Recent Belize News, 8/1/2017 to 8/10/2017, BelizeNews.com

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

The San Pedro Sun

Team ‘One Shot One Kill’ wins the San Pedro Belikin National 8-ball Pool Tournament
After seven weeks of intense competition, the San Pedro Billiards Association crowned a champion on Sunday, August 6th during the finals at the San Pedro Lions Den. The top four teams of the tournament hoping to grab the championship title were: Team One Shot One Kill, Team Amigos, Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars, and Rack Dawgs. After some intense games, Team One Shot One Kill emerged as the champions, claiming the first place and a cash prize of $800, plus the opportunity to represent the island at the National Tournament in Belize City on August 19th. The Most Valuable Player of the tournament went to Mauricio Peña of team One Shot One Kill. During the award ceremony, each player was commended for their participation. The winning team was encouraged to do well at the National Tournament in Belize City.

Maya Island Air’s planes sport a new ‘Belize’ look
On Friday, August 5th, two of Maya Island Air’s newly modeled planes landed at the John Greif II Airstrip, sporting designs featuring the Great Blue Hole and the Jaguar. Seeking to always promote the best of Belizean hospitality, Maya Island Air has now redesigned its planes to showcase images that are synonymous with Belize. From the breathtaking blues of the Caribbean Sea to the lush greens of the jungle, Maya Island Air hopes that this new design will leave a lasting impression on visitors the minute they arrive in Belize. The planes’ decor is also geared at promoting the country’s main tourist attractions, such as the Blue Hole, and the rain forest jungle adventures.

Ambergris Today

Minister Castro’s Sons Wanted For Questioning In San Pedro Aggravated Assault Case
Police are on the look out for the sons of Minister Edmond Castro. Wasani and Jafari Castro are being sought in connection with an aggravated assault incident that took place in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye over the Costa Maya Weekend. The Police Report states that 21-year-old Kevin Brown was at a resort in San Pedro with a group of friends when a dispute over a piece of jewelry started. During the dispute someone kicked Brown several times and bashed his head with a fire extinguisher. Police visited the San Pedro Polyclinic where they saw Kevin Brown (21yrs) in an unconscious state. He was later airlifted to Belize City. Since Sunday, police are looking for the Castro brothers for questioning.

Sewage Treatment Systems Required For Commercial And Tourism Developments
The Department of Environment has issued a public advisory informing all new commercial and tourism developments on North and South Ambergris Caye (outside the declared “service areas”) and those in ecologically sensitive areas, are required to invest in a proper sewage treatment system. “The developer/investor is free to review the many types of sewage treatment systems available on the international and local market, and to select the most appropriate system for their purposes,” stated the press release from the Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment & Sustainable Development, August 7, 2017. “Whichever sewerage treatment system is selected, it will need to meet or exceed the Department of the Environment’s MINIMUM STANDARDS for discharges.”

Captured Jaguar Dies Of Heat Trauma And Exhaustion
On the 27th July 2017, the Forest Department responded to reports of a jaguar being captured by farmers around the Northern Lagoon area in the Belize District. Upon investigation, it was discovered that farmers, who experienced several jaguar attacks on their livestock, retaliated by trapping the jaguar. When farmers informed the Forest Department that they had caught a jaguar, a team comprising of members of the National Jaguar Working Group (NJWG), was immediately dispatched to the area. The team noted that prior to and during transportation to the Belize Zoo facilities, the jaguar exhibited signs of sluggish behaviour, poor coordination and weakness - all indications of a potential health crisis. Immediate and specialised care by veterinary personnel and response team was given around the clock to revive the animal, but all efforts proved unsuccessful and a post-mortem confirmed that the animal died due to heat trauma and exhaustion.

Maya Island Air Planes Boast New Look
Two new planes of Maya Island Air have been making head turns as their new design for their aircrafts feature images of the Great Blue Hole and the Jaguar. The newly modeled planes were first seen on Friday, August 5, as they landed at the John Greif II Airstrip in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. Maya Island Air says that it hopes the new images on their aircraft will inspire, awe and leave lasting impressions on visitors and locals alike. The new look for Maya Island Air has been painted on two of the airline’s newest aircrafts.

Misc Belizean Sources

BHA President visits Member Properties in Belize
The Belize Hotel Association's newly elected President Ted Tejada has embarked on a familiarization tour of all the member properties, since being elected to office in late June. Destinations he has visited include Placencia, San Pedro, Cayo, Orange Walk and Belize City. To date President Ted Tejada has visited over 20 properties and met with managers, owners and staff, while learning about all the amenities and attractions available at each hotel. He will continue to visit other BHA properties in the upcoming weeks, so he will be in your area very soon. We would like to thank all the member hotels that hosted our President on his recent visit, with their exceptional warmth and hospitality.

Belize City Primary School History and Social Studies Competition
The Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project and the Belize National Library Service Information System along with its partners (Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, NICH, Belize City Council, and Taiwan ICDF) along with its sponsors BTB, BWS, BEL, Angelus Press Ltd and GSCOM are pleased to bring to you the 2017 Belize City Primary School History and Social Studies Competition. 24 Schools will participate, six will go to the finals and the top three schools will be named. Last year St. Mary's Anglican Primary School barely edged out Holy Redeemer Primary School to take home the coveted History Cup. The question is: Will they be able to keep it in 2017? It will all happen live on Love FM on October 27th starting at 9:00 a.m.

Splashers
Come paint with us tomorrow at Crazy Canucks Beach Bar. We will be painting "A New Day" inspired by local artist Marcus Larious.

UB ERI is currently looking for a Bird Bander
UB ERI is currently looking for a dedicated person to fill the following full-time volunteer position of Bird Bander. The deadline for receipt of applications is September 04, 2017.

Forest Research & Monitoring Interns
UB ERI is currently looking for dedicated persons to fill the following Full-time positions of Forest Research & Monitoring Interns. The deadline for receipt of applications is August 11, 2017.

Great finishing off the design at the old prison in Corozal
This workshop with 7 young corozaleonos along with an artist painted this wall for one week.

Corozal - All Tourism Stakeholders - Free Social Media for the Travel Industry Training for all Corozal BTIA Members
To register and secure your space contact us at [email protected] or 227-1144. Don't miss this opportunity.

International Day of the World's Indigenous People
he Unveiling of The Crique Sarco Customary Land Map took Place Today - Story by Osmany Salas - "The Maya of Crique Sarco have taken matters into their own hands to implement the Caribbean Court of Justice's (CCJ) Order to "create an effective mechanism” to identify and protect Maya lands in accordance with their traditional governance. I was happy to witness the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management's launching of the Maya Lands Registry today. SATIIM and Crique Sarco have developed a model that identifies traditional territorial boundaries and resolves boundary conflicts with the adjacent Maya communities of Sunday Wood and Graham Creek. The Crique Sarco maps are the initial entry in the listing of customary land usage and delineation that will be collected in the Maya Land Registry. The expectation is that other Maya communities will follow Crique Sarco's lead. The Registry aims to document all Maya lands and how they are managed. A terrific way to celebrate the International Day of the World's Indigenous People."

Illegal catch of a Tarpon, conch
Here are two illegal activities recently posted on social media. Belize is a mecca for all those around the world interested in fishing, especially fly fishing, which in Belize, is a catch and release sport. The Tarpon fish, as well as the bonefish and permit are three catch and release species. It is illegal to kill them. The fellow pictured below has the audacity to display his illegal catch of a Tarpon on social media. The other post was also just made advertising conch for sale. Currently, the conch season is closed so it is illegal to catch and offer it for sale. Both posts are simply reckless and shameful. We hope that by sharing this, it reaches the proper authorities and action taken.

This Day in History
August 9th, 1784, a special Legislative Meeting was held to take into consideration the singular arrival of the ship " Mercury," Capt. Arnott, from London, with Convicts purchased of the Government, and directed by those who bought them to be brought here for sale. They afterwards were compelled by the inhabitants to carry them away from these shores. In the late 1700's, Britain sent many of its convicts to other places in the world as a way to manage their convict population. These convicts were sold off as labourers. One of the places they sent them was Africa. This particular post is about one of those "transports" (179 men, 22 women and 2 boys) as they were called. As you would imagine, no one wanted these ships. As it turned out, Mercury ended up in British Honduras. As it is stated in the Almanack, it sounded as though Mercury left Birtish Honduras with its cargo, but in reality it did not. Apparenntly, after the magistrates met and decided that they should leave, the men were taken to Haulover and then Caye Chapel and from there some of them were sold off to some of the Magistrates (Potts being one of them) and some other locals. To get a better understanding please read Chapter 13 of the Book "A Merciless Place"

Channel 7

Another Guatemalan Visitor Murdered In Belize City
Eight days ago we reported that Guatemalan visitor Josue Arizandieta died after he was robbed and shot a few days earlier. Tonight, another Guatemalan visitor is dead after he tried to stand up to armed robbers. 45 year old Ruben Esquivel Aguilar was visiting family in Belize and last night he got killed trying to defend them. Alex Courtenay has the story: Early this morning, Ruben Esquivel Aguilar and his sister were sleeping in her home on Mahogany Street when they started to hear noise coming from another part of the house. His sister locked herself in her bedroom while Aguilar went to see what was happening, and met two men, one armed with a gun, in the living room...

City Shooting on Sarstoon
And while that was a murder, there was also a shooting on the city's Southside. This one happened on Sarstoon Street just after midnight. Police told us more: Supt. Daniel Arzu - DOC, Southside Police: "Michael Aspinal, he was seen with gunshots to his arm and leg. Police are investigating at this point in time and we are hoping to gather additional information in relation to that incident as it is because the person refuses to speak to us at this point in time so we have to prove into this matter and see what we can get out of this latest incident. Now we are not in a position to say if he is the intended target, what we do know that he was riding his bicycle and he indicated that somebody came from behind fired shots from behind a house and caught him on his hand and feet."

A Murder Charge For Nevis Bethancourt
Nevis Bethancourt almost had his hand chopped off 12 days ago in Santa Elena, Cayo - and now police have charged him for murder. On Thursday, July 27th., 31 year old Bethancourt shot and killed 37 year old Jose Nunez Castellanos - who he says was chopping his hand at the time. And while he claims self-defence, there are other versions of the story which put Bethancourt as the aggressor who pend fire on Nunez Castellanos. It happened at a restaurant which Bethancourt's mother had called him to, reportedly after Castellanos disrespected her.

Another Armed Robbery of A Chinese Grocery In Ladyville
It took the police two days to report it, but there has been another armed robbery at a Chinese grocery in Ladyville. This one happened at Brother`s Store in Lords Bank Village on Monday morning. Shopkeeper, Chun Mie Lui, was tending the counter when three men walked in and one of them held her up with a 9 millimeter pistol. He clubbed her with the pistol handle and they then snatched the cash pan with $350.00 dollars and two cell phones. Police have moved quickly to charge two men. They are 23 year old Veris Ventura and 18 year old Steve Ferrell, who were charged with robbery today before Magistrate Aretha Ford. They pled not guilty to the charge but were remanded because the offence was committed with a firearm.

Customs Collect Weed Coming From Botes
Orange Walk Customs came up with a pound of weed yesterday. They found the brick of weed in a neatly wrapped bundle on an Alamilla Bus at 4:30 yesterday. Customs searched the bus on the Yo Creek Road, coming from the direction of Santa Cruz, which is Belize's most popular illegal border crossing - leading to Botes, Mexico.

Canadian Woman Deported For Abduction of Her Own Child
Today, Belizean law enforcement closed the case on a high profile custody battle out of Canada. It involves this 4-year-old Canadian child, Treyson Trockstad-Greenway, who was taken out of his home city of Lethbridge, Alberta, by his biological mother Robin Leanne Greenway Trockstad. She had been on the run with her son since January 2014, when she relocated to Belize with the child. Canadian missing persons reports say that Robin Trockstad fled with her baby while she was in a custody battle with the child's biological father. He has since won sole custody of Baby Treyson, which made the mother, Robin Trockstad, a fugitive. She is wanted for the charge of Abduction in Contravention of a Custody Order, and for years, she had been quietly living in Cayo. That's until 15 days ago, when she was picked up by Belize law enforcement. Best information to 7News is that the biological father came to Belize to get his son. So, what about Robin Trockstad? Well, Belize Immigration deported her to Canada today, where she will have to answer to Canadian police.

Board Chairman Caught Dr. Lorna On Camera
Dr. Lorna Mckay has been principal of Gwen Liz High for the past 14 years, but, as we've been reporting, the career educator is at odds with the chairman of her board of management, Roosevelt Blades. Two days ago, he hand delivered a letter ordering her to hand over the keys, and leave the compound immediately because she was being placed on administrative leave, forthwith. She didn't leave immediately, and she didn't hand over the keys, so Blades had the locks changed - with the new keys handed over to the Vice Principal. Now, the directive to Dr. McKay is that she is not to return the school until the end of the month because she is under investigation. But, today the Chairman sent us security camera video which shows her at the school - leaving with a manila folder in hand.

Fire Victims Have Shelter
2 days ago, we told you about the fire on Santa Barbara street, which destroyed 4 homes, left 17 people homeless, and killed 1 year-old Tyreik Roberts. It's a tragedy that will have long lasting effects on these disaster victims, and NEMO and the Ministry of Human Development have been trying to ease their suffering. Immediately after the fire on Sunday, they were relocated to the St. Martin De Porres School for lodging while NEMO arranges better temporary housing for them. Today, we got a chance to speak with City Councillor Phillip Willoughby about the the alternative housing that the majority of the victims are already benefiting from:

"Philloughby" In Election Mode Writes Off Taxes!
That opportunity to ask about the fire victims came when Willoughby called us out to Antelope Street to discuss a social program that he says the City Council is rolling out. It's designed to help the poor residents of the city who cannot pay their property tax. So, here's how it works. If you are a property owner in Belize City, and you can show with sufficient proof that you cannot pay taxes due to the City, there is a possibility that you may qualify for a tax write-off. It's a section of the laws already in the books where the taxpayer can show that he or she is, quote, "poor and indigent, and unable to pay the rate on the property". We got a chance to speak with the Antelope Street residents who will be the first to benefit from this program, of course with the intercession of an election-crazed "Philloughby". Here's what they told us:

FFB Tries Again
If at first you don't succeed, try and try again. That's just what the Football Federation of Belize is pushing to do after their ninth annual congress never got quorum. Now, the FFB has set up the agenda for an Extraordinary Congress. They're trying to finalize important football business that was left on the floor during the embarrassing 9th Congress from June 24 and 25 that had to be postponed. Well, the FFB has scheduled this extraordinary congress for Saturday, September 2, and they're hoping that this time, enough football delegates will show up so that quorum can be reached.

"Hardcore" Thieves Wiped Out Fishing Business
Placencia resident Erwin Westby earns his living as a fishing guide, but his business, named Hardcore Fishing Charters got hit by some hardcore burglars between Monday night and Tuesday morning. They cleaned him out of some very expensive rods and reels. In total, 13 Penn brand fishing rods and reels, valued at about $45,000, were stolen. But Police followed up on the report swiftly and have detained two persons as well as recovered 6 of the reels valued at about 26 thousand dollars.

SATIIM Makes Land Registry On Its Own
Today is the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples and to commemorate the occasion, SATIIM launched the Maya Lands Registry. They say this is following up on the directive of the Caribbean Court of Justice to "create an effective mechanism" to identify and protect Mayan lands in accordance with their traditional governance. They say that 2 years later and still no mechanism exists. So, they took the matter into their own hands and created that mechanism for Crique Sarco village - one of the 38 communities with customary land use rights. NGO Senator Osmany Salas attended the event - and we have his interview courtesy PGTV:

Belize U-13 Table Tennis Athletes Excel
This weekend, Belize table tennis athletes turned heads at the 2017 U-13 and U11 Table Tennis Championships. A delegation of 7 athletes went to Tegucigalpa, Honduras to participate in the tournament. After 4 days of competition the pair 12 year-olds, Taye Parkinson and Devesh Hukmani, managed to make it all the way to the semi-finals in the doubles category. After a hard-fought battle, they lost to Guatemala, and won the Bronze Medals. In that same tournament, Devesh Hukmani managed to distinguish himself when he won the bronze medal in the singles tournament as well. This evening, we got a chance to speak with both athletes, and their coaches about their performance. Here's what they told us about making Belize's presence known in the tournament:

Kevin Brown, Suspect May Have Flown Out
As we told you last night, 21 year old basketballer Kevin Brown is at home in Camalote recovering after a massive blow to the head which happened in a brawl on Sunday night in San Pedro. According to eyewitnesses, Brown and about three other friends were mobbed by a group of 20 men. Eyewitnesses tell us that he was punched out and then someone threw a vase on his head - even though initial reports said that he had been hit with a fire extinguisher. The dispute was all over a bracelet, and police have surveillance video of the fracas which happened near Banana Beach resort. Witnesses tell us that the dispute was with some well known young men from Belize city - one of whom has reportedly left the country. We'll keep following the story.

Kids See the Inside of A Prison And Hear Real Stories
We see their pictures, get footage of them when they are taken to court and follow their cases, but we don't usually get to see what happens after convicts go to prison. We have an idea but it's not the same like actually experiencing or hearing it from the inmates themselves. Well today, a group of Belmopan kids got a chance to confront the reality of life behind bars. Courtney Weatherburne went to the prison and has more details. It's another day in the wood work shop for these prisoners. Some are sanding a table they just built others are working on smaller wooden craft. But these inmates know how to do much more than just construction. They know how to rear chickens and slaughter pigs. These are just a few activities that the prisoners can keep busy with on the compound. And of course, there is time for recreation. It might not seem too bad from the outside.

Channel 5

Murderous Pre-Dawn Home Invasion in Belize City
A national from Guatemala arrived in the country a few days ago to get away from personal problems. But instead his life was cut short in a deadly home invasion [...]

Nevis Betancourth Faces Murder Charges after Stand-Off
San Ignacio Police have arrested and charged Nevis Betancourth for the murder of Jose “El Chele” Castellanos. Betancourth was hospitalized for several days following the deadly incident that happened at [...]

Michael Aspinall Shot on Sarstoon Street
Hours prior to the murder of Ruben Esquivel, shots rang out several blocks away on Sarstoon Street in the Old Capital. Just after midnight on Tuesday, thirty-four-year-old Michael Aspinal, a [...]

The Castro Brothers Sought for Beating on Ambergris Caye
We can finally confirm tonight that the San Pedro police are looking for Wasani and Jafari Castro, following the aggravated assault of twenty-one-year-old Kevin Brown at a resort on the [...]

C.C.J. Says Why Wilfred Elrington Must Return Documents
The Caribbean Court of Justice has issued written reasons for its decision in the case of Progresso Heights Limited versus Wilfred Elrington and Pitts and Elrington. On July twenty-first, the [...]

The Power of Family: Vega/Banos Land Acquisitions
News Five continues its perusal of one hundred and eighteen land documents leaked recently that show a land scheme which enriched friends and families of former Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar [...]

Youths Hear Powerful Testimonies from Behind Prison Walls
The Belize Central Prison is bursting at its seams as the number of inmates stands at one thousand three hundred, fifty-eight percent of them are awaiting trial for crimes that [...]

Belmopan Police Reaching Out to Youths in Community
The field trip to the Belize Central Prison was organized by Senior Superintendent Howell Gillett of the Belmopan Police. He says that it is part of his formation’s community policing [...]

Mother and Son Returned to Canada after Hiding for 4 Years
A three-year custody battle between Canadian parents is winding down. Thirty-three-year-old Canadian national Robin Leanne Greenway Trockstad was arrested by authorities in Cayo District after the Canadian government issued a [...]

Shopkeeper Robbed in Lords’ Bank
A duo believed to have been involved in an armed robbery in the Lord’s Bank area, Ladyville were arraigned this afternoon in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court. A third man [...]

Why Antelope Street Family Can’t Pay Property Tax
Could a legal loophole help residents of Belize City avoid paying overdue property taxes? We’ll tell you what city councilor and mayoral aspirant Philip Willoughby’s role is shortly; but first, [...]

Mayoral Aspirant Philip Willoughby Comes to Rescue
Ryan Davis, who renounced his gang ties and is a part of the Youth Apprenticeship Program, approached Willoughby, who took his case up to the Ministry of Local Government. Poor [...]

Crique Sarco Initiates Maya Land Registry
The very first admission into the newly formed Maya Land Registry has been made by the remote southern village of Crique Sarco. The far-flung community in the Toledo District is [...]

Maya Land Rights Commission Takes Interest, Completes Consultations
This morning, men, women and children from the wider indigenous community were bussed into Crique Sarco where the geographical map of the village was formally unveiled. Among the invited guests [...]

Table Tennis Players Hard at Work Despite Bronze Success
Belize’s team to the 2017 Central American Pre-Infantile under-eleven and under-thirteen Table Tennis Championships in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, returned with two bronze medals in boys’ play and improved performances across the [...]

CTV3

Impasse Remains Between BSCFA abd BSI/ASR
Today there is no saying when the apparent impasse between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and BSI/ ASR will end over proposed amendments to the current commercial agreement laid on the table by the milling company to invest 22 million dollars into the factory. The last we heard about the issue was that the BSCFA had sent a letter to BSI/ASR dated Monday July 31st where the association makes the position of its members, in regard to the current proposal, known. The letter did not bear good news because while members of the association welcomed the 22 million dollars investment they are in total disagreement with the proposed amendments. In return the association had proposals of their own and they made those known in the letter.

Police Look For Castro Brothers In Relation To Aggravated Assault Issues
The infamous Castro brothers, Wasani and Jafari are tonight back on the media spotlight as they are being sought by police for their possible involvement in an aggravated assault which occurred over the weekend in San Pedro. The incident we understand played out on Sunday night and has left well known San Ignacio basketball player, twenty one year old, Kevin Brown with serious head and body injuries after he was beaten up and stuck across the head with a fire extinguisher. Police say Brown was at a Resort with a group of friends when a dispute arose over a piece of jewelry. He is said to have been attacked by males other than his friends who kicked and then struck him with the fire extinguisher, knocking him unconscious. Brown’s injuries were so severe that he had to be airlifted from San Pedro to the KHMH where he reportedly slipped into a coma. Brown, we understand is today recovering at home from his injuries.

SATIM Launches Maya Land Registry
Today August 9th is recognized as International Day of the World’s Indigenous People and also marks the 10th anniversary of the UN declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In commemoration of the celebration, today the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM) launched a Maya Lands Registry which seeks to protect the rights of the Mayan community of Crique Sarco located in the Toledo District. Back in 2015, the Caribbean Court of Justice ordered the Belize government to create an ‘effective mechanism’ that will serve to identify and protect the property and other rights arising from Maya customary land tenure, in accordance with Maya customary laws and land tenure practices. But while two years have gone by and still no mechanism has been established, the residents of Crique Sarco decided to take matters into their own hands and sought assistance from SATIIM to address the problem.

LOVE FM

Guatemalan Farmer Found Dead in the South
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man whose body was found already in a state of decomposition after five o’clock this morning. Police report that seventy three year old Jose Antonio Garcia, a Guatemalan farmer was walking along Davis Falls Road when he saw some blood stained stones and when he […]

Brandon Taylor Nabbed for Firearm Offences
Thirty one year old Brandon Taylor has been charged for ‘kept firearm and ammunition without a gun license. Police say that at around eight o’clock last night they spotted Taylor on Central American Boulevard in Belize City. When Taylor saw the officers he reportedly dashed into a yard and attempted to hide the firearm at […]

Belize and Mexico Officials Discuss Transport
The governments of Belize and Mexico have entered into discussion for the development of a framework focused on international motor carrier, passenger and freight transportation across the borders. A Mexican delegation comprised of diplomatic and technical experts, headed by Mexican Ambassador Carlos Quesnel Melendez met with top officials of the Ministry of Transport including CEO […]

Breaking Belize News

Belize police officers attend seminar in Panama
A team of six Belize police officers from the Mobile Interdiction Team (MIT) and Customs are in Panama attending a training session. The training is focused on ceasing terrorist threats and border security. The 4-day seminar was funded by the United States State Department and entails the detection of weapons of mass destruction and general protection of borders against terrorist threats.

Belmopan kids visit Kolbe Foundation
Today, the Belmopan police took 29 children between the ages of 8 and 17 to visit the Kolbe foundation. According to Officer Commanding Belmopan Police, Senior Superintendent Howell Gillett, one of main reasons for the visit was to allow the kids to gain a first hand experience of what life inside a prison is like.

Belize City man charged in Orange Walk for .38 revolver
On Sunday around 1:30 p.m., while Orange Walk police were on Dunn Street, cops saw two suspicious men riding into the cemetery on separate bicycles. Police then pursued them and apprehended one of the men.

Guatemalan farmer died of multiple chop wounds
According to police reports, yesterday morning around 6:30, police went to Davis Fall road, Alta Vista village and saw the body of 49-year-old Guatemalan farmer, Cesar Augusto Monroy, on the ground in a state of decomposition. Monroy had what appeared to be a large chop wound behind the neck and a cut wound to the left hand.

Early morning shooting in Belize City
This morning around 12:10 a.m., police responded to a shooting incident and visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where cops saw 34-year-old Michael Aspinal, a laborer of Kraal Road, Belize City with multiple gunshot wounds.

Guatemalan shot dead at his home in Belize City
This morning around 3:30, police visited a house on Mahogany Street, Belize City where cops saw 45-year-old Guatemalan, Ruben Esquivel Aguilar, lying in the kitchen area with multiple gunshot wounds and apparently dead. Investigations revealed that at around 3:20 a.m., Aguilar’s sister was awaken by the sound of someone inside the house then heard her brother shouting her name before gunshots were fired.

Belize~Assessment of the current political situation
By Richard Harrison: Local government elections in 9 of the principal municipalities of Belize are expected to take place in March 2018, and the political season that comes with that has already kicked off. These elections are important because they will serve like a mid-term litmus test of the UDP third consecutive term in central government, since taking the reins of power in 2008. Currently, the UDP have control of 8 of these municipalities…and the PUP has only Orange Walk Town. Unless some major issues cause momentum to change between now and March, it would appear that this 8:1 ratio will remain.

San Ignacio Scotiabank recognizes brave police officers
Yesterday, Scotiabank Belize Ltd. – San Ignacio branch presented gifts of appreciation to officers PC Daniel Choc and PC Derwin Garcia in recognition of their bravery for rescuing three minors from the strong currents of the Cristo Rey village river on July 29th. Scotiabank gifted both officers with VIP tickets for the football match between the Belmopan Candits and CD Walter Ferreti tomorrow, $100 cash and a Scotiabank gift bag with promotional items.

Castroâ€™s kids in trouble again
Police say they have been looking for Wasani and Jafari Castro, sons of Minister of Transport Edmond Castro, since Sunday in connection with a brutal case of aggravated assault. Police say that the victim, 21-year-old Kevin Brown, was at Banana Beach Resort with a group of friends when a dispute arose over a piece of jewelry.

Police involved in trans-border weapon smuggling?
Today is International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and the 10th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM) is launching the Maya Lands Registry in commemoration of the day.

SATIIM launches Maya lands registry to celebrate UN Indigenous Peoples day
Today is International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and the 10th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM) is launching the Maya Lands Registry in commemoration of the day.

