Recent Belize News, 11/1/2017 to 11/10/2017, 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

San Pedro Police remove gun and ammunition from streets
San Pedro Police are looking for a Hispanic male person who was carrying a school bag with marijuana and a 9mm pistol with 11 live rounds. The individual was intercepted by the Police Quick Response Team on Monday, October 30th at the Central Park when he was about to get into a taxi. When he saw the presence of the police the suspect fled the scene leaving the bag in the taxi. It is speculated that the person had just arrived at the island via water taxi, and police believe he might still be hiding somewhere in town.

GOB passes law to decriminalize 10 grams of marijuana
As of Thursday, November 2nd, the possession of ten grams or less of marijuana (cannabis) in Belize is legal. The law decriminalizing the drug asks consumers who smoke it to do so in the confines of their home. The new law only applies to adults and any intentions of growing and retailing it will be considered a felony. The intentions to decriminalize a small portion of the said drug was made public by the Government of Belize (GOB) on the 18th of August of this year. The Government introduced a new bill to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act, following the submission of a report in 2015 by a Decriminalization of Marijuana Committee formed in 2012. After looking at the facts presented, GOB decided to introduce this new step towards its control.

Fundraiser held for island footballer Nestor ‘Tazzy’ Guerra
A football marathon to raise funds for island football player Nestor ‘Tazzy’ Guerra, was held on Sunday, November 5th at the Ambergris Stadium. Guerra, who played as a goalkeeper, has been diagnosed with a brain tumour, and his family is seeking assistance to cope with the medical expenses. Councillor in charge of Sports, Hector ‘Tito’ Alamilla, and island resident Glenda Sanchez thus organized the fundraiser that raised over $1,000. A total of seven teams registered for the all-day marathon, which started at 11AM. Immediately after the match Alamilla, joined by a supportive Area Representative Honourable Manuel Heredia Jr., thanked all teams for being part of such a worthy cause. Afterwards, the second and first place trophies, along with cash prizes, were presented to the winning teams. F.C United received a cash prize of $200, and Los Viejos $300.

San Pedro Lions Club makes donation to Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II
On Tuesday, November 7th, the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II welcomed the donation of medical supplies from the San Pedro Lions Club via the Wilmington City Council in North Carolina USA. Members of the island club convened at the Polyclinic, where they presented the items to the medical staff. Dr. Nidia Larrinaga was present to accept the donation, which is expected to better prepare the clinic for emergencies. The city of Wilmington has been San Pedro Town’s sister city for the past 10 years, and throughout this time, there has been continuous cooperation between both municipalities. Melanie Paz, Vice President of the Lions Club stated that through The San Pedro Town Council, they were able to reach out to the City of Wilmington for donations.

Ambergris Today

Rare Albino Spotted Eagle Ray Identified At Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve
“What really made my day!” Was what Henry Brown, Marine Biologist at the Department of Fisheries, posted on his Facebook profile page on Monday, November 6, 2017. Yes! It’s a white, albino spotted eagle ray; a very rare sighting for anyone.

Misc Belizean Sources

Shine Shoe Drive in San Pedro
WHO: Friends of SHINE (SHAPING HEALTHY IDENTITIES THROUGH NURTURING AND EMPOWERMENT) WHAT: SHOE DRIVE Hosted by SHINE, Women of the Belize Coast Guard, and the USMC Civil Affairs Team WHEN: 11 NOV 2017; 1300-1700 (1 to 5Pm) WHERE: Lions Club, San Pedro WHY: An opportunity to raise awareness of the new SHINE facility at Hope Haven San Pedro and collect/distribute shoes for needy children.

BELTRAIDE speaks at the 2017 Impact Investment Forum.
The third annual Central America and Caribbean Impact Investment Forum was held on November 8 and 9, 2017 in Antigua, Guatemala where BELTRAIDE was invited to speak and provide the Caribbean perspective on the panel titled “Innovation in the Public Sector for Investments: Utopia or Necessity.” BELTRAIDE was represented by Mr. Hero Balani, Manager of BelizeINVEST, Generation. Other panelists included representatives sharing experience from Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Guatemala. The forum focuses on building connections between industry stakeholders, expanding existing investment portfolios, creating opportunities and addressing challenges to sector growth in the region.

THE NATIONAL GARIFUNA COUNCIL- ORANGE WALK BRANCH in collaboration with Banquitas House of Culture present:
Yurumein: 6:30am Banquitas HOC. Thanksgiving Mass: 9:00am La inmaculada Church. Live drumming by Lirahuyun Seinbedi at the Central Park after the mass.

Keep Cows & Save Jaguars!
We have been collecting photos of wildlife, especially the elusive jaguar, around Abraham Kan’s farm at Aguacate village for 10 months. He was eager to share the findings to 30 primary school students. We were greeted with 90 children! The children were amazed to see photos of jaguar, jaguarundi, tapir, ocelot, and peccary on Kan’s farm. They also learned how to Keep Cows & Save Jaguars!

PAN-GARIFUNA WOMEN OF CENTRAL AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN!
(A photo essay celebrating the heritage of Garifuna women of Central America) Belizean Legends pay special tribute and respect to the Garifuna women of Central America and the Caribbean in what we here called the, "Pan-Garifuna Community of Central America & the Caribbean".

SAMMY, BELIZE, SPORTS, & ROGERS STADIUM!
(A special tribute to Sam Gentle) Through this very respectful tribute to Brother Sam Gentle as one of Belize's most astute football athletes from the sports university in Belize called, "Rogers Stadium", we here at Belizean Legends remembers our brother at a time when he needs us Belizeans who knew him to remember him. These classic photos come through the kind courtesy of "Sammy" whom yours truly was fortunate to have known in the days, and later on enjoyed his presence in a 2014 visit to Los Angeles, California he made. it is an honor for me to show solidarity always with a friend as nice as Sam, and expressed his passion that he had for sports, especially football, in Belize. We want to ask our "Belizean Legends" audience to glance through these three classic sports photos of Belizean athletes, and name them and the historic sports arenas that they were played on??

SENIOR TRANSPORT OFFICERS AND TERMINAL SUPERVISORS MEETING
The Department of Transport held a very important meeting today in Belmopan. The meeting, which was attended by Senior Transport Officers and Terminal Supervisors from around the country, addressed a range of administrative, budgetary and enforcement issues. In the morning, general matters were dealt with; and in the afternoon, senior officers from all districts were afforded the opportunity to raise specific matters affecting their areas of responsibility.

9th Annual Food and Fete Hosted by Battle of The Drums
Friday, November 10 at 8 PM - 3 AM, Punta Gorda. The Battle of the Drums Food and Fete on Friday, November 10 is about showcasing Garifuna cuisine - featuring the “Taste of the Garifuna” Cooking Competition and sumptuous Garifuna dishes and drinks and to complement the night there will be Paranda Music where Maya and Mestizo meet Garifuna in an impressive showcase of talent from Mestizo sensation Roberto Beltran to Godfrey Sho - the versatile Mayan Parandero, Smooth Paranda Ruler, Adrian “the Doc” Martinez, Paranda Prince – Lloyd Augustine, Award-winning Paranda Great, C-wills and Sweet Pain Band alongside Sheldon and Vidda. Event starts at 8:00 p.m. and continues until 3:00 a.m.

Inauguration of Corozal Fitness Park
The Rotary Club of Corozal invites one and all to join us at Rainbow Park in Corozal this coming Friday the 10th of November at 10AM for the inauguration of your Fitness Park. The Fitness Park was designed for all Corozalians. It gives everyone young and old, male and female and those with some physical impairments a place to work out and build upper body and core strength. We will be unveiling the signage which gives a listing and photos of many of the exercises that done on each of the 5 stations. Please join us for this brief event and start your day with a little workout.

St. Francis Xavier Parish - TEMPORARY VACANCIES
There are several temporary teaching vacancies at Concepcion R.C. School and Louisville R.C. School starting January 2018 to April 2018 and at Our Lady of Guadalupe School starting February 2018 to May 2018. Another vacancy exists at Our Lady of Guadalupe from January 2018 to June 2018. A principal’s vacancy exists at Santa Clara/San Roman as from the 25th March 2018 to June 2018. Vacancy exists at Mary Hill R.C. School as assistant to the Special School Unit, teacher needs a License to teach. All candidates need to have a Full License and submit application to: Assistant Local Manager, St. Francis Xavier Parish, P. O. Box 34 Corozal Town. Deadline 20th November 2017. Call for further information 422-2018 or email. [email protected]

Mission Cry Belize
The Mission Cry Belize Conference is Friday at Falcon Field. The kid's event will start at 10:30am. The main conference will start at 7:30, with Reverend Woolford, Steve Light, John Foy, and the Michael Maher Band, which will be playing their wonderful music. If you haven't heard them play, you're in for a treat.

Lubaantun planning
Exciting things to come. I hear new parking lots and all. Imagine that.

Nim Li Punit Tour
Planning for the future. Rezoning and good things to come.

Remembrance Day
November 11th is celebrated in Belize as Remembrance Day. In the UK, the day is celebrated as Armistice Day, which is the day the armistice was signed (in 1918) between the Allies and Germany that brought the end of WWI. There were about 1,000 Belizean men who took part in WWI, and over 20 of them are buried at the Lord Ridge Cemetery, in Belize City. Remembrance Sunday is held on the second Sunday of November and this year it will take place on Sunday November 12. The red poppies are worn to remind us of those who shed their blood for freedom, and who lay dead in the poppy fields thereafter.

Channel 7

Chinese Man With Bogus Nationality Certificate to Court
For the past 2 nights, we've been telling you all about 45 year-old Yuanran Zheng. He's the Chinese National who traveled to Belize on Sunday, and less than 24 hours later, he tried to apply for a social security card using a fake Belize nationality certificate. The vigilant staff at social security noticed that his nationality document looked suspicious. They alerted the Immigration Department, and a few hours later, Zheng was charged with immigration offences. He and his translator have since pleaded guilty to those offenses, but that's far from the end of his problems in Belize. This morning he was arraigned for social security offenses in the Belmopan Magistrate's Court.

How to Catch A Thief: A Smooth Criminal In Slow Motion
Tonight, police still have not made any arrests in the armed robbery of a Western Union employee which happened on Monday morning in Corozal Town. Tonight, we have security video which shows a calculating criminal casual stepping in to walk off with a purse full of cash. Here's how it all went down:.. Jules Vasquez reporting At 9:25 AM, 28 year old Doris Montejo, pulled up near the Western Union office on Second Street South in this GEO Prizm with others. Just as the male driver parks and steps out of the car, keep an eye on the figure at the right edge of your frame, who is walking on the sidewalk - into the shaded area. He wears a cap, and appears to be just another pedestrian. Montejo pays him no mind as she gets out of the back door - even though she is about to pick up a purse with ten thousand, one hundred dollars in cash.

Cops Questioned Suspects, but Nothing More In Moryani Murder
Orange Walk storeowner Amit Moryani was killed last Friday when he tried to defend his mother in an armed holdup of their store in Orange Walk Town. Since then police have said that the culprits are a pair of men who have been wreaking havoc throughout Orange Walk. Police say the same duo had previously pulled off armed holdups of stores in Carmelita and Trial Farm. They were doing the same on Friday night, but the 37 year old Moryani stood up for his mother - and ended up getting killed while the thieves made off with a measly three hundred dollars. Today police said that they have questioned suspects, but had to release them:

Benque Teen's Death Still a Mystery
The murder of 18 year old Benque Viejo Resident Oscar Obando is also unsolved. The teenager was found dead on Monday on a farm near the Belize Guatemala border. He had been fatally shot to the chest. Police say he had been in Melchor before his death: Supt. Alejandro Cowo - CIB, Belize City: "We understand that on Sunday he was last seen at a barber shop at around 1 pm. Thereafter the surveillance footage at the Belize Western Border Station showed him crossing the border at around 5. That was the last sighting of him- of him going across to Melchor- until they found the body on the following day." Reporter: "Was he alone?" Supt. Alejandro Cowo: "The camera showed that he was walking by himself, yes."

Man Found Dead In Drain, Police Say Seizures Likely, Not Foul Play
And while police haven't made any arrests in that murder, they don't have to look for suspects in the case of a man found dead in Belize City this morning. He is 55 year old Elvis Bandosingh, who was found dead in a drain on Raccoon Street Extension early this morning. Police told us that because of seizures and a history of alcoholic excess, they do not suspect foul play:... Supt. Alejandro Cowo- CIB, Belize City: "Police visited a location at Raccoon Street extension. The place was in front of Charley's apartment where they observed the lifeless body of a male person lying face down inside of a drain. The information we have so far is that the person was seen last night walking from Maskal Street to Raccoon Street extension."

Cops Say Alleged Indian Thieves Turned Human Traffic Victims Case With Immigration; Immigration Denies
Police say there isn't much they can do in the case of Indian nationals Keyur Barot, and Jitendra Kumar who are suspects in a criminal complaint, but also claim to be human trafficking victims. As we told you last night, importer and merchant Jack Charles has accused Barot of collecting sixty thousand dollars for him on September 13th., and then absconding across the Guatemalan border with his vehicle and his money. Barot and Kumar were caught 10 days later in Monterey, Mexico, allegedly with 13 thousand US dollars. The SUV was found abandoned in Guatemala. Mexican authorities handed them over to Belize police on October first, but almost 6 weeks later, they haven't been charged. As we understand it that's because they claim to have been victims of human traffic. Today, police said that the Immigration Department is involved - and while they investigate, all criminal matters are on hold:...

Cops Cracked Down on San Pedro Trafficking
The Immigration Department is involved in a more straightforward case out on San Pedro where a few dozen bargirls were picked up in police-led immigration raids. It led to the detention of 32 women. Here's more: Supt. Alejandro Cowo- CIB, Belize City: "It is an Immigration operation but they were assisted by the police. Yes, I understand that they have the collaboration of the Police Department. Some members of the major crimes unit are assisting in that operation- interviewing some of the females that were detained in that operation." Reporter: "Has there been any charges brought against them" Supt. Alejandro Cowo: "Not yet, no charges have been brought to them up until now." Reporter: "Can you clarify how many women?" Supt. Alejandro Cowo: "I was made to understand it was about 32 of them."

No Clues In Apparent Murder of German Attorney
Turning back now to the weekend murder roundup, Police say they don't have anything more on the murder of 52 year old Raimund Adalbert Koble. He's the German Attorney - who had been living on san Pedro for 5 years - that was found dead in a building under construction on Monday morning. He was found in a building close to his home with an abrasion on his head - consistent with blunt force. The cops say they don't know who he was with or what he was doing there:... Supt. Alejandro Cowo - CIB, Belize City: "We have so far received minimal information but we are still working on it. The post-mortem is scheduled for tomorrow and they have interviewed several persons in the area but we have not gotten much information with regards to that. So, it is something that we are still investigating there in San Pedro."

Ranchito Robbers Were Contract Criminals From Belize District Say Police
Turning now to the north, police say they have made progress in a home invasion case in Ranchito Village. As we reported, an elderly retired American couple Michael and Janet McGhee woke up on the morning of October 30th to find a pair of masked, armed men in their house. They tied up and terrorized the couple, and then stole everything valuable in their house, including their pickup and her diamond wedding ring. Police say that contract criminals from the Belize district are their main suspects:... Supt. Alejandro Cowo- CIB, Belize City: "We are looking for three persons- two from Belize City and one from Hattieville. One of them was detained this morning and we are making arrangements for him to be transported to Corozal for him to be interviewed and questioned in regards to that aggravated burglary."

Cops Still Have No Clues In Shooting of 22 Year Old Corozaleña
Keeping it in the north, 22 year old shooting victim Brenda Jandress is still recovering from the gunshot wound she received to her midsection eight days ago. The Corozal resident was at home when she felt a shot pierce her stomach. Cowo says she's lucky to be alive:... Supt. Alejandro Cowo- CIB, Belize City: "She is in a stable condition. Thank God that she is recuperating. We have not had an opportunity to speak to her yet because the doctor does not allow us to speak to her. It is only she and somebody else that were in the room when the incident happened. The other male person has been questioned but he had to be released because we don't have any other information to confront him. So we are hoping that she recovers and when she recovers we can question her as to what exactly happened in that room."

SSB CEO Counts the Cost of Conjunctivitis
And switching from crime to health now, today we asked the CEO of Social security about that over 1 million dollars in sickness claims that SSB has paid out for the many thousands of insured persons who became ill with conjunctivitis, or pink eye, as it is more commonly known. As we told you, between September 4 and October 29, 2017, there were a total of 7,852 conjunctivitis claims submitted. The CEO told us that it was an unexpected spike in sickness benefit claims, but the organization comfortably managed it: Dr. Colin Young - CEO, SSB: "In about 6 weeks starting in the middle of September to the end of October, we had received over 6,000 claims to social security board which resulted in over 34,000 sick days across the population and by now we've spent over 1 million dollars in the payment of claims and we had put out a press release to say as much. This is why we exist. Social security exist when you pay into the fund. When you get sick we ought to pay you your benefit..."

Regular Fuel Spikes Back Up
Just last night we told you how the price of regular fuel had gone down to ten dollars and 13 cents - which was down by 16 cents. But, it didn't last long, at midnight tonight, Regular is going up by 27 cents to ten dollars 40 cents per gallon.

Spooning New Sporting Complex In PG
Anyone who's been to the PG Sporting Complex in the past 10 years or so will know that it had seen better days. It's the home of basketball in Punta Gorda and it was also home to major public events such as Battle of the Drums. Well, starting tomorrow, town residents and visitors will be able to experience the battle of the drums in a spanking new venue. After an extended closure for rehabilitation, The PG sporting complex opens tomorrow for the Battle. The Government Press Office shared this preview with us - where BIL's General Manager Christ Mastry discussed the cost and all the new features:..

Kettle Bells Are Christmas Bells
We haven't entered December yet but the Christmas spirit has already arrived. And we know that because this morning you could hear those Salvation Army Bells, signifying that the charitable organization has launched its annual Kettle drive. All those coppers in the kettles provides food and gifts to the less fortunate at Christmas. 7News was there this morning for the celebratory launch and we found out more about the importance of the red kettles. Darrel Bradley, Mayor of Belize City: "It is a joyous event. I think that the Salvation Army has continually blessed our community. I spoke very briefly about their involvement in education, in community service, the work that they do with the homeless and they are really a community that lives on their word. They show on a daily basis that they are really committed to the empowerment of others."

Would Bradley Vote For Bernard?
And while we had the Mayor in front of us today - we tried to pull his tongue on two he plans to vote in the upcoming municipal election. Now, we wouldn't waste our time asking this question to any old politician - because we know they will tow the party line, but Bradley has proven he has a defiant independent streak and his gone against his party many times. But, not today - he said he's with Dion - but understands if you are not:... Darrel Bradley, Mayor of Belize City: "I believe that Councilor Leslie demonstrated the prowess to really continue the good work. I think that he has contributed to over the last five and a half years and even before I became mayor. But of course it is something that the people will decide in March."

Did Dion Pull Rank On Mayor With Campaign Funds?
We also asked Bradley about the couple hundred thousand dollars the Prime Minister reportedly set aside for road and drainage works spearheaded by councilor Dion Leslie as he pushes towards the election. Just like on the Faber's Road Project, it sounds like Leslie - not Bradley - is the point person. The mayor says, it's understandable:.. Dean Samuels, Deputy Mayor: "A heartfelt thanks to the PM and central government for at the end of the day the mayoral candidate has bid central government to source material to get some well needed infrastructure work." Reporter: "It is reported that Dion Leslie and his team has gotten a lot of money from the government, from the Prime Minister to assist them in doing the works they are doing." Darrel Bradley, Mayor of Belize City: "I know that at this present moment I am still the sitting mayor. We are working on a series of projects in Belize City to continue the good work that we are doing."

Where Will Darrell Be In 2020?
So, will Bradley get HIS assistance in 2020? The mayor may be leaving the top municipal post - but he says he has his eyes on 2020 as an area representative:... Darrel Bradley, Mayor of Belize City: "To the extent that I am leaving municipal government I will say that that's not the end for me hopefully in terms of politics. Again, it's the voter who decides, but my name will be on a ballot sometime in the future." Reporter: "2020." Darrel Bradley, Mayor of Belize City: "Well I'll say 2020, because I am not getting any younger."

Volleyball Nationals, The Best High Schoolers Come To Belize
Tomorrow the volleyball Nationals begin and teams from all over the country will be coming to the city to participate. Saint Catherine's Academy and Ladyville Technical High School are the Belize District female and male champs and to hype up the games, a motorcade was held today. 7news was there to talk to the champs before the games begin. Salome Tillet, Principal of SCA: "They are excited but they also know that all the teams are good teams are there. The competition will be stiff so they know they have to bring their A game because every other team coming wants the championship too." "They also have been working really hard. They enjoy volleyball it is fun for them."

Calling All Actors
We told you yesterday about an opportunity for Belizeans to audition for a major television show called Life or Death this weekend. Well, that's not the only opportunity this weekend's film festival has to offer. For all Belizeans interested in pursuing acting as a career, a class will be held over the weekend. It will be led by Panamanian actor named Jaime Newball who is here promoting his film "Sale-si-Puedes" which has received critical acclaim in the Caribbean and Central America. This afternoon he told us more about what he will be teaching at the class.

Channel 5

Regular Fuel Up; Premium Down
Earlier this week on Wednesday, the Financial Secretary promised that consumers can expect a decrease in fuel prices. He didn’t say there would be an increase, but as of midnight [...]

G.O.B. Makes Final Payment for B.T.L. Acquisition
There’s another commitment that government has met. As ordered by the Caribbean Court of Justice on November first, G.O.B. has complied with a payment of about a hundred and sixty [...]

More than 30 Women Arrested in Human Trafficking Ring in San Pedro
A major sting operation in Honduras last week, resulted in the arrest of Denia Suyapa Ochoa, believed to be the ringleader in a human trafficking organization that extends to Belize. [...]

Zheng Yuanran to be Expelled from Belize
A pair of Asian men, one a Taiwanese/Belizean from Camalote, Cayo and the other a Chinese businessman, pleaded guilty to falsifying immigration documents when they appeared in the Belmopan Magistrate’s [...]

Still No Arrests in Heist of Western Union, Corozal
There are still no arrests to be made in a heist that saw thieves make off with ten thousand dollars in cash from a Western Union branch in Corozal Town [...]

Are Indian Nationals, Accused of Theft, Victims of Human Trafficking?
Indian nationals Keyur Barot and Jitendra Kumar are accused of having stolen a sports utility vehicle, as well as sixty-two thousand dollars in cash from businessman Jack Charles back in [...]

No Development on Recent Murders in San Pedro and Belize City
Who killed German national Raimund Adalbert Kobler in San Pedro on Sunday night? It’s a mystery that local police on the island are still trying to unravel. While an autopsy [...]

Police Need Evidence to Charge Thieves/Murderers
On Monday, police told the media that they strongly believe the murder of businessman Amit Moryani in Orange Walk Town may have been committed by thieves who have also been [...]

Elvis Bandosingh Discovered Dead in a Drain on Raccoon Street Extension
This morning, residents in the vicinity of Raccoon Street Extension discovered a body inside a drain. Initially, it was believed that the then unidentified male may have been the victim [...]

Who Will Get the Vote of Outgoing Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley?
Dion Leslie or Bernard Wagner for next Mayor of the City? Elections are due until next March, but the campaign machines are in gear already. The two rival mayoral candidates [...]

Transition Process Begins for Incoming Mayor and Councilors
Bradley maintains that some matters could have been dealt with differently during the past five and a half years he sat in the mayor’s seat. But he says the City [...]

Darrell Bradley’s Eye on the House of Representatives
But is this the last we’ll see of Mayor Darrell Bradley as it relates to his political career? For now, he is winding down at City Hall, but Bradley says [...]

Common-law Wife of Leon Usher Disputes Police Version of Events
Leon Usher is the man that Ladyville Police shot and is now under guard at the K.H.M.H. Police say that they responded to a domestic dispute at Usher’s residence in [...]

Unnecessary Use of Force by Police in Ladyville Shooting?
Police say that a criminal and internal investigation has been launched into this shooting incident. Usher remains hospitalized and is in need of surgery. But before he does that, he [...]

The Launch of the Annual Kettle Appeal
The annual Kettle Appeal of the Salvation Army kicked off today in the downtown area of the city. The launch marks the beginning of the Christmas season during which the [...]

Marlon Kuylen’s Parting Shot on the State of Affairs at the F.F.B.
Acting President Marlon Kuylen will not be contesting the seat for the highest office in national football next month. It’s a decision that he says was fairly easy to make [...]

Accountability in the Tendering Process for Roadwork
The City Council, under the tenure of Darrell Bradley, has concreted one hundred and sixty streets across the city. The council invested twenty million dollars on the massive undertaking. That [...]

An Acting Opportunity in an Upcoming TV Series
Do you want to make your acting debut to screens across the Caribbean? Well, whether you have acting experience or not, filmmaker Cristobal Krusen says he wants you to try [...]

Secondary School Volleyball Competition
The central secondary school volleyball competition was held today to select the male and female teams that will represent the central region against the north, west and south. The national [...]

Healthy Living – a Food Plan for Diabetics
World Diabetes Day will be commemorated next Tuesday. This weekend the Diabetes association will be having its annual Ride Out Diabetes fundraiser. While, exercise is an important element in maintaining [...]

CTV3

Fuel Prices To Increase Instead Of Decrease As Promised By PM
We also checked with the Financial Secretary about the anticipated lower fuel prices, which had been promised by Prime Minister Dean Barrow in early October. According to Waight, while a dip is expected in the price of Premium with the incoming shipment, whether it will go any lower depends on the volatile global market. Joseph Waight, Financial Secretary: “The next item to come is premium gasoline which is from a different source does not come from Petro Caribe we expect that price to go down in step pretty much in the same level as the regular gasoline went down two or three weeks ago beyond that it depends on what the world prices look like but there is not an immediate translation of world prices on to our given the small amounts that we buy in the scheme of things our importation is a fraction of world supply so what happens is that we don’t and transportation costs are high we have to pay for small boats and per unit cost is much higher.”

Police Recover Items From Mondays' Brazen Robbery In Corozal Town But No Suspects Yet
There has been a spate of criminal activity recently in the Corozal District over the past two weeks. Today the Police authorities provided updates on their investigations into each incident. We will start with the most recent, being the brazen daylight armed robbery of 28 year old Doris Montejo, an employee of the Western Union money transfer business located in downtown Corozal on 4th Avenue. According to the Police their investigations have led to the discovery of some items and the detention of persons, but so far there is nothing concrete.

Ranchito Home Invasion Was Not Carried By Corozal Criminals
The other incident addressed by authorities in Belize City is the home invasion which occurred in Ranchito Village in the wee hours of Monday October 30th. U.S. nationals Michael and Janet McGhee who moved to Belize to live in Ranchito six years ago, woke up in the dark of night to find armed and masked burglars inside their home. The McGhees were tied up in their bedroom while the burglars swept through the house, packing up house items including Gateway, HP and Dell laptops, an Amazon fire tablet, a 50-inch LG plasma TV and a 32-inch TCL television, Janet McGee’s wedding ring and Michael McGee’s wedding band, and other jewellery on Michael McGhee’s silver-in-colour 2003 Dodge Ram pickup, before driving off. In total, they stole over $48,000. Police said today that they believe the culprits were not Corozal-based criminals.

No Arrests Made In Orange Walk Latest Murder
Tonight, almost one week after thirty seven year old businessman Amit Moryani was shot and killed in front of his business establishment during an armed robbery, authorities are yet to make an arrest in this case. As we had previously reported Moryani was shot and killed on Cemetery Street after he attempted to defend his mother who was being robbed by armed assailants. Moryani was fatally shot once to the chest while his mother Babita Moryani was wounded to the left side of the head. As previously indicated authorities are currently in search of two male individuals in connection with this homicide who are also believed to be involved with a group of criminals wanted for several armed robberies here in Orange Walk over the past month.

Who shot Brenda Jandrez?
Corozal Police are still investigating the strange circumstances behind the shooting of 22 year old Brenda Jandrez which occurred last week Wednesday October 1st. The young mother was inside her home on Mahogany Street situated in the Halls Layout area when a gunman fired at her. The gunshot caught Jandrez in the stomach and she was rushed to the hospital in a critical condition. According to the Police, they are awaiting for the victim to recuperate sufficiently in order to help their investigations. Alejandro Cowo, Assistant Superintendent of Police: “She is in a stable condition and thanks god that she is recuperating, we haven’t had an opportunity to speak to her yet because the doctor does not allow us to speak to her...”

Belize Represented At UNCAC Conference Of State Parties
Attorney General Mike Peyrefitte is in Vienna, Austria for the Seventh Session of the UNCAC Conference of State Parties. His presence is part of the requirement for a State Party of the UNCAC, according to a government release, "the Secretariat strongly encouraged government representation at the highest political level" - which is why the Attorney General attended along with Crown Counsel Odwin Trenton, who is the Interim Project Coordinator, UNCAC Project Board.

First Price Estimate For 2017/2018 Crop Not As Sweet As Sugar
Earlier this week cane farmers received the final payment for the 2016-2017 cane crop season which was estimated at being between $9.05 and $ 9.28 per ton of cane. So looking at the crop season after three payments the total estimated payment to cane farmers was of $64.00, which includes payment for bagasse. Today as the 2017-2018 cane crop season looms in the horizon, BSI/ ASR issued the first estimated average cane price for the 2018 cane crop which is at forty three dollars and forty cents per ton of cane. So…this means that farmers can expect to receive an estimated thirty six dollars and two cents as first payment for the upcoming cane season.

