 7:15 Saturday morning in the back yard of a vacant house. Vasquez was apparently attacked sometime between Friday night and early Saturday morning. When we spoke to residents in the area where Vasquez's body was found they claim they did not hear or see anything because they were all at a football tournament in the Arizona area of the village. Now as we told you, there was dent in a patch of dirt where Vasquez's head was bashed in, but according to the post mortem results, he wasn't bludgeoned to death, he was manually strangled. This raises more questions as to what happened and police are still investigating this case. IN terms of the motive, police have their own information, they say that the accused believed Vasquez stole drugs from him and that is why he was killed. But police are still looking for the attackers. Vasquez's aunt told us that there will be a candle light Vigil on Tuesday at 6 starting at his house to where Vasquez was found dead.

Candelaria Saldivar's Long Departure
She had a good long run, but 7News has learned that former CEO Candelaria Saldivar has been terminated from the public service. Saldivar is the sister of Minister John Saldivar and has been CEO in multiple ministries, but it seems she had difficulties getting along with her heads of department and members of staff. She was placed on Administrative leave with full pay and benefits - but government couldn't find a senior position to put her in and they were contemplating retirement in the interest of the public service. We are told that went through last week. Much was made of the fact that while on administrative leave Saldivar continued to collect her annual 60 thousand dollar salary, and all allowances for a year.

Superbond: The "Sob Story" GOB Giving Bondholders
Last night we told you about how the Prime Minister went to New York on Superbond business along with Economic Ambassador Mark Espat, and Financial Secretary Joseph Waight. The press release from the Government was very vague, but it did say that he was to "attend a meeting... in connection with the Superbond." As has been widely reported, government is trying to get the bondholders to restructure the Superbond for a third time because Belize cannot meet the step-up payments under Superbond 2.0. Well, we've gotten a copy of the powerpoint presentation the Government made to the superbond holders. It's dated, "November 2016", and it outlines the financial picture of the country from the Government's perspective. It's a 22-slide presentation filled with all the figures, but a few parts which caught our attention starts on page 8. It reads, quote, "There has been a precipitous decline in economic activity in Belize over the past 2 years. Overall growth fell from a robust pace of 4.1 in 2014 to 1.0 in 2015. Earlier forecasts for 2016 suggested a further decline below 1% growth, but the economy contracted by 0.5 in the first half of the year." End quote.

Complain About Cayo Cop
On Saturday, San Ignacio police arrested Kurt Morgan and his common law wife Shaun Gardener. Police searched the couple on Burns Avenue, while a friend of theirs smoked marijuana. Both Morgan and Gardener had charges against them dropped in the Magistrate's Court yesterday when their friend pled guilty to possession. But even though they have been cleared in court, the common law couple says they've been mistreated. According to them, one police officer, who is an often criticized former GSU officer, used excessive force during their arrest. Morgan came to our studio to tell us more... Kurt Morgan, Says GSU Abused Him: "What happened this weekend on Saturday night was that he came to conduct a search on me and I gave him to conduct this search. When he finished, he found nothing on me. My common-law wife asked him what's the problem and he said he didn't want to hear anything. She told him 'but you are harassing my common law husband' and he said he didn't give an F about that. He hit her in the face, grabbed her, threw her on the ground and told her that he's going to take her to the station too and hand cuffed her from behind. He man handled her and took her to the vehicle and tried to push her in, but he could get her in from the front so he took her and dragged her to the back and stuffed her in the back of the vehicle."

Will Can Sugar Be Crushed By Beet Sugar?
Last night, we brought you extensive coverage of the opening of the 2016-2017 sugar season, which is off to a great start. They are trying to mill 1.4 million tonnes of cane by the end of the season. But, it will be the last crop before the European Market is set to change. At the end of September of next year, the European Union will lift all restrictions they had on European Beet Sugar, which will allow beet farmers to compete directly with sugar milled from sugar cane. Now, the European farmers are producing at a very high rate of efficiency, which far outperforms Belizean cane farmers. Come October 2017, they will be able to flood the market with as much sugar as they can produce, which will drive the price of sugar down. So, is Belize's Sugar Industry ready for the shock that could inflict? Well, you saw how the farmers reacted when the world price of sugar dropped last year, and so, we asked the new Minister about his predictions for that huge, impending transition. Here's what he told us:

Harvest Caye And Overnight Tourism: Can They Coexist?
Norwegian Cruise Line blacklisted 7News from the opening of Harvest Caye, but there's hope for the local media: we're told that the Tourism Board is planning a media trip for to the Forbidden Island. That's supposed to happen next week Wednesday, so let's wait and see. On the peninsula itself where overnight tourism has been thriving, Harvest Caye is seen as both a blessing and a curse. Yes, jobs and opportunities have been created, but all the streams of revenue and earning opportunities are rigidly controlled by Norwegian. The question now is whether overnight tourism and cruise tourism can co-exist on the same peninsula. That's what we asked Stewart Krohn. He's been an outspoken critic of the Harvest Caye project from the get-go, in fact, he once called it crack-head economics. But, it's on the peninsula to stay now, and so we asked him how he and others who've invested millions in overnight properties will live with it:...

Was Guate Drug Bust In Belizean Waters?
This weekend, Social Media in Belize and the local press in Guatemala lit up when news of a 45 million dollar cocaine bust was made in the area of Belize's Sapodilla Range. The Guatemalan Navy intercepted a boat which was filled with about 1,637 kilos, or about 3,608 pounds of cocaine. Onboard were 4 Hondurans, 34 year-old Walter Orlando Portillo, 26 year-old Jose Miguel Andrade Saldivar, 42 year-old Zablo Amilcar Portillo, and 21 year-old Jeyson Julian Avila Suazo. Belizean experts say that it happened in Belizean territorial waters, but the Guatemalans say that they were caught in the Caribbean Sea. Here's Guatemala's Vice Minister in charge of Anti-Narcotics giving a press briefing on the drug bust. We've provided English subtitles for our non-Spanish Speaking viewers:

The Wonders Of A Writing Workshop
Artistic expression - whether it is in the form of a poem, a quote, a short story, or a painting, should come naturally, but for some creators, they need some inspiration or just the right guidance to develop their unique voice and style. And that is where Andre Habet and Mackenzie Smith come in. They will be hosting a 2 day writing workshop to help about 20 artists with this process. Now you won't suddenly emerge as the next Derek Walcott or Ernest Hemmingway after the workshop, but you should be able to better express yourself through writing. The facilitators are not in the country so we spoke to Habet's cousin who is also involved in this initiative. He told us more about a new creative center he will be launching and discussed the focus of the writing workshop. The writing workshop will take place on Saturday December 17th and Monday the 19th at the Bliss Center. There will also be a writing tour in the city on the 16th. If you would like to participate , you can submit your applications online of drop them off at Brothers Habet on Barrack road. You can go to youarethejewel.webpress.com for the application forms.

From Chile With Love
Since Hurricane Earl, Belize and NEMO have received several donations from various governments to aid in recovery and prepare for future disasters. And yesterday, Belize received support from a little known friend, Chile. Minister of NEMO, Edmund Castro received $50,000 US dollars from the Chilean government to aid in the recovery of the agriculture industry, specifically the small farmers affected by the hurricane. Chilean Ambassador, Maria Inez Ruz, handed over the donation. Ambassador Ruz was also in Belize to attend a seminar discussing the diplomatic relations between the two countries. Belize and Chile signed a joint communiqué underscoring areas of cooperation.

Gun Man in Belmopan Court
Belmopan police today convicted a man for possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition. Joseph Montero was convicted of one count of possession of unlicensed firearm and 3 counts of possession of unlicensed ammunition. He escaped a jail sentence, and was fined $2000 dollars for the firearm and $1500 for the ammunition. If he defaults on payment, he will serve 1 year in jail.