Blogs

Belize’s Cultural Celebrations: Yurumein
Yurumein (Homeland or St. Vincent) is the re-enactment of the arrival of the arrival of the largest group of Garinagu to Belizean shores in 1823. This annual celebration is held on the 19th November or Garifuna Settlement Day.Efforts by Thomas Vincent Ramos and others led to the commencement of the celebration in the Stann Creek District in 1943; in 1997, it was declared a national holiday. The re-enactment demonstrates the Garinagu trails as they journeyed from St. Vincent to Roatan, Honduras then to Belizean shores.

Corozal Friendliest community to visit in Belize
The people tend to be very friendly. Corozal is a small and sleepy town with great views of the bay. If you want to rest, this is a great stop. If you arrive on Sunday, you'll find most businesses closed, although a few of the small restaurants and general stores will be open. There are very few tourists, so it is a good place to see Belize off the beaten track, and consequently, accommodation, food and drink, and other items are cheaper than in better-known places. Very regular buses are available between Corozal Town and Chetumal in Mexico, running about every 45 minutes during the day. The journey lasts about 1 hour and costs around 3.00Bze$ or 20$ pesos Mexican if you are still in Chetumal coming to Corozal. Fairly regular and inexpensive buses are also available to and from Belize City and Belmopan, as well as other destinations in the country. Tropic Air and Maya Island Air offer flights on smaller prop-driven aircraft between Corozal and Belize City, San Pedro, and Caye Caulker, as well as many other less-traveled Belize towns.

A loving Class of Carlos Perrote's Steel Band
It's once again here Carlos Perrote's Steel Drum Summer Class 2017. Where kids can learn a various music skills about the Steel Drum. And, its not just about learning the skills until the end of the class, but to have a wonderful time during the three weeks event. I will take you an event that happened back in 2014. Steel band music, it has made a comeback and no where is it more alive than in students. Students learn basically rhythms, different kinds of rhythms, just technique to play the pan and to play different kinds of instruments. in Steel Drum you need to practice. The steel band is just like another instrument. It isn't different. For a violin you have to practice and for steel band you have to practice. In this purpose, the first objective is to introduce the children to music. Carlos Perrote wants. Their are over 5,000 instruments percussion to be learnt and 10 year's of experience. "Its like going into steps by step to reach the goal of music." Carlos Perrote explained to the students while practicing.

International Sources

Le Belize, Une Destination De Rêve
Le Belize est une destination magnifique et pourtant très méconnue des français. 90% des personnes avec lesquelles j’ai discuté de mon voyage ne connaissaient pas. Et pour tout vous dire, il y a 6 mois, je n’en avais jamais entendu parler non plus. Ne pas connaître un pays, était-ce possible ? Le temps passant, ma curiosité grandissant… j’ai pris mes billets d’avion bien décidée à en savoir plus ! Le Belize est un petit pays (22.970 km2 versus 248.573km2 pour la France) lové entre le Mexique, le Guatemala, le Honduras et bordé par les Caraïbes. Seul pays anglophone d’Amérique du Sud, c’est la destination confidentielle préférée des Américains. Durant mes 2 semaines de voyage je n’ai croisé que 2 Français. Je ne vous cache pas que c’est une belle satisfaction et que cela fait le plus grand bien…

Judge to Hear Ex-Treasure Hunter's Request to End Jail Time
An Ohio judge will hear a request by an ex-treasure hunter jailed on contempt-of-court charges to end his imprisonment. Federal Judge Algenon Marbley has held defendant Tommy Thompson in contempt since December 2015 for violating terms of a plea deal by refusing to respond to questions about the location of 500 missing gold coins. Thompson's attorney argues federal law prohibits holding someone under such conditions for longer than 18 months. Investors in the treasure hunt trying to recoup their money disagree.

Scotiabank named best digital bank In The Caribbean
Scotiabank has been recognized by Global Finance magazine as the 2017 World’s Best Consumer Digital Bank in Latin America and the Caribbean. Scotiabank has been consistently recognized as the Best Consumer Internet Bank or Best Consumer Digital Bank by Global Finance since 2009, demonstrating its strength in digital banking. “We are very proud to have been recognized by Global Finance for the digital solutions we offer to our customers in Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean,” said Ignacio (Nacho) Deschamps, Group Head, International Banking and Digital Transformation. “At Scotiabank, we have a global robust digital banking strategy focused on meeting customers’ needs and expectations.”

Early-season storms one indicator of active Atlantic hurricane season ahead
NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, located in College Park, Md, has issued its update outlook for the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season. It's now predicting a higher likelihood of an above-normal season, and has increased the predicted number of named storms and major hurricanes.The season has the potential to be extremely active, and could be the most active since 2010. The updated outlook is based on the current and evolving atmospheric and oceanic conditions, the most recent model predictions, and pre-and early-season storm activity. The numbers announced today include the season activity to-date.

STORYTELLING PROJECT
Are you a young writer aged between 15 and 24 years old? The Commonwealth Nonagenarians Life Story Project invites young people living in Commonwealth countries to submit an essay based on interviews they have conducted with nonagenarians living in their home country as part of CommonAge’s story project.

Videos

Central Health Region Update (Jan - June 2017), 29min.

Sunrise Fitness Belize - 60K Drive For Outdoor Community Center, 15min.

BELIZE MOVIE, 7.5min.

ZIPLINING IN BELIZE | bree ally, 8min. Zip lining through the jungle in Belize and facing my fears of swimming in the ocean in Cozumel!

Belize 2017, 5.5min.

Straight Up Belize: Earth Expedition 2017, 9min. A glimpse at my perspective of our Project Dragonfly: Earth Expeditions, 2017 Belize

FINALLY MADE IT TO BELIZE!!! | SAN IGNACIO, 12min. Belize Vlog Day #1- We made sure we were extra early this time around! Landed in Belize City and used Williams Shuttle Service to get to San Ignacio. Roamed the streets for some delicious street food and checked out the towns night life. We stayed at Bella's Backpackers which was very quiet and friendly only a few blocks from the center of town. Tomorrow is an early road trip to the Tikal Ruins.

Belize - Day Five, 6min. A day of iguanas, ziplining, car karaoke, boat rides, hammocks, napkin art and most of all laughter! Belize you really are the greatest!

August 9, 2017

For information about Tropical Storm Franklin, CLICK HERE.

Brandon Taylor, 31, was recently released from prison but it appears he will be back very soon. Police reported that at around 8:00 last night, cops on mobile patrol on the Central American Boulevard saw Taylor, allegedly with a firearm in his hand. Upon […]

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

The San Pedro Sun

Tropical Storm Franklin spares Belize
On Tuesday morning, August 8th, residents woke up to cloudy skies and a few showers. Along the beach minimal erosion was observed, and most importantly, no serious damages. At 8AM, the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) issued an ‘All Clear’ notice, discontinuing the tropical storm warning for the coast of Belize, from Belize City to the Corozal District. NEMO was also glad to inform the entire nation that according to information gathered from the District and City Emergency Committees, there were no reports of injuries or damages. It was reported that in Corozal District, the Cayes and Belize City, a total of 330 persons took refuge in shelters. Also, around 157 persons voluntarily relocated to the mainland from Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker.

Tarpon Club reels in the top prize at Tres Pescados Slam 2017
44 anglers participated in this year’s 9th annual Tres Pescados Slam Tournament, the only international fly-fishing event in Belize. Held from Thursday, August 3rd to Saturday, August 5th, the three-day fishing tournament saw different participating teams attempting to land the best slam in order to claim the top prize. After three days of intense competition, it was team Tarpon Club who took home first place and top prize of $5,000 cash. According to most of the participants, day one was the best day as the weather was very cooperative and lots of fish were caught. The other two days of the tournament saw unfavourable weather, and the catches were low. However, despite bad weather, team Tarpon Club: Nano Guerrero and Alejandro Vega, managed to reel in a good catch to lead the competition.

Ambergris Today

All Clear In Belize As Tropical Storm Franklin Makes Landfall In Mexico
The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), in collaboration with the National Meteorological Service, hereby informs the public that around 10:45 last night Tropical Storm Franklin made landfall with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph on the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, north of Chetumal near Pulticub, Mexico. While satellite imagery of the storm looked ominous and a huge threat to Belize, residents of San Pedro took comfort of spending a good night’s sleep while they were waiting for the wind and rain to pick up. In fact, there was very little rain and practically no high winds recorded. It did get a bit chilly.

Belize Presents Draft Update To The National Tourism Policy
Over 90 public, private and civil sector tourism stakeholders attended a presentation of the draft update to the National Tourism Policy held in Belize City on August 3, 2017. Dr. Richard Denman, the consultant contracted for the revision process, presented the draft revised National Tourism Policy, which will guide the sustainable and resilient development of tourism in Belize for the next 10 years. The revised National Tourism Policy was drafted after extensive consultations with tourism sector stakeholders in February and May of 2017. The policy is a deliverable of the Sustainable Tourism Program II, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, through the support of the Inter-American Development Bank. During the forum, stakeholders were able to provide recommendations to further refine the draft policy.

Costa Maya Festival Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Miss Belize Costa Maya, Michelle Nuñez was crowned Miss Costa Maya 2017 and won Best National Costume while Miss Panama Maria Fernanda Jaspe won first runner up and Miss Nicaragua Danielle Nicole Hodgson Joseph took title of second runner up. Although attendance has been better in previous years at the festival grounds, Ambergris Caye was bustling with activity. Hotels were booked, golf cart rentals were exhausted, restaurants and bars were busy as the island filled up with visitors wanting to enjoy the popular weekend on Ambergris Caye. The festival was created to fill the gap of low activity on the island during the slow season.

Misc Belizean Sources

Mexico and Belize discuss Framework for Memorandum of Understanding on International Motor Carrier, Passenger and Freight Transportation
On Monday, August 7th, a diplomatic and technical delegation headed by Mexico’s Ambassador to Belize, H. E. Carlos Quesnel Melendez, met with top officials from the Government of Belize to discuss the framework for a Memorandum of Understanding on International Motor Carrier, Passenger and Freight Transportation between the Government of Belize and the Government of the United Mexican States. The meeting was a follow up to an initial meeting between Belize’s Minister of Transport Hon Edmond Castro and Mexican Ambassador H. E. Carlos Quesnel Melendez which took place in February of this year.

Punta Gorda Teen Week 2017, Aug. 7-11
Interested in acting, cooking, writing, and design? Well come out to TEEN WEEK 2017 TODAY!!

Celebrating our Maya Hero and Freedom fighter Marcus Canul
Belize Yucatec Maya - Celebrating our Maya Hero and Freedom fighter Marcus Canul at Queen Victoria Avenue , Orange Walk Town - September 2nd, 2017 @ 9:00 a.m. A small ceremony to honor Marcus Canul renacting the Caste War Expo by SJC and also by the Yucatec Maya of northern Belize . We will also have food and dances from different Maya cultural groups from Corozal and Orange Walk District . The Northern Maya Association of Belize invites everyone . U Xamanij Masewalo'ob Belize,Maaya Kaaje' Kuxa'an , Wayano'one , Kux'ano'on , To'one Masehualoon !!! Tu láakle'ex táan ak t'anke'ex.

La Isla Bonita Telenovela selected to be part of Carifesta Barbados 2017!
La Isla Bonita Telenovela - A big thank you and congratulations to the entire cast, crew and sponsors that made La Isla Bonita Telenovela possible! The pilot episode has been selected to be part of Carifesta Barbados 2017!!!

Retail Prices of Price Controlled goods
Do you know what is a price controlled good (PCG)? Here is a list of the different PCGs with its respective retail prices.

Taiwan Awards 26 Belizeans University Scholarships
The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Belize-Taiwan ICDF Alumni Society (a.k.a. Taiwan Alumni Association) co-hosted 2017 Taiwan Scholarship Awarding Ceremony and Orientation for 26 scholarship recipients on Saturday, August 5th, 2017 at Radisson Fort George Hotel. The scholarship recipients have been awarded scholarships respectively through the TaiwanICDF Scholarship Program and the Taiwan Scholarship Program. A total number of 334 Belizeans have been granted scholarships to study in Taiwan until now.

Belize Infrastructure Limited Holds National Management Workshop for Municipality Sports Infrastructure
On Friday, August 4th, 2017, the Belize Infrastructure Limited (BIL) held a National Management Workshop for the National Sports Council and Municipal Authorities, during which time they also conducted an official handing over of sport infrastructure for five municipalities: Belmopan, San Ignacio/Santa Elena, San Pedro, Dangriga and Punta Gorda. The workshop was organized to review the status of operations and management arrangements for the sports infrastructure in each municipality and to facilitate greater collaboration between the National Sports Council (NSC) and mayors from the municipalities for the ongoing operations of the facilities. The mayors and their support staff, as well as local sports council staff, received one-on-one and group training on topics including accounting, operations, and management.

National Jaguar Working Group Offers Recommendations Following the Death of Jaguar
On the 27th July 2017, the Forest Department responded to reports of a jaguar being captured by farmers around the Northern Lagoon area in the Belize District. Upon investigation, it was discovered that farmers, who experienced several jaguar attacks on their livestock, retaliated by trapping the jaguar. When farmers informed the Forest Department that they had caught a jaguar, a team comprising of members of the National Jaguar Working Group (NJWG), was immediately dispatched to the area. The team noted that prior to and during transportation to the Belize Zoo facilities, the jaguar exhibited signs of sluggish behaviour, poor coordination and weakness - all indications of a potential health crisis. Immediate and specialised care by veterinary personnel and response team was given around the clock to revive the animal, but all efforts proved unsuccessful and a post-mortem confirmed that the animal died due to heat trauma and exhaustion.

AFTERMATH OF TROPICAL STORM FRANKLIN
After being under the threat of Tropical Storm Franklin and NEMO gave the ALL CLEAR for Belize, members of the NEMO ECO in San Pedro made assessments of the few damages made by TS Franklin, which was minor erosion of beaches and collapsed coconut tree at the Mar de Tumbo area. The SPTC work crew were out early cleaning up the sargasso that washed ashore on Boca del Rio Drive.

Ms. Soila Chan passes away
Mayor Daniel Guerrero, the San Pedro Town Council and Staff would like to extend its sincere condolences to the Chan family and friends on the passing of Ms. Soila Chan. May her soul rest in peace.

Letter: Voter re-registration in Belize
For several months, the Belize Progressive Party (BPP) has made the principled call for the much-needed voter re-registration to commence, with the most recent being made on 6th July 2017, via press release. The government of Belize continues to abuse its powers to not only breach the law but essentially to perpetuate institutionalised PUDP corruption, which eats away at the very core of our governance. Its latest determination to extend the time for re-registration by proclamation 2017 is demonstrative of the extent to which they will go in order to not adhere to the rule of law. Re-registration has been postponed almost ten years now by subsequent PUDP power manipulations. This sheds light on an even deeper concern the BPP has championed since its inception, that being the archaic functions of the Office of the Governor General.

Tropical Storm Franklin brings heavy rain to Belize and Mexico
Tropical Storm Franklin moved across the Yucatan Peninsula on Tuesday bringing heavy rain to northern Belize and area of Mexico. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, maximum sustained winds were near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. A strengthening trend is likely to begin when the centre moves over water, and Franklin could be near hurricane intensity at landfall in the southwest Gulf coast of Mexico. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km) from the centre.

Revised CPD Schedule
Thank you all for your patience so far. We are grateful that the storm is now gone and we came out unaffected. Please find attached, Revised CPD Schedule, August 2017 for PRE-PRIMARY, PRIMARY, SECONDARY/TECHNICAL & VOCATIONAL TEACHERS, SCHOOL LEADERS and COUNSELORS, reflecting changes to the Workshops for the Corozal, Orange Walk and Belize Districts only.

UB 1st President's All-Inclusive Endowment Fete
UB 1st President's All-Inclusive Endowment Fete is a fundraiser event all for the long term benefit of students. The proceeds will be used to fund scholarships for well deserving Belizeans to attend UB. Sunday, September 17 at 3 PM - 9 PM, University of Belize.

Rossy War Coming to Cayo
Rossy War will be playing at the SHC auditorium next Saturday, August 19th, for the Ms. Estereo Amor pageant. On Friday the 18th, she'll be at the meet and greet at Midas Resort.

Cayo Youths Beautify Santa Elena Park
The Department of Youth Services had their 2017 Youth Empowerment Camp recently, and one of the major projects they undertook was the Santa Cruz Park Restoration in Santa Elena. They have a little picture collage video about the Summer camp, and many great pictures. "The Santa Cruz Park in Santa Elena, Cayo is a now brighter, more inviting space thanks to a collaboration between the Youth Rise Project in the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation, the Cayo Department of Youth Services (DYS), and the San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Council. On 24 July 2017, eighty-five (85) youths from the Youth Empowerment Summer Camp hosted by DYS and Youth Rise, spent the day beautifying the park for the camp’s community service day activity. As part of the joint effort, the Town Council made a number of improvements to the park including repairing four cement park benches, adding new chains and wooden swings sets, installing a new slide and rehabilitating a wooden see-saw. The youths, aged 10-19, then spent the day painting all the new installations in bright colours and adding paint lines to the basketball court, which now has a new rim courtesy the Youth Rise Project. The community service day was geared at instilling civic pride within the youths who are attending the two-week summer camp. Throughout the course of the camp, which runs from 17th-28th July, the youths have been participating in sporting activities as well as educational sessions on topics such as cyber bullying, fire safety, environmental awareness, and sexual and reproductive health."

Friends of the Vaca Forest Reserve
23 farmers are now rightfully known as members of the Friends of the Vaca Forest Reserve. With their IDs and t-shirts they proudly are aboard in the protection of the Vaca plateau. FCD congratulates these brave local people from Succotz, Arenal and Benque.

Let us bid a fond farewell to Stephen Whyte!
Mr. Whyte is travelling today to Nashville, Tennessee to participate in the The Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship Program at Vanderbilt University. He starts his program in the field of Educational Administration, Planning and Policy. Mr. Whyte is the Principal of St. John’s Memorial Anglican School in Placencia. He decided to venture into the marvelous profession of teaching because of the love for children. He believes that all children are equal and have the ability to learn anything they set their minds to. Mr. Whyte is never bored as a teacher since he is always busy researching new ideas to try in his classroom with students who have various learning styles.

Stann Creek Regional Archaeology Project
The 2016 report that sheds light on the 3rd field season of the Stann Creek Regional Archaeology Project (SCRAP) is available at the Institute of Archaeology for those who want an interesting read. The volume, edited by Dr. Meaghan Peuramäki-Brown, highlights the work done at the site of Alabama but also looks at the sites of Pearce, Kuchil Balum, and Huntul Mo'.

Channel 7

Police Officer in Cross Border Weapon Smuggling?
Tonight, a police constable is in custody facing serious charges after he was found in a vehicle with a gun last night. Here's more on the seizure in the Cayo District: Jules Vasquez reporting: Last night at 9:50, PC Franklin Ramirez was behind the wheel of this Ford Explorer eastbound to Belmopan when the MIT stopped the vehicle near mile 56 in Ontario Village. Three other persons were inside, they are: John Pineda Trevor Dean Brown and Elorey Graham: ACP Edward Broaster, Ag. OC - Eastern Division: "A search was conducted on that vehicle, and was subsequently escorted to the police training academy where a secondary search was conducted where members of the mobile interdiction team discovered a win millimeter pistol which was concealed under the glove compartment. The four occupants have since been detained and will be charged today. The police officer will additionally face disciplinary charges for the firearm."

Supt. Dinsdale Under Internal Investigation For Contraband
And another police officer was caught smuggling something from Guatemala last week. He is Superintendent Dinsdale Thompson who customs caught in Arenal with contraband pharmaceuticals on Friday. As we reported on Friday, he settled with the customs department, but it's a major professional infraction for a lawman to be caught with contraband. Today, Assistant Commissioner Broaster said Thompson is being investigated. ACP Edward Broaster, Ag. OC - Eastern Division: "All I can say to that is that Professional Standards Branch is conducting their investigation into that matter which I believe will be forwarded to the Services' Commission."

Monroy Murdered
At around 5:30 this morning, 73-year-old Alta Vista resident, Jose Garcia, was walking towards his farm on the Davis Falls Road when he saw a trail of blood on the road. Following the trail, he found the body of a man known to him, Cesar Augusto Monroy's body on the ground. Dangriga police arrived on the scene an hour later, and found a large cut wound to the back of the neck and another on his hand. They also noted that the body was already decomposing.

14 Year Old And City Woman Injured in Fire
There was a shooting in Belize City last night just after 10:00 and where a 14 year old boy and a 35 year old woman were injured. It happened on Cleghorn Street where Fiona Spain and the minor were relaxing on the verandah when a shooter opened fire. Police told us more:... Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino - CIB, Belize City: "Police visited the KHMH and found a female and a male minor suffering from gunshot wounds. Investigation received as that the female and the male minor were addressed on Cleghorn Street when a lone gunman approached and fired shots in their direction hitting them and causing the injuries."

Franklin Faked Out Belize
Last night, in our coverage of Tropical Storm Franklin, we told you how the 6th named storm for this season might end up not affecting Belize. That's because Franklin started shifting away from Northern Belize a few hours before it made landfall. So, when the storm finally came ashore on the south - central Yucatan Peninsula, Belize - from Corozal, to San Pedro, to Orange Walk - was completely spared, except for a few scattered showers. Today, Daniel Ortiz took a closer look at the storm which faked west and went north. Here's his story:

Gwen Liz Chair Says He Had Full Consent
As we told you last night, the Chairman of the Board, Roosevelt Blades ordered the locks to be changed at Gwen Liz High School yesterday evening. This is after the principal, Dr. Lorna McKay refused to turn over the keys as he had directed her to. McKay told us his letter placing her on three administrative leave, and effectively ejecting her from the compound was out of line - since she didn't have a meeting with him, and since neither the board, nor any other authority was copied on the letter. She concluded that he had acted unilaterally. Blades called us today to reject that; he says it was not unilateral and he had the full consent of the managing authority. He pointed to the regulations which make it clear that the managing authority has the authority to place a teacher under investigation on administrative leave.

No Charges Yet And Maybe No Charges At All For Crooked Tree Fatal
Last night we told you about the fatal accident at the Crooked Tree Junction which claimed the life of 20 year-old Alma Flowers. Well, the police investigators are still trying to decide whether the man who knocked her down should be criminally charged. 25 year-old Leonel Del Valle has been served with a notice of intended prosecution, and he has been released from police custody. We understand that police are speaking to witnesses to put a file together, so that they can seek the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Brandon Taylor Remanded For Weapon
Today 31 year old Jane Usher Boulevard resident Brandon Taylor appeared in the Magistrate's Court where he was charged for keeping a firearm and ammunition without a gun license. Taylor was picked up by police last night after they conducted a search of a yard on Central American Boulevard where he was hanging out and finding a 9 mm pistol with 17 rounds of ammunition. He pled not guilty to the charges, and was remanded into custody until October.

Four Cabbies Killed in Five Months, Police Say They're Not Being Targetted
Four taximen have been killed in Belize City between March and August of this year with - Thomas Arthur Staine becoming number four yesterday. That's an alarming number, but today the Acting Commander of Eastern Division said he does not believe they are being targeted. ACP Edward Broaster, Ag. OC - Eastern Division: "I wouldn't say that taxi men are being targeted. If you are saying that we had 3-4 taxi men murdered over the past 12 months, that's not an indicator to say that taxi men are targeted. Nevertheless, that matter is being investigated thoroughly and I am sure that the investigators are going to do all in their power to discover the offender or the suspect who committed that crime."

Destra Recovering After Surgery
On last week Thursday's newscast, we told you how how the Trinidadian Soca superstar, Destra Garcia, had a major fall during a concert in Bermuda. The mishap caused her to break her ankle, and after surgery, she's now recovering. On Sunday, she made this post Instagram saying, quote, "Could have been worse...Im OK Im on the road to recoveryâ€¦ It's been a crazy 72 hrs. I want to thank everyone who kept me in their prayers. I was in so much pain and so afraid, but thanks to God, all the doctors, nurses and medical personnel, that took great care of me, from Bermuda..." End quote

Taking Stock of Jaguar Care After Unfortunate Death Two Weeks Ago
Almost two weeks ago we told you about the jaguar that was extracted from a farm in the Northern Lagoon area of the Belize district. That jaguar had been trapped by farmers after it had spent several months feeding off the livestock in the area. The Forest Department was called in to extract it, but not long after the jaguar was transported to the Belize Zoo, it died. According to experts, the stress of being captured was too much for the otherwise healthy animal to handle. Today the National Jaguar Working Group issued a press release giving its recommendations for what civilians should do if a jaguar is threatening them or their animals. When we spoke to the Forest Department's Jaguar Officer a couple weeks ago, she gave us some of that same advice. Here's what she said...

Basketballer Kevin Brown's Slow Recovery
Well known basketball player Kevin Brown is at home in Camalote dealing with a rough recovery after he was beaten up and stuck across the head with a fire extinguisher on Sunday night in San Pedro. This is a picture of the 21 year old Brown when he was airlifted from San Pedro to Belize after the attack. Police say Brown was at a Resort with a group of friends when a dispute arose over a piece of jewelry. He was attacked by males other than his friends who kicked and then struck him with the fire extinguisher, knocking him unconscious. He was later airlifted to the KHMH.

Sarstoon, The Other Side Of The Story
Last night on the news, we showed you those Guatemalan fishers in the Sarstoon whose presence and freedom of fishing in Belizean waters, thoroughly incensed a group of Territorial Volunteers who were in the area. They condemned the government and the BDF for letting such violations go unchecked. Well, there are two sides to that story - and law enforcement says it's not as clear cut as it seems. They point out - and we have seen this ourselves - that many of these so called Guatemalans have valid Belizean fisherfolk license and valid seaworthiness certificates from the relevant authorities in Belize, along with addresses in PG Town, or even at the mouth of the Temash River. Law enforcement says they have been trying to crack down on it for some time, and have even started to try and see if their names on those fisherfolk licenses match a nationality document.

Help for HELPAGE
HelpAge Belize will now be able to provide physiotherapy to its elderly members. A Cuban physiotherapist was brought to Belize to work with the older persons at the Sister Cecilia Home and also the kids at the Inspiration Center. She will be here for 2 years and today the Executive Director Ivorine Bulwer told us about the significance the doctor's 2 year visit. Ivorine Bulwer, Executive Director, HelpAge Belize: "HelpAge Belize is certainly happy to have a physiotherapist working with us, for the past 3 years we have been lobbying with the Ministry of Health and now it has come to fruition. The physiotherapy services is certainly a needed one, reason being we have persons are getting older they experience certain health conditions, certain challenges and one has to do with mobility, movement you know the slow movement and a service that the physiotherapist can provide is to help our elderly retain their level of independence through exercise, strengthening of the muscles. We have several conditions that affects older persons.

Helpage Renovations
And the elderly members as well as HelpAge staff will be able to exercise and work in a newly renovated space. Bulwer told us about the work that was done in the office.

Lawmen In Panama For US Instruction In WMD's and Border Security
Six Belizean lawmen - from the MIT and Customs are in Panama learning all about stopping terrorist threats and border security. The state department funded 4 day seminar deals with detecting weapons of Mass Destruction and general protection of borders against terrorist threats, while also offering instruction in all types of chemical and biological weapons. Participating countries are Panama, Belize, Dominica Republic, and Costa Rica. While in Belize, today 20 Belize police officers, 10 Guatemalans and five customs and immigration officers were trained by Crime Stoppers regional and Salvador police in areas of counterfeit goods, gangs and contraband cigarettes. Brand owners such as Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, puma made presentations on how to identify counterfeit goods over the two day workshop at Police Training Academy.