LOVE FM

Chinese Man Faces Additional Charges
Chinese national Yuanran Zheng appeared in court again today to answer to charges of using a fraudulent document to obtain a social security card. As we reported, Zheng reportedly entered Belize for the first time on Sunday, November 5 and was caught applying for a social security card at the Social Security Office in Belmopan […]

Still No Arrest in Home Invasion
Police continue to seek three persons as they continue to investigate the aggravated burglary of the home belonging to American couple Michael and his wife Janet McGhee in Ranchito Village, Corozal District. The incident happened on Monday, October 30 between one and two o’clock in the morning. The couple woke up to find two masked […]

Immigration Raid leads to the Arrest of 32 Women
A joint operation involving the Belize Police Department and the Immigration Department led to the detention of thirty-two women with origins in several Central American countries including Honduras and El Salvador. The women were detained at several bars on La Isla Bonita last week and authorities are investigating if they are victims of human trafficking. […]

Men claimed to be Victims of Human Trafficking
The investigation continues in the case against 23-year-old Keyur Barot, who is accused of making off with sixty thousand dollars and an SUV both belonging to his boss Jack Charles. That reportedly happened back in September. Later in October, Barot and another former employee of Charles, 29-year-old Jitendra Kumar were intercepted and returned to Belize […]

Attorney General in Austria for UNCAC
Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte and Crown Council Odwin Trenton are in Vienna, Austria for the Seventh Session of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Conference of State Parties. Belize’s participation is a requirement as a State Party of the UNCAC. The focus of the conference is to improve the capacity of and cooperation between […]

How will Brexit Affect Belize?
On Thursday, June 23, 2016, a referendum was held to determine whether the United Kingdom should leave or stay in the European Union. As a result, the majority of the population voted to leave the European Union by 51.9%. The effect of the vote was not immediate, as a matter of fact, it will not […]

Salvation Army kicks-off Kettle Drive Today
The Salvation Army kicked off its annual Kettle drive today. The opening was held in front of Scotia Bank on Albert Street. The initiative is one that aims at raising funds that are used in providing meals, gifts and food baskets to families in need. Dalila Ical has the story. “We are looking towards the […]

Deanna Peyrefitte is YWCA’s New General Secretary
Deanna Gomez Peyrefitte is the new General Secretary of the YWCA. Peyrefitte replaces Sonia Linares who is retiring after twenty-six years of service to the organization. Peyrefitte has a Master’s of Business Administration Degree and is a senior executive with over twenty-five years experience in Management, Administration, Leadership, and Communication. She has experience in the […]

Belizean Visas Approved for Eight Haitians
Earlier in the week, we told you about the eight Haitians who were having trouble obtaining Belizean visas for an LGBT Conference slated to take place in the country next week. Tonight we can report that the visa applications for these eight Haitians have been approved. Immigration Director Diana Locke told Love News that even […]

Kuylen Makes Accusations Against FFB
He has three more weeks to complete his term as the Acting President of the Football Federation of Belize and today Marlon Kuylen laid it all out in a nine-page tell-all letter. Kuylen issued a lengthy statement entitled, “The Current State of Affairs of the Football Federation of Belize (FFB)” and in it, he makes […]

The Guardian

Michael Ashcroft dodges taxes in the UK with Trusts- Where does Belize Fit?
Over the weekend a large batch of leaked documents dubbed the Paradise Papers from the law firm Appleby as well as corporate registries in 19 tax jurisdictions hit the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Among the documents were disclosures that Michael Ashcroft, had formed a Trust in 2000 in Bermuda where he placed hundreds of millions of dollars. Named the Punta Gorda Trust, Ashcroft apparently circumvented the rules of the trust and went above the trustees to use money without approval. This has sent out alarm bells in the UK where Ashcroft has been juggling to avoid taxation for years. Along with the papers came a report by the BBC’s Panorama where Ashcroft was questioned by journalist Richard Bilton. All he’d say was dear, dear, dear. Evasion of tax is something that Ashcroft has also been known for in Belize. In the previous administration he was given huge tax breaks usually prompted by indebtedness which the Musa administration had gotten into with his affiliate companies like the Belize Bank and BTL and finally ending with him getting tax breaks.

PUP’s City Slate a Stillbirth!
For many years we at this newspaper were of the firm belief that Mr Lizama’s Halloween presentations at his 2nd Street home were the scariest presentations, that we would ever see, but after seeing the PUP’S Citco slate, we must now rethink that and give title of SCARIEST HALLOWEEN PRESENTATION to the PUP. The slate, apparently is being dubbed as either a STILLBIRTH or AFTERBIRTH. It is our honest opinion that the two names are interchangeable. To put it simply, this slate was dead on arrival. The slate looks and smells like decomposing flesh. This stillbirth slate must have died in the womb many months ago and as such it will cost Johnny his LEADERSHIP. That frail leadership is already on life support and would have come to an end anyway. However because of this slate it will now come to an abrupt end sooner rather than later. Johnny and this slate will be buried on March 7th, 2017 .

World Youth Conference being held in Belize
The 5th annual World Youth Conference was held this year at the Princess Ramada Hotel under the theme “Globally Running to 2030, Being Sustainably Strong.” The weeklong conference, from November 6-10, saw the participation of over 250 youths bearing representation of over 40 countries. The gathering is a meeting of youths to discuss how they are directly involved in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s conference was particularly special as it is the first year that the conference has been held in the western hemisphere, and Belize is lucky to have been the hosting place. This represents quite a significant feat for the small country and, according to Dominique Noralez, acting President, National Youth Council, Belize’s geographic positioning allows for a broader participation from the Americas and Caribbean.

15 New Pickups for Police
Given the surge of crime in Belize City and other areas, the Belize Police Department launched the Addressing Crime Together, ACT, initiative on October 27, 2017. The initiative saw the deployment of police officers into three areas in Southside Belize that are considered problem areas. Ten days later on Monday, November 6, 2017, ACT received a fleet of 15 brand-new Wingle pickup trucks donated to them by the Government of Belize. The vehicles were given to the department with the intention of enhancing mobility as well as response times especially in the areas of Lake Independence, Jane Usher Boulevard, and Iguana Street Extension.

Getting onboard with the Mental Health Program
The Mental Health Program continues to encourage all Belizeans to come on board with its plans for a better mental health for all. For this year, the Mental Health Program has undertaken various activities to do just that. A national consultation to develop a suicide prevention plan was recently held, and the first draft will be circulating with stakeholders early next year. Belize’s suicide rate is about five or seven per hundred thousand over the years, “…although that is not a very high rate we are still concerned for every person that died from suicide, we believe it is preventable…” says Eleanor Bennett, head of Belize’s Mental Health Program.

GREAT continues to leave a positive mark on our young people
The San Ignacio Police formation through its Community Policing and Community Oriented Policing program continues to comply with its action plan. As a portion of the action plan, the formation continues with the Gang Resistance Education and Training Program-GREAT with the schools under its area of influence; as well as schools that have not had the opportunity to participate. Ciriaco Medina, team leader of the GREAT Program in San Ignacio now reports to us that for School year 2017-2018, a total of 22 primary schools have participated where the Middle school curriculum has been integrated. A grand total of 656 primary school students are benefiting from this program. (As of last week some police officers are on lesson 6, some are on lesson 4 and one is just starting lesson 1.)

PUP Port Loyola standard bearer in court for over $10,000 owed
Roma Usher, a woman claiming to be a relative of PUP standard bearer Gilroy Usher Sr., is suing Usher through the civil court for the sum of $10,000. On Wednesday, November 8, 2017, the Ushers appeared before Magistrate Michelle Trapp. Roma, who presented her own case, is alleging that the PUP Port Loyola standard bearer owes her money in the sum of $10,000 which should have been forwarded to her Atlantic Bank account. She told the magistrate that the sum of $150 was to be paid weekly and that they had both a written and verbal agreement but Gilroy never kept up the agreement. Roma, however, was unable to present that document in court.

WestJet Set New Direct Flight to Canada
The WestJet direct flight from Calgary, Canada to Belize was inaugurated on Friday, November 3, 2017. On that flight, there were over 120 passengers. To celebrate the occasion, the Belize Tourism Board hosted a small ribbon cutting ceremony. According to Karen Bevans, Director of Tourism, the flight will have more than the obvious impacts on the tourism industry in Belize. The fast growing city of Calgary is home to a number of tourists that are eager to traverse to our tropical Belize and the advent of WestJet’s direct flight facilitates this process.

Forensic Interview Training for Victims of Human Trafficking
The U.S. Embassy, in coordination with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, provided training on Forensic Interviewing Techniques for Victims of Human Trafficking. The training was provided to over 65 Government of Belize officials from five different departments namely Human Services, Police, Immigration, Customs and Excise, and Public Prosecutions. The three-day training course was held at the Biltmore Hotel from October 31 to November 2, 2017. The U.S. Embassy continues to support the Government of Belize in its effort to reduce human trafficking. Victim Assistance Specialist Instructors from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and the Human Trafficking Institute shared best practices on how to identify and successfully interact with victims of human trafficking.

Belize’s First International Diana Award Holder is making her mark in the United Kingdom
In September 2017, twenty one year old Claudia Garcia travelled to England to study for a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at the University of Westminster. Shortly after her arrival, she was invited by charities and international development organizations in the United Kingdom to attend conferences on youth development. She was also asked by UK universities to speak about her work in youth and community development in Belize. One of those events was the Annual Meeting of the UK Belize Association held at the University of Oxford on October 7, 2017. There Claudia Garcia and Manuela Lue, who accompanied Claudia to the United Kingdom, gave a speech to various professors, diplomats and managers about their work in youth and community development in Belize.

What is the BTL Employees Trust?
At 6p.m. on Wednesday June 23rd in a closed door meeting Dean Boyce along with attorney Godfrey Smith held a session with BTL employees to discuss their position on the so called ‘BTL Employees Trust.’ While what was being told to the 8 or so employees who attended the meeting is anybody’s guess, the Guardian Newspaper has been able to get a little bit closer look at exactly what the BTL Employees Trust is. A document provided to the Guardian titled “the BTL Employees Trust (Consolidated Trust Deed: Trust Deed dated September 16, 2005 as varied by a variation of Trust Deed dated June 15, 2007)” explains what the trust is. From the onset it is clear that BTL employees have no say in the doings and maneuverings of the trust.

Gunman is denied bail and remanded to prison
After more than four nights in police custody, 24-year-old Reese Fitzgibbon was arraigned on two firearm related offenses after he was caught red-handed by police with a firearm. Fitzgibbon appeared unrepresented before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford on November 6, 2017 where he was read the charges of kept firearm and ammunition without being granted a firearm license. The bust was made on Friday, November 3, 2017. According to police, they responded to a report of shots being fired on Kut Avenue in Belize City. Fitzgibbon, a resident of Supal Street, was apprehended as he was at the scene with a 9 mm pistol with 5 live rounds of 9 mm ammunition.

Armed robber receives time in jail
A 24-year-old Belize City mason, Kaleem Chun, is on remand at the Belize Central Prison after being accused of committing an armed robbery at Arwing Grocery shop located on Santa Barbara Street in Belize City. Chun was arraigned on November 3, 2017 on a single charge of robbery. The allegations against Chun are that on Wednesday, September 27, 2017, he stole $1,500 cash from Wei Yei Yang, a Chinese grocer, while armed with a firearm. Chun appeared unrepresented before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford where he pleaded not guilty to the charge but due to the nature of the offense, he was denied bail and remanded to the Belize Central Prison until December 27, 2017.

Biscayne men plead guilty to stealing chicken, stouts, and energy drink
A duo of men was caught stealing from businessman Marlon Skeen. They have been identified as Kenroy Ferguson, a 29-year-old employee of Stock and Go Store, and 25-year-old Nathaniel Crawford, an ex-employee, both of Biscayne Village. The men appeared unrepresented before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford where they were read separate charges of theft. They were caught stealing petty items such as Belikin Stouts, a pack of seasoned Caribbean chicken, and a Monster energy drink. In a police report made by Skeen, he said that upon checking the surveillance camera on November 5, 2017, Ferguson was seen opening a side door and stealing the chicken after which Crawford entered and stole the Belikin Stouts and handed them to Ferguson. Ferguson then re-entered the shop and stole the Monster energy drink.

Chinese men caught with fake nationality documents
Yuanran Zheng, a Chinese National, is being accused by the Immigration Department of being in possession of a fraudulent Belizean nationality certificate. The new checks and balances at the Department allowed the authorities to easily spot that this was a forgery of the old types of Nationality documents. According to employees at the Belmopan Social Security Office, Zheng showed up there on Monday, November 6, along with his Taiwanese-Belizean translator, Zheng Hui Lin. He was trying to get a Belizean Social Security card. To convince them that he was entitled to the document, he brought a nationality certificate, which he insisted he got 10 years ago.

Friends denied bail on firearm related offense
Two friends are on remand at the Belize Central Prison after they were arraigned on Monday, November 6, 2017 in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on a single charge of kept prohibited firearm. They are James Jones and Henry Holder, both 21-year-old residents of Belize City, who police say were in possession of a prohibited firearm on Sunday, November 5, 2017. In court, the duo appeared before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford where they both pleaded not guilty to kept prohibited firearm. Due to the nature of the offense, they were denied bail and remanded into custody at the Belize Central Prison until February 8, 2018.

German attorney killed in La Isla Bonita
Raimund Kobler (Koessler), a German attorney who had been living on the island of San Pedro for about 5 years, was found dead inside an unfinished building under construction. Police say that he suffered blunt force trauma to the head, and that makes his death a murder that they have to solve. His body was discovered on Monday, November 6, 2017, some time after 6 a.m., at the construction site, which is located on Cocoplum Street, San Pedro. The construction workers showed up to resume their job, only to find him lying down on the first floor. They called in the cops who processed the scene, and discovered that he had suffered an injury to the head. They have no idea what weapon was used to inflict that injury, or who did it, but they believe he was clubbed over the head.

Glenford Bermudez’s ruling is deferred in the case of murdering his wife
In the Supreme Court on November 7, 2017, 46-year-old Glenford Gilbert Bermudez, a.k.a. “Bucket”, was brought before Justice Adolph Lucas for his mitigation plea. Bermudez was accused of shooting and killing his wife on November 22, 2017, and at his mitigation he was very apologetic. On November 22, 2007, Bermudez shot his wife and later attempted to hang himself. Later that day, after admitting the crime to the nephew of the deceased, he was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, Racquel Violet Bermudez.

“Nitro” meets bail
After serving seven nights in lock down at the Belize Central Prison, 24-year-old Shikell Nunez, aka “Nitro”, is out on bail granted to him by Supreme Court judge Denis S. Hanomansingh. Nunez was accused by the police to have made a 4 minute and 41 seconds long video which the commander of GSU took to be a threat to the GSU officers and their families. As a result, Nunez was charged with threat of death. In court on Friday, November 3, 2107, his attorney, Nazira Miles Espat, was successful in her bail application. He was granted bail in the sum of $5,000 plus one surety of the same which he was able to meet. He was ordered to report to the Mahogany Street police station every Friday effective Friday, November 10, 2017. He was also ordered to surrender his travel documents, to appear in court at all his subsequent court dates, and to not interfere with any prosecution witness.

Orange Walk businessman killed as he defended his mother
The Indian Belizean family of 37 year-old Amit Moryani, a business man from Orange Walk, continues to mourn his death after he was killed by robbers at his family’s business place. By all accounts, a gunman shot him because he was trying to come to the aid of his mother, who they were trying to steal from. The incident happened at around 8:50 p.m. on Friday, November 3, at his family’s store, P&P; Supermarket, which is located on Cemetery Street, Orange Walk Town. It was near the end of business hours for the day when his mother, Babita Moryani, arrived.

Police officer is offered bail after having unlicensed firearm at Elements Night Club
After being on lock down at the Belize Central Prison, the officer accused of having an unlicensed firearm in his possession, PC Carlisle Bol, was granted Supreme Court bail on November 3, 2017. The application for bail was made by attorney Leeroy Banner on his behalf. Prosecutor for the crown, Jacqueline Willoughby, had no objection to bail being granted. With that, Justice Denis S. Hanomansingh granted him bail in the sum of $5,000 plus one surety of the same. He was ordered to surrender his travel documents, not to interfere with any of the prosecution witnesses, and to attend all court adjournments set by the court.

Recent graduate of Mopan Technical High School killed in Benque
An 18 year old resident from Benque Viejo was found on Monday with a gunshot wound to the chest. Oscar Niles Obando Junior, a recent graduate from the Mopan Technical High School was found at the Puga Farm, between the Guatemala and the Belizean border. The Puga Farm is located between miles twenty-five and twenty-six on the Benque Road. Police cannot say at this time whether the motive was robbery, but they were able to find a passport and other belongings on Obando. Neither do the authorities know what Obando was doing at the isolated farm.

Robbery in Corozal
Doris Montejo, a 28-year-old Belizean Front Line Associate for Western Union, reported to police that about 9:00 a.m. on Monday, November 6, 2017 upon reaching her place of employment on 4th Street in Corozal Town, a male person approached her holding what appeared to be a firearm under his shirt and demanded that she hand over a purse containing money. Fearing for her life, Montejo handed over a purse valued at $30.00 that contained $10,000.00, a smaller purse valued at $25.00 that contained $100.00 and a Samsung Galaxy 7 Prime cellular phone valued at $1,000, all to a total value of $11,155.00. The assailant then made good his escape police are investigating.

Zachary Knox is denied bail after being accused of shooting a police officer
A Belizean/American national and construction worker of Faber’s Road Extension, 21-year-old Zachary Knox, was arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on November Thursday, November 2, 2017 on a single charge of aggravated assault for allegedly shooting at a police officer. The shooting incident is said to have occurred on September 18, 2017 in Belize City. Knox was unrepresented before Magistrate Michelle Trapp where he was read a single charge of aggravated assault upon police officer, Jefferson Dawson, with a deadly weapon, a charge to which he pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor in the case, Cpl. Kennard Clark, submitted that while the Crimes and Criminal Justice Act allows persons accused of committing an offense with a firearm to be entitled bail, Knox was caught at the Phillip Goldson International Airport attempting to flee the country after the incident.

Verdes FC and Bandits Sports won by large margins in Premier League games
The Premier League of Belize Opening Season competition continued over the last weekend with 4 games on the schedule. On Saturday 4th November at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium in Independence Village, the visiting Verdes FC blasted the host team Placencia Assassins by the score of 5-1. The Placencia Assassins was the first to score when Luis Torres scored his team’s only goal of the game in the 31st minute of play to his team a 1-0 lead. However, the lead was short lived when Gilroy Thurton scored the equalising goal for the visiting Verdes FC in the 39th minute of play to tie the score at 1-1.

St. Joseph Primary School girls are the National Primary Schools Basketball champions
The 2016-2017 National Primary Schools Basketball competition came to an end on Friday 3rd November, 2017, with the championship games played at the St. John’s College Gymnasium. The schools that competed in the girls’ competition were St. Francis Xavier School (Corozal Town), La Inmaculada School (Orange Walk Town), St. Joseph Primary School (Belize City), Santa Elena Primary School (Santa Elena), Forest Home Methodist School (Toledo) and Holy Family School (Hopkins Village). In the girls’ championship game, St. Joseph Primary School defeated Holy Family Roman Catholic School by the score of 23-8 to become the National Primary Schools Basketball Champions. The top scorer for St. Joseph Primary School was Briah Clarke with 19 points while the top scorer for Holy Family RC School was Shendra Casimiro with 8 points.

St. Martin De Porres Primary School boys are the National Primary Schools Basketball champions
The 2016-2017 National Primary Schools Basketball competition came to an end on Friday 3rd November, 2017, with the championship games played at the St. John’s College Gymnasium. The schools that competed in the boys’ competition were Corozal Methodist School (Corozal Town), San Francisco School (Orange Walk Town), St. Martin De Porres School (Belize City), Faith Nazarene School (San Ignacio Town), Forest Home Methodist (Toledo) and Holy Family School (Hopkins Village). In the boys’ championship game, St. Martin De Porres Primary School defeated San Francisco Roman Catholic School by the score of 43 - 12 to become the National Primary Schools Basketball Champions. The top scorer for St. Martin De Porres Primary School was Kentrell Marshall with 18 points while the top scorer for San Francisco RC School was Jamar Higinio with 4 points.

Junior footballers to Rush Soccer camp in Arizona
Three Belizean boys left the country on Wednesday 8th November, 2017, for Casa Grande, Arizona, to participate in the Rush Select 2004/2005 Boys ID Camp. The event, the Rush Select ID Camps, are for the U13 - U15 age groups of 60 boys and 60 girls and there, Rush Select staff will train and evaluate them. Rush Soccer represents over 34,000 youth soccer players in the United States and in partnerships with clubs in Africa, South America, Europe, and Asia, along with North and Central America and the islands of the Caribbean. Rush Soccer is devoted to providing its members with the finest soccer experience possible, it says, and to teaching the fundamental skills of the game and developing athletes through organized leagues, teams, tournaments, training, coaches and athletic facilities.

Football Federation of Belize to hold11th Ordinary Congress
The Football Federation of Belize is pleased to inform the general public and the football world that it will be holding its 11th Ordinary Congress on Saturday 2nd December, 2017, at 10:00 am at the Ramada Belize City Princess on Newtown Barracks in Belize City. The high point of the 11th Ordinary Congress will be the elections of the President and Vice President of the Football Federation of Belize. The Football Federation of Belize Electoral Committee has reviewed the nominations and secondments submitted by the Football Federation of Belize General Secretary and the following persons have met the criteria as defined by the Football Federation of Belize Statues Article 32.4

Corozalito and Sandhill Blue Hawks to play for Leal’s Football Cup Title
The 2017 Leal’s Football Cup Tournament is expected to come to an end on Sunday 12th November, 2017, in Sandhill Village, where the third place match and the championship match is anticipated to take place. The third place match will feature Lucky Strike against Ladyville FC and this game is scheduled to commence at 1:00 pm. The championship match will commence at 3:00 pm and this will feature Corozalito against the Sandhill Blue Hawks. Meanwhile, the semi-final games were played on Sunday 5th November, 2017. In the first game played Corozalito defeated Lucky Strike by the score of 2-1. The goals for Corozalito were scored by Tyreek Ciego and Tyrell Estrada. The lone goal of the game for Lucky Strike was scored by Keened Gillett.

National Elite Basketball League season to open January 18, 2018
The National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) will be tipping off its fifth consecutive season on Thursday, January 18, 2018, as the defending champions, Belmopan Bandits, will host the sub-champions San Pedro Tiger Sharks. The game will be played at the UB gymnasium in Belmopan, with tip-off time being 8:30 p.m. The upcoming season will have 8 teams. Six (6) of the teams from last season will return to participate in the upcoming season. These teams are Orange Walk Running Rebels, Belize Hurricanes, San Pedro Tiger Sharks, Belmopan Bandits, Cayo Western Ballaz and Dangriga Dream Ballers. Belize City No Limit has changed management and their new team name is Belize City Defenders. The eighth team participating will be Agharta, which is a team from Chetumal, Mexico.

The Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds (Pepitos)
Pumpkin Seeds or Pepitos as we know it are nutritional powerhouses wrapped up in a very small package, with a wide variety of nutrients ranging from magnesium and manganese to copper, protein and zinc. They contain a wide array of beneficial plant compounds known as phytosterols and free-radical scavenging antioxidants, which can give your health an added boost. Pumpkin seeds may benefit your heart, liver and immune system, help fight diabetes, and offer unique benefits for men’s prostate health and women’s relief of menopause symptoms as well says Dr. Mercola. If you’re in the mood for a chewy snack that doubles as a phenomenal health food, look no further than pumpkin seeds. With a wide variety of nutrients ranging from magnesium and manganese to copper, protein and zinc, pumpkin seeds are nutritional powerhouses wrapped up in a very small package. They also contain plant compounds known as phytosterols and free-radical scavenging antioxidants,1 which can give your health an added boost.

Deidron McKay’s family pleads for killings to stop
Deidron McKay, a 20-year-old resident of Belize City, was killed in a shooting which police believe to be a gang-related attempt at retaliation. McKay is a casualty of a street feud that his family insists he stayed far away from. The incident happened at around 8:35 p.m. on Friday, November 3, McKay was socializing, after work, with a group of friends and family members at a residence on #19 Haynes Street, which is not too far from his own home. Their gathering was disturbed by an unknown gunman who entered the yard, and opened fire indiscriminately.

Two Americans drown in separate incidents
On November 4, 2017 at about 6:08 a.m., police visited the North Side of Hopkins Village where they observed the motionless body of a male person face down in water about 3 feet from the beach. The body was identified to be that of 67-year-old Paul Panarese, a U.S. national. Initial investigation revealed that on the previous evening, Panarese left to socialize and around 6:45 p.m., he headed back to the direction of Kismet Inn where his body was discovered. No signs of violence have been observed on the body. The body awaits postmortem examination. Later on November 4, 2017, police visited Naia Resort in Placencia where the motionless body of 69-year-old Robert Lotz was seen. Lotz, a retired US national, was on vacation and went kayaking earlier that morning and did not return. His body was later discovered floating in the sea. Like in the case of Panarese, no signs of violence were observed on the body. The body awaits postmortem examination.

¡JOHNNY IS TRAPPED BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA!
Poor little squeaky rat Johnny, how I wish that he was a regular reader of this column! Over the weeks I have continuously sounded the alarm that the extremely ambitious Zinc Fence is planning to steal the PUP! They tried to use the unions, COLA, BTV, Wil, Sharon, Sandra, Keisha, Indira, Sulph and a host of other stooges to overthrow a good government; but they are failing. Now they are using the more direct approach: Son-in-law for mayor; a dunce journalist, the driver’s son, a Steve Nembhard stooge, Francis’ most loyal soldier, a convicted thief, Lake Independence sycophants... I call that group the Zinc Fence Eleven. That group is owned by Cordel; not by the PUP and surely not by Johnny. It was extremely smart of the Zinc Fence to coin the fallacious acronym “PUDP” and then condemn those whom they assigned to that group; but not PUP Cordel.

Words of Life with Pastor Barry Fraser
The collection of Psalms in the Bible is full of inspired advice. For example, the first part of Psalm 103 reads, “Bless the Lord God Yahweh, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies.

Eulogy for Ryan Swift
Friends, brothers and sisters, On behalf of his wife Majorie, his seven-(7) children and twelve-(12) surviving siblings of Ryan Fitzgerald Swift; I want to express our deepest gratitude for those gathered here to mourn with us today. We loved him as a husband, as a father, and as a brother. “Rybo”, as he was popularly known was born Ryan Fitzgerald Scott on May 24, 1963 here in the old capital. He was the seventh child of 11 progenies’ of the late Ms. Gloria Scott; his father the late John Swift was a well-known accountant. Ryan’s middle name came from the 35th president of the United States; whom his mother idolized; and foreshadowed Ryan’s passion for politics. His mother would later marry an esteemed senior police officer, Mr. Philip Lynch. Ryan would talk about Mr. Philip with a deep sense of gratitude and pride. Certainly, his skills at ironing, polishing a pair of shoe, carrying himself with bearing was deeply engrained. I got the sense that he was blessed with a fine mentor, who cultivated pride in how to carry himself.

An Honorable Man
When I was in primary school at La Inmaculada here in OW, part of our Civics class was to memorize all the names of Cabinet Ministers and their portfolios, including the names of their permanent secretaries. As children we all thought of Ministers as being these tall, rich, Powerful men who could make anything happen. When I went on to first form at Muffles College, I was placed in a class with the daughter of Hon. Guadalupe Pech, then Minister of education. Vangie Pech was a pretty but humble young lady, full of manners who conducted herself with grace. I later met her father who was a gentle, soft-spoken man. Vangie and I went through Muffles all of the four forms.

Are you Good BFF MATERIAL?
A true friend is one of the biggest blessings we can have in life. I met my best friend even before I could count or talk in full sentences. Shiney Marie Moulton lived next door to my Grandma Jones and whenever my mother took us to visit her, I found my way over to Shiney’s house. We would play catch and climb trees in the yard or sometimes we played with her teapots in her bedroom. On my very first day of pre-school I cried when my mother tried to leave me with a pack of boys and girls I had never met before, and a teacher who never smiled, and threatened to spank us with a ruler if we were loud; that is until I saw Shiney. I stopped crying immediately after she was dropped off to school that morning. I was happy at the prospect of coming to school and playing with my friend every single day!

Winner of Second Annual Human Rights Student Scholars Write to Fame
Child Maintenance Children not going to school sitting at home Not doing anything, they’re all alone. Mother of seven children, struggling, working overtime To show her kids how much she cares But the cost of living is so high she can hardly afford The taxes of the bus fare. Father at a bar getting stoned, Don’t even have a penny or a dollar to take back at home

Breaking Belize News

Senior transport officers and terminal supervisors attend transport meeting
The Department of Transport held a very important meeting today in Belmopan. The meeting, which […]

Belize International Film Festival 2017 Launches!
The long-anticipated list of films making the Official Selection for the 12th Edition of the […]

Premium goes down but regular hikes up by 27 cents
The Belize Bureau of Standards has announced that at midnight tonight, the prices of premium and regular […]

Mexico to be represented in 12th edition of Belize International Film Festival
Today, the Embassy of Mexico in Belize announced that the film Desierto, starring acclaimed Mexican actor, Gael García […]

Another Castro makes the news
Jafari and Wasaani Castro, the sons of NEMO and Transport Minister, Edmond Castro, have been […]

Man found dead in Belize City
Belize City police today found the body of a man in a drain on Raccoon […]

3 Belizean boys participate in Rush Select Camp in USA
Yesterday, three young Belizean boys departed to Casa Grande, Arizona, USA to participate in the Rush […]

Sedi sticks to his story despite court ruling
Despite the Caribbean Court of Justice ruling to the contrary, Wilfred Elrington maintains that he […]

Premium fuel next to go down says Financial Secretary
Drivers can expect a reduction in the high cost of premium fuel soon, according to […]

German attorney found dead in San Pedro
On Monday, November 6, 2017 about 6:56 am ,San Pedro police visited an unfinished building at the […]

Blogs

November Begins with Gorgeous Weather and Lots More On Ambergris Caye
I am probably not the only one thinking this but…HOW DID NOVEMBER CREEP UP ON ME? The telling signs are certainly here… …the wind is blowing from the north bringing slightly cooler temperatures. …and businesses, old and new, are readying for the upcoming HIGH SEASON. The first real wave of visitors comes for Thanksgiving week in the states and then things REALLY pick up for Christmas. The sun was shining and the town decorated for the upcoming holiday – November 19th is Garifuna Settlement Day in Belize.

