Recent Belize News
7/11/2020 to 7/20/2020
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Today's Belize News

July 20, 2020


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, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.


The San Pedro Sun

Ministry of Health reviews safety protocols at PGIA following recent repatriation flights
Belize has been putting to test their health safety measures at the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) ahead of its official re-opening on August 15th. That was the case on Friday, July 17th, when another repatriation flight via United Airlines touched down at the PGIA with 60 passengers, from whom samples to test for COVID-19 were collected. pgia safety protocolsThe measures, which include collection of samples from all passengers for eventual transportation to the Central Medical Laboratory to test for COVID-19, were reviewed by personnel of the Ministry of Health (MOH). There were 11 staff members on-site comprised of nurses, medical officers, and public health officers.

Various Belizean Sources

mzz

Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen day Location
Monday, July 20th, Meal pick ups. Location: Belize Diving Services Ltd. Times: Village: 11:00am - 11:45am. Bahia: 11:45am -12:30pm.

2 Dead and 3 more injured during Shooting Incident
On Sunday, July 19th,2020, at about 12:40 a.m., Police responded to a report about a shooting incident at CK Bar in San Ignacio Town. A group of persons were seated inside a car and others were standing near the vehicle when two men approached and began shooting them. Samuel Hill, a 22-year-old, a taxi-driver of Esperanza Village and Windell Trapp, a 29-year-old of the Santiago Juan Layout were murdered. Three other persons: Marquees Robateau, 19-years-old; Telesha Mckay, 29-years old, of Esperanza Village and Danny Jimenez, a Police Officer, received gunshot injuries and they remain in a stable condition.

Generous contribution of Fundación Probitas
As #COVID19 continues to impact the lives of children and their families, 840 masks, 200,000 gloves and other protective equipment such as biohazard bags and goggles have arrived in Belize thanks to the generous contribution of Fundación Probitas and donors who contributed to the UNICEF Humanitarian Fund. This will support the Ministry of Health Belize in the COVID19 response and protect hundreds of healthcare workers across the country, helping them to save lives.

Hope Haven Receives Contribution
We are so thankful to receive @Grand Caribe's Deep Sea Classic annual contribution! This year the event was another success that drew anglers from all over Belize to the shores of Grand Caribe Belize. Thank you to the organizers and their teams for always thinking of us. Their contribution of $5,800BZD will be used to send the children currently living at Hope Haven's Children Shelter to school for this year.

The Belize Audubon Society gave away 300 mahogany trees
Now in its 10th year, Greening Across Belize celebrates Earth Day by providing free trees to Belizeans to plant at their homes across the country. This year, we gave away 300 mahogany trees from our head office in Belize City, Guanacaste National Park and St Herman's Blue Hole National Park. These are a few of the happy new tree owners collecting their saplings!

“Forest Protectors” Workshop
Over the last three days 20 youths from buffering communities of St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park, (Armenia , Ringtail and St Margaret’s villages) participated in a fun and educational workshop entitled “Forest Protectors”. During the three days, the young participants learnt about the work of BAS and it’s programmes, particularly the Biodiversity Research and Monitoring Programme. They were exposed to monitoring protocols and field demonstrations led by staff and local experts. The workshop was done at the National Park and neighbouring Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch Botanical Garden, allowing participants to experience first hand the biodiversity research and monitoring work though birdwatching, plant identification, mammal monitoring and bird banding.

Channel 5

Double Murder in Cayo
Two persons are dead and two others are at the hospital after they were shot at around three o’clock this morning in San Ignacio Town. News Five has learned that Samuel Hill, Windel Trapp, Danny Jimenez and Marques Robateau were near Macal Park when they came under heavy gunfire. Hill and Trapp died while Jimenez and Marque are at the hospital receiving treatment.

Murder in Ladyville
Egbert Baldwin was fatally shot last night in Ladyville. Baldwin was in Jackson Avenue when the gunman pounced, fatally shooting Baldwin.  Egbert Baldwin walked free of a murder charge last week after Justice Colin Williams agreed with a submission made by Defense Attorney, Oscar Selgado that the Crown had not proven its case against his client.

Breaking Belize NewsPJ

Constable shot in Cayo stable in hospital, gets visit from Commissioner of Police
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams personally confirmed that officer Danny Jimenez is stable in the […]

Two dead and popular footballer, Danny Jimenez, hospitalized after shooting in Cayo
A shooting outside the Macal River Park in San Ignacio last night has claimed the […]

Four armed men rush into house, only take a cell phone
A 26-year-old woman from the Maya Mopan area of Belmopan managed to survive an aggravated […]

One dead, one injured in Ladyville shooting
A man is dead and another injured following a shooting in Ladyville last night. Reports […]

Blogs

The Little Known ‘Big Hat’: Nim Li Punit in Toledo
The ancient people who lived in the Nim Li Punit Maya site took advantage of a convenient location between the mountains and the sea. This allowed for a healthy trade between inhabitants of the city and communities around them. Nim Li Punit people grew cacao and corn crops among many others. A wide variety of stones like obsidian and jadeite have been found at the site as well as ceramics and shells from the sea. This ruin site is one of the lesser-known ones in Belize, but it’s worth the trip for the fascinating history and beautiful view of the Caribbean on a clear day.

7 Hidden Adventures in the Belizean Rainforest: Bocawina National Park
Easily reached from Hopkins or Dangriga, the 11-sq-mile Mayflower Bocawina National Park offers high-adrenaline adventure activities or old-fashioned jungle hiking to mountains, waterfalls, swimming holes and small Maya sites. Besides, it’s remote enough that you might find yourself alone (apart from the wildlife) on some spectacular hiking trails. An experienced local guide can teach you about the diverse plant and animal species you will see. There are both challenging hikes, such as the popular one to the top of Antelope Falls, and easier ones such as the trail to Bocawina Falls. In either case, make sure to bring your bathing suit so you can refresh yourself in one of the waterfall pools afterwards.

The Ultimate Belizean Bake: Maya Chocolate Cake
Did you know that some of the best chocolate in the world originates in Belize? History shows the ancient Maya were the first to discover chocolate. Further evidences suggest the Mayans had chocolate at every meal, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And whilst we wish, this was still the case for us in modern day, we still know that everyone likes a sweet treat. So we are sharing one of our favorite bakes from the Flavors of Belize cookbook: Maya Chocolate Cake. Whether you are celebrating a special occasion, having a few friends over, or just in the mood to bake, this recipe will have everyone complimenting your cooking skills!

International Sourcesizz

Cubans celebrate no local transmission of COVID-19 for first time in four months
Cuba for the first time in 130 days on Sunday said there were no new domestic cases of COVID-19 as most of the country moved into the final phase of resuming normal activities with masks and social distancing. Francisco Duran, head of epidemiology at the Ministry of Public Health, and who has updated the country daily on the pandemic, took off his mask during the national broadcast for only the second time deliver the good news. Duran, on Saturday did the same, reporting just a single domestic case in Havana.

Mexico prepares for the arrival of a swarm of locusts that could destroy crops
As though the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t been challenging enough to Mexico, now comes a new threat that worries authorities and citizens: a large swarm of locusts moves over Belize and could be heading towards the southeast of Mexico in the next few days. This was explained Friday by the Plant Health Committee of Quintana Roo (Cesaveqroo), according to information from the newspaper El Financiero. The agency detailed that the pest could devour up to 400 plant species, and destroy crops of corn, beans, rice, soybeans, peanuts, sugar cane, chili, tomato, citrus, banana, coconut, and grassland, among others.

The Caribbean is Re-Opening and Welcoming
With more than three months after tourism ground to a standstill due to COVID-19, the Caribbean is opening and beginning to welcome visitors again. As of July 17th, here is a list of hotels and attractions in the Caribbean that are re-opening courtesy of the Caribbean Tourism Organization:

Bahamas closes borders to U.S. tourists after COVID-19 cases spike; others still welcome
Less than three weeks after reopening its borders to international visitors, the Bahamas on Sunday announced that it is closing all of its airports and seaports to tourists from the United States, effective Wednesday. Bahamasair, the country’s national carrier, will cease all outgoing flights to the United States immediately, Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said in a national address Sunday. Outgoing commercial flights will still be permitted to accommodate visitors scheduled to leave the Bahamas after Wednesday, he said. Visitors from Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union will still be permitted to visit as long as they can show proof of a negative COVID-19 RT PCR test from an accredited laboratory taken within 10 days of their arrival.

Videos

  • Coolies: How Britain Reinvented Slavery, 8min. The slave trade was officially abolished throughout the British Empire in 1807. This documentary reveals one of Britain’s darkest secrets: a form of slavery that continued well into the 20th century – the story of Indian indentured labour. “Coolies: How Britain Reinvented Slavery” tells the astonishing and controversial story of the systematic recruitment and migration of over a million Indians to all corners of the Empire. It is a chapter in colonial history that implicates figures at the very highest level of the British establishment and has defined the demographic shape of the modern world. Combining archive footage and historical evidence the programme includes interviews with Gandhi’s great-grandaughter, Uma Dhupelia-Mesthrie, about Gandhi’s campaign to end indentured labour and David Dabydeen – author and academic – whose great-grandfather was an indentured labourer in British Guyana.

  • Wesley College Class of 2020 - A Virtual Celebration, 96min.

  • Wesley Junior College Class of 2020 - A Virtual Celebration, 77min.

  • Belize's Culture Awaits!, .5min.

  • Belize Awaits...We'll see you soon!, .5min.

  • Jazz Festival: Mr. Jordan Can won with his piano solo, 5min.

  • RIP RAYFOR ANDERSON of San Antonio Village, 19min. Found hanging in his jail cell, Rayfor Roy Anderson's life was not perfect although he was known by his bright smile. No one know how he was feeling inside. Whether he took his own life or something else happened is now in question and as Corozal police says... "It's under investigation"

  • Belize - The Silk Cayes, 3.5min. Yesterday we decided to go along with one of my favourite dive buddies. PADI WOMENS DIVE DAY.

    July 19, 2020


    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, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.


    The San Pedro Sun

    Ambassador Nestor Mendez Assumes Second Term as Assistant Secretary General of the OAS
    On July 17th, during a virtual meeting of the Permanent Council, Ambassador Nestor Mendez assumed his second term in office as the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) for the period 2020-2025. Ambassador Mendez was reelected by acclamation at the Organization's 54th Special General Assembly on March 20, 2020.

    CABEI Donates COVID-19 Sample Collection Kits and RNA Extraction Kits to Belize
    In response to the request issued by the Presidents of Central American Integration System (SICA) countries at a meeting convened on March 12, 2020, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) authorized an emergency aid in favor of the Member States of the SICA, under a Non-Refundable Financial Cooperation modality, to complement national efforts for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19.

    New Chairman Sworn-in for the Elections and Boundaries Commission
    On July 17, 2020 at the Belize House in Belmopan, Mr. Estevan Perera was sworn-in as the new Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission by the Governor General H.E. Sir Colville Young.

    Belize’s plan to face COVID-19 after PGIA opens as cases increase in nearby Mexico, Guatemala and the USA
    An increase in COVID-19 cases in surrounding countries and the USA has Belizeans questioning the plans in place by its health authorities. When it comes to beds and medical resources to treat a wave of COVID-19, no clear indications have been provided by government as to where the country stands on such an important detail.

    Ambergris Today

    Belize Specialist Clinic Clarifies Inaccurate And Misleading Statements
    Belize Specialist Clinic/Belize Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Center Limited would like to take this opportunity to again offer our most sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Pastor Jose Cal. We recognize that during these moments of such loss, some grieve differently than others and we do not aim to judge the reactions of those most affected. We would like to clarify misstatements that were made against our medical institution via shared social media postings that several media houses made. It is most unfortunate that some of the family members have taken such a negative stance against us when our team put forth the utmost and sincerest efforts to save their loved one’s life. We understand it comes from a painful place, but such negative remarks and false accusations have in turn caused irreparable damage to our professional reputation.

    Various Belizean Sources

    mzz

    Virtual Exhibition on the Origin of the name Ambergris Caye
    Ever wondered how our island got its name? Join us to a Virtual Exhibition on the Origin of the name Ambergris Caye. by the San Pedro House of Culture.

    Volunteer at the Belize Red Cross - San Pedro
    The Belize Red Cross San Pedro branch is extending a warm invitation for those who would like to be a part of our volunteer team!

    Dr. Marvin Manzanero does a walk-through at the Phillip Goldson International Airport
    Yesterday the Director of Health Services, Dr. Marvin Manzanero along with Management staff from Central Health Region did an initial walk-through at the Phillip Goldson International Airport with guidance from the Belize Airport Concession Company Limited. They continue to review processes that will be implemented as the airport prepares for the official reopening on August 15th, 2020. They thanked the health staff who worked hard and long hours on the ground to safeguard the health of arriving passengers, themselves and the country.

    Grand Caribe's 4th Annual Fishing Tournament
    Day 2 updates! We have an angler reporting a catch and release Blue Marlin!

    WILDTRACKS Save the Manatee Club Amazon Wishlist ARRIVES!
    A huge THANK YOU to Save the Manatee Club and its members for your donations to the Save the Manatee Club Amazon Wishlist... The Save the Manatee Club shipment has arrived - one of our favourite moments of the year! Save the Manatee Club members have contributed the majority of the Esbilac milk replacement formula and probiotics needed to keep the manatee calves at Wildtracks healthy, growing and happy, each year for the past several years!!. The shipment also contains donated salinity meters, thermometers, slings, weighing scales, GPS trackers, underwater cameras...all these help ensure that the rehabilitation work can continue smoothly each year. A special thank you also to the donor of the solar power system - as we are off-grid and rely on green energy, this is particularly welcome!

    Creative Monday Discussion
    On July 20th, 2020 I'm going live for another edition of Creative Monday Discussion (CMD). I will be joined by some outstanding Belizean entrepreneurs who’s using their brands to positively impact the lives of people. The live stream will start at 7PM on www.facebook.com/mervinbudram/live. Send in your questions to info@mervinbudram.com or WhatsApp +501-637-4921

    Flights to belize
    We are getting a lot of "what airlines will be flying to Belize when it reopens" and "what routes will be available" comments on this page. Hopefully the below helps to answer. So far, this is what is confirmed. United daily from Houston IAH - resumes August 15. American Airlines daily from Miami - resumes August 18. Delta Air Lines 3Xweek from Atlanta - resumes September 3. Sun Country Airlines 1Xweek from Minneapolis - resumes December 19.

    Belize History Association General Meeting
    The Belize History Association General Meeting has been postponed to Saturday, July 25, 2020. This postponement is due to the following reasons: 1. With the new 50% discount, we believe that additional time will allow for more members to register and participate in the election of the BHA Board. 2. In order to encourage members who are unable to attend a meeting on a workday, we have scheduled for the meeting to be held on a Saturday. 3. In order to enhance our safety in the pandemic, we are requesting that all participants attend the meeting virtually.

    The Reporter

    Weapons discovered in Roaring Creek
    On Saturday Roaring Creek Police conducted an operation which led to the discovery of three .223 magazines, ten rounds of .223 ammunition, a smoke grenade and two anti-riot irritant grenades. The items were found on the Young Gyal Road approximately three miles off the George Price Highway, hidden under rocks. Nobody was in the area and the items were labelled as found property.

    Egbert Baldwin shot and killed in Ladyville Saturday night
    The Reporter has confirmed that Egbert Baldwin was shot and killed in Ladyville Saturday night. Official details are scarce but Baldwin and another man were on Marage Road in Ladyville when they were shot. We are told Baldwin died shortly after and the other man was rushed to the KHMH. Baldwin had just walked off an attempted murder charge on Thursday.

    Breaking Belize NewsPJ

    2 Dead, 2 Injured In Fatal Shooting in San Ignacio Town
    Two persons died and 2 were injured in a fatal shooting in San Ignacio Town, […]

    Man killed in Ladyville
    Reports to BBN is that a man was killed a short while ago in Ladyville. The […]

    Eldon Arzu can proceed with judicial review of Police Association election
    Supreme Court Justice Sonya Young will hear Police Corporal Eldon Arzu’s judicial review claim in […]

    Attorney General confirms appointments of judges
    Before the COVID-19 pandemic in March, the Government was facing a critical shortage of judges […]

    Government, Police sued for wrongful death of Allyson Major Jr. on anniversary of his shooting
    Friday, July 17, marked one year since the passing of Allyson Major Junior, in Belize […]

    Ministry of Education says schools can open early
    In March, classes were called out in Belize due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic […]

    Ministry of Education to parents: ‘Home schooling must be approved’
    The Ministry of Education informed that it is aware of parents on social media saying […]

    Early childhood teachers, students to wear face shield
    The Ministry of Education, in yesterday’s Ask The Experts webcast, also discussed safety for early […]

    Ministry of Education implementing measures for class sanitation, shift system
    In an Ask the Expert segment yesterday, the Ministry of Education discussed class sanitation and […]

    U.S. flags at halfmast for late civil rights activist and Congressman John Lewis
    President Donald Trump has ordered all U.S. flags on all American installations worldwide including the […]

    Police investigate shooting incident in Belize City
    Authorities are investigating a shooting incident that occurred last night in Belize City. Conway Galvez […]

    Criminalising Poverty: The High Cost of Security
    By Greg Nunez and Bryton Codd: Citizen security remains a contentious topic in Belize as views increasingly coalesce toward the alienation of our young Black men from society. […]

    Blogs

    Friday Photos Around San Pedro Town
    Yesterday I headed to San Pedro town for errands. Just the usual…groceries, the pharmacy (Benadryl, our dog Elsie is very allergic to the bite of Doctor Flies that are buzzing around the north part of the island right now), get some gas and photos. Here are a bunch I took in town. My first stop was to buy some new masks. The temperature here is HOT. Hot and humid. I;ve been known to call these hot summer day “2 shirt days” because I would need a change of clothing by about mid-day. the same is true for masks. It’s nice to have an extra on hand when your original starts to show sweat spots. This pacas (used clothing store) has a nice selection and they are $4bzd. (It’s in the Boca Del Rio area – on the main road on the east side of the street).

    Canoe down the Mopan River in Cayo
    Belize’s gorgeous waterways include beaches, lagoons and rivers. One of the most scenic rivers in Belize is the wide, winding Mopan River. When you’re in Belize, spend a few hours riding an inner tube down this river. It’s a wonderful way to relax, enjoy the scenery and spot wildlife. The Mopan begins in the jungles of Peten, Guatemala. It then runs through the Cayo District of Belize. At Branch Mouth, it merges with the Macal River to form the Belize River. The ancient Maya used the Mopan as a major trading route between cities. It was also an important source of drinking water. Today, the Mopan is still the main water source for Belizeans. It’s also one of the best places to enjoy river sports like canoeing, kayaking, fishing, river tubing and swimming. The thick, green trees on the riverbanks are teeming with wildlife and birds of all kinds.

    How a Belizean Hot Sauce became a Global Sensation
    When you visit Belize, you might notice that a bottle of Marie Sharp’s hot sauce is on every table in every restaurant, diner and bar. How did this popular sharp, named after its founder Marie Sharp, become a global sensation? In 1980, Marie Sharp was in her kitchen working on a sauce made from various fruits, habanero peppers, vegetables and spices from her farm. She came up with a concoction that she thought was pretty good, and most of her neighbors agreed. Marie began selling her tasty sauce to local restaurants. She cooked the sauce in her kitchen and had one family member as an assistant. Today, Marie Sharp employs 20 people at her factory in the Stann Creek District. The factory distributes sauces, jams and other products to restaurants all over Belize, Central America, and the world.

    Summer in Belize: Fun Under the Sun!
    The sunshine and tropical breeze feel a bit brighter and warmer from the comfort of a private island getaway. What could be better for a summer escape than a secluded stay surrounded by the crystal- clear Belizean waters? Summer in Belize is the best way to get rid of your quarantine fatigue! Cayo Espanto is perfectly positioned three miles off the coast of San Pedro, Belize. Our private island resort offers an array of personalized experiences such as snorkeling, tailored meals, exploring Maya ruins, private helicopter tours, and yacht excursions. The lush landscape of Cayo Espanto allows guests to remain socially distant from those they are not traveling alongside. The secluded island escape molds to the ideal adventure or relaxing itinerary every visitor prefer for an exclusive getaway.

    Health Care in Belize
    Medical care in Belize generally gets a poor grade, but it has been steadily improving in the last few years. Most expat residents say the country needs more healthcare facilities, more specialized physicians and staff, and better equipment. With fewer than 400,000 residents, Belize doesn’t have an income tax revenue base adequate to fund a large number of public hospitals, which are free to Belizeans. But the country has dedicated, caring doctors who focus on their patients, freely offer their cellphone numbers, and still make house calls. In Belize the medical attention is more personal, although clearly not as advanced as in North America. The good news is that many of the country’s healthcare shortcomings are often easy to deal with. First of all, minor ailments and many emergencies can be treated by physicians, at public clinics, and/or at a Red Cross (Cruz Roja) emergency station—all of which are found throughout the country, with the exception of some rural areas.

    Criminalising Poverty: The High Cost of Security By Greg Nunez and Bryton Codd
    Citizen security remains a contentious topic in Belize as views increasingly coalesce toward the alienation of our young Black men from society. We are being asked to barter our voices and displeasure for silence and security without discussing important social, economic, and political issues that affect their daily lives. Recently, this discursive process of “othering” has reduced complex social interactions to a rudimentary contrast of ‘us’ (the perceived law-abiding citizens) and ‘them’ (the monsters) by stigmatising them at every chance.

    Videos

  • Grand Caribe's 4th Annual Fishing Tournament, .25min. Video submitted by Boat #12, Strike Force, with the catch and release of a sailfish! Caught by angler, Magdaluz Guerrero

  • Sam Harris of the Garifuna Collective and the World Culture Band talks about Creole Music, 7min. There are some concert performances woven into it.

  • Tendering in and Walking Around Belize, 5min. We take a tender (small boat and free) from our ship into Belize and we walk around seeing the sights.

  • ST. HERMAN'S BLUE HOLE NATIONAL PARK BELIZE, 17min.

  • Scuba Diving with Hawksbill Sea Turtles in Belize, 7min. This is a collection of Hawksbill Sea Turtle clips I took while diving in Belize in 2019. I hope you find the information in the narration useful and interesting

  • Swimming with the sharks in Belize, 6min.

  • Fried Jacks - BelizE, 6min. Vandaag maken we Fried Jacks uit Belize!

  • Ko'one'ex Kanik Maaya T'áan (Let's learn Yucatec Maya), 3min. Learning Maya Yucatec with Jose Manuel Poot Cahun.

  • Museum of Belize, 7min. Step back in time by experiencing all of Belize’s history within the walls of the Museum of Belize. Join us for a mini tour of this former-prison and why it remains an iconic landmark in Belize City. Feel free to pause throughout the video to read all the interesting facts.

    July 18, 2020


    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, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.


    The San Pedro Sun

    President Donald Trump nominates Andre Bauer as new ambassador for Belize
    On Friday, July 17th, United States (US) President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate former South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, and a recent CNN contributor to be next ambassador to Belize. Bauer, 51, served as the state’s lieutenant governor from 2003-2011 under then-Governor Mark Sanford. He also served as a Major in the South Carolina State Guard from 2010 –2015. His professional profile shows him being involved in real estate development since 1991 and is currently the proprietor of Bunk Aviation, a real estate holding company in Charleston, South Carolina.

    PC Nelson Ramos, formerly assigned to San Pedro Town, remanded for sexually assaulting a minor
    39-year-old PC Nelson Denfield Ramos is once again in trouble with the law, after being arraigned for one count of rape, one count of sexual assault and two criminal offenses on Thursday, July 16th. Ramos, who was attached to the Independence Police Formation in southern Belize, was accused by a 17-year-old minor of rape. According to the victim, on July 6th, she was detained by two police officers for traffic offenses (driving without a valid driver’s license). Between the hours of 11:30AM and 1PM, while in police custody, the minor alleged that Ramos asked her if she had anything to offer in exchange to avoid any traffic-related charges.

    Labour Complaints Tribunal Established
    The Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development hereby informs of the establishment of the Labour Complaints Tribunal. In accordance with the Labour Act, Chapter 297 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, Section 200, “A Labour Complaints Tribunal shall be established for the purpose of providing a fair and impartial appeal process arising from complaints of unfair dismissal or wrongful termination.”

    U.S. Government Delivers Emergency Kits to NEMO
    The United States Embassy delivered US$20,000 in supplies to Belize’s National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) at a July 16 handover ceremony in Belmopan. U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Keith Gilges presented the food packs and hygiene kits to NEMO Director Shelton Defour.

    Various Belizean Sources

    mzz

    New Chairman Sworn-in for the Elections and Boundaries Commission
    This morning at the Belize House in Belmopan, Mr. Estevan Perera was sworn-in as the new Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission by the Governor General H.E. Sir Colville Young. Estevan Perera is an Attorney-at-Law. He received a bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of West Indies in Jamaica and a certificate in Legal Education from the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago. He also earned his degree in Criminology from St. Mary’s University in Canada.

    GRAND CARIBE BELIZE'S 4TH ANNUAL DEEP SEA CLASSIC FISHING TOURNAMENT, KICKED OFF THIS MORNING ON AMBERGRIS CAYE
    Photo credit: Amanda Syme. San Pedro Ambergris Caye is the host of the 4th Annual Grand Caribe Deep Sea Classic. The 3 days fishing tournament began early this morning and will run from today July 17th to 19th. $25,000 plus in cash and prizes will be awarded.

    "A New Tourism Vision for Belize"
    BTB's Director of Tourism, Mrs. Karen Bevans, will be among the knowledgable speakers of Panel 5 for BTIA's Tourism Forum! This panel will focus on "A New Tourism Vision for Belize."

    Flood Forecast for July 17, 2020 from the National Hydrological Service

    Belize Children's Assistance Organization Donations
    Today, we welcomed Yamilett Tzib and Amy Loofbourow from Belize Children's Assistance Organization to share on their group that is helping families on the island. Donations received by them has been providing food, baby items, and school registration fees and supplies. Please free free to contact them on their facebook page.

    COVID-19 Update from Office of Director of Health Services
    This is our data for today. A further 106 samples processed today, with this batch we have cleared all the samples processed from the contact tracing in both San Felipe and Blue Creek. We have also processed the initial samples from the immediate contacts of patient #39 and out contact tracing for this particular case is ongoing. For now we are able to establish links to a Mexican community on the Northern border and details of this are evolving but for now, we are unable to document any community spread. All samples processed today are negative.

    International Airport Testing
    Part of our work took us to the International Airport to review process flows and on the ground activities for arrival of another repatriation flight today A total of 60 persons arrived on the flight today. Samples are routinely collected from all passengers for eventual transportation to the Central Medical Laboratory for processing. The work is meticulous and had 11 staff on the ground, the team includes nurses, medical officers and public health officers.

    Approval for Extension of Timeframe to Implement the Pollution from Plastics Regulations
    The Department of the Environment (DOE) has received Cabinet's endorsement for the extension of the timeframe for the implementation of Regulation 33 (1) (b), (c) and (d) of the Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations, 2020. Due to preparations to address the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, and subsequent National State of Emergency to address the health crisis caused by COVID-I9 in April 2020, actions to implement the permitting and licensing systems required in the legislation was disrupted. As such, a transitional extension period is required to implement the above-mentioned sections (b), (c), and (d) of the Regulations.

    Permitting Process for Restricted plastic products

    Ambassador Nestor Mendez Assumes Second Term as Assistant Secretary General of the OAS
    Today, during a virtual meeting of the Permanent Council, Ambassador Nestor Mendez assumed his second term in office as the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) for the period 2020-2025. Ambassador Mendez was reelected by acclamation at the Organization's 54th Special General Assembly on March 20, 2020. Assistant Secretary General Mendez noted that this second term is a “mandate that I embrace with full knowledge of the enormous challenges that lie ahead as our Organization not only adjusts and evolves in tune with the new conditions imposed by the pandemic, but more importantly, as we institute the necessary retooling to continue to respond to the needs and mandates of Member States.”

    Change in Pump Price of Regular Gasoline Effective July 18, 2020
    The Ministry of Finance announces that effective Saturday, July 18th, 2020, the pump price of regular gasoline will increase by 14 cents from $8.57 to $8.71 per gallon. The prices for premium gasoline, kerosene and diesel will remain unchanged at $9.21, $5.43 and $7.61 per gallon, respectively.

    List of over the counter medications for Pharmacy Sale
    For More Information contact the Pharmacy Unit, Ministry of Health

    List of Over the Counter medication for General Sale
    For more information on this list, contact the Pharmacy Department, Ministry of Health.

    CAREER OPPORTUNITY!
    Belize Sugar Industries Limited invites qualified and self–motivated individuals to submit applications for the following positions at Tower Hill, Orange Walk.

    WHERE WAS CHANLACAN, EPICENTER OF THE GREAT MAYA REBELLION?
    Chanlacan was one of the epicenters of the great Mayan rebellion of 1546-47, an uprising between various villages and cuchabales from the east of Mayab to expel Spanish colonists and their indigenous allies. Despite the importance of this settlement, Chanlacan's exact location is unknown. We know he was in the Uaymil-Chetumal cuchcabal. Robert S. Chamberlain, historian of the conquest of Yucatan, wrote that it was a  fortress population  located in the lagoon of Bacalar and that its island position meant that it could only be attacked with canoes in addition to being well fortified.

    Channel 7

    Border Jumpers Become National Security Priority #1
    Border Jumpers - they're currently the biggest threat to Belize's public health - vectors for the Coronavirus who slip under radar along Belize's porous borders. And they just seem to keep coming. And now, this dire public health threat has become a nation security issue; the cops have to find and arrest these border jumpers and contraband smuggler before they make contact with the general population. It's a herculean, if not impossible task, and the only way they can do it is with help from the public. That's why this morning Commissioner Chester Williams pulled out all the bells and whistles when he launched 3 toll-free hotlines as well as a Facebook Page where the public will be able to report cross border movements.

    Police Minister, Toy Soldier?
    And the Minister of National Security looked like he was the one going border patrolling today. He appeared at the hotline ceremony dressed in full military fatigue - or what is known as a battle dress uniform. In his usual self-deprecating style, he told the crowd that his mother thought he had dressed like a toy soldier:

    Police Want Drones All Along The Border
    But even a combat ready minister can't catch all the jumpers; truth is, no army or force of men and women can. That's why the cops are looking to drones to help police the border. This morning the Commissioner appealed to the business community for a donation of two industrial grade drones. He shared his wish list: Chester Willams, Commissioner of Belize: "I can tell you that we are trying our utmost best to get two drones but you would know the financial strain the government is in..."

    Prison Not Taking COVID Cases
    And while those hotlines and drones hope to capture more border jumpers, eventually they will all end up at the Kolbe Central Prison. And because of an increased number of illegals being sent to prison in the time of the pandemic, the prison has instituted a new policy: "All Inmates admitted for immigration offences must present formal documentation indicating COVID free status before approval for admission." We spoke to the Prison CEO this evening and asked him why this is now necessary:

    Cayo Cops May Have Stopped Robbers On A Move
    Robberies continue to be very much in the news. Just this afternoon in Belmopan three men held up Aldana's Shop on Costa Rica Street, put a gun to the female proprietor, threw her to the ground, stole her ring, and raided the cash register. And while those thieves are at large, CAYO police caught two men who may have been planning a holdup. Yesterday evening, cop in Santa Elena received information that two men on motorbike had been circling a Puma Gas Station.

    COMPOL Ready For Supreme Court
    Last night we told you that Police Corporal Eldon Arzu had won a small victory against the commissioner of Police in the Supreme Court. He convinced the Supreme Court to entertain him in a judicial review claim against the Commissioner. Today the Commissioner said this it's no big deal, and said it was expected. He notes also that no injunction was granted:

    COMPOL Defends Inspector Jane With Credentials
    And while the dispute at this point is a matter for the court, in real terms it is a battle for control of the Police Association - and that's a contest Corporal Eldon Arzu lost weeks ago when the election was held. Sergeant Jane Usher defeated him handily, by a margin of almost three to one. And four weeks later, we learned that Usher has been promoted form Sergeant To Inspector. Today the press asked the COMPOL if this suggests that he has promoted his favoured candidate to lead the police association.

    Pres Trump Nominates US Amb. To Belize
    And while Inspector Usher's term will run for 2 years, who knows how long a new US ambassador will get to serve in Belize? That's if he makes it here at all! The announcement came this afternoon from the White House that President Donald Trump has nominated former South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer to become the U.S. ambassador to Belize.

    Steve Sworn In
    Attorney Estevan "Steve" Perrera is now the new Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission. He was officially sworn in today at the Belize House in Belmopan, by Governor-General, Sir Colville Young. He was joined at the ceremony by his family and his law partner, Senator Payal Ghanwani, who supported his appointment at Wednesday's Senate Meeting. And while Perrera's ascension could have been foretold, during the Senate's confirmation of his appointment on Wednesday, several concerns were raised about whether or not he would be able to sufficiently distance himself from the ruling UDP.

    Education Brass Explains Reason For Opening School
    But those elections are months away - what's just weeks away is the opening of school - and that is a case of much anxiety in, parents, students, adminsiterathos and teachers. And while there are many doubters and naysayers, the top brass from the Ministry of education appeared on Ask The Experts today to say that opening schools is a must at this time:

    Cleanliness In Schools
    And a big part of the new reality at schools is that they will have to be stringently cleaned and on a daily basis to eliminate any appearance of the virus. And apart from classroom cleaning, washing hands will be a part of the daily routine for students. The Chief Education Officer explained: "There are 3 important measures that parents must keep in mind: regular hand washing, physical distancing and the wearing of masks. And so for schools what we are recommending to ensure that there are enough hand wash basins in schools that there must be 1 basin for at least 50 students..."