Who's the Phone Snatcher?
And Belmopan police want to know if you can help them identify this man who strode into a Belmopan business yesterday. He seemed like he was absently looking for someone - but there was no one at the receptionist's desk. He looked around, and looked around and figured it was safe, and then he snatched a phone on the receptionist's desk and darted out. Belmopan police are asking the public to help them identify the cellphone snatcher.

Channel 5

Friday Showdown at House as Julius, Thwarted in Court, Vows to Return
There could be a showdown almost equal to the titanic battle that proceeded on the afternoon of August twenty-sixth coming on Friday, December ninth. Cayo South area representative Julius Espat [...]

Opposition Leader Will Respect Court Decision; Speaker Makes Final Decision
Following the decision of the Supreme Court, News Five caught up with Leader of the Opposition John Briceño to get a reaction on the ruling.  While admittedly disappointed, he says [...]

Eamon Asks Godwin to Overturn Net Vasquez Appointment to Integrity Commission
Turning to a another contentious issue for the Opposition…Lead P.U.P. Senator Eamon Courtenay is making a direct appeal to his opposite number, Godwin Hulse, to step in and remove Nestor [...]

Should Veteran Net Accept Appointment?
In the Senate’s debate over appointing Vasquez to the Integrity Commission, Senator Courtenay had objected to the appointment mostly on the ground that Vasquez’s long-standing service at now-state-owned enterprise Belize [...]

The Pitch for Superbond 3.0 is Not Appealing to Bondholders
The Central Bank today issued an official Government statement inviting comment from bondholders on possible structures for amending the financial terms of those instruments in order to put the Bonds [...]

Should Julius Espat Return to the House on Friday?
And our question for tonight is: Do you believe Julius Espat should return to the House on Friday? Send your comments and responses using your SMART phones to 8686 or [...]

Another Questionable Land Deal: Did ex-Lands Minister Buy Back Divided Parcels from Owners?
Is there another land scandal involving disgraced former Minister of Natural Resources Gaspar Vega bubbling below the surface?  News Five has caught wind that shadow P.U.P. Minister of Lands Cordel [...]

Still No Response from Vega on Haulover Compensation
Gaspar Vega stepped down as a member of the Barrow cabinet on October seventeenth.  His resignation came amid scandals involving his son Andre Vega and attorney Sharon Pitts in separate, [...]

No Cheer, Blue Christmas: Christmas Cheer is Not On for 2016
There are no hams and turkeys to be given away this year, at least not from your local area representatives.  That’s because the annual Christmas Cheer Program, a Yuletide feature [...]

A Visit to the Naia Resort and Spa
Naia Resort and Spa – that’s the newest and certainly very plush resort in the peninsula where mass tourism is getting a significant boast with the opening up of NCL’s [...]

Taiwanese Ambassador Charles Liu Visits News Five, Talks About Projects
In early November, Ambassador Benjamin Ho of Taiwan completed his mission in Belize. Within days, his successor arrived in country in the name of Charles Liu.  Liu is a senior [...]

Ambassador Liu Pledges More Help in Education
Taiwan has been a generous partner making significant contributions to Belize in areas of education, infrastructure, agriculture and culture. Ambassador Liu says that the many programs already in place will [...]

Chile Donates to Help Farmers Afflicted by Hurricane Earl
There was some boost to the bilateral relations between Belize and Chile. On Monday in Belmopan, Minister of National Emergency Management Edmond Castro received a donation of one hundred thousand [...]

Godwin to Exporters: Don’t Bypass New Quarantine Facility
On Monday while in the North, Minister of Agriculture Senator Godwin Hulse opened Belize’s mandatory quarantine treatment facility at the northern border in Santa Elena, Corozal District. It is part [...]

An Introduction to the Sugar Industry Management Information System
The Sugar Cane Production Committee has admitted that it is tough to police transactions between farmers of sugar cane and non-farmers. A recent case is the Eloy Escalante affair, where [...]

How B.S.I. Will Steer Industry through 2017 E.U. Price Cuts
As we reported on Monday, sugar farmers in Corozal and Orange Walk are bracing for direct competition next year with European sugar beet farmers. Beginning in 2017, the quota secured [...]

Getting Ready for Christmas with Chamber’s Expo
The fifth edition of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Christmas Expo Extravaganza took place over the weekend in Belize City. Thousands of Belizeans made their way to the [...]

CTV3

Caledonia Resident Charged For Rape
This afternoon, Corozal Police escorted 35 year old Roger Alcoser to the Magistrates Court where he was formally arraigned on charges of rape of a minor and unlawful sexual intercourse. Alcoser, who is a Belizean national from Caledonia Village is accused of committing the crimes on Sunday about 12:30am. The specifics of the case are being withheld from the media and public since the alleged victim is a minor, a child that had only just celebrated her quinceanos, we’re told. Alcoser was detained that same day and held in custody as Police officials carried out their investigation. In Court, he was informed that the law does not give bail to persons charged for unlawful sexual intercourse. He was therefore remanded to Hattieville prison until March 3 next year.

No Christmas Cheers This Year, GOB Admits Economy Is Grim
The Barrow Administration’s plans for a third Superbond renegotiation has intensified with Prime Minister Dean Barrow returning to New York this week to hold further discussions with bond stakeholders. The Government’s team, led by senior advisor Ambassador Mark Espat, Minister Carla Barnett and Financial Secretary Joseph Waight have compiled a document to be presented to bondholders. That 22-page document paints the bleakest, grimmest picture on Belize’s economic state and outlook we’ve ever seen admitted by the Government. The document is split into two main sections that look at economic conditions in the country and the Government’s inability to meet its debt obligations under the terms of the Superbond. Even the overview which isn’t part of the substantive presentation speaks of “Belize: An Imperiled Economy” in its title. Perhaps it sets the tone for what stakeholders shouldn’t expect when they probe further. In the report, the Government puts forth economic data showing economic decline since 2012. It shows that the projected 5-6% GDP growth in 2014 never realised, and while a nominal 1% growth was predicted for 2016, the fact is that there will be a deep economic shrinkage.

Will SIMIS Eliminate Phantom Farmers?
For the past week we have been reporting on the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association suspension from Fairtrade which came after an audit was conducted by FLOCERT and turned up a major non- compliance in the association. The problem stemmed after Former BSCFA member Eloy Escalante was flagged for what is referred to as "phantom farming”. He no longer produces cane, and according to reports, in an interview with Fair Trade Auditors, he admitted that he hasn't been doing so for 3 years. Instead, he entered into a business arrangement with Minister Edmond Castro, who is in the sugar cane business. Under the arrangement, Castro's family could deliver cane to the factory under Escalante’s license. As the 2016/207 Sugar Cane crop season came to a start stake holders in the industry collaborated to set up an accounting system called, SIMIS, or Sugar Industry Management Information System, which they believe will greatly assist in correcting the situation of ‘Phantom farmers’.

IDB Continues Assisting Caribbean Victims
Back in the month of August Hurricane Earl made landfall in Belize causing widespread damages across the entire country resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in losses. Following the aftermath of Earl a number of organizations both locally and internationally joined hands to offer assistance to the victims that were greatly affected by Earl. Among the list of organizations is the Inter-American Development Bank which took the initiative of organizing four separate events during the months of September and October. As a result of the fundraisers, the IDB managed to obtain a sum of $10,850 US Dollars which was doubled by the IDB. However, given the fact that the fourth and final fundraising event was held after Hurricane Matthew had made its way into Haiti, half of the funds of that particular event which amounted to $1,600 were donated to the victims of Haiti leaving the IDB with a total of $18,500 US dollars.