Mexico and Belize Meet For Transport Issues
Yesterday officials from the Ministry of Transport met with Mexico's Ambassador to Belize, His Excellency Carlos Quesnel Melendez, to discuss the framework of a proposed Memorandum of Understanding. Work on the MOU, which focuses on International Motor Carrier, Passenger and Freight Transportation, originally began in February when Melendez met Minister of Transport, Edmund Castro. This time the CEO of the Ministry of Transport, Ruth Meighan, and Chief Transport Officer, Tirso Gavez, headed the Belizean delegation to further the planning of the agreement.

Channel 5

Constable and Civilians to be Charged for Illegal Firearm in Cayo
The proliferation of guns and ammunition across the western border near Benque Viejo del Carmen is a recurrent problem that is openly acknowledged by the Belize Police Department. But tonight, [...]

Firearm was Originally from Guatemala
The firearm, as we’ve mentioned, is a nine millimeter handgun from Guatemala with a matching serial number. The fact that it was found in the possession of an officer, concealed [...]

Senior Officer Tangled with Customs over Pharmaceuticals
There is another cop in hot water. Senior officer, Superintendent Dinsdale Thompson was busted in Arenal Village on Friday by customs officials in possession of a quantity of contraband pharmaceuticals. [...]

Woman & Minor Shot in Belize City
Two persons, including a minor, were shot on Cleghorn Street in Belize City on Monday night sometime after ten o’clock. When police arrived at the scene, the victims had been [...]

Cesar Monroy Found Murdered on Davis Falls Road
There was a grisly discovery this morning in the Stann Creek District where the decomposing body of a Guatemalan farmer was found on a road in Alta Vista Village. Forty-nine-year-old [...]

After Thomas Staine Murder, Should Taxi Drivers Worry?
Are taxi drivers at risk in Belize City? According to police, no more than usual. Thirty-nine-year-old Thomas Staine was murdered overnight on Monday, his stab-riddled body recovered from the Collet [...]

Corozal Weathers T.S. Franklin
A News Five team headed to Corozal overnight to capture what was happening on the ground as the northern municipality prepared for a first impending storm in the 2017 hurricane [...]

New Docs Reveal Pattern of Vegas’ Land Acquisition
A series of leaked documents from the Lands Department revealing another land grab by members of the family of former minister Gaspar Vega on Ramsey Caye and the Spanish Creek [...]

O.W. East’s Aragon Predicts Victory in Sugar City
While Vega is retiring from active politics, when we caught up with Orange Walk North area rep, Elodio Aragon Junior last Friday, we asked him about his party’s municipal elections [...]

Hilberto Campos Bows Out as Mayor of Corozal Town
In the northernmost municipality of Corozal, current U.D.P. mayor Hilberto Campos says he will not be contesting for a fifth term. Campos has been at the helm of the Corozal [...]

New Capital Sees Internal Dissension in U.D.P. Slate
And from the north to the west where Belmopan is in full swing lining up their candidates for the U.D.P. convention on August thirteenth. But all is not well and [...]

Family Claims Set-Up of Brandon Taylor for Recovered Firearm
Brandon Taylor was cleared of murder for the second time earlier this year in the death of Kaylon Matura. Since then the thirty-one-year-old has been trying to lead a clean [...]

Dr. Lorna McKay Fights On, but Gwen Liz Board Says She Must Go
On Monday, principal of Gwen Lizarraga High School Doctor Lorna McKay defied the request of the Board of Directors of the Government-run institution to clear out her desk, turn over [...]

Ministry to Meet Housing Needs for Santa Barbara Fire Victims
On Monday night, we told you about the tragic fire on Santa Barbara Street that claimed the life of twenty month old Tyrique Roberts. The baby boy was left sleeping [...]

Under Consideration, But Can Taiwan Give Grant for Puerto Barrios Road?
Guatemala’s request for six hundred and fifty million U.S. dollars to construct the CA-Nine Highway to Puerto Barrios, according to Ambassador Charles Liu, is simply a request that remains under [...]

Ministry of Tourism Reviews National Policy
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation is in the process of updating the now-twelve year old National Tourism Policy which espouses sustainable tourism as the underpinning of the profitable [...]

The Parameters of Sustainable Tourism
But what exactly is sustainable tourism? It’s a question Castaneda says the Ministry was asked repeatedly during the consultations, especially in light of the apparent deviation from the National Sustainable [...]

KTV Remix Postponed; Semi-Final Rounds Begin Next Week
KTV the Remix has taken fans by storm as the competition tightens, but we’ll have to wait one more week to see who enters the semi-final rounds because in anticipation [...]

CTV3

Fiesta Rama 2017 Once Again Successful
The official financial report for Fiestarama 2017 was released today by the office of the Orange Walk Town Council. The report comprises of the total amount of income earned as well as the total value of expenditures. Today we spoke to Mayor of the Orange Walk Town Council, Kevin Bernard, who highlighted that that after all expenses of the event were fully covered, the total profit amounted to nineteen thousand seven hundred ninety one dollars and twenty five cents which proved to be a little higher than that of last year. Mayor Kevin Bernard – Orange Walk Town Council: “We have made this a commitment ever since I became Mayor that we report back to the public in terms of what raised and what we gained at Fiesta Rama, this year I want to report again that we had had another successful Fiesta Rama despite the fact that we saw there was a little bit of little turn out that I had mentioned in my previous interview but all in all we did a little better than last year...”

Tropical Storm Franklin..The Storm That Never Came
Shortly before 6:00 this morning, the ‘all clear’ was issued for our country by the National Emergency Management Organization ‘NEMO’ as Tropical Storm Franklin dodged the jewel and was no longer a threat. While our country was mostly spared from the effects of Franklin, our Mexican neighbors are reporting some flooding as heavy rains and winds were experienced throughout last night as the storm made landfall sometime around 10:45 with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph on the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, north of Chetumal near Pulticub, Mexico located some 72 miles northeast of Corozal.

Corozal Moms Win Breast Feeding Picture Competition
Every year the first full week of August is celebrated as World Breastfeeding week. This year, the week was celebrated under the theme ‘Together we can make breastfeeding sustainable’, and the Ministry of Health in Belize in partnership with PAHO and WHO joined in the celebration from the 1st to the 7th of August in an effort of promoting exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life as it is a vital step to long term health. As part of the celebration, the Ministry of Health held a breast feeding picture competition where mothers from across the country were encouraged to submit pictures of them breastfeeding their babies.

Cop Busted With Illegal Weapon
A Police Constable attached to Precinct 2 in Belize City has been detained after authorities searched a vehicle he was driving and found an illegal weapon and ammo inside. Authorities say that PC Franklin Ramirez was accompanied by Trevor Dean Brown and Elorey Graham, when they searched their vehicle at mile 56 on the George Price Highway in Ontario Village. The men were going in the direction of Belmopan when they were stopped. Authorities discovered a 9mm gun, which is suspected of originating in Guatemala. All three occupants were detained. Commander of Operations for Belmopan Police Edward Broaster explained further.

LOVE FM

Senior Cop Caught with Contraband Meds
Last week Friday Superintendent of Police Dinsdale Thompson was caught transporting contraband pharmaceuticals. Reports are that the senior police officer was on the Arenal Road when he was intercepted by Customs Officers. In his possession he had a batch of medicine including antibiotics and vitamin supplements. The Department of Health Services was notified of the […]

Crime Stoppers Int’l Leads Training
A two day workshop organized by Crime Stoppers International began today in Belmopan. Correspondent Fem Cruz reports. FEM CRUZ “

Four Found with Firearm Stolen From Guatemala
On Monday night police detained four persons for an unlicensed firearm police believe was being smuggled into Belize. One of the individuals was a police officer. They were intercepted in the area of mile 56 in Ontario Village when the group was heading to Belmopan from the direction of San Ignacio. Commander of Operations ACP […]

Mental Health is Everyone’s Business
Belize, for the first time is partnering with the National Board of Certified Counsellors International to have training workshops on the issue of mental health via BTEC, the Business and Technology Education Centre. In collaboration with the Belize Mental Health Association, a 2-day training workshop is currently taking place at the ITVET Training Room in […]

Franklin Is Coming …
Tropical storm Franklin is aiming for Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula but winds and rainfall will be affecting the northern part of Belize from Belize City to Corozal. Currently, a hurricane watch and tropical storm warnings are in effect along the Yucatan and a tropical storm warning remains in effect in Belize. At around five o’clock this […]

NEMO’s Minister Warns of Potential Flooding
The public in the northern part of Belize is advised to keep a close watch on the development of Tropical Storm Franklin. Minister of NEMO Edmund Castro told Love News this evening that Tropical Storm Franklin is expected to bring between three to six inches of rainfall. EDMOND CASTRO “NEMO we know the potential of […]

Toddler Perishes In House Fire
A fire broke out last night at around nine o’clock in the St Martin de Porres area in Belize City. It left four homes destroyed, seventeen persons homeless and a toddler dead. The fumes from the thick smoke was what alerted the Mckoy family who lived in one of the structures that were destroyed. Iselma […]

CEMO Responds to House Fire Victims
With seventeen men, women and children affected by last night’s fire, members of the City Emergency Management Organization activated to render assistance to the residents. Philip Willoughby who heads that unit, spoke to Love News on the immediate efforts. PHILIP WILLOUGHBY “I was on the ground while the situation was quite fluid. I applaud the […]

Taxi Driver Found Dead Along East Canal
The body of 39-year-old, Thomas Arthur Staine was found just before seven o’clock this morning, punctured with several stab wounds to the torso and his hands tied. Deputy Commander of the Eastern Division South, Superintendent Daniel Arzu briefed us on the preliminary findings. DANIEL ARZU “The criminal investigation branch personnel were called out to the […]

Young Girl Killed On Her Way Home
The Flowers family in Crooked Tree Village is still in disbelief after one of their own was knocked down and killed last night after seven o’clock. Nineteen year old Alma Flowers was heading to her home in the village on a bus. When that bus stopped in front of the bus stop at the entrance […]

If Guatemalans Say No to The ICJ …….
The referendum that both Belize and Guatemala are to hold in their respective countries have garnered much attention over the last years. For the first time, however, there is the perception of progress in getting the Guatemalans on board and in moving forward in having the process conducted. Up to news time what we can […]

Guatemala’s Infrastructure Could Be Useful to Belize
Ironically, the Guatemalan’s contention that spurred the territorial claim has to do with the British reneging on their commitment in constructing a road. Over a century later, the Guatemalans are getting the road constructed through a six hundred and fifty million US dollars financing with Taiwan. Ambassador Rosado says this development is not expected to […]

Reaching Out to China vs Taiwan
Currently, with the riff between China and Taiwan and their efforts at cementing allies, the media asked the Foreign Affairs officials why Belize is not making efforts in befriending China, particularly after the Taiwanese have recently funded Guatemala with a significant facility for their road project. PAT ANDREWS “That is a question that I cannot […]

Amandala

Alma Flowers, 19, dies in Crooked Tree Junction accident
An accident at Mile 31 on the Philip Goldson Highway claimed the life of Alma Flowers, a 19-year-old student of Crooked Tree, Belize District, at about 7:30 last night. Flowers, who had just alighted a bus, was walking across the highway toward the bus stop at the Crooked Tree Junction when she was hit by a vehicle that was heading to Ladyville, from Orange Walk. The vehicle, driven by Leonel Del Valle, 25, slammed into her, causing her to suffer massive head and body injuries. Witnesses who saw what happened said that the impact hurled her into the air, and she landed on the road about 15 feet from where she was hit.

Tropical Storm Franklin pounding Yucatan
Tropical Storm Franklin—due to make landfall over the course of tonight on the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, with strong tropical storm force winds mostly impacting Corozal and the northern cayes in Belize—is expected to cause up to 12 inches of rainfall, triggering concerns about flashfloods over the course of the next few days. At press time tonight, Franklin is a very strong tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour with gusts up to 70 miles per hour. If it strengthens, it will become the strongest cyclone of the season. If it becomes a hurricane, it would be the first for the 2017 season. Feeder bands from Franklin began to spawn showers over Belize during last night and this morning, and as we go to press this evening, the storm is reportedly causing heavy rain and strong winds over Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula

Mahogany Heights women busted with 99 rounds of .45 ammo
Two women living in Mahogany Heights, Belize District, were found with ninety-nine .45 live rounds, a type of ammunition which is prohibited in Belize. Both women have been arrested and charged with keeping prohibited ammunition. If found guilty they can expect a jail sentence of 3 years, which can be extended up to 7 years, according to Section 6 of 1994 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition of 2000. The two women have been detained at the Benque Viejo Police Station pending arraignment for the offense at the Benque Viejo Del Carmen Magistrate’s Court.

Toddler, 20 months, dies in 4-house inferno
Sometime after 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 6, a fire engulfed a small structure at # 23 Santa Barbara Street, and by the time the blaze was extinguished by firefighters from the National Fire Service, four houses were destroyed and a 20-month-old toddler, Tarique Roberts, was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:55 p.m. In a telephone interview this afternoon, Fire Chief Ted Smith told Amandala that the cause of the fire has not yet been determined. We asked Smith if it was true that when the fire tender arrived to put out the fire, it did not have enough water, and the fire blazed out of control, consuming the house in which the toddler was.

Thomas Staine, 40, taxi driver, stabbed to death
The family of Thomas Staine, 40, a taxi driver of Reggae Street, is devastated after his body was found in a drain at the corner of Racecourse Street and West Collet Canal at about 6:00 this morning by police, who had been looking for him after his taxi was found abandoned on King Street with blood stains on the back seat. Sonny Staine, Thomas’ brother, told us that the two men were operating their taxi service from the Princess Taxi Stand on Newtown Barracks last night, when he, Sonny, got a job. When he returned, Thomas was not at the stand. He said that after waiting a reasonable time for him to return, and he did not, he became worried and began to drive around the city to find him.

BTV and partners exploring legal challenge to extended re-registration date
Wil Maheia, the leader of the Belize Territorial Volunteers (BTV), met this afternoon with representatives of the Belize Progressive Party (BPP), the Vision Inspired by the People (VIP), and the Northern Territorial Volunteers (NTV), to discuss the pushing back of the scheduled date for the re-registration of voters by the government. The meeting was also attended by two attorneys, who have been tasked into looking into the possibility of filing a court injunction against the re-registration date announced via a Statutory Instrument. Maheia told Amandala, “The whole idea of the meeting was to discuss the Statutory Instrument which called for the re-registration exercise to take place in 2018.”

Orchid Girls and Unity DHC lead in Rural Female Softball
The Belize Rural Female Softball Tournament 2017 had games scheduled over the weekend on Saturday and Sunday at two different venues. Beverly Hills Flames of Lords Bank hosted the games on Saturday, while Unity DHC of Double Head Cabbage hosted on Sunday. Participating teams in the tournament are Lords Bank Sunrise (Lords Bank), Orchid Girls (Burrell Boom), Power Outage (Crooked Tree), Arrows United (Bermudian Landing), Unity DHC (Double Head Cabbage), Easy Does It (Flowers Bank), and Beverly Hill Flames (Lords Bank).

BDFA Interoffice Football update
The Belize District Football Association (BDFA) Interoffice Football Tournament 2017 continued last week Wednesday and Thursday, August 2 and 3, with Week 4 games at the MCC Grounds. In the opener on Wednesday, KHMH clipped Tourist Village Tennants, 1-0, with a goal from Charles Canton (59’). And in the nightcap, Brodies dropped BTL, 5-2, with goals from Travyon Martinez (4’, 27’ & 37’) and Alex Salvida (58’) along with an auto-goal by BTL’s Ronell Flowers; while BTL got a goal each from Sean Moreira (14’) and Rasheed Pollard (19’).

Kulture’s first loss; San Pedro leads
Kulture Yabra Veterans are no longer undefeated, as visiting Belmopan Veterans dealt Kulture their first loss, 4-2, yesterday at the MCC Grounds in Belize City. Meanwhile, out west at the Norman Broaster Stadium, home standing San Ignacio Quintas won, 3-2, over visiting BDF Veterans. On Saturday, San Pedro Veterans jumped into the standings lead (by goal difference) after a 3-3 draw on the island against Benque Vets FC. Also on Saturday, Mango Creek Veterans are now the only undefeated team in the tournament, as they came away with a 1-1 draw at the MCC against winless Pickstock Lake-I Veterans.

Editorial: Let the tournament begin …
We would say the political tournament which involves next March’s national municipal elections is beginning, especially in the old capital. For some years now, August has been bleeding into September where the celebrations are concerned. What the patriotic aspect of the celebrations does is emphasize the differences between the two core Southside populations, which are the Afro-Saxons and the roots, if you will allow us to use these designations. As was exposed last week when an unofficial section of the Belizean population had to hold events (their fourth annual) to mark Emancipation Day – August 1, Belize is an anomaly in the British Caribbean scheme of things, because we never celebrated Emancipation Day, the original such British Caribbean celebration being August 1, 1838. What official Belize did, after opting for British colonial status in 1862 and then Crown Colony status in 1871, was organize an event in 1898 originally known as Centenary – the 100th anniversary of the Battle of St. George’s Caye. Centenary defined the September celebrations for the first half of the twentieth century here, and it featured the alliance between the British administration and Belize’s Afro-Saxons.

From the Publisher
I was struck by the above paragraphs recently while reading a book about Vietnam by Stanley Karnow. The point has to do with the price the Vietnamese people have had to pay for their independence and sovereignty, compared to how we, the Belizean people, proceeded from colonialism to theoretical independence and sovereignty without having to pick up arms. I describe our independence and sovereignty as “theoretical” because the marijuana and gun/bullet laws, for instance, suggest to me that we Belizeans, at the highest levels of our democratically-elected leadership, follow instructions and take orders from somewhere. The drug and gun laws are so draconian in Belize that no independent, sovereign leaders would voluntarily impose such laws on their people.

Remember Errol: Big up, Pulu
Dear Editor, While Orange Walk had “Cat” as the master of the basketball court, Belize City also had its boss a time later in the likes of “Pulu” Lightburn. I did not witness his prowess in the city, but I saw his talent at a Mexican Interstate tournament played in Chetumal. I cannot recall the year but I do recall some of his teammates: Emil Grinage (Customs officer), Charles Goff, Frankie something (a sharpshooter for the team), cannot remember the rest. The tournament lasted a couple days at the “Palacio de los Deportes” in Chetumal with all Mexican states participating and Belize being an invited guest. After beating all the rest the teams that qualified for the finals were Belize and Mexico City. To beat a Mexican squad in Mexico at a final is one of the most difficult tasks on this planet: ask anyone. The Belize team led by “Pulu” nearly accomplished this feat, but the Mexicans inserted a huge center who dominated the boards; Charles Goff did a wonderful job against him, but he was too much.

William “Chi Chi” Fonseca, retired Chief Education Officer and BCVI founding member, dead at 93
Lifelong educator, William “Chi Chi” Fonseca, 93, the father of Freetown area representative, Hon. Francis Fonseca, and his sister, Dr. Carol Fonseca, passed away on Wednesday, August 2. Hon. Francis Fonseca told Amandala this afternoon that his father was not ailing, that “his body just got tired and he passed away.” A teacher for many years, William Fonseca taught in rural Belize, and at Holy Redeemer and St. Joseph primary schools in Belize City. “He had a special love for rural Belize and he started schools in the Toledo District,” Hon. Fonseca said. “Then after teaching for some years he went away to study Education, at the University of London. Then he went on to do his Master’s Degree at the University of Ottawa, in Canada,” said Hon. Fonseca.

Pharmacist, Mark Anthony Christie, dead at 82
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 12, at St John’s Cathedral, for well-known Belizean pharmacist, Mark Anthony Christie, 82, who passed away on Friday, July 28. Christie, whose last place of employment was the James Brodie and Company Pharmacy, suffered a serious stroke in April 2015, and never recovered. After the memorial service in his honor, Christie’s remains, which his son Patrick Christie told Amandala will be cremated per his request, will be interred at the Lord Ridge Cemetery, in his mother’s grave. Christie served Belize in various capacities. He worked as a pharmacist at the old Belize City Hospital, before he moved to the hospital in Corozal Town, where he worked for a number of years.

Politics and sunburn: Snapshot of the U.S. from Belize
The sun blazed, cooled only by sporadic showers, during my recent visit to the Central American and Caribbean nation of Belize where I spent my formative years. The size of Massachussetts, Belize’s is a racially and ethnically diverse population of 332,000 that depends heavily on the U.S. for trade, investment, and tourism. A cross section of people receive remittances from, vacation in, and access tertiary and medical institutions in the U.S. My goal during this visit (in addition to enjoying family, friends, the cuisine and seasonal fruits, indulging in the local beers and rums, and avoiding a painful sunburn) was to capture a local snapshot of the Belizean view of the U.S. and the current Trump administration.

A Big Pause
The Page B story in last Friday’s Amandala, “We’ve already exhausted the amount of resources that Earth can produce in 2017—at the fastest pace ever”, should encourage all Belizeans to take a big pause. We are a small nation, our consumption and pollution are but a drop in the ocean, but it is our drop, so we should be concerned. In the story, an excerpt from the Business Insider, written by Ashley Williams, there is a quote from Dr. Mathis Wackernagel, the CEO of the Global Footprint Network and co-creator of the Ecological Footprint. He said, “Research shows that humanity’s demand is about 70 percent faster than what Earth can renew”. And there is this quote from the Global Footprint Network, to further expand what Wackernagel said. Here goes: “Humans would need the equivalent of 1.7 Earths to accommodate our consumption level.”

Vehicle with American family inside, runs off bridge
Four American tourists were rescued from a creek between Miles 28 and 29 on the Hummingbird Highway after the vehicle in which they were traveling fell off a bridge at about 4:30 yesterday evening. Fortunately, some Coast Guard officers who were traveling in a vehicle behind them saw the accident and rushed to their rescue. They were all recovered from the water and taken to the Southern Regional Hospital in Dangriga. The four Americans- – Benjamin Paul, 47; Katharine O’Brian, 36; Rafael Paul, 6; and Carmelita Paul, 3 — suffered varying degrees of injuries, none of which were considered life-threatening.

Taiwan gives Guatemala over US$600 million in funding
Taiwan owns 10% of Belize’s external debt, and it is the bilateral lender second in rank only to Venezuela, which holds about 18% of Belize’s external debt. In the presentation of the 2017-2018 budget, it was announced that Belize would be looking to Taiwan for “the disbursement of $20 million in budget support financing… under the on-going bilateral economic cooperation program.” At the same time, the Government of Guatemala had been courting Taiwan for a mega-financing package for a very important highway. Since 2016, it had been reported in the Guatemalan press that that country’s president, Jimmy Morales, had been lobbying for financing for the Jacobo Árbenz four-lane highway (CA-9 Norte), and reports carried late last month confirmed that the financing had been approved.

Breaking Belize News

Southside Strike Team find drugs and ammo
Just before 1:00 p.m. yesterday, members of the South Side Strike Team conducted a search at an open lot situated at the corner of Dean and Plues streets in Belize City. During that search, police found a black plastic bag containing five transparent bags of […]

Their turn to eat?
By Lisa Shoman: Last night, we may have dodged Franklin, but there were hundreds of worried teachers, nurses, cañeros, agricultural workers, admin assistants, office workers, domestic helpers, city/town council employees worried about the unfortunate timing of the TStorm. No storm or hurricane comes at a “good time” […]

National Jaguar Working Group offers recommendations following jaguar’s capture and death
The Forest Department responded to reports of a jaguar being captured by farmers around the Northern Lagoon area in the Belize District on July 27, 2017. Upon investigation, it was discovered that farmers, who experienced several jaguar attacks on their livestock, retaliated by trapping […]

Decomposed body of Guatemalan farmer found in Alta Vista
This morning at around 6:30, Dangriga police responded to a scene in Alta Vista village on Davis Falls Road, Stann Creek District where they saw a Hispanic man lying on the ground with a large cut wound behind his neck and another to his left hand. During the […]

Fiberglass skiff stolen from Canadian woman
Ruth Duke, a Canadian businesswoman reported to police that between the hours of 12:00 am on August 5 and 10:00 am on August 6, 2017, her white and grey 23 foot fiberglass skiff named “Demo” was stolen. The skiff is valued at $20,000 and has a grey outboard engine […]

Cab driver found dead, stabbed multiple times
On Monday morning a cab driver was found dead at the Corner East Collet Canal and Racecourse street in Belize city. He was identified as Thomas Arthur Staine, 39. Staine was observed lying face down near the canal side with both of his hands […]

Woman and boy shot on Cleghorn Street in Belize City
Last night while many were making preparations for tropical storm Franklin, an armed bandit badly injured a woman and a teen. At 10:11 p.m., police visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) where cops saw Fiona Spain, 35, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound […]

Belizean jaguar ‘Pat’ dies in Milwaukee zoo
Photo: Milwaukee County Zoo Pat, a Belizean jaguar residing at the Milwaukee Country Zoo for the last decade, died yesterday, according to the zoo. “Due to kidney failure and subsequent quality of life concerns, [Pat] was humanely euthanized Monday, Aug. 7,” the zoo said […]

KHMH reactivating suspended services
Following the “All Clear” given by emergency management authorities, the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) is preparing to resume all services that were suspended during the emergency mode activation yesterday. The KHMH announced this morning that as of tomorrow, August 9, all non-essential services, including specialist clinics, […]

Mexico and Belize discuss framework for MOU on transportation
Yesterday, a diplomatic and technical delegation headed by Mexico’s Ambassador to Belize, H. E. Carlos Quesnel Melendez, met with top officials from the Government of Belize to discuss the framework for a Memorandum of Understanding on International Motor Carrier, Passenger and Freight Transportation between […]

Longest serving Central bank governor passes
Belize’s longest serving Central Bank governor has passed away. Keith Arnold served as Governor of Belize’s Central bank from January 1992 to March 2002. Arnold died at age 72. he was injured as a result of a traffic accident abroad. He arrived at his […]

Tropical Storm Franklin makes landfall in Mexico; moving towards Campeche for second landfall
Late last night, tropical storm Franklin made landfall on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Franklin moved inland Mexico with maximum sustained winds of about 60 mph. it dumped heavy rains and gusty winds on many popular beaches in Mexico. In Mexico, shelters were prepared across the […]

Crooked Tree girl dies in traffic accident
A teen girl from Crooked Tree was the victim of a hit and run on Sunday night. Police reported that at around 7:36 p.m. cops responded to a scene at the Crooked Tree junction on Mile 31 of the Philip Goldson highway, where they […]

Infant and two homes lost in Belize City fire
Shortly after 9:00 on Sunday night, two homes on Santa Barbara street in Belize city burned to the ground and a child was killed in the inferno.Police reported that the houses and all their contents were completely destroyed. Shanica Roberts, 20, reported that her […]

Tropical Storm Franklin makes land fall in Mexico; NEMO issues the “All Clear”
By NEMO: The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) in collaboration with the National Meteorological Service hereby informs the general public that around 10:45 pm last night Tropical Storm Franklin made landfall with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph on the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, north of […]

Blogs

On Ambergris Caye, no ‘I survived Franklin’ t-shirts today — and that’s OK
Upon waking up almost exactly one year ago to shredded and twisted bits of around a half-dozen piers littering what was left of our beachfront, this morning’s sight was a joy to behold. As they say in boxing, Franklin was a contender but he didn’t lay a glove on us. A change in wind here and a rise in barometric pressure there and this could be a whole other kind of story. A lot was learned last year from the abrupt changes in Hurricane Earl that spelled disaster for Ambergris Caye and The Cloisters/Tres Cocos Resort, where we live.