    Safety Before Schooling
    And while we hope that there are enough cleaning supplies to go around to schools in both urban and rural areas, the fact is, cleaning can only do so much. If there is community spread of the virus in Belize, cleaning won't make it go away, and schools will likely have to be closed. That's what the CEO in the Minister of Education discussed: "There is to be no sacrifice of lives to get an education. The life comes first and so our challenge and the challenge to managements..."

    Big Shift For Big Schools
    And those learning plans will also have to include teaching students by shift systems. That means your child may not go to school every single day, but he or she may do so on alternate days. And the bigger the school, the bigger the shift. Babb explained: Deborah Domingo, CEO, Ministry of Education: "Should parents generally expect their children to be in school Monday to Friday?"

    August Is Catch-Up Month
    And the first month of school will be dedicated to catching up. One hundred thousand pre-primary, primary and secondary school students have been out of the classroom for four solid months. Babb says they have a lot of catching up to do: "So because children have been out for so long we are very concern about the gap. We want to know what they know and what they don't know. So what teachers will do during the month of August they will do assessment to determine where children are..."

    Homeschooling Not As Simple As You Think
    And if all that seems a little too much - that's why some parents are saying that they prefer to home school. But, it's not that simple. Babb explained that you need permission and supervision, or you'll be breaking the law:.. "I see on facebook a number of parents and others saying that they will homeschool their child. Saying that you will homeschool your child is not enough..."

    Second Police Suicide In A Month
    On June 18th, we told you about the suicide of 27 year old Police Constable Jerman Millian. On Wednesday night, another police officer apparently killed himself. 48 year old Police officer Brenton Garcia shot himself to the head and died in his bedroom. A police report says he had arrived home under the influence and stated that he was stressed out. He is a veteran officer, and today, we asked the commissioner to comment on this second cop suicide in less than a month. He said they were childhood friends:

    Counselling For Cops
    Indeed, Garcia was a well loved community cop in PG, which is why many find his death so inexplicable. But, it's an incredibly stressful job, and the commissioner says they have to get more active counselling interventions for their officers: Chester Williams, Commissioner of Belize: "We need to look at our officers more closely with a view to see when they're going through difficult circumstances and try to intervene before things like this occur and so moving forward there is some work that needs to be done..."

    Lifeline, More Life To Needy Students
    Turning now to education - as you heard in our last segment the opening day for school is fast arriving. It's a cause fo anxiety about COVID, but it's also a cause for panic in cash strapped parents who have to scrape together funds for books, supplies, uniforms and fees. And while that's true for most families it's not the case for 2,452 lucky kids from rural and underprivileged schools whose entire 2020-2021 tuition will be covered by Kim Simplis Barrow's Lifeline Foundation. Taking the stage at Wednesday's announcement ceremony, education CEO Carol Babb said that schools are in need of support.

    CABEI Cares
    And in other news of assistance. Belize has received emergency COVID-19 aid from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, known as CABEI. It's a donation that comes as a response to a request from the presidents of The Central American Integration System. It includes medical supplies including swabs and Korean testing kits geared at expanding Belize's testing capacity and complements the Bank's April 2020,1 million USD donation to Belize's COVID-19 response. Here's more:

    Why BEL Objected to the PUC’s FTRP
    And, going back now to a story that's been making news for the past two nightsBEL and its regulator, the Public Utilities Commission are tangled in disputes on multiple fronts. We've been telling you about the power purchase agreement with Santander, and the PCUS's claim that BEL was averaging out meter readings, but there's also the Full Tarriff Review. BEL is challenging the PUC's conclusions in that process - which means an independent expert will have to be appointed.

    Senate Report Points to Penner
    On Wednesday's news, we told you how the Senate passed a motion to adopt the final report from the Senate Special Select Committee on the Immigration Department. As we told you, that report is 160 pages long. It represents the careful perusal of sworn testimonies and evidence-taking that the committee members carried out in the 13-month-long Senate Hearings on Immigration, which ended in December 2017.

    The Book of Godwin On Immigration
    During Wednesday's motion at the Senate to adopt the findings of the Special Select Committee, Godwin Hulse, the substantive Minister of Immigration, made sure to remind his colleagues that years before the Senate Hearings on Immigration, there was a raft of legislative reforms that the Barrow Government undertook to address the weakness in Immigration.

    Chamber Takes Up For Its Senator
    And, keeping it in the senate, the Belize Chamber of Commerce is calling foul on what it characterizes as "disrespectful treatment" of its Senate representative, Mark Lizarraga, on Wedensday. The particular instance they are referring to is an exchange between Lizarraga and Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte. Lizarraga was among the senators who expressed concern about new Election and Boundaries Chairman Steve Perrera's ability to act as a fair and impartial leader of the Commission.

    Creating Opportunity Out of A Garbage Dump
    And, finally tonight, we take you down Albert Street, not far from our newsroom where yesterday we saw the city council and the aspiring PUP standard bearer cleaning up Simmon's Alley. That's where a whole empty lot was over-run with garbage, a breeding ground for disease and a feeding ground for rats. This alley connects Albert Street to Wagner's Lane - and Paul Thompson said cleaning it could create economic opportunity:

    Channel 5

    More Details Emerge on Strange Case of COVID-19 Infection in Cayo
    Tonight Health Officials are baffled and continue to investigate the case of a man in his early fifties who tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. The case was detected at the [...]

    Health Officials Inspect P.G.I.A.
    A United Airline flight arrived today as part of the repatriation process which may lead to more cases of COVID 19.  We say may because testing will confirm new cases. [...]

    Estevan Perera sworn in as Chairman of Elections & Boundaries Commission
    Attorney, Estevan Perera was sworn-in as the new Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission this morning. In the Senate on Wednesday his appointment came under fire because some senators [...]

    E&B Chairman responds to criticism of appointment
    And what does the new chairman make of the opposition to his new role expressed during the Senate debate? Estevan Perera was asked about the comments that question his ability [...]

    ComPol on Corporal Eldon Arzu’s Supreme Court case
    On Thursday, we told you about the Corporal Eldon Arzu versus the Commissioner of Police case that’s before the Supreme Court.  Arzu’s claim is that the Commissioner of Police didn’t [...]

    Preparing for a New School Year Amid COVID-19
    A new academic year is set to begin on August tenth, after five months of leave from school due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Ahead of the reopening of schools however, [...]

    All Schools will have Sanitization Sessions
    Among the measures that will be implemented at the classroom level is a daily sanitization of individual seating areas.  According to Dr. Babb, there will also be someone stationed at [...]

    Fewer Students in the Classroom in New School Year
    COVID-19 has also prompted school managements to put in place specific protocols that relate to children coming down with the seasonal flu.  Aside from those procedures, Chief Executive Officer, Deborah [...]

    Face Shields When Teaching Phonics
    For children in the lower levels, those in kindergarten and the infant division, the Ministry of Education is advising teachers to wear face shields in instances where certain subjects are [...]

    Santa Cruz Village Council’s Land Woes Continue
    Santa Cruz Village Council continues to fight to maintain control of the village’s land expansion project. Issues for the council arose back in January 2019 when they received word that [...]

    Chairman Scott says Land Commissioner Not Answering Questions
    According to Scott, he has attempted to clarify the matter with Commissioner of Lands and Surveys, Wilbert Vallejos. Scott says that Vallejos has not responded to any of his queries. [...]

    Government Asks Ministries to Cut Down on Rental Cost
    Government continues to cut costs as it struggles with the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its latest austerity measure is cutting down on rental costs. A memo dated July [...]

    Christian Bailey granted Bail
    A construction worker of the Mile eight community on the George Price Highway, who is accused of breaking into a man’s home and removing home appliances and other possessions amounting to [...]

    George Bull is freed of murder charge
    Another murder case fell through the cracks for the prosecution this week when the Crown in the trial of George Bull indicated to the Court that they were withdrawing the [...]

    Simon Leary gets bail for attempted murder
    Attorney Hurl Hamilton was successful today in arguing for Supreme Court bail for a man who is before the Court on an attempted murder charge. Simon Leary, a construction worker of [...]

    Compensating the Families of Four Deceased BDF Airmen
    The Government of Belize, in compensating the families of four Belize Defense Force airmen who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash on February twenty-seventh, says it has made [...]

    ISF cop charged with rape placed on interdiction
    In Thursday’s newscast we told you about Police Constable Nelson Ramos of the Intermediate Southern Formation who was arraigned on a count of rape of a seventeen-year-old girl. Today, Commissioner [...]

    Dissecting the PUC/BEL/Santander Quagmire
    The Public Utilities Commission is enforcing an order which makes it compulsory for Belize Electricity Limited to sign on to a power purchase agreement with Santander Sugar for the supply [...]

    Was Your Monthly Light Bill Being Averaged During SOE?
    Over the past few weeks, consumers have been complaining of exorbitant electricity bills, particularly during the three-month state of emergency when many were at home for the mandatory lockdown. B.E.L. [...]

    Belize Receives Sample Collection Kits and RNA Extraction Kits from CABEI
    Belize, as part of the Central American Integration System, received an emergency aid to complement national efforts for the prevention, containment, and treatment of COVID-19. The aid comes courtesy of [...]

    Hotlines activated to report border jumpers and contrabandists
    The Police Department is counting on the public to prevent border jumpers and contrabandistas from entering the country. Five phone lines and an online social media messenger programme were activated [...]

    ComPol says that the BPD needs a counseling unit
    A police officer in Punta Gorda committed suicide earlier this week. On Wednesday evening, Police Constable Brenton Garcia shot himself inside his home. The circumstances that triggered the suicide are [...]

    CITCO calls for applications for Youth Shadow Council
    If you are between the ages of fifteen to twenty-one, living in Belize City and are a youth leader, the Belize City Council would like you to apply for its [...]

    4UBYME Productions – the Customised Items of an Enterprising Woman
    COVID 19 has caused the unemployment lines to grow longer and longer as many persons became jobless. Today we found a woman who lost her job but turned that around [...]

    Amandala

    CWU members under attack by Port of Belize
    The situation of the workers at the Port of Belize (PBL) is at a crisis stage. On July 1, 2020, the Christian Workers Union (CWU) and its membership from both of its units began lunchtime protests against PBL’s receivership management’s decision to reduce its staff’s wages by 10 percent across the board and put a halt on their 5% bonus. That first cut was done on June 16, 2020, and according to CWU president Evan “Mose” Hyde, Jr., it is an illegal act, since it happened without consultation with the legal bargaining agent for members of staff and went squarely against Article 25 of the 2002 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the parties.

    Gaspar Vega steps down
    In a letter dated July 14, 2020, Gaspar Vega formally announced his resignation as area representative for the UDP Orange Walk North division. His resignation comes just days after Patrick Faber’s rise to the position of leader-elect of the United Democratic Party. In his letter, Vega said, “It was not an easy decision, as I truly love and value the people of Orange Walk North.” While this resignation letter clearly confirms his departure from the forefront of electoral politics, he said that his involvement with the UDP and politics in Orange Walk North will not end there.

    More farewells in the UDP
    The election of Patrick Faber as party leader-elect of the UDP has seemingly triggered a number of departures in the party. Since the UDP convention on Sunday, July 12, at which Faber was elected, Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs and area representative for the Pickstock division, and Ashton McKenzie, mayor of Punta Gorda, have announced their resignation from electoral politics. Also, Pearl Stuart, secretary-general of the party under the Barrow administration, tendered her resignation two weeks ago.

    Full salaries reinstated for Belize City Council employees
    This week’s payday was a notable one for Belize City Council employees, as they all received a full salary after three months of collecting a reduced salary due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the council’s revenue stream. At the start of the government-instituted State of Emergency, with the exception of the council’s Sanitation Department, which worked throughout that period, all employees were asked to accept a 50 percent salary reduction. That salary reduction was also applied to the Deputy Mayor and City Councilors, while Mayor Bernard Wagner had forgone his entire salary in light of the circumstances.

    Belize Chamber severely criticizes GOB over questionable contracts
    On June 30, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) publicly expressed its concerns over the Caribbean Investment Holdings Limited’s purchase agreement with Belize Bank to acquire Scotia Bank Belize, and its potential effect on the country’s economy and banking sector. The press release called upon the GOB to “introduce competition laws to ensure that market dominance will not adversely affect any industry.” A mere two weeks later, the BCCI has once again called out the government for its questionable procurement practices and policies. In a statement dated July 13, the BCCI called upon the GOB to “adhere to the principles of transparency, accountability and good governance.”

    Appeals Court must consider DPP’s request to try Calaney Flowers again for murder, says CCJ
    The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) issued an order on July 14 to allow the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, to ask the Court of Appeal to set aside the verdict of the trial judge in the Calaney Flowers murder case. In November of 2019, the Court of Appeal dismissed the DPP’s appeal after the attorney representing Calaney Flowers successfully argued that the DPP had no right to appeal an acquittal in cases where a full trial had taken place.

    Camalote store owner shot during robbery attempt
    Nigel Gideon, a store owner, is recovering at the Western Regional Hospital after he was shot in his hip during a struggle with a robber at his store in Camalote yesterday. The robber then escaped empty-handed. Luckily, the injury was not life-threatening, and Gideon was rushed to the hospital, where he was admitted in a serious but stable condition. Gideon told police that while he was in his store in Camalote yesterday afternoon, a man of Hispanic descent who was wearing a mask came in and said that he wanted to buy some cigarettes.

    Corozal musician found hanging in detention cell
    Rayford Anderson, 32, a musician of Corozal Town, who was detained by police on Thursday after a complaint was made about his conduct during a domestic dispute, was found hanging in the cell where he was being detained at about 11:00 that same Thursday night. He was found hanging from the cell bar by strips of a sheet that was tied around his neck. Anderson was rushed to the Corozal Town Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival.

    No evidence that Mark King fired gunshot, police say
    Police investigated an allegation that Mark King, a businessman and former UDP Lake Independence area representative, had fired a shot outside a building in the Belama area in Belize City, at about 1:00 o’clock this morning. Police searched the area, but nothing was found to prove that a shot had been fired. No one was reported as being injured, nor was any expended shell or bullet hole found anywhere. Police said that an investigation has been launched into the matter.

    Madisco van jacked; $20,000 stolen
    A delivery van of the Madisco company of Santa Elena was robbed this evening. The driver of the van and his side-man were held up at gunpoint in the van by a lone-wolf thief, who escaped with around $20,000 in a money bag. The robbery was caught on a camera mounted on a nearby store. So far, the thief has not been found, and the money stolen from the company has not been recovered.

    Editorial: The story behind the 2008-2020 UDP’s massive trail of debt
    Many people believe that the present Republican Party administration in the USA, led by Mr. Donald Trump, set out on an agenda to undo as many of the signature accomplishments of the previous Democratic Party administration, which was led by Mr. Barack Obama, the first president of that country who isn’t Caucasian, as it could. It is argued by many that the agenda in the US was motivated by racism. One major achievement of the Obama government that the present Trump government has pulled out all the stops to try to dismantle is a health law that was intended to make healthcare more affordable for the less well-off in that country.

    Senate Select Committee report confirms corruption in the Immigration Department
    There was a special sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, at which multiple orders of business were addressed. Probably the most consequential of these was the tabling of the long-awaited majority report from the Senate Select Committee. The report delves into the findings of the Committee after it conducted an investigation into the revelations that were made in a special audit report by the Auditor General concerning corrupt activities in the Immigration and Nationality Department for the period of 2011 to 2013. The 160-page report was presented by the Chairman of the Senate Select Committee, Aldo Salazar, and revealed a pattern of improper and, in a number of cases, illegal practices within the Immigration Department.

    GOB cuts ministries’ rent budget
    On 15th July, 2020, via Circular Memorandum No. 26 of 2020, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of the Public Service, Energy and Public Utilities, Dr. Peter Allen, informed the different government ministries of more cost-saving measures that the Ministry of Finance has decided they must put into effect as a result of the harsh effects the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the economy of Belize. The cuts are to be made in the amount of money spent by the various government ministries for the rental of office spaces and dwelling quarters, and these ministries will be expected to negotiate a percentage cut with property owners for fiscal year 2020/21.

    National Appreciation Day conducted at all police formations
    Police announced that the Annual Police Week events that are usually held in July have been cancelled due to financial cuts, and a National Citizen Appreciation Day was instead observed today at all formations countrywide. The day had been set aside to give police the opportunity to honor all those who partnered with police to ensure a safer community. The theme of the National Appreciation Day 2020 is “Honoring and partnering with us for a safer Belize.”

    Criminalising Poverty: The High Cost of Security
    Citizen security remains a contentious topic in Belize as views increasingly coalesce toward the alienation of our young black men from society. We are being asked to barter our voices and displeasure for silence and security without discussing important social, economic, and political issues that affect their daily lives. Recently, this discursive process of “othering” has reduced complex social interactions to a rudimentary contrast of ‘us’ (the perceived law-abiding citizens) and ‘them’ (the monsters) by stigmatising them at every chance.

    Mary White’s Playground Legacy
    Mary, my tatarabuela, left her name to miles of river frontage along el Río Hondo, now the playground for border jumpers. The mahogany and logwood are gone. In her time, the challenge was keeping the Mexicans out. Today, we battle COVID-19 brought in from México by Belizeans who move easily back and forth across the river. The motives, largely historical, are: family, commerce, healthcare and el disfrute.

    Legends on the mend – Palma, Coro, Turo…
    We’re glad for the news that some of our legendary football stars are in a good state of recovery, following some serious health issues. One of Belize’s most prolific strikers on record, Arthur “Goatman” Leslie, who was the hottest striker in the 1980s, underwent open heart surgery in New Jersey in February, and returned home to his residence in Sandhill, Belize District, just prior to the Covid-19 lockdown in March of this year. This morning, Turo reassured us by phone that he is following the recovery plan formulated by his doctor, and is thankful for the operation that effectively saved his life.

    Cricket Corner
    A pleasant time of the day to all cricket lovers! Under the auspices of the Belize National Cricket Association, the Sir Barry Bowen/ Harrison Parks Cricket Competition got underway this past weekend with some very exciting games played. To get in full gear, let’s go to Boom, where the home team Brave Union went up against Surprise of Lemonal. Because of the long break caused by the pandemic, it was very hard to get players together; so, when the toss was spun, Surprise could only muster 8 players to start the game.

    Ladyville Jaguars FC to host Open Football Marathon on August 2
    Football is slowly coming back to life in the Jewel, and the Ladyville Jaguars Football Club under coordinator Michael “Wataplat” Flowers is planning an Open Football Marathon, to be held at the Ladyville football field on Sunday, August 2, beginning at 9:00 a.m. sharp. “We are looking for 10 to 12 teams,” said Flowers, who offered that his club has stepped up its organization with the assistance of its new manager, Ms. Leticia Gomez.

    Anti-corruption must be the platform
    It seems that there is a major faction in our society who are adamant that this is the time for those in governance to take a clear decisive and unequivocal position on the issue of corruption in our country. And, of course, there are those that seem to be clueless about how steeped in corruption our country finds itself or are just outright complacent and complicit. It’s like it has become such an everyday way of life that the average person sees no wrong with it, or fails to recognize it, or benefits from it, so they support it and justify it.

    “Paternalistic arrogance & racist punitive attack upon Black leadership must end”
    Whenever the mass media and various commentators pontificate regarding powerful special interest groups on Capitol Hill, they point to the gun lobby or NRA (National Rifle Association) as an example; however, nothing can be further from the truth. The most powerful and influential lobby in Washington DC, with both domestic and global implications, is AIPAC (the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee). Between 1976 and 2004 the state of Israel has received an estimated $142.3 billion, with an annual $3 billion of taxpayer money since 1985. In addition to the above financial pipeline to Israel, these numbers do not reflect direct investments and strategic military aid that numbers in the billions.

    For Belize, let’s do it!
    History has finally caught up with Belize: George Price, our Independence leader, had made it obvious that our nation was a CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY. What was plainly expressed in the PREAMBLE was repeated in a prayer dubbed “The National Prayer”. It said: “Almighty and Eternal God, who through Jesus Christ, has revealed your glory to all nations, please preserve and protect Belize our beloved country… “ Chapter 2 of the Constitution had made it abundantly obvious that our country could not descend to become a cheap dictatorship, by a most thorough dissertation on Human Rights — the clearest, most concise exposition I have ever read.

    They could have come to me: Minister Hulse
    On Wednesday, four years after the Senate Special Select Committee first met to investigate the Auditor General’s findings on irregularities at the Immigration and Nationality Department between the years 2011 and 2013, their report was tabled and accepted by the Senate. The Senate Special Select Committee was formed after considerable pressure was put on government by the social partners, particularly the BNTU, and the country’s main opposition party, the PUP.

    Blessed be the name of The Lord …
    It is with a heavy heart that I start this final chapter, but I am relieved to predict that, like mine, your spirits will be lifted by how it ends. Lucille called me the following afternoon to admit that she was worried by Jewel’s behaviour, as she had withdrawn from the company after most people had left the house the night after the funeral and locked herself in her bedroom, leaving she and Aunt the task of putting the children to bed.

    A committee that is innovative, with radical solutions, is needed
    Dear Editor, In June, the international Monetary Fund projected that the world economy will contract by 4.9%. Two-thirds of the world’s governments borrowed US $11 trillion in June alone. The IMF forecasts that 12 trillion dollars will be lost within the global economy in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The world is beginning to reopen, but the rate of infection is increasing in the US, Brazil and India, which collectively produce over 20% of global GDP.

    An experiment without a rubric
    Dear Editor, In a matter of weeks, schools across the country will be reopening and welcoming students for the new school year. This comes on the heels of having been forced to close down schools some months ago as a direct result of the global pandemic, COVID-19. Ironically, the inherent threats of this pandemic have not totally dissipated, but instead have proliferated. Notwithstanding that, we are about to embark on an experiment of incalculable proportions in opening schools come August 10.

    The Constitution of Belize is a con job, a sham and a deadly joke
    Dear Editor, A privilege is a special right or immunity granted or available only to a particular group or person, such as a right or immunity attached to a position or office. For example, parliamentary privilege is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made in the course of their legislative duties.

    Leopold II: Belgium “wakes up” to its bloody colonial past
    Inside the palatial walls of Belgium’s Africa Museum stand statues of Leopold II – each one a monument to the king whose rule killed as many as 10 million Africans. Standing close by, one visitor said, “I didn’t know anything about Leopold II until I heard about the statues defaced down town”. The museum is largely protected by heritage law but, in the streets outside, monuments to a monarch who seized a huge swathe of Central Africa in 1885 have no such security.

    LOVE FM

    Estevan Perera refutes statements of political bias
    Attorney Estevan Perera was sworn in today as chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission. A short ceremony was held in Belmopan this morning, and by this afternoon, Perera was more than ready to tell the media of his upcoming plans in his new position.

    Students receive donations in the west
    Several students received much needed donations that will assist them financially in the upcoming school year. Cayo Correspondent Fem Cruz has the details.

    60 repatriates arrive into Belize
    Another set of 60 repatriates arrived into the country this afternoon on a United Airlines flight. As per normal, they were screened and placed on a bus which took them to their designated hotels, which is either The Ramanda or Radisson Fort George and Marina.

    Two men and a minor charged for cattle theft
    Last night at around 7:30, a man reported to police that his cows were missing from his pasture at mile 41 in Cotton Tree Village, Cayo District. He began to search for them and eventually recovered 14 of them.

    New US Ambassador to Belize announced
    A new US Ambassador to Belize has been announced. US President Donald Trump has nominated Former South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer.

    Breaking Belize NewsPJ

    Contact tracing continues for Santa Elena COVID-19 patient; samples from Northern villages return negative
    The Office of the Director of Health Services informed today that 106 samples were processed […]

    Government of Belize Announces Commencement of Consent Solicitation of Superbond
    Belize is moving to the final step of recording temporary savings on interest payments to the […]

    Department of the Environment issues advisory on the permitting process for biodegradable plastic products to importers and custom brokers
    The Department of the Environment has issued an advisory on the permitting process for biodegradable […]

    Santa Familia resident busted with 65 cases of contraband beers
    Santa Familia resident, Pedro Aguirres of the Cayo District was busted this afternoon with contraband. […]

    US President Donald Trump nominates Former South Carolina Governor, Andre Bauer for Belize Ambassador
    Today, the White House informed that Former South Carolina Governor, Andre Bauer has been nominated […]

    Ministry of Education: Almost 100,000 students out of school due to Covid-19
    The Ministry of Education acknowledged today that there are safety concerns with reopening schools on […]

    Police Department launches hotlines to report border jumpers
    Today, the Minister of National Security, Michael Peyrefitte and Commissioner of Police Chester Williams recieved […]

    60 people arrive on repatriation flight today
    Today, the Ministry of Health informed that 60 people arrived on a repatriation flight. The […]

    Regular gas goes up by 14 cents
    Regular gasoline will see a 14 cent increase at the pump at midnight tonight from […]

    Nestor Mendez sworn in for 2nd term as OAS Assistant Secretary General
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    PUP Leader celebrates 60th birthday
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    Tourism sector divided on re-opening the Belize International Airport
    The Government of Belize’s decision to reopen the Philip goldson International Airport (PGIA) on August […]

    Estevan Perera sworn-in as the new Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission
    This morning at the Belize House in Belmopan, Estevan Perera was sworn-in as the new […]

    Ministry of Health awaiting results of contact tracing samples for Santa Elena COVID-19 patient
    The Ministry of Health continues contact tracing for the 50-year old COVID-19 patient from Santa […]

    Police officer charged for rape
    A police officer was arrested and charged for the crime of rape. A minor reported […]

    Chamber says “We support our senator”
    The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) issued a release yesterday expressing its full […]

    Belize monitoring 16 active cases of COVID-19
    Belizean health officials are monitoring 16 active cases of COVID-19. Yesterday, Belize registered its 40th case. […]

    Blogs

    Solitude in Hiking: Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
    Are you planning a visit to beautiful Belize? Consider a visit to for hiking the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. This lovely park was established for the protection of jaguars and other species in 1986. It is located on the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains and is approximately 400 square miles in area. Historians believe that the ancient Maya may have lived in this area hundreds of years ago. The first Europeans to explore the area did not arrive until the late 19th century. They named the Cockscomb Mountain after the resemblance the ridge has to a rooster’s comb.

    Placencia Airport Closure – July 17th, 2020
    Traveling to Placencia later this year? Keep in mind that the airstrip in Placencia (PLJ) will be temporarily closed between July 17th to November 17th, 2020. The latest delay in the recent closure, according to the Belize Airports Authority (BAA), is to facilitate a revamp of the runway. Revamping, lengthening, widening and the installing of runway lighting will all be done. Alternatively, the Riversdale airstrip will be used as the temporary airstrip used during the closure.

    International Sourcesizz

    Fmr. SC Lt. Governor Andre Bauer nominated to be Belize ambassador
    Former South Carolina Lt. Governor Andre Bauer has been nominated to be the next U.S. ambassador to Belize. The White House announced Friday he's been chosen for the position. He must be confirmed by the United States Senate. The job has been vacant since the Obama Administration. Bauer, 51, was a state representative and senator representing an area near Irmo and Chapin beginning in 1997 through 2003. He was then elected as lieutenant governor, serving from 2003 to 2011 while Mark Sanford was governor.

    Marymount University is supporting Belize’s students and protecting wildlife
    Hawksbill Hope is educating Belize's students with beach and village cleanups, lessons about sea turtles and native plants. Since 2005, Todd Rimkus and other Marymount University faculty members and students have been protecting Belize’s sea turtles as part of the university’s Hawksbille Hope foundation. In 2017, Rimkus, chair of the Biology and Physical Sciences Department, met a boy named James who wanted to go to high school. High school costs $300 per year in Belize.

    DIVE Travel Awards 2020 | Two Weeks Left to Nominate
    The response to this year's DIVE Travel Awards has been somewhat overwhelming, with a total now of 103 destinations, 281 liveaboards and 782 dive centres and resorts having been nominated... and there are two more weeks to go.

    Birds of the 2020 Audubon Photography Award
    Calling all birders and bird lovers! This year’s 2020 Audubon Photography award brings us from Alaska to Australia, and all the parks in between, to commemorate some of the best avian photography taken of birds in their natural habitat.

    CDC bans U.S. cruises through September, citing ‘ongoing’ coronavirus outbreaks on ships
    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday extended its ban on passenger cruising from U.S. ports through Sept. 30, citing “ongoing” coronavirus outbreaks aboard ships. The CDC’s no-sail order was previously due to expire on July 24. The Cruise Line International Association, which represents the largest cruise lines in the world, announced last month that its members had agreed to suspend operations until Sept. 15.

    President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts
    Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key positions in his Administration: André Bauer, of South Carolina, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Belize.

    Videos

  • Friday's "Ask the Experts", 58min. Tune in at midday today, Friday, July 17th, for another webcast of Ask the Experts. Joining us today is the Ministry of Education to discuss the reopening of schools.

  • Galen Virtual Economic Summit, 57min.

  • The Benders In Belize, 4min. My Dad and I took a week long trip to Belize in July 2015. We landed in Belize City and made our way up to Corozal Town and Orchad Bay. Then we headed over to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye.

  • Channel 5 Obituaries - CLEVELAND CECIL GILLETT SR., 2min.

  • The Belizean Student Delegation - Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina, 31min. The Belizean Student Delegation presently attending Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina talked with us about their COVID-19 experience. They explained how the adjustment in their financial assistance has changed their standard of living.The students are making a plea for support from the authorities and Belizeans to assist with food and personal hygiene supplies.

  • The Belize Police Department - improving its relationship with the community, 17min. The Belize Police Department is setting aside a day to show appreciation to the citizens that support their work. We talked with Dehanne Augustine, Supt. OC Precint Two, of the activities taking place. She explained that the Police Department is working to improve its relationship with the community and that this is part of this process.

  • UWI Open Campus - priority should be placed on ensuring education continues, 28min. Dr. Luz Longsworth is the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UWI Open Campus. We had a conversation with her about the role of universities in times like these. She explained that the priority should be placed on ensuring education continues. She also talked about the need to move from online learning that is emergency remote based to a model that is more robust and embedded into our educational system.

  • 25th Anniversary of Bilateral relations between Belize and Cuba, 38min. Cuban Ambassador to Belize, Her Excellency Lissette Perez Perez spoke to us to reflect on the 25th Anniversary of Bilateral relations between Belize and Cuba. Ambassador Perez talked about the many ways the relationship has been beneficial to Belize and in education and health.

  • Special Select Committee Report on Immigration Scandal, 50min. The Senate convened yesterday and discussed the tabled Special Select Committee Report on Immigration. Mark Lizarraga, Senator for Private Sector, unpacked the details of the report and what it reveals about the infractions that occurred in many approvals of passports and nationality certificates.

  • Bruk It Down With Jenny - keep these relationships stable in these tumultuous times, 27min. The impact of COVID-19 has been a strain on a lot of relationships. In today's episode of "Bruk It Down With Jenny" we talked about how to keep these relationships stable in these tumultuous times. Jenny Lovell, Mental Health Therapist, walked us through the key steps to helping your relationships survive the current conflict and stress.

  • Grace Flavor With A Beat - Grace Coconut Lobster Fritters recipe, 26min. "Grace Flavor With A Beat" featured a Grace Coconut Lobster Fritters recipe. Resident Chef, Duane Lizama, prepared the savory treat using all Grace products and shared a few tricks for making perfect fritters that are fluffy and tasty.

  • Basketball from Benque, 40min. U21 Finals

  • Uber Driver / Taxi Driver Talk Of Do's & Dont's in Belize City, 6min. The development of conversational skills in a new language is a frequent focus of language teaching and learning. One could never tell that Uber/Taxi life is ruff gig, learning alittle about taxi / Uber man hardship in life.

  • Alkaline in Belize, 35min.

  • Manatee Calf Rescued in Belize, 1min. This week Jamal Galves, Associate Research Biologist from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, rescued a male orphan manatee calf in Belize that is estimated to be two to four weeks old. Manatee calves are known to nurse from their mother for one to two years and would not have survived on its own. He is now at Wildtracks for rehabilitation before his eventual return to the wild.

    July 17, 2020


    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, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.


    The San Pedro Sun

    Our Community congratulates Dr. Lucio Nuñez as he graduates medical school in Cuba
    The San Pedro Sun joins the island community in congratulating one of its own, Dr. Lucio Eulogio Salomón Núñez. On Thursday, July 16th, Nuñez graduated from Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina (Latin American School of Medicine/ELAM) as a general practitioner. He and seven other graduates have been bestowed with the honorable title of Doctor after years of study.

    DOE announces Approval for Extension of Timeframe to Implement the Pollution from Plastic Regulations
    The Department of the Environment (DOE) has received Cabinet's endorsement for the extension of the timeframe for the implementation of Regulation 33 (1) (b), (c) and (d) of the Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations, 2020.

    World Bank Financing for Belize to Assist Over 13,000 Poor and Vulnerable Households in Response to COVID-19 Impacts
    Belize will strengthen its response to the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with US$12.4 million from the World Bank. The funds will be used to provide social assistance to poor and vulnerable households impacted by the crisis.

    Inspector Basil Reyes promoted to Assistant Superintendent
    With over 23 years of experience in the Belize Police Force, Basil Delbert Reyes is officially an Assistant Superintendent. He is also Deputy of the Belize Police Department’s Coastal Executive Unit in charge of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. Assistant Superintendent Basil ReyesReyes’ new duties will now comprise of closer work with Superintendent Christopher Noble, human resource management, and more engagement with the community. He is happy with the opportunity to serve Belizeans via the police department. He looks forward to continuing his work with both island communities.

    Ambergris Today

    Congratulations To Newly Graduated Dr. Lucio Nunez
    On behalf for the entire community of San Pedro, Ambergris Today congratulates Dr. Lucio Nuñez as he graduated a Doctor from the Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar del Río in Cuba. Our island community is very proud of his achievement and wishes him the very best in his medical career. Lucio was an outstanding student at San Pedro High School and St. John's College Sixth Form, even receiving top marks in the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) exams for the country of Belize.

