Recent Belize News, 3/21/2016 to 3/31/2016, BelizeNews.com

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

NEBL playoffs fast approaching as teams fight for playoff positions
There are three weeks remaining in the National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) regular season, as each game becomes even more critical and teams are making their final playoff push. Below is the schedule for the upcoming games. All games can be followed live on our website at nebl.sportingpulse.net, with real time box scores, while the game is being played. The website also has all game scores, box scores, players and teams’ statistics, along with standings for the season.

First female DJ shines at Island Invasion’s King of the Island Easter Bash
It was another long Easter weekend on Ambergris Caye, and King of the Island Promotion’s Island Invasion did it again with their sixth installment of their annual Easter Madness. It all happened on Saturday, March 26th inside Fido’s Courtyard where hundreds of party lovers gathered for the highly anticipated Easter party of the year. The top DJs of Belize, along with feature performer and the first female DJ to join Island Invasion, Lady X from California USA, kept the massive crowd dancing until the wee hours of the night. The party came alive when Lady X took her spot on the stage. The crowd was quite appreciative of the tracks she played- and Island Invasion’s vibe only got better as the night went on. Keeping the festive atmosphere at its highest level with the best tunes in dancehall, hip-hop, soca, reggae and pop hits was an entourage of very talented Belizean DJ’s, including DJ Biggz of Air Invasion Sounds, DJ Jago, DJ Odyssey, Fyah Statah, and Evolution sounds.

Victor Garnett murdered over alleged gang retaliation
A notorious drug/gang affiliate was murdered in Belize City on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 23rd. No stranger to the island, 35-year-old Victor Garnett was shot and killed on Sibun Street in the south side of Belize City shortly after 2PM. Garnett, who had only recently moved to the City from San Pedro Town, has long been associated in drug related incidents and was even acquitted of a murder which occurred on the island back in 2009. While police have not detained anyone in relation to Garnett’s murder, they strongly believe it was a planned assassination. “From what we are seeing, it appears as if he was in that area waiting for somebody, and that person or persons might have met him and eventually inflicted the gunshot wounds that he sustained, which subsequently resulted in his demise,” said Regional Commander for the Eastern South Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams. Garnett was shot at twice while driving his vehicle, with one of the bullets hitting his head and resulting in an almost immediate death. “We are looking at a possibility of gang retaliation as a result of those murders that he had been accused of in the past. And from our investigation, what we have gathered so far, the suspects are two teenagers who were seen coming out of a yard and firing shots at him,” said Williams.

Brunching in style at Caprice
Caprice Bar and Grill has begun offering Sunday brunch specials. As if their fabulous Happy Hour(s) from 3-6PM on weekdays wasn’t enough, they draw us in on the weekend too: that banner featuring a luscious image of Eggs Benedict has teased and tempted us for weeks from our office across the street. How could one choose between classics like Bananas Foster French Toast, chocolate chip pancakes, omelets, biscuits and gravy…or…ooooh…Eggs Benedict, and Chicken and Waffles? Oh my! Our decision was made – Bennies and chicken and waffles, plus Apple Spice Crepes for dessert. Sunday Brunch at Caprice runs from 10AM – 2PM, on Barrier Reef Drive at the Holiday Hotel. You can call 226-2014 to make your reservation. We highly recommend brunching on the deck for both delicious food and views!

Ambergris Today

BDF Soldier Shot at Belize Camp near Guatemalan Border
A press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated yesterday March 29, 2016, stated that the Government of Belize has requested the Office of the Organization of American States (OAS) in the Adjacency Zone to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the March 26, 2016, shooting incident that occurred 400 meters east of the Belize/Guatemala border in the Valentin Camp area in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve within Belizean territory. Members of the Belize Defence Force detachment who are stationed at the Valentin Camp Conservation Post were on a routine water supply and administration task at about 4:50 p.m. on Saturday when they came under fire from men armed with rifles. The encounter resulted in gunshot injuries to the arms and abdomen of a member of the BDF patrol. The injured soldier was subsequently transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he was treated for his injuries and he remains in a stable condition.

Mr. Vegas’ Manager Almost Drowned at Belize Reefs!?
Mr. Vegas was on the island of Caye Caulker, Belize over the Easter weekend and performed in a concert on Saturday, March 26, 2016. Needless to say the island was packed with local and international vacationers who were enjoying their long holiday spring break weekend and looking forward to his performance. Posting about his fun trip to Belize, Mr. Vegas has both images and videos uploaded on his social media channels, including a fun video in which he jokingly says that his manager almost drowned in our Belizean reef. In the video Mr. Vegas’s manager sums up the courage to dive into the Hol Chan Marine Reserve park, but soon changes his mind as he sees the sharks and sting rays approaching the boat. Mr. Vegas videos while his friends laugh as his manager desperately tries to get back on the boat.

Misc Belizean Sources

Celebrating Women in San Pedro
Here are a couple of photos that are on display at the San Pedro House of Culture. Please drop by and see the full collection. Celebrating Women in San Pedro by photographer Karen Brodie.

Power interruption 6:00am to 1:00pm, Sunday April 3
Cayo and Belize Districts: entire City of Belmopan, and area from Mile 31 to Mile 50 on the George Price Highway including La Democracia, Mahogany Heights, Franks Eddy, Saint Matthews, Cotton Tree, Roaring Creek, Valley of Peace, Camalote, Teakettle, Arizona, Ontario, Buena Vista, Blackman Eddy, Unitedville and all that area from Belmopan to Armenia Village on the Hummingbird Highway. BEL to replace transmission structure in the area.

Statistical Institute of Belize - Latest Statistics
The latest economic statistics released to day by the Statistical Institute of Belize: February 2016 External Trade statistics, February 2016 Consumer Price Index/Inflation statistics, Fourth Quarter 2015 Gross Domestic Product.

Small Business Development Centre (SBDCBelize) 2016-2017 Workshop Calendar
Please click the link to access SBDCBelize’s calendar of workshops/trainings for fiscal year 2016-2017.

Child Friendly Benque
Congratulations, Benque! Benque Viejo Town has been certified as child friendly.

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
Mojave, Star Wars: TheForce Awakens, Kung Fu Panda 3, The Forest.

Channel 7

Thieves Stole Four Guns From City Hall
There are four more guns on Belize City Streets tonight, and they were all stolen from the City Council. The city’s Special Constable office at the commercial centre was targeted. That’s the unit which handles nightclub and liquor licensing enforcement, and they keep their guns locked up in a safe inside their office. But between 6:00 last night and 7:00 this morning, someone slipped into the commercial centre, broke into the office, pried open the safe, and stole the guns. Police told us more this afternoon Inspector Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Southside: "We observed that the 2 main doors that leads to that office was tampered and inside of the main office where the manager of the Special Constable sits, a safe was broken and after making checks they discovered that 4 99 pistols was missing from the safe. The safe was tampered, it was allegedly opened with a crowbar and the firearms that were stolen are two glock 9 mm and two CZ 9 mm along with 55 live rounds of ammunition, GFL brand, 9 holsters; all to a total value of 7,085 dollars property of the city council. At this time we have several of the Special Constables being interviewed." Jules Vasquez: "Does it have the appearance of an inside job or was there inside knowledge?" Inspector Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Southside: "We have conducted an investigation at this time. We cannot just come and tell you it’s an inside job because we are not sure at this time."

Staff Sgt Lambey Released, Officialdom Still Mum
BDF Staff Sergeant Richard Lambey, who was shot on Holy Saturday by border bandits suspected to be Guatemalans, left the KHMH this morning after being treated for his gunshot injuries. He was picked up by BDF personnel who prevented the press from trying to get any on-camera comments. He did speak briefly to reporters, however, to explain that his recovery is coming along well, and that he had been allowed by his doctors to leave. And while the soldier’s reluctance to comment is understandable, today, still, no one from the BDF, the Ministry of National Security or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to our requests for comment on the very alarming incident. All we have is a Ministry of Foreign Affairs release which was issued 73 hours after Staff Sargent Lambey was shot. And it only discloses that

Cyclist Greg Lovell Gets Two Year Suspension For Banned Substance
Cyclist Greg Lovell has been suspended two years for use of a banned substance. The announcement came down today from the Regional Anti-Doping Organisation. It says, quote, “The Results Management Authority after hearing the facts as were presented in its hearing on March 1, 2016, and on Wednesday 23 rd March, 2016, has decided to sanction that named cyclist with a two year suspension effective March 10, 2016.” So that means Lovell, widely known as one of Belize’s best sprinters will not be able to ride in any sanctioned event anywhere in the world until March of 2018. Lovell tested positive for Dexamethasone when he placed second in the New Year’s Day KREM Cycling Classic. Dexamethasone is classed as a cortico-steroid that is used as an anti inflammatory usually to treat inflammations, asthma and arthritis. It is common in certain medicines.

Micah Cries Foul and Fraud In Youth Election
3 weeks ago, we showed you the by-election that the Department of Youth Services conducted for Presidency for the Belize Chapter of the National Youth Council. Stafin Duncan – a UDP supporter and Micah Goodin, a PUP supporter, went head to head, and when the votes were tallied, Duncan won. Goodin complained bitterly that UDP operators politicized the Elections when there should be no such thing in youth work. Well tonight, he’s taken it one step further; he says that Stafin’s UDP campaigners paid for votes. Now, as you may be aware, this National Youth Council is the Government’s latest attempt to give the Youth population an opportunity to have representation in the decision making process by Central Government. But right now, instead of giving the youth a voice, it’s just turned into “PUDP” noise. Today, Goodin and his fellow PUP youth advocate, Alberto Vellos staged a sidewalk press conference in front of the Department of Youth Services, where the Youth Council Elections was held. Here’s Micah explaining this evidence of 2 youth voters who came forward to complain of being bribed:

CITCO Will Pave Cinderella Plaza
The City Council may have spent a couple dozen million dollars on paving 150 streets in Belize City – but while the money may be done, the work isn’t! And today – 13 months after being elected to his second term of office – Mayor Darrell Bradley launched a new infrastructural program to sort of fill in the blanks. It’s 1.6 million dollars – which may sound a like a lot – but for a council which has spent close to thirty million on city infrastructure, it’s only finishing funds, to focus on those parts of the city that got left out of the paving bonanza. And it begins in Cinderella Plaza, a much-trafficked intersection, which has been left in a condition worse than the road to Pine Ridge! That’s because the municipal drainage project dug it up – and left it for City Hall to repair. But CITCO didn’t have the funds, until now….the council has negotiated an agreement to pave Cinderella Plaza and a whole lot more. The mayor outlined plans at Cinderella Plaza this morning where he says work will start next week:…

RJB Financing Street Works, But Mayor Deflects
And while RJB gets the 1.6 million dollar contract for Cinderella Plaza and various street works throughout the city – we were sort of surprised to learn that it wasn’t even put out to bid. The mayor explained that RJB had been involved in the development of the project – and that made the company an automatic fit:… Jules Vasquez "What make you select them and was it put out to tender?" Darrell Bradley - Mayor of Belize City: "This wasn't put out to tender. With this project we have been working with a particular contractor to kind of develop the scope of the work including what we want to do in relation to Cindarella Plaza and working with the utility companies for about 8 months; so that this isn't something that we are just kind of thinking about. Usually when we do sole source procurement it’s because we have a relationship with that particular contractor and they are working in the development phase of the contract. Again when we do the monitoring of this, we have our works team who will cross reference in terms of the pricing and so forth; but we are satisfied in relation to the quality and RJB has done probably about a third of our concreting streets so far." "In relation to RJB, the only difficulties we had with them as you mentioned in terms of some cracking works on Chetumal Street. What you did also mention is that immediately when there have been recognition of deterioration in works, we engage with the contractor and they fix the works immediately at their own cost and this what we've done with all the contractors."

City Will Pave Busy Streets
And that will include works on 7 other busy streets which are in dire need of repairs. The mayor says it begins with St. Joseph Street, which is off Baymen Avenue:… Darrell Bradley - Mayor of Belize City: "It will include the entire length of St. Joseph Street. If members of the public can recall that we commenced a first portion of St. Joseph Street last year from Princess Margret Drive to St. Thomas Street. The entire remaining length of the street from St. Thomas Street to Baymen Avenue would be concreted. We're also doing the finishing portions of Queen Street, we're doing Dolphin Drive; we concreted a section of that, so we're finishing that. We had started a section of East Canal but we did not finish the section from Bishop Street to Regent Street West that will be completed as well as the entire length of West Canal, especially in front of Publics. We're also doing Eyrie Street and we're doing the continuation of University Drive. As well we are looking at a project to asphalt some of the streets in Belize City including streets like 4th Street and 3rd Street. We've seen these as being strategically important particularly because we made 6th Street one way so that we need another street to be asphalted or concreted that will alleviate some of the traffic flows in that area.

Shoddy Cement Streets Will Be Fixed
And apart from paving those streets – the City Council will also embark on a program to repair concrete streets, which were not paved to standard and are already falling apart. The mayor says funds from this are coming from the contractor responsible for the poor work:… "Works that was not signed off on so that we have retention for that person in the amount of approximately 190,000 dollars and we are already doing the redevelopment in relation to using that retention to renovate and in some cases entirely reconstruct some of the works that the council was not satisfied with. I will point attention to Muscle Street which we completed works in terms of hot mixing on that area last week Friday and Saturday we did it over those 2 days because we didn't want to interrupt the flow of traffic. But if you go on Muscle Street right now, that is a perfectly finished and hot mix street."

Massive Manhole Drive
And the city has another project – but it’s an unconventional one. They intend to replace nearly four thousand manhole covers at a cost of a quarter million dollars. Today the mayor explained:… "To retrofit and rebuild all the manhole covers in Belize City. This is something that the council has been looking at for a couple months and we have done an analysis and there are 3,868 manhole covers that need to be repaired in Belize City at a cost of 251,000 dollars so that project is also being unveiled so to speak at this launch." As we understand it, the plan includes changing wooden manhole covers for cement ones.