Walk through all the new and improved touches at CBC! Stunning, tropical, exotic scenes....
Many of the resorts in Belize, big and small, have to shut down for a few weeks a year to do some touch ups. The salt air is really hard on paint, mechanicals, etc, and we don't want our guests' experiences to be disrupted by this maintenance. We also closely listen to what our guests tell us that they love, and ideas that they have, and we try to make small improvements any chance we get! Here are this year's improvements, and the first couple weeks we have reopened have been a great success! The entrance is more soothing, more natural, and now has a huge shaded palapa and reception area! The new office and reception area were our biggest changes this year.

6 Reasons to choose a Belize Jungle & Beach Vacation
With hundreds of offshore islands and a lush interior teeming with wildlife, Belize is the only country in Central America where the best of the jungle and sea can be easily enjoyed. Here are six great reasons why you should choose a combo beach and jungle vacation on your trip to Belize:

Celebrating Garifuna Settlement Day in Belize
Every November 19, the entire nation of Belize celebrates Garifuna Settlement Day. This holiday commemorates the arrival of the Garifuna - an Afro-Caribbean people - to the shores of Belize more than 200 years ago. A blend of African and indigenous Caribbean cultures, the Garifuna were honored by the United Nations in 2001 for their unique contributions to the intangible heritage of humanity. As dawn breaks on Garifuna Settlement Day, towns and villages along the coast re-enact the dramatic arrival of the Garifuna in handmade dugout canoes. This is followed by enthusiastic and joyful drumming, dancing, and street parades. The signature black, white, and yellow Garifuna flags are hoisted, and everywhere, the people of Belize feast on traditional Garifuna foods such as cassava bread, serre (fish boiled in coconut milk), and conch soup.

Belize: Home to the Bluest Water in the World
Since the dawn of time, human beings have been fascinated by the color blue. In a recent article published on Travel and Leisure, author Melissa Locker went on a search to find the world's bluest waters. One of the spots she discovered was the island of Ambergris Caye in Belize. The Travel and Leisure article highlighted the popularity of Ambergris Caye as a tourist destination. Located just a short boat ride from the second-largest barrier reef in the world, Ambergris Caye is widely known as a paradise for scuba diving and snorkeling. One section of the reef known as Shark Ray Alley even allows divers and snorkelers to interact with vast schools of stingrays and nurse sharks. But the ultramarine waters of Belize are not limited to just the reef. Deep in the heartland of Belize is the Inland Blue Hole, a gateway to underwater caves. Whether it's at the beach or in the middle of a rainforest, Travel and Leisure magazine definitely agree that Belize is home to sparkling bodies of water with intense hues of sapphire blue.

Mayan Food: 9 Awesome Dishes You Should Try!
Food is awesome. That is a fact that is not up for debate. Anyone, even the strictest of dieters will tell you that food is great. Mayan food, arguably more awesome and we’ll get into WHY shortly. In the era of globalization, it’s made even better because you don’t need to be restricted by the foods you grew up eating. Instagram, Pinterest, and Snapchat give our friends (and really anyone) the perfect conduit to give everyone who dares to look some foodspiration before our good friend google tells us where to get, or how to make some of it! How often do you stop, and ponder on where this food came from, or better yet – who even invented it? The answer is probably not often, and who could blame you? If it tastes great you have no time to stop and get philosophical about it. We’re here to take that load off you; check out our list of Mayan Food you absolutely must try!

International Sources

La Niña Declared
For the second winter in a row, La Niña will be in the driver’s seat. The NOAA/NWS Climate Prediction Center issued a La Niña Advisory on Thursday morning, declaring that La Niña conditions were now in place in both the atmosphere and ocean. NOAA gives odds of around 65-75% that La Niña conditions will extend at least through the upcoming Northern Hemisphere winter of 2017-18. The atmospheric rearrangements triggered by La Niña often lead to a consolidated jet stream over North America and an active, progressive storm track. Typically, this leads to periods of roller-coaster weather, with frequent ups and downs in temperature. For the season as a whole, La Niña winters tend to end up colder than average toward the north central and northwest U.S. and warmer than average toward the south and southeast. On top of this is the overall warming influence from human-produced greenhouse gases, which can help reinforce the southern warmth and blunt the northern cold.

Belize not surprised by latest move by Guatemala to claim country
The Belize government says it is not surprised at the latest move by Guatemala seeking to claim all of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country ahead of a referendum early next year in the Spanish speaking country regarding the border dispute between the two Central American countries. Guatemala is due to hold its referendum on March 18, 2018 and has launched a public awareness campaign that re-introduces a map of the country showing Belize as the disputed “twenty-third province,” with a dotted line indicating “Territory under Dispute.” Guatemala has been claiming Belize since 1821.

The future of Caribbean sugar will depend on the region’s capacity for cooperation
Among the topics considered by Ministers and officials at the latest meeting of the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), 9-10 November in Guyana, are several recommendations that will determine whether the Caribbean sugar industry has a future. This long-overdue discussion concerns the ways in which the region’s cane sugar producers, through tariffs and other measures, can redirect its output towards meeting the CARICOM market’s requirements. On 1 October, 2017, the industry lost the last vestige of its preferential market in Europe, as the EU abolished national sugar production quotas in Europe as part of a long-planned measure. The effect, according to industry analysts, is that the price paid for African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) cane sugar will very rapidly reduce and, as Europe becomes self-sufficient in beet sugar and begins to export, cane sugar imports into Europe will fall to zero. They also suggest that this will depress world market prices.

Actress Penelope Cruz says she will never dive the Belize Blue Hole again...
Cruz tells another story about diving in Belize, in its famed Great Blue Hole, a massive sinkhole in the water that is about 400 feet deep. "I love diving but I will never go that deep, even if I had two instructors. I was surrounded by sharks," she says. MANY, MANY NOPES. She also has diving narcosis, which she described as similar to panic, and given the shark situation, we can understand why she'd be freaking out. "When I looked up and saw all of that water, I started to pray that I could make it." And she did, because she's here now, and can regale us with tales sure to give us nightmares.

Controversial Belize and Turks and Caicos investor exposed in Paradise Papers as reneging on UK tax pledge
Billionaire British peer, Lord Michael Ashcroft, a controversial and divisive figure in both Belize and the Turks and Caicos Islands, has been exposed by the so-called Paradise Papers as reneging on a promise to become a permanent resident in the UK – a change that would have meant giving up his more favourable tax status as a UK resident whose domicile is in Belize. The Paradise Papers are a huge batch of 13.4 million leaked documents mostly from offshore law firm Appleby, along with corporate registries in 19 tax jurisdictions, which reveal the financial dealings of politicians, celebrities, corporate giants and business leaders. Ashcroft remained a so-called “non-dom”, domiciled for tax purposes in Belize, and continued to avoid UK tax despite attempts by Parliament to make peers pay their full share and when it was widely believed he had given up the status, the leaked documents reveal.

Belize: Beaches, Adventure and History
Travel Weekly highlighted Belize in its latest article, and Cayo, of course, gets most of the story's focus. The San Ignacio Resort Hotel, Ka'ana, and Gaia Riverlodge are all mentioned as great lodging options. While ATM is somehow not mentioned, the Black Hole Drop, Actun Loch Tunich, is, as is the Green Iguana Conservation Project. Caracol, Xunantunich(Hanna Stables gets a shout out in regards to getting there), and Cahal Pech, some of Belize's nicest Maya archaeological sites, are recommended. "Neatly wedged between Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean Sea, don’t let its size fool you – there’s plenty here for a standalone holiday. Its Mayan experience is at the heart of it all, predominantly in the western Cayo District, home to the unassuming capital Belmopan, aka the ‘Garden City’ thanks to surrounding waterfalls, caves and rivers that are ideal for hiking, birdwatching and soft adventure. The tourist hub, though, is San Ignacio, a small town of lively local bars and restaurants, and a good base for Caracol, Belize’s most impressive Mayan city; Cahal Pech, the oldest known site in the Belize River Valley; and the temples of Xunantunich, where a new tomb was discovered in 2016. Hanna Stables offer horse-riding tours here, including a quirky ferry crossing with horses in tow. Cayo District is home to the Actun Loch Tunich cave, where a hike and abseil take you 300 feet down into Central America’s largest cave system."

CFA 1st Division Championship
The Cayo Football Association held their championship for the 1st division on Saturday at Broaster Stadium. Congratulations, Universal Hardware, for taking 1st place! "Chairman Earl Trapp Jr. Would like to thank all paticipating teams in this years CFA 1st Division football tournament and fans of the football family, especially to Universal Hardware who won the First place with cash prize of $3,000.00 Second place Peniarol F.C $800.00 and Third place to Benque Power with $400.00. Thanks to everyone see you next year! Special thanks to the entite work staff especially to Mr Bernz Mendez, Lisa Gordon, Mr. Lucio Toledano Chief of Security the Police Department Mr Medina and the Match Officials."

Videos

Rare Albino Spotted Eagle Ray Identified At Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve, 15sec. Henry boast his unique experience as he was on patrol at the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve on North Ambergris Caye. He gives thanks to Captain Grimaldio Acosta for spotting the unique sea creature. “Good eyes Gimmy, this was definitely one for the books! Only at Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve.

Reasonable request from San Mateo Belize Kids, 1/2min. Filming location where a playground should be at the end of the Belize Community Conservation Kids 4 Clean Water Camp 2017. Hosted annually in San Mateo, Ambergris Caye Belize.

Lil Alphonse Snorkeling Tour, San Pedro Belize, 4min. Lil Alphonse Snorkeling Tours San Pedro Belize Review. Lil Alphonse (Lil Afonse) is one of the most recommended tour guides and dive masters in San Pedro, Belize (Ambergris Caye). He is offering snorkeling tours to Hol Chan Marine Reserve (including Shark Ray Alley) and Mexico Rocks, and fishing trips for deep sea fishing in the Caribbean Sea.

Snorkeling with Sharks in Shark Ray Alley, Belize, 3min. Underwater video, swimming with sharks and stingrays in Belize. Shark Ray Alley is a popular snorkeling destination from both San Pedro Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, Belize. Swimming with nurse sharks and stingrays is the main attraction for snorkels and divers. Shark Ray Alley is a dive & snorkel spot in Hol Chan Marine Reserve which itself is situated in the Belize Barrier Reef.

Belize Diving!, 5min.

ELIZEAN RESISTANCE AGAINST LORD MICHAEL ASHCROFT POLITICAL CORRUPTION IN BELIZE!, min. TEN YEARS LATER! "LORD AHSCROFT REVIVES BREDAA!" By Imam Ishmael Omar Shabazz. Tonight the issue was focused on the Michael Ashcroft control of Belize politics and economics, and the kidnapping of our brother, Derek Aikman, former minister of government under the United Democratic Party government. To deal with this unfolding nightmare in Belize, KPFK’s Freedom Now, radio host Brother Dedan Kamate, had as his guest via telephone, Bro. Nuri Akbar Estrada, former chairman of BREDAA and Bro. Bilal Morris, Public Relations and Media Representative of BREDAA.

THE 1980S PUNTA ROCK ARTIST "BOOTSY RANKIN"! (PART ONE), 14min. IN COMMEMORATION OF "GARIFUNA SETTLEMENT DAY" 2017! by Bilal Morris. The legendary Garifuna Belizean Punta Rock artist, Bootsy Rankin' (Thomas Lauriano), comes to "Belizean Legends" as a cultural special in commemoration by this documentary series for "Garifuna Settlement Day" (November 19, 2017). Through "Part One" of this exclusive interview with the 1980s, 1990s Belizean musical artist, we celebrate Bootsy Rankin's long existence as one of those Los Angeles based Belizean artist that once graced venues like the popular "Belize Caye Fest" in the 80s.

With Love From Belize, 8min.

Belize 2017 SCUBA Diving - Day 1, 3min.

Permit Fishing in South water Caye Belize, 23min. Permit Fishing at South Water Caye (Atoll) with Nauti by Nature Captain Jermaine AKA "Big Fish". Captain Jermaine is a 3rd generation fisherman living on the on the Sandy beaches of the Placencia Peninsula.

Belize 2017 - Blue Hole 1, 4min.

Belize 2017 - Blue Hole 2, 4min.

Snorkeling in Belize, 2min. Thanks goes out to Daniel at Caveman Snorkeling located in Caye Caulker, Belize!! Quality guide with great knowledge. We did an all day snorkeling tour and literally spent the entire day on or in the water.

Swimming with a Bull shark in Belize, 3min. About 20 minutes into our dive, this monster showed up...about a 6 ft, 250 lb bullshark...2nd apex predator in the ocean next to the great white. It..was....amazing... At 0:34, you can start to see his shadow middle of the screeen, just to the left. At 1:11, you can start to see him in the lower portion of the screen swimming away...

Drone video of Ambergris Caye, 2min.

November 9, 2017

Christmas tree is up in Corozal

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

San Pedro Pirates rise to third place in the Premier League of Belize
The San Pedro Pirates won yet another crucial away game against Police United F.C 2-1 on Sunday, November 5th, at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan City. With this victory, the island team has now moved to third place in the league’s rankings after acquiring three more additional points. The match, which began at 5PM saw two teams determined to win in order to secure a spot in the tournament’s playoffs. The San Pedro Pirates took on the pressure of a needed victory and after eight minutes into the first half, Hector Martinez found the opportunity for a score. Up by one goal, they defended against Police United, who made several attempts to even the score.

25 Honduran Women Detained in Immigration Bust; Authorities Continue Investigating
San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, made headlines in the international press on Wednesday, November 1st, when Honduran news outlets reported that teenaged women from that country were being trafficked to the island. Reports were that a Honduran national, Denia Suyapa Ochoa, was detained on said date for trafficking women to Guatemala, and then to Ambergris Caye, Belize, where they were sexually exploited and faced with forced labour at a bar. As a result, the San Pedro Police Formation, along with the Immigration Department, detained 25 Honduran women on Thursday, November 2nd after raiding three different bars on the island. The women have since been handed over to Immigration as the matter continues to be investigated.

Copa San Pedro 2017 Football Tournament continues
During the ninth week of Copa San Pedro, six games took place at the Ambergris Stadium in San Pedro Town. The first two were played on Thursday, November 2nd. At 7PM, G. Strikers faced Victoria House Jr, with an easy 3-2 victory going to G. Strikers. At 9PM, the second match saw Martha’s Ice who won 3-2 over United F.C. The following day, Legends F.C defeated Jokers F.C 3-0. At 9PM, Terror Squad faced Boca Bombers, with a solid 6-1 win going to Terror Squad. Copa San Pedro continues this weekend with five more games. On Thursday, November 9th, at 7PM, Assassins F.C face Terror Squad. On Friday, November 10th, Martha’s Ice versus Boca Bombers, and at 7PM, legends F.C takes on Victoria House Jr. The Last Two games of the week are scheduled for Sunday, November 12th, starting at 5PM, with Jokers F.C versus Assassins F.C, and at 7PM, Sandy Point facing G. Strikers. Islanders are invited to come out and support their favorite team this weekend. Food and refreshments will be on sale during the games.

Ambergris Today

Caye Caulker Resident Fined $2,000 For Unlawful Possessions Of Raccoons
Illegal Wildlife Possession Leads to Arrest and Fines - On November 7, 2017, Jacob Emmanuel Cabral of Caye Caulker was fined $2,000 for “Unlawful Possession of Forest Produce”. San Pedro Town Magistrate Jannelle Villanueva ordered that Cabral pays the fine by March 30th, 2018 or face imprisonment of up to six months. The Forest Department reported that on August 15, 2017, police officers visited Cabral’s business place on Caye Caulker, where he was found in possession of three raccoons. Cabral claimed that the raccoons were awarded to him as a gift and was reportedly using the raccoons for wildlife tourism. The five-week-old raccoons were transported to the Belize Wildlife Referral Clinic for rehabilitation with the hope that they will eventually be returned to the wild.

Ramon's Village Has The Coolest Pier
Bouncing back from the destruction of Hurricane Earl last year, we think that Ramon's Village can boast the coolest pier on Ambergris Caye. What do you think? It's pretty magnificent, right? With over $10 Million dollars in damages to Ambergris Caye in 2016, Hurricane Earl pretty much destroyed all of the piers and over-the-water structures; very few remained standing. The Ramon's Village Dive Shop sustained major damage, washing away with most of the resort's pier. It has taken the Ramon's Village about a year to make final completions to the new pier and dive shop, but as they say, "They came back better than ever!"

Misc Belizean Sources

SECURITY FORCES RIDE TO THE BORDER
Come join our country's security services as they ride to the border. The ride is open to all members of the public who have an interest in getting to know our southern border while challenging themselves in a 30-mile ride. DATE: 9 December 2017, DEPARTURE TIME: 6:30 AM from PG TOWN. FREE REGISTRATION 6:00 AM. The Rider includes 2 refreshment stops: at the half way point going and on the return leg. The security forces will be doing a brief presentation at the Jalactei Tree tops border out post and at the conclusion at FWC. Lunch will be provided for all following the briefing at FWC.

Banana Bread and Belize/Guatemala at the ICJ
(analysis) "The court has certain limitations... The legal system is not perfect, and the extent that it is not perfect, it is man controlled. One has to go along with the decision that is taken. Am I happy with it? No, but life is real." Those are words of private investor Wilfred Elrington on November 7th, 2017 as he lost a case to American Foreign Investors (Schneider's) who sued him for the paperwork for 16 parcels of land in Progresso Village,Corozal. This week the Guatemala's Government had released plans to include Belize in maps that will be used in schools. Even though the statement is made as a private citizen, the issue is that the attorney and Government representative who is the advocate for convincing the public that Belize should forward the unfounded Guatemalan claim to the International Court of Justice has made a statement that does not exude confidence in the court system.

Smart C-Ray Western Spirit Cycling Team
We competed in Chetumal over the weekend in preparation for the 2018 seaaon, we got 5th with Brandon Cattouse. CONGRATS to the entire team.

Introducing Maya Island’s official in-flight magazine – Caribbean Culture and Lifestyle
We are excited to be teaming up with Maya Island Air Belize to share the very best of Belize through five finely crafted print issues. Backed by an innovative digital platform, stunning photography, engaging stories and articles, CC+L will push the boundaries both visually and informatively, delivering illuminating content to in-flight passengers and customers in a new and dynamic fashion.

BEL Deploys Second Team of Linemen to British Virgin Islands to assist with Ongoing Hurricane Restoration
On Monday, November 6, Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) deployed a second team of five linemen to assist the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Electricity Corporation with ongoing power restoration efforts on the group of islands. The five BEL linemen are joining teams from member utilities of the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) in providing support to BVI Electric Corporation with rebuilding its power distribution system. The team is comprised of Wayne Lewis, Gregory Kerr, Manuel Lopez, Paul McCalla and George Neal, who will be stationed in BVI for four weeks. The first BEL team of five employees who departed the country in September, arrived in Belize on Tuesday, November 7 after being stationed in Virgin Gorda for six weeks. “When we arrived on the island, there were no standing utility poles or power lines. We had to salvage and reuse any available material because transporting materials to the island is a big challenge for the utility in BVI,” says Michael Nembhard, BEL Line Supervisor. “I am proud of our team for doing an excellent job, using our training and experience from Belize.”

Joyjah with Chrissy Teigen

Scorpions Host Eagles
The 2017 ATLIB Basketball Regionals have kicked off, and the SHJC Scorpions are hosting the Galen Eagles this Friday at the SHJC auditorium. The SHJC Scorpions defeated the UB Jaguars last night, 45 - 42.

BELIZE FISHING REPORT: Weeks of Oct. 22nd thru Oct. 29th, 2017
The week started out tough with some wind and clouds but then cleared and turned into a beautiful week of fishing and fun. All anglers went after bonefish and experienced lots of success. Several fishers landed close to twenty bonefish a day. Good to see the sun again!

The Wood Thrush Connection is a BELIZE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Official Selection
And will screen Friday, November 10th during the short documentary block from 3:30-5:00pm at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts in Belize City. The Wood Thrush Connection documentary film is by Climate Listening Project director Dayna Reggero with Andrea Desky and presented by National Audubon Society, Forsyth Audubon, Audubon North Carolina in collaboration with Belize Audubon Society and the Audubon's International Alliances Program. Audubon and the Climate Listening Project partnered to capture the story of the Wood Thrush as told through the people taking action for a special migratory bird in a changing climate from North Carolina to Belize. Learn more about The Wood Thrush Connection: http://nc.audubon.org/news/wood-thrush-connection-0.

The U.S. Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires at the World Youth Conference
The U.S. Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires, a.i. Adrienne Galanek and the Public Affairs Section enjoyed the Opening Ceremony of the World Youth Conference 2017 earlier this week. Representatives from over 40 countries have gathered here in Belize at the Conference, which is held for the first time in the Western Hemisphere! Kudos, #Belize! We were thrilled to meet and welcome the three U.S. participants: Ormond Derrick, Aileen Sainz, and Gabriel Risk Martins. The U.S. participants had the opportunity to meet Deputy Prime and Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture Honorable Patrick Faber and Minister of Economic Development, Petroleum, Investment, Trade and Commerce Honorable Tracy Taegar-Panton.

New firetruck for Caye Caulker arrives in Belize
The Fire Truck for Caye Caulker, donated by Beechwold Christian Church Columbus OH USA has landed in Belize. We would like to thank Mr. Miguel Matus and Mr. James York who have been working with the CCVC over the past months to make this donation possible for our island. We would also like to thank the US Air Force for providing the transportation of the Fire Truck to Belize City.

Belize Represented at High-Level UNCAC Conference in Austria
The Attorney General Hon. Michael Peyrefitte along with Crown Counsel Odwin Trenton are currently representing Belize at the Seventh Session of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Conference of State Parties. The Conference is taking place at the seat of the secretariat, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (the UNODC), from the 6th – 10th November 2017, Vienna International Centre in Vienna, Austria. The Government of Belize through the Attorney General’s Ministry, the Focal Point of the UNCAC, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has embarked upon a gap analysis of the currently existing institutional and legislative framework with an aim of developing a comprehensive, progressive and practical action plan for implementing Belize’s anti-corruption regime.

llegal Wildlife Possession Leads to Arrest and Fines
On 7th November 2017, Jacob Emmanuel Cabral of Caye Caulker was fined $2,000 for “Unlawful Possession of Forest Produce”. San Pedro Town Magistrate Jannelle Villanueva ordered that Cabral pays the fine by March 30th, 2018 or face imprisonment of up to six months. The Forest Department reported that on 15th August 2017, police officers visited Cabral’s business place on Caye Caulker, where he was found in possession of three racoons. Cabral claimed that the racoons were awarded to him as a gift and was reportedly using the racoons for wildlife tourism. The five-week-old racoons were transported to the Belize Wildlife Referral Clinic for rehabilitation with the hope that they will eventually be returned to the wild.

Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) program
The G.R.E.A.T. program continue in the San Ignacio Police formation where sixteen (16) primary schools participated earlier this year and an additional six (6) schools have been included bringing the number of participating schools to a total of twenty two(22) that are now participating. The Gang Resistance Education and Training program is been taught across the country of Belize both in urban and rural communities.

Winners of the 2017 History and Social Studies Competition
The Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project is pleased to reaveal a picture of the three winners of the 2017 History and Social Studies Competition with their trophies on stage at the Bliss shortly after the competition was completed. On the left is second place Aniq Perdomo of Ebenezer, center is winner Darwin Robinson of Salvation Army, and right is third place Aritza Sosa of St. Joseph RC. We are also uploading the History Cup that is now being held by Salvation Army. As you will notice on the History Cup, we have updated the names of the schools that have won the competition to date. The purpose of the History Cup is to be a modern day Rosseta Stone, which will record the names of schools that have achieved excellence in Belizean History and Social Sutdies.

Channel 7

Two Men Walk The Not So Fine Line Between Human Traffic And Major Theft
In mid-September, this man allegedly made off with sixty thousand dollars of his boss's money and stole his SUV, but police still haven't charged 23 year old Keyur Barot. After an Interpol alert was put out on Barot and his companion, another former employee, 29 year old Jitendra Kumar, the pair was intercepted in Mexico, making their way north, possibly to the US border. Mexican authorities handed them back over to Belizean police on October first along with 13 thousand US dollars - possibly the money changed with stolen Belize dollars. But, 5 weeks later, the Indian nationals haven't seen a courtroom or a holding cell, instead, they're reported to be in a safe house. And that's because - the pair allege they were victims of human trafficking. Our reports say they are in the custody of the Department of Social Services as possible trafficking victims. The men have told a story of their former boss locking them up in a warehouse for breaking the rules, and not being properly compensated for their work.

Chinese National Faces More Charges, But Where Did The Documents Originate?
Chinese national Yuanran Zheng is expected to be back in Belmopan Magistrate's court tomorrow charged for trying to get a social security card with a bogus nationality certificate. As we told you last night, he has already been charged for uttering upon a forged nationality document and attempting to use it to obtain another form of identification, for which he was fined one thousand and two thousand dollars, respectively. But, Zheng remains detained pending charges now from the Social Security Board - which will also charge him separately for using a fraudulent document to try and obtain a social security card.

GOB Will Scrape Up The 78M USD For Ashcroft Axis By Friday
A week ago, we told you how the Caribbean Court of Justice ordered the Barrow Administration to pay just over 78 million US dollars to the Ashcroft Alliance. That's after the Government lost the final legal battle over the settlement for BTL. The Government has until Friday November 10th to pay, or interest at a very costly rate will start accruing. But, for a cash-strapped government, coming up with that kind of hard currency isn't easy, since it immediately wipes out a quarter of the Foreign Reserves. When we caught up with Financial Secretary Joseph Waight at an event today, we asked him if Belize will be able to make the deadline in about 72 hours. He said they'll manage:

Fin-sec, How Low Can You Go On Fuel?
We also took the opportunity to ask the Financial Secretary if the fuel prices will go down any further. The Prime Minister had promised that the price at the pumps would go down by mid-October. By October 7th, regular dropped by 84 cents, and by October 28, the price fell by another 16 cents, to its current price of $10.13 per gallon. For diesel, the price dropped by 13 cents on October 24th, and the pump price is now $9.50 per gallon. Today, the Fin Sec said that's as low as those two will go: Reporter: "Are we looking for a continuous reduction in prices in the next few months? What is the outlook there."

Talking About Lead-Her-Ship
The third annual women's leadership conference was held today. Actually, it's the "Lead-Her-Ship" Conference, part of the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization, which is called "a forum to celebrate, support and inspire women in business." This year's event had the attendance of over 100 women, headlined by a superstar line up of successful female speakers from Belize and one special guest from Jamaica. We found out more from the organizer and spoke to one of the inspirational presenters. Danalyn Myvett, President for Belize Center for Training and Development: "We are focused here today on women in business and the entire day will be spent looking at how do we focus on empowering women through business, how can we support them."

Caribbean Central Bankers to Belize For Monetary Studies Conference
Today, financial regulators and economists from all over the Caribbean were here in Belize for the 4th Annual Monetary Studies Conference. This forum is the flagship event for the Caribbean Centre for Money and Finance, which was established by the Central Banks of the Caribbean Community. It's an opportunity for the financial regulators from the CARICOM nations come together to discuss shared ideas and research in economics and finance. It also gives these officials an opportunity to examine policies, and how effective they are in tackling the complex challenges in the financial sector. IT'S being hosted by the Central Bank of Belize and we stopped in this morning to speak with the Financial Secretary, and a representative of the Central Bank:

AG In Austria For UNCAC
Attorney General Mike Peyrefitte is in Vienna, Austria for the Seventh Session of the UNCAC Conference of State Parties. His presence is part of the requirement for a State Party of the UNCAC. According to a government release, "the Secretariat strongly encouraged government representation at the highest political level" - which is why the Attorney General attended along with Crown Counsel Odwin Trenton, who is the Interim Project Coordinator, UNCAC Project Board. Discussion this year will be about Preventative Measures in the fight against corruption, Asset Recovery, and International Cooperation.

When John Kelly, Trump's Chief of Staff Was In Belize
John Kelly is US President Donald Trump's Chief of Staff but up until January of 2016, the then General Kelly was still the commander of US Southcom. That's the US Department of Defense's Southern Command, which has responsibility for pretty much everything south of Mexico, right up to the tip of Chile, meaning Central America, Latin America and the Caribbean. And that's why Kelly was in Belize in September of 2013, on a Central American tour. He was whisked into Belmopan on a fleet of US Army choppers and we asked him where the US stands on marijuana eradication. That year, US chopper support and been used in record-setting BDF eradication operations. Since possession of small amounts of marijuana has now been decriminalized in Belize we thought it would be instructive to go into our archives and hear the view of the man who now has the ear of the US President:...

Simple Accident Leads To Court Case
She's accused of simply opening her car door into oncoming traffic - but police say it caused major injury to a woman on bicycle. So, today, 26 year old Honduran Jenny Robles, the co-owner of Creative Marketing, was charged with negligent grievous harm when she appeared yesterday before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford. She pled not guilty to the charge and she was released on a bail of $2,000 dollars with an adjournment until January second. The incident occurred on October 17 on Albert Hoy Street. Alva Moody, was riding her bicycle on Albert Hoy Street when Robles opened the door of her white club wagon and Moody slammed into the door and received injuries that were classified as grievous. Robles was represented in court by attorney Estevan Perrera.

