January 30, 2018

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

San Pedro resident found dead in southern Belize
The lifeless body of San Pedro resident 48-year-old Miguel Angel Guerrero was discovered on Monday, January 29th in Dangriga Town in the Stann Creek District. Police have since launched an investigation after confirming that he died from a single chop wound to his neck. The official report from police states that around 3:02AM police visited Havana Game Shop located in the Havana Area of Dangriga Town. Upon arrival, they observed a male person of clear complexion dressed in a camouflage jacket with camouflage short pants and black in color tennis shoes lying face down in a pool of blood, apparently dead. The deceased was later identified as the carver and painter from San Pedro.

Three charged with Paul Jex’s murder
Police have charged three persons in connection with the murder of Jimell Paul Jex. The trio includes a 15-year-old minor, alongside 19-year-old Delson Paguada, and 45-year- old Timothy Carcamo. They appeared at the San Pedro Magistrate Court on Monday, January 29th, where they were arraigned for the offense. Jex was gunned down on Tuesday, January 23rd on Crocodile Street at the entrance of the San Pedrito Subdivision. In the shooting incident, a second person identified as Dion Neal also suffered gunshot injuries but was treated at the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II.

Ambergris Today

Three Charged For Murder In Paul Jex Shooting
Police have arrested and charged three person in connection with the shooting in the San Pedrito Area, Tuesday, January 23, 2018, that left Jimell Paul Jex dead and his cousin Dion Neal injured. Delson Samir Paguada (19-years-old), Timothy Carcamo (45-years-old) fisherman and a 15-year-old minor all residents of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye have been jointly charged with murder. Paul Jex was fatally shot in the head, while Neal received a gunshot to his lower back. The incident occurred at the entrance of the San Pedrito Subdivision. Police confirm that the shooting incident is a result of an ongoing gang rivalry on the island.

BEL Pleads For Stop To Potentially Deadly Installations On Utility Poles
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) reminds the public that two lives were lost within the last year due to people being too close to power lines. The Company is writing the political parties and pleading to the public to desist from endangering lives by installing attachments such as banners, flags, signage and flyers near to power lines.

Why Worry About Staying Dry In Belize?
First it was COLD! Now it got SOGGY! We asked our readers to submit pictures to show us how they are staying dry during these very wet days on Ambergris Caye. Kevin Barker had a different idea; he would rather get wet and catch some tail. That is why he came to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize! Meanwhile, Cecilia C. Flinchum submitted a couple pictures on land. One staying dry and hanging out on the porch reading with her daughter. The next day they decided to get wet as well, but they have a different plan than Kevin - they decided to go bar hopping!

Misc Belizean Sources

Spay and Neuter Clinic Jan 31
Dr. Baptise will be on Caye Caulker this Wednesday, 31 January, doing spay and neuter surgery on dogs and cats. Please message us if you would like an appointment.

Traffic accident in Corozal Monday morning

"Food Preparation for Wellness" Workshop
President of the Belize Alumni Association, Yvette Mazariegos and Embassy colleague Nurse Dylcia Link participated in the "Food Preparation for Wellness" Workshop at the Maya Mountain Lodge & Tours. The focus of the workshop was to learn how to prepare a quick and healthy lunch.

Maya Textiles
Visiting archaeological sites in the Maya world, chances are you will find textiles for sale at the gift shops. The weaving of these textiles are pretty much carried out by the women of the communities. They imbue the textiles with their own identity and that of her community. While the patterns have changed over time, symbols and patterns from non-Maya origins have been "Mayanized" to create the Maya aesthetic. The goddess of weaving, Ix Chel, still inspires Maya women today in weaving their own huipils and spreading the beauty of Maya weave-work for all to see and enjoy.

The Ministry of Health advises on the present Measles Situation in Central America and the Caribbean
The Ministry of Health was recently alerted to a positive case of Measles in Guatemala, imported from Germany. Measles is a highly infectious viral disease but is also a vaccine-preventable disease that has not been reported in Belize since 1991. The number of cases of Measles in the region of the Americas has increased from 92 to 271 in 2016 and 2017, respectively, and the Caribbean is reporting highly suspicious cases imported from the United Kingdom (UK). The public is hereby advised to IMMEDIATELY report to your nearest health facility if you show signs or observe someone with the following symptoms:

Miguel Angel Guerrero killed in Dangriga
Mayor Daniel Guerrero, the San Pedro Town Council and Staff would like to extend its deepest condolences to the Guerrero family and friends on the tragic passing of Miguel Angel Guerrero, also known as Cabria. May his soul rest in peace.

2018 Eco Challenge Kayak Race
Preparations are underway to hold the kayak race once again here in San Pedro. Are you ready and do you have what it takes to compete in this grueling race? 26, 27 of May.

Corozal House of Culture 6th Anniversary
Friday, Feb. 23, 9am-3pm

Representatives of Northern Maya Association of Belize met with organizers of the traditional "Comparsas" in Caledonia Corozal
Please click on each photo to view the story.

Immigration and Nationality Department relocated to Mountain View Boulevard in Belmopan

Corozal Blood Drive
The Rotaract Club of Corozal in collaboration with The Corozal Community Hospital and the Belize Red Cross are conducting a Blood Drive to assist those persons in need blood. We ask the community to HELP US HELP OTHERS and come on out if you are a donor. This event will take place at the Corozal Community Hospital by the laboratory/blood bank area.

Meet the 2018 FBB Grant Winners
Full Basket Belize has decided upon this year's grant winners, and most are in Cayo. The Belize Zoo, Eden High School, For the Children, the Santa Teresita Village Council, and the Tropical Rainforest Institute of Belize all received grants for their projects. FBB will be accepting scholarships for the 2018-2019 school year soon, and they are asking for help with reading and grading them. Contact them if you can. Thanks, FBB! "Learn about the 6 amazing community projects we're supporting this year with $1,000 grants. And welcome the new FBB Board of Directors!

Belize Mountain Bike Adventure
The European Nature Trust (TENT) is partnering with FCD on a 240 km Belize Mountain Bike Adventure starting February 5th. Follow the activity on the TENT site.

Channel 7

Man Loses Life In Bulldozer Scrape
It was a weekend of death in Belize - there were three murders, one accidental death - and this afternoon, a fatal traffic accident. It happened on the Boom Road around 3:00 where a Toyota RAV 4 clipped a bulldozer that was being carried on a trailer. The impact shredded the driver's side of the RAV4 - leaving it a mangled wreck. When our team arrived on the scene, the driver was dead, and his body lay on the pavement surrounded by police officers. We understand that when police got there he was in the vehicle behind the wheel already dead from the massive impact which tore off the side of the RAV. Police zipped his body in a bag, and took him away in the back of a patrol truck. We have the name, but are not releasing it, to make sure his family is informed.

Two Year Old Tragedy: Run Over By Aunt In Mishap
And in another kind of fatal vehicular accident. A Teakettle family is still in shock tonight after their 2 year old baby girl was crushed under her aunt's vehicle. It happened on Saturday evening after 4:00. Little Sofi Reyes just wanted to be with her dad but it ended in tragedy when her aunt, Elvita Cruz drove over the baby. Courtney Weatherburne has more on this devastating mishap. 2 year old Sofi Reyes was a ray of sunshine. She was cheerful and loving. But now her family will only be able to see her gleaming smile in photos she has left behind. Little Sofi was run over and killed on Saturday evening in front of her Teakettle family home.

PG Protest Against Police
And coming up - we'll have the weekend's bad news about all those murders - but first we go to Punta Gorda. It's been a little over 2 weeks since Mario Vernon the Third was shot and killed by Police Constable Tevin Aranda in that southern Town. He's out on bail for a manslaughter charge, but his family and friends are not satisfied. They say that he should be facing a murder charge for the death of the 24 year-old. On Saturday they organized a protest to voice their displeasure with the outcome of this controversial police shooting. Now a community protest in PG is always news, so our news team traveled south, and Daniel Ortiz has the story:

Police Say Accused Cop is a Colleague and a Human
So, as you saw in our story, the protesters were up in arms about reports that the PG police were fundraising for PC Aranda. It was a repeated refrain during Saturday's event that the cops were holding barbecue sales to help him pay for a defense attorney. Family and friends of the victim interpret that as the other police officers somehow condoning his actions. So, we asked the police spokesperson about it. He said that the officer is a human and a colleague: Alejandro Cowo, OC - CIB: "I don't see anything wrong if they want to do a fundraising. It's a normal human being. It is just like Ms. Hortence mentioned, if it's a colleague, everybody will try to assist, noh? We are human beings."

Castro Trio Cleared Of Harm Charge
Back in August of last year, it made big news when Minister Edmond Castro's 21 year-old son, Jafari, was jointly charged with harm along with 21 year-old James Young Jr. and 18 year-old Gilbert Franklin Jr. They were accused of putting a beatdown on 21 year-old Kevin Brown, a resident of Camalote, who ended up hospitalized in a serious condition. The charges followed weeks of media and police intrigue - where many questions were asked about why they hadn't been charged. It culminated in the most intensely covered arraignment for the minor charge of "harm" in the history of the courts. And, tonight, what started out with a bang has ended with a whimper. The 3 accused, Castro, Young and Franklin are accused no more. That's because the case was set for trial today before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford. They showed up to face the case, but the complainant, Kevin Brown did not.

Three Murder Weekend Began In Residential Neighborhood
It was a three murder weekend - with two killings in the Belize District and one in Dangriga. Those become the 13th., 14th., and 15th. murders for January. We begin in the Vista Del Mar residential community - just outside Ladyville where what might be called a love triangle - exploded into murder. When it was over, Gavin Palmerston was dead - and his female friend's ex-common law husband was a murder suspect. They are, or were, both Ladyville residents. We found out more from police. Sahar Vasquez reporting: On Friday night 41-year-old Gavin Palmerston went to visit his friend Stephanie Coye at an apartment building on Barrier Reef Crescent Drive in Vista Del Mar. But that regular visit turned into a nightmare.

Why Was Hattieville Working Man Killed? Not Even Cops Know
And while that was Friday night - by early Saturday morning - there would be another murder - this one - an all too familiar type of Belize City killing: a man found shot to death on the street. Except in this case, the victim, 36-year-old Hattieville resident Jermaine Hyde was no kind of criminal - and no kind of gangster. So why was he shot in the head?. Police told us today that they are puzzled: ASP Alejandro Cowo, OC - CIB: "The investigation has shown that Mr. Hyde had just left from the Tacos place which is located by Swing Bridge and was heading towards Thurton Lane when he was suddenly approached by an unknown male person who fired on single shot at him, causing the fatal injuries. He used to work at the old Novelo's Bus Terminal or the terminal that is being used at this moment."

From Pedro, To ‘Griga, To Grave For Miguel Angel
And the weekend's third murder happened in Dangriga Town this morning. A man from San Pedro was found dead in a Dangriga bar around 3:00 this morning. Police told us more: Alejandro Cowo, OC - CIB: "The third murder was reported in Dangriga this morning. Sometime after three in the morning police visited the Havana club, which is located in the Havana area, Dangriga Town where they observed the motionless body of a Hispanic male person with a large cut wound to the neck. At this time the person is being called John Doe as no identity has been established. We do not know or have any information if he was a worker there or anything like that - up to this moment. That's all I can give you in regards to that murder there." Reporter: "So, stab wound to the neck?" Alejandro Cowo, OC - CIB: "Apparently, it's like a chop to the neck."

Man Shot In Jaw Is Critical
A Belize City man is in critical condition after he was shot in the face last night in the Lake Independence area of Belize City. Police told us that 33 year old Edgar Flores was hanging out with others when the shots rang out:... ASP Alejandro Cowo: "On Sunday the 28th of January, sometime just after 8:00 pm, acting upon information received, CIB precinct two visited the Karel Heusner Memorial Hospital where they observed a male person by the name of Edgar Flores with an apparent gunshot wound to the right side of his jaw. He was being treated and up to this moment is admitted in a critical condition at the KHMH. What police has gathered so far is that he was inside of a yard on Jones Street. They were socializing when a male person from the roadside fired several shots at their direction which caused the injuries to Mr. Flores."

Jex Killers Charged
Three persons have been charged for the murder of 32 year old Paul Jex - who was killed on San Pedro 6 days ago - as the result of ongoing rivalry between drug gangs on the island. ASP Alejandro Cowo, OC - CIB: "The arrest of 3 males persons reference the Paul Jex murder - who are a minor and two other individuals. The first one is Mr. Timothy Carcamo, a 45 year old Belizean of San Juan area and Delson Paguada, a 19 years old Belizean of San Mateo area along with a minor from that same address. He is 15 years old." Reporter: "Will three persons be charged for murder, or will it be conspiracy and abetment?" ASP Alejandro Cowo, OC - CIB: "What we have so far is that it was more than one shooter that was involved in that murder there."

Cops Say Simon Was Target Because of Jex Murder
And Simon Velasquez's murder on Plues Street in Belize City - two days after Jex is directly related. Velasquez had been detained for the Jex murder - and when police released him - he came directly to Belize City. He would be murdered within hours. Police linked the two: Reporter: "He had just come into town from San Pedro where he was being held in relation to Paul Jex." ASP Alejandro Cowo, OC - CIB: "He was living with a female and that is the address or area that he usually frequent and because of his name being called out or after his release from San Pedro police in regards to the investigation of Mr. Paul Jex that he came to Belize and that might have led to him fatally shot is a possibility."

Police Looking For Two New Cowo Killers
And while Velasquez was a gang rival for Paul Jex - he was considered an ally to Alfredo Cowo - who was executed in San Pedro on January 16th. As we told you last week, police have been looking at a new suspect - and investigating the possibility that William Body - who has already been charged and remanded - was not the killer. Cowo discussed it today:... Reporter: "Is another suspect being actively sought or looked at or detained?" ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B: "Yes, police are reviewing other surveillance cameras in that area and at a farther distance and at this moment we are looking for two other persons who can help us in this investigation."

Mexicans And Mucho Dinero
A trio of Mexicans who are on remand at the Hattieville prison, will face more charges. They are Leonel Isaac Rodriguez, Joscan Jafet Hernandez, and Belen Hernandez - and they were all arraigned last week for a single charge of theft. The trio is accused of ripping off the Atlantic Bank - with bogus bank and credit cards. They alleged withdrew a hundred thousand dollars form Atlantic bank branches throughout the country. But - it turns out - that hundred grand - is just the starter figure. Police told us there's more:... ASP Alejandro Cowo: "Over the weekend we have received additional information from the Atlantic Bank, so at this moment police is preparing additional charges to be levied on them. It will be sometime during this week that we will get a new order and they will be brought again to answer to several other counts of thefts that will be given to them."

Capital Cops Seeking…
Belmopan police are looking for two men. Maya Mopan resident Sergio Aguierre is wanted for sexual related offences while Cotton Tree villager Devon Brooks is wanted for theft. If you all may remember, Brooks was charged for alleged involvement in the 2016 Income Tax Office Heist in Belmopan. If you see any of these men, contact the police immediately.

OAS Permanent Council Welcomes Wilfred Elrington and Sandra Jovel
We haven't heard anything about the OAS in a while - and that's probably because the Guatemalans haven't been too happy with them since the report exonerating the BDF in the killing of a Guatemalan youth. But, on Wednesday, both parties are going back to Washington for a special meeting of the Permanent Council. It's scheduled for 9:00 on Wednesday morning and it's a pretty big deal - as far as these things go. The official invitation says the Permanent Council will receive Belize's Minister of Foreign Affairs and his Guatemalan counterpart Sandra Jovel. The meeting will be broadcast live on the OAS Website, Facebook page, and right here on Channel 7.

”Chiste” Remembered With New Auditorium
Dangriga opened its Belize Infrastructure Limited sporting facility this weekend. Coming so close unto the Town Board elections - it was a time for all the rival factions inside the Dangriga camp to come together for a rare show of unity. They did it for the opening of the Russell Garcia Auditorium. The deceased Chiste Garcia was a former UDP representative for Dangriga and a much loved figure in that community. Speechgivers sung his praises:

Jackson Family Not Happy With Police
At the top of the news, we took you to Punta Gorda for the protest that the family members and friends of the late Mario Vernon organized. Well, while we were there, we ran into the family of 20 year-old Carlos Jackson Jr. He was the young chef from the Placencia restaurant Rumfish Y Vino, who was murdered on the Peninsula over the long Christmas Holiday weekend. Well, it's been over a month, and his family is dissatisfied because police have made no progress in solving the case and bringing criminal charges. On Saturday, his mother told us that it has been frustrating trying to follow up with Placencia Police, especially because they are from the Toledo village of San Pedro Colombia. Here's how she explained why she thinks the cops aren't doing enough:

Wigmore's Diplomatic “Delicto"
Andy Wigmore - his name may not be known much inside Belize - but he's been using Belize's name a whole lot over the past few years. British press reports say that he was pulled over this weekend when he was found pretending to be a diplomat. He was stopped on January 19th allegedly using illegal diplomatic plates and carrying an expired diplomatic ID card. Press reports say Wigmore was later detained. He held diplomatic status for Belize until 2017, when it was revoked. Wigmore claims he was unaware his license plates had been decommissioned.' Wigmore's works with the BREXIT campaign - and has long aligned himself with the political right - while hobnobbing with Belizean glitterati.

Channel 5

Ex’s Jealous Rage Takes Out Gavin Palmerston in Ladyville
There were three murders over the weekend, one in Ladyville, another in Belize City and the third occurred this morning in Dangriga. We start tonight’s newscast with the stabbing murder [...]

Who Wanted Jermaine “Onion” Hyde Dead?
A Hattieville resident was the second murder victim for the weekend. Jermaine Hyde aka “Onion’’ was executed on Saturday morning here in the city. Hyde was last seen alive in [...]

San Pedrano Artist Chopped to Death in Dangriga
In Dangriga early this morning, an artist from San Pedro was found dead. Miguel Angel Guerrero was chopped to the neck and left to die on the street near the [...]

P.G. Residents Take to the Streets to Protest Mario Vernon Case
On Saturday morning in Punta Gorda, despite inclement weather, residents, including family and friends of Mario Vernon Junior took the streets to protest his killing.  The twenty-four-year-old grandson of Leela [...]

Death Reported on Boom-Hattieville Road
This evening, there was loss of life on the Burrell Boom Circuit. The details we have gathered so far are that just before five p.m. today, a Toyota Rav-Four SUV [...]

The Tragic Loss of Sosphie Reyes in Teakettle
A two-year-old girl is dead after a relative driving a vehicle accidentally knocked her down on Saturday afternoon. Thirty-year-old Elba Cruz was driving up the street to another relative’s home [...]

3 Charged for Paul Jex Murder
For security reasons, the three men accused of killing Jamaal Paul Jex last Tuesday on Ambergris Caye were brought to Belize City for arraignment. Nineteen-year-old Nelson Paguada and a fifteen-year-old [...]

Search for Simon Velasquez’s Killer Continues
But following the murder of Jex, several persons were detained for questioning. One of the detainees was Simon Velasquez, who was murdered two days later on Plues Street in Belize [...]

2 More to Join William Godoy in Alfredo Cowo Murder
William Godoy is accused of murder, following the shooting death of twenty-eight-year-old Alfredo Cowo in San Pedro on January sixteenth.  Despite having been charged and placed on remand at the [...]

Man Chopped, Robbed in South Stann Creek
One man remains hospitalized after being chopped multiple times on Saturday night in South Stann Creek.  The incident took place just outside of Independence Village where the victim was reportedly [...]

Gunman Targets Edgar Flores near Complex
Thirty-three-year-old Edgar Flores is listed in critical condition at the K.H.M.H., after being shot in the right side of his face on Sunday night.  The incident happened on Jones Street, [...]

Police Officers Cleared in Attack of City Resident a Year Ago
Brother police officers twenty-eight-year-old Kenrick and twenty-four-year-old Akeem Gamboa saw charges of grievous harm against them dropped today in Magistrate’s Court. Exactly one year ago, twenty-year-old Michael Crawford, a security [...]

Be on the Lookout for Measles
In health news, Belize has not seen a case of measles since 1991. But there is a general alert out tonight from the Ministry of Health after the highly infectious [...]

Ex-Diplomat Andy Wigmore Busted for Expired Diplomatic Vehicle Plates
A British-Belizean dual national who formerly held diplomatic status for Belize was pulled over by cops in London on January nineteenth. He was cited for using illegal diplomatic license plates [...]

Have You Seen Sergio Aguirre, Wanted for Sex Offenses?
Police are looking for this man, Sergio Aguirre for sexual related offenses.  Aguirre is from the Maya Mopan area of Belmopan and is twenty-seven-years-old.  His occupation is listed as a [...]

Introducing Candidates in Dangriga
Over the past week we’ve been featuring the mayoral candidates contesting the March seventh municipal elections.  Today, we reached out to the mayoral hopefuls in Dangriga. Incumbent Francis Humphreys is [...]

Handling the Sarstoon
On Friday the Minister of Defence John Saldivar addressed an unexpected visit to Belize from members of the Guatemalan Armed Forces who were said to be asking about an earlier [...]

Bandits Not Hogging FIFA-Certified Isidoro Beaton Pitch
On a more positive note, the Isidoro Beaton Stadium at the corner of the Ring Road and San Martin Road was recently certified to FIFA-standard. It is the second stadium [...]