CITCO Got Commercial Loan At 10%
Now, to finance a lot of its new projects, the city is taking out a commercial loan: close to 4 million dollars at 10%. At least half of that will be spent to settle judgment debts – which currently costs the council 1.2 million dollars annually. The mayor explains that they are getting more money and simply stretching out an existing loan. We asked if there weren’t cheaper financing alternatives:… Darrell Bradley - Mayor of Belize City: "So that cost us 100,000 dollars every month, so that what the council is doing is that we are getting one facility that we are actually stretching out an existing facility we have at Heritage Bank where we spent currently 20,000 dollars on and what we will do is that we will include in all of this the paying off of those litigation debts. So that we will no longer have the 100,000 dollars in terms a drain on monthly outflows and one of the things that Heritage has agreed to do is that they will keep the monthly payments at the 20,000 dollars so that we are actually going to save substantially in terms of our cash flow and we think that will allow us quite comfortably to carry out these projects."

GDP Ticks Up Slightly In Fourth Quarter
The Statistical Institute of Belize released its latest economic figures today. They show a slight increase in GDP for the fourth quarter of last year, a sharp decrease in imports and exports for February 2016, and a slight increase in consumer prices also in February. Also of note is that both the shrimp and drought crises of 2015 along with plummeting world oil prices were among the main contributing factors for the fluctuating figures in SIB’s latest report. First we take a more in-depth look at the Gross Domestic Product for the last quarter of 2015- that is from October to December. During this period GDP increased slightly by 0.6% percent.

Exports Crashed
Now moving on to our foreign economic outlook. The figures for the month of February show that imports are down but exports are waaay down. Imports showed a 2.6% decrease while exports showed a 43.1% decrease. This is representative of $4.6 million dollars on the upside, and $22.4 million dollars on a very sharp downside. The number of imports destined for “Export processing zones” fell sharply from $12 million dollars to $4.5 million dollars. A significant note is that for the first time this year all major exporting sectors showed negative growth. Tiffany Vasquez - Statistician 2, SIB: "Papaya and crude exports are basically halved in 2016 as you would notice. It falls from 2.6 million to 1.4 million; earning for crude from 6.3 million to 3.4 million. Marine on the other hand, while marine exports are almost one third what it was in 2015 but notably within this is the other category which grew considerably in 2016; so much so that the other category actually held the largest share of exports in 2016. The major contributor to this was animal feed which actually doubled in the period and of the 14.7 percent, 40 percent belonged to animal feed."

Inflation Inches Up
Now the last thing on the agenda was the inflation rate for the month of February compared to the same month in 2015. According to SIB’s latest statistics, the inflation rate or consumer price index is up by 0.3% during that period. This means that the price of goods and services was on average 0.3% percent cheaper in February 2015 than it was in February 2016. The statistical institute attributed this to the rise in local fuel prices – due to the higher import duty on fuel. Angelita Campbell - Statistican 2, SIB: "Inflation rate for the month of February stands at 0.3 percent. What this is saying is on average, prices are 0.3 percent higher than that of last year February. For example, if a consumer purchased a basket of goods for 100 dollars last year. What they would purchase for the same basket of this year February would be 100.30. When we look closely at the diagram, we realise that Orange Walk recorded the highest increase in inflation of 2.1 percent which can be attributed to an increase in rental of housing as well as food price; while Belmopan continues to show the highest decrease in inflation rate of -1.1 percent. Finally we'll be looking at the inflation rate in the region and within the region we see Costa Rica recording the lowest inflation rate of -0.3 percent; while Guatemala recording the highest inflation rate of 4.3 percent."

Immigration Officer Gets Kerry's Congratulations
Yesterday, Belizean Immigration Officer, Debra Baptist-Estrada received a high honour from US Secretary of State John Kerry. It was presented at the annual International Women of Courage Award Ceremony, in Washington DC. 14 women from around the world were honoured for exceptional courage and leadership in advocating peace, justice, human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment. Baptist-Estrada was one of those 14. She has over 20 years in the Immigration and Nationality Department and has served recently as the Port Commander of Belize’s international airport. Here are Kerry’s remarks as Baptist-Estrada was honoured:

Broaster Says On Brutality
As we told you on Friday, 2 teenagers were charged with 3 counts of robbery in connection with the Scotland Halfmoon armed robbery. They are 18 year-old Trevor McFoy, and a 17 year-old minor- and they were both were taken to court yesterday. The incident happened last Thursday when Mcfoy and the minor, dressed in Fort Point Security Uniforms barged into the Scotland Halfmoon Gas Station and held everyone up at gunpoint. They stole $1,490 cash, $1,000 Mexican pesos, deodorants, an additional $400 in cash and 2 iPhones. But police responded quickly and foiled the robbery- capturing the 2 teenagers and recovering all the stolen items and the 9 millimeter pistol. Now while the case is closed there is still another lingering side to the story. Mcfoy as well as the minor claim that police abused them and Mcfoy’s attorney Dickie Bradley also commented on the alleged police abuse saying that the boys were beat up badly and weren’t even given a medical form to properly submit their complaint. Well today Assistant Commissioner for Eastern Rural Division Edward Broaster told us that measures will be put in place to avoid a recurrence of such allegations.

Diplomacy And A Deal Got Back Tillett Pickup
You might remember that brazen incident back in February where Assistant Superintendent Selwyn Tillett, the commanding officer for Orange Walk Police, was car jacked in Benque Viejo. His son-in-law’s white 2014 Mazda pick up truck was stolen by armed bandits and a few days later, it was found abandoned in Guatemala, in an area known as Camalote, 10 miles away from Melchor. Well, Foreign Affairs Diplomat Said Guerra had been hard at work trying to get it back, and today, that effort paid off. The Guatemalan authorities finally handed the vehicle over after the paper work was finalized, and the Belmopan police took custody of it. But, in a neat kind of informal confidence building Belize police also handed over a van that had been stolen from Guatemala and recovered in Belize. All this was done without any diplomatic agreement, just a cross border quid pro quo.

Honduras Football Prez Pleads Guilty
Rafael Callejas is the former president of Honduras, and also the former President of Honduras’s Soccer Federation. He has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges, admitting he solicited hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to award contracts for media and marketing rights to World Cup qualifier matches. Callejas said he distributed a significant portion of his bribes to delegates of the Honduran football federation so he could remain president, which he did from 2002 to August 2015. Callejas will be sentenced on 5 August and could face up to 40 years in prison. Belize is the only country in Central America where no soccer official has been indicted in the FIFA scandal.

Praying In A Petro-Chapel?
The KHMH now has a new chapel which patients and their families can retreat to whenever they need spiritual guidance and comfort in their time of need. But it’s not just any chapel; it’s a “Petro-chapel” – and that’s because the Prime Minister set aside some money from the Petrocaribe fund which made up a large portion of the funding for this church. We stopped by and spoke with the Church leaders and the KHMH administrators about it: The chapel is now open to anyone visiting the hospital.

Professional Policing Rewarded In Rural
South side police are well known for their community initiatives. They have the meet and greet sessions every Wednesday and are working on several youth projects. Well, the Eastern Rural Division has a reverse approach to community outreach and that's by rewarding officers for being professional and courteous to citizens. Today Broaster told us more about the project. The training for the officers is still on going. In order for officers to get their $500 reward at the end of the year, they must get the fewest complaints from the public - which will be evaluated by reviewing the citizens comments on a form provided to them, and they must be helpful and courteous.

Harbor Siltation Needs 2M Dollar Solution
Almost two months ago, we told you about the situation at southern foreshore where the sea was being swallowed up by silt. Well, since then it’s gotten much worse, and the mass of silt now stretches halfway across the harbor – even threatening to get into the channel that the cruise ship tenders and the water taxi’s use. And while all this happens, no one seems to be doing anything about it. Neither the Port Authority, nor the Fort Street Port, nor the Central Government, nor the city council is working to move out the silt. And today we found out why. The mayor says it costs two million dollars!:..

The Race, From Above
And we leave you tonight with one last look at the 88th riding of the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic. All these shots are from Jungle Drones which hovered above the race.

Bradley Bullish On Faber
And in one final clip from the Mayor – we asked him who he will support in the upcoming contest for UDP first Deputy. Here’s what he said:…

Channel 5

Thieves Make Off with 4 City Council Guns and Ammo to Boot
There’s a major burglary to report tonight which happened overnight and from the looks of it, the crime could be an inside job. Four guns and live rounds of ammunition [...]

Was Theft of Guns an Inside Job?
There were no security guards stationed at the building during the burglary and it is more than likely that the stolen firearms will end up on the streets of the [...]

Injured B.D.F. Staff Sergeant Richard Lambey is Released from K.H.M.H.
This morning, Staff Sergeant Richard Lambey was released from the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he was receiving treatment for injuries to his hand and abdomen. Lambey was promptly handed [...]

Charges Withdrawn from 2 of the Santa Cruz Thirteen
This morning, ten months after their arrests, the Santa Cruz Thirteen were back in court. A police raid in the early hours of June twenty-fourth of last year, resulted in [...]

Case Against Coastguard Officer Keyren Tzib is Adjourned
Tonight, Coastguard officer Keyren Tzib remains at home as she waits to learn her fate in the stabbing death of her common-law husband, Thythis Blancaneaux. He was fatally wounded on [...]

Mother of Stabbing Victim Ezekiel McKoy Needs Assistance with Her Son
Ezekiel McKoy is on life support at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. The Belize City resident was stabbed multiple times on the neck, back and arms and he was found [...]

Greg Lovell is Suspended from Cycling
The Results Management Authority of the Regional Anti-Doping Organisation has confirmed that well-known cyclist Gregory Lovell has tested positive for the In-competition prohibited substance Dexamethasone a Glucocorticoid steroid. The test [...]

Cinderella Plaza Finally Begins Its Transformation
After a significant delay, work is about to begin on the transformation of the Cinderella Plaza in Belize City. Mayor Darrell Bradley says that the contract for the four-million-dollar project [...]

Pastor Scott Stirm in Hot Water
Evangelical Pastor Scott Stirm has come under fire for remarks he purportedly made about the sacred “Dugu” ceremony of the Garifuna on a webcast beamed to the U.S. earlier this [...]

SIB Releases Quarterly Economic Indicators
Indicators of the performance of the economy for the last three months of 2015 and the first three months of 2016 were released today by the Statistical Institute of Belize. [...]

An Investigation into Allegations of Police Brutality in Ladyville
Following the arrests of Trevor McFoy and a seventeen-year-old student for allegedly robbing a gas station in Scotland Half Moon, officers attached to Rural Eastern Division have come under fire [...]

Belize Waste Control Employee Charged with Drug Trafficking
A Belize Waste Control employee picked up his first conviction for drug trafficking today in the court room of Magistrate Deborah Rogers. Deon Jex was slapped with the mandatory non-custodial [...]

Port Commander Wins International Women of Courage Award
But there is some good news to report and that is because Port Commander of Immigration and Nationality Department Debra Baptist-Estrada has won the International Women of Courage Award. The award [...]

An Ecumenical Chapel is Inaugurated at K.H.M.H.
Built with Petrocaribe funds, a chapel was today inaugurated on the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital compound. It will be used by religious denominations across the board and according to hospital [...]

Rural Eastern Division Incentivizes Police Officers to be Professional
An initiative to incentivize officers attached to Rural Eastern Division was launched earlier today in Ladyville. The top twenty-five men and women in law enforcement working within that jurisdiction will [...]

Is Micah Goodin Sour Grapes After Losing District Youth Council Elections?
Three weeks ago, the Department of Youth Services had its Youth Council Elections. Micah Goodin and Stafin Duncan vied for the top spot in the Belize District; the race ended [...]

CTV3

Are We In Recession? UDP Says No, PUP Says Yes
On the first day of the 2016/2017 Budget debate which took place last week in Belmopan the Leader of the Opposition Honorable John Briceno expressed great disappointment in the budget. During his presentation Briceno declared that Belize is in recession as he cited figures from Statistical Institute of Belize showing Belize had experienced negative growth for two consecutive quarters in 2015. Briceno’s analogy was backed up by Honorable Francis Fonseca who in his statement mentioned that we are in fact in an economic recession since we are technically facing two-quarters of negative growth. For context here is that portion of Briceno and Fonseca’s presentation. Honorable John Briceno – Leader of the People United Party: “We are in a recession, and how is the government planning to get us out of this recession, by spending and putting a 50 million dollar whap on the Belizean people, you know how much of that 50 million dollar each one of us will have to pay, every Belizean man, woman and child will have to pay $143.00 more to government this year, this is the true picture and an economy in recession and our national debt reaching 80% of GDP and a government clueless about how to fix one of the key pillars of our economic growth the agro-productive sector .”

PUP Senators Object To Three Amendment Bills
At the last House Sitting on March 8th, Parliament approved five bills that will give the Minister of State with responsibility for Immigration, Beverly Castillo, authority to sign immigration documents and other powers. That Bill did not sit too well with the Opposition Senators who objected to the Bill yesterday when the matter went for second Reading before the senate. Senator Eamon Courtenay – Opposition Senator for People’s United Party: “What this is saying is that Minister Hulse may issue his order, delegates to Minister Castillo the ability to exercise and perform all the power under section 10 and 16 of the Nationality Act but at the same time simultaneously notwithstanding that delegation Senator Hulse reserves all to himself the right and ability to exercise all an any of the functions at the same time that Senator Castillo has the right to exercise any and all of those functions that is a duality of powers, when god forbid Senator Castillo says yes to something and signs it and I am not suggesting anything on to all but through some administrative slip up some oversight or just the fact that Minister Hulse was not made aware of it the matter comes to him and he says no on the same matter who prevails.” According to Lead Opposition Senator Eamon Courtenay, if accepted the new Legislation would award substantive power to a person who is not a member of Cabinet thus going against the constitution.