The system of Corozal Railway System
Students and members of the public gathered at the Corozal Junior College conference room this morning for the second part of the Corozal House of Culture’s lecture series titled “Perspectives of the Past”. Today’s presentation featured well-known British-born researcher Alan Baker who spoke on the railway system in Corozal. Unless you were born in the 1930s, it is likely you are scratching your head, wondering what we’re talking about. But arduous research has discovered and recorded evidence of this transportation phenomenon in our midst. We asked the research expert, where the railways were located. Alan Baker, Researcher: “From my research I’ve found that the line was about a mile and a half from the House of Culture or the customs House as it used to be in those days and there were three lines in total; one went up to the hill by towards Santa Rita Hill there the other used to run along the coast along Tony’s Inn and the third line used to pass Finca Solana passing down the Methodist School along the coast road. The one from Tony’s Inn was mainly coconuts and the husk which would then ship to the UK, the one on top of the Hill by the Santa Rita ruin was a sugar mill I think it was owned by Mr. Romero and that was used for sugar and they used to put 200 pounds bags sugar on the wagon and pushing the down the hills and that was gravity feed and the other one was towards Finca Solana was also used for spices and coconuts.”

LOVE FM

House Speaker is Up For Continued Discussions with Area Rep Espat
Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin struck out the case brought by Julius Espat against Michael Peyrefitte. Espat is the PUP’s Area Representative for Cayo South and Peyrefitte is the duly appointed Speaker of the House of Representatives. On August 26, Espat was named and suspended from the House. He refused to go and officers, on the […]

Senate Misled in Naming Integrity Commission Chairman
The appointment of Nestor Vasquez as a member of the Integrity Commission was highly criticized by Senators during the last Senate Meeting. So much so that Senators questioned his integrity. According to the Orders of the Day for the November 30 Senate Meeting, Vasquez was appointed to the Integrity Commission as a member of the […]

Austerity Measures Remain Uncertain as GoB Presents Report to Bondholders
March 2013 saw the Barrow administration applauded by many after renegotiating the Superbond that came into effect by the Said Musa administration during the period 1998 – 2008. That renegotiation reportedly saved Belize almost half billion dollars. Fast forward three and a half years later and Prime Minister Dean Barrow is having talks with creditors […]

SolGen to File Court Claims Against Vega and Pitts in Land Compensation Matter
On November 4, the Government of Belize issued a release saying that they are now demanding that Andre Vega and Sharon Pitts return the four hundred thousand dollars each that they received in land compensation. In speaking with PUP’s Shadow Cabinet Minister for Lands, Cordel Hyde, he says that the Government is well aware that […]

Shadow Minister Questions Land Compensation Payments
Earlier this year the People’s United Party presented its Shadow Cabinet. The Shadow Cabinet is a list of representatives from the opposition who would be keeping a close watch on specific ministries of Government in an effort to demand accountability and transparency. Yesterday Love News spoke with Area Representative, Cordel Hyde who holds the shadow […]

Gas Leak Takes Down a City Landmark Structure
On Sunday, November 27, the country, especially Belize City residents, were shocked when it was learned that Chateau Caribbean Hotel was destroyed by fire. After more than a week of investigation, Love News has confirmed the cause of the fire. Station Manager for the National Fire Service, Oren Smith, told Love News that there was […]

Preparing for the Anti-Corruption Convention
In just three days Belize will become a party to the United Nations Convention against Corruption. The official documents will be signed on Friday, December 9 and that piece of paper would mean that the Government would have to promote and strengthen measures in order to prevent and combat corruption in an effective and efficient […]

Cop Interdicted for Village Brawl
Police Constable Jaime Gongora has been placed on interdiction after being accused of police brutality. Police Gongora is accused of badly beating Hugo Noh of Guinea Grass Village in Orange Walk a couple of weeks ago. It is alleged that both men were drunk and got into a brawl in front of Zhen Zhen store […]

Teakettle Fined for Unlicensed Weapon and Bullets
32-year-old Joseph Montero of Teakettle Village, Cayo District, appeared before Belmopan Magistrate Emerita Anderson and was convicted of one count of possession of an unlicensed firearm and three counts of possession of unlicensed ammunition. He was fined two thousand dollars for the firearm and one thousand five hundred dollars for the ammunition. If he defaults […]

Amandala

$45 mil cocaine bust
Guatemalan police and naval authorities reportedly landed a major drug bust this past Saturday which resulted in the confiscation of 1,637 kilos or 3,608 pounds of cocaine valued at 172 million quetzales (or roughly BZ$45 million) in what they have identified as “international waters.” However, a report carried by Prensa Libre, which includes a map of the location, shows the location as the Sapodilla Caye range in Belize, and specifically the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, indicating that the bust actually occurred inside Belizean territory. We were able to plot the coordinates, which place the incident inside Belize’s territorial waters—not inside “international waters,” as Guatemalan authorities have said.

Belize exports down by over $100 mil so far this year
Belize continues to import far more merchandise than the goods it exports for consumption on the world market, with the ratio of merchandise imports to domestic exports standing at over 4 to 1. The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) reported this week that earnings from Belize’s major exports continue to be lower than they were at the same time last year, with a few exceptions—the most notable one being orange concentrate, which has been attracting better prices on the world market. SIB Statistician, Tiffany Vasquez, reported this week on the country’s external trade position as of October 2016. She noted that while Belize had imported $1.6 billion worth of goods for the period January to October, domestic exports totaled $364.3 million. Domestic exports fell substantially by 24%, while merchandise imports fell marginally at 4%.

Dale Tillett, poet and tour guide, murdered at 44
The last thing Dale Tillett, Sr., did on Friday night was to read one of his poems, “Cutting a black man’s life in half,” which condemned violence, at the Bricks Bar and Grill on King Street in Belize City. However, almost as soon as he stepped out into the mean streets of Belize City, his life was cut short by the same violence he decried in his poetry. Tillett, 44, is no stranger to Belize City’s violence, as almost 5 years ago, he buried his son, Dale Tillett, Jr., 19, after he was shot in the head inside the then popular Palm Island night club in Belize City. According to police reports, at around 3:45 on Saturday morning, they responded to a shooting incident on Hydes Lane in Belize City, where they saw Tillett, Sr., also known as “Blinds,” with apparent gunshot wounds in the right side of his neck.

Sleeping farmer’s throat slashed at bus stop
Gabino Choc, 30, a farmer of Santa Rosa, Stann Creek District, and the father of two children, had his throat slashed while he was sleeping at the bus stop in San Roman, the neighboring village, at about 2:30 a.m. on Sunday. A second man who was also sleeping under the shed at the time told police that he was awakened by the commotion and saw their fellow villager, known to them as “Mencho,” cut Choc’s throat with a machete. Mencho then also chopped the other villager on his arm and leg, and then ran away. Police, when they arrived at the scene, found Choc lying under the bus stop, with a large cut wound to his throat. He was already dead.

Ministry of Health fell asleep at the wheel
The Ministry of Health may owe an estimated 25 million dollars to ten companies from which it procured low quality pharmaceuticals that have been possibly jeopardizing the health of Belizeans for an indefinite period of time. In an exclusive interview with KREM’s Marisol Amaya last week, CEO in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ramon Figueroa, said, “I can’t say with certainty that some of the providers gave us medication and items that did put the population at risk. What I can say, is that because we were not enforcing those standards, there is a high possibility that that could have happened.” According to Figueroa, in most cases the providers of the country’s pharmaceuticals held certificates from the parent companies of the products, but lacked general certificates of manufacture and certificate of quality for items for which they had bid.