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

LOVE FM

Attorney General a no show at Justices of the Peace meeting
Paul Mahung reporting… “The seventeenth annual general meeting of the National Association of Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Supreme Court was held yesterday in Belize City. Reports and activities of the National Association of Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Supreme Court over the past year was done by National President Adrian …

San Pedro man killed in Dangriga
Harry Arzu reporting… “A San Pedro resident who has been identified as Miguel Angel Guerrero was murdered in Dangriga in the wee hours of Monday morning. At about 3:02 this morning, Dangriga Police responded to the murder scene on Havana Street where they observed a male person of clear completion dressed in a camouflage jacket …

Jermaine Hyde shot to the head
The second murder was that of Hattieville resident, 38-year-old Jermaine Curtis Hyde, who was killed on Saturday morning shortly after four o’clock in Belize City. Police report that they found Hyde’s body on Thurton Lane with an apparent gunshot wound to the back of his head. Hipolito Novelo reports. HIPOLITO NOVELO REPORTING At around 5 …

Man recovering from chop wounds
24 year old John Rash was brutally attacked last night while on his way to San Pablo Village in the Toledo district sometime before 10 o’clock by five armed men who also robbed him of $200.00. Police say that Rash who works at a banana farm in Cowpen Village was travelling through ‘Farm 14’ when …

Family still seeks justice for Mario Vernon
The family of Mario Vernon staged a protest on Saturday in Punta Gorda Town demanding justice be served. They were joined by a handful of residents. The Family of Mario Vernon is demanding that the police conduct a transparent investigation into his murder, and so are PG residents who remain discontent with the charge that …

Toddler run over by SUV
Fem Cruz reporting… “A two-year-old female toddler of Tea Kettle Village is dead after she was knocked down and ran over by a grey Ford Escape driven at the time by thirty-year-old Elba Cruz, a Finance Officer and a resident of Ontario Village. According to the father of the child, forty-two year old Clifford Reyes, …

More Charges for Mexicans accused of stealing over 100K
Police say that they will be levying more charges on the three Mexican that were arrested for theft. As we reported before, 26-year-old Jacson Jafet, 31-year-old Leonel Rodriguez and 27-year-old Belen Hernandez have been remanded to prison after they were charged with the theft of three hundred dollars Belize currency from Atlantic Bank in Corozal …

Caught using illegal Belizean diplomatic plates
Andy Wigmore, a high profile political operative, and businessman of the United Kingdom was reportedly caught using illegal Belizean diplomatic plates and an expired diplomatic ID card. Wigmore was detained by police two weeks ago after they suspected that he was driving without a license. He is also the holder of a Belizean Nationality certificate …

Belizean to attend Trump’s State of the Union Address
Tomorrow US President Donald Trump will deliver his first State of the Union Address. A Belizean who migrated to the United States will be in the chamber of the United States House of Representatives listening to the 45th President of the United States of America. Her name is Denea Joseph, a born Belizean who journeyed …

TIDE presents project for funding from Compete Caribbean
Belize presented two projects for funding from Compete Caribbean during an Investment Panel at the Inter-American Development Bank (IBD) Barbados last Friday. There were eight final project presentations and two were from Belize. The Belize Shrimp Biosecurity Aquaculture Zone project was presented by Belize Shrimp Growers’ Association and the Enhancing Six Small Tourism Enterprises in …

Measles detected in neighboring Guatemala
Health officials in Belize have been placed on alert to a positive case of Measles in Guatemala, imported from Germany. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory infection that’s caused by a virus. (VO STARTS) It causes a total-body skin rash and flu-like symptoms, including a fever, cough, and runny nose. It is also a vaccine-preventable disease that has not been reported in Belize since 1991. The number of cases of Measles in the region of the Americas has increased from 92 to 271 in 2016 and 2017, respectively, and the Caribbean is reporting highly suspicious cases imported from the United Kingdom (UK) …

Wanted for sexual related offenses
Twenty-seven-year-old Sergio Aguirre is wanted by police. He is wanted for sexual related offenses. Aguirre is described as being of dark complexion, weighing 145 pounds. He has brown eyes and his hair is black. He is originally from the Maya Mopan Area of Belmopan city. If you have any information concerning Aguirre, you are asked to contact the nearest police station …

Devon Brooks wanted by police
The Belize Police Department is also looking for twenty-one-year-old Devon Xavier Brooks. He is wanted for the crime of theft. Brooks is from Cotton Tree Village in the Cayo District. He is of a dark complexion and weighs one hundred and thirty pounds. He has brown eyes and black short hair. Again, if you have information that can lead police to Brooks, you are asked to contact the nearest police station …

PlusTV

Plans in place to better secure Western border area access
We have reported on the two recent incidents at the Western border where Guatemalan press and Guatemalan soldiers have meandered over to the Belize side of the border. At least on of t hose resulted in a scuffle between a Guatemalan journalist and Belizean authorities. Today, the media caught up wit...

Two charged for Double homicide in Ladyville
Police have arrested another person in connection to the murder of Casey Lozano and Marlon Spain who were shot on Tuesday night in Ladyville. Today, police arrested and charged 20 year old Darwin Prado , Belizean construction worker of Ladyville. He was charged with 2 counts of Murder, 2 counts...

Gruesome murder of Toledo sisters still unsolved
The investigation into the gruesome murders of two sisters from Toledo district is still ongoing. Post mortem examinations have concluded on the bodies of the teenage sisters Josephine Oh and Cresencia Oh. They died due to the multiple chop wounds to the head. The bodies of the females were foun...

Simon Velasquez murder update
Yesterday we told you about the murder of 24 year old Darwin Velasquez. Details were still sketchy at news time yesterday but today police issued a report on the incident. The shooting happened shortly after one o’clock at the corner of Plues and Bishop streets. Darwin Dwayne Simon Velasquez, a Beli...

Fatal accident on San Narciso Road
There was a fatal traffic accident last night which claimed the life of one person. On Thursday January 25, at about 6:30 p.m., 35 year old Gerardo Silvevestre Chable was driving a white Isuzu rodeo on the San Narciso main road from the direction of Phillip Goldson Highway towards San Victor Villag...

Man dies in explosion in Sandhill Village
Reports are that one man died as a result of an explosion which occurred this morning in Sandhill Village. The explosion occurred inside In-n-Out Bakery. The deceased has been identified as 59 year old Alfonso Policarpio Moralez. Alberto Moralez was also injured in the explosion. According to report...

School Shuttle with students Crashes on La Gracia Road
The parents and students of La Gracia Village who commute daily to Eden High School in San Ignacio are this evening up in arms because of a traffic accident which occurred on the la Gracia road on Tuesday afternoon. PlusNews visited the village earlier this afternoon and spoke with the students who ...

Ladyville business robbed at gunpoint
A business establishment was robbed in Ladyville last night. On Thursday January 25th, sometime around 8:30 p.m., Freddy Hernandez was in his place of business serving a male customer when another male person entered the establishment wearing a jacket. The individual removed a gun from the jacket and pointed at Hernandez demanding money. Hernandez handed over about $200 in cash and the perpetrator made good his escape. Police are investigating.

Cashier at Dangriga Magistrate’s court charged with theft
A Belizean cashier at the Dangriga magistrate’s court has been charged with theft. Belizean Finance Officer for the Attorney General’s Office/Magistrates Court reported that whilst conducting an internal audit at the Dangriga Magistrates Court, she discovered that, on August 26th of 2016, a payment of $300.00 was made and was issued a receipt which was signed and stamped by Janay Ciego, the cashier at the Dangriga Magistrates Court. However, a further investigation revealed that only $2.50 cents was paid into the Treasury Department using the specific receipt number.

Major crimes down in 2017 according to police
2017 saw a reduction in major crime across the country. That’s according to the police statistics, which shows a 6.8% reduction for major crimes. These figures were released yesterday as the official crime statistics for 2017. While the media reported 145 murders for 2017, police say there were only 142 murders for 2017. That’s a slight increase from 2016 which saw 138 murders. There was also an increase in robberies. However, all other major crimes saw a reduction; rapes, burglaries, thefts, and unlawful sexual intercourse all saw a reduction. Those are reported cases and does not take into account the many thefts and burglaries that police are not reported.

Customs Day observed
Today is being recognized as International Customs Day. Belize’s Customs and Excise Department is also joining in on the celebration of the day which is being observed under the theme “A Secure Business Environment for Economic Development”. Traditionally in Belize, going through customs is often seen as an exercise that one would rather avoid. However, the customs department is trying to reform its image of the entity that clamps down on businesses at the borders but rather as a facilitator of business and trade. Comptroller of Customs, Collin Gillett explained.

Contraband cigarettes found in San Jose Orange Walk
Early this morning, a joint operation was conducted between Special Branch and Quick Response Team in the area of San Jose Village, Orange Walk district. Police say it led to the discovery of 10 boxes of assorted contraband cigarettes which amounted to 352 cartoons. Police did not say exactly where they were found but no one was in the area at the time and so the items were labelled as Found Property and handed over to customs Department.

Tourists robbed in San Ignacio
Five tourists were victims of an armed robbery last night in San Ignacio Town. Police have not issued any reports on the incident but we understand that the group of tourists were walking from Guava Limb restaurant towards Venus Hotel when they were attacked by a man armed with a knife. The tourists ran but one of them, a female tourist, was not able to get away before the armed man grabbed her purse with cash and personal documents.

UDP on campaign trail in Belmopan
Municipal elections are on March 7th. On the radio and television stations at this point, PUP campaign ads can be heard daily; not so with UDP ads at this point. In Belmopan , the only huge campaign posters we have seen hoisted on street corners so far are also those of the PUP. However, while the United Democratic party appears to be confident of another win, they are on the campaign trail working hard. Belmopan area representative John Saldivar was asked today if he is also involved in the municipal elections campaign.

Breaking Belize News

Health Ministry issues advisory on Measles situation in Central America and Caribbean
The Ministry of Health informed today that it was recently alerted to a positive case […]

Chinese Restaurant in Belize City robbed at gunpoint
Fifty three year old Chinese business owner Xin Hui Zhang of Belize City reported that last […]

Belize City Police: man shot in face, is in critical condition
Last night around 8:20, police visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where they saw Edgar Flores, 33, of […]

Belize City security officer arrested for gun and ammo without license
Yesterday morning, police were conducting a mobile patrol on Commerce Street, Dangriga where officers conducted […]

US impedes Ukraine money laundering investigation with ties to Belize
Special prosecutors from Ukraine are worried that three money laundering investigations, one leading to Belize, […]

Belize: Racism is just a race
rac•ism 1. prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that […]

Residents request streetlights between Georgetown and Maya Mopan
According to some residents from Maya Mopan and Georgetown villages in the Stann Creek district, […]

Santa Teresita village floods
BBN readers have shared several photos of the condition of Santa Teresita village in the […]

Cable providers may soon be affected by increasing copyright pressure
Increasing pressure on Belize to conform to international copyright standards may soon affect Belizeans, who […]

Cristo Rey residents concerned about garbage dump
Residents of Cristo Rey village, Cayo are concerned that there are two areas along the […]

Belize among confirmed nations exempt from solar import taxes
A report from PV Tech Org informed today that the United States government confirmed the countries that will be exempted from the recently announced 30% import tax on solar cells and modules […]

Man chopped to death in Dangriga
Dangriga police found a man chopped dead today but have not ascertained his identity. Police […]

Blogs

Sunday Afternoon at the Truck Stop on Ambergris Caye
The perfect Sunday spot to meet friends is the Truck Stop. By now you all know it but for those brand new to the island, a quick reminder. It’s Ambergris Caye’s food court, bar, pool, ice cream parlor, movie spot and all around happening spot. They have an Asian food/noodle truck, a Taco/Latin food truck… A Pizza truck and DELICIOUS ice cream. The conch pizza is my very favorite. OMG! Maybe they need a dumpling truck! Chinese Dim Sum, Polish pierogis, Italian ravioli, ‘Merican chicken and dumplings, gnocchi, gyoza, wontons, samosas and momo and soup dumplings…THIS IS THE GREATEST IDEA EVER!

Worth Getting Wet – January Farmers Market Truck Stop
As January comes to an end, we are getting more than our share of wet weather. Thankfully it is still interspersed with sunny periods and not like the great rains of Fall and Winter 2012. Saturday, the weather Maya God Chaac, deemed it a constant shower day. I watched the Truck Stop Facebook page and they stated during a short sunny patch that the farmers market was happening, rain or shine. Of course right after they said that the skies opened up and drenched the island – many times that day. Including right before we were leaving as you can see in the picture below, my yard had turned into lake taco – my friend Cindy’s joke. My visiting friend Patrick and I decided we were on a rainy day mission. We wanted to help our friends make some sales. That may sound altruistic however it was just as much a Homer Simpson moment. Cindy (aka Lunch Box) called it right by saying we’ve got Homer beat on the eating circuit. Since Patrick arrived from the great white north (ok Toronto really) we have been nonstop foodies. We are often talking about our next meal before we finish the one we are eating.

International Sources

More Thoughts On The 2018 Atlantic, Gulf Of Mexico & Caribbean Hurricane Season
Back on November 30th, we released our preliminary thoughts on what the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season may bring. Since then, I continue to examine, study and analyze many different things that could go into determining how busy the hurricane season may be. These include ENSO forecasts, sea surface temperature forecasts and analog years. Based on everything that I continue to look at, I continue to have concerns that the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season could be another active one with activity either similar to 2017 or possibly even a little more active. The latest ENSO model guidance continues to point towards neutral ENSO conditions during the 2018 Hurricane Season. If we do see neutral ENSO conditions during the 2018 Hurricane Season, it could mean a very active season. With that said, ENSO forecasts this time of year can be highly inaccurate. It should also be noted that it is rare for a La Nina to quickly transition into a El Nino and normally there is at least a year with neutral ENSO conditions.

Videos

January 29, 2018

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

Wolfe’s Woofer: Pooper Scooper
“Mario, what’s going on?” I asked, when he answered the phone. Mario is my yard man and handyman, whenever he decides to come to work. Over the years he has become a friend instead of just an employee. “I can’t come to work today, Mr. Dennis,” he said. “I’m fixing the plumbing at my suegra’s house—my mother-in-law. I’ll be here two or three days.” “What am I supposed to do in the meantime? The fence is only three-quarters painted and the yard is only half-cleaned.” “I can send Juney over to help you.”

Letter to the Editor: Mr. Homero Escalante thanks supporters
Dear Editor: I wish to thank those who sent flowers and those who expressed their condolences verbally or in writing. A special thanks to all who attended the funeral mass in spite of the weather. Very special thanks to Kay and Chetin Encalada, Clarice and Smiley Nuñez, Florita Ancona, to the SP Town Board, to Cristina Espejo, to the Sisters of Mercy in Belize City, to Severo Sr. and Jr., Ramon and the CCV. Thank you to the ladies and friends who visited and prayed for Lois, and are still doing so. All these and more were extremely helpful and kind in my hour of need. Thank you all, and God Bless! /s/ Homero Escalante

Doctor Love: Nervous
Dear Doctor Love, I am dating a very sweet girl. We have things in common and I like being with her. My friend told me last night that she is very pretty and she will look for other men so I should not trust her. I know I am not a handsome guy but she says she loves me and is really happy when we are together. We haven’t talked about getting married but I think we could except that now I am worried that my friend might be right. I didn’t tell her what my friend said but it has stayed in my mind. How can I know that she will not look for another guy? /s/Nervous

Misc Belizean Sources

Statement by the Senator representing the NGO Community, Osmany Salas, on the General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2016/2017) (No. 3) Bill, 2017
At Wednesday’s sitting of the Senate, the General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2016/2017) (No. 3) Bill, 2017, was taken through its three readings. The Bill aimed to appropriate "further sums of money for the use of the Public Service of Belize" for the following services: Capital II Expenditure (CAP II) = $6,643,518. Capital III Expenditure (CAP III) = $7,327,580. The CAP II money was for expenditures approved by the Ministry of Finance between May 2016 and August 2017 for Hurricane Earl assistance (Belmopan cleanup and general aid), hurricane assistance (cleanup Belize City), other hurricane assistance (cleanup and general aid – including house materials, house appliances, beds, transport, phone credit, etc.), emergency management (relief supplies & repair, construct 175 houses damaged by Hurricane Earl), and for Mother’s Day Appreciation Programme.

Placencia Sidewalk Arts Festival
Belikin Limited Edition Gala Diner at Naia Resort and Spa

EXPO 2018
The Business Chamber of Spanish Lookout has set the dates for the 2018 Spanish Lookout Business Expo for March 2nd and 3rd. A must attend event!

Cayo Race for Conservation 2018
The Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic's Cayo Race for Conservation was this morning. They had a 5k and a 10k route(from Hode's to Bullet Tree, and back), and the winners of the 10k got a free entry to the Chiquibul Challenge Marathon, which is in 3 weeks. The results are now online. "Here some pictures of todays event. Thank you to Jasmin Ford for these images! Congratulations to all winners and participants (see event page for webscorer results)! Special congratulations to the 10 K winners who qualified for free participation in the Chiquibul Challenge Marathon (18th of February): Junior Chiac (in 44:13 min) and shout out and congrats to BWRC's professional intern and team part-time Team for Conservation member Nuria Holzleg (in 51:44 min). See you in Chiquibul next!"

Closed/Open Reserves
The Institute of Archaeology, National Institute of Culture and History would like to advise all Tour Operators, Hoteliers, Tour Guides and members of the General Public that as of 06 AM Monday January 29, 2018: The NOHOCH CHE'EN and ACTUN TUNICHIL MUKNAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES are both CLOSED due to rise in water levels. BARTON CREEK IS ALSO CLOSED DUE TO HIGH LEVELS AT THE RIVER CROSSING. All other reserves are open.

The Reporter

Baker killed and brother injured in explosion
A baker/cyclist was killed and his brother was injured in an explosion at their workplace on Friday morning. The incident happened at Moralez’ In and Out Bakery in Sand Hill village sometime around 8:00 a.m., and claimed the life of Alfonso Moralez Jr., who was trying to fix an oven to bake the day’s supply for the British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB). Reports are that the stove exploded – a bang that flung open the oven door violently, hitting Moralez in the head, and hurling him to the ground unconscious. His brother, Alberto Moralez, who was next to him, was also struck in the head by the oven door but survived with a gash on his head.

Toddler reportedly crushed to death
A 2 year-old toddler was reportedly crushed to death on Saturday afternoon in the Cayo district. Police say that sometime around 4:00 p.m., Elba Cruz, 30, was reversing her SUV in a yard in Teakettle village when she accidentally ran over 2 year-old Sophy Reyes. The child was rushed to the Western Regional Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Police are investigating the incident.

Breaking Belize News

Man shot in Belize City
A man was shot just minutes ago on Belize City’s south side. He was standing on Complex Drive when a man on a bicycle rode past and opened fire.

Toddler killed in tragic accident
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a toddler. Yesterday evening around 4:00, Teakettle resident Elba Cruz, 30, was reversing her SUV in a yard in Teakettle village, Cayo. While reversing, however, she accidentally ran over 2-year-old Sophy Reyes.

Blogs

International Sources

Protecting a Caribbean wonder from disappearing in Belize
The largest coral reef in the Americas is under siege. Off the coast of the Central American nation Belize, it is one of the world’s great treasures. Just below the surface, a magnificent coral reef spans the entire length of the country. It was declared a World Heritage Site more than twenty years ago. But today, the reef in under attack. Coastal development, oil exploration and rising water temperatures are taking their toll on this jewel of the Caribbean. Correspondent John Zarrella went to Belize to see what’s being done to save the reef from ruin.

Triple treat: Supermoon, blue moon and lunar eclipse all coming to a sky near you next week
The first "blue moon" total lunar eclipse since March 1866. Skywatchers will get a rare triple treat Jan. 31: a supermoon, a blue moon and a total lunar eclipse. A blue moon — which occurs about every 2½ years — is another term for the second full moon in a single calendar month. January's first full moon occurred Jan. 1. Though the exact moment of this full moon is 8:37 a.m. ET Jan. 31, the moon will appear plenty full for a day or two before and after that.

Videos

January 28, 2018

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

Meet your Councilor Candidates: Part One
With the municipal elections right around the corner, The San Pedro Sun takes the opportunity to present the Councilor Candidates to the San Pedro Town public. As such, questions have been issued to all candidates in an effort to learn more about them. In this issue we present People’s United Party (PUP) candidates Dianeli Aranda and Johnnia Duarte.

Misc Belizean Sources

Man punches woman and kills a man during fight
On Friday 26th January 2018 at 9:38 p.m. police visited an apartment building in Vista Del Mar, Ladyville. Upon arrival they saw the body of 41 year old Gavin Palmerston on the ground. An hour earlier, Palmerston, was standing on the verandah of the apartment building having a conversation with a woman when Robert Brown arrived and punched her in the mouth. He then approached Palmerston and a fight ensued between both men. As a result Palmerson received several stabbed wounds to the back. Palmerston staggered inside the kitchen area of the apartment and collapsed to the floor. Robert Brown escapes and later handed himself over to police.

Shooting at Bus Terminal
On Saturday January 27, 2018 at about 4:50 a.m. police visitd Thurton Lane in Belize City where they found 38 year old Jermaine Curtis Hyde, a Bus Terminal employee, with a apparent gunshot wound to the back of the head. He was transported to KHMH where he was pronounced dead. The body now awaits a Post Mortem Examination.

Official opening of the Russell Chiste Garcia Auditorium!
Dangriga’s first multipurpose sports facility.

NEW YORK TIMES TRAVEL SHOW
Join the Belize Hotel Association at Booth 313 at the NEW YORK TIMES TRAVEL SHOW this weekend and Let us help you plan your next AMAZING BELIZE adventure! Get information on hotels, tours, transfer services and everything you need to know about Belize. See you there!

Kuylen’s Gas Service New Location
On Santa Elena Road

Corozal Beach and Water Clean Up
Join us for a Beach and Water Clean Up at Mangrove Park, Finca Solana on February 3rd, 2018 at 8 AM - 12 PM, we weill be Removing trash from the water and on the beach and park area close by. Let's continue to keep Corozal Safe and Clean!

Sarteneja Tour Guide Association launches Water Taxi Boats
Sarteneja Tour Guide Association will soon be launching a Water Taxi Boat to Corozal Town and eventually to Chetumal and is asking the villagers of Sarteneja and the community in general to help us in providing an adequate Time Schedule. We are planning in departing from Sarteneja at 6:00 a.m. to Corozal and leaving Corozal at 4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. We will be anxiously awaiting for your opinions and comments".

Rotaract Club of Corozal Blood Drive
The Corozal Rotaract Club will be having a Blood Drive this February 10th @ the Red Cross Building @ Santa Rita from 8:00am - 2:30pm. We ask all blood donors to come forward on that day to donate blood. Help us Help Others. The blood will be given to those who are in need of it.

BEL pleads for a stop to potentially deadly installations on utility poles

LOVE FM

Two Charged for Ladyville double murder
Twenty-two year old Darwin Prado and 23-year-old Jesse Mejia, were charged with the murders of 25-year- old Marlon Spain and 24- year- old Casey Lozano, when they appeared today before the Chief Magistrate, Sharon Fraser. They were remanded into custody until April 26. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, January 23, on Marage Road in Ladyville. …

Elderly man Killed in road traffic incident
An elderly man was knocked down and killed on around 6:30 Thursday night in San Narciso Village in the Corozal District. According to police, 52-year-old Hermenjildo Patt, a resident of San Narciso Village was riding his bicycle on the left hand side of the San Narciso main road towards San Victor Village when he was …

Belize hosts 25th Uniendo America Project Fair
Belize is hosting the 25th Uniendo America Project Fair for the third time. The fair is held annually and is hosted by different Central American Countries. Eight of the ten Rotary Clubs in Belize are part of the fair that opened this morning. Seventeen districts from the US and Canada are also being represented. Dalila …

Brigadier General Steven Ortega takes over Command of the BDF
The Belize Defense Force today celebrated its 40th anniversary. To observe this milestone achievement, the BDF also saw the passing out of recruit intake 63. Additionally, Brigadier General David Jones officially handed over the Command of the BDF to Brigadier General Steven Ortega, who has been holding over the Command since December last year after …

The Reporter

Police charge man for Friday night stabbing murder
Less than 24 hours after the stabbing murder of Gavin Palmerson, in Vista del Mar, police have arrested and charged the suspect in custody. This evening police charged Robert Brown, 37, a laborer of Ladyville village with “murder”. Palmerson was attacked and stabbed several times in his back sometime around 8:30 Friday night, while he was talking to a woman on a verandah in the Vista del Mar area, a couple miles away from Ladyville. The attacker also punched the woman in her face before he attacked Palmerson.