Tropical Storm Franklin Bypasses Belize — WHEW!
Late Sunday and definitely Monday preparation had started…Tropical Storm Franklin was heading through the Caribbean and northwest along the Central American coast. Northern Belize was in the dreaded CONE OF UNCERTAINTY. With only a year between us and unexpectedly powerful Hurricane Earl, preparation began. Boats were moved or pulled from the water, beach furniture and loose items cleared from outdoor space – a ban was put on alcohol sales and the country’s National Emergency Management team issued a Tropical Storm Warning. (See pictures from yesterday) But late afternoon yesterday, the path shifted more aggressively northward. And last night – around 9pm, Franklin made landfall in Pulticub, Mexico. What? You haven’t heard of it? I hadn’t either. It’s a village of 37 people in Quintana Roo. 85 miles from San Pedro town, Belize; only about 25 miles north of Mahahual – the town frequented by many cruise ships and called the “Costa Maya Port”. (Pulticub is about 80 miles south of Tulum and 150 miles south of Cancun)

The Highest Zip Line in Belize, One Terrified Mom and More
Conquering a Zip Line should be a breeze after skydiving right? Not so much for this mom! I still can’t explain the overwhelming sense of fear that came over my body when I got strapped to the first line at Mayan Sky Canopy Tours. I’ve been Zip-Lining before, but nothing quite this high or long. My thrill seeker friends, you have to try this! The adrenaline rush and the view make the fear of heights seem so insignificant, once you’ve taken the leap of course. My eleven-year-old daughter one-upped me this time. She was brave enough to hold the GoPro while I clung to my straps for dear life. I have never laughed at myself more.

Early Childhood And Primary Education Remain An Uphill Battle For Belize
Early childhood education is now widely accepted by countries around the world as being extremely beneficial to national development. This acceptance is based on the idea that a child’s development can be modified and enhanced by the quality of their early environments and experiences. Some studies show that early childhood cognitive and socio-emotional development can strongly predict later school enrollment and life success. Failing to tap into this potential can result in as much as 20% decline in income over a lifetime which can have negative implications for national development (Yoshikawa et al., 2007). Belize has made modest progress both in expanding access and improving the quality of its education system over the past ten years. Nonetheless, Belize still faces major and persistent challenges in access to and quality of education services that it is constantly trying to address.

Poor Financing of Protected Areas Undermines Belize's Development
A well-managed and ecologically representative national protected areas (PA) system is essential to the preservation of Belize's natural capital and its biodiversity assets, in order to guarantee the ecosystem services that currently underwrite national development and citizen welfare. Well-conserved ecosystems in soundly-managed PAs provide services that are key for sectoral growth in the economy and also for human wellbeing. Ecosystem goods and services provided by PAs are critical for health, nutrition, employment, food security, agricultural exports and even protection from natural disasters. The provision of these crucial benefits however is not free. There are costs are associated with PA management, both in terms of direct expenditures and opportunity costs. It is very important for policy makers have a clear understanding of the type and degree of these naturally-based ecosystem services and the benefits they provide to the economy. It is similarly important for decision makers to consider the cost of decisions they make as it relates to growth strategies and the environment.

Belize's Adaptation To Climate Change Limited By Institutional Challenges
Belize’s vulnerability to climate change is linked to the country’s low adaptive capacity and the country’s increasing dependence on resources sensitive to changes in climate. About one half of Belize’s population are concentrated in coastal population centers, and the country’s economy is highly dependent on commodity exports and tourism, which exacerbates the nation’s economic and social exposure. Crop production and food security, natural ecosystems, marine and coastal areas, water resources and human health, as well as on housing and infrastructure, are the sectors that are most likely to suffer the serious adverse effects of climate variability and climate change. So far, Belize has developed two major policy documents as part of its climate change adapation initiatives. The first is the National Climate Climate Policy, Strategy and Action Plan. According this strategy document, responding to Belize’s climate vulnerabilities requires making simultaneous advances in adaptation, disaster risk reduction, environmental sustainability and poverty reduction.

International Sources

Tropical Storm Franklin to Become the Atlantic Basin's First Hurricane of 2017 Before Landfall; Dangerous Flood Threat
The center of Franklin is now over 200 miles east of Veracruz, Mexico, moving west at 10 to 15 mph in the Bay of Campeche. For now, the heaviest rain has ended in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, but not before triggering significant flash flooding Tuesday in the city of Campeche. Franklin is forecast to continue re-strengthening before making a final landfall in eastern Mexico early Thursday morning. To what degree it strengthens is a bit uncertain, due to competing factors of increased wind shear - a negative for strengthening - and very warm water in the Bay of Campeche - a positive for strengthening.

Keith Arnold, Belize's longest-serving governor, dies
Keith Arnold, a former governor of the Central Bank of Belize (1992–2002), has died at the age of 72. Arnold, who was the institution’s longest-serving governor, was one of a select few to hold all three of the nation’s chief economic offices: governor, finance secretary and head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). “The central bank joins the family in mourning a departed servant, who served this institution and his country well,” said current governor Caroline Abel in a statement.

Videos

Talk Ah Di Town August 3, 2017, 24min.

Bruk it Down Jenny discussed the subject of bullying., 30min.

Beauty Segment with Make-up artist Andrea Reneau, 33min.

Phyllis Hughes - President of Belize Day in the Park Committee, 1min. Belize Day in the Park 2017, Chicago, IL

Blue Hole Diving - Belize, 11.5min.

Belize Summer 2017 - Hamanasi Resort, 8min. Summer trip to Hamanasi Resort in Hopkins, Belize which includes snorkeling, SCUBA, hiking, caving, zip lining, and Mayan tours.

Belize Trip 2017, 6.5min.

The National Emergency Management Organization met to discuss strategy for Tropical Storm Franklin, 25min.

Pap Smear method to screen women for cervical cancer, 21min.

Update on the plans for the Referendum in Belize, 44min.

Staying in Health Exercise, 27min.

UWC, 26min.

Tropical Storm Franklyn, 29min.

Kriol Drum Camp, 4min. The National Kriol Council, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, is having their annual Kriol Drum Camp in Belize City. The camp, sponsored by the Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project, aims to preserve the rich musical customs of Kriol in Belize.

CELEBRATING HOPKINS CULTURE IN BELIZE, 4min.

Scuba in Belize - Sharks, Turtle, Eagle Ray, Grouper, Manatee, 4.5min. Underwater videos taken at the following spots near Placencia, Belize: Silk Caye, South Water Caye, Thatch Caye.

Belize Trip 2017, 9min. Our First Baptist Destin mission trip to Belize was amazing!

Belize conch fritters, 7min. How to make Belize conch fritters.

Belize Cave Tubing & Zip Lining: GoMaya Belize Adventures, 6min. Come with us for a refreshing adventure on one of our Best-seller tours in the Cayo Area - Cave Tubing and Zip Lining from San Ignacio. This is an all day adventure starting off at 8:00am with a 1 hour drive on the George Price Highway up to the Jaguar Paw Outpost Junction and then 10 minutes on a secondary road to the park site. The Zip Lining part of this adventure lasts about 45 minutes after which you'll have an early lunch then take off on a nature hike across the shallow Caves Branch River until reaching your tubing starting point. Enjoy the refreshing cool waters of the river as you float in awe at on this nature-filled experience.

San Pedro, Belize, 9min. Some of the footage from a trip I took to San Pedro, Belize July 2017.

Belize 2017 School Of Spotted Eagle Rays, 1min.

Tauchen im Glover's Reef • Belize, 9min. Im zweitgrößten Korallenriff der Welt durften wir tauchen! Genauer gesagt: im Glover's Reef vor Belize!

Police Check Point Talk Show Aug 8, 20min.

August 8, 2017

For information about Tropical Storm Franklin, CLICK HERE.

GOES-16 captured this 1-minute visible imagery of Tropical Storm Franklin approaching the Yucatan earlier today, August 7, 2017., 1min.

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

The San Pedro Sun

Police Report: One man stabbed; Another left unconscious
Stabbing: On Sunday, August 6th about 8:30PM, San Pedro Police visited DFC Area where they met 37-year-old Manuel Sam suffering from a large wound to the left side of his neck. It was also observed that Sam had four other cut wounds to the chest and a large cut wound to his abdomen.
Aggravated Assault: On Sunday, August 6th at around 9:05PM San Pedro Police visited the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II where they found 21-year-old Kevin Brown in an unconscious state. According to the initial investigation, Brown was at a resort with a group of friends when a dispute arose over a piece of jewellery. As a result someone from the group kicked him and then hit him with a fire extinguisher causing him to become unconscious.

25th International Costa Maya Festival held on Ambergris Caye
Thursday, August 3rd to Sunday, August 6th saw a celebration of the the 25th International Costa Maya Festival. Held at the Honorable Louis Sylvestre Sporting Complex, the grand event brought the cultures and traditions of eight countries to one venue through entertainment and dynamic performances. With the aim of bringing much needed business to the island during the slow tourism season, this year’s Costa Maya Festival definitely saw an influx of both foreign and national visitors to San Pedro Town. Master and Mistress of Ceremonies Eiden Salazar and Tanya Arceo ensured the event flowed nicely throughout the weekend.

Ambergris Today

Tropical Storm Franklin To Strike Yucatan Peninsula
Tropical Storm Franklin continues to move to the West-North-West at 13 mph with maximum sustained winds of 60mph. Franklin is now located near 18.6 North Latitude and 85.9 West Longitude or some 170 miles East of Belize City and 143 miles East-Northeast of San Pedro. The Cayes and Corozal district may experience Tropical Storm force winds. Franklin could reach Hurricane strength before making landfall tonight. Three to six (3-6) inches of rainfall is expected.

A Mad Dash out of San Pedro Indeed
Mostly Costa Maya guests and visitors are rushing to leave the island after spending a weekend on the island celebrating. Now the island prepares for approaching tropical storm Franklin.

Misc Belizean Sources

Updated Daily Tropical Weather page...

Sewage Treatment Systems for Commercial and Tourism Developments
The Public is hereby informed that ALL NEW Commercial and Tourism developments on North and South Ambergris Caye (outside the declared “service areas”) and those in ecologically sensitive areas, are required to invest in a proper sewage treatment system. The developer/investor is free to review the many types of sewage treatment systems available on the international and local market, and to select the most appropriate system for their purposes.Whichever sewerage treatment system is selected, it will need to meet or exceed the Department of the Environment’s MINIMUM STANDARDS for discharges.

Republic of China Ambassador receives gift
On Friday, August 4, 2017, His Excellency Sir Colville Young, Governor General of Belize, received from H.E. Ambassador Charles Liu of the Republic of China (Taiwan) boxes of laser-engraved (Sir Colville's Independence Anniversary Reception) souvenir pens for the Governor General's Annual State Reception to be held on September 20th, 2017.

A fatal accident occurred on the highway
A few minutes before 8 p.m. on Sunday, August 6th, Alma Flowers exited a bus at the Crooked Tree Junction with the Phillip Goldson Highway. Flowers was crossing the highway and she was knocked down and killed.

Cleanup of Rainbow Park and Beach
It is not the coolest thing using an old tire disposed into the bottom of the Corozal Bay as a seflie frame but you all get our point. Here we are with the effort of family beginning our clean up campaign of the Corozal Bay. We started yesterday, Sunday in front of Rainbow Park and Beach covering approximately 600 feet. We picked up all sorts of trash, an old tire, including sharp objects especially broken bottles that can really hurt those who swim in the area, particularly children. We are proud that we started this campaign and hope that others will join or do their part in keeping our Corozal Bay Safe and Clean. We can safely say, that the area we covered is probably 99% free of any broken bottles or sharp objects. Please don't pollute our sea..keep it clean for you and me!

Belize Screen on the Green
Pop corn! Movie! Mark your calendars on Thursday, August 10 at the Governor General Field in Belmopan come an enjoy the movie " The Curios Case of BENJAMIN BUTTON".

Mopan Valley Archaeology Project/Mopan Valley Preclassic Project
Some highlights of the 2017 field season.

Images of San Pedro Town as Tropical Storm Franklin edges towards the Yucatán Peninsula
Many businesses have closed for the day. Those looking to get off the island, the last boat at San Pedro Belize Express leaves at 4:30PM. In the meantime, a tropical storm warning is in effect for the northern coast of Belize and the entire Mexican State of Quintana Roo. Heavy rain is expected in Belize!

Price Controlled Goods Advisory
Re: Tropical Storm Franklin. The Supplies Control Unit (SCU) of the Belize Bureau a Standards reminds the business community that it is an offense under the Supplies Control (Prices) Regulations to sell or offer for sale any price controlled goods above the 1118XiMUM pennissible price. Supplies Control Act Chapter 293 Subsidiary Regulations - Section 10 - Maximum Price not to be exceeded: (1) No person shall, without written permission granted by or on behalf of the Controller ofSupplies, or otherwise than in accordance with the conditions attached to such permission (if granted) sell or buy, or agree to sell or buy, or attempt or offer to sell or buy, any price-controlled goods mentioned in any part of the First or Second Schedule hereto at a price higher than the maximum selling price permitted by these Regulations, or otherwise in contravention of these Regulations, or any conditions or requirements imposed, thereunder." The SCU advises consumers to be vigilant during this time and report any contraventions that are encounthred in the market place.

Franklin preparation in San Pedro
While Tropical Storm Franklin seems to be shifting a bit to the north, it is still many hours away and our island is preparing. Here are a few pictures of what is going on in San Pedro town on Ambergris Caye. Tropical Storm Franklin is intensifying slightly but still, the eye is projected to stay to the north (the storm and the projections have shifted more north since the last report). Here is what is going on in town to take caution since we should still see rain and wind.

Oh..Franklin!
Battening down the hatches in Corozal around 3:30 p.m. Light drizzle and overcast skies. Please heed warnings and official forecast. Remember that the Corozal Police Station is 402-0022. Be safe.

Queen of The West Pageant 2017 Presentation
Pictures from the 2017 Queen of the West presentation at the Cayo Welcome Center.

Queen's Baton Relay
The Queen's Baton Relay for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games has stopped in Belize with its international journey passing the halfway point. The Baton reached to the Chiquibul National Park and Caracol.

Tourism Industry Conference 2017
Wednesday, August 9 at 8:30 AM - 6 PM, Belize Biltmore Plaza 3 Miles Northern Highway Belize City. Hosted by Belize Tourism Board.

Channel 7

Tropical Storm Franklin: Fierce Or Faking Us Out
Tropical Storm Franklin, it's all Belizeans have been talking about today and here's what you need to know tonight: first off, the storm's track has been jogging slightly north - so right now the center of it is more in line with Mahahual, Mexico, which means the storm's center has passed Corozal. It's currently located about 120 miles east of Chetumal. But, northern Belize - especially Corozal is still well within the storm bands. At 6:00 pm - winds were still at 60 miles per hour - but it could become a hurricane before it makes landfall later tonight or early tomorrowmorning. and our friends in Corozal and San Pedro tell us that there's a little rain here and there, but mostly clear skies and hardly any breeze at this hour. Belize is under a Tropical Storm warning and from the Belize District to the Corozal border you can see the Red II flags flying which denotes the third phase of readiness - meaning the system is likely to strike within 24 hours.

Met Office Says Franklin, Fast And Furious
But how serious is the storm? That's what we went to find out from from the National Met Services in Ladyville. Here's our conversation with Chief Meteorologist Catherine Cumberbatch who discussed the storm's history and the forecast: Catherine Cumberbatch - Chief Meteorologist "From last week Thursday, a tropical wave came into the Southeast Caribbean, and we have been monitoring that system from last week. We have been informing and giving NEMO updates on the regular basis. Last night, the system, from a strong tropical wave, to an area of low pressure, went straight to a tropical storm. It didn't become a tropical depression. It jumped windspeed increases, and it went directly to a tropical storm. It became the sixth name storm for the season, which is Tropical Storm Franklin." "At midday, the center of Tropical Storm Franklin was located at latitude 18.0 degrees north, and longitude 85.4 west. Or, that puts it about 185 miles east of Belize City, and a 151 miles east by north of Halfmoon Caye. Franklin is traveling in a West Northwest direction at 13 miles per hour, with a maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour."

Shelters Safe In Corozal
And with the storm's position now said the be 120 miles east of Chetumal, Corozal is currently the closest place to the projected area of landfall which could be as high up as Punta Gruesa Mexico - but this is just a forecast. But in Corozal town at this very minute, we're told its not event drizzling, The NEMO Coordinator for told us how they are getting ready in that northern-most district. Nemo Coordinator, Corozal: "At this point we are at phase 3; 2 flags with the black dots are out already. We had been advised that we may be getting tropical storms forced winds. It should be making landfall between tonight and tomorrow morning between the northern part of the country and Quintana Roo. So between this evening or say from tonight into tomorrow we should be expecting some kind of change in this weather right now."

Storm Seasoned San Pedranos Cool, Calm
And, what about San Pedro, Ambergris Caye? Well, the storm tracked north of that island some time ago, but, again, the other bands could still affect it. The NEMO Coordinator told us via phone that everyone there is calm, collected and ready:... Vanessa Parham, NEMO Coord., San Pedro: "The weather right now is an overcast at the moment with light rain. There are some residents on bath islands of Caye Caulker and San Pedro who have already taken the necessary precautions - they are boarding up their places. When it comes to the shelters, at San Pedro Island, the San Pedro High School has already been open as a shelter and at Caye Caulker, the community center above the village council is being open as a shelter."

Another Infant Perishes In A City Fire
But first, to a domestic disaster that has nothing to do with the approaching storm. A Santa Barbara Street blaze destroyed 4 homes last night. Tonight about 13 - 17 tenants are either staying at the St. Martin's De Pores School for shelter or scurrying around finding a place to stay. But while they all are burdened by the loss of their personal belongings - one mother has lost so much more - her son. Courtney Weatherburne has more on the terrible death of baby Tyreik. Shaneeka Roberts, Mother: "Before I could reach any distance far I heard my neighbors saying fire Pearl Fire!!" Courtney Weatherburne, reporting: In just that short time, the wild flames broke out and illuminated the black sky. Roberts had just left out to the corner store when the fire started inside her wooden home on Santa Barbara Street. It spread to the other 3 houses in the yard. She raced back and the other tenants tried to tame the blaze but nothing helped.

Fire Families Not Forgotten
While Roberts and her family grief the death of their baby boy - the other tenants are devastated and they don't have much options right now. Courtney Weatherburne looks at the stories of the displaced fire victims. These classrooms at the St. Martin De Pores School are far from homely but at least they serve as a shelter for these fire victims. The fire started in this wooden house - which killed baby Tyreik. Then consumed the other wooden houses in the yard. The cement house out front was the only one that was spared.

Crooked Tree Accident Claims Life Of 20 Yr Old
There was a traffic accident last night on the Phillip Goldson Highway that has claimed the life of a Crooked Tree resident. She's 20 year-old Alma Flowers, a UB student, and she was getting off a bus after going on a trip to Melchor. While she was crossing the road, she was hit by a vehicle which was coming from Orange Walk. The driver, 25 year-old Leonel Del Valle, claims that he didn't see her. His vehicle hit her and flung her body forward, most likely killing her instantly, or shortly after the impact. Today, we travelled to Crooked Tree to learn that she went to by school supplies for her upcoming classes, but that trip ended tragically, in her death. Here's what police and her uncle had to say about the accident:

Another City Cabbie Killed
Today the family of another Belize City taxi man is in mourning, after 39-year-old Thomas Arthur Staine was found bound up and dead on East Collet Canal early this morning. Police are still trying to figure out what happened and how he got there, since his vehicle was found about 4 blocks away, with the backseat covered in blood. Alex Courtenay spoke to the cops and his family about the incident, here's what he found out... Just before 7:00 this morning Southside police went to East Collet Canal Street after receiving reports of a motionless body lying at the edge of the water. Police saw several stab wounds on the man's chest, and he appeared to have been bound. After conducting initial investigations at the scene, police took the body the KHMH.

City Far From Storm Center, But Shelters Still Open
Continuing now with our coverage of Tropical Storm Franklin - the storm's center is about 120 miles east of Chetumal right now - our estimates put it closer to Mahahual which is 85 miles north of Chetumal. But, the bottom line is, the storm is looking to make landfall more north - meaning that most likely only Corozal and Ambergris Caye will feel the effects of it. Still, Belize City is within the Tropical Storm watch area - and as the biggest population center, the City Council has to get residents on the alert. CEMO Coordinator Phillip Willoughby told us what they are doing to make sure the emergency response mechanism is ready for anything:...

Gwen Liz Principal Says Chairman Is Bullying Her
And in the middle of preparations for the tropical storm - a different kind of storm seems to have descended on Gwen Liz High School. The Principal of the last 13 years, Dr. Lorna McKay received a four page letter from the school's Chairman, Roosevelt Blades placing her on three weeks administrative leave effective immediately. McKay said it was delivered with the threat of force. She told us more today:... Dr. Lorna McKay - Principal, Gwen Liz: "Yes, I really surprised Mr. Blades walked into my office and gave me a letter signed by him, no CC to ministry, commissioner or anybody, telling me that I have been placed on administrative leave and I asked him why? He said that it can either an easy way or a hard way. Then I told him sir, I will not move from here until I have - I haven't had a meeting with you nor the board. We haven't met to discuss this and I will call the union, I will call the media and he said well I will call the police to take care of the compound and he did call the police."

Who Beat Down Kevin Brown?
Tonight San Pedro residents are hunkering down and preparing for Tropical Storm Franklin, but this weekend, they were partying, and hosting words of local and international visitors who descended on the island to celebrate the Costa Maya Festival. And as with any major festival where drinking and partying are involved, there's a chance that people will get hurt. Well known 21 year old basketballer Kevin Brown is in the hospital because of that tonight.

Stabbed On Costa Maya Weekend
Earlier that night, San Pedro police responded to another incident - this one in the DFC area. According to reports, 37-year-old Manuel Sam was at a house party where he intervened in a domestic dispute. During the struggle Sam received a large wound to the left side of his neck, four cuts to his chest and another to his abdomen. After receiving treatment at the Polyclinic, he was also airlifted to Belize City.

Motorbike Burst Into Flames During Stunts
A motorcycle burst into flames this weekend in the Central Site area of Belmopan. It happened around 2:30 - reportedly during a cycling event where motorcycle riders were doing stunts. This one reportedly involved a wheelie. Fortunately no one was hurt and the fire department arrived on time to put out the fire. Belmopan police said that it is a fire and not an incident of a criminal nature - so they made no report about it.

More Sarstoon Outrage
Guatemalan fishers in Belize's southern waters, it's a phenomenon we've documented many times - but no matter how many times you see it, it's still upsetting. That's what a small group of Territorial Volunteers found out this weekend when they went out with Will Maheia into the Belizean side of the Sarstoon River and the adjoining waters. Here's their reaction, Courtesy PGTV...

British Reject ICJ For Themselves; Recommends It For Belize
And keeping it on Belize-Guatemala relations, we turn to a related subject that may seem unrelated. It has to do with the Chagos islands which are way out in the Indian Ocean. It's a former British colony that used to be part of Mauritius but was detached in 1965 and is now home to a US airbase. The island is under British rule, but Mauritius claims sovereignty over the islands. In June, The UN General Assembly voted by 94 countries to 15 that the matter should go to the ICJ. The British have objected, saying that it would "robustly defend" its position ahead of the ICJ's decision, which would not be legally binding.

The Latest On Tropical Storm Franklin
And finally, turning back to Tropical Storm Franklin, we spoke to the MET Office a short while ago about the 6:00 pm report. That places the storm' center 120 miles east of Chetumal, moving northwest with maximum winds of 60 miles per hour. We asked about the significance of the storm jogging slightly north and what it means for northern Belize:... Catherine Cumberbatch - Chief Meteorologist: "As of 6pm the center of Tropical Storm Franklin was centered near 18.8 degrees north, 86.5 degrees west, or we could put that 143 miles northeast of Belize City and 126 miles east by north of Corozal Town and 133 miles east northeast of San Pedro Ambergris Caye." "Franklin has shift a bit and is now moving towards the northwest at 13 miles per hour with maximum sustain winds remaining at 60 miles per hour."

Channel 5

T/S Franklin to land tonight; Minister says ‘be on top of your game’
Tropical Storm Franklin, it’s the first weather system during this year’s hurricane season to pose a threat to northern Belize. The severe offshore storm continues it path, heading west-north-west at [...]

City gets ready; no escape after five
In Belize City, Councilor Phillip Willoughby is spearheading the efforts of the City Emergency Management Organization, CEMO, and met earlier this evening with law enforcement officials, as well as representatives [...]

Major agencies in place for operations
An outline of the coordinated efforts involving the Belize Defense Force, the police department, as well as the National Fire Service was shared with the media. Fuel stations in Belize [...]

Shelters to be open; no alcohol allowed
While the city prepares for the heavy winds and downpour that will accompany the passage of Tropical Storm Franklin, residents won’t be allowed to purchase alcohol. That’s because a decision [...]

Keeping calm in Corozal
As we mentioned a news five team is currently in Corozal Town. Tropical storm Franklin is scheduled to hit north of Corozal, along the Yucatan coast in Mexico. Residents are [...]

Northernmost town battens down for rough night
As of five p.m., a total of six shelters have been opened. In Corozal Town, Our Lady of Guadalupe R.C. School in Altamira and Church of Christ School in Port [...]

Toddler Tarique killed as flames crush four homes on Santa Barbara Street
Sometime after nine on Sunday night a fire in Belize City claimed the life of toddler. He was left home alone when a fire started at his house and neighbours [...]

Displaced residents tell tales of woe in aftermath
A toddler lost his life in the fire on Santa Barbara Street and more than ten persons are without a home. The four families lost everything they owned after the [...]

CEMO’s Willoughby steps up to help
Since the fire on Sunday night, CEMO has been on the ground assisting the displaced families. CEMO, along with Ministry of Human Services and other local partner agencies are providing [...]

Taximan murdered in City overnight; body was dumped in Collet Canal
There was an apparent murder overnight in the City. The body of thirty-nine-year-old Thomas Staine, known as “Kun”, was retrieved from the Collet Canal near the Yabra Bridge this morning, [...]

RTA takes life of UB student Alma Flowers
A traffic accident over the weekend at the Crooked Tree Junction at mile thirty-one on the Phillip Goldson Highway claimed the life of twenty-year-old UB student Alma Flowers. Flowers was [...]

Dr. Lorna McKay battles to stay on as principal of Gwen Liz High
It was named for Belize’s first woman parliamentarian and Education Minister, and is located in the constituency of current Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Patrick Faber. But with just [...]

Taiwan hands out twenty-six scholarships to young Belizeans
Twenty-six Belizeans prepared to embark on the journey of a lifetime to the Far East to pursue educational opportunities with the support of the government of the Republic of China [...]