Almost 8,000 active businesses; over 1,000 closed
Of the nearly 8,000 businesses operating in Belize, almost three-fourths are sole proprietorships, and about half employ between two and five workers, according to preliminary results of the first business establishment survey conducted by the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB). Jefte Ochaeta, Statistician I, said that businesses reported an expense-to-revenue ratio of about 70 percent, meaning that of every dollar earned in revenues, 70 cents went to covering their various expenses. Wages and salaries paid to employees accounted for 13 percent of total expenditures across all industries, the survey found. Roughly 73% of the respondents, who filled out part B of the survey, offering financial disclosure, said they make less than $75,000—which is the business tax threshold. Among the wholesale and retail businesses, almost 8 in 10 said that they make less than the threshold.

Chief 40+ Race results
Here are the results from racing held yesterday for the Weekend Warriors (WW) 40 Years + category. The race went from Leslie’s Imports to Mile 31 and back, for 58 miles, as they prepare for the upcoming Krem New Year’s Day Cycling Classic. 28 riders started, and 24 finished, in the following order: 1st place Palas Joseph (Lampaz, 2:43:10); 2nd Isaiah Willacey (Santino’s, st); 3rd Ryan Willoughby (Caribbean Tires, 2:46:59); 4th Kirk Sutherland (Digicell-4G, st); 5th Mark Gentle (FT Williams, st); 6th Jack Sutherland (Digicell-4G, st); 7th Santino Castillo (Santino’s, st); 8th Alvin Card (invitee, st); 9th Mike Phillips (Lampaz, st); 10th Colin Maheia (FT Williams, st); 11th Daniel Cano (Santino’s, st); 12th Ruthford Cunningham (Spinnaz, st); 13th Clarence Tescum (Santino’s); 14th Stephen Bisset (Lampaz); 15th Andrew Brown (Kulture Megabytes); 16th John Burns (Digicell-4G); 17th Kaya Cattouse (C-Ray); 18th Ian Abraham (Smart); 19th George Abraham (Bel-Cal); 20th Dean Belisle (Bel-Cal); ...

5 teams have punched their tickets to the SSBA finals; 6 teams to go
On Friday night, in game 1, Belmopan Shock (#2) defeated Lady Warriors (#3), 49-16, in the Female division. With the win, Belmopan Shock has advanced to the championship game, and will face their rivals, Benque Queens, in a rematch of last year’s finals. Belmopan Shock was led by Kaylani Reid, who netted 13 pts, and Jada Brown and Enid Dakers, who tallied 10 pts each. Shanice Mendez and Glenda Torres were the top scorers for Lady Warriors with 5 pts each. In game 2, the Under 23 division was a nail-biter, as Belmopan narrowly edged McRoe Lions, 62-60. Akeem Watters had the game winning field goal with 0.5 seconds remaining, while finishing the night with 19 pts. Brandon Flowers had the game high with 20 pts, and Karl Williams sank 18 pts. Jamaal Augustine was the top scorer for McRoe Lions with 17 pts, and Francis Arana netted 16 pts. In the nightcap, Police Stars (#2B) faced off with Tuff Enuff (#3B) for the third time this season, splitting the regular season match-up, 1-1.

OWFA Amateur League 1st Division Week 7 results and standings
The Orange Walk Football Association (OWFA) Amateur League 1st Division Football Tournament 2016 continued with Week 7 games on Sunday, December 4, at People’s Stadium. In game 1, Progresso United FC dropped United Ballers FC, 3-0, with goals from Hector Carlos (15’ & 66’) and Alex Diaz ((61’). In game 2, it was Progresso FC, 7-2, over Chan Pine Ridge FC. Shaking the net for Progresso FC were Eliazar Itza (38’, 48’, 67’, 84’ & 87’), Gabriel Perez (43’) and Erick Osorio (88’); while Chan Pine Ridge goals were by Adial Carrillio (33’) and Nayin Reyes (55’). Game 3 saw Sinbad FC edging Desert Storm FC, 1-nil, on a goal by Edgar Cardenas (58’). In game 4, Jose Cassanova (2’) gave Crystal FC an early lead, but San Felipe FC came roaring back with goals from Harvey Cruz (15’, 75’, 89’), Israel Jones (49’) and Victor Amaya (80’ & 90’) for the massive 6-1 victory. But there was no consolation goal in game 5, as Trinidad FC bombed Progresso Jrs. FC, 6-0, with goals from Ryan Rios (3’), Travion Martinez (12’, 30’, 48’ & 72’) and Jose Guy (89’).

“Fire on the Barracks!”
The red-hot race to the PLB playoffs ended yesterday with Week 18 games to end the regular season in the Premier League of Belize (PLB) Opening Season 2016-2017. And of the 4 teams which have qualified to the playoffs, two are based in Belize City, and will be playing their home games at the MCC Grounds. So, it’s been quite a while, but city fans will be treated to back-to-back weekends of “Fire on the Barracks,” as FC Belize and then BDF FC host their semifinal games at the historic Garden. The only Saturday night game in Week 18 saw standings leader Belmopan Bandits SC play to a 0-0 draw with visiting BDF FC at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium. Both teams had already secured playoff berths, so the result only lent speculation to their possible meeting again in the finals.

Fighting for survival
In this age of proliferating nuclear weapons and international terrorism, it is more true today than at any previous time in humankind’s history that no one knows what tomorrow will bring. We human beings live from day to day, and for the vast majority of us that life involves fighting for survival. Over the past weekend, Belize Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Dean Barrow, and his two key financial advisors, Financial Secretary, Joe Waight, and Economic Ambassador, Mark Espat, flew to New York City for the second time in a week to see what they can do about restructuring the nation’s superbond payments. This newspaper is honored to be the leading such publication in the nation of Belize, and this has been so for the last 35 years. The editorial is a weighty exercise in this newspaper, and we do not take it lightly. At the same time, we all understand that what Belizeans enjoy of constitutional democracy here concentrates power in the hands of the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) and its executive Cabinet. At the end of the proverbial day, this newspaper’s editorials, then, are of no constitutional consequence or value, except when they spark some thought in the minds of the Belizean people, or in the minds of some important group of Belizean people, such as our teachers.

Belize Defence Force Math (101)
I write as a concerned parent of an officer of the Belize Defence Force, who wakes up on a daily basis to serve and lead the men and women, who are charged with protecting the sovereignty of our nation. Leadership is going the extra mile to look after the welfare of your subordinates and seeking the required relief at all costs. So what if the leaders themselves needed that same courtesy extended to them? What is equality? It is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and OPPORTUNITIES. Equality is not existent in the Belize military; it is merely a principle taught to the soldiers on paper but not practiced in reality. Lieutenants in the BDF are required to pass a series of tests to be promoted to the rank of Substantive captain; six (6) tests within 8 hours and the rough conditions under which they are required to perform make it even more challenging. The passing mark was once 70%, which is the universal passing mark in graduate level education, but after calls to the “BIG MAN” it was changed at the last minute after officers rejoiced over their passing.

On the road with Fidel
I am in Santiago de Cuba, the Crib of the Revolution, as it is known, named The Heroic City years after the Revolution. It is from a balcony on a central plaza here that Fidel first addressed the Cuban people on V-day, January 1st 1959. Fidel’s ashes arrived here yesterday, after beginning its journey on Wednesday from Havana. The cortege followed the route, in reverse, of the March of Victory undertaken in 1959 by Fidel and the guerrilla forces from Santiago to Havana. The small caravan, with Fidel’s ashes in an urn carried in a trailer behind an army jeep, passed through all the towns and villages the caravan had traversed in that historic journey, so that most Cubans had the chance to bid their last respects to the physical remains of their leader. It passed the night next to the remains of Che Guevara at the monument in Santa Clara, the following night in Camaguey and the next in Bayamo, Granma, before moving on to Santiago on Saturday. It was amazing to watch how Cubans of all ages, colours, creeds and occupations lined the roads, villages and towns, most quiet, crying, waving Cuban flags or the flag of the 26th of July Movement, many shouting slogans as the ashes passed by, the most popular being one that had sprouted the day after his death, which I saw by chance as I watched television.