    Various Belizean Sources

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    Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen day Location
    Friday, July 17th, Meal Pick ups: Location: Barrier Reef Sports Bar & Grill. Times: Village: 11:00am - 11:45am. Bahia: 11:45am - 12:30pm.

    Free PDF of "Classic Maya Place Names" by Stuart and Houston

    86 Belizean Studenta in Cuba Urgently Need Cargo with Food and Hygiene Supplies
    The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on much global discomfort but for Belizean students studying in Cuba, the experience has been quite different. The first case of SARS-CoV-2 was detected in Cuba on March 11° and with good faith in Cuba's robust medical system, classes continued for medical students until halted on March 23rd. This meant that the only Belizean students who were and still are continuing regular studies were those in the Havana Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina (ELAM): a student population of purely international students making the health risk minimal in comparison to those students in years 3-5 who attend classes in hospitals across the country, who were subsequently placed under quarantine in school dormitories. Not until the first week of April did these students receive orientations for distance learning as the Ministries of Tertiary Education and Public Health attempted to reorganize the school calendar in accordance to the current epidemiological situation...

    United States Embassy Resumption Of Limited Visa Services
    As of Wednesday July 15, 2020, the United States Embassy in Belmopan, Belize is resuming certain immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services, including: Immigrant visa classes IR1, IR2, CR1, and CR2; Nonimmigrant visa classes F, M, and J. While the Embassy aims to process cases as soon as practicable, there is likely to be increased wait times for completing such services due to substantial backlogs.

    to Belize Tourism Industry: Charting a Way Forward Forum
    Meet our Panelists: Panel #4: No tourism without tourists: when, where and how will they come?

    COROZAL SUMMER CLASS MUSIC LESSONS - PIANO & GUITAR
    Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 11:30 A.M. Fee: $180, Call Mrs. Julie Ken at 622-9776 to REGISTER!

    Encore presentation of the Mystery of the Rose Bouquet this Sunday
    Clap Clap Clap! Join Wyldfyah productions in our ENCORE Performance of Mystery of the Rose Bouquet. Just in case you missed it! Our fans and friends have requested 1 mo show! come check it out .. resolve the mystery! Sunday, July 19, 2020 at 7 PM – 10 PM at Wildfire Artzmosphere, 1 Waight St. Embarcadero Plaza, San Ignacio San Ignacio.

    Dive Into Tourism newest publication is NOW AVAILABLE!
    Learn all about "Tourism's Resilience in a World of Pandemics"

    Health and Safety Forum
    Meet the panelists of Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA)'s Tourism Forum on July 24. This panel will focus on "Health and Safety."

    Automatic Temperature Measurement Station's Donated
    Ambassador Remus Li-Kuo Chen handed over the Automatic Temperature Measurement Station (ATMS) to Hon. Beverly Williams, Minister with responsibility for Immigration and Refugees in Belmopan on July 15, 2020, witnessed by Mr. Edmund Zuniga, Chief Executive Officer and other senior officials from the Ministry of Immigration Services and Refugees. The made-in-Taiwan ATMS will help frontline immigration officers perform their important duties of safeguarding the health of people in Belize by monitoring Belizean and international visitors’ temperature safely and easily, with its advanced built-in non-contact infrared forehead thermometer.

    Plants of the Mayan World - Traditional Remedies, Food & Art
    Plants of the Maya World, a beautiful edition with over 2000 photos of exotic plants, gourmet plates and Maya art and crafts! Many authentic Maya recipes adjusted for healthy and modern living that you can try at home. A first complete illustrated guide to the diverse flora of the Mexican Caribbean and Yucatan peninsula with the introduction into the world of Mayan traditions, culture and gastronomy. Now available in digital ebook version! [ 290 page PDF ebook ], $12.99us

    Police Suicide in PG
    A police officer was found dead in his home with a single gunshot wound to his head. 48-year-old Brenton Garcia, who resides in the Magoon Area of Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, reportedly went home last night under the influence of alcohol and told his common-law wife that he was stressed out. He then went inside the bedroom, after which his common-law wife heard a single gunshot. She went into the bedroom to find Garcia lying motionless on the bed.

    JOIN US As Agroforestry Extension Officer
    Ya’axché is looking for an Agroforestry Extension Officer who will work with the Community Outreach and Livelihoods Program in promoting the use of climate-smart agriculture, targeting cacao farmers and beekeepers of the indigenous forest communities in the Toledo District.

    CHILAM BALAM: Creation of Humans
    On 12 Ik - the breath of life was created. The reason it was called Ik was because there was no death in it. On 13 Akbal - took water and watered the ground. Then shaped it and it became human. " - Books of Chilam Balam (The holy books of the Yucatec Maya) Note: The Yuumtsilo'ob k'uj created all what we know . Here we see the first attempt of creating Humans .

    Art & Soul series: Cami Chun
    This week's Art & Soul series features another talented cultural artist of Corozal. We are delighted to showcase Cami Chun who continues to celebrate her Maya heritage as a Jippi Jappa weaver, a skill instilled by her mother. Cami's work is one of, if not the best, in Belize creating beautiful baskets, ornaments and personal accessories. Her skill shines through with her tight, symmetrical, aesthetically pleasing pieces. Cami showcases her artwork at the annual Arte Con Voz de Mujer exhibit here at the House of Culture and sells her pieces at the monthly Art In the Park event.

    COVID-19 UPDATE from Office of Director of Health Services
    A further set of samples were done today including the samples from contact tracing done in Blue Creek, all of these are negative. We do have another positive case, this is in a person that came in through the repatriation process. She is an elderly female with underlying heart conditions who is in home quarantine due to her condition. The person is asymptomatic and remains under home quarantine.

    Invitation for Bids to provide Operation Services at Solid Waste Transfer Facilities
    The Government of Belize through the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority (BSWaMA) of the Ministry of Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development invite sealed bids from eligible and qualified bidders for Contracts to Provide Operations Services at Solid Waste Transfer Facilities (either loading and transferring overland or loading and transfer by sea and land) and a Solid Waste Disposal Facility (Landfill operations) located at Mile 24 off the George Price Highway as set out in more detail in the Bidding Document. Invitations for Bids for operation service will be for a total of 6 lots as detailed in the Bidding document:

    CABEI Donates COVID-19 Sample Collection Kits and RNA Extraction Kits to Belize
    In response to the request issued by the Presidents of Central American Integration System (SICA) countries at a meeting convened on March 12, 2020, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) authorized an emergency aid in favor of the Member States of the SICA, under a Non-Refundable Financial Cooperation modality, to complement national efforts for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19. Those funds will be used to purchase COVID-19 detection test kits, sample collection kits, kits for the RNA extraction process, equipment, and instruments for use.

    U.S. Government Delivers Emergency Kits to NEMO
    The United States Embassy delivered US$20,000 in supplies to Belize's National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) at a July 16 handover ceremony in Belmopan. U.S. Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. Keith Gilges presented the food packs and hygiene kits to NEMO Director Shelton Defour. "It is not a question of 'if' Belize will suffer another natural disaster, but 'when'," said Chargé Gilges. "In the aftermath of such a disaster, access to food and basic hygiene is crucial to the health and well-being of survivors, and it can mean the difference between life and death. The United States has long been committed to partnering with Belize to better prepare for future calamities," he said. "While confronting the current COVID pandemic, we must also remain vigilant to other threats."

    SBDC Customer Care for Small Business Webinar
    Date: July 23rd, 2020 Time: 10:00am-11:30am. This workshop will assist in providing good customer care and give you the skills necessary to communicate professionalism, gain respect, enhance customer relationships, and secure an overall competitive advantage through customer service excellence. Please feel free to contact us at tel: 223-3195 or email: darnell@belizeinvest.org.bz to register. Or register here.

    Working with the UK Tourism Market Webinar
    Want to learn more about the UK Market as it relates to tourism for Belize? The BTB is hosting a free one-hour session with Carol Hay, CEO of McKenzie Gayle Limited, to provide stakeholders with a greater understanding of UK consumers’ and their needs. Click here to register: https://bit.ly/3gNGXVr

    Channel 7

    Port Plans to Lay Off 26, Union Rumbles Its Disapproval
    The fight between the employees of the Port of Belize who members of the Christian Workers Union and the Port's Senior management is about to become more heated and contentious. That's after the Management has declared its intent to lay off 29 of its members who are on staff. Those 29 are among 36 workers that the Port says it can no longer afford to employ. According to the CWU, the official reason is redundancy, and the management says that the COVID-induce economic crisis continues to devastate their revenue source.

    Round One to Arzu
    Turning now to news coming out of the Supreme Court, Police Corporal Eldon Arzu has convinced the Supreme Court to entertain him in a judicial review claim against Police Commissioner Chester Williams. We've been following the case very closely, and as viewers are aware, Arzu is trying to convince the court that the Commissioner took arbitrary decisions to unseat him and his slate as the incumbents on the Board of the Police Association.

    Belizean Cane Cutter Found Dead In Mexican Field
    A Belizean who lived and worked as a cane cutter in Mexico was found dead yesterday. 31 year old Efrain Mauricio Barrientos had been missing for four days when he was found dead in the area where he was harvesting cane in the Cocoyol area of Mexico, which is not far from the Rio Hondo along the border of the Orange Walk District and Mexico. His big sister told CTV-3 that they had not heard from him in a year: "We identified my brother because his wife, they identified the body and she said that yes it's my brother. He has one year working there, cane farmer, he's working..."

    Stopping Border Jumpers Is Top Priority For Nat. Sec.
    As that story illustrates, the northern rural communities of Orange Walk and Corozal districts live in constant contact and close proximity to Mexican villages - with many Belizeans going over to communities across the river like it's just a walk down the road. This historical intimacy, of course, is what's now putting Belize at high risk since COVID is rampant in the municipality of Othon P Blanco. As you heard the commissioner say yesterday, the vast span of the border is impossible to police. Yesterday the Minister of National Security said it's about public education:

    Northern SOE: The Deeper Reasoning
    And reporting from the community is what led to the detection of the current cluster of 7 cases coming out of Blue Creek village. That village and its neighbour San Felipe are now under a state of emergency lockdown and curfew. The Police Minister and Attorney General says that they were left with no other options: "We had to seal it off. We had the declare the area a public emergency: San Felipe and Blue Creek in particular, and another Senator was telling me that maybe we need to do the same for Santa Cruz because that's also an issue..."

    Dalla Van, What Happens To The Brand When The Price Changes?
    It's kind of a problem when your price is also your brandbecause, what happens to the brand when the prices changes? Well, you take a licking! That's what Dalla Van operators are finding out after they increased their price to two dollars. Operators of this much used and trusted service say they can't hold at the one dollar mark indefinitely - while the city council says they can't decide to change it unilaterally.

    Cop Arraigned For Rape of 17 Year Old Minor
    A police officer was today arraigned for the rape and sexual assault of a minor. The allegation is that sin July 6th PC Nelson Ramos, attached to the Intermediate Southern Formation in Independence Village stopped a 17-year-old female driver who didn't have a valid license. She alleged that she was taken to the Police Station where Ramos asked her whether she had anything to offer in exchange for not facing any traffic-related offences. She claimed that Ramos then drove her out to a feeder road where he forced her to perform oral sex on him. He additional is being accused of fondling the minor without her consent.

    Weed In A Box On a Bus
    Yesterday, Orange Walk Police found a box with 9 pounds of weed at the Orange walk Bus Terminal.

    Post-Convention Healing For UDP
    On Monday's news, we took you to the UDP's leadership Convention, where 570 delegates decided, in a very close race between Patrick Faber and John Saldivar. Faber won out, but many of Saldivar's allies feel betrayed by the process and cheated. And within days we learned that Gaspar Vega will not run as a candidate for Orange Walk North, and Wilfred Elrington has said publicly that he believes that it is time to retire from electoral politics.

    The Chopper Investigation Ongoing
    And while it's a zero-sum game for the UDP candidates right now, we also asked the chairman of the ruling party to change hats back to Ministerial one, for national security. It's been months since we've heard an update on the BDF chopper crash that killed two pilots and two crew - and here's what he had to say about that: "I think we made it very public, that each family was given a sort of like an ex-rata payment of $100,000 or something to that effect..."

    One New COVID Case
    The latest COVID-19 test results were released just a few minutes ago - and it shows one new case. It's an elderly woman who came in through the repatriation process. She has underlying heart conditions, so she was allowed to quarantine at home due to her condition. Presently, she is now showing any symptoms.

    PUC's and BEL's Tangle
    Last night, you heard the chairman and the electricity director from the Public Utilities Commission lay into BEL. He said the utility refused to follow the regulator's lead into a power purchase agreement with Santander - which makes electricity form the sugar by product. Tonight, we have a response from BEL, but first here's how the PUC characterised what sounded like stubborn-ness on BEL's part: "We're also announcing our intention to make an order section 23 of the electricity act to ensure that BEL complies with the condition 17 of its license..."

    BEL Corrects PUC
    Those are some rough characterisations - and this evening, via zoom video conference, we got to ask BEL's senior executive for their response: Dawn Sampson Nunez - General Manager, Employee & Corporate Services, BEL: "We first want to communicate that with respect to the agreement with santander sugar industry limited, BEL is in full support of a PPA with that independent power producer and so we thought yes, we would encourage santander to take steps to increase its energy production..."

    BEL Says It's Not Averaging Bills
    We also asked BEL's senior execs about the claims made by the Chairman of the PUC that the utility had been "averaging" bills due to COVID 19. That suggests that due to staff safety concerns during the time of COVID, the company had based your meter reading on an average, rather than going to read it themselves. Today, BEL denied that claim: "So, first of all, meter reading was never suspended. We continued with that, when it comes to the concerns about high bills, of course we know many people were at home, the consumption was high during that time but I do have to make the point that meter reading never suspended..."

    Rotary Helps Families Get Back to School
    Schools are scheduled to re-open on August 10th, and the Sunrise Rotary Club of Belize has decided to come to the aid of 1,000 needy families countrywide, with a back-to-school telethon. Members say that they recognize the extreme financial hardship that Belizean families are facing at this time, due to the economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. So, to aid those parents who lost their jobs during the National State of Emergency, the Rotary Club wants to provide their children with school bags, school supplies, and personal protective equipment.

    Two Free Of Murder
    They've been on remand awaiting trial for attempted for just over 4 years, but tonight 23-year-old Egbert Baldwin and 23-year-old Darwin Prado are both free of that capital offense. That's they were acquitted of a wild shoot out in 2016 in the courtroom of Justice Colin Williams. It happened on May 14th, 2016, and resulted in the murder of 23-year-old Lionel Rhamdas. That's when a shootout happened at the Lozano family home on Mirage Road in Ladyville. The late Casey Lozano and 3 other men were outside his family yard when 3 gunmen approached: two from behind and one from in front of the house.

    Plastic Ban Pushed Back
    On Tuesday's news, we brought you an update on the Plastic Ban reporting that there had been no adjustment to the timeline. But that was before a Cabinet intervention. It's a reversal of what had seemed an environmental triumph and a move that gives a bit of cushion to manufacturers who may not have been able to take another hit. Late Tuesday evening Cabinet granted approval for the extension of the timeframe, meaning that manufacture of single-use plastics did not cease on July 15th, 2020 but will now continue until January 15, 2021.

    Channel 5

    Mark King Goes Trigger Happy Over Domestic Dispute
    Former U.D.P. politician Mark King is in hot water tonight and is under investigation by the police department for allegedly discharging a weapon in public overnight at a Belize City [...]

    Blue Creek Community Members Express Concerns over Lockdown
    The villages of Blue Creek and San Felipe up north remain on lockdown, cut off from the rest of the country. The two villages were placed under a State of [...]

    Fuel Issue in Blue Creek Addressed
    According to Teigrob, community members were also concerned over the depleting amount of fuel in the village.  Teigrob says that after appearing on Open Your Eyes this morning, the matter [...]

    Attorney General on COVID Situation in Orange Walk
    Seven members of a Blue Creek family are currently in quarantine at the Multi-Purpose Sporting Complex in Orange Walk Town.  This is after they all tested positive for the novel [...]

    36 P.B.L. Workers to be Made Redundant?
    Thirty-six workers of the Port of Belize Limited are staring down termination. Of the thirty-six employees, twenty-nine of them are members of the Christian Workers Union.  The declared redundancies may [...]

    A Deeper Look into the Senate Report
    On Wednesday, we were in the Senate hearings where the report from the Senate Special Select Committee on the Immigration Department was finally presented for adoption. The hearings concluded back [...]

    The B.C.C.I. Supports its Business Senator
    Aside from the report on the Immigration that was adopted in the Senate, the upper house also dealt with the appointment of the new chair of the Elections and Boundaries. [...]

    Vacancies on the Supreme Court Bench
    There is another appointment to confirm. As we reported last week, Senior Counsel Lisa Shoman has been appointed as a justice of the Supreme Court.  Along with co-counsel Westmin James, [...]

    Corporal Eldon Arzu Vs ComPol!
    Corporal Eldon Arzu versus the Commissioner of Police – it’s moving forward in the courts. The matter which was adjourned last week was back in the courts today before Justice [...]

    Independence Police Officer Charged for Rape of Minor
    The Belize Police Department has charged one of its own following on a directive from the Director of Public Prosecutions following an allegation of sexual assault on a minor. Nelson [...]

    Darwin Prado and Egbert Baldwin Freed of Attempted Murder Charge
    Two men, who were on trial this week for attempted murder, are free men tonight after the Judge upheld a submission by the defense that the accused men had no [...]

    Lord Michael Ashcroft Receives Certificate of Appreciation from Belize Police Department
    And this news…On Wednesday, the Police Department celebrated outstanding citizens who have supported the work of the department. The awards were presented during ceremonies held at different police stations across [...]

    Good Samaritan Helps Out a COVID-19 Patient’s Household
    In an act of generosity, a Belizean- American businessman made a donation to the family of the COVID-19 patient in Santa Elena, Cayo. The wife of the fifty-year-old patient made [...]

    86 Belizean Students in Cuba Appeal for Help!
    Eighty-six Belizean students on scholarships in Cuba say they are faced with extreme hardships and don’t know what will be their next step.  The students say they are in urgent [...]

    COVID-19 Case #40 is Detected
    An additional case of COVID-19 has been detected taking the total number of positive cases for the country to forty. Just minutes ago, a release from the Office of the [...]

    How Ready are Primary Schools to Reopen?
    The reopening of schools is weeks away on April tenth; it comes just before the re-opening of the Philip Goldson International Airport which can usher in new cases of the [...]

    Motorcycle Knocks Down Toddler in Orange Walk
    A toddler in Orange Walk narrowly escaped serious injuries on Wednesday afternoon. A surveillance camera on Park Street captured when a motorcycle hit the little girl as she ran across [...]

    P.U.C. Forces B.E.L. to Sign Power Purchase Agreement with Santander
    At a press conference on Wednesday, the P.U.C. did not mince words about B.E.L. calling the utility unreasonable. The Public Utilities Commission says it is signing an order to force [...]

    B.E.L. Demands a Seat at the Negotiating Table
    In responding to the P.U.C.’s position, General Manager for Employee and Corporate Services, Dawn Sampson-Nunez, told News today that B.E.L. rightfully deserves a seat at the negotiating table since, should [...]

    Promotions for 18 Police Officers
    The Security Services Commission has granted promotions to several security personnel, including over a dozen officers of the Belize Police Department. Three senior officers were promoted including Dezerie Philips-Magdaleno who [...]

    A Gender-based Violence Hotline
    Domestic violence and gender abuse are prevalent and often times go unreported for a number of reasons. On Wednesday, the National Women’s Commission and the United Nations Population Fund, on [...]

    Illicit Dumpsite in the Albert Division is Cleared Out!
    P.U.P. Standard Bearer for Albert Division in Belize City was out cleaning up the constituency, at least one particular area that has become an illegal dumpsite. Today, Thompson, with support [...]

    Healthy Living: Advice for Diabetics
    These days, life in Belize is as close to normal as it has been since March 2020. We are all still adjusting to face masks, social distancing and increased sanitization [...]

    The Reporter

    New Labour Complaints Tribunal Members
    The Minister of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development has appointed the following persons as members of the Labour Complaints Tribunal for a period of three years with effect from March 1, 2020: Ms. Sheena Pitts, Attorney-at-law - nominated by the Minister and the Chairperson of the Tribunal Ms. Ashanti Arthurs-Martin, Attorney-at-law - nominated by the Chief Justice Ms. Marissa Longsworth, Attorney-at-law - nominated by the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ms. Ella Waight - representative of the worker nominated by the National Trade Union Congress of Belize Ms. Anne Marie Thompson - Commissioner of Labour, ex-officio

    LOVE FM

    Former Prime Minister on the road to Recovery
    Former Prime Minister Said Musa is recovering well after receiving a minor surgery in the United States. The 2-term former Prime Minister was flown out following a stroke he suffered back in May.

    UDP Chairman comments on the recent resignations
    The United Democratic Party (UDP) is faced with some uncertainty as several resignations came following the victory of Patrick Faber as the Party Leader-Elect. Most notably for many is the resignation of Gaspar Vega who pretty much controlled the north for the UDP.

    Area Rep. Kareem Musa weighs in on Senate Report
    The 160-page report from the Special Select Senate Committee was tabled yesterday in the Senate and has been released to the public. While we are still going through the findings of the committee and will be reporting to you accordingly, PUP’s Area Representative Kareem Musa spoke on the report and how he feels about it.

    Eldon Arzu’s case back in court
    The case against the Commissioner of Police by former president of the Police Association, Eldon Arzu, was back in court in front of Justice Sonya Young. At the last court session, arguments were made for the application for permission to file the judicial review.

    Belizean students explain their struggles in Cuba
    Belizean students currently in Cuba have written a plea to the government after the Ministry of Education announced a cut to their stipend. Ordinarily in September they would receive one hundred and fifty Cuban pesos but for this coming academic year the stipend will be cut to one hundred Cuban pesos monthly, equivalent to just over two hundred Belize dollars.

    NOC contemplates locking down the Orange Walk District
    San Felipe and Blue Creek Villages in the Orange Walk District remain under the State of Emergency tonight as a family of seven of Blue Creek was diagnosed with Covid-19. The mapping and tracing of these individuals continue by health officials to ascertain who else these persons have come in contact with.

    CWU says Port of Belize Limited is heading the wrong direction
    The Port of Belize Limited is planning to terminate 36 of its employees on the basis of redundancy. A letter was sent to the Christian Workers Union (CWU) with the details, a few days after the union gave its 21 days’ notice to strike. According to the CWU President, Evan Mose Hyde, things are moving in the wrong direction between PBL and the union.

    Border jumpers; biggest risk for Belizeans
    Border jumpers – they come into Belize via illegal crossings and undocumented. They also pose a great risk for Belizeans when they come in from the neighboring countries that are facing thousands of cases of Covid-19.

    Mark King could be facing criminal charges
    Former UDP Parliamentarian Mark King seems to have found himself in an entanglement of sorts and is possibly facing criminal charges. Perhaps such a situation could happen to just anyone, but last night it reportedly happened to King.

    40th case of covid-19 identified
    The Ministry of Health has identified the 40th case of covid-19. The person is an elderly female with underlying heart conditions who arrived into the country via the repatriation process.

    Breaking Belize NewsPJ

    Belize confirms 1 new case of COVID-19
    The Ministry of Health confirmed 1 new case of COVID-19. A further set of samples […]

    Over 21 dump trucks full of garbage taken from Albert Street Community in Belize City
    Today, the Belize City Council in collaboration with the Water Walkers Boys and Girls Club […]

    Belize receives COVID-19 sample collection kits and RNA extraction kits
    In response to the request issued by the Presidents of Central American Integration System (SICA) […]

    Southern Environmental Agency lawyers up following “defamatory” Facebook post
    The Southern Environmental Agency (SEA) has threatened legal action against a person it claims has […]

    Attorney General backs Estevan Perrera to lead Elections Commission, cites ‘constitutional protection’ of the right to association
    On Wednesday, the Senate, by division, approved the appointment of attorney Estevan Perrera to the […]

    UDP continues on despite losing Vega, Elrington
    The confirmations of the departures of stalwarts Gaspar Vega and Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington from the […]

    U.S. Government Delivers Emergency Kits to NEMO
    Today, the United States Embassy delivered US $20,000 in supplies to Belize’s National Emergency Management […]

    Police find 10 pounds of weed at Orange Walk bus terminal
    On Wednesday, July 15, police conducted a joint operation at the bus terminal in Orange […]

    UDP Chairman reaffirms party unity after rivals meet and shake hands
    On Wednesday, party leader-elect of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Patrick Faber, and the man […]

    BBQ and beach volleyball fundraiser being held for cancer warrior Wayne Eiley
    A cancer diagnosis is sort of like a declaration of war. The patient and their […]

    Tensions rising at Port of Belize as stevedores gather for protest
    Stevedores are currently gathering in a protest at the Port of Belize Limited (PBL) Compound. […]

    US Embassy resumes visa services
    The United States Embassy in Belize informed that as of July 15, 2020, the embassy […]

    Man dies during surgery procedure, wife blames doctor
    Police are investigating the death of a man that occurred while he was undergoing a […]

    Belizean-American businessman provides food assistance to COVID-19 patient
    The wife of the COVID-19 patient from Santa Elena Town reached out to Breaking Belize […]

    Mark King being investigated for firing a gun in public
    Former United Democratic Party area representative Mark King is under investigation by police for allegedly […]

    Blogs

    Inky’s Mini Golf at Sirenian Bay Resort
    The first of its kind for Belize, Placencia is now home to Inky’s Mini Golf at Sirenian Bay! This 18-hole, professionally designed mini-golf course is a perfect vacation stop if you’re in Placencia or just nearby. Inky’s, rumored to be named after an octopus that escaped from the New Zealand National Aquarium to the Belize Barrier Reef, is the first of its kind in Placencia. As an offshoot of golf, mini-golf is much more casual while being fun for people of all ages and abilities! Essentially, your goal is to hit a ball from a tee-off point into a hole in as few shots as possible. That is. through plenty interesting (and tricky) obstacles to putt through, over, under, and around! Throughout the course, you’ll see Inky the Octopus themed across the area.

    Delta Airlines resumes service to Belize in September
    Delta Airlines will return service to Belize starting September 3, 2020; flights will resume three (3) times weekly form Atlanta (ATL). Belize’s international airport is slated to reopen on August 15. Travel to Belize includes stringent rules of engagement visitors must comply in order to stunt the re-emergence of COVID-19 virus; Belize was forced to close it’s borders three months ago in March. Reassured by the Prime Minister of Belize Hon. Dean Barrow, airlines are “ready to resume service once we [Belize] are”. While Delta returns to Belize in September, American and United Airlines return in August.

    International Sourcesizz

    A Stop in Tobacco Caye, Belize
    Friendly residents and charm galore keep cruisers coming back to this tiny island off the coast of Belize. Cruising from island to island inside the world’s second-largest barrier reef, off the coast of Belize, is pretty darn sweet. The easterly trade winds blow steadily while the reef keeps wave heights to a minimum. There are dozens of islands to explore, but Tobacco Caye is the sweetest of all. This 4-acre caye (pronounced “key”) of coconut palms and brightly colored dwellings, perched in crystal-clear water on the tip of a southern section of reef, packs a lot of personality. The friendly, enthusiastic residents give the island a special vibe that keeps us coming back. On our recent visit, after we anchored our Morgan 38, Mary T, in a sandy patch off the northwest tip of the island (16° 54 02 N, 88° 03 78 W), my husband, Kenny, and I hopped into the dinghy and headed over to the Reef’s End Lodge restaurant, a major hub of activity at the southern tip of the island.

    Caribbean Travel News
    Here are the top stories making Caribbean travel news for July 17, 2020: As the US’ COVID-19 cases passed 3.6 million this week, these Caribbean countries are accepting Americans travellers with conditions: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Barbados, Bermuda, Dr, Jamaica, St. Barts, Curacao, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and The USVI .

    Caribbean Business And Finance Report
    Here are some of the top business and finance news making headlines across the Caribbean this week. Belize will strengthen its response to the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with US$12.4 million from the World Bank. The funds will be used to provide social assistance to poor and vulnerable households impacted by the crisis.

    Videos

  • Global Cooperation and Training Framework Workshop, 2min. The U.S. Embassy in Belize is thrilled to announce the next Global Cooperation and Training Framework workshop is coming to the Western Hemisphere. The theme for the event is the digital economy: options for Latin America and the Caribbean’s insertion into the chain of production and commercialization of high technology. In the coming months, the United States, Taiwan, and Japan will offer to Latin America and the Caribbean a series of virtual seminars and exchanges about the digital economy, rooted in our shared democratic values and our shared interest in economic prosperity and transparency

  • Yael Eisner at home in NJ after sailing from Belize on board BLUE NOTE, 15min. Yael Eisner for Israel Sailing Forum event April 30 2020

  • Channel 5 Obituaries - ANTHONY ALEXANDER ROMERO, 1min.

  • Channel 5 Obituaries - EDUARDO RAMIRO MENDEZ, 1min.

  • Inactive vehicle destroyed by fire at Town Council Barracks, 7min.

  • COVID-19 Watch, 62min. With the disruption of Belize's tourism industry, tens of thousands of jobs have been lost, and the impact may likely be felt for years to come. This experience has force us to examine our reliance on the industry and to think of ways to move Forward, Stronger in tourism!

  • The Belize Zoo highlights Emmanuel Peck in today's Bringing the Zoo to You, 3min. Keeper Feature: Meet Emmanuel! Continuing with our “Bringing the Belize Zoo To You” series, we’d like to introduce you to one of our mammal keepers and head primate keeper, Emmanuel Peck!

  • The Department of Youth Services has a nice video about backyard gardening, 4.5min. Check out our first episode of Backyard Gardening, hosted by our DYS Benque Youth Officers. And as a special prize today, we are giving away $20 CREDIT!

  • Crabs varieties in Belize, how cook the red ratty, 2.5min. There are over 4500 varieties of crabs in the world. We can find some of them in Belizean water. Some we can eat and other are scavenger. There are inland and fresh water and sea crabs. We have lots of kind of crabs in Belize. Today we will be sharing about the red ratty.

  • Ziplining in Belize!, 9min. Nick, Emily, her sister Melissa, and brother-in-law James go on the ultimate cruise excursion - a canopy zipline tour inside a rainforest in Belize! (2010)

  • Some Fishing visiting cayes around Belize city on the 20FT TROPHYBOAT, 11min.

  • Teachers from Belize, 9min. In an online session called Building Ships in Belize, a few teachers, Ms. Pascacsio and Ms. Ellis told us about advancements and challenges at their schools.

  • FISHING FOR BARRACUDAS | TEAM JRUBIO, 8.5min.

    July 16, 2020


    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, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.


    The San Pedro Sun

    Belize Police Department recognizes citizens during first-ever National Citizen Appreciation Day
    Law-abiding citizens were honored for their partnership with police in assisting them with services and supporting the police department efforts. A number of islanders were recognized with certificates from the San Pedro Police Formation on Wednesday, July 15th , who thanked them for their support and partnership. The event was part of the National Citizen Appreciation Day celebrated countrywide and saw over 250 citizens being recognized. The occasion honoring law-abiding citizens and role models was held under the theme ‘Honoring and Celebrating our Citizens for partnering with us for a safer Belize.’

    25th Anniversary of Bilateral Relations between Belize and Cuba
    The Belize-Cuba bilateral relationship bears all the signal markers and achievements of a robust, deep and fruitful partnership. The two countries have implemented a multitude of cooperation agreements covering many areas such as agriculture, health, education, and tourism. Belize and Cuba have undertaken many high-level visits, expressed positions of mutual support in international fora, and engaged cultural, sporting, and diplomatic accreditation exchanges. At critical moments of national disasters and in this COVID-19 pandemic, both countries have extended assistance to one another.

    San Pedro dive businesses to apply set of guidelines provided by DAN
    Hoping for a comeback, a few dive shops in San Pedro Town are preparing for a re-opening by adapting to guidelines shared by the Divers Alert Network (DAN), focusing on protecting staff and customers, disinfection, infection control and limiting the spread, along with how equipment and operations can be best administered. A detailed document of the guidelines can be accessed HERE. These recommendations by DAN aim to enable businesses to resume operations as responsibly and safely as possible. DAN hopes that the information shared is useful for everyone. However, they do not expect everyone to adopt each measure, thus, they encourage dive shops to implement what works best for their businesses. Below are some pointers provided by DAN.

    Ambergris Caye won’t be affected by reduced NHI services
    The medical services of the National Health Insurance (NHI) will not be available to those who rely on it for the remainder of this month. This is due to budget cuts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This limitation in services will apparently only affect NHI clinics, thus services are not expected to be disturbed at the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II on the island, as it does not fall under that category.

    Various Belizean Sources

    mzz

    25th Anniversary of Bilateral Relations between Belize and Cuba
    Today, July 15th, marks 25 years of established diplomatic relations between Belize and Cuba. It is, therefore, an opportune time to reflect on the evolution of this bilateral relationship. The Belize-Cuba bilateral relationship bears all the signal markers and achievements of a robust, deep and fruitful partnership. The two countries have implemented a multitude of cooperation agreements covering many areas such as agriculture, health, education, and tourism. Belize and Cuba have undertaken many high-level visits, expressed positions of mutual support in international fora, and engaged cultural, sporting, and diplomatic accreditation exchanges. At critical moments of national disasters and in this COVID-19 pandemic, both countries have extended assistance to one another.

    Caye Coffee Roasting Co. Ltd. re-opens
    It's time! We will reopen Wed July 15! Opening hours are weekdays, 8:00am until 12:00 noon. Come and get your hot and iced coffee, packaged coffee and snacks. We've got your Dario's Beef Pies! Also offering Jerk Chicken or Coconut Empandas and Donuts. Hope to see you soon!