Could Tweak In Operation ACT Cause Out-Of-Town Cops To Miss Clues, Characters?
The Police Operation ACT was launched 12 days ago - and while there are no statistics to say it has been an overwhelming success - it is still being tweaked. Over the weekend we learned that there had been a major shift. Instead of mixing up officers from the various units at the different command posts, namely the GSU, the SPU, the SAT, the MIT, the K9 and the ANU, the Commander decided to deploy the units independently to the different areas. It may sound like a minor administrative tweak, but the cops on the ground say that it creates a policing disadvantage because the units from outside the city, namely the MIT, the SPU, and K9 and the ANU, are not as familiar with the players in the gang wars. That's because they are not in the gang areas everyday like the GSU, and the SAT.

Celebrated Actress Lynn Whitfield In Belize
Lyn Whitfield is an Emmy award-winning actress that has worked with legends like Oprah Winfrey and Denzel Washington. She is currently one of the stars on a popular show on the Oprah Winfrey Network called "Green Leaf" and she is also promoting her new movie "Nappily Ever After." Indeed, Lynn Whitfield is a busy woman but that didn't stop her from accepting an invitation to be a part of the Belize's International Film Festival - which started this evening. She arrived today and this afternoon she shared some words of wisdom and told us why she is so excited to be in our jewel.

Casting Call For "Life or Death" Show To Be Filmed in Belize
And also as a part of the Film Festival, a Belizean American named Cristobal Krusen is discussing a show called Life or Death. He submitted it to the Caribbean Tales Incubator in Toronto and out of several submissions, Life or Death was one of the four shows that won a production grant. The even better news is that the show is going to be produced right here in Belize and Belizeans have the opportunity to be a part of this major production. Krusen is an experienced filmmaker and writer with over 30 years in the industry under his belt. He explained more about the exciting new project.

Police Meet And Greet Community, Not Cameras
Last month, there was an explosion of violence in the Jane Usher Boulevard area where 4 residents were killed in gang-related shootings. So, that community on the Belize City Southside is hurting, and tensions remain between gangs that live very close to each other. So, police today held their meet-and-greet session right there, all in an effort to try and defuse tensions. The police top brass from Eastern Division were on a house-to-house tour to speak with the residents and hear their concerns.

Caught With ‘Coons, Man Must Pay The Price For Pestilential Pets
Raccoons - for most of us they're pests of the highest order, turning over your garbage, and being quite nasty and vicious in the process. But for Jacob Cabral of Caye Caulker - three baby raccoons were just lovable pets - not pests - and additionally, he would use them to attract tourists. Well the Forestry Department said that was "Unlawful Possession of Forest Produce" and he was fined $2,000 dollars in San Pedro Magistrate's Court. The Forest Department visited Cabral's business on Caye Caulker in August and found him with the five week old raccoons - which he uses for wildlife tourism.

BEL Back To BVI
6 days ago, we told you how the BDF deployed a platoon of 35 soldiers to Dominica to assist with the recovery efforts after Hurricane Maria. Well, BEL HAS deployed a second team of linesmen to the British Virgin Islands to help in recovery after both Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated that island territory. The first BEL team of 5 who left for the British Virgin Islands in September, returned yesterday, after being stationed in Virgin Gorda for 6 weeks.

On Arlington
When we met up with the UDP Mayoral Aspirant and the Deputy Mayor on Arlington Drive yesterday - they were overseeing street and drainage works in that area. Looks good, but the truth is that those works are long overdue - and it seems that only a pre election push will get them done. Along that line, the Prime Minister seems to have released a little cheddar for a pre election push. There are talks of cement paving 10 streets and bringing others like Arlington to earthen grade. Deputy Dean Samuels told us more:..

Korean Magic In Mid-Flight
And we leave you tonight with highlights of last night's show at the Bliss. IT's called Spin, Jump, Fly by the Korean Performing Arts Troupe called Gwangdae. They turned this traditional dance into magic on the stage. We hope you enjoy these highlites w put together, in concert with NICH.

Channel 5

G.O.B. Gets Ducks in a Row to Pay B.T.L. Compensation
The Government of Belize says it has the money. But tonight, the question is whether it will meet the November tenth deadline for final payment of compensation for the double [...]

If All Goes Well, Long-Term Reserves Will Recover in 2 Years
The removal of seventy-eight million U.S. dollars or the equivalent of a hundred and sixty million Belize dollars from the country’s foreign assets is nothing to sneeze at. And the [...]

Premium Fuel Prices to be Reduced, Stabilized
October has come and gone and fuel prices remain relatively high despite continuous protest. As of October twenty-eighth, premium fuel retails at eleven dollars and ninety-two cents, compared to ten [...]

Guats Protested B.D.F. Documentary?
Turning to another matter of national interest….Belize has, for now, raised no objections to Guatemala once again promoting its unfounded claim with an offensive map purporting to include our territory, [...]

Central Bank Hosts Regional Economists
They are the moving hands, rarely seen, in control of national economies and finance structures. Their word can determine how much a country receives for projects, chart investment and growth, [...]

Fines for Chinese-Taiwanese Connection over False Nationality Certificate
Chinese national Zheng Yuanran and a Taiwanese national acting as his translator remain in police custody tonight in Belmopan. Zheng entered Belize on Sunday, November fifth, but the pair was [...]

Caye Caulker Man Wrong to Keep, Display Wild Raccoon Family
It is not surprising for residents in rural areas of the country to be found in possession of certain wildlife species. As a matter of fact, in some southern communities [...]

Will Employees’ Trust Let the Sunshine In?
While the final payment for the B.T.L. nationalization is to be met by Friday, there is still one more related case that may head to court. That is Sunshine Holdings—the [...]

Pair ‘Stock and Go’ Stout, Monster, Caribbean Chicken
A duo of men was caught with their hands in the cookie jar at the Stock and Go store of businessman Marlon Skeen on November fifth. They were seen on [...]

Police Shoot Ladyville Man Involved in Domestic Dispute
Thirty-six-year-old Leon Usher is in the hospital under police guard after cops shot him in the knee on Tuesday. Ladyville police were called out to Usher’s residence in the Milpa [...]

Driver Turned Accident Victim Faces Likely Prosecution
A notice of intended prosecution has been served on the driver of a vehicle that was involved in a massive head-on collision on Tuesday morning near the outskirts of Belize [...]

Police Meet and Greet in Jane Usher; No Interviews
The crime-ridden community of Port Loyola known as Jane Usher Boulevard has been designated as a hotspot by the Belize Police Department, following a recent spate of shootings in that [...]

Senate Hearing Put Off to Next Week
Channel Five viewers who this morning tuned in expecting live coverage of the scheduled public hearing of the Senate Special Select Committee will have been disappointed that there was none. [...]

Youths Tackle Crime Issues at World Summit
A World Youth Conference continues today in the Belize City. Representatives from over fifty countries are revisiting the importance of the Sustainable Development goals to their own advancement. One common, [...]

International Film Festival Welcomes Lynn Whitfield as Judge
The Belize International Film Festival officially opens on Thursday. Apart from screening films from all around the world, there will be an award show to recognize the best submissions. This [...]

Filming on Location in Belize Means Incentive
And while the Film Festival is a lot about celebrating the best in submissions, it is also looks at how to move the budding film industry forward. At today’s “meet [...]

How Film Tells Your Story
For those who have an interest to break into the film industry, the Hollywood panel told the press that Belizeans need to start telling authentic stories that connect universally. So, [...]

Women Gather for Inspiration on Entrepreneurship
While some doors have opened, there is still a long way to go for women to ease into the top of businesses. A conference taking place today has brought women [...]

B.E.L. Sends More Linemen to Hurricane-Raved British Virgin Islands
A second team of five linemen has been deployed to assist the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation with ongoing power restoration on the group of islands. The team, which is [...]

Youth Footballers to Arizona International Camp
Three Belizean football athletes, twelve-year-old Keffer Pertau and thirteen-year-olds Kayia Requeña and Javan Belisle left Belize today en route to Casa Grande in Arizona, U.S.A. to participate in the Rush [...]

Deanna Gomez Succeeds Sonia Lenares at the Y
There’s a new leader at the helm of the Young Women’s Christian Association. In the YWCA’s sixty plus years of service to Belize, Deanna Gomez is only its ninth General [...]

CTV3

Turning the Lights Back On At The British Virgin Island
Many countries here in the Caribbean today continue in their effort to return to normalcy after having been severely affected by hurricanes Irma and Maria in August and September of this year. One such country is the British Virgin Islands who have been without power for several months following these hurricanes. In an effort to assist with restoration works on the group of Islands, Belize Electricity Limited deployed a second team of five linemen on Monday November 6th to assist the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Electricity Corporation with ongoing power restoration efforts.

Caye Caulker Resident Charged For Having Racoons In His Possesion
Caye Caulker resident, Jacob Emmanuel Cabral was fined $2,000 when he appeared before Magistrate Jannelle Villanueva yesterday in San Pedro Town for “Unlawful Possession of Forest Produce”. Cabral was ordered to pay the fine by March 30th, 2018 or face imprisonment of up to six months. A report issued by the Forest Department indicates that on August 15th 2017, police officers visited Cabral’s business place in Caye Caulker, where he was found in possession of three racoons. Cabral claimed that the racoons were awarded to him as a gift and was reportedly using the animals for wildlife tourism. The five-week-old racoons were transported to the Belize Wildlife Referral Clinic for rehabilitation with the hope that they will eventually be returned to the wild.

Payment To Lord Ashcroft To Reduce Belize's Reserves
This Friday November 10th is the deadline for the Government of Belize to cough up $78.16m as final compensation payment to the former owners of BTL, which was ordered by a ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice a week ago on November 1st. The ruling specifically ordered that payment be made on or before Friday, so today the media checked with Financial Secretary Joseph Waight to find out whether early payment had been done. He discussed that as well how giving up $78 million in U.S. currency will reduce the country’s much needed reserves.

LOVE FM

GOB is expected to pay US $78 Million tomorrow
Last week Wednesday the Caribbean Court of Justice ordered the Government of Belize to pay the second and final payment of 78 million US dollars to the Ashcroft Alliance within ten days. That deadline is this Friday, and today, Financial Secretary Joseph Waight told reporters that the payment may possibly be made tomorrow. As we […]

Financial Secretary says Premium Price will Fall
Belizeans should expect the price of Premium gasoline to go down. That’s what Financial Secretary Joseph Waight said today when asked about fuel prices. Viewers may recall that before October, fuel prices kept on an upward trend for several months. In the latter part of September, premium gas went up 93 cents nearing a whopping […]

Chinese Man caught with Fake Belizean Nationality Certificate
A Chinese national is in police detention tonight after being caught with a fake Belizean Nationality certificate. The man goes by the name Yuanran Zheng and he reportedly entered Belize for the first time on Sunday, November 5. Zheng was caught applying for a social security card at the Social Security Office in Belmopan, one […]

Central Bank hosts 49th Annual Monetary Studies Conference
The Central Bank of Belize is hosting the 49th Annual Monetary Studies Conference in collaboration with the Caribbean Center for Money and Finance, CCMF. The CCMF was established by Central Banks of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), in collaboration with the University of the West Indies (UWI), to carry out studies and provide information for monetary […]

BEL deploys Second Team to BVI
Belize Electricity Limited has sent a second team of linemen to the British Virgin Islands to assist with the ongoing restoration works. In September, weeks after the group of islands was devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the first team of five linemen was deployed. They were stationed in Virgin Gorda for six weeks and […]

Women encouraged to Boldly Step into Leadership Roles
A women’s leadership conference organized by Belize Center for Training and Development was held today under the theme “Be Bold”. Dr. Danalyn Myvett, President, and Founder of Belize Center for Training and Development spoke about the initiative. Dr. Danalyn Myvett “We are focused here today on women in business and the entire day will […]

Belize is Close to Eliminating Malaria
Malaria is a vector-borne disease that has been affecting mankind for thousands of years. For us here in Belize, we are close to eliminating the disease than any other Central American country. Trio Village and Silk Grass are the only two places in Belize where the disease still exists. Elimination of Malaria falls under goal […]

Boisterous Man was shot by Police
Thirty-six-year-old Leon Usher was shot to the left knee by a police officer. It happened yesterday morning when Ladyville Police responded to a report of a domestic dispute. The report led officers to the Milpa Area of Ladyville Village where they encountered Usher and a woman. That woman told police that she wanted to leave […]

Robles charged with Negligent Grievous Harm
Twenty-six-year-old Jenny Robles, a Honduran national, the co-owner of Creative Marketing, was charged with negligent grievous harm when she appeared yesterday before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford. She pled not guilty to the charge and was released on a bail of two thousand dollars and a surety of the same amount. Her case was adjourned until […]

Raccoons Rescued, Rehabilitated, and Released
Jacob Cabral appeared yesterday before Magistrate Janelle Villanueva in San Pedro Town where he was arraigned on a charge of “Unlawful Possession of Forest Produce”. He was ordered to pay a fine of two thousand dollars by March 30, 2018. If he defaults on payment he will serve up to six months behind bars. According […]

Award-winning Actress in Belize for Film Festival
Today, the Belize International Film Festival held a press conference where they unveiled their line-up for this week’s film festival. The founder of the Belize International Film Festival, Suzette Zayden tells us more. “Tomorrow the official red carpet opening, we will be screening a film called inheritance that was made in Belize, it was shot […]

A Spectacular Showcase of Lanterns by the Taiwanese Embassy
Last night 250 water lanterns illuminated the Ramada Princess Swimming Pool as part of the 2017 Spotlight Taiwan Culture Exchange Program. As part of the program, participants were taught how to construct the traditional Taiwanese water lantern with wishes and prayer written on them. The lanterns were then set afloat in the pool as part […]

Trinidadian in Belize for UB’s Presidential Lecture
As part of its Presidential Series lecture the University of Belize today hosted Nikoli Edwards who is from Trinidad and Tobago. Edwards is currently the Vice Chairperson responsible for policy, advocacy, and projects for the Commonwealth Youth Council. His presentation focused on student advocacy and social responsibility. In his speech, Edwards spoke of growing up […]

Breaking Belize News

Belize hosting World Youth Conference 2017
Belize is the official host of the 2017 World Youth Conference (WYC). The conference was […]

Scotiabank Belmopan donates uniforms to Belmopan Special Constables program
Scotiabank Belmopan donates uniforms to Belmopan Special Constables program Yesterday, the Belmopan Police Formation received […]

Caye Caulker businessman fined for illegal possession of raccoons
Yesterday, Jacob Emmanuel Cabral of Caye Caulker was fined $2,000 for “unlawful possession of forest […]

Fair weather to continue
The 24-hour forecast is for mainly fair weather with sunny skies and partly cloudy skies […]

Chinese national busted for fake nationality docs
A Chinese national and his translator have been arrested and are under investigation after the […]

BEL deploys second team of linemen to Virgin Islands to help restore power
On Monday Belize Electricity Ltd. (BEL) deployed a second team of five linemen to assist […]

Belize Tertiary Education options and opportunities Expo 2018
The Ministry of Education’s Tertiary Unit is hosting a Belize Tertiary Options and Opportunities Expo. It […]

Police shoots man in domestic argument
Yesterday morning around 10:45, Ladyville police responded to a report of a domestic nature in the […]

Belmopan Police arrest Chinese man for fake nationality documents
Yesterday the Belize Immigration Department busted two Asian Nationals in Belmopan with a fake nationality […]

Body of missing Corozal man found
On Monday, BBN reported that Teodoro Pena of San Narciso, Corozal and his friend Isael […]

Blogs

Southwest Seat Sale Weather and November Events
Just in time for the snowbirds, a Southwest seat sale. $69 (one way) fares from Ft. Lauderdale (FLL) start November 21 for 7 days (excluding weekends) to the 30th. Then again the first half of December and pretty much all of each month right up until August (which is far as you can see right now). Return flights are on average, $130 to $150 (again not on weekends) and there are some days thrown in that show much higher prices. Their “Low Fare Calculator“ is a great tool to show lowest fares all month by month. taco Tip # 11: Buying brightly colored or uniquely printed luggage makes it easier to spot your bags on the conveyer belt which could help you get closer to the front of the customs line. I also recommend 4 wheel spinner luggage. It makes schlepping bags so much easier. Or, for those who like to shop and love novelty travel gear, there is a hilarious option. You can buy a cover by Firebox called “Head Case“, which is a picture of your own or any face of your choosing (but the point is to identify your luggage as yours). If you have standard black luggage and are not ready to replace it yet, tying a colorful bandana to your handle is a cheap and cheerful solution. Also useful to keep on your person after arrival when you are traveling somewhere that can get hot and sweaty.

Scotty's Celebrated their first Bike - Rally
On Saturday November 4, 2017 Scotty's celebrated there first Bikers-Rally. Live band was played by Surpassing Silence from 3pm to 6pm at Scotty's. At 6pm the first ever Bike Rally gathered in front of Scotty's to parade around town. Special drinks where offer from 8pm until 10pm Dj Albert from Corozal and Dj Xavi the Remixer from Chetumal Came out to play great music until 2am. Over 50 bikers from around the country and international where in Corozal to display their their best motorcycle.

Corozal House of Culture celebrates Full Moon with Belize Dynamic Band
I'm a little late posting this for Corozal, I had a slight (technical) problem. I'll do my best. Corozal House of Culture Celebrated "FULL MOON" with Belize Dynamic Band on November 4, 2017. It commenced at 7:30pm with great music such as pop, rock, 80's, Salsa music that was played for the public to enjoy. Belize Dynamic Band played great music, even the people danced at some point of the event. At the event I saw Traveller's offering great mixed drinks for sale. They had a mixer of Pinacolada, Bailey's, Rum Punch, Rum and Coke and other various drinks. Another booth was offering: Cold Frappe coffee for 5$ at the event for @ School fundraiser.

Introducing Maya’s Official In-flight Magazine – Caribbean Culture and Lifestyle
Introducing Maya’s official in-flight magazine – Caribbean Culture and Lifestyle. Maya Island Air is very proud to be introducing our first ever in-flight magazine - Caribbean Culture and Lifestyle, produced in partnership with the amazing team at McNab Visual Strategies. Through five finely crafted issues printed yearly and an ever-growing online community, CC+L is the go-to for the best in current, local and regional tourism news. Backed by an innovative digital platform, stunning photography, incisive stories and articles, CC+L will push the boundaries both visually and informatively, delivering illuminating content to our in-flight passengers and customers in a new and dynamic fashion. Introducing Maya’s official in-flight magazine – Caribbean Culture and Lifestyle. Maya Island Air is very proud to be introducing our first ever in-flight magazine - Caribbean Culture and Lifestyle, produced in partnership with the amazing team at McNab Visual Strategies. Through five finely crafted issues printed yearly and an ever-growing online community, CC+L is the go-to for the best in current, local and regional tourism news. Backed by an innovative digital platform, stunning photography, incisive stories and articles, CC+L will push the boundaries both visually and informatively, delivering illuminating content to our in-flight passengers and customers in a new and dynamic fashion.

International Sources

Belize: Beaches, adventure and history
Neatly wedged between Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean Sea, don’t let its size fool you – there’s plenty here for a standalone holiday. Its Mayan experience is at the heart of it all, predominantly in the western Cayo District, home to the unassuming capital Belmopan, aka the ‘Garden City’ thanks to surrounding waterfalls, caves and rivers that are ideal for hiking, birdwatching and soft adventure. The tourist hub, though, is San Ignacio, a small town of lively local bars and restaurants, and a good base for Caracol, Belize’s most impressive Mayan city; Cahal Pech, the oldest known site in the Belize River Valley; and the temples of Xunantunich, where a new tomb was discovered in 2016. Hanna Stables offer horse-riding tours here, including a quirky ferry crossing with horses in tow. Cayo District is home to the Actun Loch Tunich cave, where a hike and abseil take you 300 feet down into Central America’s largest cave system. It’s also relatively easy to visit the magnificent Mayan complex of Tikal in Guatemala, a two-hour drive across the border.

"Apocalyptic" storms threaten to overwhelm small island states
Unless emissions can be drastically and quickly curbed, efforts by small island nations to adapt to climate change may be in vain, a leader of a group of small island nations said Tuesday. Hurricanes that hit the Caribbean this year were like nothing seen before, with Hurricane Irma so strong it was picked up by seismic machines that detect earthquake tremors, officials said. National plans to curb planet-warming emissions, drawn up ahead of the Paris agreement, currently add up to a projected temperature rise of 3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2100 - well above the 1 degree Celsius rise already seen. That may bring climate impacts that are impossible for small island nations to deal with, their leaders warned at the U.N. climate talks in Bonn Tuesday.

Jungles, lagoons and Ernest Hemingway provide vibrant inspiration for designers of Belize resort and spa
Architect Roberto de Oliveira Castro and interior designer Samuel Amoia have collaborated on a beach resort in Belize, described as “unlike anything travelers have ever seen in the Caribbean”. Located in the hideaway beach town of Placencia, the Itz’ana Resort & Residences occupies 16 miles of a peninsula, with the Caribbean Sea on one side and a lagoon on the other. The new resort, named after the Mayan god of day and night, features 50 suites and 46 waterfront residences, with a watersports adventure centre, spa, full-service marina and fitness and wellness centre to open in 2018. Colin Hannan, the resort’s co-founder and MD, added: “We’re committed to going above and beyond what’s expected of a beachfront resort, and we believe that giving back to the local community and environment while also offering an enhanced luxury experience will make Itz’ana unlike any other hotel.”

Dr. Paul Whisnant, Founder of International Servants, Delivers Aid to Hungry Children
Dr. Paul Whisnant, founder of a nonprofit Mission called International Servants, oversees many charity programs, one of which is known as Feed-A-Child Belize. At their Feed-A-Child Center, each month hundreds of malnourished children receive a hot meal and love from the ladies who volunteer. The Mission has also created a Feed-A-Child Farm which produces vegetables to be used in the feeding of hungry children. Earlier this year, the Government of Belize recognized Dr. Whisnant for his 27 years of humanitarian work in the country of Belize and appointed him as the Honorary Humanitarian Ambassador of Belize. Many villages have benefited from Dr. Paul's Mission, International Servants (or iServants for short). The Mission has impacted tens of thousands of people across the country of Belize. The Mission is uniquely composed of a staff of over 150 which are predominantly Belizeans.

Vote for Life or Death - Pilot Episode
a TV series that is being produced by an American-Belizean filmmaker to be filmed in Belize in 2018!

Videos

Breathtaking Belize - WestJet Promo Video, 2min. Who's up for a trip to Belize this winter? Seasonal non-stop flights from Calgary and Toronto start October 30.

BTB’s Lifetime Achievement Award 2017, 4min. “The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to those who have dedicated their lives to grow and develop Belize’s tourism industry. The awardee’s contributions are significant and have positively impacted Belize and the lives of countless Belizeans. Despite challenges, this tourism industry lifetime achiever persevered. This individual embodies the definition of a true success story”

2nd Annual Belize International Yoga Festival, 1min.

Youths of the World Gather in Belize, 5.5min.

Belize Bureau of Standards and the Ministry of Energy (Regional Energy Efficiency) ), 33min.

The Street Games Tournament is scheduled for 12th November on Albert Street, 22min.

UN Convention Against Corruption, 35min.

Hamanasi Dive and Adventure Resort- Belize, 2min.

Full Moon concert by Belize Dynamic(5), 5min.

2017 Halloween Snorkeling in Belize with sharks and stingrays, 3.5min.

Dolphins near San Pedro, Belize, 1.5min.

Sports Talk Show Nov. 8, 90min.

November 8, 2017

Belize represented at the Travel Club Workshop in the Netherlands

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

Looking for Sales and Collections Representative
Do you have the RIGHT STUFF?

WESTJET begins direct flight to Belize from Calgary, Canada
A brief inaugural ceremony was held at the Departure Lounge of the Philip Goldson International Airport on Friday, November 3rd to commemorate WestJet’s new non-stop weekly service between Calgary, Canada and Belize. According to WestJet the service is part of the airline’s seasonal schedule for the winter of 201718. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Belize Hotel Association, senior staff of the Belize Airport Concession Company (BACC), the Canadian Consulate to Belize and the Belize Tourism Board among others. Short addresses were delivered by Mr. Lynn Young, Honorary Consul of Canada to Belize and the Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism & Civil Aviation.

San Pedro Lions Club Receives Donation from U.S. Lions Club
On Thursday, October 2nd, Dr. Allan Shencks donated $250US to the San Pedro Lions Club (SPLC). The donation was received by Melanie Paz, Vice-President of the SPLC. Shencks gave the donation to SPLC for future projects on Ambergris Caye on behalf of his group, the Glocester Rhode Island Lions Club in the U.S. Shencks came along with the Belize Dental Mission to the island and has been here since Monday, October 23rd. The SPLC would like to thank Dr. Allan Shencks for his kind donations. To learn more about SPLC work, you can visit ambergriscaye.com/lionsclub/

Ambergris Today

The early bird gets the best produce
You have to wake up at about 4:30a.m. To beat the rush at the pop up markets on Tuesdays in San Pedro. Farmers sail from the mainland to the island every week, while islanders looking for fresher and cheaper produce wake up before daybreak.

Guatemala to produce maps including Belizean territory ahead of referendum
According to reports from Channel 5 and Love FM, Guatemalan authorities are preparing to make maps […]

WESTJET Begins Direct Flight To Belize From Calgary, Canada
A brief inaugural ceremony was held at the Departure Lounge of the Philip Goldson International Airport on Friday, November 3, 2017, to commemorate WestJet’s new non-stop weekly service between Calgary, Canada and Belize. According to WestJet the service is part of the airline's seasonal schedule for the winter of 2017- 18. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Belize Hotel Association, senior staff of the Belize Airport Concession Company (BACC), the Canadian Consulate to Belize and the Belize Tourism Board among others. Short addresses were delivered by Mr. Lynn Young, Honorary Consul of Canada to Belize and the Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism & Civil Aviation.

A Haven Of Hope To Shine At New Children’s Home In San Pedro
On Saturday, November 4, 2017, the doors to Hope Haven children’s home and battered women and Shine Center were officially opened during a very emotional and heart-warming ribbon cutting ceremony. A group of persistent and motivated island residents worked incessantly to transform a ‘gentleman’s bar’ into a home and center that will assist to empower young women and become a shelter for children in need of a home, guidance and rehabilitation. The building transformation is impressive - The first floor is warm and inviting; it’s home to Shine Center, complete with a hang-out area, play room, counseling room, meeting space and a beautiful kitchen that is now home to the San Pedro Food Bank.

Misc Belizean Sources

Splashers!
Join us this week at Crazy Canucks on Thursday from 2pm-4pm to paint “Follow The Leader”!

The Battle of the Drums Presents the 9th Annual Food and Fete
Friday, Nov. 10th, 8pm-3am, PG Sports Complex

NEBL prepares for 2018 season! Tune in to TNC10!
The National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) will be tipping off its fifth consecutive season on Thursday, January 18 as the defending champions, Belmopan Bandits, will host the sub- champions San Pedro Tiger Sharks. The game will be played at the UB gymnasium in Belmopan, with tip-off time being 8:30 p.m. The upcoming season will have 8 teams. 6 of the teams from last season will return to participate in the upcoming season. These teams are Orange Walk Running Rebels, Belize Hurricanes, San Pedro Tiger Sharks, Belmopan Bandits, Cayo Western Ballaz and Dangriga Dream Ballers. Belize City No Limit has changed management and their new team name is Belize City Defenders. The eight team participating will be Agharta, which is a team from Chetumal.

The Belize Sister Reef Project
The Belize Barrier Reef and Great Barrier Reef are mysterious places and are home to thousands of species of wild life, with thousands more waiting to be revealed. But they need protecting. The more we protect, the more we’ll discover. Sign Up Here: http://bit.ly/2iBOASl

Ms. Elsia Pop receives the My Diana Legacy Award
Embassy Belmopan issues thousands of non-immigrant visas to Belizeans who want to travel to the United States for tourism, education, temporary work, or onward travel to other destinations. Occasionally we encounter applicants who are using their visas to do extraordinary things. Earlier this year we met Ms. Elsia Pop, recipient of the My Diana Legacy Award. Ms. Pop travelled all the way to Saint James Palace in London to receive the award from Prince Harry and Prince William. She won the Diana Legacy Award for preserving her Mayan culture by documenting stories of Mayan traditions and for teaching handicraft making to other youth. Ms. Pop shared these photos with us and writes that she is” truly grateful for this gift and I continue to pass it on.”

Congratulations to the High School Battle of the Drums Champion IHS
Independence High School are the Champions of this year's High School Battle of the Drums Competition held last week Friday at the Big Bird's Isle, Kudos are in order!

Vacancy at the Government of Belize Press Office
We're having a casting call for a News Anchor! Are you the person for the job? Then, send your resume and headshot to [email protected].

2nd Avenue is getting a well deserved face lift in Corozal
This is the street running along YNOT Bakery and Copper Horse Inn.

Belmopan Screen on the Green
Mark your calendars this Thursday, November 9, Screen on the Green at the Governor General Field! Come and enjoy the movie Silver Linings!

BTIA Membership Campaign and Mixer in San Pedro
There's much work to be done when it comes to improving our tourism product in San Pedro. We invite you to come to our Membership Mixer and learn how as a group, we can make positive changes in our community. No matter what your business may be on Ambergris Caye, one way or another it depends on tourism.