Unruly Don, yu gaan lee bit to early fih mih, but yu di rest – Samron Pott
Jose Antonio Pott was born in Kingston, Jamaica on November 23, 1970 to Jennifer Webb Graham and Gregorio Feliciano Pott. He is brother to Roberto, Natalie and Omar. Husband to Samira, father to Jodi, Samron and Sakir. Friend and family member to many. Roberto asks “What are we to do without our convener, planner, philosopher, ice breaker, fire starter and analyst?” It is impossible in only a few minutes to fully convey the essence of a man, but I will try. To capture for example: the loyal son, the devoted father, the loving husband, the endearing sibling, the considerate friend, the thinker, the great conversationalist – the compassionate soul. This afternoon in this spiritual space we come to celebrate this natural mystic flowing through the air, a roots man with a vibration who made all our lives better.

Fidel and African Americans
When the Cuban Revolution triumphed in 1959, blatant, legal racism was still very much alive in the US of A. Martin Luther King was well known, loved by black people and persecuted by the FBI. The civil rights movement was just getting strong, and still had a long way to go. When black people in the US learnt of how Cuba had been equally racist before the Revolution and that Fidel had changed all that, they naturally felt an attraction for him. As Bill Fletcher Jr. put it, “For many of us in Black America, Castro represented the audacity that we have desired and sought in the face of imperial and racial arrogance. When it came to matching words with deeds on the topic of racial equality, the most stalwart leader of the Western hemisphere, over the course of the 20th century, was Fidel Castro”. This admiration for Fidel was evident during his legendary stay at the Theresa Hotel in Harlem in 1960, where he was jubilantly hailed by hundreds of Harlemites on the streets outside. Several civil rights leaders visited him there, among them, famously, Malcolm X, with whom Fidel exchanged views for some time, and both men clearly appreciated each other’s ideas.

Discourses with no substance of objectivity
The leaders of Belize entertain the people with a whole lot of discourses that appear to have profound meaning, but in which there is no substance or objectivity, since, up to now we can listen often to the word alleviate instead of eradicate when the situation of poverty and unemployment is mentioned. Here is where we can see the same low level of seriousness that is manifested in the national anthem and flag. Belize, as a member of the United Nations, is a democratic country that purportedly practices liberty, and freedom and opposes discrimination against women. Yet, there is a lack of a rational explanation from the corresponding authorities in connection with the two men portrayed in the emblem of the national flag. It has become part of the dead words syndrome like that of the 1981 preamble to the Constitution of Belize.

Landowner blocks traffic through his property in San Luis
An angry land owner of San Luis, on whose land the main road connecting San Roman to San Luis was constructed, blocked vehicular traffic for about three hours this morning when he closed off both sides of his land, bringing traffic to and from the villages to a standstill. Orange Walk Police and an official from the Ministry of Works and the Lands Department intervened, and an agreement was made with the irate land owner, who then removed the barrier from his land and traffic resumed. Teofilo Chi, the landowner, said that if he is not given compensation, he will seek the services of an attorney and take action. In an interview on CTV 3 News Orange Walk today, Chi said that when the road was being constructed by the Ministry of Works, he told them that they were constructing the road through his land. He was told to go to the office, which he did several times, but he was ignored. So, he then decided to close his property.

The Belize Times

NOT SO FAST! – WHY IS GOB APPEASING GUATEMALA?
Why now? Why are we being asked to ratify these agreements at this time? What is the rush?” These were but a few of the questions which Members of the Senate asked publicly when the Leader of Government Business, Senator Godwin Hulse, tabled the motion for the Senate to Ratify the Special Agreement between Belize and Guatemala to submit Guatemala’s Territorial Claim over Belize to the International Court of Justice. That was the motion tabled with another asking the Senate to ratify the Amendment of the Protocol to the Special Agreement. The Compromis was first signed in 2008, while the amendment was signed in 2015. In that amendment, both countries agreed that instead of going to simultaneous referenda, each country could choose the option to hold their individual referendum on separate dates. PUP Senator Eamon Courtenay reiterated the commitment which the Opposition People’s United Party has to holding a referendum and having the people of Belize decide whether or not Belize should go to the ICJ to settle Guatemala’s unfounded claim over our country. He stressed that the PUP does not believe that the current relations between Belize and Guatemala are conducive to the process. Presenting in the Senate, he said, “now is not a convenient time for a referendum on this matter. Guatemala continues to behave in a hostile manner toward the Government and People of Belize.” He then recounted recent incidents of aggression by Guatemala which Belizeans are well aware of, including Guatemala’s complete rejection of the vindication of Belizean law enforcement.

NOT SO FAST! – WHY IS GOB APPEASING GUATEMALA?
“Why now? Why are we being asked to ratify these agreements at this time? What is the rush?” These were but a few of the questions which Members of the Senate asked publicly when the Leader of Government Business, Senator Godwin Hulse, tabled the motion for the Senate to Ratify the Special Agreement between Belize and Guatemala to submit Guatemala’s Territorial Claim over Belize to the International Court of Justice. That was the motion tabled with another asking the Senate to ratify the Amendment of the Protocol to the Special Agreement. The Compromis was first signed in 2008, while the amendment was signed in 2015. In that amendment, both countries agreed that instead of going to simultaneous referenda, each country could choose the option to hold their individual referendum on separate dates.

Barrow’s Bogus Commission
The Barrow Government’s concept of an Integrity Commission is obviously one dominated by hard-core UDPs, a couple who probably are not exactly sure of the definition of Integrity. When the names were called late last week, it became immediately clear that this administration has absolutely no intention of putting together any real Commission to watchdog its conduct. In the Senate meeting, the UDP Government Senators forced through the appointments of Marilyn Williams, Armead Gabourel, Lisbeth Delgado, Wilmot Simmons and Nestor Vasquez, who sits so many Government controlled boards. The only two Opposition-nominated members are Melissa Balderamos and Claudette Grinage.

City Landmark Up in Flames
Police and Fire Department investigators have still not determined the official cause of a devastating fire which claimed one of the city’s most outstanding colonial landmarks, the Chateau Caribbean Hotel and Restaurant on Marine Parade. Just after 8:00am Sunday flames were observed in the upper floor of the building and fifteen hours after when the last fire-fighter left the scene, the entire building was gutted. Fortunately, there are no human casualties from the catastrophic blaze. The Belize Times has been informed that there were guests in two rooms who managed to get out with their bags when they heard the ruckus. As well, there were guests in the dining area but they got out unharmed. Staff members have suggested that the fire may have started in the kitchen, but investigators are not ready to release any information beyond the obvious. According to Fire Chief Ted Smith, “On arrival the upper section of a three-storey structure was engulfed in flames. The fire department immediately went into operations and tried to extinguish the fire.”

2,000 MORE BELIZEANS JOBLESS – Inflation UP…Exports DOWN…Unemployment UP…Economy Contracts!
Today the Statistical Institute of Belize confirmed more bad news for Belize with the release of third quarter figures. For the third consecutive quarter the economy declined, this time by 0.8%. According to the fact sheet, “during the three months from July to September the country’s total production declined by 0.8% when compared to the same period in 2015…for the first nine months of the year, the country’s level of production was 0.7% lower than in the first nine months of 2015.” In the primary sector the decline was sharp, 24%, with marine exports reporting a 61% decline and banana shipments falling by 14%. While the government has continued to boast about its employment figures, the official statistics show that was a lie. According to the SIB, unemployment rose to 11.1% in September 2016, a sharp jump from September 2015. According to the findings of the Labour Force Survey, “in September 2016there were a total of 17,952 unemployed persons in Belize. This represented an increase of 2045 in the number of unemployed persons since September of 2015.”