Orange Walk Records The Highest Inflation Rate In The Country
The Statistical Institute of Belize, today held the first in its 2016 series of press conferences, where its latest economic statistics were presented, including the 2015 fourth quarter Gross Domestic Product estimates, February 2016 External Trade statistics, and February 2016 Consumer Price. We start off with the Consumer Price Index for which figures show that the prices of various goods and services purchased by Belizean households were, on average, 0.3 percent higher in February 2016 than they were in February of 2015. This means that an increase of 0.9 percent was observed in the “Food & NonAlcoholic Beverages” category when compared to the same period last year. At the individual product level, higher prices were seen for beef, pork, fish, eggs and fresh vegetables but lower prices for Red Kidney beans partially offset these increases. The “Transport” category recorded an overall decrease of just over 4 percent when compared to last February, despite an increase of 0.7 percent in the “Fuel” index. Premium gasoline prices saw a 27 percent spike while regular gasoline was up by about 3 percent. In contrast, the average price of diesel fuel declined by 9 percent and international airfares were down by 32 percent.

SIB Releases Estimates On Country's Economic Activity
Today the Statistical Institute of Belize also released the figures for the country’s Gross Domestic Product. Preliminary estimates indicate that from October to December 2015, the country’s level of economic activity increased marginally by 0.6 percent compared with the same period in 2014. The total value of goods and services produced in Belize during the fourth quarter rose by almost $4 million dollars from $657.4 million in 2014 to $661.1 million in 2015. The primary sector experienced a sharp drop of 27.4 percent in total production for the period, as several major industries recorded downturns during the quarter. Marine production was significantly lower compared to the fourth quarter of 2014, due to a decline in farm shrimp production. Banana shipments also decreased, by 25 percent. Livestock production was down during the quarter, as both cattle and swine saw decreases for the period. With sugarcane deliveries starting in December 2015, a month earlier than in the previous delivery season, production of over 122 thousand metric tons was recorded for the fourth quarter of 2015, while there was no sugarcane production recorded for the same quarter of 2014.

US State Department Awards Belizean Woman
Yesterday the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry presented 2016 Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award to a group of extraordinary women from around the world who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment. Since the beginning of this award in 2007, the Department of State has honored nearly 100 women from 60 different countries. But this year, for the first time, one of Belize’s very own was presented with this prestigious award for her exceptional demonstration of courage in three pivotal areas: exposing and opposing gender-based violence; combatting corruption and strengthening the rule of law; and promoting justice and human rights for all.Debra Baptist-Estrada, who works as a Port Commander at the Belize Immigration and Nationality Department was one of the recipients of the honorary award which was present at a ceremony at the US State Department office in Washington D.C. As Port Commander of Belize’s international airport, Estrada worked with U.S. to crack open a drug and human smuggling operation to the U.S. and Europe, and for her integrity and commitment to good governance in Belize she was honored as a woman of courage.

IMF Concludes Article IV Consultation With Belize
Executive directors of the IMF noted the slight improvement in economic activity as of 2015 attributed to a rebound in agriculture, a strong performance in tourism, electricity, construction, services and the relatively strong widening of imports which offset the significant decline in oil-related activities which saw the fall in international oil and food prices in December of 2014.The report continued by stating that the fiscal stance deteriorated significantly in the Fiscal year 2014/2015 where the primary fiscal balance recorded a deficit well above budget target, describing it as "a significant deterioration in the fiscal stance and the widening external current account deficit." As it relates to the banking system the report concluded that the termination of major correspondent banking relationships with Belizean banks has so far had a limited impact on the financial system and economic activity.

SIB Figures Shows Imports And Exports Are Down
Belize’s total imports for the month of February 2016 were valued at $168.3 million, decreasing 2.6 percent or $4.6 million from imports for February 2015, which totaled $172.9 million, this is according to the latest figures released by the Statistical Institute of Belize today. The report shows that Imports destined for the ‘Export Processing Zones’, which fell sharply from $12 million to $4.5 million, were the primary contributors to the month’s decline. Imports into the ‘Commercial Free Zones’ and purchases of ‘Chemical Products’ fell by $2 million and $1.5 million, respectively, in the month of February. Despite a slight increase in the quantity of premium fuel imported, Belize spent almost $6 million less on ‘Mineral Fuels and Lubricants’, as fuel prices remained lower when compared to the same month of 2015. Imports of ‘Food and Live Animals’ went up by $2 million. Merchandise imports for January to February 2016 totaled $299.3 million, representing a 4.8 percent or $15.2 million decrease from the same period last year. The ‘Commercial Free Zones’ and ‘Export Processing Zones’ experienced the largest declines in imports within the period, recording a $13 million and $12 million dollar drop, respectively. Similarly, importation of ‘Mineral Fuels and Lubricants’ fell by $11 million, from $36 million to $25 million, the result of decreases in the quantities of all major fuels purchased coupled with lower world market prices.

Eighteen Year Old Nearly Beaten To Death
An 18 year old individual is tonight recuperating at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after he was assaulted over the Easter weekend. Reports are that on Sunday at around 8:30 p.m. police received information of an altercation on Mahogany Street in Trail Farm Village in Orange Walk involving several youths from the area. When police arrived they found 18 year old Luis Fernando Lopez in a ditch bleeding profusely from injuries to his head and body. He was taken to the Northern Regional Hospital suffering from head trauma, broken right rib, stab wound on the right leg and a broken jaw. Lopez was then transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in a critical condition. One witness to the attack told our news team that she was at home when she heard the commotion; she said that she saw one individual being attacked by a group of boys who are known to cause trouble in the area.

LOVE FM

IMF Concludes Assessment of Belize
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded their Article IV Consultation with Belize. The Article IV Consultation is where a member-country is assessed by a team of economists as it relates to economic and financial developments as well as the economic and financial policies. Following their working visit to Belize, the IMF team brought forth […]

BNTU Members Travel to Jalacte
BNTU members representing all ten BNTU branches nationwide, participated in an event that took them to the Belize Guatemala border at Jalacte in Toledo. We hear more in this report from correspondent Paul Mahung. PAUL MAHUNG “In connection with the Belize National Teacher’s Union convention on Wednesday and Thursday of this week in Punta Gorda […]

Business Senator on National Security
As we told you yesterday, the Senators had met up in session to debate the budget for the fiscal year 2016/2017. The Senator representing the private sector, Mark Lizarraga in his presentation brought up concerns regarding the monies allotted for maritime security and national security, in general. Love News spoke to Lizarraga on his concern. […]

A Chapel for the KHMH
A dedication and consecration service took place on the grounds of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City as the administration in collaboration with the Council of Churches and the Belize Evangelical Association, officially opened the Chapel on the hospital’s ground floor. Chief Executive Officer at the KHMH, Dr Adrian Coye spoke to Love […]

Mayor Announces New Street Works and City Projects
An official opening held by the Belize City Council for upcoming infrastructural works in the city was held this morning at the Cinderella Plaza in Belize City. During his address to the small gathering made up of the council’s employees and the media, Mayor Darrell Bradley spoke of what this phase of the project will […]

Marie Sharp to the Hot Sauce Hall of Fame
Marie Sharp, the owner of Marie Sharp’s Fine Foods Ltd. has been selected to be inducted in the Hot Sauce Hall of Fame Class of 2016. The Hot Sauce Hall of Fame will induct five people, all of whom have been very instrumental in the fiery foods. This year’s group is the biggest and brightest […]

Police Gets Soup for Aggravated Assault
Jason “Soup” Williams, a resident of Supal Street who allegedly knocked down Deon Warrior with a car, was charged with aggravated assault when he appeared today before Magistrate Deborah Rogers. Williams pled not guilty to the charge. He was offered a bail of two thousand five hundred dollars and his case was adjourned until May […]

McFoy and Student Charged in Scotland Robbery
Two persons, 18 year old Trevor Mcfoy, a sixth form student and a 17 year old boy, were charged with three counts of robbery when they appeared today before Magistrate Deborah Rogers. Mcfoy alone was charged with kept firearm and ammunition without a gun license. According to the allegation, on March 23 three male persons, […]

Broaster Updates Media on Robbery Investigation
McFoy and the minor involved in the robbery reportedly escaped the scene in a car. Last week Police said there were three men in the waiting car. Today ACP Broaster said no charges have been brought against the men. EDWARD BROASTER “

Firearms Go Missing From Office of Special Constables
Around seven o’ clock this morning, CIB personnel reported to a burglary at the Commercial Center on Regent Street in Belize City. The second floor of the commercial center houses the office of Special Constables of the city council. When police got to the office they realized that four nine millimeter pistols had gone missing. […]

PlusTV

Day two of 2016 Budget Debate
The second day of the Budget Debate 2016 was held on Wednesday in Belmopan. Various aspects of the Budget of 2016/2017 were highlighted and one of those was the monies allocated to National Security; 141 million dollars. Minister of National Security, Hon. John Saldivar spoke about plans for the bu...

Belize Telemedia Limited will appeal Mek Mi Rich case
BTL executive committee chairman Anwar Barrow says that the company has plans to appeal the recent decision against them and Mek Mi Rich Productions, owner of the game show of the same name, in the Supreme Court. Businessman Curtis Swasey alleged that BTL conspired with MMR to sell his idea for a lo...

Prime Minister family rakes in millions in legal fees
Prime Minister Dean Barrow has been constantly accused of nepotism and Anwar Barrow at the head of the now state owned BTL has been one example cited. At the budget debates, Area Representative for Caribbean Shores, Kareem Musa, spoke about the outlandish legal fees raked in by the Prime Minister’s...

Oscar Gomez murdered, police say; prime suspect sought
Police believed that 41 year old Salvadoran national Oscar Gomez could not possibly have stabbed himself to death in a bizarre successful suicide attempt, and a post-mortem examination has proven them right. The Lords’ Bank man sustained at least 8 wounds, but the perpetrator may have been the...

Suspect in custody for Rene Chavarria murder
An unnamed suspect has been detained in relation to last Friday night’s murder of 25 year old Rene Chavarria of Ladyville. We hear more from Assistant Commissioner of Police and Officer in Charge of Rural Eastern Division, Edward Broaster. Edward Broaster: “As it pertains to Chavarria’s murder...

BDF commander says he is working with Guatemalan counterpart to ease tensions in Sarstoon
Today Commander of the Belize Defence Force (BDF), Brigadier General David Jones, issued a report on the ongoing efforts to ease tensions between his forces and those of Guatemala in the Sarstoon River. Speaking in Belize City, General Jones said he has established camaraderie with his counterpart a...

General Jones of BDF warns Belizeans over leaked Sarstoon report
A report by the Belize Defence Force (BDF) which was released ten years ago offered new insights into activity in the Sarstoon area. But it also brings up the question: when it comes to national security, how much knowledge is too much? Brigadier General David Jones, current BDF commander, believes ...

Breaking Belize News

Youth Services Department dismisses claims of corruption in elections
Party politics invaded the recent elections for the Belize District Youth Council held a few weeks ago. In the run-off between Micah Goodin of the PUP’s Belize Youth Movement and Stafin Duncan of the UDP’s Youth Popular Front for the post of president, Duncan prevailed by […]

CITCO launches latest infrastructure project
Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley unveiled a relatively small but crucial infrastructural project to upgrade and cement Cinderella Plaza and complete the concreting of 7 other streets in the city. Following the completion of work by the Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Project, the heavily […]

Minors, adults detained in Victor Garnett murder
Reliable sources say there is a 15 year old minor in police custody tonight regarding last Wednesday afternoon’s murder of Victor Garnett in Belize City. Also in custody are two known street figures who have previously been accused of murder and are being questioned […]

SIB reports inflation up in back to back months for first time in a year
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the formal name for the measure of inflation, or increase in prices paid by Belizeans. It is measured in selected items representing what most Belizeans buy on a monthly basis. For all of 2015, Belize saw percentage decreases […]

It’s Faber for deputy, says Darrell
“Superdelegates” of the United Democratic Party – its many area representatives, Ministers, Senators, Mayors, Councilors and other big people – are quickly choosing sides in the coming battle for first deputy party leader between former chairman Patrick Faber and John Saldivar. The party has not […]

Belize has positive economic finish in 2015, slow start in 2016
Belize finished 2015 in a steady if not promising pace economically, according to statistics published today by the Statistical Institute of Belize. However, the country is both importing and exporting less goods to start the year 2016. Fourth quarter economic growth was just zero point […]

Special constables’ office at Commercial Center burglarized; guns stolen
There was a breach at one of the City Council’s Office in Belize City sometime between the closure of the work day yesterday and opening this morning. One of the office spaces at the Commercial Center in downtown Belize City was broken into and four firearms […]

The National Evangelical Association of Belize defends Pastor Scott Stirm
The National Evangelical Association of Belize (NEAB) has come out in defense of Pastor Scott Stirm, who recently came under fire over the last week following the publication of a video where he made derogatory comments about the Garifuna culture. Those comments led to a […]

Water to be restored in Santa Familia
A press release issued earlier today by the Department of Rural Development serves to inform residents of Santa Familia who are experiencing water problems, that the river will be used to restore water supply by tonight. It goes on to instruct residents of that […]

Elections for Premier League of Belize (PLB) Executive
Tonight the Premier League of Belize (PLB) will be having its elections for a new PLB executive. It will be held at the FFB compound in Belmopan at 6:00 p.m. PLB elections are held every 4 years. This will be the second electoral congress of the PLB […]

Woman escapes rape attempt
Belmopan Police are investigating what is believed to have been a rape attempt in the San Martin Area on Saturday night when a 27-year-old female was attacked by a man with a knife who threatened to kill her. The victim reported to police that […]

34-year-old Guatemalan found with weed in Benque
On Saturday afternoon in Benque Viejo Town, Cayo District, a Guatemalan National was arrested and charged for the offense of ‘possession of controlled drugs’ after he was busted by police with cannabis in his pants pocket. While patrolling on George Price Boulevard in that […]

Imports, exports down to start 2016
Belize is both importing and exporting less goods to start the year. For the first time in statistical history, all major export industries declined, marine products, citrus and sugar especially so. However, the sugar fall is due not to prices but level of exports, which are expected to recover. The free zone’s worries continue with less goods imported, while there is also less imports of fuel. Inflation is positive for the first time in several months; unfortunately, that means Belizeans are paying more for food and housing rental as well as health and insurance costs and even hairdressing.