Joyjah Estrada
NYC adventures with Kate Spade... what a dream

2017 World Youth Conference in Belize
Belize is the official host of the 2017 World Youth Conference (WYC). The conference was officially declared opened by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youths, Sports & Culture Hon. Patrick Faber at an opening ceremony at the Ramada Princess Hotel in Belize City on Monday night. The evening closed with a live performance of the theme song, "Heretimativa Juntos (Stronger Together)" performed by Belizean artists, C-Wills, Bernadette Gilharry, Supa G, Tanya Carter and T.R. Shine. The 2017 WYC is being hosted under the theme, "Globally running to 2030, Becoming Sustainably Strong" and is a gathering of national, regional and international youth leaders with an objective to bring the voice of youth into a transnational deliberation on how to make the post-2015 development agenda a reality.

SBDCBelize conducts its first National Entrepreneurship Roadshow
In commemoration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, that is being celebrated throughout the region; The Small Business Development Centre Belize (SBDCBelize), a unit of BELTRAIDE has launched a month of entrepreneurial activities throughout the month of November. The National Entrepreneurship Month is in line with BELTRAIDE’s mandate for enterprise and entrepreneurship. The SBDCBelize team is currently traversing the country for the first of its kind, National Entrepreneurship Roadshow. The Roadshow is geared for schools within the three major regions of the country and addresses two of the centre’s pillars within the National Entrepreneurship Strategy: Mindset / Culture and, Education. The Entrepreneurship Labs are being conducted in Corozal Jr. College, Independence High School and Belize Rural High School where over 300 students will engage in an activity-based sensitization on the concept of entrepreneurship.

Stakeholder Consultations CARICOM Regional Energy Efficiency Building Code (REEBC)
The Belize Bureau of Standards (BBS) in the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Commerce in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Service, Energy and Public Utilities (MPSEPU) hereby informs the general public that stakeholder consultation on the CARICOM Regional Energy Efficiency Building Code (REEBC) will be held at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza in Belize City on November 8, 2017. The document was developed by the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) in collaboration with the CARICOM Secretariat and the German Agency for International Co-operation (GIZ) as an important step in addressing the high costs associated with electricity generation and consumption and ultimately sustainable access to energy in the region. In addition, the Code will help to alleviate the environmental concerns related to greenhouse gas emissions that increase global warming and contribute to climate change.

Horseshoe Competition 2017 in San Pedro
This sounds like fun! Come join the fun at the Central Park.

Belize hosts climate risk management workshop
The government of Belize, with the support of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), is stepping up its climate change adaptation efforts. Belize’s Social Investment Fund (SIF), an implementing agency of the government addressing the basic needs of the country’s most vulnerable, has set in motion plans to incorporate climate risk management in its national project development process. On October 26 and 27, the Bank funded a CRM training workshop for SIF’s stakeholders. Recognising Belize’s high vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, including natural disasters such as hurricanes, storms, flooding, earthquakes and erosion, the sessions focused on minimising their negative effects, which can both reverse and retard national development.

Belize Red Cross launches a U.S. Embassy-funded Project!
The Belize Red Cross launched the “Strengthening Partnerships through Accountability and Transparency” initiative on October 25. The Embassy is proud to fund this critical work with a Central America Regional Security Initiative Economic Support Funds grant! The project aims to improve emergency and disaster response and resilience in 16 rural communities. U.S. Embassy Charge d’ Affairs, a.i. Ms. Adrienne Galanek spoke on the importance of working relationships between the communities, the Belize Red Cross, and government agencies to the success of this project. Village Council representatives from those communities and representatives from CEMO, University of Belize, the Ministry of Labor, and NEMO attended the kick-off stakeholder meeting.

Corozal ART in THE PARK
Saturday, November 11th, 2017. Come out and enjoy.

Program of preservation of the Maya Language in the Corozal District
Powerful encounters and partnerships formed today as Toone Masehualoon met with Professors at La Universidad de Chetumal Quintana Roo (UQROO) to develope a program of preservation of the Maya Language in the Corozal District, Belize. Thank you Professor Cruzita Ken, Professor Ever Canul, and Professor Wilber Canto. Target date for Maya Language school is February 2018. We also created partnership with Mr. Cesar Yam Ake for support with obtaining our pre-hispanic authentic Maya Instruments along with tutoring for its effective usage. Ok, here we go! Keep an eye out for original Maya music at Art in the Park in Corozal in the near future. We were privileged to be present for the recognition ceremony for the best Hanal Pixan altar at the University. First prize going to hermanito (brother) Cesar Yam Ake for his effort of forwarding the Maya culture and spirituality with this beautiful Memorial to those who served at the UQROO and have passed on.

COROZAL — DAVCO Cultural Expo 2017!!
Fun for the entire family, including cultural presentations, music, traditional food, and beverages. It's all happening Friday, 17th November 2017, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at Corozal Central Park. If you are a Maya Mestizo, Mestizo, Creole, Garifuna, East Indian, Chinese and feel proud of your culture, share this flyer. It is our responsibility to revive our cultures. If you are willing to participate at the DAVCO expo, feel free to contact Deima Sanchez at 602-6659 during working hours or at email [email protected] This event is being organized by various villages in Corozal. Proceeds from this event will be utilized to promote all the villages that are being represented.

Thomas Vincent Ramos Moonlight Concdrt
Monday, Nov. 13th, Stann Creek House of Culture

Omar Sierra at the Belize Museum
Omar Sierra brilliantly captures the essence of everyday life! come take a look at the Museum of Belize and be the next lucky person to take home one of his pieces.

Lola Delgado at the Belize Museum
There's still time to stop by the Museum of Belize and take a look at the lovely art work we have on display. Today we look at Lola Delgado's bright and lively style!

"Natural Heritage, Natural Wealth"
While a national economic assessment of Belize’s coral reefs & mangroves found that they provide more than half a billion US$ per year (US$559 million) in goods and services through recreation, fisheries and coastal protection, we are yet to fully use economic analysis to inform resource protection and management. The Marine Protected Areas which make up the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, undoubtedly contribute a significant percentage of this half billion-dollar figure. Cooper et al. 2009 estimated that Belize’s MPAs can provide extremely good “value for money”, generating economic benefits well beyond the quantity invested in their protection. In the case of World Heritage Sites, UNESCO affirms that there are considerable economic benefits to gaining a World Heritage designation. An increase in tourism and global awareness that comes with designation allows local economies surrounding World Heritage Sites to benefit. Download your copy of "Natural Heritage, Natural Wealth", a report highlighting the economic benefits of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage Site, from the links below. English: http://www.wwfca.org/en/resources/publications/belize_natural_heritage_natural_wealth.cfm Español: http://www.wwfca.org/recursos/publicaciones/belice_patrimonio_natural_riqueza_natural.cfm

Channel 7

Chinese Man Busted With Bogus Immigration Document
It took him one single day to get a nationality certificate. Tonight, 7News is investigating the story of a Chinese man named Yuanran Zheng who came into the country for the first time on Sunday, and showed up at the Social Security Office in Belmopan to apply for a social security card on Monday. And to get it, he carried a bogus nationality document saying he was a Belizean national. Zheng - who only speaks Chinese and was accompanied by a translator - said he'd gotten the nationality certificate 10 years earlier. But something about it didn't look right, so the staff at Social Security asked Zheng and his translator to wait while they made a cross check with the Immigration Department.

CCJ Orders Hon. Elrington To Produce Document, Minister Says He Doesn't Have It
In August, we told you how Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington lost a civil appeal at the Caribbean Court of Justice. The court ordered him to hand over land title certificates and other documents for 16 parcels of land which were all purchased at a total value of just over $641,000 Belize dollars. It's a protracted legal battle that's been ongoing for about 7 years now where he and his former business partners from the company, Progresso Heights Limited, have been in and out of court. Progresso Heights Limited is a Belizean company in which the American father and son, Lawrence and Adam Schneider and Elrington are shareholders. The company acquired 2,000 acres of land in Progresso Village, Corozal. In 2010, the business relationship between Elrington and the Schneider's went sour after he sued them for allegedly acting improperly and illegally. A few months later, the Schneider's filed a lawsuit against him alleging that their company sent his law firm documents relating to 16 parcels of land. His law firm was to supposed to carry out transfers for these pieces of land, and so, the Schneiders also deposited money into Elrington's bank account to cover the costs of conducting these land transactions.

Current And Former Ministers Duke It Out On Maritime Areas
This morning at court also gave us an opportunity for both Elrington and Courtenay to put on their public office hats. As we told you last week, The PUP is making a push for the Maritime Areas Act to be amended. That should happen at the next meeting of the Senate where they will be allowed to introduce a motion for the Amendment to be debated. The Opposition is acting on the advice of Belize's legal team that the Maritime Areas Act needs an amendment so that Belize can claim the full 12 miles of territorial waters between the mouth of the Sarstoon and the Ranguana Cayes in the south. Currently, Belize is only claiming 3 miles of territorial waters. That was a concession to provide for a framework for negotiating an agreement with Guatemala. Since all attempts at a negotiated settlement failed and both Belize and Guatemala have agreed that this territorial dispute can only be resolved at the ICJ, legal minds like Ambassador Assad Shoman have been insisting that the Maritime Areas Act needs to be amended. They reason that it strengthens Belize's case if all 12 miles of seas between the Sarstoon the Ranguana Cayes are being claimed.

What to Do About Odious, Offensive Guatemalan Map?
And one other topic the media pressed both Courtenay and Elrington on are the reports out of Guatemala that their government will start printing those offensive maps with Belize being a part of Guatemala. Supposedly, it's part of their public education campaign on the ICJ referendum which is coming up in March, 2018. Press reports from Guatemala say that the education campaign will feature maps which will illustrate the territory of Belize as being part of Guatemala. There will be one dotted lines to note the borders between the countries and it should say "territory in dispute". So, how will Belize handle these controversial maps, and how should it be handled? That's what both diplomats were asked, and here's that back and forth:

Alfonso Reaches A Settlement
Back in December it made major news when UDP personality Alfonso Noble, was charged with manslaughter by negligence for the accident which killed Hattieville resident Gilbert Myers. Well, we've since learned that the victim's family has received a settlement for the death of their loved one. Information to 7News is that Andrea Corrin-Myers filed a civil suit in the Supreme Court claiming damages for his death. After months of back-and-forth where they tried to settle it out of court, both parties agreed on a final resolution for an equitable compensation. We do not know the final figure, but we're told that it's over a hundred thousand dollars.

Loose Gravel Causes Head On Collision
And while that accident may work out to a mutually agreeable resolution, there was another on the George Highway this morning, which has put 2 of the victims in the hospital. It happened at around 7:00 on the stretch of road between miles 5 and 6. 25 year-old Devon Bailey was driving a grey Lexus car towards Belize City with passenger, 25 year-old Rhondine Valerio. But, that part of the road is under construction, meaning it has loose gravel. He lost control and crashed head on into this oncoming Unicomer delivery truck. That truck was driven by 55 year-old Santiago Perez

OW Collision Between Old And Young Drivers
Turning now to the north on the Phillip Golden Highway, there was a serious collision a little after 9:00 last night in Orange Walk Town. 78-year-old Apolonio Pacheco was driving his Chevrolet Silverado on the Belize Road and when he was approaching the Project Hope building, 21-year-old Pedrito Ku of San Jose Village drove his Ford Escape into Pacheco's lane causing a head-on collision. Remarkably, none of the drivers were injured, but four men who were in the car with Ku received various injuries. 40-year-old Rigoberto Juchim, Amid Gomez, and 16-year-old Rowel Cruz are listed in stable condition at the KHMH while Gian Juchim was treated and released from the Northern Regional Hospital. Blood samples were taken from both drivers as police continue to investigate.

Global Youth Descend on Belize
A major international event, the 2017 Global Youth Conference is being held in Belize. Participants from over 40 countries are here to participate. The main goal of the conference is to discuss sustainable development goals that can make a positive change in our world, and who better to push those ideals than the youth 7News was there this morning and we got to hear from the excited participants. After much anticipation and preparation, participants from over 40 different countries have finally gathered in one room to discuss driving societal change towards the sustainable development goals from a youth perspective. These young men and women are serious about making a difference by not just by learning life-changing information but also by sharing best practices.

Cops Shoot Man In Domestic Dispute
Police shot a man in the foot in Ladyville today. The cops were responding to a domestic dispute in the Milpa Area where Tiffara Tillett said that 36 year old Leon Usher was preventing her from leaving the house. The police say he then approached police "in a boisterous and rowdy manner, making threats, saying that no one will remove him from his house and if police made any attempts he was ready to kill and be killed." Undeterred, the police went about their business and removed Tillett along with some personal effects. But in the process, Usher rushed the police and tried to take away Tillett's personal effects.

Can Newcomer Bernard Wagner Lead The PUP To First Municipal Victory In A Decade?
The PUP Slate for the Belize City Council - for months we've been pressing Opposition Leader John Briceno to come up with the names. And finally, the slate was launched on Saturday. That's more than two months after the UDP held its municipal convention, but it's more or less in line with the timeframe for when the PUP launched its last Belize City slate, which was in November of 2014. The only problem is that slate - led by Yolanda Shakron - lost by a wide margin. So what will be the fate for the new PUP team led by political newcomer Bernard Wagner? Today we spoke to the businessman and former banker at his micro-credit office in Belize City. He told us he had to step out of his comfort zone to jump into politics:..

UDP Dion Ready For Bernard
So, now UDP mayoral candidate Dion Leslie isn't shadowboxing anymore. The three term councillor knows whose name will be on that ballot next to his. Today, we found him and Deputy Mayor Dean Samuels in the Port Loyola area. He told us it's not about personalities, it's about work:.. Dion Leslie, UDP Candidate for Mayor: "Well Jules I'll be honest with you. I don't really look at what the PUP is doing or who they brought. I'm looking at the work that we've accomplished over the past 12 years in office - 9 years for myself, 12 with Deputy Samuels and what we plan to accomplish come for the nest 3 years. Yes, at the same time you can't completely ignore your opponent, but we are not catching up to them or playing behind their game. They have to come to us. We are the incumbent, we know what it takes. We've been there. We are experience."

Beez In The Channel 7 Trap
Today at our 7news office we literally had "beez in the trap." But it wasn't a Nicki Minaj block party, it was a real swarm of killer bees which had formed a massive hive at the back of our office. That's the same thing that happened in September of 2014, and once again, the Agriculture Department swooped in to save us from a killer bee calamity. A big deal for us, but for these guys, just another day of bee butchery. We tease, but for all those with killer hives in their homes or offices, the Department warns about the importance of calling for help: Francisco Xui, Extension Officer for Belize District: "What we are doing today is eliminating a swarm at the house at the back why we are doing it because it is a nuisance to the public and could really harm somebody when they are being disturbed we don't like to do it because they are one of the top pollinators we have in the ambient however because it is a threat to the community we have to do the destruction."

PAHO Says Belize Can Eliminate Malaria
The latest reports from the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) say that malaria in Belize has decreased dramatically between the years 2000 and 2015. And, if the strategies of the Health officials continue to work, Malaria could become a thing of the past here in Belize. In those 15 years, the number of cases of new infections has decreased 99.12%. At its highest, there were 1,486 cases, and at the end of 2015, that number fell to only 13 cases. The last malaria death in Belize was reported in 2006. The total at-risk population has also declined by 91%, and so has the annual parasitic index, which fell from 4.9 cases, to 0.04 cases per one thousand inhabitants. According to the PAHO/WHO analysis, Belize is one of the 6 countries from the Americas that has the potential to eliminate malaria by 2020.

Koreans Make Magic On Stage
Tonight, a group of talented artists from a Korean Performing Arts Troupe called Gwangdae are on stage at the Bliss mesmerizing audiences with their artistry. The show is called "Spin, Jump, Fly" and these artists live up to their billing with startling precision. This evening 7 news got a sneak peek at the show and we learnt more about the troupe and their art. Hwang Joong Jin, Korean Ambassador Culture Advisor: "Korean embassy brought a traditional Korean group to have this performance because of the thirty-year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and Belize." "This group the Gwang de has been around 20 countries to perform and to exchange culture about Korean tradition and performing arts."

The Passing Of Pech, Noted Politician, And An Honorable Gentleman
Tonight we note the passing of former PUP Minister and 6 term Orange Walk South representative Guadalupe Pech. The 83 year old Pech died a few days ago and was buried today in Orange Walk with honours. Pech represented Orange Walk South for the PUP from 1961 to 1993 - losing for the first time in the swing of 1984. He lost again in 1993 and retired after that. But, he mostly won, in fact, in the early days of his political career, he often won his seat by astounding margins with as much as 87% and 83% of the vote.

Channel 5

3 Barely Survive George Price Highway Accident
A small car, reportedly travelling at high speed collided into a cargo truck and the passengers are lucky to be alive. The near fatal traffic accident happened this morning on [...]

Insurance Company Settles with Family of Victim of Alfonso Noble
Media personality Alfonso Noble is due back in court on January twenty-fourth, 2018, for a preliminary inquiry into the indictable charges of manslaughter by negligence, among others stemming from a [...]

Fake Chinese-Belizean and Translator Held for Using Forged Nationality for Social Security
The Immigration Department made a significant arrest today. Two Asian nationals are tonight in custody at the Belmopan police station where they are being investigated for immigration offenses. Chinese national [...]

Registrar Asked to Replace Lost Progresso Heights Certificates
Two foreign ministers, the current and the former, were going at it in court today going back to a case when Wilfred Elrington was also the Attorney General. In July, [...]

Attorney for Clients Says Faith is Shaken
And while Elrington continues to plead innocence or ignorance on what happened to the documents, rival Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay laid into him for what he believes is unnecessarily dragging [...]

Sentencing Further Delayed for Remorseful “Bucket”
In the high court, forty-six-year-old Glenford Gilbert Bermudez, the man who shot and killed his wife, was in court today for mitigation. Bermudez said he is sorry for his actions [...]

Probing Murder of Benque Teenager
On Monday night, we reported on the murder of eighteen-year-old Oscar Obando. The teen was shot to the chest and left for dead on a farm between Belize and Guatemala. [...]

Corozal Shooting Victim Critical in Hospital
A young woman remains in a critical condition inside the Intensive Care Unit of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital following a near fatal shooting in the Corozal District almost a [...]

Will Cabinet Pre-Empt Senate on Maritime Areas Amendment?
The Opposition People’s United Party announced a week ago tonight that it had filed a motion in the Senate to allow for debate on amending the Maritime Areas Act of [...]

Parties Trade Fault, But P.U.P. Will Go Ahead with Senate Motion
It was a rare moment at the Supreme Court this morning: Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington giving the press an interview on issues related to Guatemala, with former Foreign [...]

No Opposition for Opposition’s Sake
Senator Eamon Courtenay told News Five that the P.U.P.’s three Senators hope to join with the social partner Senators to get the matter debated in the Senate, preferably with but [...]

Ministers ‘Will Vote Conscience’
As stated earlier by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the issue has come up in cabinet. On Thursday last, deputy Prime Minster Patrick Faber was quizzed about it. He said [...]

All or Nothing for Guats; Belizeans Must Unite says F.M.
On Monday, we told you that the Guatemalan public awareness campaign as to the March eighteenth, 2018 referendum on settlement of the unfounded claim on Belize at the International Court [...]

Opposition Senator Chastises Minimal Response
Similar to Elrington, we posed the question of what can be done to counter the offensive Guatemalan map which affixes Belize as part of its territory to Senator Eamon Courtenay. [...]

Churches Share Concerns over Marijuana Use
The religious community continues to sound off on the issue of marijuana use and decriminalization. Despite having lost ground with the government in respect of its protest to the recent [...]

A.G. Scolded for Attack on Churches
On Friday, Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte called into question the moral authority of the church on the issue of marijuana since it has been accused, and in some instances found [...]

Immigration Department Resolving LGBT Controversy
The Immigration Department has quickly responded to allegations raised on this newscast on Friday by members of the LGBT community. Director Diana Locke has told executive director of the United [...]

Youths of the World Gather in Belize
The World Youth Conference 2017 is being held under the theme, “Globally Running to 2030, Becoming Sustainably Strong.” The three-day meeting of youth leaders from across the world commenced today [...]

O.W. Town Council Throws Hat in Crime Ring
On Friday night, businessman Amit Moryani was brutally killed in Orange Walk Town, while attempting to defend his mother who was under attack by armed robbers. A month ago, Daniel [...]

Belize Ahead of the Curve in Trade Facilitation
Belize’s Customs and Excise Department is meeting with its partners on the National Committee for Trade Facilitation all this week in Belize City to discuss efforts to increase volume of [...]

South Korean Folk Group Performs at Bliss
The Bliss Center for the Performing Arts is the venue for the Gwangdae’s Korean folk performance, “Spin Jump Fly.” Just before news time tonight, the Korean Embassy in El Salvador [...]

CTV3

Post Mortem Confirms San Narciso Village Resident Drowned
Funeral services were held last night in San Narciso Village for 38 year old Israel Novelo, whose lifeless body was found floating along the banks of the Rio Hondo yesterday afternoon. Novelo and another male person, 45 year old Teodoro Pena of Louisville Village, had gone to the Sapote Area of the Rio Hondo River, reportedly to fish, when the canoe they were on capsized. Pena reported to the Police that he was able to swim to the bank but Novelo did not resurface.

No Arrests For Mondays Brazen Daylight Robbery In Corozal Town
Corozal Police continue to investigate the brazen Monday morning robbery of a Western Union employee which occurred on 2nd Street South in Corozal Town. The main suspect is an unidentified man wearing a peak cap, t-shit and long jeans pants, who approaches 28 year old Doris Montejo and takes her purse containing over $10,000 in cash, which were funds belonging to the business. Video footage obtained by CTV-3 News shows the incident second per second, as the robber approaches the vehicle which dropped off Montejo and shows her a weapon around his pants waist. Montejo told the Police that the robber uttered, “don’t shout and hand over the money”.

Sedi's Legal Woes Continues
The legal woes of former Attorney General Hon. Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington before the court over a private land investment matter gone sour between him and former clients Progresso Heights Limited, continued today in Court. The last we had heard about this matter was back in July when the Caribbean Court of Justice pronounced that Elrington should return land documents to the company which were believed to be in his possession. But in interviews that followed the ruling, Elrington held that he could not return documents which he didn’t have. Today, Elrington returned to the Court, after having signed an affidavit that he was not in its possession and requesting the documents be procured and delivered, entered a challenge. Attorney for the private company, Eamon Courtenay, explained to the media why Elrington’s move was unsuccessful.

Sedi Scoffs at PUP Proposed Revision To Maritime Areas Act
The People’s United Party has submitted a motion for an amendment to the Maritime Areas Act to be entered on the agenda of the next Senate meeting for consideration and debate. The amendment will propose that Belize includes in the Maritime Areas Act the full length of its recognised maritime territory, extending the 3 miles outward of Sarstoon area and Ranguana Cayes to the 12-mile limit as permitted under international law. The fact that the PUP is moving the bill for debate in the Senate seems to have bugged Foreign Minister Sedi Elrington however. Today he accused the Opposition of grandstanding on the issue.

Amending Maritime Act Will Ruffle Guatemala's Feathers Says Foreign Minister
And during that interview Elrington was also questioned whether he felt that in amending the Maritime Areas Act, the Government of Belize should consider whether it will ruffle the feathers of Guatemalan officials. He said that it is likely since most recently Guatemala issued a protest note over a documentary which featured our BDF soldiers patrolling the border. Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington, Foreign Minister:

Six Persons Escape Near Fatal Road Traffic Accident
Six persons are luck to be alive tonight after they were involved in what could have been a deadly traffic accident on the Belize Corozal Road here in Orange Walk. Police responded to the scene of the accident at around 9.06 p.m and upon arrival observed a Grey in color Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with L/P OW-C-18824, and a Gold in color Ford Escape with L/P OWC-19571 with extensive damages to the front portion. Footage captured by residents of the area show some of the victims on the pavement after being assisted out of the Ford Escape. They were suffering from various degrees of injuries.

LOVE FM

Civil matter against UDP Loyalist Alfonso Noble is Discontinued
More than one hundred thousand dollars, that’s the payout that Andrea Corrin-Myers received as compensation for the death of her husband, Gilbert Myers. The quantity was confirmed by Myers’ attorney, Senior Counsel Said Musa. The payout was issued by RF and G Insurance whose customer is UDP loyalist Alfonso Noble. The widow had launched a […]

CCJ rules in Favor of Progresso Heights Ltd
The case of Progresso Heights Limited versus Pitts and Elrington Law Firm was heard at the Caribbean Court of Justice this morning where the ruling was in favor of the appellants Progresso Heights Limited. The case which began seven years ago surrounds a disagreement between Elrington and Progresso Heights Limited involving a real estate company. […]

Courtenay: “We Need a Foreign Minister who will Advance our Interest”
On Monday we reported that as part of its educational campaign on the territorial dispute, the Guatemalan Government decided to produce textbooks with Belize included in the Guatemalan Map. Today, reporters asked Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington about the decision and what he intends to do in response. Here’s what he said. Wilfred Elrington […]

Elrington: “GOB will not support PUP’s Motion”
Today Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington told the media that government will not support the Opposition People’s United Party’s motion to debate an amendment to the Maritime Areas Act in the Senate. The PUP is proposing to remove those sections of the Maritime Areas Act that would have enabled a negotiated settlement of the claim […]

Brigadier General Jones to take up New Post in Washington
Love News has received credible information that Brigadier General David Jones will be appointed as Belize’s Military Attaché in Washington D.C. Jones who is currently on pre-retirement leave told Love News that it is a possibility but the Government has not finalized the decision. We asked Defence Minister John Saldivar to confirm our information and […]

Traffic Accident sends two to the Hospital
This morning, there was a terrible incident at mile four on the George Price Highway. According to police reports, about 7:00 a.m., 55 –year-old Santiago Perez of Orange Walk Town, was driving a Hilo cargo truck, belonging to Unicomer Belize, heading in the direction of Belmopan. Upon reaching between miles 5 and 6, 25-year-old Devon […]

Head-on Collision Injured Several Persons
Several persons were injured in a road traffic accident last night in Orange Walk. Police report that about nine o’clock in the night, 78-year-old Apolonio Pacheco of Guinea Grass Village was driving his grey Chevrolet Silverado Pickup on the Belize Corozal Road in Orange Walk Town while 21-year-old Pedrito Ku of San Jose Village was […]

Amandala

Store owner lost his life for $300
Amit Moryani, 37, an Indian store owner who resided on Cemetery Street, Orange Walk Town, died after he was shot in the left side of the chest by one of two armed thieves. Police said that Moryani and his mother were in their store at about 9:00 on Friday night, when the two masked thieves entered. One was armed with a pistol and the other was unarmed. The unarmed thief went to Moryani’s mother and grabbed her bag, which she had on her shoulder. She resisted, and Moryani came from behind the counter to help her. Police said the armed bandit then pointed his gun at them and fired twice. One of the bullets hit Moryani in the chest, and one of the bullets grazed his mother’s head. The thieves then ran out of the store with the bag, which contained $300.

Dedron McKay, 20, gunned down on Haynes Street
The latest blood to be spilled on the southside of Belize City is that of southside resident, Dedron Dennis McKay, 20, a special needs young man. He was gunned down on Haynes Street in the vicinity of Kraal Road, a known hot spot, sometime around 8 p.m. on Friday. During a press conference held today, Senior Superintendent of Police, Marco Vidal, suggested that McKay’s murder was connected to the Sunday, October 29, shooting of Cameron Moreira, 18; Godwin Flowers, 28; Darren “Nose” Dawson, 32; and Gerald Tillett, 67, on Neal Pen Road in Belize City.

PUP launches City Council slate: “PUP Team-11 The Rebirth”
This evening, the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP) launched its Belize City Council slate, consisting of its mayoral candidate and 10 city councilor candidates who will attempt to wrest power from the incumbent United Democratic Party (UDP) in next year’s Municipal Elections in March. The PUP’s launch, which it calls “The Rebirth”, took place at an old-school rally at the Pound Yard Bridge, where a sizable crowd of city residents and party supporters turned up for an evening which featured musical entertainment and speeches from some of the PUP’s heavy-hitting parliamentarians. The evening ended with an address by the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. John Briceño.

4 murders since Friday, November 3
Four murders have been recorded across the country since Friday. One occurred in Belize City and another in Orange Walk Town, and they are covered elsewhere in this newspaper. The most recent of the four murders occurred this morning in San Pedro, and Benque Viejo Del Carmen. At a press conference held this morning, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Alejandro Cowo, told the press that at around 7 a.m. today, San Pedro police visited the first floor of an incomplete two-storey concrete building on Coco Plum Street, where they saw the body of a man, who was later identified as German national Adam Adalbert Cobbler, 53, who has been in Belize for the last five years.

Put up or shut up, AG Peyrefitte tells 200 pastors
Two days before the government’s amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act which decriminalized 10 grams of marijuana, the National Evangelical Association of Belize (NEAB) held a press conference on Tuesday, October 31, at which they condemned the new law. The new measure was signed into law by the Governor General yesterday, Thursday, after Attorney General, Hon. Michael Peyrefitte gave the green light that all was in order with the new law. Notwithstanding the bi-partisan support that the decriminalization measure enjoyed, the NEAB, at their press conference and in a media release, threatened to march on Belmopan.

Supreme Court admits William Alden Lindo to practice law
In an early morning session, the Supreme Court of Justice Courtenay Abel was called into session to hear Claim No. 643 of 2017, “In the matter of an application by William Alden Lindo to be admitted to practice law in Belize and be enrolled on the Roll (Supreme Court) as an attorney-at-law.” Lindo’s application was sponsored by attorney Glen Godfrey, S.C., at whose law firm, Glenn D. Godfrey & Co LLP, he has been employed as trainee associate. The application was seconded by attorney Lisa Shoman, S.C., who, along with former Prime Minister, Said Musa, S.C., and attorney Andrew Bennett, submitted affidavits attesting to Lindo’s good character.