Taiwan’s man in Belize scratches head over disparate grants to Guatemala
Ambassador Charles Liu has weighed in on the sixty million dollar grant awarded to Belize by the Taiwanese government. His comments are in relation to the six hundred and fifty [...]

Cuba delivers physiotherapist for HelpAge, Inspiration Center
Older persons in Belize will now have a specialist assisting with their physical therapy. HelpAge Belize, after three years of lobbying with the Ministry of Health, now has a Cuban [...]

Softball, basketball and cycling top pre-Franklin Sports Monday
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. [Highlights of weekend sporting activities....]

LOVE FM

Belize Concerned For Its Friend, Venezuela
Another issue that arose at last Friday’s press conference with the foreign affairs officials was the matter of Venezuela. The OAS, of which Belize is a member, has been campaigning for some time now to intervene in the crisis in that country before it escalates. That intervention never took place since it was voted against; […]

Altercation Turns Violent in San Pedro
Another man was also airlifted from the island for urgent medical attention after he was assaulted. Police report that sometime before nine o’clock on Sunday night, Kevin Brown, a 21 year old, was at a resort on San Pedro with a group of friends. A dispute ensued among them over jewelry and at some point […]

Fire Takes Down Cabanas at Palmento Grove
A fire on Friday destroyed several cabanas that form part of Palmento Grove Cultural & Fishing Lodge in Hopkins Village. Harry Arzu has more details. HARRY ARZU ” The cause of the fire has yet to be established.

Vehicle Plunges Into Creek; Coast Guard Seaman Saves Family
An American family came close to death when the vehicle they were in plunged into the creek as they drove on a single lane bridge down south. It happened this past Friday and Harry Arzu spoke to one of the men who assisted in rescuing the family. HARRY ARZU “The road traffic accident happened between […]

The Reporter

Franklin moves northeast of Belize City
Tropical Storm Franklin has taken a slight shift north of the track it had kept since Sunday, threatening to directly hit just north of Chetumal, Mexico in the next few hours. The storm is likely to strengthen to a hurricane by the time it makes […]

Franklin packing winds of 60mph
The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) has informed that Tropical Storm Franklin is now packing maximum sustained winds of 60mph, and is located near 17.7 North Latitude and 85.1W West Longitude or about 205 miles East of Belize City, and 165 miles north east of […]

Tropical Storm Franklin expected to become a hurricane before landfall tonight
Tropical Storm Franklin is expected to strengthen and become a hurricane before it makes landfall tonight anywhere between northern Belize and the Quintana Roo area of Mexico. The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) has issued a Tropical Storm warning from Belize City to the Corozal […]

Breaking Belize News

Franklin is about 120 miles east of Chetumal, Mexico
Tropical Storm Franklin is located at about 120 miles east of Chetumal, Mexico, and is moving to the west-northwest about 10 to 15 mph. According to the Weather Channel, a tropical storm warning has been put into place in the Yucatan Peninsula, including Cancún and Cozumel, and as […]

Belize International Airport closing at 5
The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has reported that the Phillip Goldson International Airport will close operations at 5 pm today, due to the approaching Tropical Storm Franklin. The DCA went on to say that it will resume operations once the “All Clear” has been given after the […]

More changes as Tropical Storm Franklin approaches
In preparations for the incoming storm, more businesses and other institutions have begun making changes to their regular business schedule. Scotia Bank’s San Pedro branch will be closing at 1 p.m. today, while it’s Belize City and Belama branch are still scheduled to remain open until […]

US Embassy issues warning for travelers & US Citizens in Belize due to Tropical Storm Franklin
The US Embassy issued a release this morning informing US Citizens that the Government of Belize has issued a tropical storm warning for Tropical Storm Franklin from Belize City up to the Corozal District. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are […]

KHMH activating ’emergency mode’
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) is activating emergency mode as of noon today.As a part of the activation, all of the hospital’s non-essential services will be suspended until further notice. The hospital is preparing a list of the services to be suspended for […]

NEMO issued advisory 4 on Tropical storm Franklin
The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) in collaboration with the National Meteorological Service hereby informs the general public that Tropical Storm Franklin is now located near 17.1 North Latitude and 84.2 West Longitude or some 266 miles east south east of Belize City; 255 […]

Blogs

Tropical Storm Franklin Intensifies Over Night: Warning Issued in Northern Belize
It was just over a year ago when Category One Hurricane Earl made landfall in Belize with 85 mile per hour winds. He made landfall south of San Pedro (about 30 miles south) near Belize City and caused fairly extensive property damage. Many of the docks were down on Ambergris Caye and rivers and low lying neighborhoods flooded. (You can see many pictures of the damage here.) That was August 4, 2016…fast forward to today. August 7, 2017 and we are watching another storm move in our direction. This wasn’t supposed to happen! I’ve been here 10 years and Earl was my first view of real damage from a storm. But here he is – Tropical Storm Franklin. Upgraded late yesterday afternoon, he intensified again over night and is NOW projected to hit just north of Mahahual, Mexico (about 75-85 miles north of us). And now, according to NEMO (the National Emergency Management Organization of Belize) we are under Tropical Storm Watch.

Wrong Timing Franklin
Tropical Storm Franklin is rearing his ugly self at the exact wrong time – although there is never a good time for a storm. The island is preparing fast for the oncoming storm, businesses are moving boats to the back side of the island, alcohol ban is in effect and some are boarding up. Victor, the Security guard for the Atlantic Bank who manages my apartment came and told me they will be boarding up my place by noon. I told him they had to make sure like last time that I can get in and out easily and to leave the last board for my front door off for now. We are now in the middle of preparing for what has now been up graded from a Tropical Depression to Tropical Storm Franklin early this morning. The winds are strengthening and by Tuesday morning should reach 65 mph as it makes landfall more likely over the Yucatan.

International Sources

Tropical Storm Franklin makes landfall in Mexico
Tropical Storm Franklin made landfall on the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula near Pulticub, Mexico, around 11:45 pm ET Monday night, according to an advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Franklin moved inland with maximum sustained winds around 60 mph, the center's advisory said. A hurricane watch is in effect for the Mexican coast, ranging from Puerto de Veracruz to Rio Panuco. Tropical storm warnings are currently in-place for a larger portion of the region, encompassing the coast of Mexico from Chetumal to Sabancuy, and from Belize City northward to the Mexican border. The storm continues to batter Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula with heavy rain and strong winds and flash flooding is still a major concern. Tropical storm-force winds currently extend outward up to 140 miles from the storm's center, according to the National Weather Center.

BELIZE AND AMERICAN FILM INDUSTRIES OPEN ARMS TO EACH OTHER AND BUILD BRIDGES
Hollywood executives, producers, actors, media professionals and investors gathered with members of the Belizean Diaspora last weekend to network and build bridges between the two countries at the 3rd Annual Belize Film Commission Luncheon. Hosted by Belizean Americans Dr. Yvonne Goff and her husband, attorney David Fairweather at their well-appointed home in Pacific Palisades, attendees enjoyed good food, stimulating conversation and most important, exchanged strategies aimed toward building relationships and expanding the film industry of this beautiful Afrocentric country, with its vibrant Caribbean culture. Among those in attendance were Belize’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Patrick Faber; the Consul General of Belize in Los Angeles, Roland Yorke; Director of the Belize International Film Festival, Suzette Zayden; and ABC World Morning News Anchor, Kendis Gibson. Gibson, who was born in Belize, is a former reporter and part of the launch team for San Diego’s FOX local newscast and has pledged his commitment to promoting ways to connect the Hollywood and Belize film industries.

Sustainable development central to Belize’s future, says IDBmark
Belize must make long-term plans to gain the greatest benefit from and protect its natural resources, the executive vice president of the Inter-American Development Bank has stressed, following an IADB visit to the country. Julie Katzman stressed the need for careful, long-term planning to ensure the country takes full advantage of its natural resources, biodiversity and cultural heritage while protecting these from over-exploitation and natural disasters. Katzman said: “Sustainable development is without a doubt at the core of the future of Belize, of the economy and of people’s quality of life and it is essential that everybody get this right going forward.

Videos

San Pedrana Reigns over Costa Maya Festival, 5.5min.

New conservation post in the Chiquibul, 8.5min. The Government of Belize and its partners continue to make major efforts to deter the illegal activities occurring in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, and on Monday, July 31st, our Belize Now team joined the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) and other stakeholders to celebrate the opening of the newest conservation post in the area.

Take off from San Pedro Belize to Belize city, Belize, 1min.

Belize: Week Four: Lamani, 3min.

Belize diving: Hawksbill Turtle, 1min.

Belize Fly Fishing, 8.5min. Caye Caulker, Belize. Fly Fishing with Capt Eloy

A message from the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. John Briceno on Tropical Storm Franklin, 2.5min.

New solar energy water systems were inaugurated in the villages of Pueblo Viejo and Conejo Creek, 10min. The Government of Belize, in its continued commitment to address the basic needs of Belizeans in the areas of water, sanitation, and health, is ensuring that the men, women, and children of rural Belize have access to the supply of safe water to meet their daily needs. To move towards this goal, new solar energy water systems were inaugurated in the villages of Pueblo Viejo and Conejo Creek on Thursday, July 20th.

BELIZE 2017!!!, 13min. Mission trip to Belize!!

Straight Up Belize, 9min. A glimpse at my perspective of the Project Dragonfly: 2017 Belize II trip. Videos and photos courtesy of myself, Dakota Bahlau, Mary Fields, Kimberly Kessler, Linda Merry, and Veronica Uribe.

Exploring the Small Island Town of San Pedro, Belize (Ambergris Caye), 6min. Although the water front part of the island of San Pedro, Belize has gorgeous views, there is more to the island than that. Behind the beachfront resorts lies a small town of shops, homes, a school, etc. We hopped in the golf cart and drove around the town stopping in a few of the shops and even a fantastic bakery!

Snorkling, Cave Tubing, and Ziplining in Belize!!!, 3min.

San Pedro, Belize, 7min.

Belize 2017, 8min.

Caves Branch Tubing in Belize, 2min. Our group from Singles in Paradise enjoyed the full 7-miles of cave Tubing at Ian Andersons original Caves Branch Tubing.

Belize Snorkel BBQ Picnic with Hol Chan, Shark/Ray Ally and Goffs Caye, 4min. Our group of 35 from Singles in Paradise enjoyed this full day tour from Ambergris Caye taking in some great snorkeling and then a wonderful BBQ at the tiny Goffs Caye. We even had local fishermen come and sell us fresh lobster for really cheap!

Vanessa and Isaac singing in the Cave in Belize, 2.5min.

Belize 2017: GLA, 7min. Belize Initiative for Children Trip 2017

Belize - Day Four, 3.5min. We set off on a VERY bumpy road to Guatemala! We arrived at the Tikal ruins and were blown away! The steps to get up the ruins were taller than the height of my knee! The humidity was intense, but the views were worth the sweat. Oh and the fact we survived the driving... it's impressive!

August 7, 2017

For information about Tropical Storm Franklin, CLICK HERE.

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

The San Pedro Sun

Wolfe’s Woofer: The World’s Greatest Memory
This is Farmington, New Mexico,” the bus driver said. “All passengers disembark while we take a forty-five-minute stop for lunch.” Thirty-one years ago I was traveling as cheaply as possible from Florida to California and my only options were hitchhiking or the bus. An old Indian wrapped in a Navajo blanket sat in the shade of the bus station porch with a tin begging cup. The restaurant manager at the bus stop stuck his head out the door. “Hey, Big Chief,” he called. “Your lunch is ready. I’ll bring it out in a minute.” “Thanks, Rodney,” the Indian said.

Doctor Love: Not My Business
Dear Doctor Love, I seem to attract people who want to tell me secrets. In most cases I just nod and make an excuse to get away or make some neutral remark. One woman in particular waits to get me alone at church and she starts a conversation with—“Just between you and me,” or ends it with—“Don’t tell anyone else.” I don’t want to know things about my neighbors or friends but she is an older member of the congregation and I don’t want to appear rude. On a few occasions she has told me things that put me in a very awkward position with family members. How do I tell her I don’t want to gossip without offending her? /s/ Not My Business

Ambergris Today

Belize Issues Tropical Storm Watch As Potential Tropical Cyclone Approaches
The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) in collaboration with the National Meteorological Service hereby informs the general public that the strong Tropical Wave in the west-central Caribbean Sea has an 80% chance of becoming a Tropical Depression or a Tropical Storm over night. The system with maximum sustained winds near 35mph is moving to the West-North-West at 12mph. The current position is near 15.6 North Latitude and 82.0 West Longitude or some 90 miles East-North-East of Cabo Gracias a Dios, off the Nicaraguan/Honduras border. The center of the potential Tropical Storm is forecasted to make landfall sometime between Belize and Mexico border on Monday or Tuesday morning of this week. The forecast is for heavy rainfall over Belize which is likely to cause flash floods. We can expect as much 6 inches of rainfall with possible higher amounts of up to 12 inches, gusty winds, and severe thunderstorms late Monday evening into Tuesday morning.

Misc Belizean Sources

Updated Daily Tropical Weather page...

Tropical Storm Franklin near Yucatan Peninsula
An area of low pressure that is located over the northwestern Caribbean continues to lack a well-defined center of circulation, however, it does have a broad area of circulation. Because of this, it is not yet a Tropical Depression. With that said, however, it is very likely that this system will become a tropical storm sometime on Monday before it reaches the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and thus Tropical Storm Warnings have been issued for the Yucatan Peninsula. Satellite estimated winds and buoy reports indicate that winds with Potential Tropical Cyclone 7 are near 35 mph. Satellite loops indicate that a majority of the thunderstorm activity is occurring on the northern and eastern sides of this system and this is likely due to westerly wind shear of 20 to 25 knots occurring on the northern and eastern quadrants of it.

NEMO Issues Tropical Storm Watch – Emergency Operations Centers Convene Countrywide
NEMO Emergency Operations Centers (EOC’s) have been convening countrywide since this morning, Sunday August 6, 2017, in the face of threats from a tropical system in the Caribbean which has been showing signs of organization and development. At 8:00 A.M today, the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) issued its first official advisory on the tropical system, stating: “The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), in collaboration with the National Meteorological Service, hereby informs the general public that a strong tropical wave over the west-central Caribbean Sea continues to show some signs of organization as it moves west-north westward at 10-15mph.”

NEMO ADVISORY NO. 2: A Tropical Storm WATCH is being issued
The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) in collaboration with the National Meteorological Service hereby informs the general public that the strong Tropical Wave in the west-central Caribbean Sea has an 80% chance of becoming a Tropical Depression or a Tropical Storm over night. The system with maximum sustained winds near 35mph is moving to the West-North-West at 12mph. The current position is near 15.6 North Latitude and 82.0 West Longitude or some 90 miles East-North-East of Cabo Gracias a Dios, off the Nicaraguan/Honduras border.

NEMO Advisory 3: TROPICAL STORM FRANKLIN FORMS IN THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA
The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) in collaboration with the National Meteorological Service hereby informs the general public that Tropical Storm Franklin has formed. Franklin is located near 16.4 North Latitude and 83.0 West Longitude or some 100 miles north of the Nicaraguan/Honduras border. Franklin is moving to the West-North-West at 13mph with maximum sustained winds near 40 miles per hour. The projected tracks from the different models suggest that this system could impact anywhere from northern Belize to areas along the Yucatan Peninsula late Monday evening or Tuesday morning. The forecast is for heavy rainfall over Belize which is likely to cause flash floods. We can expect as much 3-6 inches of rainfall with possible higher amounts, gusty winds, and severe thunderstorms.

Another great outing with Stann Creek Birders Club at Hopkins wet-lands
Good turn out as we were a group of 17 Water level was a bit high and we did not get shorebirds as expected, but great high lights as both American and Least Bittern, Spotted Sandpiper, Clapper Rails, Spoonbills and more. Thanks to Gerry Collins for holding the banner high and making the events happening

ATTENTION MANAGING AUTHORITIES, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, AND TEACHERS: POSTPONEMENT OF CPD WORKSHOPS FOR THE BELIZE, ORANGE WALK AND COROZAL DISTRICTS FOR MONDAY AUGUST 7TH, 2017
All managing authorities, school administrators and teachers are hereby informed of the postponement of professional development workshops scheduled for tomorrow August 7th, 2017 for the Belize, Orange Walk and Corozal Districts. This postponement comes as a result of the tropical storm watch that is presently in effect for those districts. Information regarding the date for the rescheduled workshops will be shared as soon as possible.

Miss Ladyville 2017
Please help us by choosing your favorite delegate. The person with the most LIKES and COMMENTS will win "The People's Choice Award". Voting starts now and ends August 25, 2017. Voting is only valid on this page.

Rainbow Beach cleanup
Today, we acomplish a goal to clean along the bay of Rainbow beach. And, the results. We ended up with glass, iron, tires @ lots more. I hope you all don't dirty it again.

Belize Tourism Board advices stakeholders and industry partners to monitor storm Franklin and activate emergency plans
The Belize Tourism Board hereby advises Stakeholders and Industry Partners to continue to closely monitor the current tropical wave and keep abreast of the advisories from NEMO, the Met Office and other international sources. We encourage you to activate your emergency preparedness plans and ensure that you take all possible actions for your safety and the safety of your guests. If required, please take heed to all evacuation notices and ensure that guests are aware of actions to be taken at all times. The BTB will remain in touch with NEMO and other relevant Agencies and will provide you with further updates or precautionary measures, as they become available.

Water Service Interruption in Corozal
BWS Notice: Planned water interruption to 4th, 5th & 6th Avenue and 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th Street South, Corozal from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday, August 7th, 2017.

Western Dairies 50th Anniversary
Happy 50th, Western Dairies! They are celebrating with specials at all their locations across Belize, and their flag ship in Spanish Lookout. "You are invited to our celebration country wide from the 7 to 12 of August 2017."

The Reporter

Tropical Storm Franklin forms; threatens northern Belize
Tropical Storm Franklin has formed in the northwestern Caribbean, as it inches closer towards the Yucatan peninsula, threatening northern Belize. Franklin is located about 100 miles north of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua/Honduras border. It packs winds of up to 40mph and is […]

NEMO activates operation centres in light of approaching storm
The National Emergency Management Organizations says its operations centers (EOC’s) have been convening countrywide since this morning, in light of the threat from the tropical system approaching our area. NEMO says that Emergency Operations Centers have met in every region of the country to assess […]

Tropical storm watch issued for Belize as storm approaches
A tropical storm watch has been issued for the Belize, Orange Walk and Corozal districts, as potential cyclone 7 could become named storm Franklin before it makes landfall late Monday. The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) in its latest advisory this evening, said people should […]

Tropical wave approaching Belize gets better organized
Showers associated with a strong tropical wave heading towards Belize have gotten better organized, with tropical-storm-force winds already occurring in the centre of the weather system. The latest advisory coming from Miamiâ€™s National Hurricane Centre (NHC) indicates that the broad area of low pressure is […]

NEMO issues advisory for strong tropical wave approaching Belize
A strong tropical wave approaching the country has prompted the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) to issue an advisory. The tropical wave is expected to develop into a tropical depression or tropical storm before it makes landfall close to or over northern Belize sometime between […]

Breaking Belize News

Tropical storm Franklin forms; tropical storm warnings issued for Belize and Mexico
Tropical storm Franklin formed in the Western Caribbean sea earlier today and is now a potential threat to Belize and Mexico. According to the Hurricane Center, Franklin is located 380 miles east southeast of Chetumal, Mexico and is forecasted to strengthen over the next day or two.

New Belize e-commerce site, Chompati, now live
Chompati, a new e-commerce website connecting businesses and business people all across Belize, has now been launched, making it easier than ever to buy and sell goods and services, look for jobs and tons of other classified ads. Chompati’s name was taken from a Mopan Maya word which means “buying and selling”. According to the new site, “Doing business on Chompati is super easy; simply create an account, sign in and and get started! Submit your ad and once approved, Chompati does the rest, ensuring your product or service reaches our growing community of hundreds of local consumers hunting for the best deals.”

Tropical system in the Caribbean to be named Tropical Storm Franklin in the next 24 hours
The tropical system that is in the Eastern Caribbean has been gaining strength over the past days and it is now showing 35 miles per hour (mph) sustained winds gusting to 45 mph. According to the National Hurricane Center, the tropical system is expected to intensify late tomorrow and will be named Tropical Storm Franklin.

Two women charged for almost 100 bullets
On Friday, while Police were conducting patrol in Centennial Park located on St. Joseph Street, Benque Viejo town, cops observed Shanice Monique Flowers, 25, and Robin Tameka Whitaker, 18, both of Mahogany Heights, Belize district, standing near a snack shop behaving suspiciously.

Governor General’s Proclamation: NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST?
By Godwin B. Sutherland Sr.: Does the Governor General bear any obligation, moral or legal, to act in the public interest, in relation to the exercise of his duties as GG? This is perhaps one of the most pertinent questions, which have arisen with respect to the recent proclamation signed by the Governor General.

Home invasion on Mountain Pine Ridge Road, Cayo
According to police reports, Allan King, an American national of Mountain Pine Ridge Road, Cayo District reported that around 8:00 on Friday night, five Hispanic men entered his house, one armed with a shotgun and the others with machetes.

Motorcycle accident in Benque Viejo Town
According to reports, there was a traffic accident involving a motorcycle and a taxi in Benque Viejo town last night. The cycle reportedly collided into the taxi head on.

International Sources

Two ESU students attend State System Honors Trip to Belize
Two East Stroudsburg University students participated in the annual Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education trip abroad, exclusively for honors students. Ashley Collins, a sophomore from Newton, New Jersey, majoring in early childhood education, and Abigail Schauf, a junior from Pittsburgh, majoring in psychology, joined students from 12 universities, including ESU, on the trip. This year, Mansfield University volunteered to host the annual trip, which was approved by the respective honors directors. Each participating university selected two honors students to enroll in the program. The destination was a place where Mansfield University is becoming well known, thanks to political science Professors Jeff Bosworth and Jonathan Rothermel: the small Central American country of Belize.

Mexico and Belize brace for impact of potential tropical cyclone
A tropical disturbance in the western Caribbean is officially the seventh tropical weather system that the National Hurricane Center has issued an advisory for. Potential Tropical Cyclone Seven is the storm’s designation for now, but it will be given the name Franklin if it achieves tropical storm status. It is currently given an 80 percent chance of developing into a tropical cyclone within the next two days and a 90 percent chance within the next five. Tropical storm warnings have been issued in Mexico across the Yucatan Peninsula from Chetumal to the Bay of Campeche, while the nation of Belize has issued a tropical storm watch that extends from Belize City to the Mexican border.

Two tropical systems threaten the Caribbean
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami are monitoring two tropical weather systems that are currently threatening the Caribbean. Showers and thunderstorms are showing some signs of organization in association with a strong tropical wave located over the west-central Caribbean Sea. This system is moving west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph, and a tropical depression or tropical storm could form over the northwestern Caribbean Sea before it reaches the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico late Monday or early Tuesday. Even if formation does not occur before the system reaches the Yucatan peninsula, a tropical depression or tropical storm could form over the Bay of Campeche by midweek.

Videos

Bienvenidos~ Pupuseria Salvadoreno San Pedro, 2min. The Original #1Pupuseria Salvadoreno San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize Central America

Rodeo in San Vicente July 30 2017, 4min.

Straight Up Belize, 3min. Rough edit of the 1st part of our Belize trip

Belize Day Three!, 5min. A day full of exploring caves in a tube! We went out with the greatest tour guides in the country! We went with Xplore and had Sergio and Josh as our tour guides/driver. We hiked for an hour learning about different plants and dry caves, I even got to try live TERMITES!! Then we jumped into the water and began 3 hours of cave tubing! What a day! TRAVEL BELIZE!!

Belize Vlog, 15min. Super fun trip to Belize!

Bottlenose dolphins in Belize, 6min. On any given dive, you never know what you'll see when you jump into the water, it's an exhilarating feeling. In this case, mother nature provided the highlight of our trip when these four curious bottlenose dolphins investigated us for almost 20 minutes, coming in amazingly close. You can notice them nipping playfully at the harmless nurse sharks around us and hear them constantly talking to each other. The human screams of pure excitement are from our fearless and impassioned dive master, Dimass. It was a real honor to share the ocean with these sentient animals in such an intimate way, easily one of the most incredible experiences of my life.

Lets go to Belize !| Part 2, 17min.

Trying some of the hottest hot sauces in Belize, 5min.

Belize Aggressor 2017, 28min. Diving video shot from July22-Aug 1 2017 on the Aggressor III boat.

Belize Trip 2017, 10min. Videos from Belize - land and sea.

Belize City, Belmopan and Food Vlog, 3.5min. Just places i visited when i had to run around to get some business done in Belize City and the Capital, Belmopan. Enjoy

FLY San Pedro to Belize International on Brand New Maya Island Airplane, 3.5min. Hey Everyone, It's William Narod, The Paradise Guy. Recently I got to fly in a brand new airplane courtesy of Maya Island Air from San Pedro Town to Belize International Airport. This 17 minute flight is always spectacular, quick, and easy.

Manatee encounter, reef in Belize 2017, 2min. We have been looking for manatees all over the world for 20 years. Suddently they were there - right in front of us.

Belize Jungle, 10min.

Eating Termites in Belize, 1min.

Belize and ESL, 5min. Old video of Belize City

August 6, 2017

Congratulations to Team Tarpon Club for winning the top prize at this year's Tres Pescados Slam Fly Fishing Tournament!

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

The San Pedro Sun

Authorities advise to look out for counterfeit currency
Recently there has been a rise in incidents involving Belizean counterfeit currency, leaving a number of establishments suffering the consequences of the fake money. As such, the general public is asked to familiarize themselves with the security features of Belize’s paper currency, as set by the Central Bank of Belize. According to Central Bank of Belize, the Belizean monetary bills contain new features that make it harder to counterfeit. Most of the fraudulent paper currency targets the higher denominations, due to the fact that they represent a greater profit. Currently, the denominations being affected are the $50 and $100 bills. The new feature to look for in the $100 bill is an addition of an intaglio overprint of a periwinkle flower over the toucan hologram located on the left centre corner of the bill. In the case of the $50 bill, the foil in the shape of an angel fish now has an intaglio overprint of the Kinich Ahau jade head. Other features to look for are the watermark images. The watermark is there from when the paper is made and it cannot be faked. The $100 and $50 bills feature a watermark of a jaguar, while the$20, $10, $5, and $2 bills feature the image of the ‘Sleeping Giant.’

Chiquibul receives new Conservation Outpost aimed at deterring illicit activities
The Chiquibul Rainforest is one of Belize’s greatest natural assets, but over the years, the Western border of Belize along the Chiquibul and surrounding areas have been subject to illegal gold panning, logging, and poaching among other activities. Fighting to prevent these illicit activities are the Belize Defense Force (BDF), the Belize Forest Department, Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) and Ya’axché Conservation Trust. Now, through funding from the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) and the Environmental Management Fund (EMF), conservationist have a new post in the Chiquibul National Park from where to lead operations aimed at protecting the area. The Caballo Conservation Post was officially inaugurated on Wednesday, August 2nd. The Conservation Post came at a cost of BZ $115,000 and is part of the Chiquibul Forest Investment Initiative (CFII) that was launched in December 2016. The main objective of the initiative is to increase the management and enforcement presence within the Chiquibul, Columbia and Vaca forest areas.