Man stabbed to death
A man was attacked and stabbed to death as he spoke to a woman at an apartment building in the Vista del Mar area, Belize district on Friday night. Police were summoned to the scene, located on the outskirts of Belize City and there they saw the the body of a man lying face up in a pool of blood. Police discovered that sometime around 8:30 p.m., the man, identified as Gavin Palmerston, 41, of Ladyville village was standing on the verandah of the same apartment building, and was having a conversation with a woman when another man arrived and punched the woman in her mouth. The man then walked up to Palmerston and they got involved in a fight, which resulted in Palmerson suffering several stab wounds in his back. Palmerston reportedly staggered inside the house and collapsed on the kitchen floor.

Bus terminal employee found shot dead in Belize City
Police found a bus terminal employee shot to death early this morning in Belize City. Police say their discovery was made sometime after 4:00 a.m., on Thurton Lane. They found Jermaine Curtis Hyde, 38, of Hattieville village with a gunshot wound to the back of the head. Hyde’s body awaits a post mortem examination and a police investigation is now underway.

Breaking Belize News

Universal Hardware to host annual family day
Universal Hardware has announced that its annual Friends and Family day will take place on February 17. The event will be full of new inventory, discounts and tons of raffles. Food and drinks will be available all day.

Gavin Palmerston stabbed dead
Ladyville resident, Gavin Palmerston, 41, was stabbed dead last night. Police say that sometime after 9:00 p.m., cops visited an apartment in the Vista Del Mar area where they saw him motionless in a pool of his own blood.

Early morning killing in Belize City
Jermaine Curtis Hyde, 38, an employee at the Belize City bus terminal was shot dead this morning. Sometime after 4:00 a.m. police visited Thurton Lane in Belize City where cops observed Hyde with an apparent gunshot wound to the back of the head.

Dangriga treasury clerk charged for theft
On January 15, Gaynor Flowers, 37, a finance officer for the Attorney General’s Office/Magistrates Court reported that while conducting an internal audit at the Dangriga Magistrates Court, she found discrepancy with two receipts. One receipt was for a payment made on the 16 of August, 2016 for $300.

One dies in bakery explosion
Reports to BBN indicate that one person has died and several more are injured after a tank explosion at a bakery in Sandhill Village.

PUP postpones National Convention due to inclement weather
The People’s United Party (PUP) had planned their national convention and rally to be held on Sunday, January 28, in Belize City. Today, the PUP issued a release informing supporters that the convention is being postponed for a second time. The PUP had initially planned their convention to be held in November 2017 but it was postponed to January.

Blogs

Potluck Picking Party at Paradise Villas
Yesterday was one of those classic San Pedro days. Where you are thinking about doing something and having that take you in a completely different direction. For me, it was wanting to show my visiting friend Patrick my friend Jack’s house and garden south of town. I messaged Jack and told him we were thinking about swinging by his place. He immediately countered that idea with joining him for a potluck picking party at Paradise Villas. Since we still have rental wheels until Saturday, we went to pick him up and did a fast pitstop at Castillo’s Hardware as Jack needed a plumbing part. We parked around the corner from the party and walked in on the beach side of the popular condo complex. In spite of the skies looking like it was going to pour any minute, it stayed dry and there was a big turnout for the party. I was to see a couple of people I had not seen in a while (Gary & Mel) and met lots of new ones from the Jerry Jeff Walker scene – everyone was so friendly. Although Patrick and I had just eaten bacon mac & cheese for lunch, we could not resist all the yummy food. There were some awesome cooks. We took a foil pack of fresh veggies in mango sauce to go on the barbecue.

International Sources

The Future of Belize Automobile Markets to 2023
Trends, Drivers and Supply, Demand Outlook of Belize Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles. The new report by the Automotive and Transport Market Reports has been published today. It provides updated in 2018 year analysis of automotive and transport industries. Belize Passenger cars and commercial vehicles outlook report provides detailed research and outlook of automobile sector in Belize. Current market conditions, consumer preferences and key strategies of leading players in the Belize automobile sector are analyzed in detail. The report analyzes SWOT analysis of Belize automotive industry including passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, heavy trucks, buses, vans and motor cycles. Further, value of imports and exports by sourcing and destination countries are included.

Videos

January 27, 2018

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

WHO issues Yellow Fever Travel Advisory; Belize not on list
A travel advisory for international travelers is in effect following the outbreak of contagious diseases across many countries in Latin America. The Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) advised the hospitality industry in the country of the situation on Wednesday, January 24th, asking them to inform customers of the official advisory issued by the World Health Organization (WHO). The advisory describes specific diseases such as malaria and yellow fever affecting different countries, but so far Belize has not been named among the countries. “[We] need to clarify that Belize is currently not experiencing any epidemic or widespread of the diseases mentioned on the WHO advisory,” said the BTIA. On January 24th, WHO, along with the US Embassy and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention released a Yellow Fever travel advisory after being provided with an update from Brazil’s International Health Regulations (IHR) and National Focal Point (NFP).

Minister of Foreign Affairs asks Belizean authorities to be lenient with illegal Guatemalan border crossings
On Saturday, January 13th an alarming video leaked on social media clearly showed three Guatemalan soldiers (Kaibils) walking into the immigration hall at the Belize Western Border. The blatant actions by the military personnel rose concern among citizens as it is illegal for an armed officer to cross over into a foreign land without the necessary permissions. Causing even more outrage to the public was the comments made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs asking Belizean authorities to be more lenient on an issue involving Belize and Guatemala’s relationship. The 50-second video shows the soldiers carelessly walking past the Organization of American States (OAS) office and proceeding to the Belize Customs and Immigration Building. At the Customs and Immigration Office, the soldiers approached a Belizean officer on duty. However, there is no official report as to what transpired between the Guatemalan soldiers and the Belizean Customs officer.

No arrest made in the shooting of Tour guide Gilberto ‘Hillyboo’ Lara
San Pedro tour guide, 48-year-old Gilberto ‘Hillyboo’ Lara, continues to recover after being shot on Saturday, January 20th. However, the police are yet to provide an update on their investigation, as no motive has been established for the attack. Lara has not offered any comments to the media regarding the attack, but following his release from the hospital, he thanked everyone that stood by his side via a post on his Facebook page. He also thanked both the medical staff at the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II and at KHMH. Lara said in his post that he continues to recover and is feeling well.

Editorial: For the Record
Each election year The San Pedro Sun believes that the community should have the opportunity to learn about the candidates who are running for office. Traditionally we run a “Meet the Candidates” forum over a period of weeks where the politicians answer a list of questions submitted to them far in advance. As a non-partisan newspaper, every step is taken to ensure fair and equal publicity for the aspiring candidates. On January 5th The San Pedro Sun sent an email to the secretaries for both United People’s Party (UDP) and People’s United Party (PUP) campaign parties in San Pedro Town. The email stated, “As municipal elections are coming closer, The San Pedro Sun will start featuring the different candidates running. Can we please ask you to share these questionnaires with your candidates to be answered and submitted back to us by Wednesday (January 17th)?”

Eight years later, Antonio Tepaz relieved of manslaughter charges
On Tuesday, January 23rd manslaughter charges were dropped against Antonio Tepaz. Tepaz was prosecuted for the death of 33-year-old Cesar Scott in a boat accident that occurred on November 15, 2009, in which he was allegedly the captain. Tepaz’s attorney, Ellis Arnold submitted to the prosecution that the eight witnesses didn’t provide sufficient evidence to prove that he was the driver of the boat in which Scott died. Justice Adolphus Lucas heard the case and determined that he was not guilty. The case was unresolved from November 2009 until now when Tepaz has been cleared from all charges regarding Scott’s death.

Misc Belizean Sources

Farmers Express Road to Spanish Lookout flooded

PUP Cancels National Convention Due to Weather
The People's United Party regrets to advise our thousands of supporters countrywide that as a result of the inclement weather, a decision has been made to postpone the National Convention & Rally planned for this Sunday in Belize City. A decision has been made to hold the Convention on Sunday, January 11, 2018. This morning, following consultations with each of our Caucus leaders and with the forecaster on duty at the Belize Met Office, we were advised that many areas in the South and West are already experiencing worsening conditions as a result of incessant rains. We have been advised, also, that a flash flood warning will be issued by midday today for the entire country, and that the rains are expected to continue through Sunday. It was not an easy decision, as our soldiers in every corner of this country had already prepared to mobilize to send a strong message to the United Democratic Party that change will soon be sweeping across the nation. On February 11, 2018, we will send that message, and on March 7, 2018 it will be hand-delivered and received. We ask that Belizeans heed the warnings of the Met Service which will be issued and ensure that they stay safe and as dry as possible.

Rotary Club of Corozal Annual Cheap Sale
Every Wednesday at 11:30 am we are collecting a little bit of everything for our cheap sale! We are located on 5th Avenue next to Five Rivers Clinic. Cleaning out your house? Donate to Rotary all your new and used items you no longer need! Need more information call us 615-9005

Corozal Full Moon Concert Postponed
Due to wet weather we regret to inform the postponement of tomorrow's scheduled Full Moon Concert. The good news is that we will have the pleasure of featuring Los Hijos del West Saturday March 3rd.

Beach Cleanup on Caye Caulker Today
2pm, meeting at the cemetery by Tropical Paradise.

Game Licensing for Hunting
If stewed Gibnut is favorite meal for you, make the most of it this month in December because come Jan 1st the season to hunt and eat it is closed until June 1st when season reopens. Be responsible and only buy your game meat from licensed hunters or licensed game meat dealers, these people PAY Forestry for a license to legally hunt, don't undermine their responsible hunting practices by buying meat from unlicensed hunters or out of season. Below is the seasons for game meat in Belize and requirements for hunting or dealing/selling game meat license.

2018 Mesoamerican Reef Report Card
Healthy People Initiative is a collaboration of 69 research, conservation and management organizations led by the Smithsonian for over ten years, working to safeguard the Mesoamerican Reef. The report presents the health status of 319 sites along the MAR, analyzes the changes over the last decade for several indicators and proposes actions to improve reef health. It includes some good news for coral reefs and some challenges we are addressing. Partners, allies and personalities from each countries attended the events, which have received a good local and national media coverage. Please help us get the word out and enjoy learning about our work.

Immigration Headquarters Relocated
Immigration Headquarters in Belmopan has been relocated to Mountain View Blvd. Our contact details are as follows: Online: Website: www.ins.gov.bz. Facebook: Belize-Department of Immigration and Nationality Services. Walk in services are available, however, appointments can be made for all services in Belmopan by calling: Headquarters: Office telephone: 822-3680 or 822-0284. Passport (Express -24 hrs/48 hrs/5days services): 828-4554. Email: [email protected].

New York Times Travel Show Presentation
Belize presenting to over 100 agents and media at CTO's Focus On The Caribbean initiative at the New York Times Travel Show

Celebrating Exceptional Belizeans!
For the month of January, and to kick off this new series, we are excited to feature Mr. Donovan Reneau as our Exceptional Belizean! Born in Belize City, Donovan Reneau is one of Belize’s exemplary citizens who overcame great challenges as a young man and became an inspirational role model for Belizean people. On April 3, 1983, Donovan was with his family at a horse race when an accident occurred, leaving him completely blind. The onset of such a setback in his life had led him to contemplate suicide on several occasions. But his indomitable spirit always allowed him to find the courage to pull himself out of that darkness. With gradual strengthening, he was able to adapt to his situation and through his love of Music Donovan become a DJ voice that thousands of Belizeans listen to everyday on Love FM - News and Music Power. Donovan's name has become a household name, and his over 30-year career in broadcasting has allowed him to build a network and brand for himself.

U.S. Citizen Town Hall Meeting in Corozal
Friday, February 2 at 11 AM - 1 PM, Jam Rock Bar & Grill. At the meeting, we will introduce staff from the Embassy who provide assistance to U.S. citizens in Belize, discuss the services the U.S. Embassy provides, and answer questions you may have about our services. Topics include: security in Belize, hurricane preparedness, and information on renewing your passport via DHL. Limited consular public services will be offered (cash; exact change required): Adult U.S. passport renewal – BZ$220 or US$110 Please bring current U.S. passport, completed form DS-82, 2”x2” passport photo, clear copy of passport biographic data page Child U.S. passport renewal – BZ$210 or US$105 Please bring current U.S. passport, completed form DS-11, 2”x2” passport photo, clear copy of passport biographic data page, birth certificate + 1 photocopy, each parent’s ID + 1 photocopy. BOTH parents must be present if listed on birth certificate. Fee for first adult renewal after age 16 is BZ$270 or US$135. Notary services – BZ$100 or US$50 (Per seal) RSVP to: [email protected]

Home Remedies That Work
Stifle Hiccups by swallowing 1 to 2 teaspoons of sugar. The dry granules stimulate and reset the irritated nerve that is causing the spasms of the diaphragm. Any coarse substance, such as salt, can work in a pinch, but sugar tastes best.

8th Annual Tribute to Bob Marley
The San Pedro House of Culture hosts the Discovering Rastafari Exhibition on Feb 1st and then to Central Park on Feb 6th for a wonderful night of reggae music.

Wanted: Volunteers and become a part of the San Ignacio Santa Elena House of Culture's family

Ya'axché Conservation Trust looking for Protected Area Ranger
We have another amazing opportunity for you to join our team – as Protected Area Ranger! Yaáxché's rangers are on the frontline protecting nature within the Maya Golden Landscape of southern Belize. Interested persons can drop a letter of interest at Yaáxché's Field Station in Golden Stream or Main Office in Punta Gorda no later than Wednesday, 28th February 2018.

K'aak'as iik' (Mal aire) And the Northern Maya of Belize
For the Northern Maya of Belize which belong to the Yucatec Maya group the Air has Positive characteristics but also negative . Many of our Maya tatitos and chiichi told us about K'aak'as iik' (Mal Aire) which cause Sickness and even dead . When people get Mal Aire normally a H-men(Maya Shaman) cures it . Also the Maya Masewal of Corozal and Orange Walk perform a ritual name Jetz' Lu'um which is done to secure the prosperity of the land . They ask Los Duenos del monte protection to avoid Mal aire which may affect the land, animals and Humans who inhabit it .

Channel 7

Freak Oven Explosion Kills Baker
A 59 year old father of 3 was killed in a freak accident at a Sandhill bakery. This morning after 8:00, the Moralez's were at their 'In and Out' bakery preparing the kitchen for another baking week when the stove exploded - killing Alfonso Moralez Jr. We went to Sandhill to find out what caused this deadly bang. Courtney Weatherburne reporting: The Moralez family opened the 'IN N OUT' Bakery in Sandhill about 6 years ago. Almost every day, the workers would wake up early to start baking primarily for the British Army Training Support Unit (BATSUB) in Ladyville. But this morning, instead of the warm and pleasant aroma of freshly baked bread, the heavy scent of butane lingered in the air.

Island Target, Mainland Murder
Yesterday we told you about the murder of 23-year-old San Pedro resident, Simon Velasquez. It happened here in Belize City on the corner of Bishop and Plues Street. Velasquez had just arrived in town when he was killed in broad daylight. His murder is the product of an ongoing gang warfare which is playing out on the island and the mainland. He had just been released from custody as a suspect for the murder of Paul Jex. But, more than just another gang casualty, today we travelled to San Pedro to found out more about who Simon Velasquez was from those closest to him.

Pair Charged for Ladyville Double Murder
And while there haven't been any arrests for the Velasquez murder, last night, we told you that police had charged 23 year-old Jesse Mejia for the Ladyville double murder which happened earlier this week. Well, they have also charged another man, 22 year-old Darwin Prado - who had previously been charged for a 2016 incident at the Lozano home - when Casey Lozano was shot in the hand. But now this is a 2018 double murder - and Casey Lozano and Marlon Spain are dead. So, today both Prado and Mejia were arraigned today before Chief Magistrate Sharon Frazer. Both men have been jointly charged with 2 counts of murder for the shooting deaths of Lozano and Spain. They are also jointly charged with 2 counts each of use of deadly means of harm for the injuries that 22 year-old Jonah Gray and 47 year-old Sidney Humes suffered in the same shooting. They have also been charged with grievous harm upon Sidney Humes, and wounding upon Jonah Gray.

Godoy Family Says He’s Not The One Who Killed Cowo
And while two have been charged for that murder - one more person may be charged for Alfredo Cowo's murder on San Pedro. But, there was only one gunman - and information to 7News is that police are considering the possibility that they may have charged the wrong man the first time around. That's William Godoy but new evidence suggests that he may not be the assailant. His family has been confident from the time of his arrest that their loved one was not the one who murdered Cowo. They have been very vocal about it on social media and were even planning to have a protest, but now it seems they are going to step back and leave it in the hands of the authorities. Today on San Pedro we spoke to his brother about it:

Post Mortem: The “Oh” Sisters Were Chopped In the Head
The Post mortem for 17 year old Josephina and 19 year old Cresencia Oh has been concluded and it shows that the sisters died from multiple chop wounds to the head. They were reportedly found wearing only their blouses - but police tell us that the post mortem did not say anything about sexual assault. And while the cause of death is known, the whereabouts of the killer is not. Police have made no arrests and presently have no suspects detained.

Grandfather Run Over on San Narciso Road
There was a fatal accident last night in northern Belize. At about 6:30, 52 year old cane cutter Hermenejildo Patt was riding his bicycle on the San Narciso Road heading to San Victor village when he was run over by an Isuzu Rodeo. The driver, 35 year old Silvevestre Chable hit Patt and dragged him some distance before he stopped. Remarkably, the 52 year old survived the impact - but died on the way to the hospital. An eyewitness told CTV-3 news that Chable did not apply brakes and seemed to have been drinking: Voice of: Witness: "The victim was crossing on this side when the white Rodeo was approaching. At that moment, the man didn't brake, he just accelerated, that's when he hit him."

Norales, Who Allegedly Knocked out Nonagenarian, Gets Free Again
He's been tried twice for the same heinous crime, and, twice, Chester Norales has gotten off. In December of 2015, the 38 year old was accused of beating up his 93 year old neighbor, Patrick Grant - and then burglarizing the old man's home. The first trial seemed straightforward enough - and - even at his advanced age - Grant himself went to testify. But police didn't have the case file, and so the charges were withdrawn in December 2016. But, the southside commander at the time, ACP Chester Williams re-instated them and re-arrested Norales. Well now, that trial has ended in an acquittal - meaning he has been found not guilty and cannot be re-arrested or re-tried.

Female Tourist Roughed Up At Knifepoint in Cayo
A Czech tourist fell victim to a ruthless armed robber in San Ignacio. It happened last night at around 8:30, when Lucie Nemeckova and 4 other friends had just left a restaurant and were walking back to her room at the Venus Hotel in the downtown area. On the way, they were attacked by a man with a knife. He tried to rob her friends but they ran away, and so, he turned his attention to her. He held her against the fence at knifepoint, grabbed her handbag and fled. A security guard heard her screams and chased the attacker, but he escaped.

Customs Wants to Keep Contraband Potatoes Out Of Market
Earlier this week we told you how the Ministry of Agriculture won't be issuing any import permits for potatoes until the local supply of 3.7 million pounds is depleted. But that doesn't necessarily mean that farmers will get the price they are hoping for at the market. And that's because there's always a wild card in the deck, and it's contraband. Every day, dories come across the Rio Hondo River in northern Belize loaded with sacks of onions, cabbage, potatoes and sweet peppers. Today the Comptroller of Customs told us that their enforcement remains active in the north - and they will even go into the marketplace to weed out contraband produce:...

Shady Smokes In San Jose
And the authorities stayed true to their commitment on active enforcement when they confiscated contraband cigarettes in San Jose, Orange Walk. This morning after 6, Special Branch and the Quick Response Team found 352 cartons of assorted cigarettes packed in 10 boxes. The cartons were labelled as Found Property and handed over to customs Department.

BDF Will Take Measures to Prevent Recurrence Of GAF Casual Crossover
Last week - those images of GAF personnel freely entering the immigration hall at the Benque Viejo border stirred a good deal of controversy and outrage. It was seen on this side of the border as a bold and bare-faced affront to Belize's sovereignty and standard military protocol. Today, Defence Minister John Saldivar said that the BDF is considering its options to make sure there isn't a recurrence: Hon. John Saldivar - Minister of National Security: "The Belize Defense Force does not have a permanent presence at the border. We are nearby for when problems arise but we don't have a permanent presence there. But we are looking at the security arrangements that currently exist with a view to correcting and taking the measures to ensure that there isn't a repeat of what took place."

Managing The Sarstoon River Reality In Real Time
Another area that the BDF has to always be monitoring are the terms of engagement on the Sarstoon River. The soldiers at the Guatemalan Navy base on their side of the river are always playing it close to the BDF and the Territorial Volunteers - often, too close. Today Saldivar said both sides must accept that a river boundary is not a thick red line:... Hon. John Saldivar - Minister of National Security: "As long as the Guatemalans do not intervene and intercept and try to stop our access and passage through the river they are sharing that river with us as a boundary."

Minister: Major Burns Text Was Minor Matter
Keeping it on the subject of the BDF - we also asked Minister Saldivar about those text messages which were exchanged between a BDF Major and a man caught with decommissioned BDF uniforms. It happened back in July of 2017 when Sarco Torres's phone showed that he was communicating with BDF Major Jermaine Burns - who is the airwing commander. Today, Saldivar said that the uniforms are a matter for the Ministry of Finance and the Major has been cleared of wrongdoing:... Reporter: "I remember that the head of the Air-wing, there were messages sent between numbers and it said that the head of the Air-wing has sent those messages. First, has that case been closed in terms of the investigation and was that a legitimate contact?"

Welcome, General Ortega
And moving on past all that BDF bad news… The Force officially has a new commander tonight. 5 weeks ago, at the BDF's annual Christmas Lunch, Defence Minister John Saldivar announced that the transition would take place: Col. Steven Ortega would take over from Brigadier General David Jones, who is now retired. Well, Col. Steven Ortega is now Brigadier General Ortega, and he formally received command of the military at the official ceremonies to celebrate the BDF's 40th anniversary. We got a chance to speak with both Ortega and the Defense Minister about the transition in leadership. Here's what they had to say: Hon. John Saldivar - Minister of National Security: "I am very happy with the selection of Colonel Ortega now to be General Ortega to lead the BDF and his deputy, Colonel Loria and today at the ceremonies we are going to be happy to be able to see the smooth transition from one general to the other."