Down to the wire; 3 PLB clubs to battle for 2 playoff spots in last reg. season weekend
Well, this one is indeed going “down to the wire,” folks. After Week 13 results this past weekend in the Premier League of Belize (PLB) 2017-2018 Opening Season, the playoff field has been narrowed down to 5 teams for only 4 spots. Two teams, defending champions Belmopan Bandits SC and Verdes FC, have already secured their playoff berths; and the other 2 spots are now up for grabs among 3 teams – San Pedro Pirates FC, Police United FC and Belize Defence Force FC. (See standings below.) On Saturday night on their home turf at the M.A. Stadium in Independence, Placencia Assassins FC saw their slim playoff hopes completely dashed, as they fell, 5-1, to visiting Verdes FC. After Luis “Baaka” Torres (31’) gave Assassins the early lead, Verdes equalized before halftime through Gilroy “Bredda” Thurton (39’), and then continued with second half goals from Desmond Wade (54’), Brazilian Alcides “Paco” Thomas (66’ & 81’) and Ricardo “Cheety” Jimenez (68’).

Guadalupe Magaña Dyck Gold Cup Finals
The Finals of the Guadalupe Magaña Dyck Gold Cup Tournament 2017 were held today at the Yo Creek Football Field. In the third place female game, August Pine Ridge Fusion Girls won, 4-1, over Guinea Grass Sugar Girls. Gisel Baeza (1), Delmi Cornelio (2) and Wendy Lamb (1) shook the net for August Pine Ridge, while Noriely Terry scored for Guinea Grass. The third place male game saw Guinea Grass Desert Storm with the 3-1 win over San Carlos FC with 2 goals from Brian Westby and 1 from Jorge Garcia, while Gilbert Perez scored for San Carlos FC.

Dangriga sports stats – cycling
Tex-Bel Farm and the Dangriga Town Council, along with the Dangriga Amateur Cycling Association, will be hosting the first Annual Coconut Fest Cycling Race this Saturday, November 11, starting at 1:00 p.m. This race was postponed from October 28 because of rain. The race will start (and finish) from in front of Eldrid Martinez Park on George Price Drive, right across from Dangriga Bowen and Bowen Distributors, and head on the Southern Highway to Maya Centre and back, a total of 40 miles. This race on Saturday is only for Juniors and Masters categories. Prizes for both Juniors and Masters remain the same, along with station prize. Registration per rider is $10.00.

Elridge “Postman” Latchman returns
On his last visit to our sports desk back in May of 2008, we did a story on Elridge Latchman titled, “The original ‘Postman’ visits”. An outstanding all-round athlete in his youth in Belize, Latchi stopped by our sports desk again on Monday, October 30, and reminisced on his sports/life journey from childhood days until his departure from Belize at 23 years of age, still at the top of his game in football, in 1970. Now retired at 70, and with a wealth of experience and training under his belt, Latchi, who has made regular visits back home to the Jewel over the years, is focused on doing what he can to help improve the sporting infrastructure (his specialty is in construction of sports facilities) and programs for youths in Belize.

The race around the corner
National municipal elections in Belize are four months away, but it is as if the race is really right around the corner. In Belize, the Christmas and New Year’s holidays dominate the November and December months after Garifuna Settlement Day, and what basically happens in January and February is that roots people have to fight to recover from the financial excesses of the holidays. March 2018, in a sense, is right around the corner. The ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) presently controls 62 of the 67 municipal seats nationwide, and they should be flush with all kinds of campaign cash for the March 2018 elections. But, several serious developments have taken place in Belize since the last national municipal elections in March of 2015, the most serious of those developments being, we think, the country’s sinking deeper and deeper into debt, with unemployment, already unacceptably high, increasing exponentially as more and more businesses have shut down. The implications for crime and violence have been obvious.

Sal Awe remembers Cobo
Good morning Sir/ Madam: I read your papers today with great interest about Cobo. I was very fortunate to know him. Way back, when I was living home, he used to visit us very often. It was assumed that Cobo was a spy for the English Government. Anyhow, my Mom and Dad used to feed him every time he came around our home. He was a very pleasant man.

RIGHT TO THE POINT: Will hotels consent to the use of marijuana on their premises?
Then there is the amendment to Section 18, which deals with the penalties imposed. The essence of that section is that it states that the penalties referred to in sub-section (1) regarding possession for cannabis and cannabis resin are not applicable, provided the amount of marijuana is ten grammes or less, and the possession and use is not on the premises of an educational institution. However, what it does not state or clarify, is whether it is an offence once the proprietor of the premises does not consent to the activity on his premises, notwithstanding that the amount is only ten grammes or less. Likewise, it leaves me to assume that if the ten grammes is in possession or use of a person other than on some premises, then it is an offence. But the law is drafted so poorly, I really would need clarification of that. Also, what happens if I have possession or use in my own vehicle or boat?

Hogan’s football story – Part 9
Amandala (A): Alright… alright, Hogan…Yo prove yoself (You proved yourself)! Hogan (H): So… after that I went and formed the Warriors. Part 9 A: Okay… about what year was that when you formed the Warriors? H: Okay… that was around 79-80… that’s when the Warriors started travelling. A: So, you put together some of the same Belize guys… under your management… your own coaching/ management system.. H: Yes… because, one of the main factors that I wanted was to put a set of guys together who want to travel… who want to go wherever, whenever, whichever… and from there it became history… 35 years of Warriors… A: I’ve heard that name a lot… and always I’ve heard that Hogan has a team… and Hogan is going here or there… and you came to Belize… you brought a team to Belize too, right?

BELIZE’S INDEPENDENCE & A CLOUDY STATE OF THE NATION!
It is said by many progressive leaders of the Caribbean, like the late Michael Manley of Jamaica, Maurice Bishop of Grenada and Fidel Castro of Cuba, that independence on paper given to nations like Belize, the former British Honduras, by their British colonial slavemasters, was not really true independence at all. They say that such fabricated and false sense of independence was not really won unless through the overthrow of the oppressive colonial masters, as it was in Haiti that became the first independent nation in the Western Hemisphere even before the great United States. And that Haiti overthrew its brutal and oppressive slave and colonial masters in one of the most still talked about revolutions called, “The Haitian Revolution”.

Julio Choc, 35, alleged hit-and-run driver, remanded
On Thursday, police arrested and charged Julio Choc, 35, a truck driver of Belmopan, for a hit-and-run accident on the Southern Highway that claimed the life of Sittee River resident, Dorothy Andrews, 32, and injured her husband, Allen Andrews, 35, also of Sittee River. Choc was charged with causing death by careless conduct, driving without due care and attention, manslaughter by negligence, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident, and failure to render aid. Choc was taken to the Dangriga Magistrate’s Court Friday morning, where no plea was taken from him and he was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until December 12.

“Alkaline” committed to Supreme Court to stand trial for murder
Henry Harris, 23, aka “Akaline,” who was charged with murder and attempted murder, was today committed by Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford to stand trial in the January session of the Supreme Court. Harris is charged with the murder of Clinton “Hog” Fraser, 44, and the attempted murder of Fraser’s younger brother, Michael Fraser. Harris is also charged with grievous harm and use of deadly means of harm. The charges are for an incident that occurred on the night of January 22, 2017 on West Collet Canal Street near Conch Shell Bay Fish Market. The brothers were hanging out there when two persons fired several shots in their direction.

Irish businessman charged for near-fatal collision
Con Murphy, 36, an Irish national who was involved in a traffic collision that occurred early Friday morning, November 3, was charged with 2 minor traffic offences when he was brought to court today before Magistrate Stephanie Gillett. The charges she read to him were for driving a motor vehicle without due care and attention and driving a motor vehicle while not being the holder of a valid driver’s license. Murphy pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was told by the prosecutor that a charge of failure to provide specimen was withdrawn by the police. The prosecutor objected to bail on the ground that Murphy is not a Belizean and consequently, he is a flight risk. The prosecutor also said that two persons were injured in the accident and further charges are imminent.

Cashief Myvett, 25, charged for $35-robbery
–Cashief Myvett, 25, who allegedly stole a wallet containing $35 by the use of force, was charged with robbery when he appeared today before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford. Myvett pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecutor objected to bail on the ground that the offence has become prevalent. When Senior Magistrate Ford asked Myvett to give a reason why he should be granted bail, he remained silent. Senior Magistrate Ford upheld the objection and she remanded Myvett into custody until January 31. The incident for which Myvett was charged, occurred on Saturday, November 4.

Supreme Court admits William Alden Lindo to practice law
n an early morning session, the Supreme Court of Justice Courtenay Abel was called into session to hear Claim No. 643 of 2017, “In the matter of an application by William Alden Lindo to be admitted to practice law in Belize and be enrolled on the Roll (Supreme Court) as an attorney-at-law.” Lindo’s application was sponsored by attorney Glen Godfrey, S.C., at whose law firm, Glenn D. Godfrey & Co LLP, he has been employed as trainee associate. The application was seconded by attorney Lisa Shoman, S.C., who, along with former Prime Minister, Said Musa, S.C., and attorney Andrew Bennett, submitted affidavits attesting to Lindo’s good character.

Breaking Belize News

Police investigating road traffic accident in Orange Walk
On Monday night around 9, Orange Walk police responded to a road traffic accident on the […]

SBDC Belize conducts its first National Entrepreneurship Roadshow
By Zoila Palma: In commemoration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, that is being celebrated throughout the region; the Small […]

New traffic laws coming for distracted drivers
The Ministry of Transport, in response to the continued loss of life and damage to […]

Police department still not fully on board with decriminalization
Despite the decriminalization of marijuana becoming official last week, many members of the Belize Police […]

Police issue statement on accident this morning
According to police, around 7:00 a.m. today a white Hilo cargo truck belonging to Unicomer […]

Chinese business robbed in San Ignacio
Xing Juan Zhu, a 29-year-old Chinese business woman of Hudson Street, San Ignacio Town reported […]

Four killed since November 1st
Belize has recorded four murders since the start of November. The first occurred on Friday […]

New Brazilian ambassador welcomed to Belize
The Ambassador of Brazil to Belize, H.E. Luciano Helmold Macieira, presented his Letters of Credence to […]

PAHO highlights Belize’s achievements on Malaria Day
Yesterday, November 6 was celebrated as Malaria Day in the Americas. In commemoration of the […]

Young man found dead in Benque
According to reports, yesterday morning, the body of an 18-year-old man was found in Benque […]

Belmopan man acquitted of murder
Belmopan resident, George Hyde, 36, has been acquitted of the December 2013 murder of Canadian […]

WestJet begins direct flight to Belize from Calgary, Canada
A brief inaugural ceremony was held at the Departure Lounge of the Philip Goldson International […]

Reese Fitzgibbon jailed for Friday morning shooting
Reese Fitzgibbon, 24, was remanded to the Hattieville prison on Monday. Police say that on […]

Accident near mile 5 on George Price highway
One person was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) after an accident around […]

Blogs

Yurumein: the Garifuna culture arrives to Belize
Since 1997, November 19th has been observed as Garifuna Settlement Day, a National Holiday. Honoring the arrival of the largest Garinagu group to Belizean shores in 1823, Garifuna Settlement Day is a celebration of a people’s cultural identity through music, dance, and food. One of the most anticipated events is the re-enactment of the Garinagu trails as they journeyed from St. Vincent to Roatan, Honduras then to Belize. This glimpse into the culture’s history is called Yurumein, which means ‘homeland’, and is a lively procession with drumming and singing. Yurumein will take place in San Pedro on Sunday, November 19th at 8AM at the shores of Central Park. The beating of drums will signal the arrival of the procession as they make their way to the San Pedro Catholic Church via boat for a mass of thanksgiving, followed by a full day of fun at the Central Park. There will be lots of traditional food such as such as hudut and bundiga for sale.

International Sources

Diving deeper into nautical archaeology
According to the United Nations Underwater Cultural Heritage, the number of shipwrecks around the world is estimated to have reached three million. Some of these sunken ships are older than the current society, and they can contain a lot of information concerning the past lives of humans belonging to a particular point of time. With the help of nautical archaeology, man has a way to decipher and comprehend the stories that have sunk and been claimed by ocean waters. He also has a way to preserve these objects thanks to this certain field. Science Clarified defines it as the discipline of searching, recovering and maintaining objects that have existed in the past and apprehending the information that can be obtained from these objects through in-depth studies.

Partnering to enhance Climate Risk Management and improve resilience in Belize
The Government of Belize, with the support of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), is stepping up its climate change adaptation efforts. Belize’s Social Investment Fund (SIF), an implementing agency of the Government addressing the basic needs of the country’s most vulnerable, has set in motion plans to incorporate Climate Risk Management in its National Project Development Process. On October 26 and 27, the Bank funded a CRM training workshop for SIF’s stakeholders. Recognising Belize’s high vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, including natural disasters such as hurricanes, storms, flooding, earthquakes and erosion, the sessions focused on minimising their negative effects, which can both reverse and retard national development.

Talk Travel: The reasons why someone might have multiple passports
The Washington Post’s Travel section writers and editors recently discussed stories, questions, gripes and more. Here are edited excerpts: Q: I read recent news about the businessman with three U.S. passports, including one in a different name. In view of the documentation (including birth certificate) anyone must submit in order to apply for a passport, how is it even possible to get one in another name? And why would someone need more than one (whether in the same or a different name)? A: Some countries (Lebanon, Libya) will not let you in if they see that you have visited a country (such as Israel) that they don’t acknowledge or support. So, travelers will carry the passport without the controversial stamp. Sometimes people need a second passport if their first one is stuck in the visa process at a foreign consulate. I, like many dual citizens, have two passports for my two nationalities. However, I am guessing that the businessman and his ilk have multiple passports for nefarious reasons: So U.S. Customs and Immigration can’t track his travels.

Why Chocolate Lovers Need To Go To Belize
Wait… Is Belize a chocolate Mecca? Seriously? People travel the world JUST to sample chocolate from the best chocolatiers on the planet. We all know about Swiss chocolate, Belgium, French, and more, but word is chocolate was a Mayan invention. So Belize has bragging rights among the best. Some people even call Belize the “cradle of chocolate,” since this exquisite confection is known to have originated in the area. A brief history of chocolate in Belize: If Christ came to Belize when he was on the earth, he could have enjoyed a tasty chocolate beverage. In the 1980s, archaeologists found 14 Maya chocolate pots, deemed to be over 2,600 years old. Some still had traces of chocolate! They say the Mayans liked to drink their delicious, dark chocolate beverage at every meal—I mean, duh! I like coffee, but chocolate with every meal? Sign me up! The Hershey company housed their cacao plantation in Belize from 1984 to 1987. This was great for the Belizean economy until chocolate prices plummeted. Hershey moved out of Belize and many farmers, who were growing cacao to service the company, were out of business.

Videos

Beautiful Belize, 13min.

BELIZE - AMBERGRIS CAYE (PART 3) - SAN PEDRO TOWN, 4min. Ambergris Caye is the largest island of Belize, located northeast of the country in the Caribbean Sea. It is about 40 km long and about 1.6 km wide. Where it has not been modified by man, is mostly a ring of white sand beach around mangrove swamp in the centre.

Morning Matters San Pedro, 60min.

Religious Leaders perspective on the Amendment to the Misuse of Drug Act., 37min.

3rd Annual WED Leadhership Conference, 28min.

World Youth Conference 2017, 22min.

Bufo, or cane toad. Deadly toad to most pets., 1min.

San Pedro City??, 30sec. City skyline...City construction...City life...City light...City streets. It’s bound to happen sooner than later. Newest development just south of town is going up with steel!!!

Tailwaters Belize - Permit City, 3min.

Belize 2017, 10min. Footage from my trip to Belize.

Police Check Point Talk Show November 7, 60min.

November 7, 2017

BOXING! BOXING! BOXING! Saturday, Falcon Field, San Ignacio

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

German national Raimund Kößler murdered in San Pedro Town
A man was found dead inside a construction site located at the corner of Cocoplum Street in San Pedro Town early on Monday morning, November, 6th. The lifeless body was found by construction workers who arrived at the San Pablo Sub-division site shortly after 6:30AM to start working. Police were called and they quickly processed the scene. The deceased has been identified as 53 -year-old Raimund Kößler (Koessler) of German nationality, who suffered a severe injury to the head. Police have since labelled the death as murder, and an investigation has been launched to detain the culprit(s). Kößler, a long-time resident, was described by neighbours in the area as someone quiet, who would always be at his home. According to them, he lived alone and the only times he would be seen on the street was when he visited the nearby grocery store. They expressed shock at his demise wondering why he was out so late from his home. His body was found in a far corner of the construction site in a place he was not known to frequent.

Hope Haven & Shine Center Inaugurated on Ambergris Caye
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Saturday, November 4th to inaugurate the opening of Hope Haven and SHINE Center. The center aims to provide shelter for abused women and children of Ambergris Caye. In attendance were the Mayor of San Pedro Town, Daniel Guerrero, and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Manuel Heredia Jr., Founders of Hope Haven & SHINE center, San Pedro Lions Club (SPLC) Members, Belize UNICEF Representative, Dr. Susan Kasedde, Media Corps and invited guests who were happy to celebrate the long-awaited opening of the center. At 6PM, Pastor Clive Welsh led the opening prayer and blessing the center. Brittney Travis of Shine then took over by welcoming everyone to the momentous occasion. “If you are here today, it is because you contributed to the completion of this center in some sort of way. This center will aim to bring hope back to all those girls and children, who have lost hope during the course of their life,” she said. Hope Haven’s Brittney O’ Daniel also shared a few words “The reason I pushed for the construction of this center was I knew it was because a necessity on the island. I want to thank the San Pedro Lions Club for donating building

Ambergris Today

Body Of Male Discovered At Construction Sight Identified As German Expat
The body of German National, Raymond Adam Adalbert Koessler was discovered this morning at around 6:30a.m. by a building contractor as he arrived at this worksite on Monday, November 6, 2017, in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. Raymond (52yrs) suffered a large cut wound to the head. His neighbors and landlord report seeing him last the night before at about 10p.m. on November 5. His body was discovered a block away from his residence at the corner of Pearl Street and Coco Plum Street inside the first floor of a two-story building still under construction. According to police, Raymond had been a resident of Ambergris Caye for five years and been living in the San Pablo Area for some time. Information from the San Pedro Police is not forthcoming with no leads on any suspects, cause of death or post mortem report. Speculations of his death are that he was assaulted late last night and died due to trauma to the head.

Colossal Olmec Head Offered By Mexico As Gift To Belizean People
As a token of appreciation because of the excellent relationship between Mexico and Belize, President Enrique Peña-Nieto donated a full-size replica of an Olmec Head to the people of Belize. The donation took place during his visit to Belize during his participation in the IV CARICOM Mexico Summit that took place two weeks ago. The Head that weighs in at 9 tons, was installed at the inner circle of the North Ring Road Roundabout in Belmopan facing the Embassy of Mexico. The helmet includes a band with four elements that have been interpreted as feline claws or bird claws. Apparently, it was part of a sculptural set inside a sunken courtyard in the site of San Lorenzo.

Historical Pruning Of Inga Trees In A New Farming System For Belize
Thirteen farmers in southern Belize made history as they pruned their first plots of Inga edulis last week. The farmers are using a new farming practice called Inga alley cropping, in which Inga trees, locally known as bri-bri, are grown in rows alongside annual crops to control weeds, improve soil health and reduce the use of herbicides. Ya’axché Conservation Trust is promoting this new farming technique to address the many challenges faced by farmers in southern Belize. Inga alley cropping stems from 20 years of research by Mike Hands at the Inga Foundation in Honduras where this farming system was developed. Over the past four years, Ya’axché has facilitated exchange visits for farmers from Toledo to see the farming system firsthand. Ya’axché has provided training workshops, Inga seeds and young plants to 17 farmers who are pioneering the establishment of Inga alley cropping in southern Belize.

Misc Belizean Sources

SBDC Workshop: ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS IN BELIZE
Presented by: Mr. Jorge Gentle, Business Adviser, SBDCBelize, Beltraide. Location: BTEC Building, ITVET Campus, Belize City. Workshop Date: November 09, 2017. Time: 9am to 12 noon. The workshop aims is to equip participants with knowledge, skills and capabilities necessary to start a business on the right foot, taking the necessary steps to formalization as well introducing them to steps and activities to finalizing their business idea. The Specific objectives of the training are to enable participants to: Better understand the skills of an entrepreneur, importance of a business plan, and acquire all legal information on how to formalize a business in Belize.

Ambassador of Brazil to Belize Presents Credentials
The Ambassador of Brazil to Belize H.E. Luciano Helmold Macieira presented his Letters of Credence on Friday, November 3, 2017 to the Governor General of Belize H.E. Sir Colville Young at the Belize House in Belmopan. In his remarks to the Governor General, Ambassador Macieira said that he hopes his contribution will further enhance the bilateral relationship between Brazil and Belize. He added that Brazil considers it a “priority to keep an operative and dynamic embassy in Belmopan, so that Brazil and Belize can more closely work together in the building of a peaceful, developed and cooperative world”. The Ambassador was accompanied by his wife and H.E. Said Guerra of Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Governor General graciously received the Ambassador’s Letters of Credence and welcomed him and his wife to Belize.

Belize Police Department received 15 new Great Wall vehicles
With the requirement of our new vehicles Eastern Devision communities will be seeing improve response of the Police when called upon and also to better serve our community in a timely and efficient manner.

Murder in the West
On the Benque Road, near the border, a body was found. The murder victim has been identified as 18 year old Oscar Obando. Reports are that the body had a gunshot wound to the chest.

Student Advocacy & Social Responsibility
UB President, Professor Emeritus Clement Sankat, invites all to the first lecture in the Presidential Series entitled "Student Advocacy & Social Responsibility" with Nikoli Edwards. Nov. 8th, 1pm, Jaguar Auditorium Belmopan Campus

Sacred Heart College visits Caves Branch
Another great visit by Sacred Heart College from San Ignacio. Students are interested, involved, thoughtful and enthusiastic. They had tons of hands-on activities about bromeliads and herbariums in particular; learning how to attach epiphytes for growing, learning how to collect, dry and even mount the dry specimens. And notice that they all enjoying their day at our garden. Love this group!

Hospitality Recruiting Services - Belize - VACANCY for post of General Manager or Assistant General Manager
Location: Southern Belize. Join a growing company in Belize. The General Manager will function as the primary strategic business leader for the hotel, and will oversee all aspects of the operation, with an emphasis on the financial side of the business. Salary commensurate with experience. Full benefits package, flexible work arrangement, Friends and Family discounts within the portfolio, and more.

CCJ Eagles Environmental Club
Yvette Sanker Riverol and the Oceana Wavemakers partnered once again with my family and I this Saturday, to clean our Corozal Bay. An initiative that started with one person has grown to approximately 25 volunteers. This proves that each one of us can make a difference in our community. Our clean up campaign resulted in recovering 15 tyres and approximately 21 bags of broken bottles, whole bottles, plastic pipes, metal and other assorted trash. Thanks to Paul, a tourist from London, who saw what we were doing and jumped right into the sea to help. Thanks to all those that passed by and stopped to give us words of encouragement and hope. This really meant a lot. Thank you Ms Yvette and the CJC Eagles. You continue to be an amazing group of wonderful and hardworking people.

A power outage is scheduled for Friday, November 10 from 10:00am to 2:00pm, affecting all villages along the Old Northern Highway
Including Boston, Rockstone Pond, Lucky Strike, Santana, Chicago, Corozalito, Maskall and Bomba. BEL to replace poles carrying high voltage power lines.

Cayo Art Festival 2017
The SISE House of Culture is having their 7th annual Cayo Art Festival on Saturday, December 9th. They're doing a call for art, so if you're a local artist, let them know, and get ready for another fun Art Fest. The fun will take place at the Cayo Welcome Center.

BDF helps distribute desks
Last week Friday, November 3, the U.S. Marines Civil Affairs Team, the Belize Defence Force continued to assist the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture to distribute a total of 36 desk to Belize Rural Primary School at three different campuses; Flowers Bank, Double Head Cabbage, and Bermudian Landing. A huge thank you to Midwest Mission Distribution Center - Chatham IL for the donation of the school desks.

Tune into our radio show to hear about our ongoing work on human-jaguar conflict and ways of co-existing with jaguars
For each show we will be a farmer. These are two of the eight farmers we are working with to implement mitigation measures. We will be on Ak Kutan Radio (96.1FM) on Tuesday, 7th of November from 3-4pm and on Sunshine Raydio Raydio (100.1FM) on Thursday, 9th of November from 7-8pm. Tune in, help us keep cows and save jaguars!

WESTJET begins direct flight to Belize from Calgary, Canada
A brief inaugural ceremony was held at the Departure Lounge of the Philip Goldson International Airport on Friday, November 3rd to commemorate WestJet’s new non-stop weekly service between Calgary, Canada and Belize. According to WestJet the service is part of the airline's seasonal schedule for the winter of 2017-18. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Belize Hotel Association, senior staff of the Belize Airport Concession Company (BACC), the Canadian Consulate to Belize and the Belize Tourism Board among others. Short addresses were delivered by Mr. Lynn Young, Honorary Consul of Canada to Belize and the Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism & Civil Aviation. In his address, Hon. Manuel Heredia said, “The importance of the Canadian market for Belize can certainly not be overstated in terms of the overall economic impact it has on Belize’s Tourism Industry.

The Belize Police Department received 15 new Wingle pick-up trucks
With this newly acquired fleece of vehicles , officers will be able to cover a wider area and have a better response time to the needs of residents. The Belize Police Department continues to bridge the gap between all communities. Together we can make Belize a safer place for all!

Edwin Chapa Show
Everyone is cordially invited to another LAUGH OUT LOUD weekend at the PRINCESS CASINO FREEZONE, Corozal for a live musical comedy show with "Edwin Chapa" this Friday, November 10th and Saturday, November 11th. Come and spin and get a chance to win. No cover. Come out and have tons of fun. LOL

Jaguars Victorious at Volleyball Finals
Congratulations, UB Black Jaguars! The male team took 1st place, and the female team took 2nd place at the ATLIB Volleyball Finals. "Male Black Jaguars are the ATLIB Volleyball Champions 2017. The Lady Black Jaguars are the ATLIB Sub Champions. The ATLIB Volleyball Nationals was held October 28th 2017. The University of Belize won the male competition and the females came in second. The Black Jaguars won their opening match against the home court favorite Saint John's Junior College easily by the score 25-21 and 25-17. Next they defeated Centro Escolar Mexico Junior College 23-25, 25-13 and 15-8. This game had to be decided in 3 sets as the Black Jaguars' rookies were unable to win the first set.

Channel 7

Murder Monday - 4 Killings to Report
Tonight, we have four murders to report in four different parts of the country: two happened on Friday night, and two were discovered this morning. The first murder was reported in the city, the second in Orange Walk, the third in San Pedro, and the fourth in Benque Viejo - like a massive homicidal handprint smothering the nation. We start in Orange Walk on Friday night, where Indian Belizean Amit Moryani was killed inside his family's store in a robbery which escalated to murder. It all happened because Moryani tried to defend his mother as one of the robbers attacked her. Our news team went north to find out how this law-abiding businessman's life was ended by crime and violence:

20 Year Old Mentally Challenged Man Gunned Down in Gang Retaliation
Turning now to Belize City, a 20 year old mentally challenged young man was killed - the casualty of a gang rivalry. The combatants in this case are neighboring groups who live around the corner from each other - and this blameless young man got caught in the middle. Here's the story:... Jules Vasquez reporting: 20 year old Deidron McKoy was killed here inside his family yard on Haynes Street on Friday night. A gunman barged in and fired seven to eight shots. He had been socializing here with his family and friends after a day at work: He was on his way out when the gunman pounced: Voice of: Natasha Smith, Deidron's Sister: "When he already finished with us he was coming out. He didn't reach out the gate. The gunman came inside the gate and approached my brother, gave him the first shot. When he gave him the first shot, my brother ran and after that I heard bang, bang, bang!

18 Year Old Found Dead In Benque
And we go now to the third murder story for tonight - which was reported this morning in Benque Viejo Town. The victim is an 18 year old who was found dead on a farm between the Guatemala and Belize borders. Police told us that the teenaged Oscar Obando had been fatally shot in the chest:... ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB: "Police visited a location this morning where they observed a male person with apparent gunshot wound to his chest. The person identity confirmed to be that of Oscar Obando, an 18 year old student of Old Bank Street, Benque Viejo Del Carmen. The area where the incident took place is between the Guatemala and Belize border. It's an isolated area. It's between Miles 25 and 26 on the Benque Road. So I cannot tell if the motive is robbery, but we found the person's belongings with him, so we are trying to see what else we can get from the scene and from the relatives as to what happened out there."

German Attorney, Killed in Building Under Construction in San Pedro
And turning now to the fourth murder - which is in San Pedro - a German man who has been living in Belize for 5 year was found in a building under construction with an abrasion to his head. Police believe he had been struck on the head. They say 52 year old Raimund Adalbert Kobler had last been seen last night at his home, a block away from the murder scene: ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB: "Some time after 7A.M. this morning, police from San Pedro visited the corner of Pearl Street and Coco Plum Street, it is a 2 - story building that is under construction where on the first floor they found the body of male person with a large cut wound to the head. The person was identified as Raimund Adalbert Kobler, a 52 year old German national. The information we received so far was the ast time he was seen alive was some time after 10P.M. by the land lord. He was talking to him, he was sitting on the house verandah when the landlord went inside and that was the last time that they saw him. Where he was found is just a block away from where his room is."

Western Union Robbery In Corozal
And as we told you earlier, there was robbery of another Indian-owned business operation, which happened this morning. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the thief got away with over 10,000 dollars in cash. At around 9:26 a.m., 28 year-old Doris Montejo, a frontline Associate at the Western Union Office in Corozal Town, arrived at her office at 4th Avenue. That's along the busy business strip in Corozal Town, and, she was only a few steps away from entering the front door. She was carrying her purse which contained $10,000 in cash which belongs to her work, $100 in cash which belongs to her, and her Samsung Galaxy cellular phone.