Another irregular land deal involving Gaspar Vega’s family surfaces
After the October 2016 land scandal, involving family members of former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Agriculture, Honourable Gaspar Vega, his family is once again in the spotlight regarding another alleged land scam. A series of new documents leaked from the Lands Department revealed a number of private citizens who, between 2014 and 2015, were granted permission to purchase parcels of lands along the Belize River and Ramsey Caye, off the coast south of Belize City. However, a few months after, the properties were transferred to members of the Vega family. According to the documents, all the purchasing and transfer of lands took place during the time Vega was in charge of the Lands Department. The first incident involved lots in the Spanish Creek Area along the Belize River. A group of buyers bought the properties for a few thousand dollars, and after a few months, sold their title to two members of the Vega Family. The same apparent scenario took place with Ramsey Caye.

Misc Belizean Sources

Women caught with ammunition
On the 04.08.17, whilst Police were patrolling Centennial Park on St. Joseph Street, Benque Viejo Town, when they observed Shanice Monique Flowers and Robin Tameka Whitaker of Mahogany Heights, Belize District, standing near a snack shop behaving suspicious. The police approached the women and asked if they had anything illegal on them and one of them handed over a grey sling bag. A search of the bag led to the discovery of 99 .45 live rounds. Both females have been charged for possession of prohibited ammunition.

Alberto pott Chable from Tihosuco Mexico came to experience the sound of all the fabulous prehispanic Maya instruments
Yuumbotic hermanito Chable along with Faustino Yam and Hugo Carrillo. A small prehispanic Maya drum and authentic maya ball game ball that weighs more than 2 pounds.

Goliath grouper caught with a hook stick in San Pedro
This grouper went to serve many mouths for a fund raising event. Photo by Itzy Rivero.

2017 Costa Maya International Festival
This 4-day festival features delegate beauties and musical artists from Belize and its regional neighbors.

The Reporter

Taiwan holds scholarship orientation for new students
Twenty-four Belizean students converged inside the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City on Saturday, for the 2017 Taiwan Scholarship Orientation. The students along with their parents were hosted by the Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize, Ambassador Charles Liu, among other officials and alumni, and were given a preview of what to expect during their time in Taiwan. Ambassidor Liu said the scholarships provide opportunities to Belizean students to learn not about their areas of study, but also about Taiwan. “We want to give our best experience and knowledge to these students, so when they finish their studies they can come back and make Belize a better country,” the ambassador said.

Police and Angelus Press donate to needy south side children
A joint partnership between the Angelus Press Limited and the Police Eastern Division South assisted 300 south side children with backpacks and school supplies for the upcoming school year. The children were hosted at a brief ceremony and lunch at the Racoon Street police station on Friday, as part of the Police Department’s community policing efforts. Minister of State, Elodio Aragon Jr., told the media that the initiative bolsters the ties between the police and the community. “I think we need more of these things, and it speaks well on Angelus Press being a corporate sponsor supporting our young people here on south side Belize. It is these kinds of interaction that breaks down the barrier between the police and the community,” Aragon remarked.

Breaking Belize News

Basketball Federation writes to PM over management of Civic Center
The Belize Basketball Federation (BBF) has written to Prime Minister Dean Barrow expressing concern over suggestions and indications in newspapers that the newly constructed Belize Civic Center would be managed under a private concession model rather than a government managed model. According to the BBF, it has not been consulted as one of the critical stakeholders with regards to usage of the new facility. The federation fears that management under any private operator, in an effort to “maximize operating margins”, will result in cost of access levels for the sporting community which will be expensive and prohibitive.

Belize advised to monitor developing weather systems
The showers and thunderstorms associated with a strong tropical wave located over the central Caribbean Sea are beginning to show some signs of organization this afternoon, and satellite wind data indicate that the wave is producing a small area of winds that are just below tropical storm force. Additional development of this system is possible while it moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph, and a tropical depression or tropical storm could form over the northwestern Caribbean Sea before it reaches the Yucatan peninsula late Monday or Tuesday.

The Belize-Guatemala-Taiwan Relationship
This week it was reported that Taiwan will provide funds to Guatemala to build a road labelled as the “road mentioned in the 1859 Treaty between Britain and Guatemala”. The natural question flowing from that announcement is how this event impacts the Belize-Guatemala relations. In an interview with Foreign Affairs officials in Belize, the immediate impact was unclear, since the CEO Pat Andrews stated that an analysis is currently underway to determine the possible impact on trade and long term relationship.

Vega- Banos land hustle; a family affair
Yesterday, BBN reported on documents showing a paper trail exposing a supposed land scheme in which members of the Banos family acquired vast amounts of prime land from the government of Belize and sold them to members of the Vega family including Eduardo and Alma Vega. The documents show that family members of former Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega own over 13 acres of land on Ramsey Caye, located just south of Belize City through suspicious land transactions.

US Embassy vehicle crashes into lamp post
Yesterday, BBN reported of a road traffic accident on the Philip Goldson Highway. According to reports, the vehicle is the property of the United States Embassy. The vehicle lost control around mile 7 and collided into the lamp post.

PM Barrowâ€™s cousin shot dead in the USA
A Belizean living in the US was killed last Friday. She has been identified as Grace Frazier, 22. According to police information she was riding in a Nissan Altima along with Brittany Clay, 20. Upon reaching in the 12200 block of SW 218 street, Miami, someone opened fire on them.

Sarstoon protocol in limbo
After several rounds of negotiations, the governments of Belize and Guatemala are no closer to establishing a protocol for the equitable use of the Sarstoon River. Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala, H.E. Alexis Rosado, explained that Belize has tried and is still trying to dialogue on the issue, but that Guatemala is not reciprocating the effort. “We’re on a standstill basically… we’ve been trying to sit down with them to continue but they still resistant,” Rosado said.

No referendum anytime soon
Belize has no plans in the immediate future to hold a referendum on taking the territorial dispute with Guatemala to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). While the Government of Guatemala has recently announced that it will proceed with its own referendum, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Afairs, Pat Andrews, said that the country has two, more pressing, commitments to attend to.

Thirteen-year-old charged for unlawful sexual intercourse
According to a report from 7 News, a minor is out on bail for a sexual offense charge. The minor, who is 13 years old, is accused of sodomizing his little cousin, who is 5 years old.

High ranking police officer busted with contraband
Last night, 7 News Belize reported that a Superintendent of Police was caught with contraband yesterday. The officer was transporting pharmaceutical products and was busted in Arenal Village, Cayo District.

American driver plunges into creek in southern Belize
Benjamin Paul ,47, an American national along with his family of 3 were involved in a traffic accident on the Hummingbird Highway yesterday afternoon. According to reports, Paul was driving a rented black jeep and upon reaching between miles 28 and 29 while passing across a one lane bridge, he lost control of the vehicle and ran off the bridge falling into the creek.

Blogs

ISLAND RUMORS
No matter where you go, despite the language, culture, currency or average gdp per capita, people will talk shit about you. This is especially true for an island with a population less than 1500 people. After a few months on the island, people started to spread rumors that I was a fugitive. I thought it was a pretty cool rumor, but not everyone can be so lucky in regards to the rumors being spread about them. A good female friend of mine had rumors going around that she was sleeping with not only me, but other tourists around the island. Many of these rumors tend to be about business as well.

IS CAYE CAULKER GAY FRIENDLY?
Is Caye Caulker gay friendly? The short answer is no, not really. Like any country or city you cannot generalize about the values and perceptions of all based on those of a few. However, it is much easier to measure the attitudes of a population towards a particular topic when the sample size is so small. It is no surprise that the locals who work with tourists adopt more liberal views, and tend to be more tolerant of subjects like homosexuality. Whether they have acceptance for it is an entirely different question. A common Belizean Creole term you'll hear around the island, is "Batty Boy" which literally means "Butt Boy" in English and is a pejorative word for a gay or effeminate male. I've even heard kids say it in front of their parents, from whom they are likely to have learned it.

How To Follow Belize On-Line
There is something about Belize that seems so friendly, so comfortable, so…totally do-able. 11 years ago, that very same feeling hooked me. And I get emails almost every day from those daydreaming or seriously planning to make a move. And while this can be a snap decision – no one should move to a totally new country without doing some research. So I’ve compiled some blogs and websites that it makes sense to follow. Life at a resort for a few weeks or months is very different from a permanent move. Plus, it’s a handy list for those who just love Belize. So here are some suggestions from around the country. Please let me know if you have any others. The more information, the better.

International Sources

Mayas commence “Seed” year with New Fire ritual
The Mayas, heirs of one of the great pre-Hispanic cultures of ancient Mexico, last week started the year “Seed”, the 5,125 of their cosmogony, with a ritual that coincides with the date of the beginning of their rebellion against the creoles and mestizos in Yucatán, informs “El Universal“newspaper. A ritual of new fire by six priests will mark the end of the year “Fire macaw with solar face” (Guacamaya de rostro solar) and the beginning of “Seed, rebirth in maize and ceiba,” (Semilla: renacimiento del maiz y la ceiba), explained to EFE Eduardo Rivera Coss, director of the Baktún Project, an organization that promotes the ceremony. The annual transition of the Mayan culture has as its epicenter the Tihosuco community in the state of Quintana Roo, although it is also celebrated in Mérida, the capital of the state of Yucatán.

Videos

La Sonora Dinamita putting everyone to dance their favorite cumbias!, 1min.

Grupo Crash from El Salvador on day 3 of Costa Maya Festival!, 1min.

Alison Hinds @ Costa Maya Fest!!! WOW!!!, 2min.

Diving the Great Maya Reef, 3min. Scuba Diving Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Belize Barrier Reef, and National Marine Park of Cozumel.

Belize Caye Caulker, 2.5min.

Simply Belize: The Yucatec Maya Part 2 Caste War & the myth of the Empty Land, 8min.

The Yucatec Maya Part 2 Caste War & the myth of the Empty Land, 8min. Bio:The Yucatec Maya(Most came from the Yucatan peninsula what is now the Campeche,Yucatan and Quintana Roo States , escaping from the Guerra Social Maya better known as Caste War in 1840's). There have been evidence that their were still Yucatec Maya living in the extreme northwestern part of Belize in the Rio Bravo area before the massive migration of Maya from Mexico. The British reported several attacks in 1788 and 1801 from the Maya. A Yucatec Maya group name the Iciache Maya which territory included northwestern Belize and Southern Mexico resisted to the British expansion of logwood cutting. The Iciache Maya with the help of Maya who migrated to the San Pedro Yalbac area defeated the British Troops in December 21,1866 Which is known as the Battle of San Pedro Yalbac. Others are descendant of the Yucatec Maya group known as the Cruzoob Maya rebels who migrated to Belize from Chan Santa Cruz Areas. Today Many Yucatec Maya work as Cane farmers,milpero,Teachers,Soldiers,Police and other jobs. Note: When they speak in this documentary about the Central Maya they referring to the Yucatec Maya group known as the Cruzoob Maya and when they refore to the Souther Maya they referring to the Yucatec Maya group known as the Iciache Maya.

Simply Belize: The Yucatec Maya Part 3 Caste War & Sugar Cane, 7min.

A Day in Belize | JK Students 2017, 18min. A Day in Belize | JK Students 2017

Return of the Matriarch Retreat in Belize December 2017 (Natural Soap from a Leaf - Red Bell), 1.5min.

Belize, Summer '17, 7min.

Belize '17, 6min. Lovely trip to Belize.

Belize Slideshow, 3.5min.

Belize: Blue Hole and Fish, 4min. Belize is famous for the Blue Hole, where you can fly over and for its coral reef, second just to the Australian one. Of course, we are visiting both places! Have a look with whom we are swimming in the end!!!

BELIZE VACATION 2017!, 12min.

Caracol Maya Archaeological Site Belize, 41min.

Bezkresne, dzikie gbiny (4) Wybrzee Belize, 76min. (1080p, 2016) Majestatyczne rafy koralowe, tajemnicze jaskinie i szczeliny, a poród nich pikne, rzadkie i zagroone gatunki zwierzt. Opowie o .

QUEEN OF THE WEST CONTESTANTS, 8min.

August 5, 2017

Painting under way at the old Cayo Hospital

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

The San Pedro Sun

Ministry of Natural Resources reiterates policy on use of the Seabed and 66 Feet Reserves
The Lands and Surveys Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources hereby informs the public that national lands, which are the property of the State, include the seabed and all reservations along all water frontages including rivers and the sea, commonly referred to as the 66-feet reserve measured from the high-water mark. The public is accordingly reminded that any occupation of the seabed and 66-feet reserve, including occupation by way of piers, jetties, wharves, seawalls, cabanas, beach umbrellas and chairs for patrons, etc., without the requisite permission from the Minister of Natural Resources is unlawful and illegal and subject to civil action and/or criminal prosecution.

Wings of Hope gives BERT a new air ambulance
The Belize Emergency Response Team (BERT) celebrated its 19th anniversary on Tuesday, August 1st with the acquisition of a new air ambulance, a US$155,000 gift from the Wings of Hope organization based in St. Louis, Ohio USA. Part of the acquisition cost was paid for by the Wagner Foundation of Wisconsin, USA. Wings of Hope pilots flew the new Piper Cherokee 6 air ambulance into the Philip Goldson International Airport, touching down around 3:45 on Monday afternoon, July 31. After clearing Customs, the aircraft was flown to the BERT hangar at the Belize City municipal airstrip on Tuesday afternoon, where Wings of Hope veteran pilot Ed Schertz and Jim Mallette formally handed over the new plane to BERT’s national coordinator/general manger Andre Carillo.

Tropic Air announces suspension of service to Chetumal, Merida, Mexico and San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Tropic Air announces today that it is suspending scheduled flights to Chetumal, Merida, and San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Miss Belize Michelle Nunez Captures Miss Costa Maya 2017 Crown
Since the first time she stepped on stage to compete for the title of Miss San Pedro in 2014, Michelle Estrella Nuñez has had the support of her humble town, San Pedro. In 2016 she represented Belize in the Miss America Latina del Mundo pageant, gaining even more experience and growing her fan base to include the rest of the county. Last night Belize was rooting for their queen and they were not disappointed. Michelle took to the stage with admirable confidence and portrayed the best version of herself in her smile, in her walk and in her words. Her vision for empowering the young women of our community was evident even in the presentation of her cultural costume. She personified the Mayan Godess of Fertility, Motherhood and the Moon, Ix Chel, in a vibrant ensemble that embodied the feminine light she dreams of seeing in all Belizean women.

Social Security Board to increase contribution wage band in 2018
An increase in the amount of contributions towards Social Security (SS) for 2018 was confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer in the SS, Doctor Colin Young on Tuesday, July 26th. The SS has been reviewing the process and holding public consultations countrywide on the benefit structure, to address a mandatory increase in the wage band. The SS holds that currently, employers and employees collectively share an 8% contribution rate to the SS, which is the lowest in the CARICOM community. Dr. Young indicated that the increase is primarily to meet to the demands of the volume of pensioners. He added that in order to keep the sustainability of the fund, the increase is imperative. Young mentioned that there is a debate ongoing regarding who is going to take most of the burden; will be a fair 50-50 split, with employers and employees, or is there going to be a different allocation? “That is the discussion that has to be made… ultimately we will need to see the wage band increase no later than next year,” said Young.

Island businesses going Green and switching to Biodegradable products
The owner of Hidden Treasure restaurant, Ruben Muñoz, has also taken to bio-degradable products. “We do a lot of takeout food, but we decided to go biodegradable for our delivery containers. We purchase most of our products from Ecofriendly Solutions Limited in mainland Belize. It’s just a matter of trying to reduce our carbon footprint on the island. This is our way or doing our part. We don’t want to contribute to the problem,” said Munoz. “The costs are a little bit more, but overall, it will definitely be a help to the environment. I wish that other companies do the same. It would really cut back on a lot of waste material that ends up on our island and in our waters. It would be a win-win situation.” Mayor Daniel Guerrero told The San Pedro Sun that he supports all businesses who do their part in helping to eradicated garbage. “I think our entire island has to go green. We as humans need to appreciate the environment and we need to be more positive towards our planet. San Pedro is the youngest municipality in the country, but is the fastest growing and produces high quantities of trash,” says Guerrero.

Misc Belizean Sources

Congratulations to Our New Miss Costa Maya International 2017, Michelle Estrella Nuñez, Miss Belize
The International Costa Maya Festival Wishes to Thank Everyone for Their Support! The Fun Continues...

Captain William Edward Eiley passes away
Our family wishes to announce the peaceful passing of our dad, Captain William Edward Eiley formerly of Placencia who resided in Belize City at the time of his passing today Wednesday, August 2nd, 2017. He was predeceased by his parents Miriam Eiley nee Wagner and Edward Eiley; his wife of 60 years Mrs. Gladys (Dena) Eiley nee Muschamp; Their infant son: John Wayne Eiley; His sister: Sylvia Eiley; Brothers: John and Harry Eiley and granddaughter, Gianni Gennine Taylor. Captain Eiley leaves behind his 8 children: Sandra Sarsby, Marion Sarsby, Noel Eiley, Wayne Eiley, Carmita Garbutt, Denise Eiley, Melanie Eiley and Sybil Ozaeta. Numerous grand and great-grand children nieces and nephews; His Sisters: Joyce Eiley, Irma Godfrey, Daphne Davis, Jessie Eiley, Alice Halvorsen and Rose Chavarria. His caregivers: Cruz Lino, Abby Contreras and his grandson, Wayne Albert Eiley. Funeral arrangements will be announced later. May his soul rests in perfect peace! Into God's hands we place his soul. 23rd Psalm: "The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want....." Sunrise: Nov. 15, 1932 - Sunset: Aug. 2, 2017 (dead at the age of 84)

BELIZE'S BLACK GENOCIDE: AN AFRICAN-CENTERED WORLDVIEW!
The expose comes as a serious reminder of the silent genocide happening among Belizean black males that has been occurring silently for decades now in Belize City, and across the districts of the country. We here at Belizean Legends would like to shed some light on this crime against the Belizean people in commemoration of Emancipation Day celebrated in Belize through the UBAD Educational Foundation (UEF) on August 1, 2017. The feature shares the message of one of Pan Africanism most brilliant university scholars, Molefi Kete Asante, Professor of "Africology" at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States. Here, Dr. Asante presents the work of the distinguish Pan Africanist scholar of African-centered Social Work & Worldview, Dr. Mekada Graham.

BELIZEAN SOFTBALL QUEENS ---HOLDING ON TO THAT PASSION!
We here at Belizean Legends want to send a big shout out to the National Belize Softball Team who participated in the recent softball tournament in Panama, Central America. Though this team may not have made big wins, it is not the big wins that count all the time, but the passion that these dynamic Belizean female athletes still have for the game of softball that was given to them by the legends and the "Golden Girls of Softball" that won the CAST Games Championship in 1969, the "Gold Medal Team" that won the 1974 championship in the Central American & Caribbean Games in Santa Domingo winning Belize's first ever gold medal in 1974, and the Belize national softball team that won the bronze medal in the 1979 Pan American Games, beating the greatest softball team in the world, the United States "Orlando Rebels."

Emancipation Day
Leonides Sanchez the Belizean artist extraordinaire is no typical Belizean artist relative to those like the legendary George Gabb and those among the likes of his own father, Peter Sanchez, who taught him this master builders' skill. His genes are the replica of those renowned African scholars of Mali, Timbaktu, Ghana, Egypt and Moorish Spain. His "Black Star Line" artistic phenomena in shipwright are a perfect artistic feature that reminds Belize of what its vision for freedom could have been. He is the Cheik Anta Diop of southern Belize pulling from a base of multi-disciplinary body of work that includes the arts, shipwright, engineering, botany, animal husbandry, architecture, and of course Afrocentric sciences. Belize though his home is just a cosmic reality of who he is that cannot be confined. He is a global citizen that creates his art in remembrance of his Garifuna ancestors who were brilliant shipwrights. And he creates art as we see here as a sacrificial symbol in honor of those African liberators of old like Marcus Garvey and Frederick Douglas.

THE BELIZEAN DIASPORA & ITS SERVICE TO BELIZE FOR DEVELOPMENT!
(FINAL PART) by Bilal Morris. We here at Belizean Legends celebrate the formation of the Consortium for Belizean Development thirty-two years ago in Los Angeles, California. We honor those legendary Belizeans who stood the test of time and organized for Belize's development at home while resisting the backlash of vicious immigration laws since then that was imposed by one United States president after the next. Now as the new president of the U.S., Donald Trump, has imposed more aggressive and draconian immigration laws, it is unclear what the Belizean diaspora agenda have become almost two decades after the demise of the Belizean consortium.

TRIBUTE TO DEDAN KAMATE---AFRICAN-AMERICAN ACTIVIST & BROADCAST JOURNALIST!
The late Dedan Kamate was a good friend of Belize and the Belizean people. The African-American activist from the "All African Peoples Revolutionary Party" (AARP) had championed the right of the Belizean people to their self-determination and territorial integrity, and assisted the resistance of the Belizean people in the diaspora against the Guatemalan military oligarchy claim of Belize. A Pan-Africanist who had championed the rights of black and indigenous peoples in Central American, the Caribbean and Africa, Kamate visited Belize several times in the 1980s as a speaker at the invitation of the Belizean organization, S.P.E.A.R, headed by Belizean nationalist, Assad Shoman.

REMEMBERING DAVID BUDDAN---TRIBUTE TO THE ROCKA!
The third and final show of Belize Music Hour hosted by the legendary David Buddan on December 20, 1986 in closing of that very prospective year that Buddan rose to such national acclaim in California as a Belizean broadcaster in the diaspora that touched thousands of listeners who tuned into the show. In this episode, he speaks with the late UBAD member and then BREDAA representative, Edgar X Richardson, and Urban Reyes of the Belize based grassroots organization, Isiah Morter Harambee. He also discussed music with the legendary Belizean artist, Patrick Barrow of Caye Records, and the Belizean reggae band of the 1970's and 1980's, Babylon Warriors.

After a great show, Alison Hinds had a meet and greet session with her fans
They even had a chance to take a picture with the Soca Queen!

Use of the Seabed and 66 Feet Reserves
The Lands and Surveys Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources hereby informs the public that national lands, which are the property of the State, include the seabed and all reservations along all water frontages including rivers and the sea, commonly referred to as the 66-feet reserve measured from the high-water mark. The public is accordingly reminded that any occupation of the seabed and 66-feet reserve, including occupation by way of piers, jetties, wharves, seawalls, cabanas, beach umbrellas and chairs for patrons, etc., without the requisite permission from the Minister of Natural Resources is unlawful and illegal and subject to civil action and/or criminal prosecution.

Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation Presents Draft Update to the National Tourism Policy
Over 90 public, private and civil sector tourism stakeholders attended a presentation of the draft update to the National Tourism Policy held in Belize City on August 3, 2017. Dr. Richard Denman, the consultant contracted for the revision process, presented the draft revised National Tourism Policy, which will guide the sustainable and resilient development of tourism in Belize for the next ten years. The revised National Tourism Policy was drafted after extensive consultations with tourism sector stakeholders in February and May of 2017. The policy is a deliverable of the Sustainable Tourism Program II, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, through the support of the Inter-American Development Bank. During the forum, stakeholders were able to provide recommendations to further refine the draft policy.

Belizean Patriot: Captain Monrad Siegfried Metzgen, OBE, JP, VD
Ask any cycling enthusiast who came in first in the first Annual Cross Country Race in 1928 and they will probably tell you Elston Kerr. If you asked them who came in second, you might just get a blank stare because no one remembers who came in second and so if you asked who came in third, now that is asking for trouble. In this case, third place is signigficant because it was Captain Monrad Siegfried Metzgen. He not only organized the race, but he completed the race in 30 and a half hours. He was also an accomplished public servant, but because of space, we will only focuss on the Cross Country Race aspect of his public service contribution. You may read more about his considerable public service accomplishment at the link below. And now, here is his story. Born in Belize City in June 1893, he was a Belizean Creole of humble parentage. Monrad was the son of Carl Alexander Metzgen, the former Auditor General (1911) of Belize, British Honduras.

Cayo Fight Night 2017
The 2017 Cayo Fight Night will be next Saturday, August 12th, at the Sacred Heart auditorium. There will be 4 WBC fights, and 4 amateur fights. "The public is invited by the Belize Boxing Development Council, to come enjoy an exciting and inspirational boxing event being held at the Sacred Heart Auditorium in San Ignacio Cayo, on Saturday August 12th."

Channel 7

A True Tragedy: Father Runs Over Young Daughter In Spanish Lookout
Another Spanish Lookout family has lost a child in an accident. We have reported on a number of cases in Mennonite Communities where young children are accidentally run over by a relative in their own yard - oftentimes with heavy equipment. Stephen Hochstetler is now burdened by that heartbreak after he reversed over his 1 year old baby girl yesterday evening around 4:00. We traveled to Spanish lookout to find what happened and how this family's life was shattered in just a couple of minutes. Here is more on this sad story. The Hochstetler's moved into this Iguana Creek Road trailer home just six months ago. They came over from Stann Creek with their 3 kids and they have settled in pretty well. But living here will never be the same without their 1 year old baby girl, Hannah. She was crushed under her father's vehicle in the yard as he reversed.

Will Hochstetler Face Charges For Causing Death of His Own Daughter?
So while Hochstetler has to cope with the grief and anguish of losing his little girl - he may also have to face charges. But that all depends on the advice of the DPP. Police told us more on how these cases are handled. Supt. Richard Rosado, O.C., San Ignacio: "He arrived home in his vehicle on the said date and time to discharge some supplies. Upon finishing unloading the supplies, the father reported that not seeing anyone around his vehicle he decided to reverse and upon doing so he heard a knock behind the vehicle where he subsequently came out of the vehicle and notice his 14 months old daughter Hannah Grace Hochstetler was hit by the vehicle. The toddler was transported to the Western Regional Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. At this moment a postmortem is being conducted at the Karl Heuser Memorial Hospital. A notice of intended prosecution was serve on Mr. Hochstetler and the file is being compiled and will be forwarded to the director of public prosecution for advice."

Another "Viejo" Brutally Killed In Ow District, This One is 85!
And while an infant girl lost her life in Spanish Lookout, in Orange Walk an elderly man was killed. 85 year old Gregorio Leon was murdered in his home between last night and this morning. Jules Vasquez has the story:... This morning, family members found 85 year old Gregorio De Leon dead in his house here on San Estevan Street in Orange Walk town. His family found him at 7:38 AM, and at 11:00 police were still combing his small shack and the yard for clues. Family members looked on, stunned. Police made an effort to give the family some dignity and then for the hardest part, seeing this innocent senior citizen carted out on a stretcher - his death not due to natural causes but at the hands of callous killers:

Area Rep Gives Police Platitudes
Deleon is the second elderly man killed in the Orange Walk District in 7 weeks. Shopkeeper Pablo Pol was beaten, tied up and robbed, by two men in august Pine Ridge Village on June 15th. He died hours later. But why all this violence against these innocent and defenseless old men? And what are police going to do about it? We asked the police minister - who is an Orange Walk Area Representative - and he didn't say much in terms of specifics - only, basically, that police would do their best:..