When the Bubble Bursts
About a week ago one of the hosts on the UDP’s morning show commented that the best is here with this administration, a play on the government’s slogan going into 2015 elections. He went further to say that he can’t understand why people can’t see it – “it’s like people are living in a different country,” he stated in all seriousness and apparent disbelief. How do you reach people like that? They live in the same country we all do, watch the same news, see the same conditions and hear the same alarm bells ringing loudly, but they are so blindly loyal to the party they serve that they lose all sense of reality. Somebody asked a week ago – how do we get the message out to the people…the message that 2016 was a terrible year for the country and 2017 is going to be a whole lot worse? You would think that those who feel it would know it. Is it that this administration steadfastly refuses to acknowledge that the sky is indeed falling? Consecutive IMF country reports have painted the bleakest picture, stating repeatedly that the government’s wage bill is too high and debt is unsustainable. This isn’t idle chatter. The IMF continues to advocate for taxation, not because taxes are a first resort but because it is one of the last, when a government has been unable or unwilling to rein in its spending and practice fiscal responsibility. Retrenchment isn’t the first recommendation of the IMF, but the government has absolutely refused to control its wastage of taxpayer monies.

Trinidad FC & Progresso United Win in OW 1st Division Football
Progresso FC, Progresso United, Trinidad FC, Chan Pine Ridge and Desert Storm each posted big wins in Week 6 of the Orange Walk Football Association’s amateur league tournament at the People’s Stadium on Sunday. In Game 1, 2 goals by Eliazar “Toto” Itza gave Progresso FC a 2-0 win against Sinbad FC. In Game 2, Chan Pine Ridge won 2-1 vs. Crystal FC with goals by Adiel Carillo in the 24th minute and Juan Rodney in the 89th minutes. Crystal’s Alberto Cassanova scored in the 56th minute.

Galen Eagles Win 2016 ATLIB Basketball Championship
The Galen University Eagles won the 2016 Association of Tertiary Level Institutions of Belize (ATLIB) basketball championships at the UB gym on Saturday. In Game 1, the Galen men won 68-52 vs. Wesley Junior College, led by Lisani Lambey with 16pts. Kevin Brown scored 15pts, Raul Roches added 9pts and Karym Coleman – 8pts. WJC’s Russel Humes led with 19pts, Tyrone Anthony hit 4 treys to score 16pts, and Raymond Gongora Jr. added 7pts. In Game 2, Galen sealed the championship with a 27-22 win vs. the Stann Creek Ecumenical Junior College Falcons. Galen’s Lisani Lambey scored 8pts and Kevin Brown and Raul Roches added 5pts apiece, while Bryton Codd put up 4pts and Roman Alvarez hit a long trey. SCEJC’s Nayib Casimiro led with 10pts, Irakeem Lewis hit 2 treys and Deon Castillo and Luwani Cayetano threw in a bucket apiece. In Game 3, SCEJC won 2nd place.

UB Girls Win 2016 ATLIB Basketball Championship
The University of Belize girls won the 2016 Association of Tertiary Level Institutions of Belize (ATLIB) basketball championships at the UB gym on Saturday. In Game 1, the UB girls blew away the Wesley Junior College girls: 30-15 led by Jinelle Pott with 10pts. Kafira Gill and Joeline Williams added 4pts apiece, and Alvree Mortis, Loren Henry, Yolanda Shal and Ana Gonzalez put up 3pts apiece. Wesley’s Jhane Samuels scored 6pts while Archel Wright had 5pts and Doraine Linarez – 3pts. In Game 2, UB ran over the Stann Creek Ecumenical Junior College girls: 25-15; led by Joeline Williams and Jinelle Pott with 6pts apiece. Ana Gonzalez added 5pts, Gianne Cayetano scored 4pts and Loren Henry and Gisel Lodge threw in a bucket apiece. Ecumenical’s Jurshia Zuniga scored 7pts and Kaycelie Augustine hit a long trey to add 8pts.

Breaking Belize News

Guatemalan authorities bust drug traffickers in Belizean waters with cocaine valued at $45 million
Four Honduran nationals are in trouble after Guatemalan authorities busted them with cocaine valued at $45 million in Belizean waters. The Prensa Libre reported that the bust occurred on Saturday, December 3, 2016 in international waters. However reports from the Ministry of Defense is […]

Julius Espat’s case struck out in court
Today, Chief justice Kenneth Benjamin struck out the case that was brought against the Speaker of the House Michael Peyrefitte by Cayo South Area representative Julius Espat. The Chief justice informed the parties that the courts could not impede the business of the House […]

Belizeans walk away with 1st and 2nd Place in Garifuna Pageant in Guatemala
On Saturday, Guatemala held its first annual Reina Garifuna del Caribe (the Miss Garifuna Caribbean) pageant. It was held at the Malecon Cultural Park in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala. Asociacion Amigos para el Desarrollo de Izabal in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Sports […]

BDF Commander reportedly robbed
There are reports that burglars made off with $30,000 in cash from the home of BDF Commander, David Jones. The incident allegedly took place at the Commander’s Price Barracks home while he was out of the country. Jones is yet to comment on the […]

NEMO gets US$50,000 from Chile
Yesterday, Minister of National Emergency Management Edmond Castro received a donation of US $50,000 from the Government of Chile for the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) to assist with ongoing hurricane recovery efforts in the Agriculture Sector, specifically for small farmers impacted by Hurricane […]

Belize’s dollar to be formalized in Mexico
According to Quintana Roo Hoy, Jorge Valencia Gomez, Belize’s consul in Chetumal informed that it will seek to formalize the official listing of the Belizean dollar in Mexico. Formalizing the Belizean currency would increase the commercial activity between the two countries by up to […]

Not everything sweet for cane farmers
Yesterday marked the start of the new sugar crop to be ready in the next six months. However, according to cane farmers the future of the 1.3 million tonnes of sugar is up in the air. According to the farmers, if they start the […]

Police find marijuana and 16 gauge shotgun without serial number in Crooked Tree
Police in Crooked Tree village found a 16 guage Arrigton and Richard brand shotgun without serial number, and a black plastic bag containing 76 grams of marijuana on December 3, 2016. According to reports, police conducted the search in an overgrown area on the […]

Mainly dry weather to prevail
Mostly warm and dry weather is expected to prevail over the next 24 hours with sunny skies and partly cloudy skies today and tonight. Showers will be isolated and there is a possibility for an isolated afternoon thunderstorm inland or in the North. The […]

Corozal gets new quarantine facility
The Belize Agriculture and Health Authority (BAHA) and the Ministry of Agriculture are tightening up quarantine regulations in the northern border of Belize. Yesterday, a new quarantine treatment facility was inaugurated in Santa Elena, Corozal. The new facility will ensure that proper procedures are […]

The Irony of the Protected Areas Conservation Trust
“In 1996, Belize was considered a pioneer with the passing of the PACT Act. Today, the protected areas landscape continues to take shape and expand. Currently there are 103 protected areas that form a vast national protected areas system (NPAS), with categories that encompass […]

Blogs

Orange Walk’s 6th Tacos Fest – delicious!
Belizeans who love good food all headed north to Orange Walk Town on Sunday, November 27, for the 6th annual Tacos Festival at the Banquitas House of Culture. The tacos came in all flavors and were made of “cochinito pibil”, grilled beef, pork and chicken. The variety and selection; you couldn’t possibly eat it all, but you were welcome to try! There was Baeza’s tacos of cochinita and chicken on corn or flour tortillas, or in toasted tortillas, Tere’s fried tacos, ‘San Francisco’ Mexican tacos, Haty’s Shmacum chicken tacos, Tortas & Tacos with Autenticas Carnitas Estilo Michoacan,Tacos al Pastor, tacos with tortillas hand-made on the comal. Nobody watching their figure or their diet here! A hearty few accepted the challenge to show their tacos- eating prowess ina contest to see who could eat the most tacos with pepper! There were cash prizes to be won for those with the cast iron stomach to hold it all down! No points if you threw up, that’s a disqualification!All that salty food worked up a thirst, and there was also Caribbean Sunrise natural orange juice, Pepsi and Presidente Beers to wash down all those tacos!