    Road repairs in San Pedro
    Today, our team was in the San Marcos Area cleaning up the streets. We continue to remind all residents to kindly bag your garbage and maintain the containers inside your property.

    Belizean artist Katie Usher’s new e-book "Katie"
    I work within the community to create work for the community. Not that I am completely opposed to the galleries and museums with their white walls, but these can alienate those who didn’t study art or who feel that what is inside was not made for them. My concept is to keep the dinner on the table and have the neighbours and friends come.

    Camp Se Konsa school book sale/exchange
    Camp Se Konsa is having a school book sale/exchange on Saturday the 25th in Spanish Lookout.

    3 Year Anniversary Celebration, Hosted by Stella's Sunset
    Come help us celebrate our 3 Year Anniversary! Doors open at 5pm. Live Music with Eddie McGuire 6-9pm. Wine & drink specials, free snacks. Located lagoon side 1 mile North.

    Belize and Cuba 25th anniversary of bilateral relations
    Today, Belize and Cuba are turning twenty-five years of having established diplomatic relations. Therefore, it is an appropriate time to reflect on the evolution of the bilateral relationship. The bilateral relationship between Belize and Cuba points out and indicates achievements of a solid, deep and fruitful partnership. Belize and Cuba have implemented a multitude of cooperation agreements covering many areas such as agriculture, health, education and tourism. We have conducted many high-level visits, express positions of mutual support in international forums, committed cultural and sports exchanges and diplomatic accreditation exchanges. In critical moments of national disasters and in this COVID-19 pandemic, countries have helped each other.

    Labour Complaints Tribunal
    The Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development hereby informs of the establishment of the Labour Complaints Tribunal. In accordance with the Labour Act, Chapter 297 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, Section 200, “A Labour Complaints Tribunal shall be established for the purpose of providing a fair and impartial appeal process arising from complaints of unfair dismissal or wrongful termination.” Additionally, in accordance with paragraph one of the Schedule of the Labour Act, the Honourable Minister of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development has appointed the following persons as members of the Labour Complaints Tribunal for a period of three years with effect from March 1, 2020:

    Paint N Splash
    See you this week at from 2-4pm Thursday to paint "Davis Falls". join us this week to paint at Crazy Canucks. I have chosen to leave space for creativity! Maybe you want to add a butterfly, a gecko or ladybug! Or you might love the simplicity of the Monestera Leaf! $40bze gets you everything you need to paint a 12"×12" canvas. You may also request a 9" x 9" canvas for $30bze. Please click going and send us a private message on the paint n splash page to secure your spot.

    Belize Tourism Industry: Charting a Way Forward Forum
    Meet our Panelists! Panel #3: Financing the income gap!

    Here are some interviews contributed by Belize Yucatec Maya on the locust natural phenomenon in Belize many years ago
    "Many years ago alot of locusts came and at all our crops and all our milpas. We had no food except for pumpkin" Daniel Cawich (Yucatec Maya elder of San Pablo, Orange Walk) "It happened years ago, here in Belize. The grasshopper ate all in its path but primarily corn and orange leaves. It lasted like a month. After that month, they left but also left behind a lot of eggs which started to hatch. My great grandfather said that the eggs started to hatch and the villagers dug holes and with wanu (thatch) leaves they use to sweep them inside the holes and burn the locusts. My great grandfather told my dad that the locusts even tried to eat the thatch leaves from their homes. It was very sad for farmers and it happened during a hot summer time." - Jonathan Samos

    Road Repair in Corozal
    The Corozal Town Council advises the general public that repair works have been carried out along First Avenue, between 1st Street North and 2nd Street North (by Corozal Methodist Primary School). As a result, this section of the avenue is completely CLOSED to vehicular traffic, cyclists and pedestrian-use. Municipal officers will keep an eye on the area and will issue tickets to anyone who traverses over the repaired area while this advisory remains. The Council appeals to residents to demonstrate appreciation for the hard work that our operations department does to ensure the upkeep of our community.

    Volleyball Camp in Belmopan starts Monday

    Water quality data collection project for the Mopan River
    With the financial support from GIZ Selva Maya Program, FCD is launching a water quality data collection project for the Mopan River. The 5 month project will center its attention on the municipalities of Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize and Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala. This is another citizen science program with member participation from the FCD Environmental Youth Group, Todos Por Un Mundo Verde, Cayo Watershed Conservation Alliance, CORE and the Chiquibul-Mopan Watershed group in Peten. Both the Departments of the Environment from Belize and Guatemala as well as the Municipal Mayors endorse the initiative. Dr. Ed Boles and Lic. Gerson Ochaeta are the technical experts for training and capacity building.

    Corn Husk Doll Making class
    Today's Corn Husk Doll Making class with Beverly Orio continued with finishing up of the dolls and learning the skill of making corn husk flowers!!

    Channel 7

    Still No Answers On The Origin of COIVD Case In San Ignacio
    Tonight, health authorities cannot say where Belize's COVID case #39 came from. The patient is from Santa Elena, Cayo, and he deals in scrap metal while his wife works at the market. Today on Ask The Experts, The Director of Health Services described them as a, quote, "very humble couple." end quote.And, patient #39 had lots of informal contacts - Dr Manzanero explained: "He has acknowledged, the couple has acknowledged that they have had multiple contacts by virtue of the work he does. He is into scrapping metal, that is his business..."

    Blue Creek’s COVID Cluster is a Family
    And while the Cayo area is being studied closely, Blue Creek and San Felipe and the northwestern Orange Walk District remains under state of emergency lockdown and curfew. That's after 7 cases came out of there - all tied to one family with a history of border jumping. This evening on Ask the Experts Dr Manzanero said that they are not being fully cooperative with authorities: "So three minors were picked up and because they were alone at home when they were picked up, intervention was done through the Ministry of Human Development and eventually another family member, adult, accompanied the children to the quarantine center in Orange Walk..."

    A Small Protest To Keep The Border Closed
    And while the totally unregulated border jumpers are driving the COVID numbers up - many Belizeans are equally concerned about the opening of the Phillip Goldson International airport to tourists, especially American tourists coming from city like Houston and Miami which have soaring infection rates. Tonight, that re-opening is exactly one month away and one group armed with picket signs protested the decision in Belize City's cornerstone of resistance, the Battlefield park. Cherisse Halsall went into the crowd. There were less than a dozen protesters gathered in Battlefield park this morning. They were a Ragtag bunch who'd made their placards and signs out of recycled cardboard but they didn't lack passion.

    Dr. Manza On Double Anxieties: School & PGIA
    So, the double anxieties of the airport opening on August 15th, and schools opening 5 days before are very much on the minds of Belizeans in the middle of July. Today, Dr. Manzanero discussed both looming events - and said that at some point, the community has to make informed decisions about living with COVID 19 - because it's gonna be around for a while: "The issue keeps coming up what about schools and I know there is a valid concern, elements of fear, fear of the unknown, fine. But if we don't want to open schools then I would assume that we are going to be protecting our children, but I see children everywhere. I see children in market areas, out walking, we just got ask earlier today in one of our social media pages if children can be out on the street after 6-8pm..."

    COMPOL Says Border Jumping Is Hard To Stop
    And while parents wrestle with how to keep their children safe once the airport reopens, Manzanero said that the greatest threats are, first, from border jumpers, and second, from the Belizeans who return once the airport opens, since they won't have to go into mandatory quarantine. But that is a month away, right now, the jumpers are driving the COVID numbers up - especially, as you heard earlier, through the La Union border crossing in Blue Creek. These jumpers are a major problem for the police and this morning Commissioner Chester Williams told us that plugging every blindspot in a large and porous border would require an impossible amount of manpower.

    Life Under Lockdown In The Northwest
    And while we can only hope that we're not entering an era of COVID-19 witch-hunts with neighbors calling out neighbors for the slightest sniffle, truth is, It was only through community reporting that the Ministry of Health was able to zone in on those Blue Creek cases. This Morning Commissioner Williams told us a bit about what life is like for those villagers under lockdown. "Yes the state of emergency in the Blue Creek/San Felipe area is still ongoing. You would know that it came about as a result of a cluster of confirmed cases of Covid-19 that the ministry of health detected in that area and so there have been severe restriction to the movements of persons as well as goods and services to and from the affected area..."

    The Good Ol' UDP Hug-Up For Saldivar and Faber
    Since Sunday's election of Patrick Faber as the leader elect of the UDP, there have been persistent rumours of cabals and conspirators plotting to de-stabilize the Barrow cabinet and up-end the UDP. And while two incumbent area reps have announced that they will not run again as a direct consequence of Faber's election - it doesn't appear that the convention casualties will go much further than that.And that's because, by all outward appearances, debated candidate for leader, John Saldivar is showing that he is on-side with the Faber leadership.

    UDP Tony Talks Of Unity
    And while Saldivar appears to have fallen in behind Faber, will his closest allies like Dr. Angel Campos and Frank Pawpa Mena do the same? That's left to be seen, but one of Saldivar's most faithful allies, UDP Standard Bearer for Corozal Southeast Tony Herrera says he's not going anywhere. This, despite credible reports we had received from his political associates who say Herrera had indicated on Sunday that that he was not prepared to serve under new leader-elect Patrick Faber. We could not reach him for comment yesterday, but Herrera told 7News via phone this afternoon that he remains in the race as southeast standard bearer, and committed to the UDP. Here's his interview with Jules Vasquez:

    Finally, the 60-page Report on the Senate Immigration Probe
    There was a Special Sitting of the Senate in Belmopan today in which there were robust debate and several sparring matches between the parliamentarians of the Upper House. We'll have all that for you, but for context, there were three main pieces of business that the Senate focused on today. Those included, the re-appointment of the Chairman of the Integrity Commission, the appointment of a new Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission, and the most divisive motion of the day, the tabling of the majority report from the Senate Special Select Committee.

    Hon. Aldo Confronts Critics
    Today's motion to adopt the Senate Special Select Committee's Report on Immigration gave the Chairman, Senator Aldo Salazar, a chance to respond to his critics. Viewers will remember that some went as far as to suggest that he was deliberately delaying the completion of the report for the political convenience of the ruling UDP.Today, he told his colleagues in the Senate that he simply has had to shrug off very unfair comments about his performance as the chairman of the committee. Here's how he explained it:

    Some Senators Not Happy With Integrity Commission Chair
    The other important piece of Senate business that was debated today was the re-appointment of the Chairman of the Integrity Commission, Deshawn Arzu-Torres. That's the body that is supposed to keep elected politicians honest, by ensuring that they aren't using their public office for unjust enrichment and personal gain.

    Independent Senate Wants Politicians To Declare
    While he was making his contribution to the debate for the reappointment of the chairman of the Integrity Commission, Business Senator Mark Lizarraga raised concern coming from the business community. This afternoon, he announced that his constituents aren't pleased that elected politicians have been allowed to get away with failing to declare their assets, which is supposed to take place annually.

    Senate Debates/Approves New E & B Chairman
    And finally from the Senate tonight, we report now on the debate discussing the appointment of attorney Estevan Perrera as the new Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission.All the Senators have agreed that he has their confidence as a Belizean with high integrity. What they are questioning, however, is whether or not he will be able to act impartially as the Chairman of the Commission.Several of the parliamentarians of the upper house made sure to stress that he has served on politically-appointed posts under the ruling Barrow Administration.

    Cops Show Citizens Love
    Last night we told you that the cops were replacing police week celebrations - too dangerous and expensive to carry through during COVID-19 - with Citizen's Appreciation Day. It's an initiative in which officers thank the community for their role in making successful policing possible. The Commissioner told us about the activities that took place countrywide. Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: "We sought an alternative to police week which is a citizen's appreciation day, a day that we can take to celebrate those citizens who continue to stand by our side through thick and thin in ensuring that our police department gives the level of service that it is expected to give to the wider public and so I want to say thank you to each of you awardees today. It shows that we're not in an entanglement but rather in a marriage."

    Police Partners
    As you saw special awards were given not just to outstanding individuals but to businesses that have sponsored or participated in policing programs. The Commissioner says that the government will never be able to provide the police department with all the resources they need and indicated that globally police departments rely on sponsorships to fill in the blanks.

    Big Promotion For Senior Cops
    And while the Police took the day to honor citizens, they are also celebrating the promotions of some highly accomplished officers. The Commissioner discussed their new appointments earlier today.

    Vidal Still Recovering From Serious Stroke
    Another outstanding officer ACP Marco Vidal remains at home after suffering a serious stroke last week. You'll remember that Vidal led last week's pre-dawn raids across the city, and worked right through until evening when he was taken to the hospital. This morning the Commissioner told us that Vidal is the road to recovery and eager to get back to work.

    COMPOL, Word To The Mothers
    And what about the men detained in those raids? 32 of them have ended up at the Belize Central Prison but the Commissioner says that number is far below that of those detained. He also said that they tended to be younger men and sent a message to many of their mothers who have been speaking out on their son's behalf.

    PUC "Orders" Resistant BEL to Sign PPA
    Turning now to utility news, the Public Utilities Commission is basically going to force BEL to sign an expanded power purchase agreement with Santander. At a press conference today, the PUC Chairman said that BEL had been dragging its foot on an agreement the PUC feels benefits all:

    BEL Asks For Independent Expert
    The PUC also held its press conference to say that the full tariff review period has been pushed back to August because of COVID 19. In March 20th the PUC suspended the FTRP. That was right after BEL entered an objection to the initial decision - which means an independent expert has to be appointed.

    PUC Says BEL Was Averaging Bills
    And, we also asked the PUC chairman to discuss the high electricity bills that many Belizeans were complaining about in April and May. First off, he stresses that with all that Facebook chatter, not a single consumer sent a formal complaint to the PUC for them to investigate.

    NEAB Slams Appointment of Pro LGBT Judges
    Tonight, the National Evangelical Association of Belize is expressing its dissatisfaction at the recent appointments of judges in the Supreme Court. They are particularly singling out ascension of attorneys Lisa Shoman and Westmin James, who both represented Caleb Orozco and UNIBAM, in the Supreme Court case which resulted in the legalization of consensual, same-sex acts between adults.A press release from NEAB says, quote, "The... Association... is deeply troubled by events occurring in the Judiciary of Belize, regarding the recent appointments of two Supreme Court Justices, as well as the delay in confirming the position of the Chief Justice. We note with great alarm that two UNIBAM attorney advocates have been appointed to the Supreme Court and that an ambitious billionaire is pulling strings for the appointment of another UNIBAM attorney advocate!

    New Scene For SOC Team
    The Scenes of Crime Unit has moved out of the Queen Street police station and into a Building belonging to the Prime Minister's law firm. We asked the Commissioner what prompted the move.

    A Land Line To Call
    The police department has also announced the establishment of a second toll-free hotline for the reporting of domestic violence. And this morning just after the announcement the Commissioner told us that victims can be prevented from speaking out by abusers that keep a tight grip on resources. Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police:"Every effort that we get that helps to eradicate the scourge of domestic violence or gender-based violence is important. Oftentimes people find themselves in a position where they are being abused and particularly women and for some reason or the other they are unable to report the abuse because of one lack of resources meaning communication resources or two fear..."

    UB Is Haemorrhaging
    The University of Belize is hemorrhaging. That's according to a press release sent out this evening that finally outlines the measures that President Sankat's has placed before his board of Trustees. Those measures include a salary reduction, effective August 1st, across the board with a tiered reduction beginning at 25% at the top most band and reducing to 5% at the lowest band. Increments across the board for all employees will be frozen for the 2020-21 financial year, with the provision that the forgone implementation will still apply to pensions at retirement or upon departure from the University.

    Channel 5

    Chairman of the Senate Special Select Committee Tables Report, Finally
    Today, the Chairman of the Senate Select Committee Senator Aldo Salazar tabled the long-awaited senate report. The one hundred and sixty-page report confirms the findings of the Auditor General Special [...]

    Senators Debate Report
    In her report, the Auditor General found that, “since the law does not provide for ministers to intervene in the visa process, it was illegal for them to do so.” But [...]

    Faber and Saldivar Meet Amid U.D.P. Resignations
    U.D.P. leader elect, Patrick Faber met this morning with former political opponent John Saldivar, their first sit-down after the leadership convention on Sunday.  At the time that the official results [...]

    Are There More U.D.P. Resignations to Come?
    While several others are said to be considering not seeking re-election in November, the U.D.P. chairman says that in the case of Gapi Vega and Sedi Elrington, all indications were [...]

    Mike Peyrefitte: “Disappointments are to be Expected”
    In the wake of the convention, supporters of both John Saldivar and Wilfred Elrington are disappointed with the outcome, however, there are no confirmations on any new resignation in the [...]

    COVID-19 Shows up in San Felipe, Blue Creek and Santa Elena
    Residents of San Felipe and Blue Creek Villages in Orange Walk District, whom health officials believe may have been in physical contact with persons who recently tested positive for the [...]

    Latest COVID Patient Shows No Sign of Respiratory Distress
    Orange Walk District is the last to have recorded cases of COVID-19; however, it presently has the most active cases.  In Santa Elena on Tuesday, a man in his early [...]

    Latest COVID Patient is a Metal Scrapper
    The latest coronavirus patient is a businessman whose livelihood is scrapping vehicles.  His wife, who is also part of the contact tracing exercise, is a clothing vendor at the San [...]

    Attorney Estevan Perrera is New Chairman of Elections and Boundaries Commission
    The Senate today also debated the appointment of attorney Estevan Perrera to the post of Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission. He succeeds former chairman, Doug Singh, who resigned [...]

    Attorney Deshawn Arzu-Torres Reappointed as Chairman of Integrity Commission
    Attorney Deshawn Arzu-Torres’ appointment was also before the senate. She was reappointed to the post of Chairman of the Integrity Commission. Arzu-Torres was first appointed on June first, 2018 for [...]

    Opposition Senators Reject Appointment of Arzu-Torres
    Coming down hard with criticisms against the government was the Opposition Senators.  One of the roles of the commission is to guard against illicit enrichment by public officials. Besides calling [...]

    Reopening P.G.I.A. – Choosing Destination Based on Health, Safety and Cleanliness
    The reopening of the Philip Goldson International Airport is not without opposition; there are concerns about the risks associated with international visitors being allowed to enter Belize from countries recording [...]

    Belizeans Returnees are of Equal Concern Regarding COVID-19 Spread
    While concerns are being raised about the reopening of the Philip Goldson International Airport one month from today and the idea of visitors spreading COVID-19 in the country, the primary [...]

    How Ready is the Tourism Industry for the Reopening to International Visitors?
    …and how ready is the tourism industry for the reopening to international visitors? For some time now, hotels and properties across the country have been following sanitization guidelines set by [...]

    ACP Marco Vidal Recovering at Home!
    Assistant Commissioner of Police Marco Vidal is at home recovering from a stroke that he suffered one week ago. Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told the media that Vidal [...]

    ComPol Says He Had No Hand in Scenes of Crime Relocation
    The Scenes of Crime Unit has relocated from the Queen Street Police Station to a rental office space of Barrow and Williams, the Prime Minister’s law firm building on Albert [...]

    Protocols for the Movement of Goods In and Out of San Felipe and Blue Creek Villages
    The State of Emergency remains in place for the villages of San Felipe and Blue Creek. And if you think you are getting in or out, Commissioner of Police Chester [...]

    Hotline and P.S.A.s to Address Border Jumping and Contraband
    The Belize Police Department says that it is taking policing of the border jumping and contraband trade to another level. In the coming days the department will have five hotlines [...]

    Belize Police Department Hosts First Ever Citizens Appreciation Day
    The Belize Police Department says that COVID-19 and budgetary restrictions prevented them from observing their Annual Police Week. But what they didn’t cut back was the appreciation for citizens who [...]

    Full Tariff Review Proceeding for B.E.L.’s Rate Resumes
    On March twenty-first, the Public Utilities Commission suspended the full tariff reviewing proceeding for Belize Electricity Limited based on the utility company’s recommendation, as well as the state of emergency [...]

    Lifeline Foundation Issues $130K in Tuition Relief for Thousands of Students
    There were happy faces at the Biltmore Plaza today; more than two thousand four hundred children will benefit from tuition relief given to eighteen schools.   The scholarship comes at a [...]

    LOVE FM

    Belizean author publishes self-titled book
    The Image Factory Art Foundation has put out its first publication since it reached its 25th anniversary. “KATIE Numi Usher” is a twenty-page book that captures the artistic history of the past 12 years of the co-author of the same name.

    Dollar Van association wants to keep increased prices
    Today a meeting was facilitated between the Belize City Council and the Belize Dollar Van Association (BDVA) to discuss the 100% increase in Dollar Van prices. The association apparently does not want to revert back to charging only a dollar.

    DHS speaks on recent covid-19 cases
    The Ministry of Health is currently monitoring 16 active cases of covid-19 in the country. One case in particular has caused plenty of concern for the Ministry as well as for residents.

    Man shot in derriere
    A man in Camalote Village, Cayo District, has survived an attempt on his life. Cayo Correspondent Fem Cruz has the details.

    WATCH: Belizeans protest the reopening of the PGIA
    A handful of Belizeans took to the streets this afternoon to join the “Nuh open di PGIA” protest. These persons are vehemently against reopening the Philip Goldson International Airport, which is set for August 15.

    UB cuts salaries for employees
    The University of Belize is cutting back on expenses due to a stark reduction of income caused by covid-19. This reduction comes from a cut in the government’s subvention as well as a projected loss in tuition income.

    Man missing in Teakettle Village
    A 21-year-old man of Teakettle Village in the Cayo District who reportedly suffers from mental illness has been reported missing. Wilford Max was last seen on Tuesday, July 14, at about 3:30pm.

    Belize and Cuba celebrate 25 years of diplomatic relations
    July 15 marks 25 years of established diplomatic relations between Belize and Cuba. In a release from the Government, they highlighted that the two countries have implemented many cooperation agreements covering areas such as agriculture, health, education, and tourism. Both countries have benefitted from the mutual support.

    Breaking Belize NewsPJ

    Government cutting budget for office space and dwelling rentals
    The Government of Belize, in its ongoing cost saving measures, is cutting the amount of […]

    Ministry of Health reviewed Ministry of Education’s action plan, thinks it is “solid”
    The Ministry of Health (MOH) says that it has reviewed the Ministry of Education’s (MOE)’s […]

    Ministry of Health asks public to be respectful of due process for information dissemination
    The Ministry of Health says that it is being bombarded with requests for information regarding […]

    Repatriate tests positive for COVID-19 authorities not concerned
    A man from the repatriate flight that came to Belize on Friday has tested positive […]

    “Border jumpers need to be immediately swabbed,” says Director of Health Services
    Director of Health Services for the Ministry of Health Dr. Marvin Manzanero said today that […]

    Evangelical Association concerned over Supreme Court appointments
    The National Evangelical Association of Belize (NEAB) has expressed grave concern over the appointment of […]

    Latest COVID-19 patient’s wife says he is slowly improving
    The wife of the 50-year-old COVID-19 patient from Santa Elena, Cayo told BBN today that […]

    Wife of latest COVID-19 patient pleads for food assistance
    The wife of the 50-year-old COVID-19 patient from Santa Elena, Cayo is pleading to the […]

    Inquiry was about politics, says Committee Chairman Aldo Salazar
    Chairman of the Senate Special Select Committee on Immigration, Aldo Salazar, concluded that the odyssey of […]

    Senate to adopt Special Select Committee Report on Immigration
    The Chairman of the Senate Special Select Committee, Aldo Salazar, has moved the motion to adopt […]

    Small protest staged to keep Philip Goldson International Airport closed
    A small group of people has gathered at the Battle Field Park in Belize City […]

    Man from Teakettle reported missing
    The family of Teakettle resident Wilford Max, 21, is concerned about his whereabouts. Max’s dad, […]

    Cuba and Belize celebrate 25 years of diplomatic friendship
    Cuba and Belize are celebrating 25 years of diplomatic friendship, cooperation, and solidarity today. Cuba […]

    Belizean artist Katie Usher’s new e-book calls readers to a place of reflection
    Katie Numi Usher, a Belizean artist who has been working in the country’s creative sector […]

    Chairman tables Senate Special Select Committee report
    Some two-and-a-half years after its hearings ended in December 2017, the Chairman of the Senate […]

    Caribbean Court of Justice upholds right to appeal verdicts of non-jury trials
    The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) yesterday ruled that the State, represented by the Director […]

    Ministry of Health says contact tracing is ongoing for COVID-19 patient from Santa Elena
    The Ministry of Health informed yesterday that it had detected 2 new cases of COVID-19. […]

    Dianne Finnegan leaves Youth Apprenticeship Program
    Dianne Finnegan, long-known for her work as the Director of the Youth Apprenticeship Program, announced […]

    PUP says privileged UDP continue to prosper while basic services such as NHI for Belizeans are cut
    The People’s United Party (PUP) issued a statement calling out the government for punishing Belizeans. […]

    Belize monitors 16 active cases of COVID-19
    The Ministry of Health is currently monitoring 16 active cases of COVID-19. Of those 16, […]

    Blogs

    Top 6 Things to Do & See in Ambergris Caye
    Belize is located in Central America, only a 2 hour flight from Miami. The country has beautiful jungles, Mayan Ruins and some of the best snorkeling and diving in Latin America. ‘The undisputed superstar of Belize's tourism industry, 'La Isla Bonita' strikes an impressive and perhaps even magical balance of large-scale tourism development with a fun, laid-back atmosphere. Sure it gets busy – especially in high season when an endless procession of golf carts clogs the narrow streets of the main town, San Pedro – but it's still the kind of place where it's acceptable to hold up traffic while you greet an old acquaintance.’ Lonely Planet Here are some 6 recommendations for activities during your vacation on Ambergris Caye;

    My Eight Craziest Adventure Tours In Belize
    Belize is full of adventure. Such a small country but you can be at the Second Largest Reef in the world on one day and then spelunking deep within a limestone cave the next. There are so many different tours and trips that you can take on your trip to Belize – some more popular and some very customized and personal. Here is a list of some of the craziest adventure tours I’ve been on. For such a chicken, I’m getting better and better at this stuff!

    Top 8 ‘Must-Try’ Foods In Belize
    When looking to vacation in Belize you might be unsure of various things, one of them may be the food. Here in Belize, we have a ‘melting pot of cultures’ which extends to the kitchen making our food and dishes a unique taste of Belize. Belize’s culinary is probably the most diverse and delicious one you can find in the entire world. When you are in Belize, here are the top 8 foods you need to try:

    Celebrating PADI Women’s Dive Day in Belize
    Celebrated on July 18, Women’s Dive Day aims to continue the tradition by celebrating our connection to each other and the ocean. For the sixth consecutive year, PADI® Dive Centers and Resorts worldwide will host divers for a global celebration of shared adventure, passion and ocean conservation. Join divers around the world – enjoying and educating others on the underwater world – whether online or in person! Belize has forever been a premier diving destination, being home to the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. Approximately 185 miles long, the Belize Barrier Reef offers exceptional diving sites that will leave you in awe. Belize is home to over 100 types of corals and 500 types of fish species; with rarities too, the reef paints a colorful and vibrant underwater scene.

    International Sourcesizz

    Ireland Has a New Coronavirus Fear: Americans Who Flout Quarantine
    The government is under fire for not enforcing the rule that people arriving self-isolate for 14 days. With the pandemic still raging in the United States, concern has focused on Americans.

    A Guide to the Caribbean Islands Reopening this Summer
    The latest updates from Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, and more. We'd all love to lay out on a beach right now—and no one does beaches better than the Caribbean. But more than toes in the sand, what the Caribbean and its economies need right now are tourist dollars. According to the Inter-American Development Bank, 14 of the 15 most tourism-dependent nations in the world are in the Caribbean, with Aruba, Antigua and Barbuda, and the Bahamas in the top three spots.

    A UC Riverside researcher may have discovered a way to save our citrus trees
    Attention home gardeners: Our beloved citrus trees may yet be saved from the incurable huanglongbing, a.k.a. HLB or citrus greening disease, thanks to natural immunities found in a rare and flavorful relative known as the Australian finger lime. After five years of study, a team of UC Riverside researchers led by Hailing Jin, professor of plant genetics, identified which gene in the finger lime causes that immunity and extracted it to create an antibiotic that has killed the disease in young trees raised in laboratories and controlled environment greenhouses. The treatment can be used as a spray or an injection, but don’t go rushing to your garden store just yet.

    A New Album Turns The Sound Of Endangered Birds Into Electronic Music
    An international collective of electronic music DJs and composers is taking beats from the dance club to jungles and forests and back, all to help save nature's greatest singers. A Guide to the Birdsong of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean is a new album that samples the sounds of endangered birds and whose proceeds go directly towards efforts to save them. Robin Perkins is a 33-year-old DJ, composer and producer originally from Glassup, England. He goes by the name El Búho or "the Owl." Perkins produced the first volume of this project in 2015, A Guide to the Birdsong of South America.

    Princess Cruises announces 2021–2022 Caribbean Season
    Princess Cruises guests sailing to the islands of the Caribbean now have a diversity of itineraries and cruise ships including MedallionClass vessels, to choose from with the announcement of the cruise line’s fall 2021 to spring 2022 cruise season, open for sale July 22, 2020. Key season highlights include: Seven-day Caribbean itineraries on MedallionClass ships Sky Princess and Caribbean Princess include a range of itineraries visiting the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Popular port highlights include St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Grand Turk, San Juan and St. Kitts in the Eastern Caribbean and Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Belize City and Roatán in the Western Caribbean. Both sailings visit Princess’ private island resort, Princess Cays, in the Bahamas.

    Lazard gears up for post-COVID sovereign debt restructurings
    More governments could be forced into negotiations with creditors this year as the coronavirus crisis piles further pressure onto countries already struggling with debt repayments, executives at investment bank Lazard said. “Countries that have borrowed in a currency that is not their own and don’t have a central bank that can help are being choked,” Pierre Cailleteau, managing director in Lazard’s Paris-based sovereign advisory team, told Reuters. “There are going to be many situations of financial distress.” Belize said recently that it would ask holders of its U.S. dollar bond due in 2034 to agree a deferral of interest payments for six months, citing a devastating collapse in tourism revenues because of the pandemic.

    As seaweed becomes a top crop in East Africa, a new program will help farmers grow it sustainably
    Seaweed has become one of Zanzibar’s major crops since seaweed farming was introduced on the Tanzanian archipelago in the 1980s. Exports were valued at $5.2 million for the year ending in May, up from $4.1 million the previous year, according to the Bank of Zanzibar. The aquaculture industry is estimated to employ more than 25,000 people, an overwhelming majority of them women. The Nature Conservancy currently operates similar seaweed farming programs in Belize and Indonesia. In the first year of its new Tanzania program, the environmental organization plans to work with 100 farmers on the islands of Pemba and Unguja to develop best practices to manage their small-scale farms sustainably and increase yields.

    Videos

  • Wednesday's "Ask the Experts", 56min. Joining us was Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services.

  • Special Sitting of the Senate, 35min.

  • Driving in Belize City (Narrated) From Fabers road to Baymen Av., 23min. Belize city is very unique in so many ways. When you hear about a city we might think of a place that is Big and that have huge building, big mall, wide streets and of course a lot of traffic. So when you think of Belize city visualize something completely different. Belize is very easy going and the people are very friendly. So sit back and enjoy the ride.

  • Mike and Andreina vs coconut on the beach (Placencia, Belize), 5min. So this was my first time in the Caribbean and I didn't realize there are coconuts growing everywhere and you can just pick and eat them. Take in the scenery and ambiance with me on this incredible beach while a scavenge for a sna

  • Mrs. Marta Reyes of El Dorado Coconut Oil Products out of Xaibe Village talks about going green in using biodegradable packaging for her products, 2.5min. She has represented Corozal and Belize at cultural events in Mexico and is a regular participant at the monthly Art in the Park. We absolutely love her soaps!

  • NATIONAL CITIZEN APPRECIATION DAY pt1, 13min.

  • NATIONAL CITIZEN APPRECIATION DAY pt2, 54min.

  • Loreto Pelayo and Christopher Deshield - a duet - 'Shiny Stockings', 3.5min. Here's another entry from BIJF's Online Competition.

  • Classroom on the Sea | Belize 2019 | Vlog of a VMI Cadet, 3min. A Video made from footage from last year when I was given the opportunity to study Marine Biology at Belize. By far my favorite class I’ve taken.

    July 15, 2020


    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, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.


    The San Pedro Sun

    Tropic Air prepares for safe flights within Belize following opening of international airport
    Tropic Air announced that it will assign separate aircrafts for its international and domestic passengers upon the re-opening of the PGIA on August 15th.

    Yakarelis Hernandez is elected president of Rotaract Club of Ambergris Caye; new board of directors selected
    Yakarelis Hernandez was sworn in as the new president of the Rotaract Club of Ambergris Caye. The handing over ceremony was held on Saturday, July 11th inside Enigma in downtown San Pedro, where the 2020-2021 Board of Directors was also sworn in. The event was marked with a reception, speeches and the presence of special invited guests including the newly installed president of the Rotary Club of Ambergris Caye, Gregorio Najarro.

    University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union Receives Trade Union Certification
    The University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union was today certified as the Bargaining Agent for employees of the (i) Full-time Faculty and Staff and (ii) Faculty and Staff on Temporary Assignment, where employment has been for two consecutive twelve-month contracts. Based on the results of a survey conducted on January 13th, 2020, the Union represents the interests of 237 employees.

    Various Belizean Sources

    mzz

    Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen day Location
    Wednesday, July 15th, Meal pick ups. Location: Belize Diving Services Ltd. Times: Village: 11:00am - 11:45am. Bahia: 11:45am -12:30pm.

    Single-use plastic products no longer allowed in the country
    This notice serves as a reminder to all importers, customs brokers, and members of the general public that the Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations, 2020, came into force on January 15th, 2020. This legislation regulates the importation, manufacture, sale and possession of Restricted and Prohibited Products listed in the Schedules of the Regulations. Kindly be advised that there has been no adjustment to the date prohibiting the importation of products listed in Schedule II of the Regulations, which is April 15, 2020, and is now passed. Therefore, the importation of prohibited products is no longer permitted.