Two 60-Something Tourists Drown in Separate Incidents In Stann Creek
Two elderly male tourists drowned in separate incidents in the Stann Creek District this weekend. Foul play is not suspected in either case. The first body of 67 year old Paul Panarese was discovered early on Saturday morning on the beach at the Northside of Hopkins Village. Police say he had last been seen on Friday night. They also discussed the second case, 68 year old ROBERT LOTZ who was found on Saturday afternoon on the beach outside Placencia. Here's ASP Cowo with the details: ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB: "There were 2 drownings over the weekend and a male person by the name of Mr. Paul Panarese, he was found floating at the beach side in Hopkins Village. He was socializing with a group of male persons when he decided to take a walk by the beach and that was the last time he was seen alive. The body was found the following day at the beach side. We have to wait for the postmortem. The body was checked and there were no signs of foul play up to now, but we need to determine what the postmortem will be saying. There are no injuries on the body."

Irishman Who Allegedly Caused Accident Accused of Driving Without License
On Friday's news, we showed you that serious accident on the Philip Goldson Highway which left 2 people trapped in the cabin of a smashed up pickup truck. Well, police say that the driver of the other vehicle was at fault, and he didn't have a driver's license. He's 36 year-old Con Murphy, an Irish National, and he was arraigned today before Magistrate Stephanie Gillett. The Magistrate read him the charges of driving a motor vehicle without due care and attention, driving a motor vehicle without a valid driver's licenses. Police say that they also charged him with the other offense of failing to provide a specimen for testing, but that charge wasn't read to him at his arraignment.

Boy Who Got Knocked Down Is Alright
An eight year old boy who was knocked down on Saturday afternoon in Belize City is back at home tonight doing just fine - all things considered. Byron Alvarez's mother tells us that her son has a swelling on his head but no broken bones and is fine otherwise. She says he was knocked down while crossing the street after coming out of a store around 4:00 on Saturday evening. She says the driver of the vehicle which knocked him down is working with the family.

Customs Moving Towards Making Trade Simpler
You probably didn't know that the Belize Customs Department is the first in the Caribbean where an importer can pay his or her duties online. And, also, that Belize was one of the first nations to adapt to the new global Trade Facilitation Agreement. It's part of a full-fledged modernization of the department that's seeing a major shift in service delivery strategies, where Customs is now thinking about how it can facilitate trade, rather than just acting as government's top revenue collector, with all the bureaucracy that implies. Today, with assistance from the World Customs Organization, they held a training session for the National Committee on Trade Facilitation. We found out more from the visiting World Customs Expert who had praise for the Customs Department's new Trade Unit:...

15 New Wingles For Police In The City
When police launched Operation ACT 10 days ago, Minister of State Elodio Aragon announced that his ministry would be securing 15 vehicles to help with the operation. He delivered on that promise today with a ceremony at the Queen Street police station, and 7News was there:... Jules Vasquez reporting: We can't say that they made a joyful noise, but that shrill chorus of sirens is the sound of the police celebrating: ACP Dezerie Magadaleno, OC - Eastern Div. - Regional Commander: "It is a very happy day and exciting day for us whenever we are able to received equipment that will assist us in enhancing our daily work and our operational strategies. It is a blessing for us and we are truly grateful for this day."

How Will Police Enforce New Marijuana Law?
And as these units go out with their new rides - one of the offenses that they'll be looking at in a new way is marijuana possession. As of Thursday, it's no longer illegal to for an adult to possess or smoke 10 grammes or less of weed. But, possession of more than 10 grammes, or ten grammes or less in a school is still a crime. It leaves police in a grey area - where previously it was all just black and white. And, it seems there's quite a learning curve - and that curve hasn't reached Belize City yet, where most of the possession charges originate. Today the Southside Commander said he hadn't gotten the memo - and the man in charge of training the police hadn't reached the city yet:... Sr. Supt, Marco Vidal, Commander - Southside: "I am not that familiar in terms of the entire way of this act. This act will be enacted. We are still in a process of education for all police officers so that when we are encountering these situations we know how to deal with them, but for the time being we will be seeking advice in terms of how to deal with these matters as we encounter them."

Belmopan Man Acquitted of Canadian's Murder
36 year-old Belmopan resident George Hyde was acquitted today in the Belmopan Supreme Court for the murder of 69 year-old Canadian Keith Haslam. You may remember the story from December 2013, when Haslam was savagely beaten and chopped to death in the Village of Buena Vista, CAYO. Hyde was charged with murder, and he stood trial before Justice Antoinette Moore. The Crown, represented by Senior Crown Counsel Cecil Ramirez, relied on a caution statement and 2 oral confessions that Hyde allegedly made. But none of the statements were admitted into evidence after a trial within this trial revealed that Hyde was promised that if he gave the statement, his girlfriend would not be charged.

The Lord In The Loo After "Panorama" Seizes on Paradise Papers
You may remember the "Panama Papers" from early 2016 - well now the big news is all about the "Paradise Papers." This is a major data leak of millions of files from "Bermudan law firm Appleby, a 119-year-old operation favoured by the global super-rich and big corporations." (Guardian UK). That happens to include Michael Ashcroft, who, according to the Guardian UK, quote, "faces fresh questions over his offshore affairs after the Paradise Papers revealed a previously unknown trust sheltering his vast overseas wealth." Of course, we in Belize know all too well about the Ashcroft Alliance's various shell companies and trusts - from Waterloo, to Dunkeld, to Sunshine, to Rocky Reef.for a while there it seemed they were running out of names when they came up with the devilish duo of "E-Com" and "Pillow Talk".

PUP Launch Municipal Slate At Rally
After months of questions about when the PUP would launch its municipal slate for the city, on Saturday night, the party hosted a rally called the Rebirth to launch that slate. It is led by Mayoral Candidate Bernard Wagner and includes Micah Goodin, Ayesha Gentle, Dr. Candice Pitts, Deltrhude Hylton, Ryan Eligio, Oscar Arnold, Allan Pollar, Javier Castellanos, Michael Chips Norales, and Albert Vuaghan. The slate was endorsed and has started to campaign.

Meditate Through the Madness
A group called Peace Revolution is in Belize to offer instruction in meditation as a means of generating inner peacefulness and community peace. We spoke to the coordinator for Central America and the Caribbean today Tomorrow, they will be taking that message to the juvenile detention center and the female ward of the prison.

Cops Caught Reese Running With a Gun
24 year-old Reese Fitzgibbon, a resident of Supal Street, is at the Belize Central Prison tonight after he was accused of being in possession of a loaded 9mm pistol. Police say that on Friday, November 3, at around 8:10 a.m., they were on motorcycle patrol on Kut Avenue, when they heard the sound of gunshots. They immediately responded and saw 2 men running from behind a house. One of them was allegedly in possession what appeared to be a firearm, and so the cops chased him down. When they caught up to the man, who was later identified as Fitzgibbon, they seized the weapon, which was determined to be a 9mm Smith and Wesson pistol, which had 5 live rounds of ammunition in its magazine.

Belize At Expofer
We leave you this evening with highlites of Belizean bands Ugundani and Love Belize performing at the Expofeer in Chetumal. Enjoy and join us back here tomorrow...

Channel 5

4 Murders in 3 Days; Deliveryman Shot Down Near Family Home
There were four murders between Friday night and Monday morning in San Pedro, Orange Walk, Benque and in Belize City. The carnage started early on Friday night here in the [...]

In Orange Walk, Son Sacrifices Life for Mom
Minutes later in Orange Walk, a businessman was murdered in front of his business on Friday night. Thirty-seven-year-old Amit Moryani was inside his store when he saw two men assaulting [...]

Motive in Death of German on Ambergris Caye Unknown
Two of the four murders were simultaneously recorded around seven o’clock this morning by investigators in San Pedro Town and Benque Viejo del Carmen, hours before the scheduled police press [...]

Teenager Executed on Farm outside Benque
The fourth murder victim is an eighteen-year-old recent graduate of Mopan Technical High School, who was also found dead this morning on a farm in Benque Viejo Del Carmen. Police [...]

American Tourists Drown in Hopkins and Placencia
There was further loss of life over the weekend. Two American senior citizen tourists apparently drowned in separate incidents between Friday and Saturday. The incidents took place in the beach [...]

P.U.P. Names Belize City Slate, Hope for “Re-Birth”
The People’s United Party on Saturday evening presented its team of eleven aspirants for the Belize City Council, which it has not controlled since 2006. The team consists of first [...]

Kareem Says P.M. Should Pay for B.T.L.
The settlement of the acquisition of Belize Telemedia Limited and related concerns twice over by the Government of Belize between 2009 and 2011 remains a burr in the saddle of [...]

Cordel: Civic is for Belize City, Not U.D.P.
Thirty-two million dollars later – though in many quarters that figure is far more – the Belize Civic Center on Central American Boulevard is scheduled to be opened early in [...]

Money in Minutes: Corozal Western Union Robbed
Up north, Corozal is experiencing a spike in burglaries and robberies. A robber made off with ten thousand dollars from the Western Union outlet in Corozal Town around nine this [...]

Conway Murphy Charged in Ladyville Accident
Irish national, thirty-six-year-old Conway Murphy was today arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court for last Friday’s horrific traffic accident at mile eight on the Phillip Goldson Highway. Murphy was [...]

‘Belice’ es de Guatemala?
News reports say that Guatemala will be reintroducing Belize as part of its official map. This is to take place due to an awareness campaign that is being undertaken in [...]

Evangelicals Tell A.G. to Back Up ‘Venomous’ Words
On Friday, Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte took square aim at the church and fired off a salvo of very harsh criticisms, chiding the religious community for its tardy objection to [...]

Marijuana-Loving Minors to be Counseled
The topic of marijuana possession and consumption, in the days following the decriminalization of a small handful, remains at the center of public discourse simply because there are still more [...]

Police Legal Advisor Embarks on Information Campaign
While the public continues to ask questions, a countrywide education campaign is being held within the Belize Police Department to inform officers of the new law and its parameters. According [...]

New Wheels for the Cops
One of four murders over the weekend occurred in the Old Capital; and even though the loss of one life is too much, the murder did not occur within any [...]

Honest Traders Mean Lower Prices on Shelves
The World Customs Organization and the Government of Sweden are funding a five-day consultative workshop and national training on the National Committees of Trade Facilitation. In February, the World Trade [...]

James Adderley has Sports Monday
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. [Highlights of weekend sporting activities….]

CTV3

P.U.P Northern Caucus Seeks Changes For Sugar Industry
The People’s United Party northern caucus held a meeting in Trinidad Village in the Orange Walk South constituency on Saturday November 4th to discuss a number of important matters affecting the sugar industry, which is the lifeblood of our northern communities. The leaders in the eight constituencies agreed to support three key resolutions which they believe will serve the best interest of the industry and in particular the cane farmers. Today we spoke to Orange Walk South area representative and Deputy Leader in the PUP Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai to learn more.

San Narciso Resident Drowns While Fishing
A man from San Narciso Village reportedly drowned while fishing in the Sapote Area of the Rio Hondo River over the weekend. 45 year old Teodoro Pena, a Belizean mason from Louisville Village, reported that on Saturday October 4th, he and his friend 38 year old Israel Novelo went fishing in the river when the canoe they were on capsized. Pena reported that he was able to swim to the river bank but his friend Novel did not resurface.

Are More People Involved In Western Union Robbery?
While Corozal Police are investigating and seeking the identity of this morning’s robber, they are also closely evaluating the video footage to verify if two men seen in the images were accomplices or just bystanders. Once the vehicle was parked, the two men seen at the top of the footage are seen walking slowly and suspiciously across the street on 4th Avenue. One of them seems to be talking into a phone, while the other follows him. But as the robbery takes place, they turn into 2nd Street South, and seem to ignore the victim’s call for help. Instead, they also dash away in the direction of the robber.

LOVE FM

Body of a Student discovered on Benque Road
The body of an eighteen-year-old boy who was found between miles 25 and 26 on the Benque Road. In a press brief today, Assistance Superintendent of Police Alejandro Cowo gave preliminary information surrounding that murder. “In reference to the murder in Pugas Farm located in the Benque Viejo area police visited the location this morning […]

German National killed in San Pedro
This morning, around seven o’clock, police in San Pedro responded to the discovery of the body of a male person at an unfinished building. ASP Alejandro Cowo shared what the Police had gathered so far. “Sometime after 7 am, this morning police from San Pedro visited the corner of Pearl Street and Cocoplum Street, it’s […]

Robbery turns into Murder
Businessman Amit Moryani was shot and killed in his store in Orange Walk on Friday night, November third. According to police, the 37-year-old businessman was inside his family-owned store named P and P Supermarket located on Cemetery Street in Orange Walk Town along with his mother Babita Moryani. Shortly before nine o’clock, two masked men, […]

Gang Retaliation leads to another Murder
Police in Belize City are investigating the fatal shooting of twenty-old Deidron Dennis McKay. Johnelle McKenzie has the story. Another man has been killed in Belize City. The incident occurred on Friday, November 3at approximately 8:35p.m.at #19 Haynes Street. Deidron McKay, 20years of age, was at his sister’s home socializing with family and friends when […]

Child on the Road to Recovery after Traffic Accident
A five-year-old child was knocked down on Saturday afternoon while crossing Baymen Avenue in Belize City. The child was along with his dad, Brandon Alvarez who was getting a haircut. The child became restless and asked for money to purchase a bag of chips and while crossing the street, the unfortunate incident occurred. Brandon Alvarez […]

Man arraigned for Traffic Accident that left Two Critical
Thirty-six-year-old Con Murphy has been slapped with three charges in relation to a road traffic incident that occurred on November 3. Murphy was charged with ‘drove without due care and attention’, ‘fail to provide specimen’, and ‘drove without a valid driver’s license’. Murphy pled not guilty when he appeared today before Magistrate Stephanie Gillett. The […]

Police Officer Critical and in Need of Blood
On Friday in the Toledo District at approximately 8:35 a.m. Andy Choco, a police constable was on his way to work on his motorcycle when he was knocked down by Castro Chub of an Indian Creek Village address, who was driving a Pop bus. Choco was rushed to the Punta Gorda Hospital and later transported […]

Guatemala is claiming All of Belize
More than seven million Guatemalans are expected to participate in a referendum on March 11, after it was changed from March 18. As part of its education campaign on the territorial dispute, the Guatemalan Government has decided to produce textbooks with Belize included in the Guatemalan Map. Rafael Salazar “They are preparing everything and taking […]

Caleb: Belize has denied entry of our Haitian Colleagues
On Friday, the Executive Director of UNIBAM, Caleb Orozco, wrote to the CEO of Immigration stating that quote, “the immigration department reeks of homophobia and transphobia”. The claim was made after the visa applications of eight Haitians were reportedly denied. In his letter, Orozco wrote quote, “It seems in preparation for a regional LGBT meeting […]

PUP unveils its Belize City’s Municipal Slate
On Saturday evening the People’s United Party presents its slate to contest the upcoming municipal elections in 2018 in Belize City. The PUP’s Mayoral Candidate is Bernard Wagner and councilor aspirants are Ayesha Gentle, Dr. Candice Pitts, Delthrude Hylton, Ryan Elijio, Micah Goodin, Oscar Arnold, Allan Pollard, Javier Castellanos, Michael Noralez and Albert Vaughan. Mayoral […]

Two American Tourists drowned in Southern Belize
Two tourists drowned in Southern Belize and while police did not observe signs of violence on the bodies, they are waiting for the results of the post-mortem examinations. ASP Alejandro Cowo said the first tourist found was 67-year-old Paul Panarese, a US national who drowned in Hopkins Village. The body of the second individual, 68-year-old […]

Western Union robbed of $10 K
This morning, a robbery occurred in Corozal Town, where $10,000 dollars belonging to the Western Union was stolen. 28-year-old Doris Montejo, a Front Line Associate for the Western Union, was held up and robbed at approximately 9:00 a.m. Montejo told police that upon reaching her place of employment located on 4th Street Corozal Town, she […]

Man walks from Murder Charge
Thirty-six-year-old George Hyde, a resident of Belmopan charged with the murder of 69-year-old Keith Haslem, was acquitted of the charge today by Justice Antoinette Moore. The trial that was without a jury concluded on September 27 in the Belmopan Supreme Court but Justice Moore had reserved her decision. Haslem was hacked to death with a […]

Fitzgibbon charged with Kept Firearm & Ammunition without a Gun License
Twenty-four-year-old Reese Fitzgibbon, a resident of Supal Street, was charged with kept firearm and ammunition without a gun license when he appeared today before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford. Fitzgibbon pled not guilty to the charges. He was remanded in custody until February 7. The incident occurred around 8:10 a.m. on Friday, November 3. The police […]

Police get 15 new vehicles to help Fight Crime
This morning, fifteen new vehicles were officially handed over to the Police Department at the Queen Street Police Station in Belize City. Here’s that story. Fifteen fully outfitted Great Wall Wingles were bought by the Ministry of Home Affairs and delivered to the Belize Police Department. The vehicles were promised by Minister of State in […]

Belmopan Police give to San Martin’s Feeding Program
A feeding program created by the Belmopan Police Formation for the less fortunate students of San Martin Government School got a much-needed boost today. Pauline Soberanis Tillett spoke to Love News. “After seeing the good works that the Belmopan Police Department is doing under the leadership of Senior Superintendent Howell Gillett, Pastor Clayton McGee from […]

Is BELTRAIDE the Antidote for Unemployment?
One of the reason schools exist is to equip students with the necessary tools to become a part of the workforce. For the most part, schools have been training its students how to be employable and not how to be an employer. However, BELTRAIDE wants to change all that, especially given the alarming numbers of […]

Diabetes Association Dangriga observes Diabetes Week
Diabetes week is being observed in Dangriga as explained by Harry Arzu. Harry Arzu, Love FM “Diabetes is described as a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood glucose either because insulin production is inadequate or because the body cells do not respond properly to insulin or both. A number of […]

Toledo Cacao Growers Association elects new Board
Toledo Cacao Growers Association held its annual general meeting over the weekend in Punta Gorda where they elected a new Board of Directors. Paul Mahung reports. Paul Mahung, Love FM “Newly elected Toledo Cacao Growers Association Chairman is Justino Teck.” “The way forward for TCG right now as a newly elected chair we have to […]

Breaking Belize News

Man goes missing after fishing trip in Rio Hondo River
Teodoro Pena ,45, a Belizean mason of Louisville Village ,Corozal District reported that on October […]

Police charge two men for homemade unlicensed firearm
Last night, members of Strike Team North were on operation and conducted a search at the […]

Over $10,000 stolen from Corozal’s Western Union
Doris Montejo,28, a Belizean Front Line Associate for Western Union in Corozal reported to police […]

Police find .38 revolver in Belize City
Yesterday morning around 9:30, police conducted a search at an abandon lot located on Ordonez Street,Belize […]

Man charged for accident that left two critical
On Friday there was a traffic accident near mile 8 on the Philip Goldson highway […]

Wife of GSU boss’ house shot at
Sylvia Makin, 35, the wife of current Gang Suppression Unit (GSU) Commander, Andres Makin, reported […]

Paradise Papers reveal Michael Ashcroft used Belize to avoid paying tax
The Paradise Papers, a leak of over 13.5 million leaked files revealing offshore activities of some of […]

GOB and Ashcroft going for one more round
Despite saying that all litigation with Michael Ashcroft over Belize Telemedia Limited is finished, the […]

Body found in San Pedro
According to reports from the San Pedro Sun newspaper, the body of a person was […]

Star in my community-Audrey Matura
Audrey Matura, Attorney-at-law (Belize) Audrey Matura, is an attorney at law and a community activist […]

Robbery in Corozal Town
According to reports, there was a robbery a short time ago at the Western Union […]

Body found in Benque Viejo Town
Reports to BBN is that the body of a man was found this morning near […]

Blogs

Casa Picasso hosts season opener!
If you are looking for delicious international tapas and an evening of fine dining and wines, all while surrounded by eclectic of art, then Casa Picasso is just the place. Located on Stingray Street, south of San Pedro Town, Casa Picasso offers delightful cuisine and an extensive wine list, which patrons were more than happy to enjoy at their annual open house on Wednesday, November 1st. The event started at 6:30PM, with Casa Picasso’s new owners Donna Chamblee and Gary Zwierzynski welcoming guests to enjoy a fabulous evening of great company, food and drinks. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres were available, while a cash bar offered wines and signature cocktails like refreshing Mango Daiquiri and Ginger Peach Margarita.

Crocs Sunset Sports Bar Set to Open Soon: Holy Moly!
Each day, we as we drive into town, we exclaim HOLY MOLY at the HUGE “palapa palace” that is now being finished less than a mile north of the bridge on Ambergris Caye. As the final touches are being completed – varnish, kitchen equipment, doors being hung – here is a look at San Pedro’s newest sports bar – the fresh and shiny new home to 10 or more giant flat screen tvs to over 200 VERY comfortable bar seats, to a lounge area, 2 huge bars, a sunset view and more… Or as I will be calling it – Ivan’s Cool Spot. *** If you have visited Ambergris Caye, there is a good chance you know Ivan. He worked for years at the uber-popular Palapa Bar. Later this week, his new venture Crocs Sunset Bar opens on the lagoon side just north of town and it looks FANTASTIC and 2. he is a great guy. A bartender now manager that may make this your new favorite spot. Especially if you LOVE sports. Or nice views. Or good sunsets. Or seating for 215!

International Sources

WestJet Launches New Belize Route
Fast-expanding Canadian carrier WestJet has added its newest route to the Caribbean. WestJet has officially launched a new route between Calgary and Belize, following up on the launch of flights between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Belize City in October of 2016. The Calgary-Belize flights are operating three times each week, with service on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, according to the carrier’s Web site. As reported in Caribbean Journal, Belize’s tourism arrivals have been surging in the last two years.

Woodstonian Jason Poole travelled to Maya Centre, Belize as part of a physical education course through Nova Scotia’s St. Francis Xavier University
Woodstonian Jason Poole travelled to Maya Centre, Belize as part of a physical education course through Nova Scotia’s St. Francis Xavier University. The course was designed to broaden educators knowledge and add to their experience to better their own teaching skills. The car ride was tight, the air was sticky but the company was anything but foreign. I remember the smell of fresh tar as we slowly ploughed along past the construction zones in nearby towns. Burning piles of rubbish lay scattered not far from the countless bus stops which seemed anything but maintained. Long pants and collared shirts. Cowboy hats and toothless, soulful grins upon the faces of everyone we passed. Covered in a rich tan, a rich layer of sweat and a rich amount of insect bites, we were heading home after two weeks in the Jungles of Belize’s south coast.

Chaa Creek’s Owners’ Lifetime Achievement Award And Belize’s Rise As A Premier Travel Destination
The founding owners of The Lodge at Chaa Creek were recently honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Belize Tourism Board in recognition of their decades of service to Belize’s travel industry. And, according to the popular eco-resort’s public relations and events manager, Mick and Lucy Fleming’s decades of service extend well beyond tourism and Belize. “Mick and Lucy spread their Green philosophy throughout the region by proving that being environmentally friendly and supporting local communities can go hand-in-hand with business success, and there’s no doubt that their ethical, green development has been a model for other businesses in the region. “Ever since they opened Chaa Creek in 1981 they’ve proven that you can offer a w ide range of accommodations, amenities and activities in ways that actually benefit the environment and local communities, and that a high degree of luxury, impeccable service and exquisite dining can go hand in hand with sustainable tourism. That’s a legacy that all of us at Chaa Creek are proud to be associated with,” Denise Duran said.

We can end the scandal of tax havens – here’s how
The overriding imperative is to end the secrecy. Everything flows from that. International taxation is a complex subject. And a degree of this complexity is unavoidable. Some individuals work in one country but receive an income from financial assets held in another. Likewise, some multinational companies generate revenues in some states based on investments made or ideas developed elsewhere. The question of where such incomes should be taxed is not technically straightforward, nor morally black and white. Yet complexity is only justified up to a point. Most of the complexity that attaches to international tax is not inevitable but deliberately manufactured by law firms, accountants, asset managers and banks to create a convenient smokescreen for their clients.

Videos

The Belize Police Department - Community Policing Strategies, 23min.

A conversation of the recently passed amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act., 40min.

The Rotary Club of San Ignacio Moonlit Masquerade Ball Fundraiser, 20min.

The Belize Police Department explained that there is a National Missing Persons Policy, 31min.

The 4th Mexico-CARICOM Summit, 40min.

TIA&TW; - Caribbean Nation Roundtable, Part I', 26min. This week Dennis Wholey begins the first half of a two part roundtable program devoted to the Caribbean region and the Caribbean Community known as CARICOM. The roundtable includes Ambassador retired Brigadier General Anthony Phillips-Spencer of Trinidad and Tobago, Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders of Antigua and Barbuda as well as Ambassador Daniel Gutierez of Belize. The conversation explores the recent natural disasters that have impacted the Caribbean, the value of unity in the region and the entire region's importance to the United States. Belize's Ambassador H.E. Daniel Gutierez was featured along with Ambassador retired Brigadier General Anthony Phillips-Spencer of Trinidad and Tobago and Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders of Antigua and Barbuda on 'This is America & the World' with Dennis Wholey for Part One of a Caribbean Nation Roundtable. The Roundtable program was devoted to the Caribbean region and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).The conversation explores the recent natural disasters that have impacted the Caribbean, the value of unity in the region and the entire region's importance to the United States.

Police Department Launches Operation ACT, 5min. On Friday, October 27th, the Belize Police Department launched a special anti-crime operation to address the growing climate of fear and crime in Belize City.

National Fire Service Preps for Promotional Training, 6min. As the Belize National Fire Service is gearing up for their promotional training, they welcomed the media to spend some time with their firefighters. Belize Now was present as well and we prepared this report on what we learnt.

Government of Belize launches the Belize Electronic License and Permit System (BELAPS), 6min. The Government of Belize, through its Central Information Technology Office (CITO) marked another major milestone in its journey to e-governance. Our Belize Now team was on hand for the launch on Thursday, November 2nd. The BELAPS Project is valued at US$1.8 M of which the Taiwanese Government provided US$1.5 M. The ICT partnership will continue through the Motor Vehicle Registration and License System Project.

Attorney General donates law books to the Belize Central Prison, 6min. On Wednesday, November 1st, the Attorney General, Hon. Michael Peyrefitte donated a set of updated law books valued over $5000 to the Belize Central Prison.

Celebrating Panama’s independence at UB, 30min.

Saint John Neumann 2017 Belize Trip, 8min. St. John Neumann's wonderful mission trip to Punta Gorda, Belize. We performed home improvement projects, delivered meals on wheels, played bingo with the elderly and delivered much needed school supplies.

Gasoline Lollipops Return To Belize (January 2018), 1.5min. January 19-21 (2018) the Gasoline Lollipops bring Colorado back to Ambergris Caye in Belize for three shows at the Dive Bar in San Pedro, right on the beach

The Waters Of Belize, 2min. Belize is a beautiful place and I encourage anyone with a few days of vacation time, to give it a consideration. It is a short flight from the USA and the cost of living is affordable. Not to mention it is home too some of the best snorkeling/diving in the world!

Coral Caye Private Island, Belize, 1min. Sheltered behind the world famous Belize Barrier Reef, Coral Caye is a completely private island that can be yours alone for a romantic, restorative or adventurous get away. You and your lucky travel companions will feel like you are castaways with all the comforts needed to leave all of your cares behind.

Adult Forum - Youth Mission Trip to Belize (Oct. 22, 2017), 41min. St. Paul's Episcopal Church - Alexandria, VA

NIM LI PUNIT, Belize, 10min. Nim Li Punit, is a smaller city that was used for ceremonies and celebrations, alliances, and likely weddings. It is up on a mountain ridge giving good defenses from invaders .. its much easier to fight down hill so being high on a mountain makes more sense ..plus the view allows them to see a long way .. When we were there you could see what we thought was Honduras. The wind jewel was discovered here in a small tomb. It was a major find.

Belize City Taxi Ride From Belize City to Belize Zoo, 3min.

MURDER IN ORANGE WALK…A MEMBER OF THE INDIAN COMMUNITY IS SHOT DURING ARMED ROBBERY, 6min. Orange Walk Police are tonight on the hunt for two men who are wanted for the murder of a member of the Indian community. On Friday Night 37 year old Amit Moryani was gunned down during an armed robbery and died shortly after while reviving treatment at the Northern Regional Hospital.

WESTERN UNION EMPLOYEE ROBBED OF OVER $11,000 IN DOWNTOWN COROZAL AND IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, 3min. A Western Union employee was robbed of over $10,000 in cash this morning as she arrived to work in the heart of downtown Corozal Town. CTV-3 News has obtained security footage of the area and from this morning, and it shows the moments leading to the robbery.

Belizeans Abroad Making us Proud. GO BELIZE!!! Congratulations Raul Vanegas!!!, 5min. Interview with point guard Raul Vanegas of your Oakland BayHawks.

Starting Meeting for Peace Tour in Belize, 7min.

World Youth Conference 2017!, 8min. Kolcha....man I wish I could punta like that

Winners of the 2017 Belize City Primary School History and Social Studies Competition, 1min. The Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project presents to you the winners of the 2017 Belize City Primary School History and Social Studies Competition, which concluded on October 27th at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts. First place went to Darwin Robinson - Salvation Army, 2nd place to Aniq Perdomo - Ebenezer Methodist and third to Aritza Sosa of St. Joseph RC. Congratulations to all of them! Uploaded is a short Bio on each contestant.