Blogs

15 Things No One Told You About Living in Belize
In the blogging world, it’s all about lists these days – and I guess, when they have a bit of substance, there is nothing wrong with that. They are orderly, informational and easy to read. So, here’s my list – of things that I learned in my last 9 years living in Belize. Many…like the signs planted all over Caye Caulker, Belize, I may not have learned without moving here. It’s a pretty simple but solid piece of wisdom. Some on my list are not so deep. Here are the 15 Things that I learned living in Belize. 1. Though English is the national language, most people don’t speak it at home or with friends – 2. Time has a different meaning – 3. Groceries are expensive – 4. No one will look at you askance if you are drinking a beer with breakfast – ...

Debra Baptist-Estrada wins 2016 International Women of Courage Award
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry presents the 2016 International Women of Courage Award to Debra Baptist-Estrada of Belize, Port Commander at Belize Immigration and Nationality, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on March 29, 2016.

Practically free ways to travel more safely than ever...and the tired advice most people still don't follow, but we know we should :)
Over the last 2 years of having friends and guests (and ourselves) in Belize and elsewhere, we have watched as new apps and ways of keeping your stuff safe, communicating more effectively all over the world, and new inventions come up that can turn a potential vacation-ruining experience, into one that you pat yourself on the back, because your past self did your future self some favors by covering your behind! The first part of this post is some of the newer ways you can prepare yourself before your vacation - some that didn't even exist several years ago. Second part is some of the old, tired, boring stuff we all KNOW, but we still see first hand how many people do not/will not/forget to follow...and then vacations are ruined and you just want to slap that past self of yours! So, some ideas and gentle reminders... -Don't post on social media that you will be gone on certain dates, it is too easy to find all of someone's personal info with very little effort. Don't "check in" at the sweet places you are at, just post the pics when you get home.

International Sources

Belize's new port call at island resort Harvest Caye to open in fall
There's a new port stop coming to Belize, and it will be the only one in the country with a cruise pier. Harvest Caye, which has been developed by Norwegian Cruise Line, is an island-turned-resort that's scheduled to open in November. Last week, the cruise line offered a glimpse of what travelers can expect to find at this southern Belize port of call. The Norwegian Escape is scheduled to stop at Harvest Caye during weeklong cruises from Miami between May and October 2017. Regent Seven Seas and Oceania also will make stops at the island. So what's the island like? First off, you can stroll off the ship -- no need to take a tender -- and onto Harvest Caye, which has six miles of sandy beaches. Second, you may not need to go very far to enjoy this stop.

A remote job gave me a taste of island life – the culture shock was intense
My wife and I rented out our 750-square-foot Vancouver apartment for $1,200 a month, rented a 400-square foot fisherman’s shack on flood stilts on Caye Caulker for $300 a month and bought plane tickets with what remained of our savings. With our mortgage payments in Vancouver factored in, we would have roughly $300 a month for food, supplemented by whatever I hoped to write about the adventure or fish out from the lagoon behind our new home. For my four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son, it was the first time they would live next to poverty and on the open ocean. For my wife, it would be her first taste of life without a telephone or hot water, in surroundings of tropical flowers and fruit. As for me, I would have to tough it out daily at a job I mostly loathed, but would be able at the end of the day to rig a dinghy and sail to my heart’s content. We arrived in Caye Caulker at the start of February and stayed until the end of April. A water taxi deposited us at the end of one of the dozens of piers that jut out of the island. We pushed our four suitcases to the shack on a wooden cart. That afternoon, we discovered things about our island home that we had not expected. Behind our shack lived a tongueless war veteran from El Salvador and a crocodile; in the front field, scads of kids of all ages played without a parent in sight. Soon our kids, too, were shoeless and out of sight, and happily remained so for much of our stay.

Belize v. Belize Social Development Ltd.
Issue: (1) Whether, under the doctrine of forum non conveniens, as applied to the New York Convention by Article III, a foreign forum is per se inadequate because specific assets in the United States cannot be attached by a foreign court, as the D.C. Circuit has held, or whether it is adequate if it has jurisdiction and some attachable assets, as the Second Circuit held; and (2) whether, under Article V(2)(b) of the New York Convention, the public policy in favor of arbitration yields where confirmation of an arbitral award would be contrary to countervailing public policies, such as those grounded in constitutional separation of powers principles, combating government corruption and/or international comity.

10 Reasons Belize Deserves To Be On Top Of Your Travel Bucket List
The reasons to visit Belize total far more than 10 and narrowing it down wasn’t easy. From afar, Belize’s appeal is all about the warm and clear blue waters of the Caribbean and the dense, wild jungles that draw you in. Once there, you start to pick up on more detail: the heart-pounding land and sea adventures, the blissful moments (like lounging on a deserted island or experiencing the rainforest come alive at dawn), the fascinating history of the ancient Mayan people, and the vibrant culture of the present day. For those who need more convincing, here are 10 reasons you should move a trip to Belize way up on your travel bucket list.

IMF Gives Mixed Review To Belize Economic Performance
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Belize's economic outlook is characterised by sluggish growth, weak fiscal stance, and external and financial sector vulnerabilities. But the Washington-based financial institution also noted the recent improvement in economic activity, despite the significant deterioration in the fiscal stance and the widening external current account deficit. According to the IMF, gross domestic product (GDP) growth reached 3.6 per cent in 2014, up from 1.5 per cent in 2013 and well above the five-year average of 2.9 per cent. It said a rebound in agriculture, strong performances in tourism, electricity, construction and services offset the significant decline in oil-related activities. The fall in international oil and food prices pushed headline inflation to -0.2 per cent as of December 2014. But the IMF said that despite strong tourism receipts, falling exports and relatively strong imports widened the external current account deficit to 7.6 per cent of GDP in 2014, up from 4.4 per cent in 2013.

US Supreme Court asks solicitor general to weigh in on Belize petition
On Monday, the Supreme Court of the United States called for the views of the solicitor general regarding the government of Belize’s petition for a writ of certiorari from a decision by the DC Circuit. Belize’s petition asks the Court to resolve a circuit split between the DC and Second Circuits regarding the vitality of the forum non conveniens doctrine, and provide much needed guidance as to the proper balancing of public policy interests, when US courts are asked to enforce foreign arbitration awards. "We are pleased that the United States Supreme Court is giving careful attention to these important issues," noted Juan Basombrio of Dorsey & Whitney LLP, counsel to Belize.

What is the real perception on safety for Expats living abroad?
The thought of living in certain places in Mexico or Central America can be alluring: fabulous beaches, colonial cities, inexpensive, quality healthcare, a slower pace and much lower cost of living. But some people think mistakenly that it isn’t safe. To determine how safe it is for expats in places like Panama, Nicaragua, Belize and Mexico, Best Places In The World to Retire asked some of its more than 500 contributors to weigh in. They said that petty crime can be a problem, although that’s no different than in the U.S. They also said that more serious crime is not nearly as rampant as the media indicates, although it’s important to avoid certain areas. That’s also no different than in the U.S. Overall, the expats said that they felt safe in their communities.

Videos

Mr Vegas's Manager almost drowned at Belize reefs!, 5min. Caribbean performer makes fun of his manager in funny video during Easter break.

Web Chat: Conversation With A Currently Serving Peace Corps Volunteer in Belize, 59min. Have your Peace Corps questions answered from the comfort of your home. Sign up for a real-time presentation and web chat with a returned Peace Corps Volunteer and recruiter, Emily Whitfield. This event will connect you with a Peace Corps Volunteer currently serving in Belize. We will discuss training, host families, work assignments, living situations, and the culture.

Easter 2016 - Caye Caulker, Belize, 4min. A little snap shot of Caye Caulker Island in the beautiful country of Belize during the easter 2016 weekend.

Belize Zoo 2016, 3min. Howler monkies, deer, tapirs, toucans, leopards, pumas, jaguars, crocodiles and more!

Ziplining in Belize 2016, 5.5min. Ziplining in Belize at Jaguar Paw / Chukka Video taken with GoPro HERO4

The Belize Public Service, 5min.

FISHING WITH WIL, 5min. from PGTV News Network

The Race, From Above, Montage, 1min. And we leave you tonight with one last look at the 88th riding of the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic. All these shots are from Jungle Drones which hovered above the race.

Diving in Belize!, 4min.

Sky Dive Into The Blue Hole, Belize, 4min.

Belize Trip Day 4, 5min.

BELIZE, 3min. San Pedro, Belize. What an unbelizeable experience! Taken July 2015.

Diving at Long Caye, Belize (Coral reef wall), 4.5min.

Secret Beach, Ambergris Caye, Belize., 2min.

Belize DAY 3 Travel Video, 6min.

Benefits of Lime Stone in Belize w/ Neal Kinsey (Ag Lime), 7.5min. http://www.limbebz.com/ Neal Kinsey of Kinsey Agricultural Services, Inc. visited Belize in February 2016 to give his course titled: Albrecht-Kinsey Method Soil Fertility Course. Limbe Managers took the time to learn more about the benefits of lime stone (also known as agriculture lime or white lime) and the best ways of making use of it in Belizean agriculture. The video above is of Neal Kinsey talking about the importance of lime stone in a interview he did for Limbe. He also talks about soil samples he's taken in Belize and speaks of his experience in Belize.

Belize - Caye Caulker, 2min. A quick trip to Caye Caulker is really all anyone needs to catch up on some quality R & R. A quick 25 min taxi from the Belize airport will get you to the port where you catch your 45 min to an hour ferry to island paradise.

March 30, 2016

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

Misc Belizean Sources

Veterinary Ventures is Coming to Belize
On May 3, 2016 Saga Humane Society will welcome six veterinarians and five technicians to San Pedro for a fourteen-day Spay and Neuter event. The doctors of Veterinary Ventures will visit Saga Humane Society, Caye Caulker Humane Society and the Belmopan Humane Society. During the fourteen days, the doctors will travel into the community, access current conditions, and take part in outreach, wellness and vaccination programs. Of equal importance, the travel team has set a goal to spay and neuter over 400 animals. Read on for more... Veterinary Ventures is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing humane veterinary care to the under-served animals of the world by providing veterinary services and care of animals in needy regions of the world. We work directly with local humane groups to help them help their communities by organizing spay-neuter campaigns to control stray animal populations. 100% of funds raised will go toward the medications and supplies for our campaigns! We will be travelling to Belize in May 2016 and working with SAGA Humane Society, Belmopan Humane Society, and Caye Caulker Humane Society for spay-neuter campaigns in several locations in Belize. Our goal is to provide spay-neuter services for 400 dogs and cats while there. We need YOUR help to meet this goal and provide high-quality care to these animals. Cost per surgery is approximately $20 per animal, which includes pain medications, anesthetics, antibiotics, and surgical supplies. Can you sponsor an dog or two?

Governor General Sir Colville Young Attends 15th Conference of the Presidents and Governors-General of the Caribbean Community
It has been announced from Belize House that the Governor-General, His Excellency, Sir Colville Young and Lady Norma Young , are attending the Fifteenth Conference of Presidents and Governors-General of the Caribbean Community to be held in Antigua and Barbuda from the 29th March, 2016 to 1st April, 2016; under the theme “ Maintaining the Relevance of the Crown in a Changing Caribbean”. The conference will be hosted by the Governor- General of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Rodney Williams KGN, GCMG, KNG, KSt. J, GCFO, and MBBS (UWI).

Letter: Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do... not!
by Paco Smith. Amid the latest, illegal and boldfaced move by Guatemala, to outrightly claim not only Sarstoon Island, but also the entire Sarstoon River, which has been acknowledged internationally as the shared border between Belize and its bellicose neighbour to the west, since 1859, understandably the stakes have become even higher insofar as Belize’s territorial integrity and national security is concerned. This is accentuated and compounded via the unholy bipartisan approach involving the recently re-elected UDP administration of Dean Barrow alongside Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition – PUP – as they persist in pushing their failed “4A Policy” of: appeasement, acquiescence, accommodation and adherence. Given that we have ended the Lenten Season, with the conclusion of Easter, one is inclined to posit the notion of “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do”, to the current, untenable debacle in which Belize finds itself. But to do so, would inevitably lend to and perpetuate the endemic cognitive dissonance that unfortunately defines Belize’s citizenry.

Great Belize Cooking - Episode 5: Corozal (Black Recado & Murcia)
Great Belize Cooking is the newest show produced by Great Belize Television - Channel 5. It is a travelling showcase of the different cultural foods and ingredients used within communities throughout the country of Belize. Host & chef, Sean Kuylen, takes viewers on this culinary journey, and even creates gourmet recipes using the traditional ingredients in non-traditional ways. Season 1 will feature 6 episodes. Each episode is shot on location in each of the six districts of Belize, and features food that is popular in that geographic location.