89 New Soldiers
The BDF also celebrated the passing out of Recruit Intake #63. The BDF trainers assembled Intake 63 on October 1 of last year, and they went through 16 weeks of intense and rigorous training in weapons handling, first aid, map reading, foot drills, communications, law of armed conflict, and conventional and non-conventional tactics. Approximately 130 applicants showed up on day 1, and at the end, only 89 passed out today. Here's what the new commander had to say about these soldiers who now join the rank and file of the BDF: Brig. Gen. Steven Ortega - New Commander of The BDF: "Recruit training is the basic introduction into the military. As the minister mentioned in his speech. This is the start of training for them. So there is always continuous training afterwards. Recruit training is where we convert the civilian into the military person. It's difficult in the beginning. He mentioned how many was there previously and how much we're left with, only 89. It takes quite a bit of discipline, especially in the terms of physical demanding and the

Customs as Business Facilitator, Not Tax Collector
Today is International Customs Day - and while no one ever wants to celebrate the tax collectors - that may not be the case anymore. Slowly, the Customs Department is trying to change its image from collector to business facilitator. This year's theme is "A secure business environment for economic development" - and that was underscored at the launching ceremony today at the Battlefield Park in Belize City: Colin Griffith, Comptroller of Customs: "We continue to work vigorously to improve integrity in customs. As we build our relationship with the business community." Hon. John Saldivar: "That there is a role for customs administration in creating the environment for economic development. Customs officials are our front line ambassadors along with immigration officials. Customs regulations are the second regulatory regime after immigration law that investors experience when coming to Belize. It is therefore imperative that we continue to improve this experience for importers and of course exporters."

Does Saldivar See Himself As Min. Of Finance?
And seeing Defence Minister John Saldivar at an event for Customs - which is under the Ministry of Finance - triggered us to ask him about his aspirations. Is that the ministry he hopes to someday hold? Maybe even as Prime Minister? Saldivar was cagey - but also candid - when we asked him about it today: Jules Vasquez, reporter: "Is your presence here an indication or an exposition of the fact that you believe that you are competent to hold the ministry of finance. You said up on the podium that policy ideas are racing through your mind." Hon. John Saldivar: "No I'm just grateful for the invitation from the customs department. As I said in my remarks I won't speculate as their motives for inviting me."

Saldivar Will Hold The Line At House Meeting
And a senior minister, Saldivar is also expected to be one of the lead debaters when the House of Representatives meets in February to decide on whether it should pay the 90+ million dollars to the Belize Bank. He told us from November that he is against paying - and today he says his position hasn't changed:... Hon. John Saldivar: "Well I am certainly convicted in what I will do on that day. I certainly believe that it was an egregious act or several egregious acts that were committed by the then prime minister and his government in costing the Belizean public millions of dollars and I find that I cannot in good conscience support the payment of that debt."

PUP Vs. UDP: In Praise Of Unity or Vive la Difference?
And while the UDP controls the majority in the House - right now the PUP is trying to win over the hearts and minds of a majority of voters. They're the ones running ads for municipals elections, and on Sunday they were all geared to a national unity convention. That has since been re-scheduled due to bad weather - but today we asked Saldivar to compare his party's last contentious convention to the PUP's friction free event:.. Jules Vasquez, reporter: "Do you want to praise the PUP? They are having a convention on Sunday and so unlike the last UDP convention which is rife with division and everyone is left with hard feelings when it's done. Hard feelings which persists the last UDP convention when a deputy leader was elected." Hon. John Saldivar: "I don't know that there was any acrimony out of that convention. Minister Faber and myself remains great friends, so I don't know that there was any."

Isidoro Beaton Cannot Be Beaten For Turf
And while Saldivar didn't want to talk about the PUP convention, he was beaming when we asked him about the FIFA accreditation for his Bandit's home field - the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan:..

Would Saldivar Speed Up Timeline For Civic?
But Saldivar also has the basketball Bandits. Their home court is the UB Gymnasium. But when they are on the road playing the Belize City Defenders - wouldn't he want them to play at the country's premier sporting facility - which is the Civic Center? Basketballers had hoped it would be open in time for the NEBL season which started last week. But, the co-chairman of BIL and the Minster of Sports Patrick Faber says it won't be ready until April. We asked Saldivar what he would do if he was the Minister of Sports:

Channel 5

Business Senator Deplores ‘Pathetic’ Excuses for Finance Act Violation
On Thursday, People’s United Party senators Eamon Courtenay and Valerie Woods brought public attention to the lack of accountability and transparency in government expenditures.  This is in respect of monies [...]

Gov’t Also Afoul of Official Financial Regulations
Accompanying the Finance and Audit Reform Act are Fiscal Transparency and Responsibility Regulations.  That set of guidelines contains sixteen steps, including a fiscal outlook and mid-year review report, none of [...]

Social Partner Senators Show Rare Unity
In an unprecedented move, six of the non-government parliamentarians, including church senator Ashley Rocke, sided with Senator Eamon Courtenay on Wednesday when a call was made to bring the Financial [...]

Accidental Oven Blast Kills Baker, Injures Brother
Two brothers were caught in an explosion inside their family bakery in Sand Hill, Belize District, this morning. One of them is dead and the other is hospitalized following an [...]

B.D.F. Graduates 89; Gets New Commander
At Price Barracks in Ladyville this afternoon, it was out with the old and, especially, in with the new. The national army is now forty years old and has had [...]

Changes to Protocol after Kaibil Border Walkover
Surveillance footage captured last week showed an alarming occurrence at the western border between Belize and Guatemala. Taken from inside the Customs office, a trio of Guatemalan soldiers dressed in [...]

‘Normal’ Communication Between Soldier and Person Found with Stolen Disposed Equipment
The Ministry of Finance continues to investigate how a significant quantity of outdated military equipment scheduled for disposal ended up in the hands of three civilians, including a Mexican national. [...]

Cane Farmer in San Narciso is Latest Traffic Accident Victim
A cane farmer was knocked down and killed in San Narciso Village around six-thirty on Thursday evening. Police say that thirty-five-year-old Gerardo Chable was driving his vehicle on the San [...]

2 Arraigned for Ladyville Double Murder
On Thursday evening, police officially arrested and charged a duo from Ladyville for Tuesday night’s double murder. This afternoon the two youths were brought to court for the murders of [...]

Sisters Died from Chop Wounds to Head; Killers Still at Large
Teenage siblings Josephine and Crecencia Oh were chopped to death in the southern community of San Jose, Toledo on Sunday night, while they were returning home to San Antonio Village.  [...]

Chester Noralez Wins Acquittal after Accusers’ Deaths
Thirty-six year old Chester Noralez, accused in the brutal beating and home invasion against senior citizen Patrick Grant in 2015, was acquitted of the charge today before Chief Magistrate Sharon [...]

N.G.O. Senator Joins in on Government Condemnation
Earlier we heard from Private Sector Senator Mark Lizarraga on dated government expenditure that has just gone before the senate.  Senator Osmany Salas, who represents the N.G.O. community, also spoke [...]

Twin Towns Join in Municipal Campaigning
The twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena are in full gear for the March seventh municipal elections. Both parties are on the ground campaigning house to house and [...]

Some Parts of Cayo Inundated by Rains
In the west, water levels rose cutting off access at Iguana Creek Bridge to the Spanish Lookout Community. Several other villages such as Santa Teresa and San Marcos are inundated. [...]

Customs Talks Improving Business
International Customs Day was observed around the world today in honor of this vital cog in the international financial and trade machine. As has become tradition, Belize’s Customs and Excise [...]

Customs Watches for Contraband Potatoes
The news makes regular reports on persons caught with uncustomed goods, usually contraband from the free zone and Mexico. Often these matters are settled by the department without a need [...]

NWC’s Ann-Marie Williams Headed for CARICOM Post
Ann-Marie Williams is moving on up. She is leaving her Executive Director position with the National Women’s Commission (NWC) for a regional job. Williams is heading to the CARICOM Secretariat [...]

Outgoing City Mayor Calls for Public Sector Reform
Earlier this week, News Five sat down with outgoing Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley in his final days as head of the municipal government.  The two-term mayor spoke candidly about [...]

LOVE FM

Student recovering from stab wounds
“A stabbing incident yesterday evening after a football game between two high schools left a nineteen-year-old resident of Camalote Village injured. According to the victim, nineteen-year-old Sulma Escobar a resident of Camalote village, she was at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan watching a football match between Baptist and Belmopan Comprehensive High School when sometime after …

NEMO Toledo awards outstanding citizens
“After the welcome remarks by Toledo Emergency Operations Center Director Marian Nolberto, NEMO District Committee, remarks were made by Chairperson Mayor Fern Gutierrez. Guest speaker was Minister of Transport and National Emergency Management Edmond Castro. Edmond Castro – Minister NEMO “I came here to thank all the representatives of the NEMO …

Experts discuss effects of human trafficking on economies
Human trafficking is known as the modern-day slavery and it is a growing problem for every country in the world. Human trafficking is mainly defined as the coercion of a person to engage in sex acts against their will or to forcefully get someone to perform labour. Sex trafficking accounts for seventy percent of human …

Gas leak causes explosion; one man dies
An explosion in Sandhill Village this morning resulted in the death of 59-year-old Alfonso Morales. The explosion occurred inside In-n-Out Bakery. Morales was with his brother, Alberto, inside the bakery fixing an oven when a match was lit and the explosion followed. Hipolito Novelo has the story.

Defence Minister comments on border incident
Last week three Guatemalan Armed Forces soldiers were captured on surveillance camera entering Belize’s Western Border office. The video is only fifty seconds long and it shows the Guatemalan soldiers causally making their way into the Western Border Office. The video shows no sign of confrontation or aggression. But the fact that the soldiers were …

Sarstoon Protocol being worked on, says Cabinet Minister
This is not the first time that Guatemalan Armed forces have illegally entered into Belizean territory. Several instances have been recorded especially in the Sarstoon River where Guatemalan Armed Forces have been recorded intercepting civilians in Belizean waters. Defence Minister John Saldivar says that the Sarstoon Protocol is still in the works. JOHN SALDIVAR, CABINET …

Minister Saldivar says Government complied with the law
On Wednesday the Senate passed a bill which approved the spending of thirteen point nine million dollars by the Government in the fiscal year 2016/2017. The People’s United Party say that the Government has broken laws because it was noncompliant with the Finance and Audit Reform Act. They say that the Government unlawfully spent the …

International Customs Day celebrated in Belize
Today Belize’s Customs and Excise Department joined its counterparts throughout the world in celebrating International Customs Day. The day is observed under the theme “A Secure Business Environment for Economic Development”. The Department held a short ceremony this morning at Battlefield Park in Belize City where the Comptroller of Customs and Excise Colin Griffith explained …

The problem of contraband potatoes
Earlier this week potato producers and importers met with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture to discuss issues facing the industry. At the end of the meeting, it was agreed that the approval of import licenses for potatoes will be halted in order to allow the potato producers to successfully sell their products on the …

Thirty-nine more days to Municipal Elections
Both major political parties have launched their municipal campaign in an effort to convince voters why they are the better choice. They have thirty-nine more days to do so and Belmopan Area Representative John Saldivar says that he is confident that the UDP will defeat the PUP on March 7.

PlusTV

Double Murder in Ladyville
Two persons are dead after another shooting that occurred on Tuesday night. Casey Lozano and Marlon Spain both died after they were shot sometime around 8 o’clock last night as they socialized in a yard in Ladyville. Several persons were at the scene when two gunmen opened fire at the crowd. ...

Brutal Murder and shooting in Roaring Creek
Another murder was reported in the village of Roaring Creek, Cayo District. One person shot and killed and the other was hospitalized at Western Regional Hospital. Thomas Henry and his common law wife, Kimberly Smith had just recently moved to Roaring Creek with their three children a little bit ov...

Murder on San Pedro, again!
There were three shooting incidents on Tuesday night that led to 4 people dying and 4 others injured. The first one happened at around 5 o’clock on Tuesday evening on the Island of Ambergris Caye. Two persons who were at the Boat yard in San Pedro were fired upon. They are Deon Neal and Paul J...

Amandala

Simon Velasquez, 23, shot dead in bike shop
There has been no let-up in violence in the country of Belize since the start of the New Year, but in one area, Belize City’s south side, there had been a welcomed calm. That calm, however, was shattered today, Thursday, when San Pedro resident Simon Velasquez, 23, was shot four times on Plues Street sometime after midday. His body was recovered by police from inside the Brown Bomber’s Bike Shop. According to eyewitness information, Velasquez had been in an altercation with his attacker, who pulled out a firearm and shot him at close range. Police have not yet provided any additional information in connection with this latest murder. A review of the Amandala archives reveals that Velasquez was no stranger to the law, and that there had been at least two previous attempts on his life.

13 — too many murders for January — which isn’t finished yet!
Data collected by Amandala revealed that there have been 13 murders across the country in the first 25 days of the New Year. Three females and ten males have been murdered. The Belize district tops the list with 8 murders while there were three murders in Toledo, one murder in the Orange Walk District and one in the Cayo District. The first murder of the year, which happened on Belize City’s northside, took place less than three hours into the first day of the year. Reputed Victoria Street gang boss, Leon Garcia, 29, was walking on Barrack Road when he was attacked by two men. He and another man were both stabbed multiple times. Garcia succumbed to his injuries. Police have made an arrest in this case.

GOB violated Finance and Audit Act
Opposition People’s United Party (PUP) senators Eamon Courtenay and Valerie Woods called a press briefing this morning to update the media on government’s very late Supplementary Appropriations Schedule for fiscal year 2016/2017 that the Senate was asked to approve yesterday. The two senators are alleging that the United Democratic Party government of Prime Minister Dean O. Barrow is in breach of the Finance and Audit Reform Act and “somebody has to be held accountable.” Senator Courtenay told the press that the purpose of calling the media’s attention to the issue was to highlight firstly the gross financial irresponsibility by the government and secondly, the fact that a number of the non-compliances by the government amount to criminal offences.

Three charged for Thomas Henry’s murder
Late news to Amandala this evening is that Belmopan police have arrested and charged three men for the murder of Thomas Henry and the attempted murder of Kimberly Smith and her brother, Orlando Smith. The three accused are Tyler Herrera Cruz, 18; Joseph Cadle, 22; and Israel Cadle, 19. Police said that Joseph Cadle and Tyler Cruz have been charged with Thomas Henry’s murder, while Joseph Cadle is charged with the attempted murder of Kimberly and Orlando Smith.

Ladyville man charged for double murder
On Thursday night police charged, Ladyville resident Jessie Mejia, with two counts of murder in connection with the Tuesday night shooting on Marage Road, located in an area of the village known as “Japan.” Mejia was also booked on two counts of use of deadly means of harm, one count of wounding and one count of grievous harm. Police are alleging that Mejia, 24, was one of two armed men who climbed through some high bushes around a swamp to ambush a group of men who were socializing in front of the Spain’s Marage Road residence. Marlon Spain, 25, and Casey Lozano, 24, were shot dead, while Sidney Humes, 47, and Johan Gray, 22, received gunshot injuries.

Ann-Marie Williams exits National Women’s Commission for CARICOM appointment
Ann-Marie Williams, the first Executive Director for the National Women’s Commission of Belize, last month resigned from the post she has held for nine years to take up a new appointment as the deputy program manager for gender and development at the CARICOM Secretariat. In an interview with KREM TV, Williams said that there was never a really good time to go. As a Belizean who is very rooted in her community, I think I’ve earned my keep, I’ve paid my dues. There is never a good time to really go, but when the opportunity presents itself, you really have to go. Williams said, “This is something I’ve always really wanted, to work regionally and internationally. I consider myself very honored and I am humbled.”

NADO reports clean Anti-Doping results for 2018 Krem New Year’s Classic
This morning, Krem Radio manager Michael Hyde, organizer of the 2018 Krem New Year’s Day Cycling Classic, was informed via email from the Cycling Federation of Belize (CFB) that results for the Anti-Doping tests at this year’s Krem Classic had all come back negative. In an email letter today to CFB President Dion Leslie from Dr. Michael Pitts, Director of the National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO), an arm of the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, Dr. Pitts stated: “Please be informed that the results for the three samples sent for the male Krem Classic of 2018 were received. All the tests were negative.

Dangriga sports stats Secondary school football – Dangriga Zone
The Dangriga Zone secondary school football tournament got started on Monday, January 22, at the Carl Ramos Stadium. This tournament will be a double-elimination round. In the female results on Monday, Delille Academy won over Ecumenical, 1 goal to nil, the goal coming at the 8th minute of first half from Lesly Ann Lucas, with an assist from Edith Engleton. Meanwhile, in the male, both Ecumenical High and Delille Academy ended up in a 2 to 2 tie. The goal scorers for Delille Academy were Tyler Peters and Yibemeh Lewis; while Ecumenical High goals were by Myreek Francis and Zion Ramos. Hillary Coleman was red carded for Ecumenical. Delille Academy was the host school on Monday.

Where to, Billy Boy?
Belize is a strange place indeed, and football shenanigans is as good an example as any. Now, we are all familiar with the decades-plus long struggle to liberate our football from the dictatorial yoke of past president, Dr. Bertie Chimilio. Symptomatic of that struggle was the formation of a breakaway group called the Super League of Belize, which featured some teams comparable in ability to those of the FFB’s top level league, the then BPFL (Belize Professional Football League). There were a number of flaws in the management of the Super League, not least of which was its penchant for a gross lack of punctuality in the start of its games, which often started much later than advertised. But we all endured; it was part of the battle to remove the tyrant.

Chief’s Thursday Race of January 25, 2018
It rained around 5 o’clock this morning, but 24 riders still showed up; and by our start time of 6 a.m., there was not a drop falling from the sky; and so the race was off. Ernest “Peenie” Bradley has been riding extremely aggressively recently, and today was no exception, as he attacked from the GUN, getting away with Carlton “Bubble Head” Robinson. These 2 held out the peloton all the way to Hattieville; but the Heads of State in the peloton, such as Brandon Cattouse, Hijo, the Baddest, et al, put in a furious chase, keeping the speed up to 27 mph in the headwind, thus closing in on the 2 front runners mile by mile.

Editorial: Civic absurdity
It is interesting to note that there was major controversy involved with the opening of Belize City’s first Civic Center in 1981. In the first instance, then Premier George Price did not want the auditorium to be called the “Civic” Center, because there had been a militant group called CIVIC, an arm of the Opposition National Independence Party (NIP). CIVIC (the acronym for Citizens Integrated to Voice Interest in the Community, or some such), had sprung up in the middle 1960s and railed in anti-government public meetings usually held at the Courthouse Wharf or the old Harley’s Open Lot. (CIVIC lasted well into the 1970s.) Mr. Price wanted us to call the new structure, City Center, but this became a rare occasion when he did not have his way: the Civic it became, and the Civic it remained, bounded on the north by the historic Haulover Creek, on the west by the relatively new Central American Boulevard, and on the south by St. Jude Street.

From The Publisher
If it’s drugs that the Americans want to keep out with their wall along the Mexican border, and let’s say the wall was built and succeeded in reducing the inflow of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, PCP, Ecstasy, and so on, then what that will do is raise the price of those illegal narcotic products. Always the constant in the situation is the powerful demand for these drugs amongst the American people. So there is this very rich, seemingly permanent market in the United States for products which their political leaders have declared illegal. If you build a wall and drive the prices higher, then you bring sea routes along the Atlantic and Pacific oceans into play, and perhaps even the air routes. There is simply too much money to be made bringing drugs into the United States. The money is so big, the impoverished rest of the hemisphere is willing to kill and to die to make some of the Franklins.

We stand with the Palestinians
Dear Editor, There is no time limit to how long a struggle for justice takes, so one has to be ready to go the long haul. We have been fighting for an end to racism and classism most of our lives. Growing up and facing racism in a white society on one hand and joining the civil rights movement on the other, brought us together and has sustained us through 45 years of marriage. It should be no surprise to anyone that we have supported the struggles of the Palestinian people since the mid-sixties and continue to do so. It should be no surprise to anyone that the struggle continues. We have been asked, on a number of occasions, if we were still fighting for justice and our answer is, “We are still breathing, aren’t we?” As long as we have breath to give, we will be working for equity and justice around the world.

European Nature Trust group on Bike Belize: 6 Day Mountain Bike Adventure
Editor, Amandala Sports: My name is Dylan, I’m a photo journalist and film maker. I’m coming to Belize to document a group of people (12-14 people) from The European Nature Trust (https://theeuropeannaturetrust.com/) on a 6-day, 240km mountain bike adventure through the country. The team will arrive in Belize City on the 4th of February, and the cycle takes place from the 5th until the 11th of February 2018. The aim of the adventure is: To support projects dedicated to the protection of our remaining wild places and the rich diversity of wildlife that lives there, in association with the Belize Nature Trust. We are able to offer participants not just the opportunity to join us on the most fabulous travel experience, but also the chance to help save these critically important ecosystems.

The Commercialization of Indigenous
Dear Editor, There is a slow but steady move to commercialize everything indigenous. While on the one hand this may seem contrary to the recent promotion of global indigenous trends in clothing, food, music and culture in general, a closer in-depth analysis will prove to the contrary. I grew up in a time when neither Nike, MacDonald’s, Tommy or any of the other large, name-brand corporate companies that provide, goods, foods, commodities and services was popular. We were satisfied with living simple, basic and, by all accounts, much healthier lives. We grew our own food, made our own clothing, caught and raised our meat, and anyone who has re-used an old condensed milk can as a drinking cup or cut up used clothing to stuff into a pillow as cushion or floor mat, will realize that we were masters at recycling long before anyone from the north or Europe brought that idea to us. The global indigenous trends that have taken over the world over the past couple of years, while there is much positive to it, there are those who see it merely as another way to extract profits from Third World countries. Indigenous has the positive aspect of preserving cultures, languages and music, but it is also one of the greatest areas where huge profits can be gained.

Amandala’s year in review: Part 2
July “Tied up, naked and dead,” Amandala’s lead story on July 4, was about a mysterious murder that shocked the Bangladeshi community, a small, close-knit business community operating in various parts of the country. Abdush Salam, 29, a Bangladeshi businessman who had lived and worked in Belize for a number of years, was found tied up naked and dead in his bed in an upstairs house at 4 Orange Street. Salam had operated a shop at the Novelo’s Bus Terminal. Later in that same month, police charged Juan Choc, 23, for the murder of Salam. Choc is a construction worker of Baymen Avenue.

ABUSES EVEN AT THE COURTS
I think one of the rudest, more cruel realities I had to face at law school was to realize that law was not about the ideals of truth and fairness, but rather about who could present the best evidence, had the most knowledge of the law and their rights, and who could influence the decision-maker, be it lawfully or unlawfully. I had opted to go study law after myself being dragged before the courts umpteen times and in circumstances where to my entire being it felt unjust and unfair. Yet I was legally trained to find the provisions and appreciate the nuances as to why I was right about the injustices being exercised against me. My ordeals with the courts in Belize were at their worst between 1998 and 2000, when I was a Senator for the United Democratic Party, then in opposition after suffering a massive and crippling defeat when the People’s United Party won by an impressive landslide.