What Is Significance of Taiwan's Megabucks Road Deal With Guatemala?
Turning now to Belize - Guatemala relations. It made major news earlier this week when we learned that the Taiwanese had agreed to a 650 million US dollar support package with the Guatemalans. The money will be used to extend the "Jacobo Arbenz" 4-lane freeway to Puerto Barrios - which happens to be a fulfillment of the commitment in the 1859 Aycinena-Wyke Treaty between Guatemala and Great Britain. The British never fulfilled their end of the deal - which was to build the road - which is the basis of today's territorial dispute. And now, in an odd twist of history, the Taiwanese will do so, almost by accident. But, there's no direct benefit to Belize - because it does nothing to change Guatemala's territorial claim to half the country.

Should Belize Be Looking to China?
And if it seen as a threat - should Belize then seize on the opportunity to befriend mainland China. It's like the "third-rail" of Belize's foreign policy - since Belize is so beholden to Taiwan for the various support projects. But, we did get CEO Andrews to answer our question about whether Belize should be considering making friends with the mainland:... Jules Vasquez, reporter: "Shouldn't then Belize investigate if China, mainland China wants to be friendly with Belize? Might it not be time for Belize to say well the Taiwanese care more about our neighbors, we need to look more vigilantly after our own protection?"

Guatemala Getting Ready To Run The Referendum
But the talk of juggling alliances is in the abstract right now. What's real is that the Guatemalans are moving ahead to a referendum on whether the Belize Guatemala territorial dispute should go to the ICJ. The congress of Guatemala voted overwhelmingly two days ago that their supreme electoral tribunal, should proceed with calling a referendum. Ambassador Rosado says we should expect that to happen within the year:.. H.E. Alexis Rosado, BZ Ambassador to Guatemala: "The supreme electoral tribunal had said before that they needed anywhere between 90 days and 6 months to be able to put the things together, put in place everything necessary to hold the referendum. So, it's a matter now for them to decide when they will call it. I understand that the current administration has been saying that they wish, that, ahm, it could be held this year. We also know that they have budgeted sufficient funds for them to be able to organize such a public consultation."

Will a "No to ICJ" Vote in Guatemala Kill The Effort?
But, since Guatemala will have its referendum first, what happens if their citizens vote "no" to the ICJ? That might seem to be the end of the matter - since the referendum has to pass in both countries. But, Ambassador Rosado says a "no" vote doesn't solve anything:... H.E. Alexis Rosado, BZ Ambassador to Guatemala: "Should a "no" (vote) arise in any of the two countries, the problem of the Guatemalan claim would remain. So, we would still have to find a way of resolving it. What will be done then is anybody's guess. It will be for the government of the time to deal with it. But, there's no doubt, we should never be left with the view that ends the claim, it doesn't end. We still have to find a way to resolve it."

CEO: Referendum After Re-registration
And - assuming that the referendum were to pass in Guatemala - the "will of the Belizean people" won't be known until after next year's re-registration exercise. The CEO explained: Pat Andrews, CEO - Foreign Affairs: "I think since we have municipal elections coming up next March, it would be right immediately after that, a couple months after that the re-registration would commence and then the thing would be how to see how fast we could turn it around and complete it. So, that would be left up to the Elections and Boundaries Commission to look into that. We are hoping that it will move swiftly and we are hoping that we would then be ready to proceed to referendum."

Whatever Happened To The Sarstoon Protocol
But, all the talk of proceeding smoothly to a referendum is kind of wait and see, because the history of this dispute tells us that many things which are supposed to happen, never really do happen. Case in point: the Sarstoon Protocol. Major international meetings were held and over a year later, there's still no protocol. The Ambassador discussed the difficulties with that: H.E. Alexis Rosado, BZ Ambassador to Guatemala: "Well where we are on that it that we're on a standstill basically. We launched negotiations I think it was last May, in, as you correctly pointed out, we, we went to Istanbul and we said we were going to start negotiations on a mechanism for confidence building with the Sarstoon River. We went to Washington subsequently to start the first table of negotiations, ahm, after the incidents took place. And since then, really, those talks, ahm, were suspended by our neighbor, and since then we've been trying to sit down with them to continue but they still resistant."

SUV With Family of Tourists Plunges Off Bridge
At 12:30 today, a family of tourists from the US got a death-defying adventure they never expected on their Belizean vacation. 47 year old American Benjamin PAUL was with his family driving a Jeep Liberty rental on the Hummingbird Highway from Dangriga to Belmopan when he missed the the bridge at mile 28 and plunged into the stream below. That is the first one lane bridge on the Hummingbird and it comes at the bottom of a hill. The jeep plunged about 10 feet into the water below. Paul's three family members including a 6 year old boy and a 3 year old girl who all sustained body injuries and were admitted to the Dangriga Hospital in a stable condition. Police say their injuries are classified as wounding - which are generally minor.

Hon. Elodio, Who Gave The Order?
Earlier this week, we told you about the murder case involving Hilmar Alamilla, a man closely connected to former Deputy Prime Minister, Gaspar Vega. Alamilla was charged for the murder of Daniel Sosa, who he allegedly shot in the head last weekend. Bringing a murder charge against a politically well connected figure like Alamilla was big news, but the press couldn't witness the arraignment because police denied them entry to the court room. That's very irregular, and the Magistrate has denied having anything to do with the situation, and so did the OC of Orange Walk Police. So, who gave the order to the police at the courthouse to keep the press out of the arraignment? Well that's what we asked Police Minister of State, Elodio Aragon today. Here's what he had to say...

Will Vega's Scandal Hurt The UDP In OW?
Hilmar Alamilla isn't the only person closely related to the former Minister of Natural Resources that was in the news this week. Yesterday we showed you several leaked land documents detailing the unusual way Vega's relatives acquired land at Ramsey Caye, located a few miles South of Belize City. Former Lands Minister Vega has been the target of several political attacks in the last year, most of them involving dubious acquisition of land by his family members. As the former UDP Captain in the North for the last decade, its not a stretch to conclude that all the negative press would cause his party's popularity in the area to decline in the north. We asked Aragon, who is now the ranking UDP Minister in Orange Walk about his thoughts of the political cost of the controversies...

UDP Want to Take OW
Aragon's confidence in his party will be tested early next year, when municipal elections are held. The Orange Walk Town Council is the only municipal stronghold for the PUP, but Aragon says that the UDP is ready to oust the Opposition and effectively take control of every municipality in the country. He told us about how preparations for the upcoming elections are going... Hon. Elodio Aragon - Minister of State, Home Affairs: "The transfers are ongoing right now. We are working on that and likewise we will be putting our slate together for the municipal and we will definitely without a doubt put a slate that will appeal to the public of Orange Walk and I am confident that with the support of the community we will have victory in Orange Walk and I'm not going to say it's going to be a walk in the park, because it's a tough fight, but I am confident that the people that we have, the people who will be running are people who are credible, are people who are there for the community and I am confident we would be able to harness that support from our community."

UWI Says It Won Some, Lost Some In Bain Case
On Monday we told you how the Jamaican Supreme Court ruled in the favor of the former UWI Professor, Brendan Bain. The court ordered the University to pay him $32,000 US because they wrongfully terminated him in May of 2014. You'll remember that the University fired him for his supposed "anti-gay" testimony against UNIBAM and Caleb Orozco in 2014. Well today, UWI's Vice Chancellor, Hilary Beckles, released a statement making the point that while Bain was successful in his lawsuit, the university had its own victories as well.

Customs Trusted Traders
For the last few years, the Customs and Excise Department has been piloting a Trusted Traders Program. The new system will be replacing the Voluntary Compliance Program, and is aimed at building stronger relationships with clients and customers. The TTP - as it is called - will reduce the time it takes to clear containers of goods by putting the responsibility of reporting and declaring goods on the part of those bringing them into the country. The Program officially launched today, and the Customs Department's risk management supervisor told us about the changes... Raquel Waight - Supervisor, Risk Mgmt., Customs Dept.: "The transformation from the VCP to the TPP wasn't much of a transformation because like I said it was just a name change. The reason being, is that when you think of voluntary compliance its sounds more enforcement so we decide, let us use a more friendlier name like the trusted traders whereby traders would feel more a part of a business relationship per say with customs and themselves and like we said the trusted traders speaks for itself. When you say trusted traders then people don't have to wonder what is trusted traders because the name says it all."

Benefits Of Those Trusted Traders
The TTP is also being closely observed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development - known as UNTAD. That agency has spent the last few weeks analyzing the benefits of the new system. We spoke to one UNTAD representative, who told us that the TTP seems to be working so well that the UN will try to implement it in other countries in the region... Terrance Lennard - UNTAD: "As I said before during the ceremony we were very impressed with the results of the analysis that we did here. Some of the figures are really staggering for example the VCP members, those who were chosen to be a part of the program when we looked at the value of the goods that they imported over that 2 year pilot period and the revenue they pay, they recorded a 78 percent increase over the previous period for that and that's pretty impressive..."

Tropic Air Drops Flights Due To High GOB Taxes
In January, we took you to Chetumal for the new flight that Tropic Air established from the PGIA. Well, the company is announcing that this and 2 other flights are being suspended for now because the airline isn't making any money off them. In all, the flights to Chetumal Mexico, Merida, Mexico, and San Pedro Sula, Honduras are being suspended, after September second, 2017.

An Ugly Case Of Sexual Abuse
A 13 year-old boy is out on bail for a sexual offense, after he was accused of sodomizing his 5 year-old female cousin. It happened at a rural village in the Belize district where they both live. We cannot give details of which village it is, because we don't want to share any information that might identify either child. The 13 year-old minor was arraigned in Family Court yesterday afternoon, on the single criminal charge of unlawful sexual intercourse. He was granted bail of two thousand dollars.

Senior Cop caught With Contraband
7News has confirmed reports that customs caught a Superintendent of Police today in the Cayo district with contraband. But, it wasn't beers or cigarettes; Superintendent Dinsdale Thompson was reportedly transporting pharmaceutical products. We understand that he was caught in Arenal on the Western Border. According to reports he has settled with the customs department for an undisclosed figure. When we called him this evening he told us to call back; when we did we got voicemail. Thompson is assigned to the Eastern Division.

Queen's Baton In the Bush
On Wednesday, the Queen's Baton, a symbol of the Commonwealth Games arrived in Belize. It passed through the City, and yesterday it made its way to the Chiquibul National Park. This is of special significance, because the Chiquibul is one of several nation parks protected under the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy, a royal initiative aimed conserving precious natural resources. Today the Baton is making its way to Orange Walk where it will stay until Sunday, when it will be transported to Guyana.

A Program For Gang Members
Very regularly on the news, we have featured the Youth Apprenticeship Program. It's an effort by Dianne Finnegan and her team to provide at-risk youths with a second chance program, teaching them skills to become employable, or to start their own business. The program is currently ongoing where the 10th intake of apprentices are going through the 5th week of their 6-months course. But this week, the program made a special addition where there were 25 young men from the gang neighbourhoods of Antelope Street, George Street, PIV and Backaland sat in on the classes. These were young men who Finnegan met while acting as a civilian mediator in the gang interventions.

Hola, Pat!
Earlier on in the news we showed you Pat Andrews, the former banker who's now the CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is after seeing as Ambassador to the OAS and the USA for two years in Washington DC. Now, Andrews, who spent 42 year at Scotia Bank is having his first stint in the heart of the public service. He told us how he's managing: Pat Andrews, CEO - Foreign Affairs: "Transitioning to the public sector has been very interesting. I think that I made it very clear to the people in Foreign Affairs when I joined with them, with the team, that I would be focusing on people, I would be focusing on people and trying to see how I could elevate careers, how I could elevate service, how we could be viewed differently. I think that I continue to work assiduously to see how we can join hands with our team players to serve the public better to be able to represent Belize internationally and locally."

CEO Says Mistakes Were Made During Taiwan Visit
But, that local representation took a bit of a bad turn last week when the Taiwanese Foreign Minister, Dr. David Lee came to Belize and the press didn't even know that he was coming. And we found out hours later that he had signed a major 60 Million US dollar Memorandum of Understanding with the government. CEO Andrews conceded that there were mis-steps during that week which they have sought to correct:... Pat Andrews, CEO - Foreign Affairs: "Look, I will be very frank with you i think there was a little mis-step that occurred there. And with everything that we had on the plate going on - we might have been a little bit slow in getting out the news to you and that was what I was referring to and I said that we need to do a better job there."

A Gift From Cops To Kids
Today Southside Police and Angelus Press Limited partnered up to donate 300 backpacks to at risk youths in the South side. The community policing initiative will serve as a way to improve police relationships with the residents in the area, and to ensure that children have no excuse to be out of school. Minister of State of Police, Elodio Aragon, told us about the importance of the event... The backpacks were given to the most vulnerable kids in the South side community.

BBF Bex About Civic Private Management
2 weeks ago, we took you into to the newly built "Civic" Center that is in the final phase before it can be opened to use as the only "state-of-the-art" indoor sporting facility in Belize City. It's the most expensive public or private structure ever built in Belize, and the designers think that to preserve all its features, it should be privately managed. Well, the Belize Basketball Federation is hoping that the Government won't go that route. The Federation wrote a 3-page letter to the Prime Minister yesterday asking him to make several considerations before making a decision. The Federation's executive reminded the Prime Minister that for the past 8 years, the lack of adequate facility and playing surfaces has posed challenges to the development of basketball. Belize was unable to host regional tournaments, and will only now be able to do so after the Civic is complete.

Bandits Lose In Nicaragua
And in other sports news, the Belmopan Bandits didn't do so well in their opening match of the Scotiabank Champions League. Playing in Esteli Nicaragua against home team Walter Ferretti, the Bandiest lost four to one. They kept the score respectable for a large part of the match, and did play aggressively - but collapsed in the last twenty minutes of the game and let the score get out of hand. The return match will be played din Belmopan next week when the Bandits hope for a better outcome.

Dara Hops To Be Lucky
Last Sunday, the grassroots philanthropist, Joel "Dara" Robinson, held his 6th Annual Ride for Hunger. And, this Sunday, it's his 10th Annual Lucky Dube Tribute Concert. It's an event that's all about reggae, and "Dara" is hoping that those roots fans will come out, enjoy themselves, and support a worthy cause. This evening, he told us why he's hoping that the tribute concert will be a success: The concert happens at Birds Isle, this Sunday. It starts at 4 p.m. and will continue until late into the night.

Channel 5

Toddler Hannah Hochstetler Run Over by Dad’s SUV
Two persons lost their lives in separate road traffic accidents on Thursday. Perhaps the more heart-wrenching of the two occurred just after four p.m. on the Iguana Creek Road in [...]

Cop Killed after Losing Control of Motorbike in Camalote
There was another fatal accident overnight in the west. Sometime after nine p.m. on Thursday night, Police Constable Edgar Coh, who is attached to Roaring Creek Police Station, was on [...]

Family of 4 in Hospital after Accident on Hummingbird
A family of four is admitted to the Southern Regional Hospital in Dangriga in stable condition following a traffic mishap. Forty-seven-year-old Benjamin Paul, an American national, was driving a black [...]

Who Came for 85-Year-Old Gregorio de Leon in Orange Walk?
For the second time this week a murder has been reported in Orange Walk Town. While involving less drama than the sensational shooting between friends Daniel Sosa and Hilmar Alamilla [...]

O.W.’s Minister Aragon Says No Preferential Treatment for Comrade Hilmar Alamilla
The sensational story of the murder of Daniel Sosa in Orange Walk over the weekend has left many with questions – particularly as it relates to the alleged killer. Forty-two-year-old [...]

Nevis Betancourth Still Hospitalized as Charges Mulled
San Ignacio Police say that investigators continue to gather evidence in the shooting death of Jose Castellanos, as the shooter, Nevis Betancourth remains hospitalized in a stable condition after being [...]

Roger Bradley Free of Burglary Charge
Roger Bradley has several previous convictions for crimes of dishonesty, but tonight he is a free man, after Justice Denis Hanomansingh set him free on Thursday from a burglary charge. [...]

Foreign Affairs C.E.O. Commits to Working with People
Chief Executive Officer Patrick Andrews, who recently assumed that post with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, formally introduced himself to the media this morning during a brief press conference here [...]

Guatemala to Proceed with Referendum on I.C.J.
There have been new developments in Guatemala over the past two days in respect of referendum proceedings on whether its age-old territorial dispute with Belize should be taken to the [...]

If it’s a No, Guatemalan Claim Lives On
According to Ambassador Rosado, at the moment there is nothing on Belize’s table of events insofar as the pending referendum. He says that while the Special Agreement contains a clause [...]

Can Taiwan-Funded Guatemala Road Help Belize?
Guatemala, with significant financial assistance from the government of Taiwan, is proceeding with the construction of a road that will span the length of that country all the way to [...]

Customs Builds Trust with Belizean Importers and Brokers
There was once a local political campaign slogan that read, “It’s all about trust.” But with a less-than-stellar reputation for corrupt practices and a poor record for ease of doing [...]

Ex-Gangsters Renounce Guns for Business
Twenty-five gang members received certificates for having attended a two-day course in introduction to entrepreneurship. The men joined seventy-five other apprentices to learn the basics of what is required to [...]

Police Help Out School Children on Southside
The Police Department’s Eastern Division South partnered with the Angelus Press to give three hundred school bags to deserving kids on the south side. The initiative stems from its community [...]

Panamanian Teaches Belizeans How to Act
A two-week acting workshop wrapped up today in the city. Panamanian actor and stage coach Jaime Newball teamed up with the Bliss to offer the training. The facilitator trained about [...]

San Pedrana Reigns over Costa Maya Festival
San Pedrana, twenty-six-year-old Michelle Nunez won the coveted title of La Reina De La Costa Maya 2017. Nunez also walked away with the title for Best Costume for the night, [...]

LOVE FM

Abducted Baby Returned Home; Father Evades Police
Baby Tereak Palacio Junior is back at home with his mother but police are still looking for his father, eighteen year old Tereak Palacio. Palacio had abducted his one year five month old baby on Monday afternoon while he played with his cousins in the yard of his mother’s house. Police say Palacio is also […]

Guatemala, Unlike Belize, Financially Equipped for Referendum
Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with Ambassador to Guatemala, Alexis Rosado hosted the media at a briefing this morning in Belize City. The one-hour conference saw both officials responding to various questions mostly regarding the Belize/Guatemala territorial dispute and the way forward. As we have been reporting this week, the […]

Foreign Affairs Says Mediation/Negotiations Have Been Exhausted
The Belize Territorial Volunteers is not keen on going to the International Court of Justice to settle the Belize/Guatemala dispute. They are actually suggesting that mediations or discussions take place. We asked Ambassador Alexis Rosado and CEO Pat Andrews to respond to Wil Maheia who made the statement yesterday for the BTV.

Inclusion of Belizean Diaspora in the Referendum
With thousands of Belizeans living abroad there has been the call to have those persons be heard on the issue of whether Belize should go to the International Court of Justice to reach a final decision on the Belize/Guatemala territorial dispute. While representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were taking questions on the pending […]

19 Months Later and Still No Sarstoon Framework in Place
Perhaps with the absence of incidents at the Sarstoon in recent months, the agreement to have a formal protocol for the Sarstoon has been placed on the backburner. It has been about nineteen months since the development of a Sarstoon Framework was agreed upon in Istanbul, Turkey. According to Ambassador to Guatemala, Alexis Rosado, Belize […]

Referendum to Follow Re-registration
Recently, we reported on the Statutory Instrument that was signed by the Governor General to have the re-registration process delayed until July 2018. With Guatemala heading into their referendum sometime this year, Love News asked the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pat Andrews whether the referendum will take place before or […]

Elderly Man Found Strangled in Northern Belize
Orange Walk police believe that an 85 year-old man who was found this morning in his home was murdered. Police report that Gregorio De Leon was found motionless in a house on San Estevan Street in Orange Walk Town. In a phone interview, Deputy Commander of the Orange Walk Formation, Inspector Jose Mendez told us […]

Aragon Says Politics Will Not Interfere with Alamilla’s Case
Forty two year old Hilmar David Alamilla remains behind bars for the fatal shooting of 24 year old Daniel Sosa. Both persons were inside Alamilla’s car when he allegedly took out a fire arm and fatally shot Sosa to the head. Sosa’s body was found beside a garbage bin early on July 29. On Monday, […]

Belmopan Commander and Lands Commissioner Meet
Officer in Charge of Belmopan Police, Senior Superintendent Howell Gillett today met with the Lands Commissioner. Correspondent Pauline Soberanis Tillett has more in this report. POLICE LANDS IN OUT

Basketball Federation Opposes Private Concession of the Civic
The Civic is seeing an extraordinary transformation with an investment of millions of dollars. It is a facility that will undoubtedly attract numerous events and audiences. There seems to be one hiccup foreseen once the construction is completed and the facility becomes functional; that is, the management of the structure. Recently, the Belize Infrastructure Limited […]

$650M US From Taiwan to Guatemala
If you have been following the history of the Belize/Guatemala territorial dispute, you will know that as far back as 1859 there was the commitment by the British to construct a road to Puerto Barrios. Had it not been for the British reportedly reneging on their agreement the dispute would perhaps be non-existent. Fast forward […]

BTV Wants Mediation Instead of the ICJ
Yesterday, we reported that the Guatemalan Congress approved for its government to hold a referendum in which its citizens will decide whether or not to take the Belize Guatemala territorial dispute to the International Court of Justice. Here in Belize, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have long since embarked on an education campaign […]

Faye Lin’s Dad Fights for Full Custody of Her Siblings
While David and Anke Doehm are out on bail, the adoptive father of 13 year old Faye Lin Cannon, David Cannon, is fighting to acquire legal custody of the three remaining girls. The three other girls are in the care of the Department of Human Services and are expected to remain their care for about […]

PRIDE Week Coincides with Anniversary of Section 53 Judgement
Next week Thursday will mark one year since the historic judgment handed down by Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin. The UNIBAM Judgment was handed down on August 10 in favor of Caleb Orozco and members of the LGBT community in Belize. Orozco launched a case challenging Section 53 of the constitution of Belize six years before […]

Amandala

Prof. Brendan Bain wins lawsuit against UWI
Former professor at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Brendan Bain, has emerged victorious in a lawsuit against UWI. Jamaica’s Supreme Court has ruled that his termination was in violation of his right to freedom of expression. According to the Jamaica Gleaner, the court has ordered UWI to pay Bain 4.72 million Jamaican dollars or about US$40,000 for the unlawful termination. At the time he was terminated, Bain had nine months remaining in his contract, and so he is also asking the court for compensation for those months during which he would have continued to collect a salary from the university.

Belizean Grace Frazier, 22, killed in Southwest Miami-Dade shooting
Grace Frazier, 22, the daughter of Belizean Andy Frazier, a first cousin of Prime Minister Dean Barrow, was killed in Southwest Miami-Dade over the weekend. US authorities have reported that at around 9 o’clock on Friday night, Frazier, who lives in the US, and her friend, Brittany Clay, 20, were in a silver Nissan Altima when, in the 12200 block of SW 218 Street, Miami, the vehicle was sprayed with gunshots. The driver lost control of the vehicle after the shooting and crashed into a tree. Frazier was shot in her abdomen and died later that night at the Jackson Memorial Hospital. Clay was shot in her left leg and is listed in a stable condition.

Keith Arnold, former Governor of Central Bank, dead at 72
Keith Arnold, 72, who has served Belize in several high-profile managerial capacities over the course of his career, including Financial Secretary; Governor of the Central Bank of Belize; Chairman of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL); and Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), passed away in Belize on Saturday. After he left the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), where he oversaw some important legislation to combat financial crimes, Arnold relocated to the United States and set up a business in Florida. Information to Amandala is that Arnold was involved in a traffic accident that left him injured, and he decided to return home this past Saturday.

Tragedy in Spanish Lookout
A baby, 1 year and 6 months old, died in a terrible accident this evening. Her father, Steven Hochfteter, a farmer, was reversing out of the yard in a pickup and did not see the child. His vehicle rolled over the child. She was rushed to the Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan by her devastated father, but died on arrival. The devastated Hochfteter told police that his daughter had been playing behind the truck and he did not see her.

Mayor Darrell Bradley won’t run again; UDP mayoral fight begins
Darrell Bradley, twice elected mayor of the Belize City Council, has told the press that he will not seek re-election, citing personal reasons. “I think the biggest concern is personal reasons,” he said. “I’ve made it no secret. I’ve spoken to many people both in the party and outside of the party, and a person’s major priority has to be their family. It has to be personal and professional goals that they make for themselves.” “I want to make it clear that it is not that I am leaving politics,” he added. “I aspire to hopefully someday serve in the House of Representatives. That is something that continues to be a wish of mine. I don’t know of the step-by-step processes with relation of that because that’s several years down the road…I think that when one signs up for a position like serving as mayor, one has to know that their heart will be one hundred percent there; their focus will be one hundred percent there,” he remarked.

UEF observance of Emancipation Day ends with Dr. Patricia Rodney speaking on Afro-Belizean health
About 75 persons turned up at the Gateway Youth Center this evening for a presentation on the health of Afro-Belizeans by Dr. Patricia Rodney — the key event marking the UBAD Education Foundation’s (UEF) observance of Emancipation Day this year. Emancipation Day, August 1, is celebrated in many Caribbean countries. Participation in activities in Belize in recognition of this historical event has been increasing steadily since the UEF began commemorating the day four years ago. Dr. Rodney, a retired nurse and sociologist, is the head of the Dr. Walter Rodney Foundation, in Atlanta, Georgia, a foundation dedicated to keeping the legacy of her late husband, Dr. Walter Rodney, alive. Dr. Rodney, a ranking scholar and Guyanese historian, was assassinated with a car bomb by Guyanese security forces in Georgetown, Guyana’s capital city, in June 1980.

Bandits fold in last minute, 4-1, to Ferretti in Nicaragua
Trailing 2-1 in the final minute tonight in Nicaragua, the prospects looked good for Belize’s Belmopan Bandits in the return match next week at home in their Scotiabank CONCACAF League series with Nicaragua’s CD Walter Ferretti. But, after a defensive substitution at the 89th minute, things suddenly fell apart, as an own goal by second half substitute Norman Anderson at the 90th minute was followed a couple minutes later in injury time by another Ferretti goal by Jose Laureiro. In other CONCACAF League games earlier in the evening, Panama’s Arabe Unido won, 2-1, over Central FC of Trinidad & Tobago; and Olimpia of Honduras dropped Alajuelense of Costa Rica, 2-nil.

“In the Paint” – Sugar City hooping it up!
Last weekend saw the grand opening of Orange Walk Town’s “2017 Sugar City Hoops Basketball Tournament,” which got under way at the Multi-Purpose Complex, featuring both U-18 and Senior male categories. In the opening U-18 match-up played on Friday night, “Above the Rest” won handily over “Knightmare” by the final score of 63-42. Clinton Shaw had a game high 25 points 7 rebounds 3 assists in the win. His teammate, Rasheed Reneau also contributed, totaling 16 points 8 rebounds 2 assists, followed by Guermo Roland 10 points 5 rebounds 1 assist and 5 steals.