Easter-Week Sailing Clinic Completed at Belize Sailing School in San Pedro
Two fine young Canadian Optimist dinghy sailors who live in the Toronto area came to Belize for a week of training at the Belize Sailing School. They were enrolled in the Belize Sailing School's March 21-27 Easter Optimist Training Clinic. They had spent the week before at a preliminary training on Curacao. The pair are siblings, Dhalia Steinitz, 13, and her brother Andreas, age 12. They and their parents were dedicating the entire spring break to sailing in preparation for three solid weeks of Optimist training events and regattas near their home town this coming August. His father Dan said that Andreas in particular has a shot at making Canada's 40-boat Optimist National Team. Kevin Velasquez the current Belize National Champion, Caroline Sersland who ranks 3rd in Belize, and Nicholas Lausen who holds the 12th rank joined Dhalia and Andreas in the clinic. The addition of three of the Belize Sailing School's own candidates for international competition heightened all participants' resolve to concentrate and to train hard and enthusiastically. The clinic took place in the balmy waters behind the reef offshore at Caribbean Villas Hotel.

Belize Hotel Association at Beneath the Sea
The Belize Hotel Association, represented by Board members Barbara Hall and Rebecca Rath, will be at Beneath the Sea, this weekend April, 1, 2 and 3. at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, U.S.A. Beneath The Sea will see exhibitors from international dive clubs, dive shops, resorts, training institutes and manufacturing units of scuba diving gears and machinery. It is the largest consumer Dive show in the New Jersey area. Beneath The Sea's audience includes a growing market of professionals who dive and purchase top equipment, fashions, training and travel destinations. Beneath the Sea's 14,00 + attendees visit with the intention of spending their time and money on ocean adventure, sport and travel. Diving has been rated as one of the U.S. top wealthiest outdoor recreations. In fact, according to The Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America (ORCA)... more than 3.2 million Americans participate in Scuba Diving. In addition to an exposition floor presenting almost 400 exhibitors, representing everything from dive equipment, travel, instruction, and education about the marvels and needs of the oceans and their world underwater, Beneath the Sea offers a curriculum of over seventy workshops and seminars where the leaders of the dive industry come to lecture, give courses, and introduce new members of the ocean community to new equipment and diving's many specialties.

Many things have changed since Assad Showman was the foreign minister of Belize
By Wellington C. Ramos. Dr Assad Showman was the foreign minister of Belize under the administration of the People's United Party (PUP) for many years in the 1970s before we became independent on September 21, 1981. He knows many things that we, the average Belizeans, do not know that were negotiated with countries like Russia, the United States, Great Britain, Panama, Guatemala, Latin American countries and many other countries in the world that were for and against the independence of Belize. Apart from him, the former prime ministers of Belize, Manuel Esquivel, Said Musa and the late George Cadle Price, the leaders of the National Independence Party (NIP), the late Philip Goldson and the United Democratic Party (UDP), Dean Lindo and Dr Theodore Aranda should have some knowledge of the issues as well. The most important negotiations that took place concerning our country of Belize, took place when the People's United Party was in power before we achieved our independence. All the citizens of Belize need to know what was negotiated by the government of Belize prior to our independence because at that time they were asking us to support a document called "The Heads of Agreement". This document was brought from Great Britain by a British diplomat namely Nicholas Ridley, who was sent to Belize to negotiate the terms and conditions of our independence by the then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Splashers
This is Thursday's painting at Crazy Canucks for Thursday. The sign up is giving us little problems so In order to sign up comment below! See you there on Thursday!

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Statement on the March 26th, 2016 Incident
The Government of Belize has requested the Office of the Organization of American States (OAS) in the Adjacency Zone to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the March 26, 2016 shooting incident that occurred 400 meters east of the Belize/Guatemala border in the Valentin Camp area in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve within Belizean territory. Members of the Belize Defence Force detachment who are stationed at the Valentin Camp Conservation Post were on a routine water supply and administration task at about 4:50 p.m. on Saturday when they came under fire from men armed with rifles. The encounter resulted in gunshot injuries to the arms and abdomen of a member of the BDF patrol. The injured soldier was subsequently transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he was treated for his injuries and he remains in a stable condition.

Bus owners: "Being small I get squished, squashed and "shub" like cattle
Yamira Novelo is an environmentalist and tertiary level student who commutes from Belize City to Belmopan. She has finally decided she had enough and wanted to share her rant about the bus system and how difficult it must be for kids and people who are 5'4' or less on the road. This is her experience this Tuesday March 29, 2016 Yamira says "It's back to work and the first day of a working week. I haven't taken a bus in months but nothing has changed. The bus system is the same; people behaving like cattle in a pen trying to get out while trampling the smaller individuals. I'm not even sure if cattle would trample their own but people certainly do. Being small I get squished, squashed and 'shub' like cattle. And you hear everyone complain and sometimes a fight would break out. People yell all the time. Imagine we are reduced to such things but it is our fault. We complain every time about the public transportation issues and reduced ourselves to cattle behaviour.

Road works between miles 2 1/2 an 3 1/2 on the Consejo Road
Ministry of Works is currently conducting road works between miles 2 1/2 an 3 1/2 on the Consejo Road. Motorists are kindly advised to exercise caution when approaching this area as heavy equipment and road fill may interfere with normal traffic.

Sand Sculpting Competition
Thank you to all who made the inaugural Sand Sculpting Competition a great success at this past weekend's Easter Splash Beach Party. To our competitors and winners - Alvaro Dominguez (1st), Benjamin Cal (2nd) and Carlos Carrillo (3rd), thank you for your participation and creativity. Great thanks to our collaborators and sponsors of the cash prizes; Minister Pablo Marin and Fun Vybes.

Power interruption 10:00am to 12:00 midday, Wednesday, March 30 Stann Creek: Silk Grass, Hopkins, Sittee River, Maya Center & Riversdale.
BEL to replace utility pole carrying high voltage lines in area.

CARSI Economic Support Fund Grant
Thinking about applying for the CARSI Economic Support Fund Grant but have questions? Please join us on Tuesday, April 12th for an online Q&A at 1:30 PM (Belize Time). This meeting will address: The background on CARSI, Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) objectives, Discussion of how proposals will be evaluated, Program budget overview, How to submit your application on Grants.gov, DUNS number applications SAM.gov registration, and an open Question & Answer session for any other questions you might have.

Channel 7

BDF Soldier Ambushed and Shot By Guatemalan Bandits At Caracol
On Holy Saturday, waves of concern went out all across the country after news hit the social media that a BDF Staff Sergeant Richard Lambey had been shot near the Western Border in the Caracol Archaeological Reserve. More worrying was the information that he and other soldiers were ambushed by Guatemalan civilians in Belizean territory. We've been pressing the country's security council officials for details all day, but it was not until a few minutes before the start of news that a press release was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It confirms that the shooting happened 400 meters east of the Belize/Guatemala border in the Valentin Camp area in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve within Belizean territory. The Ministry release explains that BDF soldiers stationed at the Valentin Camp Conservation Post were on a routine water supply and administration task at about 4:50 p.m. on Saturday when they came under fire from men armed with rifles. The encounter resulted in gunshot injuries to the arms and abdomen of a member of the BDF patrol. The injured soldier was subsequently transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he was treated for his injuries and he remains in a stable condition."

Why Did They Kill Alwayne?
Everyone who knew 24 year old Alwayne Cherrington had nothing but positive things to say about him. He was kind, friendly, and mannerly and very involved in the services and peer activities at the Latter Day Saints Church…just a model young man. That's why when Cherrington was executed on Saturday night after 7:00 in the comfort of his family's home, the entire neighborhood was shaken. I went out to find more answers on this puzzling case. Alwayne Cherrington spent most of his days here at the BCVI Lab. He had been a lab technician in the Glasses Production Unit for about a year and just in that time, he became a major asset to the organization - customizing these glasses to fit every single client. Carla Ayres Musa, Deputy Director, BCVI: "He came on and instantly just impressed everyone with his very charming personality. Very soft spoken and very quiet but also very bright and very intelligent." With his skills and intellect, Alwayne would have had a promising future at BCVI. He was even planning to get certified and eventually become a doctor.

Cops Questioning Alwayne's Neighbor
So who would want Cherrington dead? Police are following leads on the possible involvement of a jealous neighbor but they can't confirm that as yet. What they can confirm is that Cherrington has no criminal history and is not known to be a part of any gang. Police told us more about this incomprehensible murder. Insp. Alejandro Cowo, CIB - Precinct 1 & 2: "What police has gathered so far is that on Saturday, sometime after 7, he was visiting a family member at 202 Lopez Street behind complex. While seated, speaking to family members, he went to look for his wife as his wife resides in that location. A male person just pushed his hand through the door and fired several shots at him causing the fatal injuries. Up to now we have 3 persons in custody that we are questioning who maybe can find provide some information to us in regards to these latest motives that we have in our area." Reporter: "Sir a motive for that murder?" Insp. Alejandro Cowo, CIB - Precinct 1 & 2: "Up to now we cannot establish a motive. This person is not known to be of any gang at this time, or gang affiliated or any other troublesome person."

Man Killed Outside Club
A man was murdered on Good Friday. It happened in Belmopan sometime around 3 am. Noe Cruz, a 37 year old Belizean Laborer of Las Flores Area, Belmopan, had visited the popular night club, and left. He wasn't seen again until a food vendor found him dead. She was picking up pint bottles at the end of the night and found Cruz in a sitting position beside the front wheel of a Nissan Patrol SUV. His pants were pulled down to his knees and he had cut wounds to the face and back of the head. Police told us via phone what they know so far. Supt. Howell Gillet, OC, Belmopan: "We believe that Mr. Cruz was socializing at the main night club and he exited the area appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and he went into the streets. Based on our investigation, we believe that he got into an argument with someone or some persons. We believe that it was then that he was fatally injured." Emanuel Pech: "Did he attend the establishment alone?" Supt. Howell Gillet, OC, Belmopan: "Well that's what we found out so far. He was socializing and he exited the establishment on his own prior to his death."

Cops Have No Clues In Waterlane Stabbing
The long weekend saw two stabbings in the City - none of them fatal. The first occurred in the wee hours of Easter Sunday. Around 2:50 am a man was found lying unconscious and bleeding in the Water Lane Area in Belize City. Ezikiel McKoy was taken to the KHMH where he was treated for multiple stab wounds: two to the back, one to the stomach and one to the throat. Now McKoy remains at the hospital in an unconscious state - and without his input, police don't know who to question: Insp. Alejandro Cowo, CIB - Precinct 1 & 2: "With reference to the stabbing incident, it happened on Sunday morning, sometime around 2 in the morning where police from Precinct 1, responded to a male person on Waterlane. Upon arrival they observed a male person lying on the ground with several stab wounds to the body. He was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he's presently at the ICU unit. He was later identified as Ezekiel McCoy, that's all the information that we have in regards to him. At this time, we are trying to locate any family members since up to now, we have no other information in regards to him. At this time we cannot give you a motive. We have checked about this person and we have no information as to being a person that is causing trouble or having problems with any other person."

Stabbing At Old Belize
The second stabbing occurred later that same day. Sometime around 4:38 on Sunday evening, police responded to a stabbing incident at mile 4 on the George Price Highway involving well known street figure Jason "Soup" Williams. Investigators say the incident stemmed from a fight between his younger brother Jermain Williams and two females at Old Belize. Sometime during the fight 21 year old Deon Warrior of Hattieville and the establishment's security guard got in the middle of the fight. That's when "Soup" Williams arrived in a vehicle, and allegedly knocked down Warrior, then stabbed him and attacked the security Guard before driving off. Here is what police said about it today. "Well there was an activity at Old Belize. There was a function there, several persons attended that function and just before the function was concluded, there was an altercation at the entrance of Old Belize's gate. Deon Warrior and another person saw what was happening and they intervened. As a result a male person inflicted two stab wounds to him..."

Cops Get Weekend Weed in Benque
William Gonzales, a 20 year old Salvadoran, was busted with close to 7 pounds of weed over the weekend in Benque. Cops found it around 8:30 on Saturday morning when they saw Gonzales acting suspiciously. When Police searched him they found 6.8 pounds of marijuana inside his knapsack. As a result Gonzalez from Duckrun 3 Village was charged for of drug trafficking.

Passerby Spares Woman From Violent Attack
A woman was attacked in Belmopan this weekend but luckily she got away. It happened on Saturday night in San Martin around 10. 27 year old Lorytha Martinez left her house to buy food when a man approached her near the corner of San Martin Road and Guadalupe Street near the old fire station. The man grabbed her hand and tried pulling her in the nearby bushes threatening her with a knife saying, "I'm going to kill you." During the struggle she fell to the grass at the same time the assailant jumped on top of her pinning her head to the ground. But the sound of an approaching motorcycle, caused the assailant to flee the scene, escaping through the bushes. Martinez immediately ran to a nearby house and called police. Belmopan police urge residents to refrain from walking alone especially at night and to be very observant of their surroundings.

Castellanos Caught And Sent To Jail
On Easter Sunday, police managed to take a home-made firearm off the street and foil a planned assault. The man they caught with that gun is Michael Castellanos, and tonight, he's spending the first night of a 3 year sentence. Just after midday, police came upon Castellanos, and a search led to this home-made gun, which is capable of fire shotgun cartridges. He was charged with firearm offences, and when he was arraigned today in the Belmopan Magistrate's Court he pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison. Police believe that Castellanos may have been hired as a sort of hit man to conduct an attack on another civilian. Fortunately, police got actionable intelligence and moved confiscate the weapon without incident.

Shoplifting, Not Robbery
There was some excitement in the city this morning when word went out that police had responded to a robbery at Habet and Habet on Cemetery Road. But, it turns out that it wasn't a robbery - only a case of shoplifting where a man had snatched almost a dozen fluorescent tubes. Police responded quickly, arrested the culprit, and got back the lamps.