Screw your upstaatnis to the right place
I had my chances to try and join the ranks of the educated elite. In my youth, higher education in the US beckoned a few times. My boss at HHL (Hummingbird Hershey, Ltd.), NE Wade, saw me “squandering” and he called me aside one day and “warned” me to go. I didn’t. I’ll leave off telling you why I didn’t go, but I’ll tell you why I never went, not even to touch ground in Miami. I had to go on a trip one time, and the travel agent, a friend, asked me if I wanted her to arrange it so I could overnight in Miami. I’d prefer not; only if I have to, I told her. So, when I got to Miami I moved from one chute to another chute, to my connecting plane. I was damned happy I didn’t have to touch their soil.

The connection between the disappearance of Kelvin Usher and the murder of Fareed Ahmad
The recent murder of Fareed Ahmad and last year’s disappearance and subsequent discovery of Kelvin Usher at first blush bear no ostensible connections. A closer analysis into both incidents, however, reveals an underlying theme: the lack of public confidence and trust in the authorities entrusted to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the Belizean citizenry. The Peelian principle developed by nineteenth century two-time conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Robert Peel, asserts that the legitimacy of any police force emerges from the transparency and accountability police demonstrate while undertaking their duties.

False advertising: UDP Belize City Council slate says they built new Civic Center
CITY, Wed. Jan. 24, 2018– The massive Civic Center building with its 4,500-seating capacity that was built at a cost of 33 million dollars was recently featured in an advertisement by the United Democratic Party (UDP) Belize City Council slate, in which one councilor candidate claimed that it was the City Council which built the structure. That however, is a falsehood. In advertising the accomplishments of the UDP City Council, the councilor candidate and incumbent, Jason Edwards, standing in front of the Belize City Center, declared: “We have rehabilitated community parks and playgrounds and built a brand new Civic Center for your recreation and pleasure.”

2 die in Marage Road ambush
With four homicides occurring there between March 2016 and February 2017, Marage Road has developed a reputation as the most dangerous place to be in Ladyville. After years of violence there was a momentary lull in that community, but that was interrupted sometime around 8 o’clock on Tuesday night when two armed assailants crept from the back of the Spain family’s residence, through high bushes and swamp, to ambush a group of men socializing on the street in front of an unfenced yard. Marlon Spain, 25, was shot in the head and left for dead on his doorstep, while Casey Lozano, 24, was found dead 200 yards away. He had been shot in the back and thigh.

Jaimell Paul Jex, 32, shot dead in San Pedro
On Tuesday evening, a high-ranking member of the George Street Gang, Jaimell Paul Jex, 32, secured bail in the San Pedro Magistrate’s court after he was busted with 15 grams of marijuana. However, less than 15 minutes after securing his freedom, he was ruthlessly executed. Police investigations revealed that Jex and his cousin, Deon Neal, 32, had both exited court and were walking on Crocodile Street in the San Pedrito area of San Pedro Town at about 5:30 on Tuesday evening when they were ambushed. Two armed assailants emerged and set chase after the men, firing a barrage of gunshots, and injuring both targets.

Omar Cruz, 62, dies after killer bee attack
Omar Cruz, 62, a farmer and resident of Unitedville, was cutting the grass in his yard with a lawn mower and his son, Adrian, 31, was helping him clear the yard when suddenly, killer bees swarmed and attacked Cruz. He tried to get away, but reportedly fell and that was when the bees began to sting him. His son ran into the house and alerted the other family members, who ran to help him, but their efforts were in vain. They had to retreat, and the bees sustained their vicious attack on Cruz for about 45 minutes, after which the bees’ attack abated. Cruz was rushed to the Western Regional Hospital in an unconscious state, but he was declared dead on arrival.

The Reporter

Joint police operation yields contraband cigarettes
Police have found a significant amount of contraband cigarettes during a joint operation conducted by members of its Special Branch and the Quick Response units this morning. The operation took place in San Jose Village, Orange Walk and led to the discovery of 10 boxes […]

Police make arrest for Ladyville double murder
Police have arrested and charged a man for the Tuesday night double murder of Casey Lozano and Marlon Spain and for wounding two other people. Darwin Prado, a construction worker also of Ladyville, has been arrested and charged with two counts of ‘murder’, two counts […]

Man killed in traffic accident
A man from San Narciso village, Corozal was knocked down and killed on Thursday evening while riding a bicycle. Police say that sometime around 6:30 p.m., Gerardo Silvevestre Chable, 35, was driving a white Isuzu Rodeo on the San Narciso main road from the direction […]

Surviving the flu season
Almost everyone has been plagued by the flu (influenza) at one point or another in life. It is one of the most common forms of illness, yet it can prove to be deadly if the particular strain is so debilitating that our immune system is […]

Ras Indio signals coming album with new single
Renowned Belizean reggae artist Ras Indio has announced that he will be releasing a new studio album in 2018, teasing the release with the launch of his new single entitled Unity. Indio launched the new single, which features fellow Belizean artists Boss Lady, on Friday, January 19. […]

Upgrades coming to George Price Highway
Drivers who use the George Price Highway between Belmopan and Santa Elena can expect better road conditions in the near future, following the government of Belize’s announcement of upgrades coming to that section of the highway. On Wednesday, GOB through the Ministry of works, signed a contract […]

16th Annual Bob Marley fundraising concert coming soon…
The 16th annual Bob Marley Tribute and Food Drive, is just two weekends away and organizer, Joel “Dara” Robinson appeals to Belizeans to support the initiative so he can have enough supplies to sustain his feeding program for at least a few months. Robinson told […]

Butane increase set for March
The government of Belize and the companies importing butane, Z Gas, Gas Tomza and Belize Western Energy Limited, have agreed to one more price increase for butane in 2018, due under new terms in March. Director of the Belize Bureau of Standards, Jose Trejo, explained […]

Sugar production up but concerns linger over changes in EU market regime
Sugar production at the Belize Sugar Industries (BSI) at Tower Hill in Orange Walk is up by roughly 10%, with cane quality also better than the same time last year. Information supplied upon request by BSI indicates that up to Sunday, January 21, a total of 287,883 tons of sugar […]

CARICOM committee submits report on marijuana
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Regional Marijuana Commission, which was established to investigate the issue of marijuana use in the region, submitted a status report in preparation for the presentation of findings later this year. The 10-member commission submitted its report this week, noting that the […]

Tsunamis would not hammer Belize like they did Indonesia, says oceanologist
Belize would not likely be hammered as devastatingly as Indonesia was if a tsunami were to hit us, says George Hansen, an Oceanologist who has worked in Belize for more than three decades. Many people who saw the footage from the December 26, 2004 tsunami […]

Farmer mysteriously dies, police hastily rule out foul play
A Salvadoran farmer was found dead by police on Wednesday in a drain along the Hummingbird highway; however, due to the advanced state of decomposition, police could not determine the cause of death but have already ruled out foul play. Jose Romulo Cornejo, 42, of […]

Five persons detained for brutal butchering of Toledo teens
Five people are in police custody pending investigations into the brutal butchering of two Toledo teenagers on Sunday night. Sisters, Crecencia and Josephina Oh, 18 and 17 respectively, were chopped to pieces on Sunday night. The gruesome images from the crime scene, which looked like […]

Africanized bees kill man and 2 dogs
A man has died of bee stings he suffered over the weekend in his yard in Unitedville, Cayo. Omar Cruz, 62, and his son were cleaning his yard on Saturday, January 13, when a swarm of Africanized bees that occupied an adjacent abandoned building attacked […]

GSU find 51 pounds of weed in Western Paradise
A Gang Supression Unit (GSU) raid in the Western Paradise community at mile 8 on the George Price highway over the weekend yielded 133 parcels of marijuana hidden inside two PVC pipes which were buried in the ground. Just after 5:00 p.m on January 21, […]

Editorial
It’s not just our imagination! The gangs in Belize are getting bolder, targeting their victims at will, and operating with sullen impunity. Belizeans have been relying on the police to curb this rush of violence, but the Police Department has been overwhelmed by the number and variety of stealth crimes, […]

Government broke the law, claims PUP
Wednesday’s Sitting of the Senate departed from standard procedure when People’s United Party (PUP) senators requested the Financial Secretary, Joseph Waight, to attend the Committee Meeting, during which he acknowledged that the government had not complied with the Finance Reform and Audit Act with regard […]

Shooting proves fatal for San Pedro resident
Belize’s latest murder of the new year happened on Thursday afternoon in Belize City around 1:00 p.m., on Plues street. According to reports from the scene, three men chased 23-year-old Simon Velasquez onto Plues Street and fired three shots at him. Police and paramedics gathered […]

Queen Elizabeth II congratulates centenarian, Francesca Arnold
Congratulations were in order for career nurse-caregiver-teacher and lay-minister, Francesca Arnold, who celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday, January 22, and even the Queen Elizabeth II sent her a card congratulating her on this milestone. Francesca Saldivar was born in the village of San Roman, […]

4 dead, 4 injured in 5-hour bloodbath
This past week was perhaps the most violent since the start of the new year, with four murders and several more injured over a span of five hours on Tuesday night. The Tuesday night bloodbath started just after 5:20 p.m., on Crocodile Street in San […]

PACT open again for business, two employees fewer
After taking a one-week break for restructuring, the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT), opened this past Wednesday, but with two employees fewer. Their jobs had reportedly become redundant by the new organizational and operational framework now in place. The conservation trust issued a press release […]

Billion-dollar bud Who will reap the profits in Belize?
By William Conde Belize Hemp Co-operative The global discussion and perspective on the use of marijuana medically, recreationally and industrially has evolved over the decades. Belize recently passed legislation to decriminalize up to 10 grams of cannabis for personal use but Belize’s decriminalization effort was limited compared to other nations […]

Driver charged for causing Leonte Ampie’s death
Almost a month after Leonte Ampie, 39, was killed in an accident on the George Price highway in Camalote village on December 16, 2017, the driver of the pick-up truck which hit him was arraigned in the Belmopan Magistrate court. On Thursday, January 18th, Winston Gordon, 45, […]

Breaking Belize News

Notice: Immigration Headquarters relocated
The Immigration Headquarters in Belmopan has been relocated to Mountain View Blvd. Contact details are […]

Vernon family to protest in PG tomorrow
Tomorrow there will be a protest in Punta Gorda town in connection with the January […]

Ladyville businessman robbed
Last night, Freddy Hernandez, a resident of Ladyville village reported that around 8:30 p.m., while […]

St. Margaret teen reported missing
A teen girl from St. Margaret village has been reported missing by her father. Alejandro […]

Attorney General dismisses PUP claims
Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte has dismissed claims by the People’s United Party (PUP) that the […]

Man ambushed and killed on Plues Street
On Wednesday, January 24, around 1:15 p.m., Belize city police visited the first floor of […]

Two young men charged for murder of Thomas Henry
Belmopan police have arrested and charged two men in connection with the murder of Thomas […]

5 tourists attacked and robbed in San Ignacio Town
According to reports, five tourists were victims of an armed robbery last night in San […]

Blogs

A Gorgeous West Side Beach Morning – TV Crew and SUP Yoga
Yesterday, I headed south of town for an early a.m. meet-up. A warm sunny January day – I turned through the imposing gates of Mahogany Bay Village and pulled up to Science and Soul Wellness – the GORGEOUS yoga studio, spa and meeting spot. We were headed out to showcase the MBV Beach Club and the Stand Up Paddle board yoga class S&SW; conducts in this ridiculously stunning spot. Climb the stairs, they have the HUGE upstairs space. The most recent class had just finished and ladies and men were lounging on the couches drinking lightly scented waters…all so very…namaste.

Belize Customs and Excise Department; Post Clearance Audit
The Belize CED believes that an effective and efficient PCA function is an essential component of a modern Customs Administration. The ultimate goal is a balanced compliance and enforcement strategy of allowing trade to move more quickly and easily across the border, supported by the ability of Customs to selectivelyand effectively intervene to ensure that all Customs requirements have been met as per the relevant laws regulations. PCA helps to ensure that clients report their importations to Customs accurately and on time, and that the correct amount of revenue is paid. PCA auditors review past importations and where errors are found, revenue adjustments are made for collection. During the audit, further guidance and information is provided to assist importers in improving complaiance with all Customs Obligations and procedures.

International Sources

The Most Beautiful Places in Belize that Aren’t Beaches
Belize is quickly getting a reputation for being one of the hottest spots in Central America. More than a million tourists visit annually for the beaches, Great Barrier Reef, countless islands and natural beauty. But not everyone wants to relax in a hammock and spend all their time in one of the luxurious overwater bungalows in Belize. With the variety of ancient ruins, natural wonders and national parks dotted around the island, it’s easy to indulge in a different type of tourism. Here are the top non-beach places to visit in Belize.

Belize's Garifuna Collective Showcases Central American Culture to a Wider Audience
During his childhood in Belize, bassist Al Ovando grew up surrounded by music. His father played guitar and he and his brothers had a family band. Even as a child, Ovando took the reins, setting up equipment and tending to instruments that needed repair. Now, as an adult, he's the bandleader of the pioneering Garifuna Collective, a renowned music group that has taken the music of the Belizean Garifuna people around the world. Ovando says live music plays a significant role in people's lives, but the Garifuna Collective is among the first major acts to break out of the Central American nation. Perhaps its greatest contribution is providing a foundation upon which other Belizean musicians can share their music with an even wider audience. "All the band members understand the mission, what they want to share with the world... but the bigger mission for us is to keep doing what we are doing and set up a platform for other Belizeans coming behind." He says that involves mentoring musicians not only when it comes to the actual music, but on administrative aspects as well, from navigating the logistics of touring to doing interviews. "There is nobody in Belize who has ever done this on this level," he says. "We are pioneers when it comes to... bringing the awareness to this vast world."

Coral Reefs In Central America Are Finally Getting Healthier
Coral reefs have been struggling in recent years, with reports that huge swathes of it had succumbed to coral bleaching; the Great Barrier Reef had its most devastating die-off ever recorded in 2016, as CNN reported at the time. Bleaching happens when ocean temperatures get to hot. As Stephanie Wear, The Nature Conservancy’s director of coral reef conservation, told Nature, the color from coral actually comes from tiny algae that live symbiotically with it. “The first thing to understand is that corals get their brilliant colors from tiny algae that live in their tissues. These tiny organisms live in harmony with coral animals, and they basically share resources,” Wear explains. “For example, the most important thing that the algae do is provide food to the corals through carbohydrates they produce during photosynthesis."

Initiative announced to end malaria in Central America and the Dominican Republic
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Carlos Slim Foundation have announced an initiative to support seven Central American countries and the Dominican Republic in taking the final steps necessary to eliminate malaria in their territories. The Regional Malaria Elimination Initiative (RMEI) will bring $83.6 million in new funds, and is expected to leverage over $100 million in domestic financing and $39 million of existing donor resources across the region by 2022 to ensure malaria remains a top health and development priority despite dwindling numbers of cases. The funding will serve to close the technical and financing gaps to support and execute country elimination plans in Belize, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

Videos

January 26, 2018

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

Island resident Simon Velasquez murdered in Belize City
Police have confirmed that a San Pedro resident was gunned down on Thursday, January 25th in Belize City. The victim has been identified as 23-year- old Simon Velasquez, who according to unconfirmed reports was targeted by a trio of gunmen at Plues Street. Police have confirmed the incident, but an official report is yet to be issued by authorities. Velasquez, who reportedly resided in the Boca del Rio Area, had several run-ins with the law. His first encounter with the police took place in March of 2012 when he confronted police and was shot in the process. The official report states that police were called to an area of the San Juan Subdivision around 3:30PM, where Velasquez had been involved in a series of fights. When police arrived, Velasquez saw them and allegedly ran away. Police set chase, but Velasquez apparently jumped two fences and made his way to an overgrown empty lot near the lagoon. Two officers pursued him on foot and found him hiding. When officers approached him, they said that Velasquez pulled out a stick and charged at one of them.

SPTC and local law enforcement discuss current crime situation in SP
The San Pedro Town Council and the Office of the Mayor expresses concern over the recent shootings on the island. Over the past few days, the council has been meeting with representatives of the police department and a follow up meeting is scheduled for the weekend. It is our hope, that following this meeting, a course of action will be taken to help reduce tension between rival groups that has contributed to the recent shooting. The Ministry of National Security has given the council the reassurance, that the Government of Belize will do whatever it takes, to re-establish a sense of security on the island for our citizenry and visitors. The council will be meeting with the Area Representative and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Hon. Manuel Heredia, the Minister with responsibility of Police (Home Affairs) Hon. Elodio Aragon Jr., and Senior Personnel from the Police Department, to establish what those measures will be.

Forest and Fisheries Departments get SMART
Belize’s conservation agencies, both government and non-governmental, have been using the Spatial Monitoring And Reporting Tool (SMART) technology to monitor the use and exploitation of the nation’s natural resources for some time now. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change officially endorsed the effectiveness of the SMART technology at a ceremonial handing-over of licensing equipment by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) at the Radisson Fort George Hotel on Wednesday morning, January 24th.

San Pedro R.C School awards top 10 students on BJAT examination
On, Monday, January 15th, the San Pedro Roman Catholic School (SPRCS) held a ceremony to award the top 10 students for their outstanding performance on the Belize Junior Achievement Test (BJAT). “We decided to award our top ten students as to motivate them and the upcoming ones, and to let them see that we acknowledge their hard work and dedication,” said SPRCS Principal Roxani Kay. The SPRCS top ten students included first place student Radley Rodriguez, Ruan Azueta took second place, third place went to Kristian Bardalez and Cassian Chavaria, Maria Carrera took fourth place, Jarvin Velasquez took fifth place, sixth place went to Angelique Castellanos and Oscar Gamez, Bryan Monje took seventh place, Jose Beteta came in eighth, Rochelle Acosta took ninth place and Charles Saki placed tenth.

Ambergris Today

Government of Belize Endorses “SMART” Technology for Conservation Law Enforcement
On Wednesday, January 24, 2018, the Government of Belize officially endorsed the use of the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART). The SMART technology is already being used by several government and non-governmental organizations. SMART is the world's leading tool for conservation law enforcement monitoring. The software and training materials both extend and simplify existing technologies for monitoring efforts to tackle poaching and other illegal activities, making those technologies more effective, efficient and user-friendly.

SP Town Council and Law Enforcement Discuss Current Crime Situation
In response to the recent crime situation on Ambergris Caye, the San Pedro Town Council has issued a press release stating that the San Pedro Town Council and the Office of the Mayor expresses concern over the recent shootings on the island. It says that over the past few days, the council has been meeting with representatives of the police department and a follow up meeting is scheduled for the weekend.

Misc Belizean Sources

Belize Defence Force gets a New Commander for 40th Anniversary
The Belize Defence Force (BDF) will hold official ceremonies to celebrate its 40th anniversary on Friday, January 26th at Price Barracks, Ladyville, commencing at 2:30 p.m. The event includes the passing out of Recruit Intake 63 and the official handing over of Command of the BDF from Brigadier General David Jones--who retired in December 2017, after four years as Commander, to Brigadier General Steven Ortega. Incoming Commander, Brigadier General Steven Ortega was born and raised in Esperanza Village in the Cayo District. He attended Sacred Heart College and Belize Technical College before joining the BDF in 1990. He thereafter attended the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in the United Kingdom and was Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant of the BDF in 1992. Throughout his twenty-seven years of service in the BDF, General Ortega attended various courses and conferences locally, regionally, and internationally.

Corozal House of Culture Full Moon Concert
Greetings from the Corozal House of Culture! We welcome 2018 with our first musical event of the year. As part of the Full Moon Concert Series the Corozal House of Culture kindly invites you to enjoy a night of cultural music with the Benque Marimba Music Program’s Los Hijos del West. Please join us at 7:30 pm Saturday January 27th, 2018 here at the House of Culture for a wonderful night of marimba music.

Spatial Monitoring and Report Tool
Congratulations to the WCS Belize for the launching of the Spatial Monitoring and Report Tool in Belize! This is a tool aimed at increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the management of Belize's natural resources. Ya'axché Conservation Trust has been leading the customization and adoption of SMART in the terrestrial protected areas we manage. We are utilizing SMART to improve our patrols and data collection within Bladen Nature Reserve, Golden Stream Corridor Preserve and Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve.

Ek' Balam Poktapok team in Orange Walk Central Park Saturday
Ek' Balam Poktapok team will be presenting in Orange walk central park this Saturday at 8 in the night. Disfruten nuestra Cultura Maya del Norte de Belize . Kux'ano'on(We are Alive) .

PACT Issues Statement on New Organizational Structure
On January 16, 2018 the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) initiated a transition process to adopt a new organizational structure and operational framework. On January 23, 2018, PACT successfully completed the transition with its employees. As part of this process, employees were given paid leave and a copy of the draft contract to aid them in their consultation and consideration of the new terms which to date they have all voluntarily accepted; some employees doing so as soon as the day after being notified. PACT received no objections from employees to signing their contracts of service. In response to the Public Service Union’s allegation, no staff member was summoned to the office to sign contracts. Neither was any staff member forcefully coerced to sign contracts. Additionally, it should be noted that there is no type of agreement between PACT and the PSU and PACT did not receive any indication from its Union members that they wished to be represented by the Union in this matter.

CALL FOR RESEARCH PROPOSALS..
Find out more about the call for proposals and apply here. In September 2015, the United Nations ratified the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which set 17 critical socioeconomic and environmental goals for the world’s countries to achieve over the next 15 years. Gender equality and women’s empowerment is both a stand-alone SDG and a part of the other 16 SDGs. In 2016, Compete Caribbean conducted research into how the gender composition of ownership and management affected firm performance in the Caribbean. This research suggested that women-owned firms are significantly smaller, less likely demand credit from financial institution, less likely to take advantage of technical assistance and more likely to perceive access to finance as an obstacle to their businesses.

Part time Job Opportunity at Euphoria21 in Corozal
Another vacancy is currently available for a waitress at Euphoria21. We're hoping to find a female that is dependable and responsible. Between ages 20-30, with previous experience in the field. Important to note this is a weekend only job. Therefore its a great oppurtunity for someone looking to earn a little extra. Interested persons...Kindly inbox us here or visit us at White's Auto Wash.

JOB OPPORTUNITY in COROZAL
Kuylen's Gas Service announces vacancy for the post of "Office Assistant".

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/216102482105018582/
Belikin will be having auditions in Cayo for their 2019 calendar on Saturday, March 3rd, at Midas. Call 227-7031 if you're interested. "2019 Belikin Stout Calendar Auditions! Auditions start at 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Attire: tank top and shorts (swimsuit recommended) Call 227-7031 if you would like to schedule your time."

Belize Tourism Board New York Sales Presentations

The United States Peace Corps Belize has a vacancy for the position of Program Manager, Health Project
Basic Functions of the Position: The Program Manager (PM) oversees project direction, collaborates with Belizean work partners, develops work sites, and provides oversight, training, mentoring and support for 40 to 60 Volunteers. She is also a valuable member of the management team, providing innovative and creative ideas for the efficient operations of the Peace Corps program in Belize. This position is based in Belmopan and requires extensive year-round travel throughout the country. Required: Applicants must have a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Education, Health Sciences, Public Health, Nursing, or related field; andat least 5 years of relevant experience in community health development, project coordination and/or technical training.