November 6, 2017

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

Health Corner: Your Top Questions About Going to the Dentist—Answered!
Here are some frequently asked questions about going to the dentist. Why do regular dental visits matter? Regular dental visits are important because they can help spot dental health problems early on when treatment is likely to be simpler and more affordable. They also help prevent many problems from developing in the first place. Visiting your dentist regularly is also important because some diseases or medical conditions have symptoms that can appear in the mouth.

Wolfe’s Woofer: Seasick
“Mr. Dennis! Mr. Dennis!” As I struggled up the beach in a driving rain, I heard Mario calling to me from the water taxi dock. “I didn’t think you was coming out in this weather,” he said, when I finally joined him. “Are you sure you want to catch a boat in this storm?” “Caye Caulker is only fifteen miles from here and besides, I don’t really mind this weather.” “Why you going to Caye Caulker?” “I don’t have any choice. Alvin Spurling has been my friend since I came to this country twenty-nine years ago. He’s one of the first people I met. Now he’s old and sick and his wife says that the doctor told her he won’t last much longer.”

Guest Editorial: A Love That Kills
Try Google searching ‘Why do people have wildlife for pets?’…. I constantly find myself asking this question, because truthfully, I cannot understand the motive for having monkeys, snakes, birds, and other such wild animals, as pets. My second question is, usually, “don’t dogs and cats satisfy the desire to have a pet?” I have heard stories of people chopping down trees to capture parrots, or to “rescue” a quash (coatimundi) from the highway. They then would keep the animal in hopes of giving them a better home. I recall, while I was still a child, that my eldest sister had two turtles. Their names were Muschamp and Hipolito. Someone had given her Muschamp but she had “rescued” Hipolito. Both ran away (twice) and my sister was convinced that Hipolito had instigated the escape.

Doctor Love: Anon
Dear Doctor Love, I’m an outgoing guy in my mid-twenties and I have found my soul-mate in a quiet, soft spoken girl. I want to spend the rest of my life with her, but we are complete opposites. She rarely talks about herself where I am naturally talkative, so I end up chatting away while she just smiles and listens. We can be in the same room together for hours and never speak to each other and that feels strange for me. At a party she will hang back and watch the room and I can neglect her when I am having a fun time with a group of friends. She doesn’t complain and often offers to let me stay and she will catch a taxi home, and I believe she really doesn’t mind, but it makes me feel terrible.

Misc Belizean Sources

South Ambergris Caye Neighborhood Watch Meeting
Wednesday NOVEMBER 8, 2017 @ 7:00pm LONE STAR GRILL and CANTINA (Full menu available)

Jungle Birthday Rave at RawSpa
The most amazing DJ's came together to celebrate many of their birthdays, and what a wild night it was. Night Quest was superb, and DJ Nonstop rocked the house! DJ Gracie Rock and DJ Iceberg Fuentes both mixed like there was no tomorrow. No mics allowed, and it showed. The night will never be forgotten. In related news, they did it again for Halloween. The It Came From the Jungle rave was wicked!

Xander Avelar Wins Father Marion Ganey Quiz Contest
Congratulations, Xander Avelar! He won theNational Belize Credit Union Father Marion Ganey Quiz Contest! St. Andrew's did it again. The National Channel has a video of the entire Quiz Contest.

36 Cayo Youth Complete Job Preparedness Training
Thirty-six youths from San Ignacio and Santa Elena have graduated from a Job Preparedness Training course as part of the Employability Enhancement component of the Ministry of Human Development’s Youth Rise Project. During the 8-week course, the eighteen young men and eighteen young women, aged 14-24, were exposed to a variety of topics including skills identification; personal SWOT analysis; effective communication; conflict management; Belize’s Labor Laws; work etiquette; career exploration, resume and cover Letter writing; and interview skills.

Rotaract's Costume Competition 2017
Pictures from the Rotaract Costume Competition. There were some good ones. Is that Bender?!?!? A huge thanks to all the individuals and businesses that came together to make it the best yet! More pictures from the contest. Video of the entire contest. "We'd like to thank everyone who came out last week to our annual Haunted House and Costume Competition! All the proceeds from this event goes towards our annual Christmas program for underprivileged kids. We'd like to give a huge thank you to Hode's as always for their support and generous contributions!

Ride Out Diabetes
The 9th annual Ride Out Diabetes bike race will be next weekend. The Sunday ride starts in Santa Elena, and goes to Belize City.

The Reporter

PUP introduces Belize City Council slate
After weeks of finalising, the People’s United Party (PUP) introduced its Belize City 11-member slate for the March 2018 municipal elections. Accompanied by the theme: The Rebirth”, the party held its introduction rally at the Pound Yard bridge area in the centre of the old capital. The PUP’s Belize City mayoral candidate is Bernard Wagner, and councillor candidates are: Dr. Candice Pitts, Delthrude Hylton, Ryan Elijio, Ayesha Gentle, Oscar Arnold, Allan Pollard, Javier Castellanos, Michael Noralez Micah Goodin, and Albert Vaughan.

Two elderly Americans drown
Two elderly Americans died from drowning in southern Belize this weekend, according to police reports. Police say they were alerted sometime around 6:00 Saturday morning of a body on the northern side of Hopkins village. When they responded, police saw the corpse of a man floating face down in the sea near the beachside. The man was identified as Paul Panarese, 67, an American national, who reportedly left around 6:45 the evening before, went en route to Kismet Inn after socialising for about an hour. Police say there were no signs of violence on the body, but that a post mortem examination is scheduled. The other drowning was reported sometime after 1:00 Saturday afternoon near Naia Resort in Placencia. When police arrived, they saw the body of Robert Lotz, 68, a retired American who was on vacation, floating in the sea. Police say Lotz reportedly went kayaking around 10:00 in the morningon and did not return. His body also showed no signs of violence but a post mortem examination is scheduled to be performed.

Breaking Belize News

PUP introduces Belize City Council slate
Last night, the People’s United Party (PUP) officially launched its slate to contest the Belize City Council elections next March. The launch was held at the Pound Yard Bridge in Belize City.

American on vacation found floating dead
A retired American National has been reported dead by Placencia Police. According to reports, at about 1:49 pm yesterday, police visited an area near Naia Resort in Placencia where the motionless body of a man was seen. The man was identified as 68 year old Robert Lotz a retired American of Illinois, USA who was on vacation in Belize.

Manatee fundraiser held at Old Belize
In an effort to continue public awareness campaigns on Belize’s precious manatees, researcher Jamal Galves is hosting the third annual “Cocktail for Manatees” fundraiser at the Old Belize Pavilion. The initiative features live entertainment as well as auctions, forming a part of the efforts to raise around $13,000 for the educational campaigns to continue.

Blogs

They Were not Looking to Uproot but the Business was Irresistible
The annually anticipated Casa Picasso season-opening celebration happened this week. Many of us were already well done from all the Halloween Bar Crawl circuit this year but that did not affect the turnout. When it comes to events where you get “the royal treatment” there is always room for one more. This year something different happened at the party, new owners Gary Zwierznski and Donna Chamblee were the welcoming committee at the door. Casa has the same great menu made so popular by previous owners Jackie and Adam along with a few additions from new owners. Gary and Donna also kept all the wonderful staff. I chatted with Gary to find out a bit more about their backstory beyond knowing they were from Fort Wayne, Indiana. He told me they were not looking to uproot but found Casa Picasso for sale online. After they came to check it out in person, experienced the ambiance, the delicious food and the outstanding staff – they could not resist taking the plunge. Before buying a business here.

A Home For Kids on Ambergris Caye: The MOVING Opening of Hope Haven Home
Yesterday was a beautiful day in more ways than one. In the afternoon, under the shining Belize sun, a group of persistent, motivated, hopeful women cut the ribbon for the Shine Center and Hope Haven Home in downtown San Pedro, Belize. The home was filled with donors and supporters for this AMAZING project that doesn’t just give hope and sanctuary to children who have suffered greatly in their short lives but gives hope to a community that like others around the world, can feel overwhelmed at times. Two years after dreaming up a MUCH needed home for children on Ambergris Caye, a powerful group of women cut the ribbon for new Hope Haven Children’s Home. 2 years of dreaming, begging, scraping, soliciting donations, fundraising – incredibly hard work, INCREDIBLE persistence. It can be easy to assume that nothing will change or say “I’m not the one who can change this” – none of these women stopped there.

International Sources

Philadelphia Native Offers Destination Weddings in a Unique Locale
Most people associate weddings with love and commitment, and rightly so. After all, it’s a ceremony to unite two people together, building a life they will share. That’s the part they write songs about. But a wedding also comes with another constant: questions. So many questions. It’s not for everyone. But for those who want a unique wedding outside of Philadelphia, it’s a really great option: the Central American country of Belize. Some people might be aware Belize rates high as a stunningly beautiful wedding location. What they may not know is its other advantage, a woman named Lara Goldman. The Philadelphia native lives in Belize and runs a company that specializes in coordinating destination weddings. She knows Philadelphia. She also knows everyone and everything about Belize. She’s the person to talk with if you want to, say, swim with sharks or zip line your way to a ceremony in a hut in the jungle. Or, as Goldman puts it, “The answer is yes, what’s the question?”

It’s Now Officially Legal to Have and Use Marijuana in Belize – But with Restrictions
An amended Misuse of Drugs Act, which decriminalized possession and use of small amounts of marijuana, is now law in Belize. Governor General Sir Colville Young has assented to the Bill, following approval by legislators in the House of Assembly and the Senate late last month. Now that the Bill has been signed into law, adults can have up to 10 grammes of marijuana in their possession and smoke it on their own premises or somebody else’s private premises, once the owner gives permission. However, it is still illegal to take the drug on school premises, and the amended legislation provides for monetary and non-recordable penalties for that. Minors caught with any quantity of the drug would also be subject to punishment.

Belize Tourism Continues 2017 Surge
Belize is continuing to show seriously strong growth in its tourism sector so far in 2017, according to the latest data from the country’s tourist board. Stayover visitors to Belize totaled 319,119 through the end of September, an 8.6 percent increase that’s among the fastest growth rates in the Caribbean. That follows a boom in 2016 that saw Belize post a 13 percent increase in stayover arrivals over 2015. The United States continues to be the strongest source market for Belize, though Canadian arrivals are set to jump with the recent debut of the new WestJet flights to Belize from Calgary.

'Entered the loo, had a pee, exited' Lord Ashcroft DENIES hiding in the toilet to dodge BBC reporter asking about his finances
Tory donor Lord Ashcroft today denied allegations he hid in the toilet to avoid questions about his offshore investments - claiming he just needed 'a pee'. The former Conservative Party deputy chairman was filmed by a Panorama journalist after he was named in the controversial Paradise Papers. He can be heard repeatedly saying 'dear dear dear' as he is followed around last month's Tory conference before heading to the toilet. Last night Lord Ashcroft, who has an estimated fortune of £850million, faced a torrent of online abuse over the exchange and responded by repeating his words 'dear dear dear'. When asked if he was hiding from the journalist he said: 'No hiding..went in ...had a pee..and walked out'.

Lord Ashcroft used offshore trust to shelter wealth while Tory peer
Lord Ashcroft, one of the Conservative party’s biggest donors, faces fresh questions over his offshore affairs after the Paradise Papers revealed a previously unknown trust sheltering his vast overseas wealth. Scores of emails and financial statements chart the inner workings of the Bermuda-based Punta Gorda Trust from its creation in 2000, just after he became a peer. The documents run until 2016, when the offshore law firm Appleby, which acted as trustee, terminated the relationship, a decision questioned at the time by Ashcroft’s representatives. The value of the trust fluctuated, but a leaked financial statement recorded it as having assets of $450.4m (£341m) in 2006.

Paradise Papers: Lord Ashcroft faces questions over offshore investments
Conservative Party donor Lord Ashcroft faces more questions over his offshore investments after the Paradise Papers revealed a previously unknown offshore fund, and that he retained nom dom status for tax affairs despite pledging to become a permanent UK citizen. The peer, 71, who is one of the party’s biggest donors and reportedly gave £500,000 towards its most recent campaign, is said to have given assets worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the Bermuda-based Punta Gorda Trust in 2000. The leaked documents suggest that, between 2000 and 2010, Lord Ashcroft received payments of around $200m (£150m) from his offshore trust in Bermuda. He continued to sit in the House of Lords and, as a “non-dom”, he did not have to pay tax on these payments.

Paradise Papers: Lord Ashcroft 'retained his non dom status' while serving in the Lords
Multimillionaire Tory donor reportedly kept hundreds of millions of pounds in Bermuda-based offshore accounts. Lord Ashcroft, a major donor to the Conservatives and the party’s former deputy chairman, reportedly retained his non-dom status while serving in the House of Lords, documents released as part of the Paradise Papers suggest. The revelation suggests the peer continued paying tax only on his UK earnings, against his previous promises and despite attempts by parliamentary authorities to make members of the House of Lords pay their full share of tax. When he was awarded a peerage in 2000, the businessman vowed to become a permanent UK resident and drop his non-dom status. However, in 2010 he was forced to admit that he was still a non-dom. Following the admission, new laws were introduced to force anyone who sits in Parliament to pay all British taxes.

Tory donor Ashcroft faces tax questions over control of offshore trust
Lord Ashcroft, the Conservatives’ biggest donor, apparently avoided millions of pounds in tax by putting his money in an offshore haven. Leaked documents suggest that the former Tory treasurer retained some control of a trust that would be free from tax only if he had handed its running over to trustees. When allegations were put to him by a BBC reporter, he walked away saying: “Dear, dear, dear.” The disclosure puts Lord Ashcroft, 71, at risk of an investigation by HM Revenue & Customs for a fortune in unpaid tax, BBC’s Panorama claimed last night. It is likely to embarrass Theresa May because Lord Ashcroft has given more than £10 million to the Tories, including £500,000 to their latest campaign.

Diver gets in fight with shark after cheeky predator tries to steal the fish he caught for dinner
A diver had to wrestle a shark for his lunch after the cheeky predator decided it fancied a bite of the fish he had just caught. Footage shows the diver swimming over a reef off San Pedro, Belize, as he tries to hold onto the grouper he is carrying in a mesh catch bag.

Videos

Off-the-beaten-path ruining - Xunantunich ruins in Belize, 3min. The title is a great play on words...even though Xunantunich is a Maya Archaeological Site, not a 'ruin.' Well shot, and worth a watch. " If you are in San Ignacio don't miss the hand cranked ferry which takes you to these not so popular but great to visit Maya ruins."

Rotaract's annual costume competition, 1hr44min. From Hode's Place

National Belize Credit Union Father Marion Ganey Quiz Contest, 3hr.

Police United FC Vs San Pedro FC (PLB), 1.5hr. Premiere League

The Belize Jazz 'N Culture Show 2017, 2hr. From PickWick Poolside Bar, Belize City.

THE 1980S BELIZEAN PUNTA ROCK ARTIST "BOOTSY RANKIN"!, 14min. The legendary Garifuna Belizean Punta Rock artist, Bootsy Rankin' (Thomas Lauriano), comes to "Belizean Legends" as a cultural special in commemoration by this documentary series for "Garifuna Settlement Day" (November 19, 2017). Through "Part One" of this exclusive interview with the 1980s, 1990s Belizean musical artist, we celebrate Bootsy Rankin's long existence as one of those Los Angeles based Belizean artist that once graced venues like the popular "Belize Caye Fest" in the 80s.

Ziplining in Belize, 3min. Great day to zipline in the jungles of Belize.

Belize, 5min. Belize private island snorkeling.

Jungle Buggy Belize 2017, 7min. A video of 1/2 the ride nothing like riding in a muddy jungle after it rains....

Belize Beach Time - See how Kids Play and enjoy Beach Life on Ambergris Caye, 3.5min.

Riding Tour of Belize City, 1hr. Riding tour of downtown Belize. Guides did a great job of discussing culture, history, and people of Belize. Downtown was interesting and the schools, businesses, and government are just as interesting. While it wasn't what we expected, we had fun, and enjoyed the adventure in a new country.

The Shali Baby song, a Peter's Brukdong classic, perfomred by Terry Monique Young and conducted by William Harvey along with the Belize National Orchestra., 4min. The interesting thing about this performances is that it was only a rehearsal the day before the Street Art Festival's live performance in February this year. As it turned out, the actual performance did not go well due to sound system issues, so this recording ended up being the best recording of this version of the song in my opinion.

Terry Monique Young singing Shali Baby last night at Jazz and Culture Festival at the Pickwick., 3min. This is the Jazz version of a Belizean Creole Brukdong classic.

November 5, 2017

BTIA 2nd Annual Tourism Expo.

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

Forensic Interview Training for Victims of Human Trafficking
The U.S. Embassy, in coordination with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, provided training on Forensic Interviewing Techniques for Victims of Human Trafficking to over 65 Government of Belize officials from five different agencies: Human Services; Police; Immigration; Customs; and Department of Public Prosecutions. The Embassy continues to support the Government of Belize’s efforts to reduce human trafficking. The three-day training course was held at the Biltmore Hotel from October 31 to November 2, 2017. Victim Assistance Specialist Instructors from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and the Human Trafficking Institute shared best practices on how to identify and successfully interact with victims of Human Trafficking. These best practices will contribute to successful criminal cases against perpetrators of these offenses.

2017-2018 Queen Conch Fishing Quota is Set
To preserve the marine species Queen Conch (Strombus Gigas) the Belize Fisheries Department (BFD) has come up with 884,092 pounds as the Total Allowable Catch for the 2017-2018 season. The season opened on October 1st and is expected to close on June 30, 2018. However, the public is advised that if the conch production quota is met before June of next year, the season will be declared closed.

San Pedro House of Culture to feature Bernadette Damper
A new exhibit is coming to the San Pedro House of Culture, featuring works of artist and island resident Bernadette Damper. The show’s main purpose is to benefit fundraising events in San Pedro Town, thus, everyone is invited to attend and support a worthy cause. The exhibit will be open to the public from 9AM to 5PM on November 9th through the 23rd. Originally from the Bronx in New York City USA, Damper had visited Belize numerous times in the past nine years. She loved coming to scuba dive and eventually became a dive master. It was until March of 2016 that she decided to move to Ambergris Caye for good.

Island residents complete Return to Happiness Program training
On Friday, October 27th a small certification ceremony was held for ten island residents trained in the Return to Happiness Program at The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC). The training was done in collaboration with the SPTC, alongside UNICEF, with the assistance of the Sustainable Child Friendly Initiative Program within the Ministry of Local Government. The training was held from Monday, October 23rd to Friday, October 27th and saw the participation of persons who either work with children or volunteer in programs that involve them. The psychosocial program is design to assist children in externalizing their feelings after any traumatic event. Training organizers have the goal of creating an opportunity for children between the ages of 5-12 years, who may have experienced a natural or man-made disaster, to process their experiences through a series of guided play activities. This, in return, is expected to reduce their post disaster anxieties, as they begin to re-establish their sense of joy, happiness, security and confidence in adult protection.

Garifuna Settlement Day calendar of events announced for Ambergris Caye
The San Pedro Branch of the National Garifuna Council has prepared and released their calendar of events leading up to the Garifuna Settlement Day to be celebrated on November 19th. The different activities organized in collaboration with the local authorities via the San Pedro Cultural Committee. This year, the national celebration is being held under the theme ‘Lidan Nei Uarani Awanseruni… Mabuleida Wamei-Progress Lies in Unity… Always Remember it.’ The events between November 4th, and November 12th, include the sale of traditional Garifuna food, drumming, and even a fashion show on the 11th of November. There will also be a Garifuna Mass on November 12th, starting at 10AM inside the Catholic Church. The other events will be taking place at the Central Park.

Misc Belizean Sources

Hope Haven, Ambergris Caye's Children's Home Opens
On Saturday, November 4th, Hope Haven Children's Home and SHINE Center officially opened their doors to the island community. With the inauguration comes a much needed service to the wellbeing of the children and women of San Pedro Town.

Captain Rob's Rumpopo
Every year, daddy makes his famous, delicious, mouth watering Rumpopo. This year is no different! Taking orders for Satuday 11th November...$20 per quart and $30 per liter. Captain Rob's Rumpopo, bringing the love of the Christmas season to your home!!! Comment below or inbox to place orders, thanks!

PUP 11 SWORN IN
People's United Party this evening presented it's team of eleven aspirants for the Belize City Council, which it has not controlled since 2006. The team consists of first time mayoral aspirant Bernard Wagner and councilor aspirants: Ayesha Gentle, Dr. Candice Pitts, Delthrude Hylton, Ryan Elijio, Micah Goodin, Oscar Arnold, Allan Pollard, Javier Castellanos, Michael Noralez, Albert Vaughan. The party's rally, titled The Rebirth, includes speeches from the candidates and their backers.

Orange Walk Shop Keeper murdered while attempting to protect his mother
At 8:50 p.m. on 8:50pm on Friday night 37 year old Amit Moryani was inside P & P Supermarket on Cemetery Street in Orange Walk Town along with his mother Babita Moryani. Two masked men entered the store. The unarmed male approached his mother from behind and took away her bag containing $300. While attempting to help his mother, the other robber pointed a gun at Amit and fired two shots hitting him to the chest while grazing his mother to the right side of her head. He was pronounced dead at 9:52 p.m.

Trunk Show for Lee Vanderwalker at Belizean Arts
Artist Lee will be in town and she will be showcasing her latest creations! Do not forget we have a date next week Wednesday.

Coral abuse shooting commercial at Hol Chan
So today bright and early I went out with a filming crew out to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve as a hired safety diver. Once we got there I found out that they were filming a commercial for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. It was a bit odd to see that Hol Chan would issue a permit without sending a guide or someone to monitor the activities that this group had planned. I was given the assignment to keep an eye on the videographers in the water. So we hop in the water, myself, a diving videographer and 2 others that would be on the surface snorkelling while they filmed 2 young boys snorkelling around. As soon as we got in, we headed towards the northern part of the channel in the shallow area. I noticed that the 2 videographers snorkelling were kicking the coral. I popped my head up and told them they need to watch how they’re kicking as they can’t be doing that. We continued on and once we got closer to the channel, 1 of them proceeded to stand on the coral to have his head out of the water. I popped up once again and this time actually yelled at him to come off and stop! We continued our way into the channel where things got even uglier, this time with the diving videographer. 1st off all he was way overweighted as even before we got to the channel he was dragging along the turtle grass beds.

BAY Art Fest 2017
"Inviting you all to the Annual BAY Art Festival on November 25, 2017 at the Belmopan Civic Center! Please come out and support our local artists...The Belmopan Active Youths is hosting the Third Annual Art Festival in the Capital City, Belmopan. Registration is now open and will proceed until November 17th, 2017. We are inviting all artist in Belize to partake in exhibiting and retailing their artwork!"

Low water pressure in Orange Walk today
Belize Water Services informs its customers in Orange Walk that they will experience low water pressure in the water supply today, Sunday, November 5, 2017. The entire Orange Walk will be affected. This low water pressure is the result of a scheduled power outage. Customers may experience discoloration when water is restored. Residents are advised that water supply should return to normal by 3:00pm on today. If they experience water supply problems after that time, they should immediately call BWS’ hotline at 0-800-CALL-BWS (0-800-225-5297) to report it.

The Reporter

Child knocked down; in critical condition
A little boy is in a critical condition after he was knocked down on Satyrday in Belize City. Sketchy information is tbat the incident happened sometime around 8pm and that the driver of the vehicle did not give his/her particulars when they took the child to the hospital. The lttle boy suffered a head injury and scrapes to his face.

Westjet launches Calgary to Belize service
Vacationing in Belize became so much easier and cheaper for Canadian visitors when Westjet Airlines of Canada introduced its new direct Calgary to Belize service on Friday. The inaugural flight departed Calgary at 10am and, despite some weather delays, touched down at the Philip Goldson International Airport at 3:30pm, Belize time. Introductory fares were as low as US$230 for the midweek flight one way Calgary to Belize and US$226 Belize to Calgary – a little more pricey at US$356 one way on the weekends; but travellers booking as far ahead as three months can get fares as low as US$490 round trip! Fares go up to almost double over the Christmas holiday weekend.

Another Belize City man shot dead
A Belize City man was shot dead last night in the Port Loyola area. A police press release states that around 8:35 last night, Dedron Dennis McKay, 20, a deliveryman, was shot in the abdomen and the right lower side of his back. The incident happened while McKay was socializing at #19 Haynes Street. Police say an unknown male fired several shots at McKay. He died within a few minutes. No one has been arrested thus far.

Orange Walk businessman murdered while defending mom being robbed
An Orange Walk businessman is dead after he was shot in the chest in his family store shortly before closing time last night, when he tried to help his mother being robbed. The incident happened sometime before 9:00 while Amit Moryani, 37, and his mother, Babita Moryani were inside P&P; supermarket on Cemetery Street, Orange Walk town. Police say two armed masked men entered the establishment and one of them attacked the elderly woman from behind and took away her bag containing $300 cash. Amit, who saw what was happening, tried to help his mother, but the man who had the gun pointed the weapon at him and shot him in the chest, then shot at his mother, grazing her on the right side of her head. Amit died about an hour later at the Northern Regional Hospital.

Breaking Belize News

Child in critical condition after accident in Belize City
Reports to BBN is that a child was knocked down this evening on Baymen Avenue in Belize City. The child was taken to the KHMH for medical treatment.

Attorney General to Churches, “Step up or shut up”
Attorney General of Belize, Michael Peyrefitte has challenged the churches opposed to the decriminalization of marijuana to either run for political office or refrain from criticizing the new legislation. Peyrefitte, following the ascension of the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill into law this week, said that the churches are objecting simply for the sake of objecting.

Police bust marijuana farm in Paraiso Village
Yesterday, Orange Walk Special Branch, Quick Response Team, other specialized teams and officers were on operation in northern Belize and found a marijuana plantation located about 6 miles North West of Paraiso Village.

Fast Food Shop robbed in Camalote Village, Cayo
On Thursday, November 2, 2017, around 10:39 p.m., M and M’s Fast Food in Camalote Village, Cayo District was robbed. According to police reports, the victim was observed with several injuries to her face.

GOB officially Launches Belize Electronic License and Permit System
The Ambassador of the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) H.E. Ambassador Charles K. Y. Liu officially handed over the Belize Electronic License and Permit System (BELAPS) to Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber and the Central Information Technology Office (CITO) of the Government of Belize yesterday at the Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina.

Belize City Police find unlicensed .38 revolver during random search
Last night around 7:30, police conducted a search on Pitter Street, Belize City behind Lord Ridge Cemetery which led to the discovery of a .380 pistol with serial number 260975 in an empty tomb.

Masked men ambush and kill shopkeeper in Orange Walk Town
Yesterday around 9:00 PM, police visited the Northern Regional Hospital where they observed the body of Amit Moryani, 37, a Belizean shopkeeper of Cemetery Street, Orange Walk Town suffering from a single gunshot wound to the upper left side of his chest.

Police: Man, 20, shot and killed in Belize City
Last night around 8:35, authorities visited the KHMH where the body of Dendron Dennis Mckay, 20, was seen with a gunshot wound to the abdomen and one to the right lower back.

Blogs

The Ultimate Guide to Belize
Belize is an incredible destination that is most certainly going to explode with tourists very soon. For now, it remains relatively untouched with only 250,000 visitors per year. We visited four districts in the country. The variety of experiences are endless. Lush jungles, rain forests, aqua blue water with white sand beaches and some of the best diving spots in the world. I am excited to share my guide to Belize with you, but first, here is a little background info. During our two and a half week stay, we met some of the most interesting people we have ever come across on our travels. Both expats that have made Belize their home for decades and locals. The common value is every one of them have such passion for Belize, the desire to share it with tourists and to promote it to the world. Its funny, because they want to have more visitors, but at the same time keep it a secret. I could sense the inner battle when I spoke with them. Luckily for me, they were all so generous in sharing hidden gems.

International Sources

Destructive 2017 Atlantic hurricane season may be over for US despite officially ending Nov. 30
While the official end of the Atlantic hurricane season is not until Nov. 30, the chance of a tropical storm developing and hitting the United States this month is very low. August and September brought great devastation due to hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria striking heavily-populated areas. However, these storms struck when conditions were conducive for supporting tropical cyclones as hurricane season was at or approaching its climatological peak. Ocean temperatures were like bath water and winds aloft were light during late August and September. While hurricanes have formed and even struck the U.S. during November, the odds of such an occurrence are very low on average. "Even though the Atlantic hurricane season officially lasts until the end of November, the weather pattern, statistics and the AccuWeather forecast strongly suggest that the possibility of another significant hurricane hitting the U.S. mainland is extremely small for the rest of the season," according to Dr. Joel N. Myers, AccuWeather founder and president. The low risk is due to an increase in westerly winds at most levels of the atmosphere across North America. These winds tend to steer any potential tropical systems away from the Atlantic Seaboard and to a great extent the central and western Gulf of Mexico coast. Meanwhile, stiff easterly winds at the surface and strong westerly winds aloft farther south in the tropics work toward disrupting the development of storms in the Caribbean Sea and the south-central Atlantic. Currently, there are also vast areas of dry air over the Atlantic, and water temperatures have throttled back from their late-summer peak levels.

Videos

Hope Haven and Shine Center officially open doors to the community of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye Raise Me Up Congratulations!!!, 5sec.

Vehicle on fire on the Placencia Road at 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 4th, 2017, 1min. Eyewitnesses says it occurred near Riversdale.

Splash pad at Harvest Caye - Belize, 1min.

BELIZE, Renae Sherese MARTINEZ - Contestant Introduction (Miss World 2017), 2min. Meet this year's contestant from Belize.. Renae Sherese MARTINEZ! Who will be crowned Miss World 2017 ?

Belize & Guatemala 2017 (w/ EF College Break), 5min. I went to Belize and Guatemala this past summer with #EFUltimateBreak. Had a blast and met some awesome people!

BELIZE 2017 GOPRO, 3min.

November 4, 2017