Pedal By Pedal Breakdown of Cross Country
If you're a patriot - this past Holy Saturday wasn't exactly a day that made your heart swell with pride. First, at midday, a Guatemalan won the cross country, easily, while his brother was second - worst of all? The Belizean they beat, Joel Borland is a young Coast Guard officer. And then it only got worse by 5:00 pm, a BDF Staff Sergeant had been ambushed by Guatemalan bandits in the Chiquibul and shot multiple times. By nightfall, the flag inside your heart was definitely flying at half mast? But how were two Guatemalan brothers able to beat everyone else, and to do it so easily? Well, our Codie Norales was out on the road on Saturday and he saw just how it unfolded. Kwame Scott has this report:... Sign in on Princess Margaret Drive at the BTL Park started from 4:30 am - we see National under 23 Champion Giovanni Lovell in his Belize jersey. 2013 Champion Darnell Barrow, last year's second place finisher Scottie Weiss, defending 2015 champion Justin Williams and perennial contender Julio Padilla, two time Cross Country Champion Chris Harkey, veteran Fitzgerald Joseph, a blast from the late 80's and 2005 champion Bill Elliston. At the line - past champions were called up to lead off the race which left from BTL Park in a rolling leadout at 10 minutes to 6:00.

The Winners Take It All
And, right after the riders crossed the finish line, 7News was there to talk with the winners and the losers about how it went. Joel Borland, the first Belizean to cross the finish line right after the Padilla Brothers, told us that he was outnumbered on the final attack: Reporter: "What can you say about today?" Joel Borland, 3rd Place - 2016 Cross Country "Definitely hard. Definitely a lot of suffering, I could tell you that. I just to say thanks to the Belizean public, because with motivation even with the people who doesn't even know me "Belize, Belize. Borland, Borland." Thank you very much, because without them I wouldn't stick there as much. The Guatemalans just overpowered and out fast me. I have no excuse." Reporter: "At what point in the race did you figure it was going to be tough? Or you thought there was still a chance that you could beat them somehow?"

Teachers Went To Jalacte
And while the Guatemalans came to Belize City for the garland, Wil Maheia today took 100 Belizean teachers to Jalacte - which is at the southwestern border with Guatemala. We're told that the outing took some three hours and the teachers, who organized the trip got a chance to see for themselves, some of the different cross-border issues at play between the neighboring Villages of Belize's Jalacte and Guatemala's Santa Cruz. We note that Santa Cruz is also an unregulated border point, and also a little shopping hotspot.

Stations Of The Cross In Benque
And, that's the news for this Tuesday night. In the spirit of Easter - we leave you with images of the very rich religious celebration on Good Friday in Benque Viejo. It's called the Stations of the Cross and provides a vivid re-enactment of the crucifixion of Christ and other cornerstones of the Catholic observance of Easter. We have that tonight courtesy of NICH. We leave you with that - and please join me back here tomorrow.

Channel 5

A B.D.F. Staff Sergeant is Shot Near Valentin Camp in the Chiquibul Forest
In early March, there was an armed encounter between Belize Defense Force soldiers on foot patrol in the Chiquibul National Park and Guatemalan poachers. At the time, one of the [...]

COLA Speaks Out in Wake of Near Fatal Shooting
This afternoon, COLA issued a statement on the shooting of Lambey. COLA called on the government to undertake an aggressive internationalization of the territorial dispute by Guatemala. COLA’s President Geovanni [...]

BCVI Optician Alwayne Cherrington is Executed Inside His Home
Just after seven p.m. on Holy Saturday, shots rang out on Lopez Street off Mahogany Street Extension in Belize City. It would lead to the first of two murders over [...]

Predawn Murder Near La Cabana on Good Friday
In the capital, a man known to the law was found dead. The family claims Noe Cruz was found in a seated position, but the police point out that Cruz’s [...]

Do You Support a Curfew for Children?
And tonight’s question is: Do you support a curfew for children? Send your comments and responses using your SMART phones to 8686 or post your vote on our e-poll at [...]

Senate Debates 2016/2017 Budget: No Stimulus for Business Community
The budget for fiscal year 2016/2017 was discussed at length by the Senate this morning, succeeding a two-day heated debate in the House of Representatives a week ago. Dubbed “Stability [...]

Opposition Says Barrow Budget is Uninspiring and Underwhelming
The Opposition, for its part, describes the budget as both uninspiring and insipid and therefore the party cannot lend its support to the budget that has ballooned into a massive [...]

Unions Say They Were Not Consulted in Drafting of Budget
With government and opposition senators weighing in on the budget in detail, one complimenting the financial plan and the other altogether condemning it, what is the union’s outlook for the [...]

2 Belize City Men Arraigned of Robbery of Gas Station in Scotland Half Moon
Six days after the robbery of Valley Supplies Gas Station, in Scotland Half Moon in the Belize District, an adult and a minor are facing charges. The armed robbery occurred [...]

Belizeans Busted in a Gang Sweep in the U.S.
There are reports tonight that U.S. immigration agents have arrested more than one thousand suspects and have charged them for attempted murder and witness tampering in an anti-gang sweep. The [...]

Who Stabbed Ezekiel McKoy on Easter Sunday?
There were two stabbing incidents in the city over the extended weekend…both on Easter Sunday. Sometime after two a.m., police found Ezekiel McKoy on Water Lane; he had been stabbed [...]

Supal Street Boss Arraigned for Stabbing Dean Warrior
Notorious street figure, Jason “Soup” Williams, is back in the news tonight for committing an aggravated assault with a deadly instrument and causing grievous harm during an incident at Old [...]

Juan Alvarado Loses His Life in Traffic Fatality on Bullet Tree Road
There are two traffic fatalities to report, one in the west and the other across the border. This morning on the Bullet Tree Road, Cayo, a Nissan pickup truck driven [...]

A Fatal Road Traffic Accident in Melchor Claims Life of Belmopan Resident
In the other fatality, reports are that sixty-eight year old Lloyd Andrews was killed as he drove to Melchor de Mencos, Peten. There were four passengers in his vehicle: Nora [...]

Faulty Electrical Connection Cause of Weekend Fire in Belize City
In addition to the murders and shootings, as well as traffic accidents that occurred during the Easter break, a fire also destroyed a small house. The house was unoccupied when [...]

William Gonzalez is Busted and Charged for Drug Trafficking
Police are reporting a drug bust at the Benque Viejo Del Carmen Bus terminal. It yielded them over six thousand grams of weed or more than thirteen pounds of the [...]

Vehicle Stolen from ASP Selvyn Tillett to be Returned to Belize
Assistant Superintendent of Police Selvyn Tillett was robbed at gunpoint on Valentine’s Day and relieved of his son-in-law’s pickup truck while in his hometown of Benque Viejo. ASP Tillett was [...]

Churches Weigh in on Budget
During today’s lengthy Senate debate, the church also had its say on the pros and cons of the annual budget. While Senator Ashley Rocke did not altogether pan the 2016/2017 [...]

Sports Monday: Guatemalan Wins the 2016 Cross Country Garland
Good evening, I’m James Adderley, this is sports Monday and I certainly hope that you had an enjoyable holiday. Of course the entire nation was glued to the 88th [...]

CTV3

Easter Break Claims The Life Of One Person In The North
The Easter weekend resulted in the tragic death of thirty nine year old Hermelindo Mai, a resident of San Jose Village in the Orange Walk District. Mai along with his family had been invited by a friend to spend Easter Sunday at a ranch located in the village of Progresso. Upon their arrival at the village, they all travelled in a canoe across the lagoon to an island where they planned to spend the day swimming. At about 4:30 in the evening the family decided to return to shore and that is when a day of fun turned into tragedy as the canoe containing ten persons including four children, capsized causing everyone to fall into the lagoon. Our news team travelled to San Jose Village earlier this evening and spoke to Mai’s common-law wife, Sheila Corzo, who told us that she basically witnessed her partner’s death as he slowly drowned with his daughter in hand.

BDF Shot While On Duty, OAS To Investigate
News spread like wild fire on Saturday that a BDF Staff Sergeant was shot several times allegedly by a Guatemalan poacher. While over the weekend and most of today…there was no official report of the incident despite the press pressing for answers, late this evening the Government of Belize issued a release shedding some light into the incident. According to GOB, members of the Belize Defense Force detachment who are stationed at the Valentin Camp Conservation Post area in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, were on a routine water supply and administration task at about 4:50 p.m. on Saturday when they came under fire from men armed with rifles. The encounter resulted in four gunshot injuries to the arms and abdomen of Staff Sergeant Richard Lambey, a member of the BDF patrol. The injured soldier was subsequently transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he was treated for his injuries and he remains in a stable condition.

COLA Voices Opinion On Shooting Of BDF Sergeant
While the BDF Commander, the Minister of National Security nor the Minister of Foreign Affairs has spoken about the issue, Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action, COLA is not keeping quite. Today COLA issued a release stating that Saturday’s incident involving Belize Defence Force Staff Sergeant Richard Lambey provides another impetus for aggressive internationalization of Belize’s dispute with Guatemala.COLA calls on Government to issue a timely and relevant response and goes to say in the release that this is not the time to blame the media, no time to deflect deserved criticism.COLA also called on the trade unions, civil society, the NGO’s, the Chamber of Commerce and the Maya leaders to denounce these acts of aggression by Guatemala.

Fuel Price On The Rise
If you were one of the many Belizeans who visited the pumps last week to fill your gas tank just before the Easter vacation you probably didn’t even notice that you paid more for a gallon of fuel and that’s because Government did not announce the hike that took effect on Wednesday March 23rd. Before the increase consumers paid $8.23 per gallon of regular gasoline now you will pay $8.85 per gallon that’s 62 cents more. As for Diesel…it went from $7.57 to $7.78 cents seeing an increase of 21 cents. While the price of premium remained the same, the price per gallon of kerosene reduced by a mere seven cents and now sells for $4.29. As mentioned the increase was not announced by GOB who has indicated by the end of the year they plan to collect an additional fifty million dollars in revenues from fuel taxes.

Belizean Detained In US Raid
U.S. immigration agents have arrested more than 1,000 suspects on charges including attempted murder and witness tampering, in a nationwide operation aimed at international gangs, among those detained are Belizeans, according to a report on Reuters. While most of those detained were Americans, 239 were nationals from Mexico, Spain, El Salvador, China, Jamaica, Guatemala, Honduras, Philippines, Belize and other countries. The five-week operation headed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, dubbed Project Shadowfire, targeted criminal organizations linked to drug trafficking, murder and racketeering. Of the 1,133 arrested, 915 were cross-border gang members and associates. Just over 1,000 were charged with criminal offenses and the rest face immigration charges, it said.

Governor General Travels To Antigua And Barbuda
Governor-General of Belize, His Excellency, Sir Colville Young accompanied by Lady Norma Young are scheduled to attend the Fifteenth annual Conference of Presidents and Governors-General of the Caribbean Community that will be held this year in Antigua and Barbuda under the theme “Maintaining the Relevance of the Crown in a Changing Caribbean”. The conference which will be hosted by the Governor- General of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Rodney Williams, commenced today 29th March and concludes on the 1st of April where several important issues will be discussed including presentations by Sir Christopher Geidt, the Private Secretary to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, on the topic, “The Crown and the Caribbean Realms – The Relationship”. During the absence of his Excellency, Sir Colville Young, the functions of his office will be performed by Carlos Perdomo CVO, Cabinet Secretary.

Attempt Robbery On Stadium Street, One Person Charged
A female resident of Lamanai Street in Orange Walk Town reported that on Thursday March 17th while walking home on Stadium Street she was approached by a male individual on a bicycle who demanded money from her. The victim reported to police that while she refused to give up her items a struggle ensued between herself and her assailant. With the assistance of concerned residents of the area who came out to her aid, the female individual was able to get away from her attacker who fled the scene but was later captured by police. Superintendent Selvin Tillett – Orange Walk Branch formation: “Police patrol team detained the said male person and conducted an investigation and formally arrested and charge one Jorge Jimenez resident of Orange Walk Town for the crime of attempt robbery, Jimenez was arraigned and pleaded guilty and was send to three years imprisonment.”

LOVE FM

Bullet Tree Accident Proves Fatal
The body of a San Ignacio carpenter is at the morgue awaiting a post mortem examination after he was involved in a traffic incident on the Bullet Tree Road in that municipality. Love News spoke with the Western Regional Commander, Superintendent Andrew Ramirez on the investigation. ANDREW RAMIREZ “ The other two passengers have been […]

Belizean Borland Claims 3rd; Padilla Brothers Claim Cross Country Garland
A new cross country cycling classic champion was crowned this past weekend. We have the details in the following report.