Paradise Theater playing this weekend:
The Post, Suburbicon, Thor: Ragnarok, Woody Woodpecker.

Join our team at Ya’axché as Development Officer Volunteer!
Join our team at Ya’axché as Development Officer Volunteer! Ya’axché, like most NGO’s, is financed mostly through grant funding. The Development Officer Volunteer contributes a critical role within the Development Team, a team that leads fundraising according to Ya’axché’s Fundraising Strategy. Deadline to submit application is February 28 2018.

Channel 7

Gang War Rages From Island to Mainland: San Pedro Man Killed On Arrival In City
There was more bloodshed this afternoon on city streets. 23 year old San Pedro resident Simon Velasquez was gunned down at the corner of Bishop and Plues streets which is known gang turf. He had just come in from the island - and killers didn't waste any time in settling a score between rival drug gangs based between Belize City and San Pedro. There isn't much concrete information at this time but Courtney Weatherburne puts together what we know so far. A band of police officers blocked off Plues Street this afternoon around 1:30. After a man was shot and killed at the corner of Bishop and Plues Streets. The victim has been identified as 23 year old Simon Velasquez.

Police Charge Three For Roaring Creek Murder, Also Gt Murder Weapon
All Kimberly Smith wants is justice for the killing of her 31 year old common law husband Thomas Henry. Well, Belmopan police have delivered on that justice and solved this case rather quickly. A trio of Roaring Creek men men have been charged. They are 18 year old Tyler Cruz, 22 year old Joseph Cadle and 19 year old Israel Cadle. Cruz and Joseph Cadle were charged with Henry’s murder. Cadle was also charged with attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm and wounding for shooting Kimberly Smith in the back. Israel Cadle was charged with possession of unlicensed ammunition. That weapon is believed to be the one used in the shooting. Joseph Benjamin was additionally charged for two counts of Attempted Murder, one count of Use of Deadly Means of Harm and Wounding.

Police May Charge Another For Cowo Murder
Tonight San Pedro police are investigating the possibility that William Godoy may not be the shooter in the murder of Alfredo Cowo on San Pedro 9 days ago. 7News is reliably informed that police have re-opened the investigation into that murder and may end up charging someone else. Now, Godoy has already been arraigned for murder and is on remand - against the bitter protestations of friends and family who say he has an airtight alibi for the time span when the murder was committed on Tuesday January 16th. Island police are re-examining the entire murder investigation in light of new evidence which reportedly points to another shooter. We are told this shooter may also have a connection to someone in law enforcement.

Murder Up, But Major Crime Was Down 6.8% for 2017
So, in the first 25 days of 2018 there have been 24 shootings and 12 murders - which is up from last year January when there were 9 murders. So while 2018 has a violent start - Police Headquarters in Belmopan finally released the official crime statistics for 2017 - and it shows that major crime is down - despite the murder total being up. As we were expecting, the police murder total is 142 - which - according to our count - is off by at least three murders - our total is 145. But, going with their numbers - that total of 142 homicides, is four more than the previous year - an increase of 2.9%. In other major crimes, there was one less rape reported, 26 more robberies, 43 fewer burglaries, 99 fewer thefts, and 32 fewer cases of unlawful sexual intercourse. Again, all these figures are what was reported - we know that many major crimes - except murder - go unreported.

One Man Charged For Ladyville Double Murder
Late this evening, police informed us that they have charged one notorious Ladyville figure for the double murder of Casey Lozano and Marlon Spain - which happened two nights ago. The accused is 24 year old Jesse Mejia who has been charged for 2 counts of murder, and 2 counts of use of deadly means of harm, and 1 count of wounding and 1 count of grievous harm for shooting two other persons in the murderous melee. Mejia has been charged for violent, gun-related crimes in Ladyville many times before.

PUP Senators Say GOB Ran Red Lights With Petro-bucks
At the Senate yesterday, the Government Senators tabled and passed the General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation Bill of 2016-2017. The bill regularizes the unbudgeted public spending of some 13.9 million dollars that the government already disbursed and used as far back as 2016. The Government takes these types of bills to the House every 3 months for use of Petrocaribe funds, and in the use of those 13.9 million dollars, some of it went to relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Earl in August 2016, as well as Belize Infrastructure Limited for different construction project, and the Barrow Administration’s Mother’s Day Cheer. But, the debate heated up when the Opposition accused the Government of violating the Finance and Audit Reform Act and the Fiscal Transparency and Responsibility Regulations of 2010. In the end, the UDP Majority in the Senate passed the bill, and dismissed the Opposition’s concerns as politicking for the sake of it.

UDP Senator Says PUP Claims Farcical
So, we went to UDP Senator Michael Peyrefitte for a response, since he’s the Attorney General, and a sitting member of the Senate. And he wasn’t too kind to his senate colleagues on the Opposition side. Here’s how he insisted that the Government has not run a red light with the Finance and Audit Reform Act: Hon. Michael Peyrefitte - Attorney General: "Listen there is a practical reason for the delay in bringing the appropriations budget. You cannot know in certain instances, you don't budget for a hurricane from year to year for example. You don't budget for hurricane so if a hurricane occurs or a hurricane comes close enough that causes damage you have to immediately come to the rescue of the people in need and then when that is done you do an appropriations budget to cover the expenses of taking care of people. Those things cannot be completed in a day, in a week or in a month.”

You Decide….
But, while the matter of public spending could be very technical, it is a matter of urgent public interest. We’ve put together a few of the major points that the two sides presented today for you to make up your own mind about who’s right and who’s wrong in the way these revenue appropriation bills are handled: Hon. Michael Peyrefitte - Attorney General: "The opposition Senators and members in the house they are just so incompetent and to call a press conference to discuss a matter that was recorded and debated yesterday just reeks of utter desperation on the part of the PUP." Eamon Courtenay - PUP Senator: "We cannot be faulted by saying that we are attempting to make political mileage of this, they were the ones who brought the bill to the national assembly at this time and they were the ones who set the dates for the hearings and we were doing our job okay? So in terms of timing they are the ones who control timing."

Mayflower Neighborhood Quick To Anger With Cops
There was an uproar on Maylflower Street in Belize City this evening when resident form the gang affiliated Ghost Town area clashed with police. Passers-by called our cameras out to the area because residents were looking to clash with police who had to call for backup. When we got there the excitement had subsided - but what triggered it was when a woman police contactable tried to arrest a female resident of the area. Her neighbors weren't about to have it - and they pounced on the police. In the end, the cost superior numbers forced them to back down and the uproar was defused without incident.

Global Intellectual Property Pressures May End Premium Channel Spree On Cable
It’s not exactly a sexy issue - but intellectual property is an emerging topic of national importance. It may seem remote to you - but it could be as close as that remote control at your fingertips. We’re talking about cable television - and those 200 plus channels which you pay 45 dollars a month for. It’s the cheapest, and dollar for dollar, best cable in the world - and - the be blunt - it’s made possible by mass copyright infringement - which doesn't pay for the intellectual property of the US based rights owners. But that could great cable package could change soon - as it has in other Caribbean countries. Belize is now coming under the microscope for its rather loose intellectual property regime. Earlier this week on the show “Know Your Rights” here on Channel 7, intellectual property specialist, Attorney Marissa Longsworth explained the peculiar situation of cable television in Belize:…

Ann-Marie’s Moved On From Those Many Slights
Last night on 7News we had our interview with Ann-Marie Williams who’s taken up a post at the CARICOM Secretariat as the Deputy Program Manager For Gender & Development. It’s a major international posting in Guyana - but as she leaves Belize behind - for the time being - we wondered, does Ann - Marie still want to be a politician? Jules Vasquez: "Is the political fire still burning in you that maybe someday you would want to step back and reenter that ever appealing fray?" Anne Marie Williams: "Put it like this I have an inextinguishable blaze, my fire burns and it burns bright but if you notice that I have put my energies to getting women involved and elected for politics, the women in politics project and so that fire was never for myself personally because if you achieve and its only you alone and you look back and there's no one there then you haven't done well and that's a message for all. And so had I gotten there I would have been bringing a number of women with me. I didn't get there but look at my handy work it continues undaunted."

Muslims Meet In Belize
Today the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama' At held a press conference to share more about their fourth annual convention that will take place this weekend. The convention is chance for them to share more about their beliefs and practices with the general public. President Naveed Mangla shared more. Naveed Mangla, President - Ahmadiyya Muslim Community: "We have representatives from Guatemala, Mexico, Canada, Honduras. Some of them have arrived and some are coming tomorrow. We invite all our local Belizean Brothers and Sisters to come and learn about what this religion is. The reason why it is important to learn about Islam is that right now 24% of the world population is Muslim."

A Center For Hand In Hand
Hand In Hand Ministries is known for its community initiatives - and the many houses they have handed over to needy persons. But, they had no home for themselves - a single central location with facilities and services for the community. Well, after three years of hard work, their building is finally up. Today was the opening ceremony and we spoke to one of the biggest advocates and supporters of the project. Abel Vargas - Hand In Hand Ministries: "The building isn't completed yet but we have been working on the building for the past three years going on four years. It is actually 40 by 90. It is two level and houses all our programs under one roof which is one of our biggest accomplishments."

Father Gets Fined For Threatening Son
Tonight, a 42-year-old Belize City father, Sheffield Brown, is lucky to be home and not behind bars after he admitted in court to assaulting his 13-year old son and threatening him. Brown who well known to police appeared this morning before Senior Magistrate, Aretha Ford where he was read two criminal offenses of common assault upon his son and using threatening words upon the boy. The incident occurred at the child’s home in the presence of the baby sitter and his older sister. According to a report made by the Baby Sitter, she told police that the boy was home when Brown came to see him. He asked his son to cook some noodles for him. The boy refused and that’s when his father stoned him with an object and threatened to kill him.

Rock It, Jeezy!
He’s from Seine Byte, but the Punta artist named Jeezy is lighting up dance floors all across the country with his new song “Wine Gial”. It’s part of a 10 track album which also features reggae and dancehall. He told us that he’s been making music since he's 7: The party-ready album is available at Stone Jame and Teddy’s for eight dollars.

Channel 5

San Pedro Gang Rivalry Spreads to City as Simon Velasquez is Murdered
There is another murder to report tonight and many believe that the brazen execution of Simon Velasquez on Plues Street this afternoon may be related to the ongoing spate of [...]

3 Charged for Murder of Thomas Henry
Belmopan Police say they’ve got a two-for-one murder case solved. This evening, police charged Tyler Herrera Cruz and Joseph Cadle for the killing of Thomas Henry, but they say the [...]

Arrest Announced in Ladyville Double Murder
As you heard, three persons were charged in connection with the murder of Thomas Henry in Roaring Creek, who is one of four persons killed by gun violence on Tuesday. [...]

Major Crimes Down for 2017
Police are reporting a significant decrease in the number of major crimes reported across Belize in 2017. Some one thousand, nine hundred and ninety-two major crimes – defined as murder; [...]

How G.O.B. May Have Violated Finance and Audit Act on Appropriations
Is the Barrow Administration guilty of breaking the Finance and Audit Reform Act?  It’s an admission that Financial Secretary Joseph Waight reportedly made before the Senate on Wednesday, in respect [...]

Gov’t Admits “Slippage;” Criminal Complaint?
With the FinSec’s purported confession that the Finance and Audit Reform Act has not been complied with, is there a course of action that can be taken against government by [...]

It’s Not Politics; Says P.U.P., but Accountability and Transparency
Many of the opposition’s detractors will perhaps say that the People’s United Party is simply looking to capitalize on political mileage ahead of the March seventh municipal elections, given the [...]

Can We Believe B.I.L. Figures?
Nearly every municipality in Belize now has its own multi-purpose center or sporting complex upgraded or built from the ground up by the special purpose vehicle Belize Infrastructure Limited. The [...]

We Will Do Our Best on Trafficking in Persons, Says A.G. after Ban
For the next year, Belize has been placed on a list of nations whose nationals are not eligible to obtain temporary U.S. work visas of the H-Two-A and H-Two-B non-immigrant [...]

Jackie Willoughby Got Explanation on Slander from P.S.U.
Ten days ago, former president and long-serving executive of the Public Service Union, Jacqueline Willoughby, severed ties with the union, although she continues to complete her remaining duties as a [...]

Jaguar Killer Still on Loose; Minister Says Trafficking Being Considered
The public outcry on two beheaded jaguars was sounded across the city and a ten thousand dollar reward was set up to catch the poachers. But so far, there hasn’t [...]

PACT Restructuring ‘by the Book’
On Wednesday, we reported on the exchange between the Protected Areas Conservation Trust and the Public Service Union over the fate of six PACT employees who are also members of [...]

Sugar Roads Coming
Last week, we showed you the poor condition of the Indian Church-San Carlos Road, one of the sugar roads used by farmers of sugar cane and other agricultural products to [...]

‘Tsunami of Infrastructure’ Washing over Belize
There’s a tsunami sweeping the country – but not the kind from the sea. According to the Ministry of Works, it will be very busy in 2018 with road construction [...]

The Municipal Campaign in O.W.
Our series on the campaign trail today took us to the northern municipality of Orange Walk where a split council headed by a P.U.P. mayor controls the everyday operations of [...]

Getting SMART About Sustainable Management
Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) is a new tool being used by marine and terrestrial conservationists in Belize. The software was introduced locally a little over five years ago [...]

Hand in Hand Opens New Office
Hand in Hand Ministries is known for building houses in three days, but their own headquarters took them a lot longer – three years and counting. And today they proudly [...]

Fisherman Jailed for Repeat Offenses
A fisherman from Trial Farm in Orange Walk is serving a jail sentence for failing to pay old fines related to fishing offenses, and more time was added on Wednesday [...]

Guatemalan Teens Wanted Jobs, Forgot Passports
A trio of Guatemalan teenagers can expect a longer stay in Belize after illegally crossing the border on Monday morning. They were detained at the Novelos’ Bus Terminal in Belize [...]

Why You Need Health Insurance
Should you or shouldn’t you invest in health insurance? We have all heard stories of families who after one major medical trauma have incurred major debt. Right here in our [...]

LOVE FM

San Pedro Resident Killed in the Old Capital
Another man is dead tonight after he was shot in the vicinity of Bishop and Plues Streets in Belize City shortly after one o’clock this afternoon. He has been identified by police as 26-year old Simon Velasquez, a resident of San Pedro Ambergris Caye. Police have not issued many details of the …

Three charged for Roaring Creek murder
Belmopan police have charged three persons for the shooting in Roaring Creek Village on Tuesday night which resulted in the death of Thomas Henry. 22-year old Joseph Cadle was charged with the murder of Thomas Henry and attempted murder of Kimberly Smith who was also injured in the shooting. Cadle was also charged with the …

San Pedro Town Council moves to curb gun violence on the island
In San Pedro Ambergris Caye, the Town Council is taking action to curb the rising gun violence on the island. In a release issued today, the Council states that it has been meeting with the Police to chart a course of action to reduce tensions between rival groups on the island. The Council states that …

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at Belize to hold 4th Convention
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at Belize is holding its fourth Annual Convention on January 27-28 at ITVET. The convention will host people with various backgrounds, religions and academia. The revival movement was founded in 1889 and spans over 204 countries with millions of persons following in the teachings. Imam Naveed Mangla, President of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at …

No Foul Play Suspected in Death of Salvadoran Farmer
Police say they do not suspect foul play in the death of 42-year-old Jose Romulo Cornejo. The Salvadoran farmer of Sarawee Village was found dead and in a state of advanced decomposition in a drain between miles three and four on the Hummingbird Highway. He was clad in a long blue jeans pants and a …

SMART Technology launched for Marine and Forest Department
On Wednesday the Fisheries and Forest Departments endorsed the Spatial Monitoring Interactive Tool, a Smart technology tool that will help increase efficiency in the collection, sharing and analyzing of data. Country Director for the Wildlife Conservation Society, Nicole Auil Gomez explained how it works. Nicole Auil Gomez – Country Director, Wildlife Conservation Society “It has …

JP Association holds 17th Annual General Meeting
The National Association of Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of the Supreme Court will be hosting its seventeenth annual general meeting on Sunday January 28. National president, Adrian “Danny” Madrid said that key points in their meeting are the appointment of some thirty new JPs and the recognition of many others from across the …

Hand in Hand Ministries Opens New Headquarters
Hand In Hand Ministries officially opened and dedicated its new headquarters in Belize City today. The Fowler Community Center is located at mile 1 ½ on the George Price Highway across from the Inspiration Center. The new building will help to improve the organization’s efficiency in implementing its programs by bringing all the offices under …

Dangriga Rotary Club and partners pilot project
Harry Arzu reporting… Aquaponics is a natural way of raising both fish and plants together; a system that produces two crops simultaneously and it is very efficient. It is a method of farming that uses the excrements of fish without the use of pesticides or herbicides and it can produce plenty of food every week …

Import licenses for potatoes put on pause
The approval of import licenses for potatoes has been put on pause by the Ministry of Agriculture. This decision was made during a meeting that Ministry officials held with potato producers and importers yesterday in Belmopan. The meeting came after potatoes farmers expressed concern that they might have challenges selling their thousands of pounds of …

PUP Senators question BIL’s Budget
For the General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation Bill, Number 3, 2017 an additional seven point three million dollars were budgeted for Belize Infrastructure Limited (BIL). For the Fiscal year 2016/2017 five hundred thousand dollars was initially budgeted for BIL but at the end of the year, that amount grew to nineteen point eight million dollars. PUP …

Laws were broken says Lead PUP Senator
Yesterday the Senate approved and passed the General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation Bill, Number 3, 2017. Through this bill, Government sought approval for spending thirteen point nine million dollars between 2016 and 2017. That spending was in relation to Government’s Mothers’ Day Cheer Program, Hurricane Earl Relief and budgetary support for Belize Infrastructure Limited (BIL). Senators …

UDP Senator says delay was practical, not illegal
Responding to the PUP Senators is the Attorney General, Michael Peyrefitte. After the PUP’s press briefing, we sought out Peyrefitte for a response to the comments made by Senators Eamon Courtenay and Valerie Woods. Peyrefitte admitted that there was a delay in bringing the appropriation bill but the reason behind the delay, he says, is …

PSU and PACT at odds
The Public Service Union, PSU, and the Protect Areas Conservation Trust, PACT, are at odds. Last week PACT announced that it had embarked on a restructuring exercise. PACT says that it has decided to execute this restructuring exercise in order to implement a new operational framework. However, the PSU says that PACT employees have been …

PUP Senators say GOB violated the Finance and Audit Reform Act
According to the PUP Senator Eamon Courtenay, there was noncompliance by the Government in following the regulations set out in the Finance and Audit Reform Act. They say that this noncompliance amounts to a criminal offense. UDP Senator, Michael Peyrefitte disagrees. EAMON COURTENAY, PUP SENATOR “This is an extremely serious matter that civil society ought …

Finance and Audit Act has been breached, says Private Sector Senator
The notion that the Government unlawfully spent thirteen point nine million dollars between 2016 and 2017 was also supported by Senator Mark Lizarraga who represents the Private Sector. The Finance and Audit Reform Act of 2010 sets out rules and regulations as it pertains to Government spending and Lizarraga says that after what happened during …

PlusTV

Body Found Near Dangriga Town
There has been the discovery of a decomposing body near Dangriga Town. Police have not issued a report on the discovery as yet but media reports are that the body of a Hispanic male person was found in a drain next to a bicycle 3 miles out of Dangriga Town near the river side. The body was reported...

PSU say PACT retrenched worker
Last week we quoted parts of PACT’s press release on its Restructuring process where it seemed to us that it was talking about retrenchment and wage cuts for some PACT employees to streamline its operational costs. However, a spokesperson from PACT told at least one media house that the press...

Mexicans may face more charges
Those three Mexican nationals who are currently on remand for allegedly stealing approximately one hundred thousand dollars from ATMs across the country may be facing more charges soon.On Monday evening, 27 year old Belen Hernandez ,21 year old Jacson Jafet and 31 year old , Leonel Rodriguez ...

Compol reassures of police work to solve crimes
With all the shootings and murders over the past 24 hours, police called a e press briefing today. The commissioner of police was in attendance and gave a statement of reassurance that cops are doing their best to try and solve the murders and prevent more blood shed. ComPol Allen Whylie Our office...

SENATE Debates money bill for Hurricane Earl
It got quite heated at times at today’s sitting of the Senate as the senators debated the General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation (2016/2017) (No.3) Bill. This money bill is for some 9 million dollars for Hurricane Earl spending and mother’s day cheer. Now, that may seem a bit strange seeing t...

The Guardian

20 million dollar George Price Highway Upgrade
Works are to commence immediately on the upgrading of a section of the George Price Highway between the villages of Roaring Creek and Blackman Eddy. Coming in at a cost of BZ$20,540,823.19, the contract was signed on Wednesday January 24, in Belmopan between the Government of Belize, Ministry of works and Tiechroeb and Sons Ltd. The scope of works will be the rehabilitation of 15.335 kilometers of road including the horizontal and vertical realignment of the road to meet international safety standards as well as the upgrading of drainage and construction of runoff channels to improve climate resilience of the road. The project will also address the replacement of major

San Pedro sees Another Murder
The murder total for the year as far as Wednesday, January 24, 2018 is at a whopping 11 persons. Four of those eleven murders all happened in a span of hours on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. The earliest of those happened on La Isla Bonita just after 5 p.m. on Crocodile Street in the San Pedrito area. In this shooting, there was one fatality and one injured person. According to police, the body of Jimel Paul Jex, a resident and laborer of the San Mateo area on San Pedro, was found with apparent gunshot wounds. Upon visiting the San Pedro Polyclinic, Deon Neal, a resident of Caye Caulker, was seen suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. After receiving treatment, he was listed in a stable condition.

Double Murder in Ladyville
The Marage Road area of Ladyville is currently tense with a bitter rivalry that has flared up and resulted in a double murder. 24-year-old Casey Lozano and 25-year-old Marlon Spain were killed in a shooting where an entire group of friends were at risk of getting hurt. Police say that at around 6:45 p.m on Tuesday, January 23, they were called to respond to a shooting on Marage Road. When they visited the yard of 40 year-old Anna Chi, they found the lifeless body of Spain lying on the ground; he had suffered a gunshot wound to the head. About 200 yards away, they found Casey Lozano clinging to life after he suffered a gunshot injury to left upper back and another to the buttocks.

Shooting in Roaring Creek leaves one dead and one injured
There was a murder in the western village of Roaring Creek. Just after 10:30 p.m., Roaring Creek police responded to a shooting incident in the yard of Kimberly Smith. Smith, who received injuries herself, reported that minutes before calling the police, she heard shots being fired in her yard in the Another World Area of Roaring Creek. Upon looking through her window to make checks, she saw two assailants in her yard. One of the men wielded a firearm and turned his attention to her.