    Wildtracks Urgent call for volunteers
    We are looking for three to four people enthusiastically willing to volunteer their time over the next week to two weeks to help with the 24 hour care of the newest manatee calf at Wildtracks. It will involve being part of a team focused on the survival of these amazing endangered species, and will include in and out of water shifts and both day and night shifts as we work to stabilize the calf. Starting today! Accommodation and food are provided on site.

    ORANGE WALK MAYOR WRITES: CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER
    Office of the Mayor: Clear and Present Danger. I would like to impress on residents of Orange Walk Town, and by extension the entire Orange Walk District, the real and present danger our communities face as COVID-19 continues to ravage our neighbors. Of late, the nation has seen a sudden surge in confirmed cases, and every one of them can be traced to persons entering the country. Seven of those cases have been identified in the Orange Walk District, resulting in a state of emergency being declared for San Felipe and Blue Creek.

    Birds and Bugs Tour by Roni Martinez
    Went to Caracol and MPR yesterday for a Birds and Bugs Tour. I might have hit the best time of the year for a few very interesting species.

    "Housekeeping" webinar for the Tourism Gold Standard
    Notice: The "Housekeeping" webinar for the Tourism Gold Standard program is scheduled for July 15, 2020. Register here: https://bit.ly/2W9TMl9

    Jazz Festival Finals and Jam Session
    Saturday July 18, 8pm Venue for this Jazz Festival has changed to the ticketing Booth area at Marion Jones.

    Tropic Air Intends To Fly Separate International And Domestic Networks In August
    With the resumption of service from the Belize International Airport (PGIA) on August 15, Tropic Air will operate dedicated aircraft from PGIA to San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Dangriga, Placencia (Riversdale), Punta Gorda, San Ignacio and return. These flights will not carry other domestic passengers. They will be solely for passengers whose origin or final destination is the PGIA. Domestic passengers will be carried across a separate parallel domestic network, with dedicated planes, between Belize City Municipal, Corozal, San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Dangriga, Placencia (Riversdale) and Punta Gorda. Flight times will be varied to avoid mixing domestic and international passengers in our terminals.

    Brazilian Jujitsu Tournament in Orange Walk Town
    Brazilian Jujitsu Tournament on Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at the Gala Lounge in Orange Walk Town. It will be streamed live on Facebook in HD. The athletes will be coming from various schools and disciplines from across the country.

    Gathering Data for School Re-opening
    A local company, Digital Learning & Pedagogical Solutions, is currently assisting several schools with a reopening strategy for the upcoming school year 2020-2021. However, they are in need of data to guide in the decision-making process to help schools and, more importantly, to help our children to stay safe during this pandemic. Kindly assist them with filling out this survey about your perspective about the new school year in Belize. It will only take a few minutes. We are all concerned about the safety and well-being of our children, parents, and school staff, and are extremely interested in your input. Kindly help us share this post so we can get as much of your valuable input as possible. Thank you for your participation.

    Bbq Fundraiser for Wayne Eiley who is in need of a life saving surgery

    COVID-19 UPDATE from Office of Director of Health Services
    A further 88 samples were processed today, some of these included the initial set of samples picked up from contact tracing and the mapping exercise done over the weekend linked to the last 7 cases. These samples have returned negative, however, the further mapping of these cases is ongoing. We however have identified two other cases as reactive for SARS-CoV2: - A case in a returning male on the repatriation flight that arrived on Friday, July 10th. He is under quarantine at a hotel and is asymptomatic. - A second case in a male in his 50's who was seen as a patient at the San Ignacio Community Hospital over the weekend with gastrointestinal symptoms and a loss of sense of taste. The patient was discharged to self-isolate home. The patient has improved clinically and remains in isolation at home. The contact tracing for this last case is currently ongoing.

    Approval for Extension of Time Frame to Implement the Pollution from Plastics Regulations
    The Department of the Environment (DOE) has received Cabinet's endorsement for the extension of the timeframe for the implementation of Regulation 33 (1) (b), (c) and (d) of the Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations, 2020. Due to preparations to address the COVID-I9 pandemic in March 2020, and subsequent National State of Emergency to address the health crisis caused by COVID- I 9 in April 2020, actions to implement the permitting and licensing systems required in the legislation was disrupted. As such, a transitional extension period is required to implement the above-mentioned sections (b), (c), and (d) of the Regulations.

    Press Release for the renewal of Effluent Licence
    The Department of the Environment (DOE) hereby reminds companies producing effluent that the renewal of Licences to Discharge Effluent Is due each year on April 1. A valid Licence to Discharge Effluent is required to comply with the Environmental Protection (Effluent Limitations) Regulations, Chapter 328 of the Subsidiary Laws of Belize, as amended in 2009, especially as it relates to Section 14. These regulations establish that it is illegal to dispose of effluent (wastewater) without a licence or written permission from the DOE.

    to Belize Tourism Industry: Charting a Way Forward Forum Panel #2: Marketing in a Post- COVID world!
    Meet our Panelists!

    PPEs Distributed in Corozal
    Today, Mayor Rigo Vellos, Deputy Mayor Hilberto Clarke and Councillors hosted a special ceremony at Town Hall to distribute Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), including thermometers and over 3,000 face-masks, to representatives of schools and other key service-oriented organisations within Corozal Town. With schools scheduled to re-open on August 10th, under the instructions of the Ministry of Education, it is important for all educational institutions to be adequately-equipped to protect their students, teaching staff and administration. The unfair reality is, however, that for many of our schools, access to essential protective gear is very limited as resources are scarce. In fact, at some institutions principals and teachers have had to use their own personal resources to try to provide a safe environment for their students. The Council, therefore, saw it very fitting to provide the assistance to the schools within the municipality.

    Covid-19 Watch - Forward, Stronger
    Tourism has accounted for over 40% of our GDP. Suddenly, that pillar of our economy was disabled indefinitely and we still await its bounceback. That recovery requires the calculated and collective work of many and we dive into that discussion this Thursday, July 16th on Covid-19 Watch - Forward, Stronger! Tune in at 8:00 pm on Channel 7 or here on our Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/colorblindbz/

    SACD's Annual Summer Camp 2020!
    SARTENEJA ALLIANCE FOR CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT - It's time once again for SACD's Annual Summer Camp 2020! This fun-filled day is open to 11 and 12 year old youths from Chunox, Copper Bank and Sarteneja and will include educational field trips and activities. To apply, please complete the online form found by following this link: https://forms.gle/YD8YiKskeTuFQGLD8 The deadline for applications in Friday 17th July. Don't be late, do not wait - apply today to avoid disappointment!

    Caricom Youth Forum Today
    Today is World Youth Skills Day, and Caricom is having a Youth Forum at noon.

    Panthera and FCD sign agreement to monitor wildlife
    Today Panthera and FCD signed an agreement with the aim of improving monitoring and management of terrestrial wildlife, primarily in the wider Chiquibul Forest. This agreement encompasses current areas of collaboration including trainings, workshops and research projects. Panthera is a non-profit organization devoted exclusively to the conservation of the world’s 40 wild cat species and their ecosystems, with a long history of jaguar conservation efforts in Belize and the Mesoamerican region

    Channel 7

    COVID Case Appears in Cayo
    There are two more cases of COVID 19 to report tonight - and one of them is concerning.88 samples were tested today and two came back positive - one a repatriate who flew in last Friday, and, the other, a male in his 50's who showed up at the San Ignacio Community Hospital over the weekend with gastrointestinal symptoms and a loss of sense of taste.The Director of Health services says this patient was discharged to self-isolate home. He has improved clinically and remains in isolation at home. The DHS says the contact tracing for this last case is currently ongoing. This exercise will try and find out where he got it from since he came in from the community - which is a cause for concern in Cayo.

    Compromising And Improvising On The Border With COVID
    And that's where Cherisse Halsall went today - as close as she could to the villages of Blue Creek and San Felipe. Those remain under a state of emergency and a complete lockdown. It's a strict and tough precaution meant to contain the corona virus - after the last 7 cases appeared out of those northwestern communities which adjoin Mexico. But what does it mean for the residents of that village stuck and unable to access the outside world? Wella lot of compromising and a lot of improvising. Cherisse Halsall reports:

    Vega Won’t Run In OW North
    And while the north is going through quite a scare with this COVID situation - there is also political news coming out of Orange Walk. Three term area representative for Orange Walk, Gaspar Vega today announced that he will not seek re-election in Orange Walk North. In a letter to the Chairman, Vega says, quote, "I wish to inform the Party that I will not be seeking re-election as Area Representative for the Orange Walk North DivisionIt is my hope that the Party will be able to find a suitable candidate for the Party to continue serving the wonderful people of Orange Walk North." End quote.

    The CCJ Says Caleny Has To Go Back To Trial
    The Caribbean Court of Justice has delivered an important ruling, which has direct implications for verdicts coming out of trials without a jury. The Court has found that the Director of Public Prosecutions has a right to appeal any verdict coming from non-jury trials which the director believes is a miscarriage of justice.Since 2012, the Supreme Court has been conducting non-jury trials for offenses of murder and other charges of similar gravity. But, the case which brought this issue to the forefront is the acquittal of Calaney Flowers.

    Port’s Industrial Action Countdown Continues
    This afternoon, staff members from the Port of Belize and the stevedores which make up the Christian Workers Union were back conducting their lunch-break protest. They've been doing so since last week Wednesday, after invoking the 21-days' notice of intent to strike under the labor laws.This is the union's way of keeping the fire burning, and maintaining public pressure against the Port's management for what it calls an "arbitrary and unconscionable ten percent salaries reduction". As viewers are aware, this cut forms part of the Port management's plan to weather the economic crisis brought on by COVID-19.

    Armed Robbery Of Delivery Truck
    A delivery truck was robbed in Cayo this afternoon. Surveillance video obtained by PLUS TV from a camera outside a story in Santa Elena Town shows the robbery. A single gun man is seen approaching the cargo van - reportedly the property of Madisco.

    Robberies in Independence
    There was also an armed robbery in Independence village. It happened this morning when the owner of Myra Store, who is Myra Cruz a grocer who also provides money gram services was sitting in the store. That's when 3 masked dark-skinned men entered the store and pointed guns toward Cruz and a male customer. They then ordered them to the ground before binding their arms and feet with duct tape. The robbers ultimately made off with $3,000.00, a large garbage bag filled with Sodas, and a Samsung cellphone which they only got after punching the male customer in the head. And yesterday another robbery in the same area, this one at Anna's Store in the village.

    Man Says Cop Punched Him For No Reason
    Belize City resident Floyd Mcnab is alleging police brutality against an officer that he says punched him in the mouth. Mcnab says that he was taking an evening circle on his bike last Friday, accompanied by his young daughter, when police confronted him over a stick of weed that he'd stuck behind his ear. Here's his version of how the incident played out. "I decided to stop and take a trim and the officers just passed, and like they saw a little crowd and they swung back at the lane and they drove in the yard. The man came to me and told me to give him the weed. I took the weed from behind my ears and I give the man the weed and he punch me in my mouth. I ended up losing a tooth..."

    Senate Report Will Be From The Majority
    Last night, we told you about how the Senate was getting ready to finally table a report resulting from the 13-month-long Senate hearings on Immigration, which ended in December 2017.Viewers heard the Chairman of the Senate Special Select Committee, Senator Aldo Salazar, explained that he completed a final draft of the report some 5 months ago. He handed it over to the other senators who sat on the committee, and since then, several the social partner senators hadn't finish perusing it to indicate whether they were in full support of the findings or not.

    Man in Police Custody Hung Himself From Sheet
    Corozal Town resident Rayford Anderson died in police custody on Thursday night after an apparent suicide in his cell. It's a death that's prompted an internal investigation into whether an adequate level of care and attention was used in the treatment of Anderson who had been arrested on a report of domestic abuse. It's a death in custody - which is always an issue - but it's one that the head of national crimes investigation ACP Joseph Myvette says could hardly have been avoided - because he hung himself with a bed-sheet:

    Drug Plane Forfeited, Officially
    Last night, we shared the latest developments in the court cases between the police department and the 8 foreigners who were accused of landing that narco-jet on the Coastal Road last September. The cops caught them in the act of trying to use Belizean territory as a transshipment point of almost 3,000 pounds of cocaine. Well tonight, that aircraft and 2 vehicles in which some of the defendants were intercepted are now the property of the Government of Belize.All 8 defendants were taken back before Senior Magistrate Tricia Pitts-Anderson for the continuation of an application for forfeiture, which was raised by the police prosecutor.

    For The Rest of July, You Have to Pay For NHI
    If you depend on the national health insurance scheme for your healthcare, right abut now you're going through some serious changes. Like everything else funded by government, the program is seeing some serious cutbacks. And, today a notice was sent out saying that if you need healthcare for the rest of this month you'll have to pay for it. The release says all NHI referrals for the period of July 14 to the 31st will not be processed unless the client is prepared to pay for these services in full." End quote.

    A Manatee Miracle
    Jamal Galvez, the local manatee conservationist, and his team at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute are reporting tonight that they had to rescue a baby manatee which was seen in distress since Sunday.The calf was spotted in waters near to Old Belize, which located at mile 5 and a half on the Western Highway. As viewers are aware, manatees are an endangered species, and so, this calf's distress was particularly concerning for the member of the public who reported the incident to Galvez and his team.

    PPE’s For Corozal Kids
    There was a handing over ceremony at Corozal's town council this afternoon as Mayor Rigo Vellos presented schools and service-oriented institutions with much needed Personal Protective Equipment including 3,000 face masks and several thermometers.

    Was Bradley Laughed Out Of UDP Race?
    By now, the fate of the UDP's Wilfred Elrington is well known. He is walking away from electoral politics after he finished last in the polling at Sunday's leadership convention with only 10 votes. And, tonight, we also know about Gaspar Vega - who has also announced that he will not run again.Elrington made it clear throughout the campaign that he would not serve under either Patrick Faber or John Saldivar. And now Vega has made it clear he will not serve under Faber; he was a strong Saldivar ally.

    Bradley Says Leaders Should Be Answerable
    And Bradley also spoke on mass media. We asked him to comment on the fact that one of the candidates for leader doesn't like to give interviews. As is his practice, John Saldivar didn't speak to us during yesterday's convention, and didn't show up after for an exit interview either. Bradley - who has long been a champion of the media's right and duty to question public officials - wouldn't speak specifically about Saldivar's standoffish relationship with the media, but he did speak in general terms:

    Hulse Says He’s No Puppet
    Another important member of the senate we saw at Sunday's convention was leader of government business Godwin Hulse.He was there to vote as a UDP appointed member of parliament and the cabinet. And while Hulse is a UDP Minister, he has never been known as a party man, in fact, he earned his public bona-fides as an independent fighter for the public good. But, he has been a minister for over a decade now - and, publicly, his lot has been thrown in with the UDP government. On Sunday the press challenged him after he said he was nobody's puppet:...

    Hulse Fine With Brads Contract
    And the PUP claims that one factual evidence of UDP insider trading is the 10 year renewal of the Brad's Boledo contract. The PUP sent out a release saying, quote, "For the UDP to now, just weeks before General Elections, renew such a lucrative and one-sided contractis cause for real concern. At a time when there are unexpected cuts in education, which will directly impact students and the services offered by educational institutions, it is bizarre that this government continues to deal out these contracts." End quote. The press asked minister Hulse about the long circulated report that Bard's has a powerful silent partner:

    "Two Monkey Di Play One Mouth Organ" In Port?
    And in another bit of political sparring leftover from Sunday, we asked the two politicians representing the Port Loyola constituency who is really in charge of the 15 delegates from that division.

    Willoughby’s Wardrobe, Ahem!
    And while power sharing for the UDP in Port Loyola is one thing, we know that the Standard Bearer and the Area Rep surely don't shop at the same clothing store.They are both known for making bold fashion statements, but on Sunday, Willoughby was the cleanest of them all. He says he has to represent for a new generation:

    Cops Appreciating Citizen
    We'd advise you to expect to be stopped at a checkpoint tomorrow, but as long as your licenses and insurances are in line there's no need to be alarmed. The cops are planning to show you their appreciation - not to string you up. It's an initiative that, this year, is taking the place of the annual celebration of police week. Yesterday at a police press conference in Belmopan ACP Dezerie Magdaleno told us that the celebrations will be on throughout the day.

    Cops Accused of Sex Assault In Independence
    And while the police hope to make good with the community tomorrow - there's always some bad news to go around with the cops. A police officer is facing criminal charges in light of allegations of sexual misconduct with a female minor. Details are scarce but here's what police told us yesterday.

    Plastics Ban Active
    You'll remember a ton of buzz about the plastic ban's from earlier in the year. These regulations have come into effect on a strict timeline but gone largely unnoticed as COVID-19 has brought the nation to its knees. But tonight the Department of the environment is reminding all relevant parties that there has been no adjustment to the timeline on the plastic ban.

    More on Justice Moore
    Last night, we told you about the second unexplained adjournment of the sentencing hearing for convicted murderers William "Danny" Mason, Ashton Vanegas, Keiron Fernandez, Terrence Fernandez, and Ernest Castillo.Last week Thursday, the trial judge, Justice Antoinette Moore, was expected to begin the process of determining what sentence the 5 defendants would face, but the matter was adjourned. And as we told you, it was rescheduled for yesterday, but the court's staff informed the attorneys involved that it had been postponed for another week.

    Channel 5

    Gapi Vega Won’t Run for Re-election in 2020
    Gapi Vega is out in Orange Walk North. The former Deputy prime Minister had been inactive and without a portfolio for some time but resurfaced when John Saldivar launched his [...]

    Sedi Leaves Pickstock, No Successor Named As Yet
    Another U.D.P. minister to exit the political stage is Pickstock Area Representative Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington. He is demitting office at the end of his tenure and like Vega, he has [...]

    Where Does Darrell Bradley Fit in the Future U.D.P.?
    With desertions under this leadership come in, all eyes are on Patrick Faber.  Senate President Darrell Bradley is one of the names popping up to fill one of those empty [...]

    Armed Thief Hits MADISCO Truck in Santa Elena
    Robberies and other crimes continue to increase across the country; in broad daylight today, a Madisco delivery van was robbed. But is it an inside job? Surveillance camera images show [...]

    C.C.J. Hands Down Ruling; Calaney Flowers Fights to Remain Free
    The Caribbean Court of Justice has ruled that the Court of Appeal should hear an appeal filed by D.P.P. Cheryl-Lynn Vidal in respect to Calaney Flowers.  Flowers who was acquitted [...]

    N.H.I.’s Facing Financial Problems; Support Services Caps Exhausted for July
    There is bad news tonight for persons who rely on the National Health Insurance Programme. A notice was issued today and it says that all referrals have been exhausted for [...]

    New Limits on International Credit Accounts
    As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreck havoc on the economy and budget cuts are been imposed in most sectors, the foreign exchange crunch is not improving.  Businesses are being [...]

    2 New COVID-19 Cases!
    There are two new COVID-19 cases to report tonight. The first of these two cases is a repatriated Belizean. The patient is a male who arrived on a repatriation flight [...]

    Edmond Castro Speaks on COVID-19 Food Assistance Programme
    Two more cases of COVID-19 cases were recorded today. The concerning cases comes out of the Cayo District where an elderly man who found himself at the San Ignacio Community [...]

    Caves Branch is Accepting Local Tourists Only; Doors Closed to International Visitors
    Tourism stakeholders are counting down to the reopening of the P.G.I.A. on August fifteenth. But there are some in the tourism sector who don’t want the P.G.I.A. to reopen so [...]

    Draft Senate Report on Immigration Scandal Under Review
    A long-delayed draft senate report being compiled by Senator Aldo Salazar on the immigration scandal of 2013 is being reviewed by his peers in the upper house.  The scandal associated [...]

    Officer to be Charged for Sexual Assault in Independence
    A policeman attached to the Intermediate Southern Formation in Independence Village is expected to be charged for the sexual assault of a seventeen-year-old female minor. On July sixth, the minor [...]

    Jose Abelardo Mai Comments on SOE in San Felipe, Blue Creek
    San Felipe and Blue Creek Villages are under quarantine and will remain in that state for no less than a month since Statutory Instrument one hundred came into effect on [...]

    Agriculture Sector Threatened by Swarm of Locusts
    In the west, locusts ravaging farmlands in Peten, Guatemala are near the border. They are about seventy miles away and making their way across Central America.  In Guatemala, Prensa Libre [...]

    “Everything that is green is at risk right now”
    Organization for Plant and Animal Health has issued an alert to all member countries including Belize saying that the plague of the Central American locust has caused serious economic damage due [...]

    CSEC Exams Underway
    The annual Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate was pushed back as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students across the region have been out of the classrooms and schools had to [...]

    A Baby Manatee is Rescued!
    On Monday, Manatee Conservationist Jamal Galves and a team of volunteers rescued an orphan manatee calf.  A concerned citizen spotted the calf in distress off the George Price Highway around [...]

    Chester on Gang Culture: the Change Has to Start at Home
    An anti-gang state of emergency was declared once again for hotspots in south side Belize City last week in an effort to contain crimes linked to gang activity. The legal [...]

    Are Penalties Stiff Enough for Gangster?
    Legislation had been amended so that charges could be levelled against residents who are identified as being members of a gang or being the leader of a gang; the latter [...]

    B.P.D. Has Been Working to Keep Youth Away from Gang Activity
    Commissioner of Police Chester Williams also says that the state of emergency can very well be extended past the month, but that will be determined prior to its expiration. He [...]

    Amandala

    Patrick by 19!
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Hon. Patrick Faber, is now the new leader of the United Democratic Party, winning a close election by beating his nearest rival, Hon. John Saldivar, by 19 votes – 286 to 267. The third contender for the post, Hon. Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington, received only 10 votes. The elections, conducted today at the Institute of Technical, Vocational and Educational Training (ITVET) compound on Freetown Road in Belize City, were determined by the 553 delegates who were in attendance at the convention, out of a reported 580 delegates who were slated to attend.

    Sentencing of Danny Mason and co-defendants deferred until Friday
    The sentencing of Danny Mason and his four co-defendants, who were all found guilty of murder for the beheading of Pastor Llewellyn Lucas on December 3, 2019, was to have occurred on Friday at the Belmopan Supreme Court. The sentencing was deferred until today, Monday, July 13, and now, it has been further deferred until Friday, July 17. On Friday, attorney Bryan Neal, the attorney for one of the convicted men, told the media that the sentencing was deferred due to an administrative technicality. Neal told the media that, among other matters, Danny Mason’s lawyer, Dexter Todd of Guyana, was not available.

    New Lions Club president for Belize City
    Dr. Sol Yam, of Belize City, who is presently the assistant headmaster of St John’s College, has become the 47th president of the Belize City Lions Club. She was named as the new president yesterday evening at the Lions Club building next to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital compound in Belize City. A new board of managers was also elected to work with her in support of her mission to further advance the objectives of the Lions Club. Yam said she aims to impact the lives of members of the community by addressing five key areas of concern: diabetes treatment/prevention, education, the environment, vision/eyesight and hunger. She and her organization will partner with other organizations to bring about changes and improvements in the lives of people in these areas.

    Brother kills brother in Cowpen over cell phone
    Antonio Pop, 18, a banana farm worker of Cowpen, was stabbed to death by his brother, Christopher Pop, 20, also a banana worker, over a missing cell phone belonging to Christopher. After stabbing his brother in their family’s house in Cowpen at about 7:00 yesterday evening, Christopher went into hiding, but police told us that he was captured this morning in the village without incident. He has been detained pending arraignment in the Independence Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, Monday.

    COVID-19 rocks the North
    On Thursday, July 9, concern swept through the country, particularly in the north, where three minors became the newest confirmed cases of COVID-19. All minors are members of the same family, who had recently been caught in the act of crossing the border illegally into Mexico, and they have been quarantined in Orange Walk. It was reported that the family made its way into Belize and settled in Blue Creek Village in the Orange Walk District before the authorities were able to apprehend them. During that time, they are said to have come in contact with several other family members before going into mandatory quarantine in Orange Walk Town.

    Apolonio Kiow, 52, found guilty of murder
    Apolonio Kiow, 52, a laborer of Corozal Town who has been on remand for the October 2017 murder of Gabriel Bochnia, 47, a Canadian businessman of Altamira, Corozal Town, was found guilty of murder yesterday in the Northern Session of the Supreme Court, which was convened in Orange Walk Town. Kiow was found guilty by Justice Herbert Lord, and sentencing has been deferred until September 28. The trial was held without a jury.

    Corporal Eldon Arzu takes the Commissioner of Police to court
    Corporal Eldon Arzu, who has been the president of the Belize Police Association for about 7 terms (14 years) and who this year again sought the post of president in elections held by the association but had been defeated, has taken the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, to court, blaming him for his losing the presidency of the Police Association. Arzu contends that because the election date in November was deferred by the Commissioner, other contenders entered the race, causing him to be soundly voted out.

    First 27 of 99 gang members remanded for 1 month
    A predawn operation was conducted in the Southside of Belize City, at about 3:00 Tuesday morning that marked the beginning of the State of Emergency designated for Belize City’s Southside. The operation concluded at about 11:30 a.m. that same Tuesday morning, and 99 gang members, including women, were rounded up. They were detained and today, 23 men and 4 women were remanded to prison for one month. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams said that the Anti-Gangs Task Force is reviewing the list of persons who were rounded up to identify persons on that list who can be released, because they are not participating in criminal activities and are currently abiding by the law and living peaceably within their community.

    Toledo farmer remanded for murder of nephew
    Anastacio Sirrick, 47, a farmer of San Pedro Colombia, Toledo District, who has been charged with the murder of Pedro Cus, 28, his nephew, was arraigned today in the Punta Gorda Magistrate’s Court. No plea was taken from him, and he was remanded until September 27. Cus, a farmer of San Pedro Colombia, was found dead, his head almost decapitated, under a mango tree behind his uncle’s house at about 10:30 Monday morning, July 6.

    No witness statements, no charges for suspected killers, says Compol
    Investigations into the murder of Raheem Faber, 23, a stevedore of Mayflower Street, who was shot and killed at about 11:00 last Friday night while he was standing with a friend of his at the corner of Ebony and Mayflower Street, and the murder of Raheem Myles, 23, a laborer of Los Lagos, Ladyville, Belize District, who was shot and killed last Saturday while he was standing with friends at the corner of Waight Street and Fabers Road, led to five men who were all rounded up in the State of Emergency predawn operation on Belize City’s Southside on Tuesday morning.

    Editorial: NGOs join the call for GoB to cut the public sector
    Many in Belize believe that one of the reasons that the present UDP government has not laid off any of the government’s employees or cut their salaries, even though the country is going through its worst economic period in many decades, is because in 1997 a UDP government retrenched 800 employees, and in 1998 the party was crushed at the polls, 26-3. The Belize Network of NGOs (BNN), however, under the leadership of the 13th senator, Mr. Osmany Salas, put together a team, the BNN Steering Committee (BNNSC), to study the present difficult economic situation in Belize that has been caused mostly by the COVID-19 pandemic, and after their deliberations they produced a document, “National Recovery Strategy”, which they presented to the National Oversight Committee on June 29.

    TRAIL OF TEARS & SADNESS! BELIZE’S WWII BRITISH WEST INDIAN WORKERS! BRITISH HONDURAN MEN IN SERVICE TO QUEEN & COUNTRY!
    Who knows — one of these men here in this photo of Belizean men off to work in Scotland during WWII may have been a lost and never found uncle of mine, Hugh Smith, from the southern district of Stann Creek that left the former British Honduras, now Belize, by ship to work as a forestry worker in the 1940s. My grandfather, Joseph “Jack” Smith, may have been one of my best history teachers to date, because his living with my mother, who was his caregiver until his death in Belize City, Belize, had transferred a body of knowledge to me that, despite all of my formal and advanced education that he had urged me to seek, cannot rival his amazing body of work, knowledge and wisdom. One of his sons,Hugh, whom he spoke about from the living room of our home so painfully and in tears, while he and my mother conversed, departed from Belize as a young man in his prime, never to be heard from and seen again.

    Special Sitting of the Senate
    A special sitting of the Senate is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, July 15, at 10:00 a.m. in the National Assembly chambers. During the meeting, two appointments will be voted upon — the appointment of a new Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission and the appointment of the Chairperson for the Integrity Commission. The role of the new Elections and Boundaries chairman is slated to be filled by Estevan Perera, a Belizean attorney at the law firm of Estevan Perera and Company LLP. Perera has also served as a member on the Social Security Board and is a known supporter of the United Democratic Party.

    NTUCB might join CWU protest
    Recently, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) was criticized by the president of the Christian Workers Union (CWU) for the NTUCB’s apparent lack of support of the efforts of the CWU to address the plight of the workers at the Port of Belize, who are facing a possible cut in their salaries. The workers at the Port are protesting the scheduled 10% salary cut by the Port of Belize which is being proposed as part of the Port’s austerity measures.

    “Dalla van” increases fare to $2 without authority
    The drivers of the popular “dalla van,” a taxi that mostly services the Belize City southside, and takes people from point A to point B along its routes for a fare of $1, are now charging $2 for the same ride without receiving authority from the Belize City Council to make such a price change. As a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, many members of the community are now unemployed, and cannot afford the increase. In the wake of complaints from the public, the City Council has restored the fare to $1.

    Weekend Warriors Sunday Race results – July 12, 2020
    Here are the results from the Weekend Warriors (WW) Sunday Race held yesterday. The “A/B” rode together from Maskall junction towards Altun Ha junction and turned back to go towards the Boom Road, to finish at Old Belize for 50 miles; whilst the “C” started at Maskall junction and went straight to Old Belize via the Boom Road for 40 miles. The races started at 8:15 a.m.

    The incredible tragedy …
    Jewel said that Jerome had patiently explained to their five children why he was interrupting his time with them for a few hours to perform this act of solidarity with not only a colleague, but someone whom they knew was very dear to him personally; and they all, except Belinda, agreed wholeheartedly that he should carry on with his act of generosity. Belinda who, from the exalted experience of four years, had confidently resolved to become a paediatric nurse, an ob/gyn specialist and a surgeon all in one, could not understand how someone could doubt their ability after preparing themselves so thoroughly for so long, asking Jerome pointedly if he had ever had such a feeling about himself?

    I knew Godwin Hulse would have on a mask
    I listened to the coverage of the UDP leadership convention on KREM News (on my phone) and on Love FM. Later in the day I heard Mr. Hulse giving this very interesting interview, so I glanced at the show on my phone. I had no doubt that he had on a mask. We wear a mask so that if we’re infected we don’t pass on our germs to other people. So, Blue Creek and San Felipe are now under SOE (state of emergency) — all because some of us won’t listen or don’t care. You see, what we do affects others. No person in this world is an island onto him/herself.

    The Complexity of Race and Ethnicity in Belize and the Relevance of Reparations
    Science proves that biologically and genetically all humans are the same. Race and ethnicity, therefore, are political and social constructs. Usually we subsume people into a racial group on the basis of their physical appearance and their original geographical location, so the Chinese and generally most Asians who have relatively yellow skin tones would be regarded as Mongolian, Europeans who are more light-skinned would be Caucasian or white, and Africans who are relatively much darker, despite their various colour gradations, would be perceived as Black.

    Belizeans in El Salvador brought home, and Salvadorans in Belize returned to their country
    Eighteen Belizeans stranded in El Salvador have been returned home and 32 Salvadorans stranded in Belize were returned to their country onboard the Salvador Air Transport plane that brought home the Belizeans. The arrival of the flight with the Belizeans and the subsequent departure of the Salvadorans occurred on Friday afternoon at the Philip Goldson International Airport in Ladyville, and it was made possible through collaboration between the International Organization of Migration (IOM) in Belize and in El Salvador, and the Government of Belize.

    Farewell to my beloved mother, Lydia!
    On Sunday night, July 5, 2020, my beloved mother, Lydia, passed away and returned to her Lord Most High. As she stayed a while with her family, surrounded by her dearest children before she departed this world, our love for her grew deeper still. We will always remember her pretty smile that is even more beautiful now in memory of her than it has ever been before. Because she has given this special gift of life to me and my brothers and sisters, there is nothing in this world that will make me wait until tomorrow to continue to pray for her blessed soul that has gone to rest.

    Thousands more will lose their jobs by the end of 2021
    Dear Editor, The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that Belize’s GDP will shrink by 1.2 % for 2020. Unemployment has skyrocketed. Belize has borrowed US$12 million for unemployment relief from the Inter-American Development Bank. As a Belizean worker, it is worrying that government’s reaction to the global economic crisis of 2020 has been slow and conventional. At the present rate of deterioration, thousands more will lose their jobs by the end of 2021.

    BELIZE’S NATIONAL ANTHEM IS DISCRIMINATORY
    Dear Editor: We are not “Sons of the Baymen’s Clan”. We are “Children of the Belizean Soil”— women and men, girls and boys, females and males, Belizeans all. The old Baymen Clan from the years 1763, 1779, 1783, and 1786 have disappeared from the earth. However, there are a few surnames that are around that have been here since the beginning of the 1800’s, such as Potts, McAulay, Wilson, Dawson, Young, Hyde, Wall, Bennett, Burnham, Craig, Armstrong, Douglas, McKenzie etc.

    West Indies cricket’s ‘founding father’ Everton Weekes dies, aged 95
    St. John’s (Antigua and Barbuda) (AFP), July 1, 2020– Legendary batsman Everton Weekes, the last of the famed West Indies ‘Three Ws’, died Wednesday at the age of 95 and was hailed as “a founding father” of the sport in the Caribbean. “Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of an icon. A legend, our hero, Sir Everton Weekes,” tweeted Cricket West Indies.

    The Reporter

    Torrential rains overnight in the Toledo district
    Have resulted in flooding of the Southern Highway in Jacinto village. The Barranco junction is reported to be under water and portions of the highway as impassable as of 6:00 a.m.