Belikin 8-Ball Tournament 2017 updates
The top 4 teams heading to the semifinals in the 2017 Orange Walk Belikin 8-Ball Billiards Tournament are as follows: Team Picame with 81 points and one game remaining; Eagles with 73 points and no games left; Infierno with 67 points and no games left; Chatta with 60 points and one game remaining. The semifinals start this Friday at 7:00 p.m. with Infierno vs Eagles; and on Saturday at 7:00 p.m., it is Team Picame vs Chatta’s. Both games are home-and-away, as Sunday’s action sees game-two starting at 1:00 p.m. with Eagles vs Infierno, and at 4:00 p.m., it will be Team Picame vs Chatta’s. Any team with 6 individual player victories, advances to the Finals.

Kremandala Raiders’ Nathaniel Pou visits the Zinc Fence
On a short visit back to the Jewel is one of the original Kremandala Raiders, Nathaniel Pou, who left for the U.S. following the first Raiders championship in 1993. Nathaniel said he now lives in Miami, and is enjoying his visit back home, meeting old friends and relatives. A giant of a man, with limbs “like tree trunks,” Pou was an intimidating force “inside the paint” on the Raiders basketball team that reached the semipro finals and lost to Penta Lakers in their first year, and then went on to take the championship the following year, 1993. Big-up Nathaniel Pou!

Before the UDP was hatched…
In our editorial last Friday, we said that we did not take ourselves too seriously, because Belize’s changing demographic made it so that we could not be sure for whom we spoke editorially. We should point out at the same time, nevertheless, that this newspaper’s longevity gifts us with credibility, and some confidence. On August 13, 2017, Amandala will mark 48 years of publication. By contrast, the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP) will celebrate 67 years of existence in late September, while, also in September, the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) will record 44 years of formal organization. Two weeks ago, an editorial in our newspaper explained that the ruling UDP, bursting with pride in their new Civic Centre, needed to look to their own media organs, to which they have directed millions in unaudited public funds over the last nine years, for the congratulations for which their leadership so thirsted. We said that, for Kremandala’s part, we held the present leadership of the ruling UDP, primarily Prime Minister Dean Barrow, Defence Minister John Saldivar, and Housing Minister Michael Finnegan among those responsible for the destruction of the Kremandala Raiders, an iconic semi-pro basketball organization we had built with private funds and labor, and we held them responsible the destruction of the semi-pro basketball league of which the Raiders had been champions for four consecutive seasons, from 1993 to 1996.

From The Publisher
You know how small Belize is. My wife’s older sister is married to Roman Catholic Bishop Dorick Wright’s maternal uncle, Joe Purcell. On a recent visit home from California, my sister-in-law visited Bishop Dorick, and afterwards told me he had asked for me. Bishop Dorick and I were close friends in Sister Mary Francine’s Standard VI class at Holy Redeemer Boys School in 1958/59. He and I went separate ways in life. In fact, Bishop Dorick became the highest ranking prelate in the Catholic Church in Belize, while most of the Catholic faithful have considered me an enemy after I began rebelling against their school curriculum with reference to African and Mayan history. I lost most of my Catholic friends, including black ones. Visiting Dorick recently, there was a certain poignancy for me as I turned left from North Front Street into the Holy Redeemer yard. Bishop Dorick is on the top floor of the relatively new, huge three-storey building constructed where the Standard I to Standard VI classrooms used to be. That’s in the corner of the Holy Redeemer yard which is bordered on the east by Queen Street and on the south by North Front Street.

My life-changing internship experience with Ya’axche Conservation Trust
Editor Sir, Last June, Ecology Project International (EPI)-Belize selected two of its most active alumni to participate in a two- week internship to work on the Human Jaguar Conflict Project with Ya’axche Conservation Trust (YCT) in southern Belize. Following our marine ecology course with EPI earlier this school year, both of us – Juan Guerrero, from St. Viator High School, and I from Ocean Academy – continued to share a passion for learning more about the environment and have been very active in conservation efforts in our home communities – Sarteneja and Caye Caulker. We were excited to participate in this project, this also being our very first time visiting the Toledo District. The internship was from July 9 – 22..

Tough times for Canadian expats — can’t get cash from Toledo ATM machines
Dear Editor, I was wondering if your newspaper would be interested in printing a story about Canadians scrambling to access money to buy food and pay for everyday living expenses in the Toledo District. Since about April of this year the local ATM machines at both the Belize and Scotia Banks have stopped working for us here, yet work fine in all other parts of the country. Back in April when we first complained to the bank, we were told our card chips were most likely damaged and the cards would need to be replaced. In May I ordered two new debit cards (the old ones were only 8 months old) from two different banks in Canada. The new cards also do not work. The irony is that Scotia Bank flies the Canadian flag but won’t take our cards. I have stood in line at the bank here and watched two American women take money out without any issue. Something is surely not right here.

JANUS 2
Sometime after I retired from the Office of the Ombudsman of Belize in 2008, Bishop Dorick Wright appointed me to serve on his Commission for Education. At about the same time he chose me to be one of his representatives on the Belize Council of Churches. Shortly thereafter a charismatic black leader arose in America and became President. There was almost universal rejoicing in Belize, a very small but multiracial, multi-ethnic society. In 2009 Bishop Dorick, to prepare us for the cultural and civilizational challenges to be thrust upon us issued to his Education Commission a certificate of appreciation for our contribution to education while we were engaged in negotiations to update the Education Legislation to formalize greater control by the government over education.

Where our icons go!
I first met Andy Palacio back in the mid-1990s. He was personable and obviously talented with a quick smile. After many performances, recordings and general hard work, his final musical contribution along with the Garifuna Collective, “Watina”, was the pinnacle of arguably Belize’s greatest artist. I listen to it repeatedly unwilling to accept that he is gone, way too early at age 48. Having decided that it is important to visit Barranco, the last coastal settlement of Belize, and Andy’s home village, I talked a friend into driving. I was undeterred by the distance, the rain and the poor quality of the road once off the Southern Highway.

The Judas deal
And just like that…Poof!!!! We have reinforced the grip of the Asian master with $60 million of grants and loans to Belize over the next four years. In a letter dated July 5, 2017 in which the Taiwanese Embassy responded to me to a correspondence I had sent to them regarding the negative Asian influences in Belize, the embassy quoted as follows, “There are approximately 600 Taiwanese currently living in Belize.” If you do the math, this works out to about $100,000 per person. In 2017, diplomacy has come down to dollars and sense and a value can even be placed on people. This agreement was sealed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Cooperation between Taiwan and Belize. For the man on the street, what this means is pretty much that Taiwan has bought Belize’s support for the next 4 years, YES, bought! If you notice the length of the agreement is carefully picked since it corresponds with the length of time this current administration has in office before the next general election. In other words, expect nothing to change as it relates to the Asian domination dilemma in Belize.

RIGHT TO THE POINT: Emancipate yourself….
I don’t know how many people have any regard for the fact that of all the public and bank holidays we celebrate in Belize, the one we should be commemorating is August 1. This should be especially so for all of us who have some “tinge” of African descent in us! However, in Belize there is no national public and bank holiday on August 1, and maybe our people don’t even know what’s so special about this day. I wonder how many understand the significance and importance of this day? 1833 – less than 200 years I am ashamed to think that at school we were never taught about the importance of Emancipation Day, despite Belize’s being one of the slave colonies of the British Empire. It took me until my 20’s to comprehend and appreciate the importance of this day, when I had the opportunity to do courses in history, political science, and the like at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica.

Hit-and- run accident leaves girl, 16, in a coma
Monique Morey, 16, a student of Belize City, is presently in a coma in the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after she was knocked down by an unknown driver in Orange Walk Town while she was standing by a bus stop on Dangriga Street, waiting to board a bus to come back to Belize City. Morey was found unresponsive at the side of the road at about 5:00 yesterday morning by a woman who alerted her mother. She was taken to the Northern Regional Hospital, where she was given initial treatment, after which she was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for further treatment.

Girl, 16, from Billy White, reported missing
Melissa Jeanette Hernandez, 16, of Billy White, Cayo District, has been reported missing from home since last Friday, July 28, when she left that morning to get a Humes Bus to go to school in San Ignacio. Hernandez has not been seen or heard from since. Hernandez is described as being of fair complexion, and five feet tall. She is slimly built with straight brown hair and light brown eyes, and has a scar behind her left leg.

Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith demits office
Ann Marie Smith, a Jamaican national, was appointed Chief Magistrate of Belize, and took up her appointment on September 1, 2011. After being on the bench for six years, however, Chief Magistrate Smith demits office today. Smith, who turned 55 earlier this year, has been appointed as a judge on the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, where she will join Belizean Godfrey Smith, who was recently appointed to serve in that jurisdiction. While serving as Belize’s Chief Magistrate, Smith came to be viewed as a no-nonsense magistrate. She also stiffened the rules for persons signing as surety for accused persons released on bail. Smith, implemented the rule that persons who sign bail must prove that they are employed by presenting the court with a current job letter.

Tropic Air drops flights to Chetumal, Merida and San Pedro Sula
Earlier this year, the administration of Prime Minister Dean Barrow introduced new taxes to meet the 80-plus million-dollar deficit it had in its proposed budget for 2016/17. One such tax measure is a hiked-up departure tax of $55 US that tourists must pay before leaving the country. The move by the Government of Belize (GoB) was condemned by key stakeholders in the tourism industry, including the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA), which had indicated that Belize was already one of the most expensive countries to visit in the region.

The Reporter

Policeman suffers head injuries in traffic mishap
A police constable attached to the Roaring Creek police station is recovering from severe head injuries he sustained during a traffic mishap on Thursday night. The officer identified as Edgar Coh, 24, was rushed to the Western Regional Hospital in a coma after he lost […]

Murder in Orange Walk!
Orange Walk police are investigating the murder of an elderly man, whose body was discovered early this morning. The deceased, 85-year-old Gregorio de Leon, was discovered just after 7:30 a.m., lying face up with several open wounds to the back of his head. The discovery […]

Father accidentally crushes toddler to death
A father from Spanish Lookout, Cayo, is in trouble with the law after he accidently reversed his vehicle over his daughter, crushing her to death on Thursday evening. The baby, one and a half-year-old Hannah Hochstetler, was rushed to the Western Regional Hospital for treatment, […]

Historic Pallotine convent set for demolition, sisters asking for assistance
The Pallotine convent, located on Princess Margaret Drive in Belize City, after serving over 64 years within the Catholic order, has now run its course and according to various inspections, the historic building is unsafe for occupation and needs to be demolished as soon as possible for […]

Guatemalan panners depleting gold resources in Chiquibul reserve
Authorities need to do more to prevent illegal Guatemalan gold panning in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, according to the NGO that co-manages the area, Friends of Conservation and Development (FCD). FCD Director, Rafael Manzanero, explained this week that Guatemalan gold panners are relentlessly panning in the area, […]

Belize welcomes Queen’s Baton Relay for 2018 Commonwealth Games
Belizean athletes from the disciplines of athletics, cycling, karate, table tennis, fencing and shooting will compete at the XXI Commonwealth Games to be held in the Gold Coast City of Queensland, Australia from April 4 - 15, 2018. The Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association welcomed the Queen’s Baton Relay, […]

Not getting enough sleep could lead to heart problems
A new research has shown that getting less than six hours of sleep a night may pose even more risks for people who already show signs of heart disease and diabetes. The findings suggest that diabetics and heart patients who have problems sleeping at night […]

BTEC partners with Mental Health Association
The Belize Training and Employment Center (BTEC), partnered with the Belize Mental Health Association this week for a two-day workshop, training community leaders to be mental health facilitators. The organizations held the workshops at the BTEC office on Freetown Road, on Tuesday and Wednesday, gathering representatives from […]

Mayor Bradley stepping aside, making way for Dion Leslie
Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley has officially announced that he will not be seeking re-election as Mayor in the upcoming 2018 municipal elections, however, he has publicly endorsed councillor Dion Leslie. Bradley, at an event on Tuesday, confirmed that he will be stepping aside due to personals […]

SSB donates computers to KHMH Emergency Unit
The Social Security Board (SSB) donated three new desktop computers to the Accident and Emergency Department of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) last Friday. The computers are valued at $5,000 and will be used for the efficient processing of patient data, leading to improved healthcare within […]

University mural sparks controversy with town council and sponsor
A mural that Galen University art students painted in San Ignacio town has caused controversy with the town council and BTL, the company that provided the painting space - a wall; but the students say they will not take down their work. The students got […]

Man killed in OW, accusations of political interference
The arraignment of Hilmar David Alamilla, accused of killing 24-year-old Daniel Sosa, has caused public criticism of political interference in the case. When Alamilla, a known associate of former Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega, showed up to the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court for arraignment on Monday, members […]

Violence prevails during Venezuela referendum; Official says sustained unrest wonâ€™t affect diplomatic relations
The government of Venezuelan President, Nicholas Maduro has sought to clarify its position following Sundayâ€™s referendum, which saw sustained violence throughout that country, amidst reports of inflated voting results. Despite the uprising, Venezuela has assured its diplomatic allies, including Belize, that the situation at home […]

Man shot dead after attacking security guard
Independence police have detained a security guard pending investigations for a fatal shooting at a shrimp farm in that community late Saturday night. The incident happened at pond #14 at Aqua Mar shrimp farm in Independence village, Stann Creek sometime around 11:30 Saturday night. The […]

Security guard killed while cleaning yard in Belmopan
Early on Monday morning, multiple shots rang out on Cost Rica Street in Salvapan, Belmopan, which left a 21-year-old security guard dead. The victim, later identified as Samuel Mendez, a resident of Rivera, Belmopan, was in the process of cutting a yard around 7:30 a.m. on July […]

Suspect charged for murder 3 months ago
Almost three months after the brutal murder of Guatemalan businessman, Carlos Pop Xol, Punta Gorda police have finally arrested and charged the man believed to have committed the crime. Elmer Javier Carillo, 27, a naturalized Belizean of Creake Sarco village was charged by Punta Gorda police with […]

Belize City man shot in San Pedro
A Belize City resident is recovering at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital from gunshot injuries he sustained last Monday night while he was in San Pedro town. The victim, identified as 29-year-old Lloyd Martinez, was shot multiple times to his abdominal area around 6:30 p.m. on July […]

Man hospitalized after kiling man who violated his mother
Cayo resident, Nevis Betancourth, remains hospitalized this week after he was chopped in an altercation, where he fatally shot his attacker. Betancourthâ€™s injury was so severe that police have not detained or charged him in connection with the shooting death of 37-year-old Honduran construction worker, Jose Nunez […]

Editorial
The dispute which has flared up between the Belize Cane Farmers Association and the Belize Sugar Industries should not be allowed to esclate out of control. . BSI’s top management has threatened that unless the Association signs on to a new agreement, one which other associations have already endorsed, Belize […]

Taiwan gives Guatemala big money for freeway!
The Taiwanese government has given Guatemala a whopping US $650 million to construct a freeway that some media houses say is the same road that Britain had promised to build for Guatemala, but failed to do, and which has led to the territorial dispute that […]

Tourism industry suffers under departure tax increase
Tropic Air has suspended three of its international flights as a direct result of the departure tax increases implemented by the government of Belize in May, which at the time caused tourism stakeholders to voice concern over the negative effects it could have. Tropic Air announced on Thursday that as […]

Wild night between drinking buddies ends with one shot, one accused of sexual assault
An Orange Walk man is recovering from a gunshot wound after a wild Tuesday night with a friend, which included liquor, allegations of sexual assault and robbery, a car accident and a shooting incident. The gunshot victim, 22-year-old Abdi Aban and the other man involved […]

Sugar industry facing another crisis
The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) and Belize Sugar Industries (BSI), owned by the American Sugar Refineries Group, are again in conflict, one which could jeopardize the entire sugar industry. ASR/BSI said that the two organizations have a cane purchase agreement that is valid […]

Breaking Belize News

Opposition leader warns of scammer using his name
Leader of the Opposition, John Briceno today issued a statement informing the public that there is a person going around soliciting donations using Briceno’s name.

Verge of Umbra makes top ten at Waken Open Air festival
Belizean new-metal band, Verge of Umbra, has ranked in the top ten at the Waken Open Air festival, one of the largest music events in the world. Verge of Umbra represented Belize and all of Central America at the festival, placing 6th of 28 contestants.

New BBN app for Apple and Android users
Breaking Belize News, Belize’s leading and most recognized online news source, has now launched a new app available for Apple and Android users. The BBN app is available for download now on Apple devices in the App Store and for Android users on Google Play. With the new BBN app, Belizeans at home and abroad can stay up to date with all the latest happenings in the country.

Tourism Ministry presents Draft Update to the National Tourism Policy
Over 90 public, private and civil sector tourism stakeholders attended a presentation of the draft update to the National Tourism Policy held in Belize City yesterday. Dr. Richard Denman, the consultant contracted for the revision process, presented the revised National Tourism Policy draft, which will guide the sustainable and resilient development of tourism in Belize for the next 10 years.

Hurricane Center monitoring two tropical systems
The National Hurricane Center continues to monitor two tropical systems in the Atlantic. A broad and elongated area of low pressure is producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity several hundred miles south and southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. Environmental conditions appear conducive for this system to consolidate and develop during the next few days, and a tropical depression is likely to form by the early or middle part of next week while moving west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph across the tropical Atlantic Ocean.

PRIDE week to be celebrated in Belize
Internationally, PRIDE is the celebration of gay rights. It is celebrated annually in different parts of the world. On Tuesday, Jamaica celebrated PRIDE with a Pride parade. It is the third annual event of its kind in the country. The United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM) and partner organizations in Belize now plan to do the same.

Errol Smith gets bail
Yesterday, Errol Smith was granted bail of $5000. He was granted bail by Justice Denis Hanomansingh with the condition that he does not interfere with the witnesses for the Crown. Smith was also ordered to report to the San Ignacio Police Station every Friday and to attend San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court on every other adjournment date.

Vega land scheme nets a chunk of Ramsey Caye
Family members of former Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega own over 13 acres of land on Ramsey Caye, located just south of Belize City through suspicious land transactions. As reported by 7 News, over 100 land documents surfaced, showing a pattern where private citizens […]

“No changes at Belize Airport Authority,” says General Manager
General Manager of the Belize Airport Authority (BAA), Nicholas Ruiz, has assured that there are no pending changes to staff, amidst rumors of irregularities in the authority’s accounts. Ruiz told the media that it is “business as usual” with his office, but conceded that […]

Baby found; father wanted by police
On Thursday around 10 pm, a family member took Baby Tereak Palacio Jr to the Domestic Violence Unit in Belize City. Baby Tereak had been missing since Monday when his dad, Tereak Palacio Sr.,18, abducted him from his home in Belize City. The father of the child […]

Police issue official report on fatal accident in Spanish Lookout
Yesterday around 4, Stephen Hochstetler ,33, a supervisor from Iguana Creek Road in Spanish Lookout reported to authorities that he was driving his 4runner SUV that was parked beside a building in his yard to discharge some pipes . Hochstetler says that he then […]

Orange Walk retiree found dead
This morning around 7:38, Orange Walk police visited a San Estevan Street address in Orange Walk Town where they observed in a house the motionless body of a man. The victim was identified as Gregorio De Leon, 85, retired Belizean lying face up with wounds to […]

Queen’s Baton arrives in the Chiquibul National Park
The Queen’s Baton reached the Chiquibul National Park yesterday with a group of young people from Belize City, staff from the Olympics Committee, FCD staff and staff accompanying the baton internationally. The Queen’s Baton Relay in the Chiquibul had a special significance due to […]

Belize takes Miss Costa Maya International 2017 crown
Last night, the annual Miss Costa Maya International Pageant was held in San Pedro town. Delegates from Mexico, Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua vied for the crown. Residents were out cheering and celebrating for their favorite contestant of El […]

Blogs

Belizean Smiles: The Merry Makers of Celi’s Deli
It’s not unusual to step into Celi’s Deli on Barrier Reef Dive and hear a chorus from the busy kitchen of ladies singing along with the radio. They laugh and joke with each other while they prepare the food, and when they welcome you at the counter, you are greeted like you were just there singing along with them! How can you not love a person who feeds you breakfast with a smile and calls you sweetie? These gestures of love are from the core crew of Rosi Lanze, Yessi Perez and Estelita Lamb, who has been winning over the hearts (and tummies) of customers at Celi’s Deli for years! Ms. Rosi, who is originally from Libertad Village in the Corozal District, has worked there since 1994, and she affectionately calls her customers “coch”.

Tropic Air Yucatan and Central American Flights Schedule Change
Tropic Air regrettably announces suspension on three Yucatan and Central American flights. An in-depth analysis of their performance over the past few months, shows there is no clear path to sustainably serving these markets under current economic conditions. The May 1, 2017 departure tax increase was a factor as well.

Your Travel Guide To San Ignacio Belize
San Ignacio Belize, the land of hills, Mayan ruins, awesome rivers and some of the best food in all of Belize! Hitting up San Ignacio in your search engine will bring up more locations, pins, and attractions than you can shake a stick at – despite all there is to do, and you should try all of it, there are a few that should go before anything else. Breakfast, we’ve been told, is the most important meal of the day, and that makes sense. How else will you have the fuel you need to take you through all your cool adventures around town? Obvious benefits aside, you really need to try these San Ignacio mainstays for a first meal to totally brighten up your day.

5 Scientific Reasons A Belize Beach Vacation Is Necessary For Your Health
Many people mistakenly think that a beach vacation or trip to a jungle lodge is simply a way to enjoy time off from work or school. But scientists have proven that visiting pristine natural locations like in Belize are actually good for your health. Not only are our bodies more than 75% water, but even our bones are one-third water. When you come to Belize and swim, snorkel, or scuba dive in the warm waters of the Caribbean, the ocean will trigger an immediate response in your brain, telling you that you're "in the right place."

Statue of St. Ignatius
St. Ignatius of Loyola

International Sources

SC Marines hold opening ceremony for Price Barracks hospital project
U.S. Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command held an opening ceremony at Price Barracks in Ladyville, Belize, July 21, to signify the start of a hospital renovation project. Marine combat engineers, electricians, foremen, and water technicians from the Logistics Combat Element, SPMAGTF-SC, will be working to renovate the Price Barracks hospital in order to better the medical readiness of the Belize Defence Force. "The purpose of this build is to support the host nation government in providing medical support to their personnel and civilians," said U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Ryan J. Gibbs, the Belize site officer in charge, LCE, SPMAGTF-SC.

Many US cities to Belize for only $262 roundtrip
Cheap airfares from USA to Belize. Fly from many US cities to Belize City, Belize for only $262 roundtrip with American Airlines.

Nine International areas real estate investors should give a look
Thanks Forbes! - - Belize #2

Videos

Verge of Umbra places 6th place in the Wacken International Metal Battle, 7min. 28 metal bands from around the world who beat out many other bands in their own region. Verge of Umbra won the Central American vote and went in overdrive. Verge of Umbra placed 6th place in the Wacken International Metal Battle.

BELIZE WINS! Costa Maya 2017!, 8sec.

A Window Into the Blue Sea | Belize, 1min. A tiny remote island off the Caribbean shores of Belize, the natural beauty of Goff’s Caye alone will leave your soul singing, and not just because of its guitar-shaped aerial overview. Just a short trip out from Belize City, the uninhibited islet is peppered with coconut palms and lush green scenery overlooking the sparkling sea which sets the stage of the lost island everyone dreams about getting stranded on.

Scuba diving a swim through tunnel at Punta Arena Canyons Belize, 4min. Scuba diving in Belize with Chuck and Robbie's acting as the dive operator. Giovanni, in the baseball cap, was out dive master. He took us through a tunnel on our descent down to our max depth at 100 feet. Also known as Small Cut, the Punta Arena Canyons are famous for their tunnels, which are covered in brilliant red algae growth. The reef begins sixty feet beneath the surface here, and is covered in splendid gorgonians, some of which are very large. Stands of elkhorn and staghorn coral, swirling heads of lettuce coral, and beautiful specimens of brain and star coral can be found, all with small crabs, shrimp, fairy basslets and wrasse in attendance. As you make your way through these magnificent canyons with their vertical walls, you’ll find the most popular swim through of all, which has a triangular opening. Approximately seventy feet long, it exits at a depth of 100 feet, and inside, you can experience complete darkness if you turn out your light for a moment. You can come back through the tunnel if you like, or you can make your way back up to the reef top along the wall, which is covered in soft corals, sea fans, and sponges. Along the way, watch for Nassau groupers and pompano, spadefish, jacks, and some large pairs of angelfish.

Take me to Belize please..., 35min. A recap of a great week of Diving from the Live Aboard - Belize Aggressor III with We-B-Divin.

Closeup Lizard in Belize, 1/2min.

Costa Maya 2017 - Reef Radio/TV Interview with Michelle Nunez - Miss Belize, 8min.

Costa Maya 2017 - Reef Radio/TV Interview with: Maria Fernanda Jaspe - Ms Panama, 5.5min.

Costa Maya 2017 - Reef Radio/TV Interview with: Gabriela Salazar, 7min.

Chumming The Water Attracts Wrong Kind Of Sharks, 1.5min. Reef sharks are an extremely rare sight in Belize. Typically, docile and harmless nurse sharks inhabit these waters. When a group of divers chummed the water with fish remnants, they were hoping to attract jacks and nurse sharks. This is almost always the result. What they got this time was totally unexpected. A pack of hungry and curious ten foot long Caribbean Reef Sharks showed up and closed in on the bait tube and surrounded the divers. Their appetite brought them in very close to the group.

Belize road-stop clips, 1.5min. Our host allowed us to get a few clips on the road to Orange Walk, Belize. Needed more wax but it was fun

The Queen’s Baton Relay has been in existence since 1958, 4.5min.

Orange Walk Police are looking at another murder to solve in Shuga City., 5min.

BELIZE NOW | Episode 29 | Friday, August 4, 2017, 30min. In tonight’s headlines: A new conservation post is opened in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, the strengthening of Belize’s Citizen Security Policy is discussed at workshop held in Placencia, and the National Agriculture and Show Grounds becomes home to a new weekend market. These stories and more on this week’s edition of Belize Now. Thanks for joining us on this Friday, August 4th, 2017, I’m Charlee Hutchinson.

Visiting the butterfly farm from Chaa Creek Belize, 5min. We had a great second day in Belize Chaa Creek Resort where we finally adjusted to the jungle. We relaxed at the pool in company of some delicious cocktails. The butterfly farm allows you to see Blue Morphos and other beautiful butterflies from up close, perfect to take pictures and movies!

Landing at Belize International, December 29th, 2015 (AA 269 DFW-BZE), 15min.

My trip to Belize, 5.5min. This was the best trip of my entire life, and I'm so happy I could share this with you.

SUV crashes into river along Hummingbird Highway. , 1min. On the 4.08.2017 about 12:45pm Belmopan Police visited an area between miles 28 and 29 on the Hummingbird Highway upon their arrival they observed a black Liberty Jeep about 15 feet below a bridge. 47 year old Benjamin Paul, an 47 year old American National was driving a rented Black Jeep Liberty L/P. # CY.C.36869 on the Hummingbird Highway travelling from the direction of Dangriga towards Belmopan City and upon reaching between miles 28 and 29 on the Hummingbird Highway he lost control of his vehicle and ran off the bridge and his vehicle fell into the creek below. Paul was accompanied with family members; 36 year old Kathrine Obrian, 6 year old Rafael Paul and 3 year old Carmelita Paul.

August 4, 2017