Foreign Affairs Issues Release on Shooting of BDF at Valentin
Earlier in our newscast we reported on a shooting incident involving a BDF soldier. A release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came in a short while ago and we will read it verbatim. It says quote “The Government of Belize has requested the Office of the Organization of American States (OAS) in the Adjacency […]

Senate Meets on Budget and Five Bills
Sitting of the Senate took place today with the aim of looking at the budget for the fiscal year 2016/2017. Senator for Government Business, Godwin Hulse explained the role of the Senate, today’s aims and objectives as well as the next step forward. GODWIN HULSE “After we close off the sessions and we pass the […]

Senator Lizarraga Concerned Over 2016/2017 Budget
The Senate sat in session today at the National Assembly where concerns and clarifications regarding the budget for the fiscal year 2016/2017 were aired. The session began a few minutes before ten o’clock with Eamon Courtenay being officially sworn in as a PUP Senator. Senator Macario Coy was the first to speak and he opened […]

Mechanic Dies in Traffic Incident in Peten, Guatemala
A well-known mechanic of Belmopan, Cayo District is dead following a road traffic accident that occurred about five miles outside Melchor de Mencos in Peten, Guatemala over the weekend. Lloyd Andrews was traveling with his wife, Leticia Andrews and his three children, ages five, twelve and fourteen when the incident occurred. His 14-year-old son, Jimmy […]

Orange Walk Resident Drowns in Progresso
On Easter Sunday, reports are that nine men went to Progresso in a canoe. Late that evening, while in the water, the canoe capsized. All passengers resurfaced except thirty nine year old Hermilindo Mai. His body was retrieved an hour later. Superintendent Dennis Arnold, Officer in Command at Corozal says that they do not suspect […]

Quintero to Be Arraigned Following Fight in Northern Belize
Orange Walk Police have detained 21-year-old Freddy Quintero of Trial Farm Village pending charges. Police say on Sunday night they responded to reports of a fight on Mahogany Street in Trial Farm Village. There they saw 18-year-old Luis Fernando Lopez lying in a drain bleeding from the head. He was transported to the Northern Regional […]

Two Busted with Cocaine on Ambergris Caye
22-year-old Michael Anthony Mendez has been charged with drug trafficking. On Friday, morning police responded to a fight in front of Luna Loca located on Pescador Drive in San Pedro Town. Mendez was detained and escorted to the San Pedro Town Police Station where a search was conducted on him resulting in the discovery of […]

Breaking Belize News

City man murdered on Saturday night
Belize City Police are investigating a Saturday night shooting that claimed the life of 24-year-old Alwayne Cherington who was at a friend’s house when the incident occurred. Investigations revealed that while socializing inside the friend’s house on Lopez Street at around 7:05 p.m., a […]

Teenager critical after being badly beaten
Police officers responding to reports of a fight in Trial Farm Village, Orange Walk District on Sunday night, saw the badly beaten and stabbed body of 18-year-old Luis Fernando Lopez upon their arrival at the scene. At 8:35 p.m., Lopez was discovered on Mahogany […]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Statement on the March 26th, 2016 Incident
A short while ago the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a formal statement on the incident that played out on Holy Saturday where a BDF was shot while on duty. The statement says that members of the BDF detachment stationed at the Camp Valentin conservation […]

Man hospitalized after Sunday morning stabbing
Investigation are ongoing into a pre-dawn stabbing incident that happened on Water Lane in Belize City and left Ezikel McKoy lying unconscious with multiple wounds. Around 2:50 on Sunday morning, police were called to the scene of the stabbing and were redirected to the […]

PACT awards over $1M in grants this week
The Protected Areas Conservation Trust will be awarding over one million dollars in grants to seven organizations on Thursday this week. $19,719 will be awarded to Celso Poot for “Evaluating the Central American Tapir’s Habitat Use and Movement in Central Belize: A Human Dominated […]

“Soup” Williams in Old Belize assault
Police have arrested and charged “street figure” Jason Williams, who goes by the alias “Soup”, for aggravated assault in connection with a stabbing incident that occurred at Old Belize on Easter Sunday. Inspector Alejandro Cowo, Officer in Charge of the Criminal Investigation Branch South Side said […]

HE Sir Colville Young attends conference in Antigua and Barbuda
Governor General, HE Sir Colville Young and Lady Norma Young are in Antigua and Barbuda attending the Fifteenth Conference of Presidents and Governor Generals of the Caribbean Community. The event began today March 29, and runs to April 1st under the theme: “Maintaining the Relevance of the […]

Police brutality claim by accused in Scotland Halfmoon robbery
Police last week announced the arrests of 22 year old Trevor McFoy, a evening division student of SJC Junior College, and a 17 year old high school student of Belize City in relation to an armed robbery at the River Valley Supplies Gas Station in […]

Belizeans busted in US gang sweep
U.S. immigration agents have arrested more than 1,000 suspects, including several Belizeans, on charges including attempted murder and witness tampering, in a nationwide operation aimed at international gangs, officials said on Monday. The five-week operation headed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, dubbed Project […]

Dangriga man charged for rape of female minor
A 28-year-old Dangriga resident has been charged by police for the offense of ‘unlawful sexual intercourse’ after a female minor reported that he raped her last Wednesday while she was at home with her sister and grandmother. The minor told police that a man she knows entered […]

Warm and dry conditions to prevail
Winds will be blowing to the East-Southeast at 10-20 knots and the sea state will be moderate. High temperatures today are expected around 87 degrees Fahrenheit along the coast; 94 degrees Fahrenheit inland and a comfortable 80 degrees Fahrenheit up at the exposed areas of the Mountain Pine Ridge and along the Maya Mountains in the south.

Blogs

Overnight at Cayo Frances Farm & Fly – Leeward Side of Ambergris Caye
Sunday afternoon, we headed up to “the farm”…or to the entrance Cayo Frances lagoon – a huge lagoon in the center of Ambergris Caye. And one of a handful of developed properties on that whole side of the island… Sunday was a gorgeous gorgeous day. We passed the 5 star Cayo Espanto as we looped out of the lagoon behind San Pedro town. And then, about 10 miles north passing “Secret Beach” and the pretty pinkish sand bars, we dipped into a little cut in the mangroves…a deep channel and then shallow shallow water. And back to a little peninsula where “the farm” is well on its way to being finished. A place for flyfishermen, people who like to relax, kayak, swim, sun, SUP and more… The shallow water – you can see the little cut where the channel is and how shallow the little lagoon is.

Belize – 8 things that just won’t happen here!
People travel to make memories, have experiences, grow, or relax. Regardless of where you go, things are bound to happen! but here in Belize, we can assure you that these 8 things just won’t! 1. You’ll never stay at a chain hotel, 2. You’ll never eat at a chain restaurant, 3. You’ll never get lost at an airport, 4. You’ll never get stuck in traffic, 5. You’ll never breathe cleaner air, 6. You’ll never run out of things to see, 7. You’ll never be closer to nature, 8. You’ll never want to leave.

GRAND CARIBE BELIZE’S EASTER ACTIVITIES – A HUGE SUCCESS!!
Grand Caribe Belize hosted what is becoming an annual event. Our Easter Egg Hunt Activity. With about 30 plus youngsters, including guests as well as owners’ children, the day was set to be a fun filled one. Our first activity was the Balloon Popping contest. The object of the game: the participant must run and fetch the balloon, blow it up, run over to an assigned chair and – using only the pressure from bouncing on the balloon – pop the balloon. The first one to pop three balloons would be named the winner. With little effort – 13 year old Azalea took this competition. The kids were quite adorable, as they pounced up on the slippery balloons. The kids were too eager to get it started so – we moved straight into the Easter Egg Hunt. The day before, Grand Caribe Staff with the help of our eager office practice students, Mali & Julius, prepared some 200 eggs stuffed with goodies and hid them around the property.

The Enemy of My Culture is Religion
by Julio Saqui. I am a Maya teacher in my village. One of the things I teach is about our culture and traditions. Having been in the cultural field and a cultural enthusiast for decades, I now firmly believe that RELIGION is the most destructive force on our Maya culture in my lifetime. Understand that I come from a family that valued our traditions and was proud of our culture. My grandfather taught my father, he taught me and my siblings, and we have tried to teach our children. It is a much more difficult task today than it was when I was a boy. But what does Maya culture mean? Our Tradition & Culture teaches our children Survival, Respect, Dignity, Appreciation, Love and Togetherness. Maya culture is taught to us by our parents and elders, and it takes many years to fully understand our traditions. They include our attitude to our world, our village, the rain forest, our family, our community. It is our food, our marimba music and dance, our traditional dress and our celebrations. We have traditions for birth, marriage, raising children, looking after our elders and death. We have special ceremonies that ask our God for help and thank Him when he provides it. In those celebrations we pray and worship and learn to love and respect all of the gods that make up our GOD. All of our cultural practices are designed to ensure a peaceful life, free from hunger and fear. We have a system of restorative justice, known as alcalde, which keeps our villages in order and in peace. And historically that has been the life for Maya people, but not anymore….

Strategic Planning and Sustainability
How does a group of diverse community representatives start with an agreed upon vision for future community improvement and then turn ideas into tangible results through a planning process? Once community stakeholders have created a set of objectives aligning with their vision and goals for community improvement, the community must set about designing a revised organization and structure to move forward with the development of a plan that will minimize chaos and unintended consequences. “Planning” could be defined as creating a process that allows a group of people, such as in a community, to take action that will result in an outcome that would otherwise not have come about. When thinking about planning for a community, maintaining and even increasing the assets available to people living in the future is an important operating principle. When developing a plan to improve the local area, you can see your whole community as an enterprise unto itself – one that serves its customers – all citizens – by satisfying human needs. By building your capital (e.g., natural, built, social, cultural, financial, political, and human), you are increasing your ability to satisfy human needs now and for future generations.

Business Case for Sustainability
In broad brush strokes, elements supporting the business rational for sustainability can be categorized into two basic areas: cost savings and enhanced brand reputation. Business should be especially cognizant of the savings that can be realized by operating sustainably. Reducing reliance on fossil fuels and saving energy are not only good for the environment, but those savings drop straight to the bottom line. Similarly, anything a business can do to eliminate waste and use materials more efficiently can create cost savings both in terms of purchased materials as well as avoided costs affiliated with disposal of waste. Regardless of the size or type of company you work for, material and energy savings are typically easy to quantify and monetize. These are the sustainability no brainers. There are additional benefits to be reaped when companies focus on environmental and social responsibility efforts. For example, enhanced brand reputation strengthens customer loyalty and can drive preferential purchasing behaviors. Given an equal playing field on cost and service, customers will more often choose products because of sustainability promises. Responsible companies also want to buy from responsible suppliers.

The March 27, 2016 issue of The STAR (Cayo) is online HERE

This Week's Stories:

SAN IGNACIO TAXI MAN AND WIFE ROBBED ON BULLET TREE ROAD:
Sixty-one-year-old Albino Itzab, a taxi driver of San Ignacio Town, and his wife are lucky to be alive after they were lured to the Santa Rosa area by three passengers and robbed of his vehicle and their possessions. Caoba Restaurant in San Ignacio Town when two males and a female requested service Calla Creek on Wednesday afternoon, March 16. Itzab was not the slight bit suspicious of the three Hispanic decent individuals. On the way to Calla Creek, about 500 yards from a farm in the Santa Rosa area, one of the males took out a knife and placed it at Itzab’s neck. The would be robber made it clear that he was dead serious and ordered Itzab to hand over everything he had.
Man Knocked Down And Killed In Spanish Lookout:
Police have issued a notice of intended prosecution upon Spanish Lookout resident, Felix Sandoval, 59, who knocked down and killed 89-year-old Guatemalan National, Alejandro Padillo in Spanish Lookout last week Wednesday, March 16. Police received information of a road traffic accident in Spanish Lookout at about 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Initial investigation revealed that Mr. Felix Sandoval of Duck Run address had just finished repairing his truck tire at the Esso Gas Station compound on the Center Road in Spanish Lookout and while reversing out he felt an impact at the rear end of the vehicle.
New Kitchen At Octavia Waight Center:
Octavia Waight Center for the aged now has a fully equipped new kitching thanks to a partnership with the Gobie Foundation. The center is managed by Help Age Belize and is currently home to 32 residents. The center was founded in San Ignacio Town about 25 years ago with a visit by Raleigh International. The kitchen is fully furnished with stainless steel refrigerators, two large stoves, mixers and other appliances. Donations were made by businesses in the San Ignacio/Santa Elena area such as Benny’s and Builders Hardware.
Benque Viejo Archaeological Reserve Opened:
Benque Viejo del Carmen now has a new attraction at its center, with the opening of the Benque Viejo Archaeological Reserve on Thursday of last week. Once a suburb of the nearby flourishing Xunantunich City State, which existed around 700 A.D, the just opened Maya site may have once been the home of an elite leader or warrior; that gathered significant tribute last week with the presence of Ambassadors from Mexico, Guatemala, Canada, Britain and Brazil. Master of ceremony for the opening was Dr. Allan Moore, Associate Director of the Institute of Archaeology, who welcomed all the guests and attendees. At the start of the ceremony, the National Anthem was played by the Benque Marimba Academy from the Benque House of Culture. During the ceremonies, Mayor of Benque Viejo, Hilberto Ramcharan accredited the efforts of Subrata Basu, a US Peace Corps volunteer, who had worked tirelessly for a period of three years to preserve the Maya site.
National Budget Debate Set For Tuesday And Wednesday:
The General Revenue Appropriation Bill (the national budget) will be debatede on Tuesday, March 22, and Wednesday, March 23. Prime Minister Barrow entitled his budget speech, “Stability in a Time of Change”. The budget is more conservative than those of recent years – not because Government cannot afford bold ventures but because there is too much uncertainty ahead. Questions are left to be answered such as how will the sugar industry fair in the changing market; how will the citrus and aquaculture industry rebound from disease; how will the financial sector be affected in the long term by derisking exercises; what does the future hold for the PetroCaribe Initiative and what will be the payment ordered by the court for acquisition of Belize Telemedia Limited, among others.
Ashton Edwards Drops 45 Down South, Including 10 From Downtown:
On Friday night, Belize City No Limit hosted Cayo Western Ballaz at Bird’s Isle in Belize City. The home team jumped out to an early 20 - 16 first quarter lead, which they extended to 36 - 27 by intermission. In the second half, the lead was extended to 26 points, which Belize City No Limit never relinquished, easily winning the game 85 - 61. Belize City No Limit (4-5) was led by Michael Babbles who had the game high of 24 points, to go with 6 assists, 4 steals and 3 rebounds. Jamal Augustine had the best game of his career, with 19 points and 6 rebounds, while Gregory “Chippy” Rudon scored 18 points to go with 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Keith “Superman” Acosta finished the game with 18 points and 9 rebounds.
Massive National Convention In Dangriga:
The United Democratic Party’s army marched into Dangriga Town on Sunday, March 20, and flexed its muscle with a turnout of over 5,000 supporters at an uncontested convention. The coalition that took the UDP to victory in 2008 was made up of veteran UDP warriors, patriotic Belizeans who were disgusted at the PUP’s stifling of national pride and an unprecedented youth base that wished to rescue a future that the PUP was giving away. The convention on Sunday proved that the same coalition is well oiled and growing even stronger. They assembled under the theme: “One Team, One Dream… United We Work, United We Win”. After years oin control of the country’s local and foreign affairs, there is no longer any question about the strength and staying power of the UDP coalition. Co-hosts of the event, Area Representative for Dangriga, Hope Creek and Sarawee, Hon. Frank Papa Mena, and Mayor of Dangriga Town, His Worship Francis Humphries welcomed UDP relatives from across the nation. Mena said the massive showing reaffirms what just a few months ago we confirmed when we got the results of the General Elections.
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The Star