    LOVE FM

    Government’s perspective on feud with cane farmers and BSI/ASR
    A few weeks ago we reported on the feud between the cane farmers and BSI/ASR. The farmers were complaining that the mill was taking no more cane and that they were experiencing losses. Meanwhile BSI/ASR explained that the mud in the cane was creating issues for them. Love News reached out to the Minister of Food and Agriculture Godwin Hulse who gave the government’s perspective.

    Patrick Faber speaks on the recovery of the Economy
    With Belize’s general elections looming, whoever is elected as the next Prime Minister, Patrick Faber or John Briceno, they will be faced with multiple challenges as the Covid-19 endemic has brought on severe financial struggles. While the People’s United Party says they will be releasing their plans soon for the recovery of the economy, Faber was on The Morning Show yesterday where he spoke on the fact that the next leader will have to make hard decisions to rebound the economy. One of the things Faber touched on was public service. While he says that he is not looking at retrenchment, he is looking at the possible transference to the private sector.

    Edmund Zuniga transferred from Ministry of Immigration
    There have been some changes in Minister Godwin Hulse portfolio. With the resignation of CEO Jose Alpuche from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, CEO Edmund Zuniga has been transferred from the Ministry of Immigration. Our news team caught up with Minister Hulse who explained the changes.

    Government has not received official report on chicken shortage
    Recently, there were reports of a chicken shortage. We went looking for answers and found that for Quality Poultry Products there was no shortage. The Poultry Association did, however, confirm that there was a shortage. It turns out that the challenge was primarily for Caribbean Chicken. In recent weeks their coolers have been have filled and there is a notice in their Belize City store limiting customers on how much each person could purchase. Minister of Food and Agriculture weighed in on the matter.

    Wilfred Sedi Elrington announces his exit from politics
    Foreign Affairs Minister and Area Representative for the Pickstock Division, Wilfred Elrington has confirmed his exit from party politics. The 71-year-old politician has been serving in the Pickstock division as the duly elected representative since 2008. His decision to retire from politics comes on the heels of Sunday’s leadership convention that saw Patrick Faber sworn in as the UDP’s Party Elect. Aside from refusing to serve under Faber, Elrington is jumping ship indicating that things will not get better any time soon.

    Attorney assists families who were affected by State of Emergency
    Attorney and member of the Justice for Humans, Michelle Trapp, is reaching out to assist those who loved ones were detained under the State of Emergency. The organization is for those who need legal assistance but either cannot afford it or are unsure of how to start the process.

    PBL threatens to terminate workers
    The Port of Belize employees have been protesting during their lunch hour for the past ten days and there hasn’t been any progress in settling the impasse between the employees and the company. As a matter of fact, the President of the Christian Workers Union, Evan Mose Hyde, says things have gotten worse with PBL as they are exploring the idea of having employees terminated on the basis of redundancy.

    Belize Bank credit Card limits lowered
    The Belize Bank has issued an advisory to its credit card customers informing them that their limit has been lowered to one thousand US dollars. According to the bank, this adjustment is being made due to the shortage of US currency in the country

    Gaspar Vega resigns from politics
    It has only been forty eight hours since Patrick Faber was elected as the UDP’s Leader-Elect, and already he has seen the resignation of three elected officials. The most recent comes from Gaspar Vega.

    Sister of alleged border jumper speaks out
    On Friday 23-year-old Olga Galdamez was taken to court and denied bail after she was caught illegally crossing into Belize in April. Galdamez is a Guatemalan who was placed in quarantine but later escaped.

    WATCH: Belmopan residents weigh in on the reopening of PGIA
    The Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) is set to reopen in thirty-two days. In previous newscasts we have aired the views of several individuals and organizations who are opposing the decision to reopen.

    Belize records 50 murder for first six months of 2020
    Belize has recorded fifty murders for the first six months of 2020. The first murder for the year was a 16-year-old, Samantha Conorquie.

    BTB explains Gold Standard Program for hotels
    The Philip Goldson International Airport is set to reopen on August 15, and Belizeans are concerned over the protocols put in place to keep the country from importing more covid-19 cases. The Belize Tourism Board...

    CCJ allows the DPP appeal to proceed on Calaney Flower’s case
    The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) delivered a judgement this afternoon on the murder case involving Calaney Flowers. Flowers was acquitted of the charge in the Supreme Court of Belize but the

    Two more cases of COVID-19 detected; Belize now has 16 active cases
    COVID-19 UPDATE A further 88 samples were processed today, some of these included the initial set of samples picked up from contact tracing and the mapping exercise done over the weekend linked to the last...

    MOH and MOE working to reopening schools
    In 28 days schools will be reopening their doors for students to come back in the classroom for face to face learning. We asked the Director of Health services if the schools will be prepared to open by that date.

    Dean Barrow, on his way out of office
    Prime Minister Dean Barrow is on the last leg of his political career. With elections looming for sometime in November, Barrow will be demitting office as a Parliamentarian and as the head of the United Democratic Party (UDP). Initially, the Prime Minister had indicated that once a new leader was elected he would be going into early retirement. With Covid-19 and other hiccups in his plans, the Prime Minister categorically stated that he will not be leaving office early.

    Breaking Belize NewsPJ

    Central American locusts arrive in Belize – crops and pastures may be devastated
    Photo courtesy: Guatevision Around 6:30 pm today, several by-standers witnessed a swarm of locusts near […]

    Belize confirms 2 new cases of COVID-19
    The Ministry of Health informed today that 2 new cases of COVID-19 were detected. The […]

    Gaspar Vega resigns two days after Patrick Faber won the UDP’s leadership convention
    Our newsroom has confirmed that Gaspar Vega, area representative for the Orange Walk North electoral […]

    United Kingdom scientists using llama blood to help develop COVID-19 vaccine
    Scientists from the United Kingdom’s Rosalind Franklin Institute are using antibodies found in the blood […]

    Central America COVID-19 toll reinforces Belize’s caution
    The statistics suggest Belize should have a much higher toll of COVID-19 compared to its regional […]

    Teacher’s Union conducting school preparedness survey
    The Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) is seeking feedback from its membership on the Ministry of […]

    University of Belize braces for hard times – salary cuts of 25 to 5% being recommended to the Board
    The University of Belize issued a memo last week sharing some of its proposed action […]

    Belize to receive US $12.4 million from World Bank for COVID-19 impact
    Belize will strengthen its response to the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with […]

    Village councils asked to assist with enforcing emergency protocols
    The National Association of Village Councils (NAVCO) has called on its membership to “take the […]

    University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union receive Trade Union certification
    On July 13, 2020, the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union was certified as […]

    Alex Balona-Real Representation in Cayo Central
    The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Breaking Belize […]

    Over 265 citizens to receive recognition certificates from Police Department
    The Belize Police Department (BPD) is hosting a National Citizen’s Appreciation Day on July 15th, […]

    No NHI for the rest of July
    People who rely on National Health Insurance (NHI) to mitigate the cost of medical services […]

    Central American locusts destroy crops in Peten
    Prensa Libre Guatemala reported that the presence of locusts are putting at risk large numbers […]

    Belize Water Services announces several interruptions
    Belize Water Services Limited has announced the times and locations for several interruptions of service […]

    Manatee Man, Jamal Galves, rescues baby manatee
    Conservationist Jamal Galves rescued a baby manatee on Monday. Galves is an Associate Research Biologist […]

    Weak tropical wave approaching
    The latest weather report from the National Meteorological Service of Belize says that a weak tropical wave is […]

    Flooding reported in the south
    There are reports of massive flooding coming out of the Toledo district this morning. We […]

    Blogs

    The Many Faces of Belize - Part 3, THE STORY OF JULIO RUANO
    The moment you meet Julio, you will be greeted with a warm smile and an attentive ear. His concern for you as a customer is instantly apparent as I discovered when I first met him at “The Boat Yard”. Yes, that’s the name of the business. At age 19, somewhere around 1998, Julio began working at Ramon’s Village as a Dive Master’s assistant. At that time on the tiny island, dive certification was not required to work in the industry but that changed within 6 months of his arriving. Julio was soon certified as an open water diver and continued his training all the way to Rescue Diver. During his time there he would learn to captain a boat and all the other duties common in the industry. The schedule was grueling, working seven days a week and diving 3 dives a day. After 3 years of continuous repetitive work, Julio began to burnout.

    Shark Awareness Day: Top places to sight sharks in Belize
    Today, July 14, we celebrate Shark Awareness Day! In recognition of this day, we’re highlighting the places in Belize to spot these beautiful creatures. Nurse Sharks at Shark Ray Alley – Hol Chan Marine Reserve, & Whale Sharks – Gladden Spit & Silk Cayes Marine Reserve.

    International Sourcesizz

    Hawaii Delays Plan To Reopen To Tourists
    Hawaii delayed its plan to allow out-of-state visitors to return to the vacation hot spot by a month because of an increase in coronavirus cases in the state and on the U.S. mainland. In late June, the governor's office announced that travelers could visit Hawaii beginning Aug. 1, no quarantine required, by presenting a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of boarding a flight. Without one, passengers arriving from the mainland would have to strictly quarantine for 14 days, a policy in place since March that has scared away most tourists and wrecked Hawaii's tourism industry. The surge in cases has made it harder for people in many states to get tested. Hawaii Gov. David Ige said at a news conference late Monday that the travel program won't begin until Sept. 1, a decision he said was not made lightly.

    World Bank Financing for Belize to Assist Over 13,000 Poor and Vulnerable Households in Response to COVID-19 Impacts
    Belize will strengthen its response to the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with US$12.4 million from the World Bank. The funds will be used to provide social assistance to poor and vulnerable households impacted by the crisis. “The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to serious economic and social challenges for Belize,” said Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean. “The World Bank mobilized a rapid response to support the country’s efforts in mitigating the impacts on the poor and most vulnerable populations.”

    Videos

  • Thousands of locusts destroy crops in Las Cruces, Petén, and alarm farmers, 1min. Farmers in Belize are monitoring the situation in neighboring Guatemala and Mexico. Farmers in Las Cruces, Petén in Guatemala are concerned that their crops have already been invaded by thousands of Central American locusts, whose voracity puts at risk corn, bean, sugar cane, chili, tomato, citrus, banana, coconut, mango and grassland plantations. According to farmers in the area, since Friday, July 10, large numbers of insects have invaded cultivation fields, mainly corn and grasslands, putting the production of basic grains and livestock feed at risk, the two main residents' sources of income. The swam of locusts was recently spotted about seventy miles from the Western Border. We are told that locusts are also affecting fields in northern Honduras and southern Yucatan.

  • Nurse shark encounter by the shoreline during evening exercise., 1/2min.

  • A Piano solo from Jordan Can - 'Risk', 5min. Entry from BIJF's Online Competition. Make sure you attend the BIJF Concert on Saturday, July 18th at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex (Ticket booth area) to catch our winners perform!

  • Coping with COVID webinar, min. The free Coping with COVID webinar is Wednesday morning at 7am. Hey hey hey! What does your Wednesday morning look like? We welcome you to join the webinar at 7am Belize time! The discussion will be about the New Normal, Adapting Positively, What do you want decision makers to do, and How are young people contributing. Don’t miss out!

  • Coral Triangle Adventures Virtual Snorkeling Tour, 13min.

  • COVID - 19 Update - School Reopening, 46min. Senator Elena Smith - President, Belize National Teachers's Union

  • State of Emergency Report, 38min. Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police, Belize Police Department

  • Historical Lessons - When Leaderships Change, 47min. Carolyn Trench - Sandiford - Political Analyst

  • Join The Fun Dancing Punta: Kadisha (Belize), 1.5min.

  • This is Belize | La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge 2020 Day 3 | Canoe Race, Supa G and Party Vibe, 12.5min. Today, the Belikin La Ruta Maya is considered one of the longest canoe races in Central America that brings together professional and amateur paddlers from all over the world who take on the four day grueling challenge of paddling 175 miles of the Belize Old River against rapids and winds.

  • September 10 Carnival Parade Punta Gorda Belize, 14min.

  • Grand Caribe Belize Short Video on Four Rules of Release, 2min.

  • Grand Caribe Belize, Deep Sea Fishing Tournament 2020 Rules, 19min.

    July 14, 2020


    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, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.


    The San Pedro Sun

    Patrick Faber is UDP’s new party leader; Foreign Minister Elrington signals an end to his political career
    The United Democratic Party (UDP) elected a new leader on Sunday, July 12th during a leadership convention held in Belize City, when Patrick Faber won 28y-267 over John Saldivar. Area Representative of the Collet Division, Honourable Patrick Faber defeated Belmopan’s Honourable John Saldivar by a narrow margin of 19 votes. The race for the UDP leadership also included Foreign Minister Honourable Wilfred Elrington, who only garnered 10 votes. The new leader will replace current party leader and prime minister Right Honourable Dean Barrow.

    Various Belizean Sources

    mzz

    Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen day Location
    Tuesday, July 14th, Meal pick ups. Location: Happy Lobster. Times: Village: 11:00am - 11:45am. Bahia: 11:45am -12:30pm.

    Update on the sidewalk at San Pedro R.C. School
    The construction of the sidewalk at San Pedro R.C. School is going well. Stay tuned for the end result!

    Ella and Ian Anderson say keep the PGIA Closed
    CAVES BRANCH JUNGLE LODGE WILL NOT OPEN to international guests Aug 15. Ella and I personally appeal to the government of Belize to NOT OPEN BELIZE international airport to tourists until some semblance of control and flatlining is the norm throughout the US. Science suggests that a viral load of 5-7 days is required for covid 19 tests to show a positive test result and that the rapid test is less than 80 % accurate and requires the same viral load.

    GOB Confirms No Orange Walk District Lockdown
    The Government of Belize has confirmed that contrary to local media reports the Orange Walk District will not be placed on lockdown.

    Benque Fiesta Basketball Tournament
    The Benque Basketball Academy is having their Benque Fiesta Basketball Tournament from Wednesday through Friday. Come out and enjoy this 3 Day mini-tournament starting Wednesday July 15 at 7:00pm at Deacon’s court. Make sure to wear your masks!

    Mountain Equestrian Trails is having Horsemanship Lessons for kids
    We are offering horsemanship lessons for kids here at MET. If interested please contact me via messenger. Cost: $50 BZ per child per session. Includes 3 hours of horsemanship on and off the horses, a light snack and juice. We can do morning sessions from 9:00 - 12:00 or 1:00-4:00 pm.

    Cleaning and Sanitizing Guidelines for Tourism Gold Standard Certification
    Reminder: Cleaning and Sanitizing Guidelines for Tourism Gold Standard Certification. Register here: https://bit.ly/3iXSVxI

    Grand Hudut Sale
    The National Garifuna Council Orange Walk Branch is doing a Hudut Sale this Saturday, July 18th 2020 so place your order now!!

    Rapid HIV testing free of cost in San Pedro Today
    The Belize Family Life Association is visiting our island today (Tuesday July 14) and are conducting rapid HIV testing from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm free of cost at the Community Policing office San Pedro. (Across from Cholo's Golf Cart Rentals)

    Rumors of COVID-19 on Ambergris Caye Debunked by NEMO Belize Rural South
    “In response to rumours circulating on social media and throughout our island community, take note that there are no new or suspected cases of COVID-19 on Ambergris Caye due to border jumpers, visitors to the island, etc. The public is urged to disregard and avoid sharing unconfirmed, misleading and/or false information about COVID-19 cases. The Ministry of Health will continue to provide accurate information to the public in a timely fashion. Be reminded that It is an offence to spread false information via social media in Belize.

    The Beach Club at Caye Caulker to open for only Belizeans
    With all the fuss of the upcoming international travel we have decided to remain open ONLY to Belizeans. You deserve a safe and fantastic time in Paradise too. Our Prices Remain the same as seen below. So if have not had a chance to have some fun with us in Caye Caulker. You still can .... and also wear your masks! See you soon

    University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union Receives Trade Union Certification
    The University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union was today certified as the Bargaining Agent for employees of the (i) Full-time Faculty and Staff and (ii) Faculty and Staff on Temporary Assignment, where employment has been for two consecutive twelve-month contracts. Based on the results of a survey conducted on January 13th, 2020, the Union represents the interests of 237 employees. The certification forum included virtual participation of representatives from the Union and the management of the University of Belize as well as in-person at the Labour Office in Belmopan. All efforts were made to comply with social distancing protocols.

    Flood Report and Forecast for July 13, 2020

    Webinar: Preparing for Reopening of Schools
    For learn more information on this webinar, please contact the Mental Health unit, Ministry of Health at 828-4462.

    Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen Report
    It's been over 3 months since we served our first meal! Can you believe it? On April 7th the very first Soup Kitchen meal was served. 47 meals were prepared that day. The next day we prepared 114 meals, and the following days the numbers quickly rose to the 300+ meals that we still serve nowadays. It really has been an amazing three months. We've learned many things about each other and our community. We've felt humbled, blessed, stressed at times and beaten down, excited and grateful. But mostly we've felt honored that in the midst of this time of difficulty and struggle, we've been able to witness the BEST in humanity.

    Forum: Belize Tourism Industry, Charting a Way Forward
    Meet our Panelists! Panel #1: Health and Safety: will the protocols work? Register now via email at membership@btia.org.

    Cenote ( La Isla) Archological Maya Site
    The small nucleated site of Cenote is located 1.7 km of the outskirt of Sarteneja. It is built on a low rise-perhaps a large platform- that has an area of 0.1 Km2. During the dry season of September through December, the site is virtually transformed into an island surrounding bajo floods to a depth of 25 cm. At present, an inlet of shipstern lagoon erodes the eastern boundary of Cenote which consists of 29 structures arranged about one major plaza( Group A) and several smaller ones. Group A features a small specialized residential assemblage that is found at Patchacan and San Estevan. The most interesting feature at Cenote is an associated network of dry land low stone walls...

    Wildtracks Update: We welcome out newest intake, rescued by Jamal Galves and his team in Belize City this morning
    Estimated at approximately two weeks old, this young calf would not survive in the wild on its own - manatees depend on their mothers for up to to two years, so this one is going to be with us for a while.

    OAS Culture of Peace
    We have been blessed to have the solid partnership with the OAS Culture of Peace, even during the State of Emergency March - June, the programs managed to be delivered Via Google Classrooms, a helpful way of maintaining our Children, Youths and Adults engaged and growing in the Arts with their Instructors. We are immensely proud that they were able to upkeep and maintain this avenue very progressive, presently we have been exploring returning to our House of Culture grounds at a very minimum rate and with the most active students who were present through that transition.

    MANUEL NAHUAT
    Manuel Nahuat "The First Leader" (1800-23 March 1851) Born in Kanxoc, Valladolid, Yucatán. He was a Maya Priest, Maya Màasewal (Yucatec Maya) fighter, leader of the "Cruzo'ob" who fought for the independence of his people during the so-called Caste War. His nickname, "The First Leader". Founding member of the Noj Kaj Chan Santa Cruz people (Today Felipe Carrillo Puerto) with José Maria Barrera. His fight took place in Noj Kaj Santa Cruz, his role was to make well-meditated speeches aimed at lighting the spirits of the combatants to enthuse them in their fight against the whites...

    Channel 7

    This Time It’s Faber For The UDP
    Patrick Faber is the new leader of the UDP. The 42 year old became the party's sixth leader in a national convention yesterday. He bested his opponent John Saldivar by a narrow margin of 19 votes. This is the second time the two had faced off for leader; in an abortive convention 5 months ago, Saldivar won easily. But, after that, the Lev Dermen fiasco unfolded forcing Saldivar to step down. That set the stage for yesterday - which was kind of a rematch - with a third man in the ring, Wilfred Elrington who made it clear, he was not in it to win it.

    Did PM Support Faber?
    And those other party colleagues are embittered because they feel that the Prime Minister campaigned for Faber - and directly called delegates at the last minute to swing their support. This is anecdotal, but we have received independent reports of this - and we asked Faber supporters if the PM was indeed with them: Reporter: "Did you enjoy the support of the Prime Minister today?" Hon. Patrick Faber- UDP Leader Elect "As I told you on Friday, I believe the Prime Minister voted for me, yes."

    Saldivar Concedes In FB Post
    And that is part of the reason why multiple standard bearers and representatives are indicating that they will step down. But, John Saldivar is not one of them - not if you judge by his Facebook post this morning. It says, quote, "Against all odds we came close to a magnificent victory for the common people. We will remain in the struggle for the small man and woman and we will remain with the United Democratic Party as the best and only option through which meaningful change and progress can be achieved. I congratulate our new Leader, Hon. Patrick Faber."

    Who Would Want To Lead In Times Like These?
    And while that stew of dissatisfaction is simmering - Faber has to think about the months ahead. Basically he's agreed to ask the voters for lead at the toughest time in Belize's history. The economy is in a severe COVID-induced contraction, education has stalled and soaring COVID cases surround Belize. We asked him, who would want to lead at this time:

    PM Will Stay On Till End Of Term
    And the man taking them head on right now is the Prime Minister Dean Barrow. And, he says he wants to continue to do so for the rest of his term. That means he is not handing over to Faber and plans to hold the Prime Minster's seat until elections are held. We asked him about it today: "The Prime Minister cannot stay, he cannot stay. Of course there are those in the party including myself who would love to have the Prime Minister remain if that was possible but we must move on..."

    Faber Supports PM Staying On
    And while the Prime Minister seems willing to take his chances that there will be no mutiny or majority assembled against him - Faber agrees. He says the Prime Minister will stay for the rest of his term - but can't be around forever:

    Elrington Exits, Sharply
    But, they will have to do battle without Wilfred Elrington, the three term UDP area Rep for Pickstock. As you heard in our headline story Elrington got only 10- votes in his bid for leadership - and has taken the firm decision to retire from politics.

    Blue Creek and San Felipe Under Lockdown
    On Friday night we told you how 3 new cases of COVID-19 detected in border jumpers from Blue Creek had prompted fears of community spread and led to a state of emergency being declared for Both Blue Creek and San Felipe villages in the northwestern Orange Walk District. Well, last night in a facebook post, the Director of Health Services Marvin Manzanero warned that more cases should be expected.

    Blue Creek and San Felipe Under Lockdown
    On Friday night we told you how 3 new cases of COVID-19 detected in border jumpers from Blue Creek had prompted fears of community spread and led to a state of emergency being declared for Both Blue Creek and San Felipe villages in the northwestern Orange Walk District. Well, last night in a facebook post, the Director of Health Services Marvin Manzanero warned that more cases should be expected.

    Area Rep Has Concerns About Quarantined Communities
    On Friday night we told you how 3 new cases of COVID-19 detected in border jumpers from Blue Creek had prompted fears of community spread and led to a state of emergency being declared for Both Blue Creek and San Felipe villages in the northwestern Orange Walk District. Well, last night in a facebook post, the Director of Health Services Marvin Manzanero warned that more cases should be expected. Those villages remain on curfew and lockdown enforced by a heavy police presence. This morning ACP Joseph Myvette told the media that the only thing coming in or out is poultry and corn.

    Keeping The Border Jumpers At Bay
    DHS Manzanero has also noted the growing numbers of COVID-19 cases in the Mexican municipality of Othon P. Blanco - which includes Chetumal, Botes and all those communities along the Rio Hondo. At midday yesterday they had 883 active cases and 48 related deaths, with one of the highest rates of infection in Mexico. What's alarming is that Othon P. Blanco is just a skip across the river from many of Belize's northern villages.

    Fratricide In Cowpen
    There were also southern checkpoints over the weekend. These were near San Juan village where the cops were on a manhunt for the guilty party in a fratricide. It's a shocking story with an almost biblical narrative. But over the weekend when one brother killed the other in San Juan village it wasn't because he was highly favoured, but because he'd lost a cellphone.

    Man Fell Off Truck to Death, Driver Never Knew
    The weekend's other traumatic death was caused by a fatal accident where 41 year old Earl Armstrong also became a fugitive from the law this weekend. That's after a tragic accident that left his passenger 39-year-old Nestor Grant crushed beneath the wheels of his trailer. Grant had been riding in the pan of the pickup and must have fallen out somewhere along the way. It's unknown at what point Armstrong realized what had happened because he never came forward.

    Cause of City Fire A Mystery
    There was a late-night fire in Belize City yesterday, which has now resulted in the displacement of a family of 5 and 1 of their neighbors. It happened at about 11:00 at the w 2-story apartment building, at the corner of Central American Boulevard and Nargusta Street. The lower flat had a single tenant, and last night, the home suddenly burst into flames which originated from the only room being used in that part of the building.

    Danny Mason Sentencing Postponed
    The sentencing hearing for William "Danny" Mason, and his 4 co-defendants who were convicted of the most heinous murder in Belize's recent history, has now been postponed for a second time. The Court staff for the presiding judge, Justice Antoinette, has informed the defense attorneys that it will take place next week instead. In December of last year, Justice Moore found Mason, and his employees: Ashton Vanegas, Keiron Fernandez, Terrence Fernandez, and Ernest Castillo, all guilty of the 2016 beheading murder of Pastor Lewellyn Lucas.

    Senate Report Stalled?
    On Wednesday, there will be a special sitting of the Senate in Belmopan, and the best information to 7News tonight is that a minority report on the 2017 Senate Hearings on Immigration will be tabled. Viewers will remember that in December 2017, those hearings, which were publicly broadcasted, concluded after 13 months, and well over a hundred hours of testimony was recorded. In those hearings, the Senators on the committee called a long list of public officials to give account, under oath, of clear instances of fraud and corruption, which the Auditor General documented while auditing the Immigration Department for the period between 2011 and 2013.

    Hon. Finnegan Scolds Shyne?
    In our headline story you heard the UDP's Mesop standard bearer Shyne Barrow give an impassioned explanation of why he switched his support from John Saldivar to Patrick Faber. He was plain spoken and remarkably candid - saying basically that Saldivar is not at all suitable to lead the UDP. But, did he go too far while speaking of a senior colleague?

    Castro’s Tailgate Tacos Outside Convention
    Shyne says he doesn't consider it a scolding. And, no on could scold Edmond Castro when he set up a sort of salt beef pop up shop outside the UDP convention. Police had already blocked off the street, so he pulls dup in his jeep with smoked, salted beef on sale. It was an absurd juxtaposition and we asked him about it:

    Pearl Departs
    In one other bit of UDP news, we asked the Prime Minister and outgoing Party Leader Dean Barrow about the UDP Secretary General Pearl Stuart, who stepped down yesterday. He said it is a natural progression:

    Betancourt Got The Barrel of a Police Shotgun
    Turning now to police news, Guinea Grass resident Minor Betancourt found himself in the northern Regional Hospital over the weekend after what was supposed to be a fun night out. He had gone to a nightclub with a family member but it was on their way out that Betancourt's companion was pulled aside by the police, his offense?: failure to wear a mask. Betancourt reportedly approached the cops asking for the release of his companion, that's when he was allegedly shot to the chest with a round of rubber pellets from a 12 gauge shotgun.

    Bar Brawl In Armenia Leads to Maim
    A weekend bar fight in Armenia village has left one man chopped and a female bartender maimed. It happened just after 10:00 on Saturday night when Walter Castillo attacked a pair of brothers with a machete. They managed to subdue him and tonight he is the one in the Western regional hospital. Residents say that more police presence is needed in the village. And this morning ACP Myvette responded saying that while a police man is posted to the area, he isn't always there. "On Saturday night sometime after 10:00pm there was a fight inside a bar in Armenia village just outside of Belmopan where one of the victims who was the aggressor at that point..."

    Robbery In Jacintoville Injures American And Dog
    And while that lawman will face jail time, two cruel and callous robbers are still on the run. That's after a home invasion they committed against an expat and his dog in Jacinto Ville. This morning ACP Myvette told us what the police are doing to get to the bottom of this robbery which has left the expat bruised and his dog with chop wounds. "On yesterday's date sometime after 5p.m. police were called to Jacintoville at the home of one Julian Fisher who reported to police that shortly before five whilst inside his yard he was approached by two dark complexion male persons wearing masks..."

    UBFSU Certified
    After publicly complaining for 2 weeks, The University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union has finally been fully certified as the bargaining agent for 237 employees at the national university. The Ministry of Labour announced this evening that a certification forum was held at the Labor Office in Belmopan. The forum had virtual and in-person participation from the representatives of the union and the university's management.

    Forfeiture Case Proceeds
    On last Wednesday's news, we told you about the continued prosecution of the 8 foreigners who police caught last year in the act of landing a loaded narco-jet on the Coastal Road. Well, while that criminal matter is taking place in the Magistrate's Court, the police department is also pursuing a civil matter against them. Police is asking the court to order the forfeiture of the aircraft and 2 vehicles that some of the defendants were busted in.

    Channel 5

    Patrick Faber is the New U.D.P. Leader Elect
    Voting started at ten o’clock in the morning at the ITVET compound in Belize City; the delegates from Corozal were first to cast their votes for the new leader-elect of [...]

    PM Remains in Office Until the End of His Tenure
    While Patrick Faber is the new leader elect of the U.D.P., he will not be sitting in the Prime Minister’s chair in the current U.D.P. term. And that’s because Prime [...]

    Sedi Won’t Run for General Elections
    Pickstock Area Representative Wilfred Elrington garnered the least number of votes in Sunday’s leadership convention. Ten votes in all, which is five less than the total number of voting delegates [...]

    Ashton McKenzie Won’t Run for PG Town Council in 2021
    Punta Gorda Mayor Ashton McKenzie will not be offering himself as a candidate in the 2021 municipal elections.  That’s because he has indicated that he will be retiring from electoral [...]

    Pearl Stuart to Step Down as U.D.P. Secretary General
    The U.D.P. Secretary General Pearl Stuart is also stepping down.  The former executive director of the National Committee for Families and Children took up the post in 2008 when the [...]

    “A Couple of More Positive” COVID-19 Cases to be Confirmed This Week in O.W.
    And from politics to health; Belize has fifteen active cases of COVID-19 with nine being in the Orange Walk District. On Friday, four more cases were identified and the persons [...]

    Quarantine Family Not Cooperating with Health Officials
    According to Doctor Manzanero, officials have not been able to trace whether or not the infected persons travelled outside their community. He says that the family has not been forthcoming [...]

    COVID Patient Says They Did Not Illegally Cross the Border
    As you heard, the infected family has not been forthcoming with information to officials about their recent travels. That family remains in quarantine in the Orange Walk Multi-purpose Complex and [...]

    Man Kills Brother over Cell Phone in Cow Pen!
    Tonight, there is a tragic case of fratricide to report down south. It’s not often we report on such crimes – where a sibling kills another – and when you [...]

    Official Police Report on Cow Pen Fratricide
    Police also spoke today about this latest murder. ACP Joseph Myvett told the media that the men were intoxicated and they believe that contributed to what transpired. Here’s the police’s [...]

    Guinea Grass Resident Shot in the Chest by Police Officer
    Guinea Grass resident, Minor Betancourt was hit on the chest by a volley of rubber bullets on Saturday night. Betancourt was among a group of persons hanging out at La [...]

    Sentencing of Mason Five Further Adjourned
    The sentencing of the five men convicted of the beheading of Pastor Llewellyn Lucas has been further adjourned. Today, William “Danny” Mason, Ashton Vanegas, Ernest Castillo and sibling, Keiron and [...]

    Claver College Extension Eviction Notice to be Settled in Court
    Attorney Norman Rodriguez is also representing the Board of the Claver College Extension in Punta Gorda in a lawsuit brought against the church. According to Rodriguez, the Saint Peter Claver [...]

    San Andres Villager Earl Armstrong Charged for Manslaughter by Negligence
    San Andres villager, Earl Armstrong is arrested and charged for a slew of traffic offenses, including Manslaughter by Negligence, following a fatal road traffic accident on the night of July [...]

    Man Dies Inside Cell at Corozal Police Station
    The Belize Police Department is also investigating the death by hanging of a man inside the Corozal Police jail cell. Rayford Anderson was taken into custody for a domestic violence [...]

    International Financial Assistance is Trickling in for Belize’s COVID-19 Response
    The economy has been ravaged by the COVID-19 and up to date, not all the assistance sought from the international financial institutions has been received including from  International Monetary Fund  [...]

    B.C.C.I. Calls on G.O.B. to Exercise Transparency, Accountability and Good Governance
    The Barrow administration is being called upon to exercise transparency, accountability and good governance.  This comes on the heels of long term contracts recently issued past the life of the [...]

    U.B.F.S.U Receives Union Certification!
    Today, the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union was officially certified as the Bargaining Agent for Full-time and Temporary Assignment of Faculty and Staff employed for two consecutive twelve-month [...]

    Fire Partially Destroys House in Belize City
    A family of five needs assistance to recover from a fire that damaged their house. Kendra Timmons and her four children were watching television on Sunday night when the fire [...]

    A Chopping in Armenia Village
    There is more on the crime blotter. Walter Castillo is in a stable condition at the Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan after he was chopped multiple times during a fight. [...]

    An Elderly Man is Assaulted and Robbed in Jacintoville
    There were two robberies reported over the weekend in the south; one included the assault and robbery of an elderly man in Jacintoville, on the Southern Highway in Toledo. Sixty-five-year-old [...]

    Anna’s Store in Independence is Robbed; Named Suspect Being Sought
    Meanwhile in Independence Village, ACP Joseph Myvett says that police in that area are looking for a known suspect in a robbery at Anna’s Store in the village. While the [...]

    San Felipe and Blue Creek on Total Lock Down
    No one goes in and out from the villages of San Felipe and Blue Creek in the Orange Walk District, but there is movement of poultry and agricultural products. Those [...]

    Police Week Replaced by Citizen Appreciation Day
    Traditionally, around this time, the Belize Police Department would put off an entire week of activities to celebrate police week. But due to COVID-19 pandemic police will instead be celebrating [...]