100 Grand stolen from Atlantic Bank by 3 Mexicans
Three Mexicans, 26 year-old Joscan Jafet Hernandez, 26 year-old Belen Hernandez Uriostegui, and 31-year-old Leonel Isaac Rodriguez Peralta, are at the Belize Central Prison after police charged them with theft of money from the Atlantic Bank. Police caught them with over 60 different credit cards, all belonging to non-Belizeans, and it is believed that these cards were stolen, and that these three defendants were using them to withdraw money that does not belong to them. It is believed that they have withdrawn about $100,000 from the bank’s ATM’s.

SMART Technology for Better Environmental Management
SMART, which is an acronym for Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool, is the world’s leading tool for conservation law enforcement monitoring. SMART was developed by global conservation organizations which work in collaboration with protected areas authorities, stake holders, and other pertinent organizations. The software makes it possible to collect, store, communicate, and analyze data on illegal activities, wildlife, patrol routes, and management actions. SMART allows all this to be done in a more effective and efficient manner which can directly benefit responsible agencies in determining exactly where, how, and by whom poaching, illegal logging, and other direct threats to biodiversity are occurring. It can be used across a broad range of conservation contexts, from strictly protected areas to multiple-use zones, and from terrestrial to marine ecosystems.

Channel 5 News now a Paid Political Ad
Viewers of Channel 5’s nightly newscast have become accustomed to the undertoned political jabs that the director takes at the UDP on a daily basis, so most of the times the items are taken with a grain of salt. But while viewers have become accustomed to the attacks, what happened on Tuesday night’s newscasts proved to most that even the news is up for sale. A graphic appeared intermittently on the screen while the news anchor was reading the news. Maybe it was an error, we thought, but then the graphic kept on appearing while the news was on. Our investigations have since revealed that in fact, Channel 5 is placing PUP graphic adverts during the newscast.

Streets and Drains are Council’s Primary Responsiblities
Here at The Guardian, we have been listening to the foolishness the PUP has been pushing about how, “people can’t eat infrastructure or cement streets.” Well, let us clear the air on this issue. Sure, people can’t and won’t eat infrastructure or cement streets but those infrastructural works and cement streets, is the reason why many men and women are able to put food on their tables in order to feed themselves and their children. Many of these persons would not have been able to do so if it were not for the jobs they have working on the various infrastructure projects. These people are employed and doing for themselves and their families. They feel dignified and are no longer being forced to have to go to any politician’s office, be it UDP or PUP. We have heard about how people are treated at the offices of those mean PUP politicians. We’ve heard about the way people have been made to stand in line waiting for a measly $20 handout and being grilled and question about which party their next-door neighbour is supporting before that $20 is handed to them. Those honest salt of the earth Belizean men and women can now boast that their dignities have been restored and they are honestly and proudly earning their keep by working and at the same time learning a skill.

City Management to a Whole New Level
A few months ago, the Belize City Council received a donation of equipment as part of the Flood Mitigation Project, which was spearheaded by Councilor Philip Willoughby. While on a daily basis residents of the old capital can see the equipment on the ground doing its work, in the background, there is a new management system in place. It’s called the Routine Maintenance Management System (RMMS), which is an integrated system that will assist the council’s city planning arm better monitor and maintain infrastructure. Carla Patnett is the Belize City Council’s City Planner. She explained to The Guardian that the RMMS is integrated with three components including an inventory of everything that is out on the ground like streets, drains, sidewalks. Each has its particular measurement and is referenced to a GIS map. There is also an inventory of traffic signs, culverts, bridges and any other security items in the public domain, again all of them with a GIS reference.

Extradition Proceedings begins against Attorney
Attorney-at-law Andrew Bennett remains out on bail after being brought before the Magistrate’s Court in the first instance to answer to the extradition request that the US Government has made for him. The extradition proceedings have begun, and it is now in the hands of Chief Magistrate Sharon Frazer to decide, after subsequent hearings, whether or not he should be sent to the US to stand trial for 7 counts of money laundering that they say he committed. Bennett was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Frazer on Thursday, January 18, 2018 as part of the extradition proceedings. As readers are aware, the US Government have furnished documents to the Belize Government in which they outline that he was the subject of a DEA investigation. They say that they have evidence of an operation in which they allegedly sent in a confidential informant to catch him in the act of laundering drug proceeds. Their documents say that he accepted a job to launder $250,000 US that he was allegedly told was the proceeds of a Colombian and Puerto Rico drug trafficking organizations.

Children and Families complete Training in San Ignacio
Twenty-five children and their six families hailing from the Towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena have completed the first cycle of GREAT Families, a sub-component of the Youth Resilience and Inclusive Social Empowerment or Rise Project. Both children and families were handed certificates of completion at the San Ignacio Police Station on Friday by Richard Rosado, Officer Commanding of the San Ignacio Police Formation in the presence of Gerald Jones, Assistant Commissioner of Police GREAT Families program is a scale-up of the youth and community YCT project that has been implemented for at risk communities in both San Ignacio and Santa Elena as well as in Dangriga. The project is being empowered by the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation with a 1.7 Million US dollar funding from the Caribbean Development Bank CDB and a counterpart $633,000.00 US from the Government of Belize.

Magdalena Talamas bids farewell to Belize Adjacency Zone office and OAS
An internationally-renowned career diplomat Magdalena Talamas delivered her parting tweet on Saturday of this weekend from the Organization of American States. In her tweet, she expressed having the privilege of working over the last decade in the Belize-Guatemala mediation process. Talamas also wrote that it was an honor having served as the first female Special Representative of the Secretary General. This message was almost immediately followed by a tweet from the Ambassador of Mexico to Belize Carlos Quesnel, who wished Talamas the best into the future at both the personal and professional level. It may be recalled that Magdalena Talamas was a significant figure in the tempering of Belize-Guatemala relations in 2016.

Talking Ponzi Schemes by the Master of Ponzis
On Monday night, we watched and listened with dropped jaws as Troy Grab said one of the strangest things we’ve ever heard being said on the BUSINESS HOUR. He said that the Government was involved with investors, who were into PONZI SCHEMES. He even went on to identify some projects and arrangements that he thought were PONZI Schemes. We found his pronouncement very strange, almost to the point of being a joke. We had to quickly check to see if it was really Troy saying those things. Our first question was: how in real life could this particular fellow be casting any such aspirations and lobbing stones? We needed to ask another question and it was: if he was the same gentleman, who was in charge at the Development Finance Cooperation (DFC), at the time when the said DFC was used as the source of funding to finance all sort of PONZI SCHEMES, that made many PUP insiders very rich?

San Ignacio gets New Town Clock
A towering metallic town clock built as a public and private sector partnership was unveiled last Friday in central Burns Avenue in San Ignacio Town. The Mayor of San Ignacio and Santa Elena Town, Earl Trapp Jr, officially inaugurated the town clock for the enjoyment by residents at one of Belize’s prime tourist destinations. Mayor Earl Trapp was grateful to both Bowen and Bowen as wells as TMM Media for having built a clock that will now provide a unique ambience to San Ignacio Town. He said that much more can be achieved into the future via collaborative efforts. “We are committed to the further development of our Twin Towns as we continue to maintain the policy decisions by the Council. Our focus for the next three years will be through the continued collaboration with the business and private sector by working more closely with them for continual development and improvement of our communities,” he said.

Nelson Henry acquitted of Murder
Nelson Henry, a 28-year-old member of the Mayflower Street “Ghost Town” gang, is a free man after he was acquitted of the murder of Edward Lord, Jr. The murder occurred on June 29, 2011 on Mahogany Street in Belize City and was allegedly witnessed by a special constable, who was working at the Mahogany Police Substation that evening. The case was first called to court in June of 2017 and since the start of the case, the prosecution’s witness was not cooperating. That case fell apart on Henry’s last court date, Wednesday, January 24, 2018. The main witness’s testimony forced the crown to produce no evidence against Henry on the charge of murder. She had to be treated as hostile before leaving the stand after she kept saying that she did not remember anything about the incident.

Andy Rhaburn awaits Murder Charge for Killing His Mother
Andy Rhaburn, who has been accused of beating his mother to death with a crowbar in Carmelita, has been on the run from the police for almost a week. The murder of his mother occurred on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 and, since then, Rhaburn has been eluding the police. There were many sightings of Rhaburn between Carmelita and Crooked Tree villages up until his capture. Almost a week later, on Monday, January 22, 2018, Orange Walk police finally caught Rhaburn in the vicinity of Rhaburn’s Ridge on the Phillip Goldson Highway.

William Godoy is charged with the Murder of Alfredo Cowo
William Godoy, a 33-year-old resident of San Pedro, has been formally arrested and charged for the murder of 26-year-old Alfredo Cowo. Cowo was murdered as he sat in a golf cart in Central Park, San Pedro with his pregnant girlfriend. A barrage of shots rang out in the direction but the one bullet that did make contact with the right side of Cowo’s chest was enough to fatally injure him. Cowo and his girlfriend were approached by a lone gunman, who police now say is William Godoy. Although Godoy’s family claims to have an alibi for him at the time of the murder, the police say that the evidence against him is just as strong.

Jolli Bee’s Businessman robbed
It was reported to the police that on Thursday, January 18, 2018, Bunty Ponwani was robbed. Ponwani, a businessman of a Ladyville address, reported that at about 6:50 p.m. while in Jolli Bee’s Restaurant, a man walked into the restaurant and held him up with what appeared to be a gun. That man took his white-gold chain, valued at $2,000, a black iPhone X, valued at $2,000, an Apple Watch, valued at $1,000, and a leather wallet that contained his personal documents. Police investigations into this matter continue.

5 persons detained in Death of Two Young Women in PG
Police have detained five persons following the chopping death of two young women in the Toledo district. The two women, identified to the press as 20 year-old Crecencia Oh, and her 18 year-old sister, Josefina Oh, were found dead on the outskirts of the Western Toledo Village of San Jose, some 8 miles away from their home. A still-unidentified killer brutally chopped the sisters to death and left them on the side of the main road. Police say that some time around 11 p.m. on Sunday, January 20, they acted upon reports they received, and they visited an area on the road near to San Jose. On the shoulder, they found the partially nude bodies of the Oh sisters. According to the cops, they had “very huge chop wounds” to different parts of their bodies, injuries that claimed their lives right on the scene.

Quincy Gentle gunned down
Quincy Gentle, a 28 year-old Belize City resident, was shot and killed while he was on his way home on Wednesday night, January 17, 2018. Police say that sometime around 11 p.m. they responded to reports of a shooting on Kelly Street. By that time, Gentle, the victim, had already been rushed to the KHMH, and they found him being treated for gunshot injuries to the chest and the stomach area. Initial investigations are that Gentle was walking on his way to his Wilson Street home, when he reached the intersection between Kelly and Matron Roberts Streets, someone ambushed him. Reports are that he tried to flee, but he was injured by his assailant’s spray of gunfire.

Shereffa Jex charged for Unlawful Imprisonment and Aggravated Burglary
Shereffa Jex, a 24-year-old resident of Burrell Boom, is being accused of unlawful imprisonment of 2 persons, an adult and his cousin, who is a minor. Jex is also being accused of aggravated burglary after she entered the home of a woman in the village. Jex was arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court before Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser on Monday, January 22, 2018. There, she was read two offenses of unlawful imprisonment and one count of aggravated burglary. In court, she was represented by attorney Leroy Jex, who submitted that bail should be granted to his client since she is a mother of two children, one of who still needs to be breastfed.

Three Weekend Shootings
Three shootings were reported on the weekend of Friday, January 19 and Sunday, January 21, 2018. The first shooting took place on La Isla Bonita on Saturday, January 20, 2018. In this incident, Gilberto Lara, a 48-year-old tour guide, and Katherine Torres Zelaya, a 25-year-old waitress, were injured. According to police, Lara and Zelaya, both of a San Pedro address, were seen suffering from apparent gunshot wounds around 3:30 a.m. Lara was seen suffering from gunshot wounds to the left side of his chest while Zelaya was grazed to her right upper back. Initial police investigations revealed that both persons were travelling in a golf cart on Seaweed Street toward their house in the San Juan Area when they heard gunshots and realized that they had both been hit.

Hummingbird Elementary School Boys and Girls lead Primary Schools Volleyball Competition
The Belize City Primary Schools Volleyball Competition continued at the Stars Gym in Belize City. On Tuesday 23rd January, in the first game played in the girls’ competition, The Belize City Primary Schools Volleyball competition began on Monday 22nd January, 2018 with four games on the schedule. In the first game played in the girls’ competition, Hummingbird Elementary School defeated St. Ignatius School by the score of 25-15 and 25-19. In the second game played in the girls’ competition, St. Joseph Primary School defeated Queen Square Anglican School by the score of 25-8 and 25-2.

San Pedro Tiger Sharks upend Belmopan Bandits in Opener
The National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) 2018 season opened on Friday 19th January, at the University of Belize Gymnasium between the defending champions the Belmopan Bandits and the sub-champion the San Pedro Tiger Sharks. The visiting San Pedro Tiger Sharks spoiled the season’s opener for the defending champion when it defeated them by the score of 103-74. The top scorers for the San Pedro Tiger Sharks were Ashton Edwards with 22 points and a rebound; Jamal Kelly with 20 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal; Douglas Valley with 13 points, 8 points, 2 assists and 2 steals; Raul Roches with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal and Jihad Wright who also scored 13 points, to go along with his 10 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 steals.

Verdes FC blank Freedom Fighters FC in Premier League Competition
The Premier League of Belize Closing Season continued over the last week of play with four games played across the country. On Sunday 21st January, 2018, at the Victor Sanchez Union Field in Punta Gorda Town, the defending champions and the leader in this year’s Closing Season Verdes FC blanked the host team Freedom Fighters FC by the score of 3-0. Verdes FC got on the scoreboard when Krisean Lopez scored the 1st goal of the game for his team in the 20th minute of play to give his team a 1-0 lead. The Verdes FC lead was further extended when Krisean Lopez scored his 2nd goal of the game in the 52nd minute of play to give his team a 2-0 lead. The score became 3-0 when Jaret Davis scored his goal in the 68th minute of play.

Belize Volleyball Association to host National championship
The Belize Volleyball Association will be hosting the Male and Female National Championship in Belize City on January 27 and 28, 2018, at the St. Catherine Academy Auditorium and the Belize Elementary School Gymnasium. The competition will commence at 8:30 am each day. Team rosters and registration fees of $250.00 per team are due on Wednesday 24th January, 2018. A compulsory meeting of all coaches, team captains and managers will be held on Friday 26th January at the Belize Elementary School Gymnasium at 8:00 pm. The National Championship is expected to see participation from Orange Walk, Caye Caulker, Belmopan, San Pedro, Dangriga, Punta Gorda, Cayo and Belize City. It is anticipated that more than ten male and female teams will compete in the championship.

Man killed by bees in Cayo
A senior citizen from Unitedville in the Cayo District, who had been attacked by killer bees over a week ago, has died. Sixty-two-year-old Omar Cruz was clearing the undergrowth near an abandoned building when a swarm of Africanized bees enveloped him. His son was assisting in the clean-up, but escaped unhurt. On a daily basis children from Unitedville frequent near the abandoned building in the morning. The area is also regularly visited by tourists. Chairman of Unitedville Mike Juan has informed the media that he will be contacting the Belize Agriculture Health Authority for assistance in getting rid of the ‘killer bees.’ If BAHA does not respond then he will be getting someone else to do the job.

50 plus Questions to get to know anyone better
Do you crave deeper scintillating conversations with your mate, your friends or your family members but aren’t sure how to get them to open up? Opening up and sharing personal thoughts and beliefs can be the foundation for stronger more substantial and meaningful relationships. These fifty-plus questions are perfect for starting quality conversations and you need not feel as though you are prying because psychologists have confirmed that people love talking about themselves! So use these questions to help you to get to know anyone better; even yourself!

Electrifying the Land Transportation Sector: a Golden Opportunity for Belize
Belize may be somewhat far from having electric trams and buses for mass transportation; however, Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electrics Vehicles (PiHEVs) that are making waves in first world countries, can be in the near future. Belize, in fact, can be the leader in the Caribbean and Central America by making decisions which will compliment recent moves, such as its recent ban on off shore oil exploration passed in the house of representative and joining the ten-island challenge, which seeks to identify technical and commercial solutions that can facilitate low-carbon use in the Caribbean. The Government of Belize under the Barrow administration agreed to both initiatives in 2015.

Letter to Sedi Elrington
My Competent Area Rep: I pray that the New Year brings you, your family, the Jewel and every Belizean the very best! I congratulate you; the PUPs cannot compare! A simple word stupefied Mose. Dodo Cordel was wrong to use baby vouchers. With X it was denying Sep 10, 1798. Price was tricked by Guatemala. Believe me, the British and Hero Goldson were NOT wrong to choose the ICJ over bullets. When it comes to your work in the Pickstock Division, the Samuel Haynes Institute of Excellence is a shining star on the Southside! No ugly, rusty zinc fence. Gardening, Landscaping, Pantry Program, Community Kitchen, Tuck Shop, Sewing, Cabinetry, Driving School, Evening School, Music Program, Sporting…are just some of the excellent activities available to the citizens in our division and indeed the City/Country! Again, congratulations! You prove by your brave, bold actions that you love Belize and Belizeans!

WORDS OF LIFE with Barry Fraser
In his letter to the Philippians Chapter 2, verses 12 and 13, the Apostle Paul wrote: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” It is also written in James 1:22: “Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving (fooling) yourselves.” James was teaching that anytime we choose to disobey, we miss out on knowing the truth.

Breaking Belize News

Belize Defence Force to celebrate 40th anniversary
The Belize Defence Force (BDF) will hold official ceremonies to celebrate its 40th anniversary on […]

One dead in Belize City shooting
BBN has received reports about a shooting incident that left a man dead in Belize […]

$20 million contract signed for rehabilitation of stretch of George Price highway
The Government of Belize, through the Ministry of works, signed a contract yesterday, with Tiechroeb […]

Police release details of decomposed body found in Hummingbird Highway
Police have released details about a body found yesterday morning. The body was found lying […]

Thomas Henry shot and killed in Roaring Creek
On Tuesday night, just before midnight, a man was shot and killed inside his home in Roaring […]

Blogs

A Guide To Grocery Stores and Shopping on Ambergris Caye
Going grocery store shopping will be a part of your trip to Belize whether you are renting a home for a long stay or spending a week at a resort. Even the traveler who packs fastidiously will need to pop into the local shop for a forgotten item. It’s not difficult. We speak English…that’s good. And the conversion rate is a super simple $2bzd = $1USD…. But shopping in Belize isn’t as straight forward as you might think – especially if you are used to a large all-in-one mega-marts. Here are a handful of tips and guidelines that should make things easy.

2018 PLACENCIA SIDEWALK ART FESTIVAL 2018
Save the date!! February 10th and 11th 2018, Placencia BTIA 15th Annual Sidewalk Art Festival!!!We still have a couple more booth spaces available for those interested in being apart of this year's Art Festival. For more info please feel free to contact us at 523-4045 or send us an email to [email protected].

Chamoyada now open in Corozal
Chamoyada is a sweet and spicy type of shaved ice, or raspado or Mango sorbet, prepared with chamoy. It is a part of Mexican cuisine, and is also common in regions of the United States with significant Mexican-American populations. The drink is usually sweetened with mangoes or apricots. It is essentially a combination of chamoy sauce, shaved ice, chili powder, and fruit chunks. In certain variations, a whole fruit popsicle, or paleta, is added to the drink and mixed with the shaved ice. The drinking straws served with chamoyadas also often have tamarind candy on the outside. 16 days ago, a Brand New Business was open in Corozal, that sells Chamoyadas. Yes, Chamoyadas!. A Mexican woman and a Corozaleno man Business owner Opened their business to sell Chamoyadas, frappes, Nachos and diablitos drinks. The name of the Business is called "Freppas, diablitos, chamoyadas, licuados". They are located in front of the Bus Terminal. The cups are 5$ and 6$Bz for one cup.

International Sources

Plastic waste associated with disease on coral reefs
Coral reefs provide vital fisheries and coastal defense, and they urgently need protection from the damaging effects of plastic waste. Lamb et al. surveyed 159 coral reefs in the Asia-Pacific region. Billions of plastic items were entangled in the reefs. The more spikey the coral species, the more likely they were to snag plastic. Disease likelihood increased 20-fold once a coral was draped in plastic. Plastic debris stresses coral through light deprivation, toxin release, and anoxia, giving pathogens a foothold for invasion.

Seven-country initiative launched to support management of four-wing flyingfish
Seven Caribbean countries are participating in a recently launched series of subprojects which the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) is leading under a sustainable management initiative for the flyingfish fishery. In highlighting the importance of the initiative, CRFM executive director, Milton Haughton, said: “We in the region are utilizing a common space and common living marine resource; therefore, we need to cooperatively manage these common interests. One of these common interests is the flyingfish fishery, and the governance framework developed for the flyingfish fishery could be scaled up and applied to other fisheries in the region.”

You Haven't Had Chocolate Until You've Made It Like the Mayans
When you grind your own chocolate, you’ve earned every bite. At least that’s my perspective after a day learning to make chocolate like the ancient Mayans did in the rural Toledo District of Belize. Belize was one of the hubs of ancient Mayan civilization, and it was the Mayans who first discovered cacao, a sacred flavor once reserved for nobility and soldiers. Through trade, it was introduced to Europe, where milk and sugar were added to create chocolate as we know it today. Ixcacao Maya Belizean Chocolate is the oldest Belizean-owned chocolatier and the only one that also grows its own cacao. “I was born to a couple of Mayan cacao farmers,” owner Juan Cho tells me. “I grew up eating 100 percent pure chocolate, and my great-grandfather lived to be 115 years old, without a doubt thanks to cacao’s health benefits.” Ixcacao is named for the Mayan goddess of chocolate — yes, the Mayans valued chocolate so much they worshipped a chocolate goddess.

Videos

January 25, 2018

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

Three persons detained following Jimell Paul Jex’s murder in San Pedro; Dion Neal survives attack
Police have detained three persons and are looking for two additional suspects in connection with the brazen shooting on Tuesday, January 23rd that left Jimell Paul Jex dead and his cousin Dion Neal injured. Jex was fatally shot in the head, while Neal received a gunshot to his lower back. The incident occurred at the entrance of the San Pedrito Subdivision. Neal, who survived the attack, was treated for his injuries at the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II. As police continue to investigate, they attribute the shooting to an ongoing gang rivalry on the island. Reports are that Jex had recently moved to the San Pedrito Area and was trying to control the drug business in that subdivision. According to one source, this latest murder is part of a chain of murders that started with the killing of 30-year-old Jason Gillett in October of 2016. The next on the list was 44-year old Antonio Pagoada, who was murdered that same month. A year later in August of 2017 24-year-old Scott Charles was gunned down at his home in the Elliot Subdivision. Later that month, 34- year-old Armando Lopez was shot and killed in broad daylight in downtown San Pedro. The source added that the last murder related to this chain of incidents was the execution of 18-year-old Christian Contreras on Laguna Drive in October of 2017. It was revealed that one side of the gang rivalry happening on the island brought hitmen from Belize City to get rid of anyone close to Jex or Gillett. Other residents also added that they had known Jex for a long time and that even though he had a bad past, he was trying to change.