Running Errands On Ambergris Caye – There is No One Stop Shopping
There are many reasons that the closest Walmart to where I live is in Mexico. Belize is a small country and the import duties are high to very high- it makes no sense for the big chain stores to move in. Well…not really... So I wanted to give you a look at my daily list of errands – and how they get done. Ordering on the internet isn’t really an option (LONG delivery time + duty applied) and drive through just don’t exist. My trip to town (7 miles now) starts out something like this… List clipped into the steering wheel on the golf cart. I must stay “on list” but often I forget a few, add on a few and spend a good amount of time just chit-chatting. It’s the best way to get the scoop. My errands now include a bit of provisioning for Cayo Frances Farm & Fly which has a full December of welcoming guests. And some fundraising efforts, including #DollaADive, for BelizeKids.org. Woohoo!

Belize Gets Represented at National Geographic World Legacy Awards 2017
The World Legacy Awards (WLA) is a collaboration between the National Geographic and ITB Berlin that seeks to honor companies, organizations, and destinations that drive positive transformation of the tourism industry. With categories like “Earth Changers”, “Sense of Place”, and “Destination Leadership”, the WLA’s aim to spotlight the best of the forward thinking best. This year, The Lodge at Chaa Creek has been chosen as one of the three finalists for the “engaging Communities” category of awards. The Engaging Communities category is given to an applicant who aids in the direct and tangible economic and social benefits that improve local livelihoods. This includes training, capacity building, fair wages and benefits, community development, health care and education endeavors.

Everybody is Talking About Kakaruchi’s Grill?
What a kickname right; but Enrique has been living in San Pedro, Belize for 34 years now and all the locals and many visitors know him working in the tourism service industry. He is an accomplished bartender/mixologist, creating award-winning cocktails at the country’s signature Taste of Belize competitions and at San Pedro, Ambergris Caye’s Lobster Fest!! Hands down, he is one of the best! Who would have thought that Kakaruchi knew how to cook? The ‘island buzz’ is loud and with only a couple of weeks since opening, people have great things to say about Enrique’s cooking and the cool spot that is Kakaruchi’s Grill. Curious, we dropped by to experience ourselves.

12 Unforgettable Adventures You Could Never Do on a Cruise Stopover
It’s true, booking your vacation escape of a Cruise Ship can provide a lifetime opportunity for any traveler, but do cruise vacationers realize that they are missing out on a lot in stopovers? Let us analyze things for a second… With an explosive growth in Cruise Tourism over the years, Belize has seen a rapid increase in its Tourist arrivals, bringing welcomed revenue to the country. However, while millions of visitors arrive on shore annually, the majority of them do not get to experience the true essence of Belize and only scrape just the surface of this magnificent jewel because of the time restrictions on their stopover. Considering that a cruise is meant to be relaxing, many find it strangely hectic given such a short time on land. Tourists are finding that a typical Caribbean cruise vacation does not give you enough time to know Belize at an intimate level. We take this opportunity to share with you the wonderful things/attractions/tours YOU are missing out on when on a cruise vacation.

Post renovation and ready for high season at CBC!!
We are thrilled to have reopened, including our brand new Villas! If you are headed here, enjoy these images of the renovations to our units, the new pool and tiki area, and grounds!! Renovations on Cabanas: new doors, new roofs, all new paint inside and put, new tile floors, upgraded cushions, new hammock, new art and kitchenware, renovated kitchen and upgrades to all decor, brand new spa baths! Note guests enjoy luxury robes, resort beach towels, and welcome basket with lots of complimentary gifts :) New Villas! Villa Playa and Villa Mar are exceptional....Mexican-style Villas with wraparound lower veranda overlooking pool, with hammock and adirondack chairs, modern, sleek beach furnishings, and rooftop decks with cushioned loungers, and bar table with palapa umbrella!

8 Ways to Stay Healthy While Traveling
Wash Your Hands, Visit a Travel Clinic, Carry a Medical Kit, Prevent Bug Bites, Get Enough Sleep, Stay Hydrated, Exercise, Use Common Sense.

FROM WHITE SANDY BEACHES TO CASCADING WATERFALLS – ALL IN A DAY!
One of the things I’ve always enjoyed about living in Belize is how small the country is. If I so choose, I can be on the Caribbean Shores for the Sunrise, cascading the waterfalls at noon, zipping through the canopies by mid afternoon, and back on the island, just in time to enjoy the glorious sunset. In the past, this came with some restrictions. Most of the times, our guests would have to spend an overnight to enjoy these adventures. However, we were recently invited to experience the towering waterfalls of the Mayan Mountain – Macal River in a one day experience. Our journey commenced around 6:30AM, when we met up at Tropic Air to be on the 7AM flight. At the airport, we were greeted by Oscar of Balaam Eco Adventure, our host for the day. I was looking forward to going on this new adventure!! After a short 13-minute flight, we landed in Belize City and were greeted with a large smile from our driver Onil; He’s quite a character. After a light breakfast, we are on our way. We drove to Benque Viejo, where the access point to the Rio Frio Waterfalls is located. The 2 hour drive to Benque is very scenic. As you make your way along the Western (George Price) Highway, you get the chance to experience the various eco systems that exists within our environment. Beauty unfolds as the flat lands turn into valleys, and the valleys turn into mountains. Roaring rivers bordering the highway alert you that you’re almost at your destination.

International Sources

Concluye el torneo de internacional pesca de Mahahual “Wahoo de Plata”
Captain Jody Leslie of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Captures Top Boat Prize at Wahoo Fishing Tournament, Mahahual, Mexico. Congratulations!!! En representación del presidente municipal, Luis Torres, el secretario general del Ayuntamiento Roger Peraza Tamayo, asistió a la clausura y premiación del Torneo de Pesca Deportiva Internacional 2016 “Wahoo de Plata” V edición Mahahual, Quintana Roo. El primer lugar fue para la embarcación Arsenal del vecino país de Belice, a bordo del capitán Jody Leslie, al capturar un Wahoo de 46.52 libras; segundo y tercer lugar para la embarcación Another Toy, de Luis Contreras Castillo con un Wahoo de 41.34 libras. El encargado de la política interna felicitó a nombre del edil capitalino a los ganadores y participantes del Torneo de Pesca “Wahoo de Plata 2016”, sobre todo al organizador de la V Edición Carlos Pérez Zafra, por promover el turismo mediante la pesca deportiva. En su mensaje, Roger Peraza Tamayo, señaló que la pesca deportiva forma parte de una tradición en el municipio de Othón P. Blanco, por tanto seguirán contando con todo el respaldo del gobierno que encabeza Luis Torres.

Mexico Will Soon Accept Belizean Dollars As Payment
Jorge Valencia Gomez who is part of the Belizean Consulate in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico has released a statement to Mexican and Belizean Press informing that Belize and Mexico will be officially formalising the Belizean dollar throughout Mexico. By officially formalising the Belizean Dollar, businesses throughout the entire country of Mexico will be able to accept payments in Belizean Dollars instead of just a very select few in Chetumal as the current situation is.