    The Reporter

    The Belize Chamber of Commerce has written the Government of Belize demanding that it implement stricter procurement practices
    The letter states that it once again calls on the Government of Belize to adhere to the principles of transparency, accountability and good governance and reminded the government of its own guidelines which are, "are intended to steer any government away from transactions for goods and services which could be deemed as encouraging nepotism, preferential treatment, amongst other corrupt practices."

    LOVE FM

    BCCI calls for the government to be transparent in real estate rentals
    The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called out the Government of Belize to adhere to the principles of transparency, accountability and good governance. According to a release from BCCI the government is not being transparent and fair as it relates to employment and real estate rental contracts.

    UDP Representatives step down following results of the convention
    On the heels of yesterday’s convention and its outcome reports are surfacing of several resignations and retirement within the United Democratic Party. On the list that has surfaced are Gaspar Vega, Wilfred Sedi Elrington and Ashton McKenzie. While we have been unable to get a comment from Vega, we did speak with Punta Gorda’s Mayor McKenzie who explained that this is more of a retirement from politics and not a resignation.

    Is Saldivar’s name tarnished ?
    John Saldivar’s name has been written in Belize’s annals of history as the shortest serving UDP leader elect. Saldivar’s name is now associated with the Lev Dermen and William Mason saga that unfolded right before the eyes of the Belizean people. So, how did this man who managed to claim victory back in February 2020 lose the support of the UDP delegates? Perhaps most importantly, is how was he able to re-enter the leadership race. According to the Prime Minister no one objected to his candidacy.

    Belize registers 37 covid-19 cases
    Belize has now registered thirty-seven confirmed cases of Covid-19. Four new cases were uncovered among a set of tests that was carried out on Friday.

    University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union gets trade union certificate
    The University of Belize’s Faculty and Staff Union (UBFSU) has received their trade union certification. This was one of their demands when they took to the streets in a peaceful demonstration on Thursday.

    Businesses close their doors to international tourists amid COVID-19 endemic
    The Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) is set to reopen on August 15, but many Belizeans have asked the government to consider postponing the date. In protest of the reopening of the airport several businesses have taken a stand including Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch Jungle Lodge.

    Patrick Faber, UDP Party Leader-Elect
    The United Democratic Party held its UDP Leadership Convention for a second time in five months. Despite the thousands of dollars spent back in February for the first round of the leadership race, there was a failure to launch as the leader-elect was forced to resign within seventy two hours of his victory. Our news team was out at ITVET yesterday for full coverage of the day’s event. We join the News Director, Renee Trujillo for the story.

    House fire in Belize City displaces family
    A Belize City family has been displaced following a house fire on Central American Boulevard in Belize City. The incident occurred just after eleven o’clock last night.

    Breaking Belize NewsPJ

    Orange Walk Mayor encourages public to protect themselves and families and follow established regulations
    Mayor of Orange Walk, Kevin Bernard, issued a statement today expressing concern about the danger […]

    Caribbean passes 65 thousand cases of COVID-19 but nearly half have recovered
    As of Sunday COVID-19 has passed 65 thousand cases in the Caribbean, reaching 65,716. Of […]

    Danny Mason et al. continue to await sentencing
    Twice in the last few days, circumstances have caused presiding Supreme Court Justice Antoinette Moore […]

    Chamber warns GOB: “irresponsible behavior with public funds will no longer be tolerated”
    The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) charges the Government to adhere to the […]

    British Virgin Islands advises all non-nationals to leave once they are not working
    The government of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) has notified all non-nationals that they should […]

    Flood levels continue to fall
    The National Hydrological Service informed that flood levels continue to fall. The river conditions are […]

    “Two-dollar vans the new norm, decision unlikely to be reversed,” says Dollar Van Association
    Members of the Belize Dollar Van Association (BDVA) have begun charging $2 per passenger instead […]

    Government confirms NO Orange Walk lockdown
    The Government of Belize issued a statement just now stating that it is aware of […]

    John Saldivar congratulates Patrick Faber on beating him in leadership convention
    John Saldivar has just issued a statement congratulating new UDP leader-elect, Patrick Faber. Saldivar extended […]

    What are the UDP, PUP, and BPP anti-corruption policies?
    The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Breaking Belize […]

    Parents concerned about school reopening on August 10
    The Ministry of Education informed their intentions to prepare for school reopening on August 10. […]

    UDP NATIONAL CONVENTION II: Faber commits to campaign financing laws; says P.M. is not going anywhere
    Leader-elect of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Patrick Faber, intends to introduce campaign financing laws […]

    Over 15,000 COVID-19 cases reported in 1 day in Florida
    On Sunday, July 13, Florida registered an increase of more than 15,000 new cases of […]

    Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington announces retirement from politics
    Another top member of the United Democratic Party is retiring. Pickstock area representative and Minister […]

    UDP NATIONAL CONVENTION II: Faber hopes to keep electoral departures to minimum
    Already having lost two effective campaigners in Prime Minister Dean Barrow and Michael Finnegan, not […]

    Ministry of Health monitors COVID-19 situation in neighboring countries
    The Ministry of Health continues to monitor the growing number of cases of COVID-19 in […]

    Videos

  • Weight loss Fitness Bootcamp, 17min. If you are looking for a complete regime to help with your weight loss goals; Kaya Cattouse has a program that can help. She talked with us about her Weight loss Fitness Bootcamp. The program offers meal support and an exercise session designed to help you lose fat.

  • Flexibility and Adaptability - how to adjust to our changing circumstances, 29min. With all the changes occurring locally we scheduled this mental health check-in with Clinical Psychologist, Deshane Gutierrez -Lopez. She helped us understand how to develop the skill of flexibility and adaptability to be able to cope and adjust to our changing circumstances. She says it's all about focusing on the things you can control.

  • State of Emergency for the South Side of Belize, 27min. We had a conversation with Kendra Hoyt, Adjunct Criminal Justice Lecturer, at Galen University. She shared her thoughts on the current State of Emergency for the South Side of Belize. She explains that it is an ineffective approach to tackling crime and violence and that efforts should be focused on addressing the underlying poverty and human development issues that lead to a life of crime.

  • Rumajay Dutty Mas Band - Update, 19min. Rumajay Dutty Mas Band is hosting their first event this Friday at the Vibes Day & Night Club. We talked with Demmy Williams about the event and what party-goers can expect. The doors open at 9:00 pm.

  • Zayvha Sarai Designs, 27min. We asked Ronelli Requena, Owner and Fashion Designer at Zayvha Sarai Designs, to help us make masks that are affordable and stylish. She showed us how to re-purpose clothing into mask that are custom fit and offer you protection with a bit of personalized style.

  • Sweet Lemon Desserts, min. Sweet Lemon Desserts introduced us to their Cheesecake on a stick dessert. The husband and wife team make specialty cakes and cheesecakes and sell from their home in San Ignacio. They came up with this new treat that is now available in Brodies. We had a sample and talked with Gabby Guerra about the various flavor combinations available.

  • Brent's Two Cents: Episode 2, Faber Shocks the UDP! Another State of Emergency. What's Really going on at Elections and Boundaries?, 22min. Patrick Faber pulls off a David vs. Goliath and is the new leader-elect of the UDP. What will that mean for both major parties come election day? How do we balance the desire to be safe with the right to be free? One retailer bans men from their store while another state of emergency gives Police the power to ignore our constitutional rights. And why can we only transfer voter registration in July and August? My two cents on the real reason for such an odd policy. It's episode 2 of Belize's newest podcast.

  • Jael August in a vocal presentation 'Seven Nation Army', 4min. Starting off the work week with an entry from the BIJF's Online Competition.

  • Aventura Archaeology Project 2019, 73min. As part of our look back at the House of Culture's annual Ancient World event, we offer this video of Dr. Cynthia Robin's presentation last summer on the latest finds in mapping and excavation at the ancient Maya site of Aventura! We wish to thank Jan Wilson of Corozal.com for documenting the presentations! Aventura Archaeology Project_2019, by Dr. Cynthia Robin, Northwestern University. Part of Ancient World Week, Corozal Town, Belize, 16 July 2019.

  • Covid -19 Update / UDP Convention results, 17min.

  • Garifuna Drumming & Spirituality, 16min. Josh Arana - Drumming Expert

  • UDP Convention - Hon. Patrick Faber New Leader, 51min. Hon. Patrick Faber Leader Elect

  • The Business Hour, 90min.

  • Meet Cinco!, 2.5min. Our “Bringing The Belize Zoo To You” series continues with zookeeper Gerson and Cinco the collared peccary!

  • Aerial visit to the Blue Hole off Lighthouse Reef, Belize, 4min.

  • Shari Flam on Raw Cacao from Belize and Ecuador, 34min. We've all heard some of the benefits of chocolate, but Shari Flam is harnessing the medicinal benefits of cacao beans by using the fermented beans in her tasty treats. Listen in to learn about ethically sourcing cacao beans, the health benefits of eating raw cacao, the different processing methods, and some of the treats she makes using the unprocessed cacao beans. She also discusses the mineral and chemical components of chocolate and how it interacts with the nervous system.

  • Another joyful element is the fireworks segment in celebration of Our Patron St.Our Lady of Mount Camel, 4min. Waking up at 3:00 a.m. and hourly to the sounds of the Alboradas bombs is quite our unique experience during the season!

    July 13, 2020


    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, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.


    The San Pedro Sun

    Honourable Manuel Heredia Jr. congratulates the Honourable Patrick Faber
    Area Representative for Belize Rural South (Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker) Honourable Manuel Heredia Jr. congratulates the Honourable Patrick Faber after being elected as party leader of the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP).

    Wolfe’s Woofers: Wedded Bliss
    Sometimes silence is golden to one...whereas the other is using it as a weapon...

    Various Belizean Sources

    mzz

    Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen day Location
    Monday, July 13th, Meal pick ups. Location: Belize Diving Services Ltd. Times: Village: 11:00am - 11:45am. Bahia: 11:45am -12:30pm.

    COVID-19 UPDATE
    As we start a new week, we note with particular concern the growing numbers in both neighbouring Guatemala and Mexico, especially the neighbouring state of Quintana Roo. Neighbouring Othon P. Blanco has 883 active cases up until midday today and 48 related deaths. The growth rate in the southern part of Quintana Roo is 4.45, one of the highest in the entire Mexican territory; the growth rate is alarming and it has been flagged by the central government authorities in Mexico. As for Guatemala, they are reporting 757 new cases for Saturday, July 11th.

    The Last of Us Rave
    Mind & Me is having The Last of Use rave on Saturday August 1st, at the Hakim Shipyard. The theme this time is appropriately 'Post-apocalyptic.' 6 different DJ's! Epic dance event of the year. After being in quarantine for so long the anticipation of a get together to celebrate life is immense. Rave ON with the finest House & Techno Djs in the country. 8 HOUR DANCE MARATHON.

    DYS Football Tournament starts on the 20th
    There's still time to register.

    The Reporter

    Man from Guinea Grass allegedly shot by police
    A man from Guinea Grass in the Orange Walk district is at the Northern Regional Hospital after he was allegedly shot by Police Saturday night. Minor Betancourt was reportedly with a family member exiting a nightclub in Guinea Grass around 11:00pm when Police detained the family member for not wearing a mask. Betancourt reportedly approached the vehicle to ask them to release him. That is when he was shot, allegedly with rubber pellets from a 12 gauge shotgun and fell to the ground. Sources from the community say Police then drove off and left the youth on the ground bleeding.

    Stabbing incident in Cowpen Village
    A stabbing incident in Cowpen Village has claimed the life of Antonio Pop. Last night around 8:30 pm brothers Antonio and Christopher Pop had a heated argument with each other concerning Christopher's missing cellphone. That argument which escalated into a fight and resulted in Christopher stabbing his brother to the left side of chest.

    Breaking Belize NewsPJ

    UDP NATIONAL CONVENTION II: Leader-elect Faber calls for “moment of healing”
    As he publicly thanked the many who supported him this afternoon – whether from the beginning, […]

    UDP NATIONAL CONVENTION II: Faber gives thanks alone, will “reach out” to vanquished John Saldivar
    So close, yet so far, the John Saldivar who was magnanimous in victory on February […]

    Patrick Faber wins UDP Convention
    Patrick Faber, the area representative for the Collet Division in the Belize District has emerged […]

    Barrow: No challenges to today’s candidates
    Prime Minister Dean Barrow says he remains leader of the United Democratic Party until general […]

    Prime Minister Dean Barrow says more Covid-19 relief funds approved
    Speaking to reporters after casting his vote this morning, Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced the […]

    UDP National Convention continues; Faber confident of victory
    Sometime this afternoon, Patrick Faber will find out if he has managed to turn opinion […]

    Several persons detained as State of Emergency arrests continue
    The Belize Police Department has been on a sustained campaign to crackdown on gang violence […]

    Global COVID-19 cases approaches 13 million
    From mid-December 2019 up to today, July 12, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost […]

    United Democratic Party National Convention meets again in Belize City
     th nd f th mmntu und n lzn lt, n mn’ urn wll nd, […]

    In-laws’ argument over missing cellphone results in fatal stabbing
    Police are looking for one Christopher Pop of San Juan (Cowpen) village, Stann Creek District, […]

    Ministry of Health monitoring close contacts of COVID-19 patients who are symptomatic
    The Office of the Director of Health services informed that they are monitoring some close […]

    Feeding marine life at Iguana Reef Inn in Caye Caulker
    Since 2019, Iguana Reef Inn in Caye Caulker has embarked on a mission to feed […]

    Blogs

    What A Difference a Day Can Make! Sargassum and Shuts Down
    Sargassum is here on North Ambergris Caye. After a blissful 2020 without it. (It might be the only characteristics of 2020 that I can call “blissful”) As of Friday evening, the border villages of Blue Creek and San Felipe, Orange Walk district have been declared “locked-down” as new cases have been discovered and contact tracking is underway. You can see the villages in the orange dot on the map below – it is a generally rural area of the country but one that has some unique issues.

    Girls Can Have Fun Fly Fishing: Learn in Belize
    As a fishing novice, the adventure of learning the skill that many spend years perfecting is a special treat and more so when its an untraditional sport for women – gives me even more reason to want to “give it a go”. The idea of being able to reel in my first bonefish had me up bright and early! By 7:00 AM we were on our way to fuel up and head over to Cayo Rosario with our guide, Jorge from Blue Bonefish Fly Shop and Tours. Cayo Rosario is a small mangrove caye that is a short 10-15-minute ride North West of Ambergris Caye, it is an absolutely stunning location, the water is crystal clear. As a haven for the fly fishing community, it is located in the center of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and attracts fishing aficionados from all around the world.

    The City of Belmopan and its History
    In the America, the country of Belize was the last British colony on the mainland. The City of Belmopan, the ‘new capital’ is the youngest city, established in 1973. Belmopan is located near the town of Roaring Creek in the Belize River Valley at 50 miles west inland from the former capital, Belize City. If you’ve ever been curious about how Belmopan came to be, here’s a little history. In 1961, when we were still known as British Honduras, the city of Belize was devastated by a category 5 hurricane: the notorious Hurricane Hattie.

    Altun Ha Maya Site and The Jade Head
    Like many ancient ruin sites, the Maya City of Altun Ha is filled with mystery and wonder. Known as Rockstone Pond in Mayan, it is located close to the coast, approximately 31 miles north of Belize City. It was once an ideal place for commerce in the ancient Maya world. Nowadays, the proximity to Belize City makes Altun Ha a popular destination for both locals and international travelers visiting Belize. Artifacts found at the site link it with other major Maya cities such as Teotihuacan in Mexico and Copan in Honduras. Based on the size and grandeur of the buildings and monuments at Altun Ha, in its prime, this was a place of wealth and affluence.

    International Sourcesizz

    Article from Sports Illustrated almost 30 years ago
    It's all about The Belize Zoo and Sharon Matola. In 1992, Sports Illustrated magazine featured the Belize Zoo and founder/director Sharon Matola. The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center were started in 1983 by Sharon, as a last ditch effort to provide a home for a group of wild animals which had been used in making documentary films about tropical forests. Despite having little zoology experience in her background, Sharon decided to start a zoo anyway! Why? When wildlife is tamed, they can no longer survive in the wild. Turning the furry and feathered actors out into the forest was not an option, so signs were painted, word was passed around, and The Belize Zoo was born.

    Videos

  • Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber has been sworn in as leader-elect of the UDP, 1min.

  • Patrick Faber, victorious in his second attempt to secure leadership of the UDP, delivers his first address as UDP leader elect, 2.5min.

  • Belize International Jazz Festival Online Competition: Allan McKoy in a sax performance - Kissing a Fool, 4.5min. Make sure you attend the BIJF Concert on Saturday, July 18th at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex (Ticket booth area) to catch our winners perform!

  • Patrick Faber Wins!, 9min.

  • Wrap-up of UDP Leadership Convention, July 2020!, 5min.

  • Patrick Faber is the new Leader-elect of the UDP, 30min.

  • Fly Fishing in Belize, 5min.

  • Kimo talking about the importance of watersheds, min.

  • Belize ‘19, 7.5min. Great times with great friends down in Belize! (Plus a trip to Tikal, Guatemala)

  • Faber Wins! Another State of Emergency in Belize. What's Up at Elections and Boundaries?, 22min.

  • My skydive into The Great Blue Hole in Belize, 2.5min.

  • BLACK GROUPER and SPOTTED HIND GROUPER/BELIZE DEEP DROP, 12min. Watch this big black grouper brake the Rod tip but still get caught. Also a very rare species of grouper(Spotted Hind).

  • BELIZEAN STEW CHICKEN, 6min. Home cooked Belizean Food

  • TRAVELLING around BELIZE (Caye Caulker) & MEXICO (Quintana Roo), 6min. Spent two weeks traveling around awesome beaches and places. Beginning in an Island in Belize, called Caye Caulker, where we got the opportunity to do one of our best snorkel where we could observe being too close to this amazing sea animals and wonderful corals. And continuing to Mexico, Quintana Roo, where we started in Bacalar, enjoying the Seven Colors Lagoon, and visiting the cenotes around it.

  • Jaguar at Chan Chich in Belize, 3.5min.

  • Relaxing Ocean Waves at NIght | Hopkins, Belize | 8 Hours for Sleep, 8hrs.

  • San Pedro, Belize "La Isla Bonita" For Father's Day, 11min. so me and my family took at trip to the beautiful island of san pedro for fathers day funny joke i never wanted to go because i was dealing with alot after my social media melt down

  • TRAVEL TO BELIZE (DJI MAVIC MINI 2.7K), 4min. Belize a vista de drone! :)

  • Jaguar at Chan Chich in Belize, 3.5min.

  • Our Alboradas, 24min. Guadalupe Media shares a snippet of Our Alboradas we thank Mrs.Elenita Leslie & our staff member, Linette from the Institute of Social & Cultural Research for all her efforts in documenting this community celebration

    July 12, 2020


    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, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.


    The San Pedro Sun

    State of Emergency declared on two villages in the Orange Walk District after an increase in COVID-19 cases
    Following a surge in cases of COVID-19 in the villages of San Felipe and Blue Creek in the Orange Walk District, a State of Emergency was declared on Friday, July 10th. As a result, security forces are enforcing a strict measure that prohibits persons from going in or coming out of these villages. The increase in infections is believed to have been triggered after persons illegally crossed the border back and forth to Mexico, where cases have been increasing. Both of these villages are near the Mexican border, which is an area notorious for the contrabanding of goods.

    Islanders participate in ‘Conquer COVID-19’ 5k run to raise funds for school supplies
    To raise funds to purchase school supplies and help primary school students in San Pedro Town, a 5k Run dubbed ‘Conquer COVID-19,’ was held on Saturday, July 11th. The sporting event, spearheaded by Kent ‘Bob’ Gabourel, Sports Coordinator at the San Pedro Town Council, saw a large number of participants gladly answering the call to support the worthy cause. 5k RunMany families on the island continue to struggle with the effects of COVID-19, which has left many without jobs. As the new school year approaches, getting much-needed school supplies will be challenging for those in dire economic situations. Gabourel indicated that all proceeds from the event’s registration fee will go to assist those in need.

    Various Belizean Sources

    mzz

    Corozal Rotary Club starts Interact Club
    Meet our New Club Interact Club of COROZAL ! Going out on there first food distribution project helping 20 families soon. Thank you to everyone who helped and donated.

    Seafood Open and Closed Seasons
    Did you know that in Belize, even if seafood is caught during its open season, it is illegal for a person to be in possession of it once the season is closed? That's why it's always good to know your open and closed seasons. Belize's closed seasons are: • Queen Conch: July 1st - September 30th** (Can be earlier if quota is met) • Spiny Lobster: February 15th - June 14th • Nassau Grouper: December 1st - March 31st • Wild Shrimp: July 14th - March 14th • Hickatee: May 1st - May 31st Fish sustainably. Eat responsibly.

    Ya’axché radio talk show July 14
    Ya’axché radio talk show is back sharing about our upcoming event, BioBlitz! Tune in on Sunshine Raydio Station 100.9 FM, Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 4-5 pm. Learn how to apply for the event and what the Maya Golden Landscape children will be learning from our expertise. Be sure to join Elizabeth, our Science Director, Ya’axché’s parabiologist and Evarista, our Education and Outreach officer on the Ya’axché radio talk show.

    Balam Nah church in Chan Santa Cruz
    The Balam Nah church in Chan santa Cruz(Carrillo puerto,Quintana Roo, Mex) is the only church in the Americas build by white Slaves . The Yucatec Maya freedom fighters called themselves Máasewal or Cruzoob Maya were able to create a modern Maya state called Noj Kaj Santa Cruz(1847-1901) . The Maya state of Noj Kaj Santa Cruz was proclaimed on 1849, in Xoken, a south-eastern satellite of modern Valladolid where the Proclamation of Juan de la Cruz Puc was first read to the people.The capital, Noj Kaj Balam Naj Santa Cruz K'ampok'olché , was founded in about 1850 near a sacred cenote, a natural well providing a year-round source of holy water.

    BERNARDINO CEN
    Cen was known as a ferocious Maya Máasewal fighter whose orders were said to come directly from Hahal Ku(God). His name is associated with the siege of Tihosuco in 1866, which led to the town’s abandonment as a frontier garrison for federal troops, and with numerous other attacks on towns in the region. Cen is also credited with the completion of the church of Chan Santa Cruz called the Balam Nah , and with the construction of the adjacent garrison for Maya troops (now Casa de la Cultura in Felipe Carrillo Puerto). Cen died of a machete blow to the head at Xuxub in October 1875 in a battle with government troops. The effect of the blow can be plainly seen on the right side of Cen’s cranium, which was brought to the museum in 1998 from Mérida.

    A TALE ABOUT BELIZEAN LABOR! SITTING ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY!
    By Bilal Morris Besides the small hanger making business he supplements his meager income as a Belizean laborer all his life, my neighbor Mr. Lewis in the 1970s worked what Belizeans called “Waterfront” in between the weekdays as well as on the weekends. Leaving from upstairs of the small wooden house he rents as a single man, he waves to me to signal his departure, a bag with necessities slung across his shoulders. He will see if he would be able to catch a job as a stevedore up at the Belize City customs wharf. It is where the docks are that Belizean laborers unpacked the ships that bring in goods for the Belizean economy as well as loading boats with raw brown sugar from the Belize sugar factory at the old foreshore.

    The Reporter

    Robbery in Independence Village
    A robbery at Anna's store in Independence Village resulted in the assailant taking off with $2000. The owner, Jun Liu, reported that he was seated behind the counter when a male person entered the store, approached him and held him down in his chair. He told the owner not to move then took a small bag which contained $2,000. He then jumped on a black bike and left.

    Belize Business Bureau Says Open Airport after Sept. Celebrations
    The Belize Business Bureau has written Prime Minister Dean Barrow to request that he consider opening the airport after the September celebrations are over. The letter states that "Belize cannot afford another lockdown nor another state of emergency (SOE). It would take our country into an economic tail spin." The Bureau attributes the new cases of border jumpers a direct result of the opening of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and the Maya Rivera to mass tourist visitors and it's spilling over from Chetumal to Belize.

    Police seal off Blue Creek and San Felipe
    Commissioner of Police Chester Williams is appealing to residents of Blue Creek and San Felipe, as well as communities which habitually transit the border in the north to report persons who they know have entered the country illegally. According to Williams Police have sealed off Blue Creek and San Felipe and will maintain a constant patrol within those communities.

    LOVE FM

    ROBBER LEAVES ID
    Anna's store in Independence Village, Stann creek District was robbed just after four o’clock yesterday evening. Police visited the scene and spoke to 18-year-old Jun Liu, Belizean businessman reported that he was seated behind the counter when a lone Mayan descent man entered the store. The suspect was allegedly holding the right side of his waist as if though he was holding something under his shirt. The suspect walked behind the counter and stole over two thousand dollars in different denominations. He then made his escape on a black bicycle. Thereafter, police visited an abandoned building nearby and found the suspects clothing, where they found his social security card inside his pockets. He has since been identified as 22-year-old Armando Pop.

    Breaking Belize NewsPJ

    Man found dead in Corozal Police Station jail cell
    BBN has confirmed that Rayford Anderson, 42, of San Antonio village was found dead inside […]

    Belize City Summer Auto Show underway
    The Belize City Summer Auto Show is taking place all day today at Riverside Tavern […]

    PUP’s Louis Zabaneh calls for more balanced subvention to University of Belize
    Dangriga standard-bearer for the People’s United Party (PUP), Dr. Louis Zabaneh, joined Thursday’s march with […]

    Development Finance Corporation supports International Cooperatives Day 2020
    The Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is to assist farmers in the Nago Bank section of […]

    Muscle Hut Fitness Club opens to get you in shape!
    If you’re in the Cayo District and COVID-19 has made you a couch potato, we’ve […]

    Senate report on Immigration finally on the way?
    The long-awaited Senate Special Select Committee Report on the Immigration Department, 2011-2013, is getting closer […]

    Belize Business Bureau calls on PM to push back airport re-opening until September
    The Belize Business Bureau (BBB) has written to Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow, asking […]

    Teachers’ Union stands with Christian Workers’ Union in strike call; will Congress do so too?
    This week the Christian Workers’ Union (CWU) has been on the picket line on the […]

    Robber makes off with $2,000 from Anna’s store in Independence, leaves behind Social Security card
    A robber, who hit Anna’s store located on Flamboyant Avenue in Independence Village, Stann Creek; […]

    Compol says security forces have “sealed off” Blue Creek and San Felipe
    The Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams said this morning that as a result of a […]

    Blogs

    Belizean Made: The Revolution of Belize Fashion
    Our placement in Central America, the tropical influence of our Caribbean shores and islands, as well as the intricate blend of Mayan, Hispanic, Kriol and Garifuna cultures have each lended a rich foundation to draw Belizean fashion inspiration from. While September celebrations may look different this year, we reflect on the unmistakeable Belize heat and (would be) festivities to not only dress comfortably, but also fashionably. You’d be surprised to learn that the fashion scene in Belize is blossoming with innovative local designers leading the way. Like many nations whose story began with colonialism, Belize’s fashion & lifestyle reflects the country’s less-than-40 years of independence from Great Britain.

    10 Epic Spots to Swim in Belize
    Going for a swim in Belize means more than hitting the pool or beach. Instead, here are 10 epic swimming spots where you can cool off after a day in Belize’s tropical sun. Big Rock Falls, Davis Falls, Butterfly Falls, Mayan King, Five Sisters Falls, Rio Blanco, Billy Barquedier, San Antonio Waterfall, Tiger Fern Waterfall, & Cool off the natural way in Belize.

    BBQ with a Belizean Twist
    The convenience of having someone else cook on the weekend is always welcomed on a Saturday. Nevertheless, in Belize many families enjoy gathering and having a barbecue over the weekend. Belize’s tropical weather always makes for great weather to host a barbecue with family and friends. For your next BBQ add a special Belizean twist to your cooking with Flavors of Belize Cookbook barbecue sauce recipe.

    International Sourcesizz

    Ambassadors Express Cautious Optimism as Caribbean States Reopen
    The Authentic Caribbean Foundation (ACF) presented part 2 of its Caribbean COVID-19 Update discussion forum: Reopening of Caribbean States, which featured Ambassadors of several Caribbean Countries and other community leaders at a Zoom Town Hall on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at 4pm. The session lasting approximately 3 1/2 hours was streamed live on various platforms. The Ambassadors and Ambassador Representatives all reported on the state of affairs in their various countries as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Economic fallout was by far the greatest concern which influenced the decisions taken to reopen borders across many of these states, particularly because tourism is a major contributor to the GDP of many of these countries.

    Carnival cruise lines plan 'staggered' comeback, won't return to full capacity until 2022
    Cruise giant Carnival Corp. is continuing plans for a phased-in approach for its return to sailing, beginning with fewer ships and fewer passengers, on a region-by-region basis. The company will not make a full return in terms of passenger capacity until 2022 at the earliest, according to CEO Arnold Donald. "[The] nature of restart is going to be almost country by country and destination by destination," Donald said on an earnings call Friday, four months after the company paused operations due to coronavirus.

    The 2020 Audubon Photography Awards: Winners
    Every spring, the judges of the Audubon Photography Awards gather at Audubon's headquarters in Manhattan to review their favorite images and select the finalists. But as with much of life in 2020, this year's awards had to be handled differently due to pandemic-related travel, work, and social-distancing restrictions. So, for our 11th annual awards, which saw more than 6,000 submissions, the judges assembled in an epic day-long Zoom meeting to winnow down the remaining pool to just the 10 winners and honorable mentions shown here. As always, the task was simultaneously unenviable and inspiring. The thousands of submissions from nearly 1,800 entrants showed birdlife in all of its splendor. In total, photographers from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and 7 Canadian provinces entered images that captured the creativity, wonder, and beauty of species small and large, terrestrial and aquatic.

    The Guatemalan rainforest: Lush jungle, Mayan ruins and narco jets full of cocaine
    The makeshift airstrips are sliced into the jungle, clearings carved out of the oaks and palms wide enough to land jets full of cocaine. The planes arrive in the middle of the night, their lights off, guided by drones, unsteady under the weight of the drugs. They descend over Mayan ruins, over camps of jaguar researchers and ornithologists, over illegal settlers and ranchers. The cat-and-mouse game between the United States and the leaders of Latin America’s drug trade has shifted to this wild stretch of Guatemala, one of the most inhospitable landscapes in the Western Hemisphere. Jets can carry more than $100 million worth of cocaine, to be ferried swiftly out of the jungle, through Mexico and on to the United States.

    Go Inside: Photographing Belize from the Air
    Over the last 20 years, Tony Rath and LightHawk have teamed up to photograph the jungles, coastline, and reefs of Belize from the air countless times. Tony shares what he’s learned over the years about making aerial images with LightHawk. My flight day begins with a motion sickness pill and a good breakfast. Even the hardiest stomach can churn when banked 45 degrees while peering through a viewfinder. A peek into my gear bag reveals two camera bodies, two wide angle and a couple telephoto lenses, extra batteries and CF cards. If we will be shooting over water, then a polarizer filter is a must...

    Videos

  • Summer Car Show - Universal Hardware, 9.5min.

  • Summer Car Show - Caribbean Motors, 3.5min.

  • Summer Car Show, 11min.

  • Summer Car Show - Belize Diesel, 10min.

  • Summer Car Show - Tavern, 3min.

  • Summer Car Show - Motor Solutions, 10min.

  • A MOTORCYCLIST IS INJURED IN A HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT ON 7TH AVENUE IN COROZAL, 1/4min. Corozal Police are seeking the public's assistance in identifying a female driver who hit a motorcyclist on 7th Avenue earlier this morning and drove off without rendering assistance. The motorcyclist has been taken to the Corozal Community Hospital with injuries.

  • The Climb: Belize Graduating Class of 2020, 35min. The celebration continues as we head out west to join our students from high schools throughout the Cayo District! We'll also be hearing from our Youth Ambassador as well as the President of the BNTU, Cayo principals and a special item from Eden SDA High School!

  • FISHING WITH CHICKEN ON VACATION IN BELIZE, 7min. Belize happens to be among the luckiest fisheries in the world. One of the key reasons for this is that the country lies right on the Belize Barrier Reef. , one of the largest coral formations in the entire world! The reef is home to more than 500 species of fish, and is the prime culprit behind the creation of an impressive variety of flats and lagoons.

  • Drone footage of Corozal Belize, min.

  • Sharks in Belize, 1min.

  • Belize Trip 2014, Hol Chan, Shark Ray Alley, Xunantunich, 4.5min.

  • Manatee tour from the one and only Jamal!, 3min. Did you know manatees were once thought to be mermaids? Join us for a mini Manatee tour with Jamal Galves and learn all about proper manatee manners when encountering these gentle sea cows.

    July 11, 2020


    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, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.


    The San Pedro Sun

    Hol Chan Ranger rescues 5-year-old from drowning
    A 5-year-old girl is lucky to be alive after almost drowning by the Boca del Río Area. According to information from the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, one of their rangers was passing through the area this evening when he saw the little girl unconscious and floating in the water, while her 7-year-old brother was trying to render her assistance. The ranger quickly assisted the unconscious girl. Personnel from the San Pedro Police Formation and the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II were called to the scene where life-saving techniques (like CPR) were applied to the little girl, thereby resuscitating her. Afterwards she was taken to the clinic, and successfully stabilized.

    Burglars break into Western Union office in downtown San Pedro
    A newly opened Western Union office on Barrier Reef Drive was targeted by burglars who broke into the establishment some time the night of Thursday, July 9th. The thieves made off with two laptops and an undisclosed amount of cash. western union burglaryThe proprietor of the Western Union office said that after opening the business the next morning, he noticed the missing items and money. He immediately reported the incident to police, who visited the establishment and began investigating. Police are checking surveillance footage from nearby businesses, as this Western Union office did not have surveillance cameras.