William Godoy remanded for Alfredo Cowo’s murder; family and friends claim he is innocent
33-year-old San Pedro resident William Godoy was arraigned for Alfredo Cowo’s murder on Monday, January 22nd at the San Pedro Magistrate Court. No plea was taken, and due to the nature of the offense, bail was denied. Godoy was then remanded to the Belize Central Prison until his next court date on April 13, 2018, for a disclosure. His family, along with many island residents, are shocked and disappointed with the outcome of the situation as they strongly deny the accusations against Godoy. They are confident that their relative and friend is innocent of the murder charge and that there may be a plot to wrongfully accuse him.

Comedy and Music – Reef Radio hosts talented Mexican duo in San Pedro
Another spectacular comedy show, courtesy of Reef Radio and Reef TV, was held on Saturday, January 20th at the Paradise Theatre. Featuring Mexican performers Humberto Casanova and Rafael Suarez, the show delighted a large audience with their musical interpretations of Mexico’s king of the Ranchera genre, Vicente Fernandez as well as the late Juan Gabriel. Despite the inclement weather, island residents made their way to the show for a fun evening. The event, which began shortly after 9PM, also included a three-member band who accompanied the performers. Casanova’s initial performance included a line-up of different ballad singers from the 70’s and 80’s. Many in the audience traveled back in time singing to songs of Camilo Sesto, Jose Jose, and even Jose Jimenez. Casanova’s presentation also included a bit of comedy in between his singing, drawing loud applause and laughter from the audience.

Ambergris Today

Latest Murder In San Pedro Raises Concerns
Three murders in only the first month of the year. It seems that crime is plaguing La Isla Bonita and it's raising some concerns. Is this the island we fondly remember? Is the San Pedro Police Department doing enough to combat crime? Is the Town Council taking proper measures to secure the safety of the island? Will Government do enough to assist Ambergris Caye, the number one tourist destination in the country? These are the questions island residents and visitors are asking? There is reason for concern; and although crime may not be out of hand yet, it's the right time to start taking strong measures. The latest murder on the island took place yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, January 23, 2018, shortly after 5pm at the entrance of the San Pedrito Area where one person was fatally shot on the head and the other was injured.

Misc Belizean Sources

VOTE LIKE A BOSS CAMPAIGN
The CARICOM Youth Ambassadors and the National Youth Council of Belize having recognized the valuable role of youth in Belize and the efforts for active youth participation in civic engagement, hereby launch the VOTE LIKE A BOSS Campaign. The VOTE LIKE A BOSS campaign is a mechanism to encourage youth participation in civic engagement through the electoral process. Young people ages 15-29 are being encouraged to participate in the campaign by taking the online survey. This survey is a non-partisan initiative with the main objective to gather the opinions of young Belizeans on the issues and areas of concerns that they would like addressed by municipalities. The responses will be used to guide discussions with respective candidates for Municipal elections on their commitment to youth and community development.

Gateway Retreat's Open House!
Feb. 4th, Xaibe. Join us for the day and enjoy the beauty and serenity of this wonderful site.

Three job vacancies at LOLY'S CO. LTD. Corozal Free Zone
Vacancy exists for a hardworking warehouse keeper and sales clerk with experience. Also a vacancy for an experience cashier. Must be bilingual (English/Spanish). Bring along two letters of recommendation, one from previous employment. Must have at least one year experience. Minimum qualification is a high school diploma. Apply in person on the 26th of January, 2018 at Loly's Co. Ltd Corozal Free Zone.

Teaching our Youth about Wildlife Protection
Illegal wildlife trafficking poses a serious threat to the survival of many species particularly birds. FCD’s environmental educator promotes wildlife protection among school students.

Human Jaguar Conflict Officer
Jaguars help keep Belize’s forest ecosystem balanced. We can all contribute to the co-existence of jaguars and people in Belize. Help preserve them for our future generations. If you have a problem with a jaguar at your farm in the Toledo District, contact our Human Jaguar Conflict Officer Marchilio Ack at 669-0919. We will visit your farm; provide you with guidance and technical assistance. For the rest of the country, contact Jaguar Officer Shanelly Carillo (Belize Forest Department) at 664-4550. If you see illegal activities being conducted with jaguars or any other wildlife report it to the Belize Forest Department. Be the voice, See Something Say Something!

Maya Leaders Request Gruesome Images to be Removed from Social Media
Not all Belizeans are aware that there are responsibilities attached to social media use. In other countries, potential employers monitor social media activity. Social media identified members of the KKK who participated in a hate march in the USA. Social media use has consequences as it is a way to bully people. Juan Luis Lagunas Rosales, better known as “The Pirate of Culiacán,” was just 17 and was a Youtube star and he was killed in December 2017 after insulting a drug lord in Mexico. Social media courses are offered at top Universities. It is a tool used by international news organizations to gather information at the time of disasters and events to correlate facts. By using data, news organizations can pinpoint photos and videos at the time of an accident, flood or hurricane on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Social Media is used to sell products, gather intelligence, and promote community development campaigns.

Ministry of Agriculture and Potato Producers Meet to Verify Estimated Production Figures
The Ministry of Agriculture convened a meeting today at the Agriculture Show Grounds Conference Room in Belmopan, where potato producers and importers gathered to verify potato production figures and estimated harvest dates. Producers representing small, medium and large farms from production areas countrywide attended the meeting. The discussion opened with a presentation and verification of the amount of potato in production by districts. The breakdown is as follows: a. Cayo District representing the highest production with a total of 2.8 million lbs, followed by Corozal with 588,000 lbs b. Orange Walk with a total of 286,000 lbs and Stann Creek producing a total 45,000 lbs

Government endorses use of Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART)
The Government of Belize today, January 24, officially endorsed the use of the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART). The SMART technology is already being used by several government and non-governmental organizations. SMART is the world's leading tool for conservation law enforcement monitoring. The software and training materials both extend and simplify existing technologies for monitoring efforts to tackle poaching and other illegal activities, making those technologies more effective, efficient and user-friendly.

Rehabilitation of a Portion of the George Price Highway
he Government of Belize, through the Ministry of works, signed a contract today, January 24, with Tiechroeb and Sons Ltd., in the amount of BZ$20,540,823.19, to carry out the rehabilitation works for Section II of the George Price Highway. The George Price Highway Rehabilitation Project will substantially improve road connectivity within Belize’s main districts through the upgrading of road infrastructure between Belmopan and Santa Elena. Section I of the project includes the replacement of the Roaring Creek Bridge, while Section II of the project involves rehabilitation of 15.335 km commencing at Roaring Creek Village to Blackman Eddie Village, Cayo District. The scope of the rehabilitation work includes horizontal and vertical realignment of the roadway to meet international safety standards, as well as the upgrading of drainage and construction of runoff channels to improve climate resilience of the road.

Water problems in Big Falls
The Department of Rural Development and the Big Falls Water Board, hereby informs residents of Big Falls, Toledo District that we are currently experiencing mechanical problems, therefore there is limited water supply. The Departments’ personnel have been deployed and are working towards having water restored.

Do you love Chamoyadas?
Here is a sneak peak of Chamoyadas in Corozal District To all Corozaleños here is a new thing to try in town. Do you know where it is? More information coming soon.

SACD OFFERING A GREAT OPPORTUNITY: - Are you from Sarteneja, Chunox or Copperbank Village?
Are you interested in learning about the local environment? Do you want to learn new skills and build your experience? Do you want to actively contribute to management efforts in Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary? Then become SACD's community researcher! Apply Now! Limited Spaces Available-dateline Friday, 2nd February 2018!

Lunar Rising Art Exhibit
The Wildfire Artzmosphere is launching the Lunar Rising art exhibt this Saturday at 7:00pm. They'll have chocolate and sangria, along with other treats. "Join us this Saturday. Meet the Artist and celebrate art, the lunar new year and listen to great music. 7pm! Come check out the extensive collection that includes portraits, nudes and still life paintings. We will serve sangria and other treats."

Exhibition on "Rastafari: Roots & Culture"
The San Pedro House of Culture in collaboration with Errol Gibson will showcase an exhibition on "Rastafari: Roots & Culture." Opening of the exhibition will be on Feb 1st at 4pm. The exhibition will be on exhibit from Feb. 1st to February 6th. One Love...Nuff Respect.

Reserves closed today
The Institute of Archaeology, National Institute of Culture and History would like to advise all Tour Operators, Hoteliers, Tour Guides and members of the General Public that as of 06 AM THURSDAY January 25, 2018: The NOHOCH CHE'EN, BARTON CREEK and ACTUN TUNICHIL MUKNAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES are all CLOSED due to rise in water levels.

Blue Moon & Eclipse Jan 31
There will be a blue moon on January 31st. Whenever there are 2 full moons in one calendar month, the second moon is known as a blue moon. This month, the blue moon will be accompanied by a lunar eclipse!

Channel 7

Father of Three Killed in Roaring Creek
4 persons were murdered and 4 others shot in the Belize and Cayo Districts between 5:00 and 10:30 pm yesterday. A deadly five and half hours, and we begin in Roaring Creek where 3 kids are without a father tonight after a late night murder in that village. Around 10:20, 31 year old Thomas Henry was asleep with his girlfriend, Kimberly Smith and their 3 kids in their Another World home. Smith's brother went to visit her but he was followed by two other un-welcomed visitors to the house. These armed men didn't execute their target - instead, they killed Henry. Courtney Weatherburne has more on this chilling killing.

Capital Cops About To Charge Alleged Killer
And Belmopan police are moving with characteristic quickness in this case. We are told tonight that they have two persons detained and could bring charges as early as tomorrow. But police still need all the help they can get from the public. Here is more from the police press briefing. ACP Joseph Myvette, OC. - NCIB: "Police have since launched intensive investigation and operations in the Roaring Creek area which have resulting in the detention of 2 persons pending this investigation. We also want to take this opportunity to appeal to the general public that if they may have any information relating this case that such information relayed to the police in order to assist us in our investigation of this matter."

San Pedro Killing Gang Related
And yesterday's killing spree started at 5:20 pm in San Pedro. That's when 32 year old Paul Jex and his cousin Dion Neal were gunned down in San Pedro. We found out more about the island's second murder in one week. Sahar Vasquez reporting: One week after San Pedro's first murder of the year another one was added to the list yesterday. After a long day of court hearings Paul Jex and his cousin, Deon Neal were walking on Crocodile Street - not far from the airstrip - when they were gunned down right here. Neal survived but Jex didn't - police processed the scene, covering his body on the ground in this tourist town.

Double Murder In Ladyville
And the biggest murder story is the one coming out of Ladyville. That's where two men were murdered and two other persons shot in a long simmering rivalry. Daniel Ortiz has been following that story last night and he found out that it could be retaliation - and that there could be aftershocks because the rivals live less than half a mile from each other: Daniel Ortiz reporting: Last night, Marage Road, a main street in Ladyville, was shut down for hours because it was once again the scene of a murder. Residents who needed to use it to get home were stuck behind police caution tape while police investigators scanned the crime scene in the dark. This time, it was a double murder: 24 year-old Casey Lozano and 25 year-old Marlon Spain.

Cops Try To Contain Retaliations
And the eruption of violence in the Belize and Cayo Districts caused the police to call a mid-week press conference. No doubt under pressure from a 2017 that saw what our numbers show is a record number of murders, Police Commissioner Allen Whylie said that his officers are doing all they can to contain retaliations: Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police: "Today is a very somber occasion. Regrettably, I need to inform you that yesterday we had three different shooting incidents across the country which resulted in the deaths of four individuals and also four other persons were injured as a result of those three incidents. We had an incident in San Pedro where two persons were shot yesterday evening. We also had an incident last night in Ladyville where again four persons were shot, two succumbed to their injuries..."

Body Found in Dangriga Drain
A body was found on the outskirts of Dangriga town today, but police do not suspect foul play. The man was found dead in a drain with his bicycle - in an advanced state of decomposition. A post mortem conducted on - site today found no signs of foul play and certified cause of death to be undetermined. Police suspect that he most likely was intoxicated, fell into the drain and broke his neck. They don't believe he was knocked down because his bicycle had no damages. They say he was probably in the drain for two days without anyone noticing him. He was found at mile 3 on the Stann Creek Valley Road entering Dangriga town. The person was learnt to be Jose Romulo Cornejo 42 year old Salvadoran Farmer of Sarawee Village.

Nelson Henry, Free After Ex Cop Witness Refuses To Cooperate
Nelson Henry has gotten off a 2011 broad daylight murder in a trial without jury. The prosecution's case fell apart because the main witness - a former woman police constable was hostile and refused to cooperate with the prosecutor, Janelle Tillett. When the murder happened she gave police a statement saying it was Henry who opened fire on Edward Lord Jr., killing him on the spot. This morning, she took the stand for a second time, but every time a question was put to her, she said she did not remember. She denied ever giving her statement, ever signing a statement, and denied also that a signature seen on the statement was hers. Prosecutor Tillett then tried to make an application to get a dock identification of the accused, but Judge Lucas rejected that.

PSU Alleges PACT Firings, PACT Says Not
One week after the Protected Area Conservation Trust's embarked on an unusual and dramatic re-structuring - The Public Service Union has spoken up. As we told you - all the employees - who number fewer than 10 - were sent home on January 16th - and told to come back and accept or reject new terms of employment. Sounded to us like a downsizing and pay-cutting exercise, but the Ministry's CEO Percival Cho assured us it was not. But the PSU sent out a release today saying, quote, "despite assertions to the contrary by (the) CEO, the PSU has been reliably informed that staff members of PACT have been terminated as a direct result of an ongoing exercise," end quote. The release adds, quote, "the union has also learnt that the remaining staff were summoned to the office to sign contracts by the close of workday, yesterday…or to risk continued employment with the organization," end quote. The PSU also speaks about, quote, "shoddy and completely unlawful treatment of workers," and says that there was "coercion" to sign contracts.

Potato Producers, Importers And Ministry Meet
Last week we showed you how the farmers in San Carlos are preparing a bumper crop of potatoes - and hope they don't get squeezed out of the local market by imports and contraband. Well, the Ministry of Agriculture heard their cry and convened a meeting today in Belmopan with farmers and importers. The idea was to determine how many pounds of potatoes will be harvested and when, so that the Ministry can know how to manage the local supply to avoid shortages. Potato Producers representing small, medium and large farms from all across the country attended. First off, they verified production figures: the Cayo District has the highest production with a total of 2.8 million pounds, followed by Corozal with half a million pounds, and Orange Walk with a quarter million pounds. With Stann creek producing another 45,000 pounds, the total estimated domestic production for this year is 3.7 million pounds, with harvests starting in the first week of February.

Getting SMART With Harnessing Data
Spatial Monitoring Interactive Tool - "SMART" for short - is a groundbreaking tool for those in the marine and forestry department. It presents a more efficient and modern way to collected, shared, and analyze data. Today was the launching ceremony not just for the SMART technology but also for the Sustainable Forest Management and Fire Management Communication Strategies for the Forestry Department. We found out more at the launch of both programs today. Nicole Auil Gomez, Wildlife Conservation Society's Country Director: "Smart technology is actually a technology that is used around the world and it has been predominantly used in the terrestrial landscape looking at protected areas. It is heavily used in Africa for instance..."

An All Time-Low For Apex Predator
A few weeks ago we told you about the gruesome death of two jaguars. The senseless killings sparked outrage in many concerned Belizeans including the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, and the Environment. They sent out a release shortly after offered a ten thousand dollars reward to anyone who could lead them to the killers. According to Minister of State and Jaguar expert Omar Figueroa, they have gotten some leads but still haven't found the perpetrator. Hon. Dr. Omar Figueroa, Minister of State "I think for the most part the country was alarmed and outraged when they saw an iconic species like the Jaguar not only being killed but being decapitated. In my mind when I saw those pictures I was immediately concerned because I thought that perhaps there was an element here that was involved in trafficking jaguar parts..."

Will Cops Let Alcaldes Help In Toledo Double Murder?
At the top of the news, we brought you coverage of last night's 3 shootings in the Belize and Cayo Districts which left 4 persons dead and 4 persons injured. Police called an impromptu press conference to address the spike, and it also gave us an opportunity to ask them about their investigations into 3 cases of urgent national interest. We start first with police's comments on the Toledo double murders of the sisters, Josephina and Crecencia Oh. We told you how the Toledo Alcaldes Association has offered to help the cops investigate the case, realizing that the remoteness of the location could prove difficult. When the press asked the Head of the National Criminal Investigations Branch about possible updates, he said that they are still investigating:

More Charges For Mexican Scammers?
Police also discussed their ongoing case against the 3 Mexicans who have been charged with theft from Atlantic Bank. Police believe that from November up to last week, Leonel Isaac Rodriguez Peralta, Joscan Jafet Hernandez, and Belen Hernandez had been visiting Atlantic Bank ATM's in the Corozal, Orange Walk, Belize and Cayo Districts and that they withdrew huge sums of money with over 60 international credit cards which are all believed to be stolen. But, they've only been charged with theft of a thousand dollars, when the cops have reason to believe that they stole in the vicinity of a Hundred Thousand dollars from the bank. Today, police say that they are working with the bank, and if they are able to, additional charges will be brought against the trio:

Police Still Mum On Planted Gun Theory
We also asked the Police head table about their internal investigation into the controversial shooting of PG resident Mario Vernon the Third. Now, as you will remember, the initial police version on the case was that Police Constable Tevin Aranda, who is facing a manslaughter charge, had to shoot Vernon because he was armed. A weapon was found on the scene, but Vernon's family and friends insist that it was planted in an attempt to justify the deadly use of force. So, we asked the head of NCIB about it, and his response was brief: Reporter: "The account was that this gentleman Mr. Mario Vernon had a weapon on him, that's an element that the family disputes strenuously and so we are trying to find out if your investigators handling the case had been able to determine if that is indeed factual or fiction?"

Fisherman To Jail For Outstanding Fines
All the time on the news we report on fishermen who have been caught with out of season or undersized conch and lobster. And, invariably they are made to pay a fine and go about their business. But, tonight, one of them is in jail - and that's because he got fined today - but already had a large pending fine which he hadn't paid. Trial Farm resident, 37-year-old Samir Dario Rodriguez is the third Fisherman in the history of the court record to go to jail on Fisheries offenses. Rodriguez already owed the court $13,260 dollars and was today read two more Fisheries offenses when he appeared before Chief Magistrate, Sharon Fraser. On December 21, 2017 he was found in possession of 61 undersized conch and 35 undersized lobster.

Major Upgrade For Western Highway From Belmopan To Blackman
The Government today signed a multi-million dollar contract to pave 10 miles of the George Price Highway from Roaring Creek to Blackman Eddie. Minister of Works, Rene Montero had details at the signing: Hon. Rene Montero, Minister of Works: "Section 2 commences just a few meters before the gas station in Roaring Creek Village and goes about 100 meters pass the community center in Blackman Eddy Village. This contract is being signed between the Ministry of Works and Ticrobs and Sons Limited in the amount of $20,540,823.19. It is expected that this project will create over 100 jobs and it will commence immediately and will take approximately 18 months for completion." This is section 2 of the project. Section I includes the replacement of the Roaring Creek Bridge.

Ann-Marie Leaves NWC for Major Regional Post
She pioneered the post as the first Executive Director of the National Women's Commission - but now Ann-Marie Williams is moving on. The expert in gender issues has gotten a major regional job. She resigned at the end of last month and as she finishes up at the Commission she told us what she's doing next:... Anne Marie Williams: "I have been appointed the deputy program manager for gender and development at the CARICOM Secretariat- so taking a regional perspective on gender and development. I am humbled, it is an extreme honor, I never really thought it would happen truly but it is something that I always wanted. It is really difficult to say goodbye to Belize for a while because as you know I am very rooted in my community and the National Women's Committee is very dear to me. This is big for Belize. I can't see myself being there and Belize is not figured prominently."

Channel 5

4 Murders in 5 Hours: Paul Jex, Once Accused, Now Deceased
The overnight carnage began in San Pedro and within a span of five hours, four persons were murdered and four injured in the madness making Tuesday night, one of the [...]

In Ladyville, 2 Shot Dead; 2 More Injured
Within hours of the execution of Paul Jex, a double murder around seven p.m. rocked the Ladyville community. Casey Lozano and Marlon Spain were gunned down on Marage Road in [...]

Intended Target Speaks as Couple Shot in Roaring Creek; Thomas Henry Succumbs
The fourth murder on Tuesday night occurred in Roaring Creek Village at about ten-thirty. Thomas Henry was gunned down inside his house less than a month after relocating to the [...]

Police Detain 2 after Incident
Just now you heard about the tragic killing of Thomas Henry in Roaring Creek Village. He was murdered in the presence of his common-law-wife and their three children. The family [...]

Body Found Decomposing in Dangriga
An unidentified body, reportedly in an advanced state of decomposition, was discovered in Dangriga earlier today.  News Five understands that the corpse was found in an area off the highway [...]

Police Activate Mediation; Need Your Help in Investigation
This morning, prior to the press brief at the Raccoon Street Police Station in Belize City, the top brass of the police department including, ACP Chester Williams, the Commissioner of [...]

Murder Count Rising; Police Awaken to Meet the Challenge
It’s only twenty-four days into the New Year and already there are ten murders; two are double murders and that number does not including the shooting death of Mario Vernon [...]

At Senate, Opposition Demands Answers on Hurricane Earl Spending
There was a single bill brought from the House of Representatives for passage through today’s meeting of the Senate, the first for 2018. The General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation 2016-2017 Bill [...]

G.O.B. Senators: Much Ado About Nothing
Senator Courtenay requested that Financial Secretary Joseph Waight be called into the Committee of the whole Senate after debate on the second reading of the Bill, which he was. But [...]

Lead Government Senator Says Quality is Key
Wrapping up the debate, Senate leader of government business Godwin Hulse conceded that the bill was perhaps out of time, but he pointed out that there are other means of [...]

Nelson Henry Walks from Murder Charge; Witness Recants on Stand
Six and a half years after the execution of Edward Lord, Junior on Mahogany Street, murder accused twenty-eight year old Nelson Henry was today found not guilty by Supreme Court [...]

Police Investigate Extent of 3-Month, 4-District Bank Theft Spree
Three Mexican nationals are behind bars at the Hattieville prison for scamming the Atlantic Bank of more than a hundred thousand dollars.  The three residents from Cancun, including a couple, [...]

Mario Verno