Creation of robot bee to pollinate crops
Scientists at the Polytechnic University of Warsaw have created the first robotic bee designed to pollinate artificially; a miniaturised drone that is able to find a flower, collect its pollen, and transfer it carefully from the male to the female flower to fertilise it. This robotic insect has already been successfully tested in the field and its ability to pollinate is offered as a "hopeful alternative" to address the steady decline in the world bee population, as stated by its creator, engineer Rafal Dalewski. "Last summer, we carried out a test and we already have the first seed obtained through this artificial pollination, so it has been proven that our robot can do almost the same as real bees," explains Dalewski. Dalewski, however, acknowledges that he has not been able to design a drone that can produce honey, "although technology development is moving increasingly fast and can at times be surprising," he jokes.

World religions map
Fastest growing. see key in upper right, (small)

Belize's Caribbean Sea an island paradise
My new private island in Belize's Caribbean Sea is blessed with 4 hectares of palm-fringed white sand beach. It also has a gorgeous 5,000-sq-metre pool with swim up bar -- the largest in this Central American country. As well, there are four other bars and restaurants serving everything from blackened fish to classic cheeseburgers. Diversions run the gamut from parasailing, speed boating and ziplining to stand-up paddle boarding, mangrove tours and simply lounging at the beach and pool. Of course, I have to share this tropical paradise with 4,399 other people because it's Norwegian Cruise Line's private island called Harvest Caye.

Inside the Bizarre Movement to Make John McAfee Cyber Czar
On Monday afternoon, as Donald Trump continued finalizing his cabinet from his transition base atop Trump Tower, a group of thirty demonstrators gathered below to make a very specific recommendation: “That Donald Trump put America first and name John McAfee, the most qualified expert, to be our nation’s Cybersecurity Czar.” The event was part of a public campaign organized by the hacking collective Anonymous, aimed, oddly enough, at “securing America from Hackers.” For the remainder of the day, the protesters alternated between chants of “Make the internet safe again” and “We want McAfee,” as they distributed flyers highlighting the software magnate’s unique qualifications to confused passersby. While not all of the protesters were affiliated with Anonymous, the requisite Guy Fawkes mask was worn by nearly everyone.

Lionfish War: Who is Winning?
This is a question I asked a number of people and organizations while I visited different booths at the DEMA Show last month. The answers tended to point to the lionfish winning with the environment even mankind being on the losing end. There are coral reefs where the native fish have all but disappeared. These native fish are important to feed a good portion of the world’s population. Fisherman in some areas are seeing catches so small they can not feed their families. The lionfish are seldom caught using traditional fishing methods. So while they are plentiful, they are not helping to feed the families. While the overall picture does not look good, there are so bright points. The dive operators in the Grand Cayman’s in cooperation with the local government have turned the tide against the lionfish in many areas. They each dedicate a day to remove lionfish at different reefs. This concentrated effort has brought the numbers down to the point that the native fish are living long enough to become bigger than the lionfish can eat. That itself is a feat as the lionfish has the ability to stretch its mouth and stomach to eat larger fish.

Videos

December 6, 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

Annual HIV/AIDS Fundraising Fair a resounding success!
The San Pedro AIDS Commission together with the National AIDS Commission/Island Committee (NAC) collaborated once more to host the annual World AIDS Day awareness fair at the Central Park on Sunday, December 4th. Activities such as free HIV rapid testing, information and counseling, condom distribution, pastry and food sales were the main highlights commemorating the day. International aids day is observed every 1st of December around the world, and is an opportunity for people to unite in the fight against HIV. The activities got underway shortly after 9AM, with a good turnout of visitors stopping by the different booths. Serenading the event was none other than San Pedro’s very own Rompe Raja! While the two groups worked together, they split responsibilities in order to enhance the success of the event. The AIDS Commission sold rice and beans, delicious pastries, and drinks for the fundraising, while the NAC offered free HIV testing, education and counseling.

The San Pedro Dance Academy brings a ‘Tropical Christmas’ to the island
The San Pedro dance Academy once again ushered in the Christmas spirit with their annual end-of-year Christmas show. Titled “Tropical Christmas”, the event took place on Sunday, December 4th at 7PM at the San Pedro Lions den. The annual performance serves as a fundraiser to support the Dance Academy, which has been in existence for 16 years. Attendees were delighted by the variety of creative dance routines, each one demonstrating the talent and skills of the group members. Participants included beginners, intermediate beginners-advanced and seniors. Elaborate theme costumes shone onstage during each dance, the well-executed choreography showcasing a variety of rhythms, from modern contemporary to classic ballet and traditional folklore.

Ambergris Today

Flamboyant Park Gets Facelift by Projects Abroad

Belize Wins at 1st Reina Garifuna del Caribe Pageant Guatemala!
On December 3, 2016, the first annual Reina Garifuna del Caribe (the Miss Garifuna Caribbean) pageant was held at the Malecon Cultural Park in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala. The Reina Garifuna del Caribe Pageant was planned by Asociacion Amigos para el Desarrollo de Izabal in conjunction with the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Guatemala. The event was part of an effort to bring unity among the Garinagu within the Caribbean diaspora and assist with the preservation of Garifuna culture. The pageant featured contestants from Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. The National Garifuna Council of Belize is happy to announce that Ms. Sabrina Solano of Hopkins Village is the Reina Garifuna del Caribe for 2016-2017, while Ms. Kaylin Mejia of Dangriga was the first runner up in the pageant

UB Engineering Students Win Structures Competition in Mexico
Students of the Engineering Department, from the Faculty of Science of Technology (FST) of the University of Belize are the 2016 champions of the “XVIII Concurso De Diseño Y Construccion De Modelos Estructurales, V Fase Internacional”, hosted by the Instituto Tecnologico De Chetumal (ITCH) in Quintana Roo Mexico from November 23-25th, 2016. The competition is hosted every year and UB has officially participated for the past 5 years. Preparations for this competition included students participating in the UB Engineering Department’s 8th Annual Macaroni Competition held on 13th and 14th of October at the University’s Freetown Road campus in Belize City. The top two teams represent UB in Chetumal. These students are second year engineering students and they competed with 3rd and 4th year students at the ITCH.

Misc Belizean Sources

Love FM Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 10 at 1 PM - 6 PM, Downtown Belize City.

GARIFUNA DANCING QUEENS IN CENTRAL AMERICA!
These spectacular Garifuna dancers from Honduras thrilled Belizean audiences some years ago at the Central American Black Organization (CABO) conference at the Bliss Institute of Performing Arts of Belize's National Institute of Culture & History (NICH) in Belize City. We here at Belizean Legends recognized deeply the Pan Garifuna Community of Central America of which Belize is a part of. They represent a taste of Africa in Central America. These Garifuna communities are calling out for help today from assimilation, cultural destruction, and the elimination of their ancestral lands today in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica. Watina (Calling out)!

BELIZE CITY'S FORMER MAYOR ZENAIDA MOYA DISCUSSES THE ISSUES ON HER OWN TALK SHOW IN BELIZE CITY!
Belizean Legends want to send a big shout out to Belize City's former mayor, Zenaida Moya, who has developed her own talk show on Belizean television in Belize where she will be discussing the social, political, and economical issues confronting the nation state of Belize today. We champion "Z"'s very ambitious move to step forward as a former mayor of Belize City, and to present her spin on these very crucial events confronting the nation of Belize today. Mayor Zenaida Moya made an incredible impact in the Los Angeles Belizean Community in 2005 where she was the invited guest of the California State University, Domiguez Hills, History Department, and later as guest of the Consortium for Belizean Development and BREDAA who hosted the former mayor.

World Heritage Site Forum Tuesday December 6th
In December 1996, the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS) was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The BBRRS being the largest barrier reef complex in the Northern and Western Hemisphere, also represents the second largest barrier reef system in the world. It provides habitat to a number of endemic and migratory birds and