    BTB Staff Donates School Supplies to Students of San Antonio RC School, O.W.
    Approximately 70 children from San Antonio RC School in the Orange Walk District received an assortment of back to school supplies as part of the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) staff’s community outreach to assist those in need during the COVID-19 crisis. The presentation was made today by BTB employees in partnership with the Rotary Club of Orange Walk who also contributed to the project. The donation was comprised of knapsack, composition books, hand sanitizers, masks (kids’ size), pencil cases and a variety of other stationeries. In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, BTB’s staff collaborated to donate towards community outreach initiatives in several different areas of the country. This is the fourth donation to date. Prior contributions of food hampers benefitted over 200 families in Calla Creek, Belize City and Punta Gorda.

    Award of Complementary climate funding to the Government of Belize
    The UNDP programme, “Enabling Gender-Responsive Disaster Recovery, Climate and Environmental Resilience in the Caribbean” (EnGenDER) has been working with implementing partners, stakeholders and donors over the last year to strengthen disaster risk management systems for 9 Caribbean countries and build resilience to the effects of climate change. This work is happening at a variety of levels, from improving central government’s ability build strategies for inclusive approaches to policy making to build resilience; to strengthening regional systems for planning and recovery from natural disasters; to community level interventions to ensure the vulnerable have what they need to so that that adaptation and mitigation actions in key livelihood sectors, such as agriculture, consider vulnerable persons.

    Islanders clean up on North Ambergris Caye
    Over the past few weeks, parts of San Pedro Town have been painted and given a fresh look through an initiative spearheaded by Xsite Belize Sailing and Adventures. The idea to keep the island beautiful and clean has led to a clean-up north of San Pedro Town, where a large amount of garbage was removed from the roadside, beachside, and the Secret Beach Area. The joint effort saw several groups of volunteers coming together. These included the North Ambergris Caye Neighbourhood Watch, along with volunteers from the American Crocodile Education Sanctuary, the Residences at Barrier Reef, Truck Stop, Sandy Point Resorts, PUR, Palapa Bar and Grill, Xsite Belize Sailing and Adventures, among others, cleaning as far as X’tan Ha Resort located over seven miles north.

    Various Belizean Sources

    mzz

    MAYA LEGEND: ORIGINS
    The Maya of the Mayab knows that before them, long before them, other men populated their land and made it beautiful and powerful. They were holy men, full of wisdom. Each of them had known the Yuumstilo'ob. They did not come from any of the land or sea directions. Here they went, because here was made by the One whose name is said sighing. They were beautiful and brave men and they gave love and mercy. Lord Zamná, the Father of all, was among them; his hand, the worker of the wonders of the world, rose high to lead and command them. And he cured them of the ills of their body, and gave them heat from the sun to ignite their spirits, which were thus always in the clear sky.

    Border Jumpers Increase Belize’s COVID-19 Cases to 15
    The villages of Blue Creek and San Felipe have been placed under a state of emergency given the increase of COVID 19 cases in that area. Officials fear a community spread. Ministry of Health Releases Statement: Our enhanced surveillance and now routine laboratory testing for SARS-CoV2 has identified another 4 cases as positive for SARS-CoV2. These 4 cases are related to the previously identified 3 cases yesterday and all 7 members of this family remain at the quarantine center in Orange Walk. One person displayed minor signs and symptoms and was seen at the hospital yesterday but has not warranted in hospital treatment.

    Register to Vote!
    See Requirements for registration.

    Certification of Bargaining Units of the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union
    The Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development hereby clarifies and corrects inaccurate information regarding the process of Certification of Trade Unions under the Trade Unions and Employers’ Organizations (Registration, Recognition and Status) Act, Chapter 304, Revised Edition 2011. The need to do this has arisen in the context of the imminent certification of the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union as the sole bargaining agent to represent staff of the University of Belize who are members of the following units: (i) Full Time Faculty and Staff and (ii) Faculty and Staff on Temporary Assignment where they have been employed for two consecutive twelve-month contracts.

    Flood Forecast for July 10, 2020

    Scholarship Opportunity
    The Helmut-Schmidt-Programme is designed to academically qualify future leaders in the fields of social & political science, law, economics, public policy and administration according to the principles of Good Governance and to prepare them in a praxis-oriented course for their professional life. The programme offers highly qualified graduates with a first university degree the chance to obtain a master’s degree in disciplines that are of special relevance for the social, political and economic development of their home country.

    State of Emergency in Blue Creek and San Felipe Villages
    Statutory Instrument No. 99 of 2020 A PROCLAMATION DECLARING A STATE OF PUBLIC EMERGENCY IN BLUE CREEK VILLAGE AND SAN FELIPE VILLAGE, ORANGE WALK DISTRICT.

    Street Repair Continues in San Pedro
    Our team has been hard at work fixing the streets, taking advantage of the dry weather. We began on Blake Street and headed our way onto the San Pablo Area. Now, we are in the DFC Area, but before, we managed to pave the entrance to the Escalante Sub-Division. This is only the beginning, we will get to the other areas that are in need of work.

    Hit and run accident in Carmelita Village tonight, Friday, July 10
    The victim passed away on the spot.

    Major Development in Corozal Town
    While our beautiful Corozal Town faces growing challenges, we remain a resilient community with MANY positive attributes. One such attribute is our potential for development, and we highlight this major construction that is ongoing on College Road. The construction is for a large Plaza that will offer spaces for new business initiatives and opportunities for jobs when it is completed in 2021. We commend the Belizean investors for their vision and for taking the bold step to bring opportunities to Corozal Town.

    Football matches today in Belmopan

    Coconut Shell Jewelry Making Program
    We are very happy to be able to offer another summer program! Interested persons can learn the skill of making coconut jewelry by Belize's premier organic jeweler Kimberly Griffith.

    Channel 7

    Inside the UDP Power Struggle
    On Sunday, for the second time in 5 months, the UDP will go back to the party's highest decision making body, the national convention, to select a new leader. The ruling party does so dangerously close to a general election, so it is hoping that the convention will be as bloodless as possible. Last night we told you all about the austere trappings of this party event - which will be no party. Tonight, Jules Vasquez looks at some of the political history and the power dynamics going into Sunday's convention. He starts in mid February, when perhaps prematurely, we declared Saldivar political dead meat:

    How Faber Will Make Up His Margin of Defeat?
    And that question, of how he plans to make up the margin is the first thing we asked Faber about this evening when he agreed to an interview with the press at his Belize City office. We discussed his remarks in late February that the convention wasn't all that fair. That was a reference to a stacked list of 570 delegates. Well, as you just heard, the list remains - so what has changed? That's what we asked Faber: "You felt that you had been treated unfairly, that you suggested that the list was rigged, that it was a list set for you to lose. It's the same list that they are using in this convention, sir. What will make the outcome different?"

    The Meaning of Shyne’s Support
    And as you heard, one name that he did not need to whistle for was was Shyne Barrow. That's because - as you saw in our headline - the former Faber opponent has become a proponent. We asked Faber about Shyne's switch and what it means for "Daddy Dean": "Speak about Shyne for us, he last time was avowedly against you, spoke out publicly against you as well and now we've seen a facebook post from him saying he supports you. First of all is the support genuine and second, is it indicative of the fact that perhaps his father has shifted support?"

    Faber Says He Has PM’s Vote
    And while Faber was careful how he spoke about the PM's support in that part of the interview, later on, Faber made it plain, he said he believes the PM will vote for him: Hon. Patrick Faber, UDP Leadership candidate: "I think what is certain is that he has indicated that indeed he wants good leadership for the future of this party, he wants to leave the party in good hands. He has said about me, which you have seen many times over, you have heard him say that, there is record of him saying this over the many years that I have served as his deputy or even served as his minister in cabinet, that he believes that I am competent and capable and that I have that integrity and honesty to lead the party and carry it on. So, does the prime minister support me? Of course he does. He has said this many times over."

    Faber Soft Shoes Saldivar’s Reputation
    And while that is really only his hope - indeed, if Faber wins on Sunday, it will suggest what kind of enduring influence over party affairs Dean Barrow has as he leaves political life. But, one thing Barrow - nor any UDP will do - is publicly speak ill of John Saldivar and the taint of his association with Lev Dermen or Danny Mason. Such are the rules of the political fraternity in any party. And, even on the cusp of a career defining battle, his opponent Faber held fast to that line:

    Serious Covid Concerns After Three Cases In OW
    Tonight, there is concern in the Orange Walk District after three minors yesterday tested positive for COVID 19. According to a posting last night by the Director of Health Services these latest positive results come from 3 minors of a family that illegally crossed the border. That's very concerning and the Ministry of Health warns, quote, "we at health remain very much concerned with the ongoing illegals crossingswe are now anticipating clusters in these communities at the rate we are going." End quote. That is a very dire warning - and we asked the DHS to outline his concerns. I spoke to him via zoom video conference an hour ago:

    Blue Creek State of Emergency Declared
    We have breaking news coming from Belmopan. The Governor General has signed a proclamation declaring a state of public emergency in Blue Creek Village And San Felipe Village, Orange Walk District. This is after three recent COVID cases came out of that area. The state of emergency remains in place for a month for those two villages in northwestern Orange Walk. So what does it mean for residents? Well, a curfew!

    No Bail for Border Jumper
    And one of those border jumpers who was arrested and charged for entering Belize illegally tried to get bail today. 23-year-old Olga Galdamez, a Guatemalan national, is back at the Belize Central Prison after her application for bail was denied in the Supreme Court. On April 10th, a woman police officer was on patrol in Benque Viejo Town when she saw a suspicious group of persons. When the group saw the cops, they all ran. The officers chased after them, and that's when the female arresting officer recognized Galdamez. This officer recalled a prior encounter with Galdamez, which occurred on April 4th.

    Immigration Staff Transfers Still Going Through
    It may be a time of austerity, but the Immigration Department is getting ready to embark on its regular transfers, as per public service regulations. But, some immigration officers are complaining that now is not to the time to implement any kind of personnel transfers. We understand that the public service regulations oblige the heads of government departments to transfer public servants every 2 to 3 years. This is to ensure continued growth in and to make sure that none of them become too complacent or stagnant in their professional development. A list of the immigration officers being transferred has already been compiled, and some of them have reached out to our newsroom to publicly disagree.

    Justices Lisa And Westmin
    In other news, reliable reports to 7News are that Lisa Shoman, a former PUP Foreign Affairs Minister, and a former PUP Senator, is on the way to being appointed as a temporary judge of the Supreme Court. We are told that Prime Minister Dean Barrow has been looking for suitable candidates and that Shoman and Westmin James were being seriously considered to fill vacant seats in the judiciary. You'll remember Westmin James as a UWI lecturer, and as one of the attorneys who pressed Caleb Orozco's lawsuit against Section 53 of the Criminal Code.

    Alleged Gang Members Being Sought For SOE Detention
    Last night, we showed you the 24 accused gang affiliates, including 4 women, who police sent up to Belize Central Prison under the Southside State of Emergency. At a press conference yesterday, Police Commissioner Chester Williams announced that the cops were actively looking for another group of accused trouble-makers, who will join them in jail. This morning, the department released a list of persons who are now wanted under the SOE.

    Alleged Killer's Gramma Defends Him
    And, all those names come out of the Southside state of emergency, activated after the the brutal weekend murders of 23-year-old Raheem Myles and 19-year-old Raheem Faber. Among the detained is Ainsworth Foreman, also known as Maca. He might be the prime suspect in Faber's murder but up until now, the cops haven't been able to prove his involvement or charge him for murder. This morning I spoke with his grandmother who says that he had nothing to do with Faber's death and that, as a matter of fact, they were friends.

    Education Minister Takes On UB Mess
    Last night, we took you to Belmopan where the faculty and staff of the University of Belize staged a protest against the senior administration of the University. They have been insisting that the President and the Board of Trustees have made calculated attempts at cutting them out of the very difficult conversation on how the institution will survive a budgetary shortfall of 7.1 million dollars.

    Schools Opening: Safety Comes First
    We also asked Faber about the statement by the president of the teachers union, Elena Smith. She said that teachers and schools will not be ready for school opening on August 10th. As we have reported, there's a whole handbook of new procedures that have to be implemented.

    Faber Softens Position On Vega
    And, finally from Faber, we asked him about Gaspar Vega. He's the former Deputy Prime Minister and three term area rep for Orange Walk north, who still the party's candidate in that seat.

    Channel 5

    2nd U.D.P. Convention is Here: Who Will Win on Sunday?
    The new leader of the United Democratic Party, who will be referred to as leader elect, will be decided this Sunday. The three-man race has been narrowed down to a [...]

    Who will the Prime Minister Vote for on Sunday?
    In the build up to the February ninth leadership convention, former Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber had a public spat with Mesopotamia Area Representative Shyne Barrow.  At the time, the [...]

    3 More Cases of COVID-19; Orange Walk Becomes Hotspot
    Three more cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on Thursday night and it is expected that four more cases will be confirmed later tonight. All these cases are being recorded in [...]

    Another Group of Belizeans Repatriated
    Another repatriation flight landed today with over twenty persons including military officers and two diplomats. United Airlines landed at the Philip Goldson International Airport at around midday after applications were [...]

    Are We Prepared for the P.G.I.A.’s Reopening?
    The Philip Goldson International Airport is scheduled to re-open for international travel on August fifteenth. This will allow visitors to enter Belize and jump-start the tourism industry and by extension [...]

    Georgeville Village Council Says Minister Montero Giving Out Their Land without Consultation
    Around the country, land disputes are brewing in villages.  In the latest case, the Georgeville Village Council is up in arms that a green space reserved for a sporting complex [...]

    Minister of Education Weighs in on UB Crisis
    Minister of Education Patrick Faber has been fairly silent on the UB matter.  Aside from government cutting the subvention for the national university amid the resulting economic crisis from COVID-19, [...]

    Education Minister Responds to Schools not Being Ready to Reopen
    B.N.T.U. National President, Senator Elena Smith has come forward to say that a majority of schools across the country will not be ready to reopen their classrooms on August tenth, [...]

    Are the Tides Turning in Faber’s Favor?
    Going back to Sunday’s leadership convention, a number of U.D.P. area representatives have also shifted their support from John Saldivar to Patrick Faber, including Cayo Central’s Rene Montero and Erwin [...]

    Bail Denied for Woman Who Failed to Comply with Directive of Quarantine Authority
    A Guatemalan woman, who calls Belize home and who was intercepted for violating the quarantine regulation in April, was denied bail when her attorney, Hurl Hamilton applied on her behalf today [...]

    Barry Castillo on Bail With Curfew
    A man, who allegedly forced his way into the home of an elderly American couple in Seine Bight, then proceeded to beat and rob them, was granted bail today, but [...]

    Juan Bermudez Gets Bail
    Juan Bermudez, who is accused of firing gunshots during an altercation with another man in Trial Farm Village, Orange Walk was today granted bail by Justice Colin Williams.  Bermudez allegedly fired [...]

    More Gang Members Detained Under New SOE
    As part of an ongoing law enforcement operation to round up known gang members who are said to be involved in the recent flare up of violence in Belize City, [...]

    P.S.U. Signs Bus Agreement for Commuting Public Officers
    The Public Service Union has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with private bus company ADK Charters to provide transportation for public officers who travel from Belize City to Belmopan for [...]

    P.U.P.’s Allan Pollard Wants Queen Square
    Belize City Councilor Allan Pollard wants to be the area representative for Queen Square, a traditional U.D.P. stronghold and the constituency of Prime Minister Dean Barrow since 1984.  Barrow is [...]

    Will U.B.F.S.U. Participate in UB’s Virtual Recommendations Meeting?
    On Thursday, the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union held a demonstration to help amplify their voice for the senior administration of UB to engage them in cost-cutting measures [...]

    Will There Be A New Faculty & Staff Rep on UB Board of Trustees?
    The Union is also dissatisfied about the way in which Doctor June Young was removed from the UB Board of Trustees when the financial crisis announcement was made. The U.B.F.S.U. [...]

    Everything Elsy – a Delicious Assortment of Fresh Fruit Arrangements
    In the following story you will meet an enterprising single mother of four children. She is Elsy Rosales and she started a small business from scratch. She did not have [...]

    Corozal Town Council Acquires Equipment for its Sanitation, Operations Department
    Earlier this week, the Corozal Town Council acquired a lawn tractor, a generator, two lawn mowers, four echo brush cutters and other essential tools to complement the equipment for its [...]

    The 10th Annual Back to School Trimming/Hair Braiding Initiative Needs Your Help
    The popular tenth annual back to school trimming and hair braiding drive by Inspiration Arts is scheduled to be held on August eighth and ninth at its usual location on [...]

    Amandala

    Belizean John Usher must pay BZ quarter billion+ for Sanctuary Bay scam
    A Belizean has been found liable for what is known as one of the biggest overseas scams ever investigated by the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and his involvement will cost him US$138.7 million. John Usher, a local businessman and resident of the Stann Creek District, has been found liable for conducting a series of fraudulent acts in the Sanctuary Bay scam. Sanctuary Bay was a real estate venture in which Usher and his counterparts were marketing parcels of land to American investors in what was promised to be luxury real estate developments in southern Belize.

    State of Emergency declared for Southside Belize City
    A State of Emergency (SOE), to combat an abrupt increase in crime and violence, has been declared for southside Belize City. The State of Emergency began at about 3:00 o’clock this morning with an operation that targeted areas where known gang members and/or criminals live or base their activities, and about 300 policemen, supported by soldiers of the Belize Defence Force, participated in the predawn operation. The SOE was initiated after Commissioner of Police Chester Williams said that gangs were escalating their criminal activities.

    Haad time forces KHMH to let doctors go
    The Belize Medical and Dental Association (BMDA) has spoken out against the mishandling of medical personnel at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) in an unconventional press release that it issued following the termination of key medical practitioners from the KHMH while Belize prepares for a likely second wave of COVID-19. As early as May, reports were emerging that doctors who had been serving at the country’s only tertiary care hospital for decades were being dismissed due to a shortage in revenue being experienced at the KHMH. Among those practitioners was Dr. Amin Hegar, who has been providing twenty-four-hour optical treatment at the hospital – a service that has been discontinued as of May 15th.

    UDP choose Party Leader on Sunday
    Sunday, July 12, will be a huge day for the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP), because on that day, beginning at 10 a.m., 570 delegates of the party will gather at the ITVET compound on Freetown Road to choose a new Party Leader. The current UDP leader, Prime Minister Dean Barrow, will end his active political career and step down from the leadership position. Just about two weeks ago, there were five candidates vying for the position: Hon. John Saldivar, Hon. Patrick Faber, Hon. Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington, Hon. Darrell Bradley, and Hon. Omar Figueroa.

    Sentencing of Danny Mason and co-convicted men delayed
    here was an apparent mix-up this morning for the scheduled sentencing of William Danny Mason and the four other men who were convicted with him last December for the July 2016 beheading murder of Pastor Llewellyn Lucas. While Supreme Court Justice Antoinette Moore was at the Belize City Supreme Court, some attorneys mistakenly went to the Belmopan Supreme Court. This resulted in Justice Moore having to adjourn the sentencing hearing for Monday, July 13.

    UB union takes it to the streets
    Today, Thursday, members and supporters of the UB Faculty and Staff Union (UBFSU) took to the streets of Belmopan to protest the decision by the UB board and UB president to declare the school to be in a state of financial exigency. This decision by the board was made after a reduction of the school’s subvention from $11 million to $8.34 million. The UBFSU, however, has been very vocal about their disapproval of this resolution, which they assert was not issued in a transparent manner that would have enabled their participation.

    Cops will not be working at nightclubs
    The Police Department will no longer be allowing its officers to work at nightclubs. The announcement was made by Commissioner of Police Chester Williams during a press brief yesterday. The move is aimed at ensuring that police officers do not become infected with the COVID-19 virus through contact with club goers who violate the COVID-19 regulations by not wearing a mask as required by law, and by not socially distancing. Williams said that when he visited a nightclub in an effort to assess the extent to which COVID-19 safety measures were being followed, he observed that the club was crowded, and many were not wearing masks and were not making an effort to engage in social distancing.

    ACP Marco Vidal hospitalized
    Police Department’s Commander of Operations, ACP Marco Vidal, is presently hospitalized, and is reportedly in a stable condition, after he was rushed to the hospital’s emergency room after he suffered a stroke-like condition yesterday evening at the Queen Street Police Station. Vidal had just concluded a police press brief where he, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams and Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte had informed the nation of the state of emergency that has been declared for southside Belize City.

    3 San Pedranos remanded for attempted kidnapping and wounding
    Three San Pedro fishermen have been remanded until October 7 on charges of attempted kidnapping, wounding and burglary. The three fishermen — Ruben Avalos Martinez, 29; Mark Hernandez, 27, and David Lopez, 18, of the San Mateo sub-division—were taken to the San Pedro Magistrate’s Court yesterday, where they were arraigned. Virjilio Gimez Alverta, 34, a Honduran laborer who resides in the San Mateo area of the island, told police that at about 11:00 p.m. while he was at home, three men, whom he knows, went to his house. One had a machete, while the other two men each had a knife. The men reportedly attacked Alverta.

    Guatemalan border jumper quarantined
    Guatemalan national, Elias Hernandez Lopez, 50, a farmer living in Guinea Grass, was placed in quarantine yesterday in Orange Walk Town, after he visited Mexico and came back into Belize by crossing illegally from La Union, Mexico. He was found in the village yesterday. When confronted by police and Ministry of Health officials, he was truthful and told authorities that he went to Mexico. He cooperated with the officers, and the COVID-19 pandemic protocols were followed and he was swabbed and placed in quarantine for 14 days.

    Editorial: Do “campaign contributions” matter, UDP delegates?
    The UDP hierarchy giving Hon. John Saldivar the green light to run in the UDP leadership convention set for Sunday, July 12, could be viewed by some of the party’s members as an endorsement of the results of a previous leadership contest, on February 9, which Saldivar won convincingly, outdistancing the only other candidate, Hon. Patrick Faber, by 115 votes, 342 to 227. More likely the decision to allow Saldivar to run again is based on a pragmatic interest in the party’s cohesion.

    Silent stars polishing their shine at the Marion Jones Sports Complex
    They are among perhaps the most under-appreciated athletes among the various popular sports in the country; but when it comes to quiet determination and singular pride and dedication to their craft, some top young track and field athletes presently training at the Marion Jones Sports Complex under the watchful eye of Belizean trainer Ernest Morris and Cuban coaches Roandys Hernandez and Lisandra Maria Rodriguez Alvarez (courtesy of the Olympic Committee), are outstanding role models, and deserve a long overdue showcase athletic meet for Belizean fans to show them some love and appreciation. Meanwhile, they quietly go through their daily routines in preparation for the next international meet...

    NEBL welcomes new Commissioner
    The National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) is pleased to introduce the new commissioner of the league. Mr. Christopher McGann has been selected as the commissioner, and he is tasked to ensure that the 2021 season continues to build on the momentum and successes of the past seasons. Mr. McGann holds a Master’s Degree in Banking and Finance, and has worked in various research and managerial positions in Belize. Mr. McGann has extensive experience in financial management and analysis, and strategic plan development and execution. Christopher also played in the inaugural 2014 NEBL season with Belmopan Bandits and 2015 with Hurricanes. He is originally from Belmopan, but presently resides in Belize City.

    Cricket Corner – Games resume
    To all my so loved cricket enthusiasts, under the auspices of sponsor Bowen and Bowen, this year’s Harrison Parks Cricket Competition resumes after a COVID-19 halt. This halt lasted for over three months. Some may not have liked it, but it was the best thing to do. Before getting into specifics of our games, the president and governing body of the Belize National Cricket Association, myself and my family send out our most sincere condolences to the Baizar family of Bermudian Landing and Sunrise Cricket Club of Lords Bank on the sudden passing of their loved one, JOHN BAIZAR, a well-loved and known young man.

    UDP politicians control Southside … but bankrupt for good leadership!
    In the Southside of Belize City, one can immediately find the following constituencies: (1) Queen’s Square — won at every election for the past 40 years by Dean Oliver Barrow; (2) Mesopotamia —controlled by Michael Finnegan “from King Hatchet was a hammer;” (3) Port Loyola — dominated by Boots Martinez without order; (4) Collet Division – under the command of aspiring UDP party leader Patrick Faber; (5) Albert Division – a Philip Goldosn stronghold from time immemorial until Mark Espat won it, and now it’s in the hands of Tracy Panton; AND Lake Independence, which is the only PUP-held constituency by Hon. Cordel Hyde! Simply put, Southside is red… red for the UDP representation it has, and red, washed in the blood of countless murdered sons and daughters of the soil!

    The Belize the lawyers made
    Because the lawyers are so brilliant, or the system is so weak, there is no justice in the courts, so there is retaliation in the streets. There is no justice in Belize, so the only response when violence overwhelms us is a state of emergency, which means the good suffer for the bad. What other choices do the police have? What a terrible state we live in, where the good must punish so that the law can catch up, temporarily, with those who commit violent acts in our country.

    Finally, long leave for Dr. Jerome …
    As predicted, Jerome was ready to proceed on four months long leave as of May 1st, 1988 with confidence that the state of affairs in the overall Medical Department could not have been better; and when he had come home on the Friday without his briefcase, a great cheer was raised by the children that he was theirs for four whole months.

    Naiveté
    Dear Editor, I’m not a fan of editorials, whether they originate from the editorial staff, or are styled as “Letters to the Editor”. Sometimes it’s the heading: no “full-eye” appeal, and that’s as far as I get. If curiosity trumps and I choose to read on, I try to spot the “beef” by the end of the first paragraph and turn the page. Your editorial, “Corruption, party before country, and naiveté” (Amandala 3/7/2020), was different. The caption notwithstanding, I did go to the text. And read it through to the end.

    Vaccines kill or paralyze people every year
    Dear Editor, In a recent report out of China, a herdsman has caught the Bubonic Plague. A 15-year-old girl from neighboring Mongolia also has the Bubonic Plague. In May, a Kazakhstan couple who visited Mongolia died. The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) says every year in the US, 7 people are infected with the Bubonic Plague. The Bubonic Plague is a 14th century disease that killed 50 million people. Although thought to be eradicated, the Bubonic Plague still kills people in the 21st century.

    Government’s lousy protectionist policies and monopolies are doing Belize no good
    Dear Editor, Back in 1983, when we started our importation business, Belize was in a semi-socialist mentality and we needed a Supplies Control Permit for nearly any and everything that we wanted to import — biscuits, soap powder, flour, etc. GOB had full control over who could import whatever was needed. As the years passed and Hon. Dr. Manuel Esquivel took over with his free market leanings, the permits were disposed of. Only very special products required a permit from Supplies Control then.

    Belize needs law and order
    Dear Editor, In the 40’s and 50’s, a police constable would tap the offender on the shoulder and tell him “You are under arrest,” and the culprit would accompany the police to the police station. Not now! The offender would retaliate with a pistol. Murder was committed once a year, and the Creole women would leave their rice-and-beans and go to the Supreme Court just to listen to the verdict. I attended St. John’s College in 1951 and boarded on Pickstock Street with Ms. Ethel Wade — three houses past George Price’s house.

    LOVE FM

    Special Envoy speaks on corporal punishment
    On the heels of the comments made by the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, and Minister of National Security, Michael Peyrefitte on the issue of corporal punishment, the Special Envoy for Women and Children, Kim Simplis Barrow issued a statement condemning the use of corporal punishment. For context, we share with you yesterday’s interview with Williams and Peyrefitte.

    Several persons wanted for Gang related crimes
    After the announcement of the State of Emergency in the Southside area of Belize, the Police Department has begun detaining several gang members. Today the department issued wanted posters for fourteen men, out of the fourteen four have been caught.

    COVID-19 UPDATE: 4 more test positive. Belize now has 15 active cases.
    COVID-19 UPDATE Our enhanced surveillance and now routine laboratory testing for SARS-CoV2 has identified another 4 cases as positive for SARS-CoV2. These 4 cases are related to the previously identified 3 cases yesterday and all 7 members of this family remain at the quarantine center in Orange Walk. One person displayed minor signs and symptoms […]

    Patrick Faber won’t get rid of Gaspar Vega
    While party leader aspirant, Patrick Faber, stated that he has many supporters on his side, there are still some who are rallying behind John Saldivar. In the first convention, Gasper Vega showed his support for Saldivar.

    Gift of Life continues to save lives amid pandemic
    The Gift of Life Program has saved plenty of lives in Belize. The program, which is a part of the Rotary Club, helps children who were born with congenital heart disease.

    More border jumpers and more imported cases of Covid-19 in Belize
    Belize has now registered thirty-three confirmed cases of Covid-19. Three new cases were uncovered among a set of tests that were carried out yesterday. According to the Office of the Director of Health Services, the new cases are all minors who were among a family that crossed into Belize illegally.

    Patrick Faber confident about upcoming leadership convention
    By this time on Sunday night, the United Democratic Party will have a new leader-elect. It’s like Déjà vu since Minister of Education, Patrick Faber, and former Minister of National Security, John Saldivar, will be competing for the coveted position

    Two more standard bearers declare their support for Faber
    Two more standard bearers who have sided with Patrick Faber are Dennis Garbutt of Toledo East and Orson “OJ” Elrington of the Freetown Division. Elrington stated that his support for Faber has been unwavering since the first convention.

    Blue Creek and San Felipe placed under State of Emergency
    Recent covid-19 cases that have emerged out of Blue Creek and San Felipe Villages in the Orange Walk District have caused the Ministry of National Security to place them under a State of Emergency. The Statutory Instrument states that there will be a curfew from 8pm until 4:59am. Additionally, minors need to be at home […]

    Breaking Belize NewsPJ

    One killed in road traffic accident in Carmelita, Orange Walk
    A fatal road traffic accident in Carmelita Village, Orange Walk has claimed the life of […]

    Blue Creek and San Felipe Villages under State of Emergency due to COVID-19
    Today, the Governor General signed a proclamation declaring a state of emergency for Blue Creek […]

    Belize registers 4 new cases of COVID-19, total now at 37
    The Office of the Director of Health Services has now informed that they have identified […]

    “Budget cuts at National Health Insurance could have been worse,” says Executive Chairman
    The COVID-19 pandemic has severely reduced the Government of Belize’s revenues causing cutbacks in all […]

    Will schools be ready to re-open on time?
    The Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) has warned that the “cart has been placed before […]

    Belize Police Department invites all to National Citizens Appreciation day
    The Belize Police Department is hosting a National Citizens Appreciation Day on Wednesday, July 15, […]

    Branch Mouth Hammock Bridge repaired
    The hammock bridge in Branch Mouth, Cayo has been repaired by the Ministry of Works. […]

    UB Faculty and Staff Union demand respect from university administration during demonstration
    “What do we want?” “Respect!” “When do we want it?” “Now!” Their chants echoed through […]

    CARICOM congratulates The Bahamas on its 47th Independence Anniversary
    The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has congratulated the Government and People of The Bahamas on the […]

    Certification of bargaining units of the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union
    The Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development issued a statement to clarify and […]

    Blogs

    Matachica Resort Named Amongst Top 10 Resort Hotels in Central America by the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2020
    Secluded beachfront getaway, Matachica Resort is honored to announce they have been named amongst the top ten resort hotels in Central America in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2020, based on an annual readers survey celebrating its 25th year. The property was ranked the fifth-best resort hotel in Central America and the best in Belize. Each year, the readers of Travel + Leisure — one of the largest travel media brands in the United States, with an audience of 6.7 million — share their thoughts on destinations, hotels, resorts, spas, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, rental-car agencies, and more in an annual survey. The results are now featured in the August 2020 issue of Travel + Leisure and at www.travelandleisure.com.

    A Fairytale Island Escape: Half Moon Caye, Belize
    Half Moon Caye is an island off the coast of Belize, about 55 miles south-east of Belize City. Not to mention, it’s one of seven sites that’s apart of the Belize Barrier Reserve Reef System, a World Heritage Site. Located in the southeast corner of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, it was dedicated as a monument in 1981 and was the first protected area in Belize. The island’s crescent shape provides two startling ecosystems, even though its landmass is only about 45 square acres. The western side of the island has rich soil and the lush vegetation of a littoral forest while the eastern side is sparser, with coconut palms.

    Cruise the Belize Coast by Catamaran
    Warm trade winds and line-of-sight sailing makes Belize’s miles of cayes and palm-studded beaches a sailing paradise. However with a chartered catamaran cruise, your sailing vacation in Belize is a laid back yet intimate experience. Each charter day awaits with new surprises of vibrant marine life, barefoot perfect beaches, and hidden-away treasures.

    Yes, Belize is Reopening to Americans in August
    Since coronavirus, packing to travel looks different today. Face masks, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes fill carry-on bags. And if you’re planning to come to Belize, add a negative COVID-19 test on your packing list. Globally, countries are slowly reopening to international visitors; some restrict American travelers while others require stringent health demands. It’s important that travelers research the destination before visiting and understand how their trip might be different. At the time of writing, Belize joins 22 other countries as the first destinations to reopen and welcome back American tourists from the US.

    Videos

  • Driving around Belize City, 2.5min.

  • Protographium butterfly, Caterpillar. [ Papilionidae ], .5min.

  • Scuba diver meets gigantic spotted eagle stingray in Belize, .5min. Spotted eagle rays are a rare sight for scuba divers. When this diver came across a gigantic male cruising along the reef majestically, he was in complete awe. The eagle ray is capable of impressive speeds, especially when they grow this large. Swift and agile, they are designed to evade large predators like sharks. This stingray was slowly cruising along, just relaxing and possibly keeping an eye out for conch shells, their preferred food. The diver met the eagle ray slowly and cruised along with him. The stingray flapped its large wings gracefully, unconcerned with the presence of the human.

  • Realize Belize started their Summer Story Time Friday, 6min. Join us for our first Story 'I will not ever NEVER eat a tomato!' by Lauren Child, introduced by our special guest! All stories can be found on our Facebook page.

  • Belize Forest Walk, 10min.

  • Rap dedicated to the Maya struggle of the Maya social War (Caste War), 3.5min.


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