March 30, 2016 issue of The Capital Weekly is online HERE

This Week's Stories:

NEW FISCAL YEAR BEGINS, Challenges Abound - Restraint Applied - Optimism Maintained:
This Friday, April 1, 2016, marks the start of the new fiscal year. It is when the new National Budget kicks in with its approved allocations for public spending set out in General Revenue Appropriation Bill. The new Budget Proposal was introduced in the National Assembly three weeks ago on Tuesday March 8, 2016 and debated in the House of Representatives on Tuesday and Wednesday March 22 and 23, after which the House approved it. It is expected to be ratified by the Senate on Tuesday March 29, after which it will be signed into law by the Governor General.of unprecedented regional and international challenges, against a backdrop of shrinking disposable financial resources, but thankfully on the back of a macro-framework characterized by, in the words of the Prime Minister, “an economy and public finances which stand on the rock-solid foundation of a strong currency backed up by excess reserves, robust fiscal revenues and a well-managed public debt.”
BelizeanMore Border Problems, Guatemalan Shoots BDF Soldier:
A member of the Belize Defence Force was shot on Holy Saturday, March 26, 2016 by a Guatemalan farmer near the Western border. Sergeant Richard Lambey was at a water-pond more than a Kilometre north-west of the Valentin Operation Post, when he was attacked by the Guatemalan Xatero who had a .22 rifle. There was an exchange of gunfire and Sergeant Lambey was hit a few times, including to the abdomen and hand. As many as twenty-six expended shells have been removed from the scene. Sergeant Lambey is receiving medical attention at the KHMH Hospital. As we go to press Easter Monday evening, the matter is under investigation by the Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in accordance with the usual protocol adhered to with respect to such border incidents that have the potential to escalate tensions between our two countries.
Guatemalans Grab Garland, Belmopan’s Borland First Belizean:
After 144 grueling miles of pedal-pushing, Belize’s most popular single-day sporting event, the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, came to a finish at the BTL Park in Belize City, with two visiting Guatemalan cyclists taking first and second place. The new Cross Country Champion is Alejandro Padilla Miranda, and the second place finisher is his brother Julio Padilla Miranda. Third place was taken by Joel Borland of Belmopan, the first Belizean to cross the finish-line. Fourth Place went to Brandon Cattouse; Fifth Place to Bill Elliston; Sixth Place to Scottie Weisse, Seventh Place to Nissan Arana, Eight Place to Robert Liam, Ninth Place to Henry Moreira, and Tenth Place to Ron Vasquez.
Editorial: Reflection - Renewal - Recommitment:
The Easter Holiday just past, is invariably for us a time of reflection, renewal and recommitment to the principles and ideals we strive to uphold. We trust that such is the spirit of the entire nation. The timing of the holiday this year was particularly appropriate, as it marked the end of the old fiscal year and the beginning of the new. Following some fiery, sometimes personal exchanges in the House of Representatives, our parliamentarians had the extended Easter weekend to cool off and refocus; and now the work of nation-building must resume in earnest. By all accounts, the fiscal year that commences April 1, 2016 will be exceedingly challenging as disposable public resources are shrinking and large sections of our productive and financial sectors face crippling adversities, some natural, others induced by the architects and regulators of the global economy.
Faber or Saldivar for Deputy? PM Barrow “Scrupulously Neutral”:
It’s a contest that has been looking inevitable for quite some time, but it has now been hastened by the voluntary stepping aside of Hon. Gaspar Vega as First Deputy Leader of the United Democratic Party. And, as expected, Belmopan Representative Hon. John Saldivar and Collet Representative Hon. Patrick Faber have both announced their entry into the contest to fill the position. Both gentlemen did so on Monday, March 21, the day immediately following the Party’s National Convention which was scheduled well in advance when no one anticipated the position of Deputy becoming vacant. As to the special convention to fill the post, that hasn’t yet been exactly scheduled, but all indications are it will be sometime in June.
Fireworks in the Capital, Debate on National Budget 2016-2017:
Eagerly awaited, this year’s edition of the annual debate on the national budget did live up to expectations as far as the fireworks were concerned. But how substantive and productive were the often fiery exchanges? The answer can be as subjective or objective as one wants to be. As objective as we can, let’s recap some of the highlights of the two-day debate. In accordance with tradition as spelled out in the Standing Orders of the House, the debate kicked off on Tuesday March 22 with the rebuttal by Leader of Opposition Hon. John Briceno who gave an almost point by point reply to the PM’s Budget Proposal.
CARICOM supports BELIZE, Issues Strong Statement against Guatemalan Intimidation:
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has issued a Statement expressing concern over an incident between Belizean Security Forces and Guatemalan Armed Forces, at the Sarstoon River, the Southern boundary of Belize with the Republic of Guatemala, on 12 March 2016. The full statement reads as follows: “The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) expresses its grave concern over the incident which took place at the Sarstoon River, the southern boundary of Belize with the Republic of Guatemala, between Belizean Security Forces and Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) on 12 March 2016. The GAF entered Belizean internal waters and acted in an intimidating manner towards the Belizean forces at their Forward Operating Base on Belize’s mainland at the mouth of the Sarstoon River.
National Unity on Belize-Guatemala Issue, New Bi-Partisan Efforts and Old Political Challenges:
The new efforts at resolving the age-old Belize-Guatemala Territorial Dispute has an encouraging component, which is the rekindling of national unity around a bipartisan approach to negotiations and bi-lateral talks with the Guatemalans as facilitated by the OAS and supported by our international friends. This has been enabled, to a large extent, by the level of political maturity demonstrated by the opposition’s new leadership. Shortly after being sworn in as Leader of the Opposition, Briceno met with PM Dean Barrow and expressed his party’s desire to work in unity with the Government on matters of National importance, citing the Belize-Guatemala relations as one such issue. Prime Minister Barrow has reciprocated the goodwill, keeping Briceno and his party updated on developments and including the Opposition in negotiations and bilateral talks at the highest level.
BELIZE-GUATEMALA-OAS TALKS, New Efforts At Resolving An Age-Old Dispute:
As we reported in our last edition, an encounter between elements of the Belize Defence Force and the Guatemalan Military in the Sarstoon area two Saturdays ago on March 12, had escalated border tensions between our two countries. In a press release, the Government had indicated talks were to take place in Washington on Tuesday, March 15th between the two sides under the auspices of the OAS, and that the Belize delegation headed by Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Wilfred Elrington would also include Assad Shoman as the representative of the Opposition. Following the talks, the Government hosted a press conference in Belize City on Thursday, March 17 with Foreign Minister Hon. Wilfred Elrington flanked by Ambassador Assad Shoman and Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala H.E. Alexis Rosado.
Catalyst For Change, At the Center of Economic Development, Trade and Investment:
Every ministry and department is important, as it must fulfil its unique function as an essential part of the Government which has the full responsibility to manage the nation’s affairs and look after the overall interest and wellbeing of the people and country. One of them is the Ministry of Economic Development, Petroleum, Investment, Trade and Commerce. That Ministry is led by Honourable Erwin Contreras with Honourable Tracy Panton as his Minister of State. One of two women who are newly elected to the House of Representatives, Hon. Tracy Panton is a valuable addition to the Cabinet as she brings years of experience in various sectors of economic development, having served as Director of the Belize Tourism Board (BTB), Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Tourism and CEO of BNE Trust managing proceeds from petroleum revenues for national development.
Breaking The Cycle of Poverty, Ground Breaking for Six New Schools:
More than 1,500 Students will soon be enrolled in new pre-schools & primary schools in Belmopan, Stann Creek and Toledo. In this regard, ground-breaking ceremonies were recently held to officially commence construction of the respective schools, thanks to the Government of Belize. Funding for the construction of the 6 (six) government schools is made available through grant-funds from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) under the bank’s Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF 7) Program. This means that students in the respective communities will have easier access to a better learning environment.
“THE ESSENCE OF LIFE,” Belize Celebrates World Water Day:
Often referred to as ‘the essence of life’, water is one of the most basic elements that distinguish our planet in a universe filled with millions of lifeless cosmic bodies. To highlight its importance, the United Nations has set aside a day, March 22, observed every year as International Water Day. This year, World Water Day was celebrated under the theme, “Water and Jobs”. In Belize, the day was heralded with an exhibition and Water and Jobs Summit held a week in advance on March 15th and 16th, in Belize City and Belmopan.
Making Municipalities Child-Friendly:
Much public investment has been made over the past few years in improving the physical infrastructure of our cities and towns countrywide; but most will readily agree that development is really about people, perhaps more importantly about children and young people who represent the future. The question of how child friendly are our towns and cities, particularly Belize City, was recently addressed by UNICEF’s Country Representative in Belize, Ivan Yerovi at an event in the Old Capital.
International Belizean Scientist ReturnsStrengthening Capacity against Human Trafficking, Two-Day Workshop for Caribbean held in Belize:
The International Organization for Migration (OAM) has brought together key stakeholders from five Caribbean territories at a two-day workshop in Belize in an effort to strengthen coordination to counter trafficking in persons in the Caribbean. Government representatives charged with leading their country’s counter trafficking efforts from Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago gathered in Belize City on March 16 and 17, 2016, to discuss best practices as well as to explore areas of collaboration and cooperation. “One aim of the workshop is to promote amongst the participants the use of regional cooperation and to share information, ideas and techniques,” said Rukiya Brown, project manager. IOM has been working for more than nine years with countries in the Caribbean training stakeholders, providing assistance to victims and governments, and raising public awareness through information campaigns.
International Belizean Scientist Returns:
President of the University of Belize, Alan Slusher, extended an invitation to Dr. Arlie Petters to visit with the University’s Institutional Curriculum Review Committee. The visit, held on Friday March 18, 2016 at the Jaguar Auditorium on UB’s Belmopan Campus, was intended to facilitate dialogue with Dr. Petters and the institution’s academic leaders. Their Discussions focused on strategies to increase UB’s contributions to national decision making processes through a focus on targeted research engagements by Faculty. The group also discussed the significance of STEM Education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) as a tool to build national capacities to support national development, economic growth and achieve poverty alleviation.
TRANSFORMATION & INAUGURATION, OFFICIAL OPENING OF ISIDORO BEATON STADIUM IN CITY OF BELMOPAN:
The best FIFA certified stadium with all-weather synthetic turf in the country, was inaugurated in the City of Belmopan Tuesday, March 15. The new facility is home to the Belmopan-based Bandits Football Club. Attending the opening ceremony was Area Representative and Minister of National Security Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of Works Hon. Rene Montero, Minister of Sports, Youth and Culture Hon. Elodio Aragon, and Minister of Immigration and Natural Resources Godwin Hulse, along with Belmopan Mayor Khalid Belisle. The magnificent facility was constructed under the supervision of Belize Infrastructure Limited and Pedro Lizarraga & Sons Construction Company. The opening segued into the inaugural football match, Bandits versus the professional football club Progreso from Honduras. Belmopan Bandits lucked out and the match ended 3-0 in favour of Honduras.
RibbonNational Coastguard Graduates 46 New Recruits:
Belize’s National Coast Guard brought in the Easter Holidays with its 8th Graduation Ceremonies on Holy Thursday, March 24 for a total of 46 new recruits. The recruits, both men and women, underwent rigorous training over a period of 12 weeks in order to become sailors in the National Coast Guard. Speaking with Channel 5 News at the graduation, National Coast Guard Commander Admiral John Borland stated, “By and large they get absorbed into the fleet to start doing operations in an apprenticeship role because, remember, their first year they spend as seamen apprentices to get all the practical work and on the job training that they couldn’t get in twelve weeks of basic training, which was basically for transforming them from a civilian into a military figure.”
Taiwan President’s Farewell Visit To Belize:
He first visited Belize back in 2009, one year into his presidency and the first term of the Dean Barrow Administration which both started in 2008; and President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan was back in Belize from March 16 to 17, 2016 as part as his farewell tour. Upon arrival at the Phillip Goldson International Airport, he made the following statement: “It is a great honor and privilege for me to be invited by Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize, to lead a delegation to visit Belize. This is my second visit to this beautiful country. On behalf of the government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I would like to extend our warm greetings to the government and people of Belize.

International Sources

World's Most Amazing Zip Lines
JAGUAR CAVE ZIPLINE, Belmopan, Belize. Zoom into the depths of a cave for one of the most adventurous flying experiences on the Jaguar Cave Zipline. Fodor's listed the Jaguar Cave Zipline one of the world's best ziplines. They missed Bocawina's zipline somehow... There are some amazing ziplines around the world. Jaguar Cave is in the Nohoch Che'en area, and Dark Night has a short video showing the ride. A highlight of Belize’s outdoor adventure culture, mainline cruises that port in Belize City—including Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruises—send passengers by the bus load to the Belizean rainforest course. Adventurers seek out the course for the chance to coast through ancient Mayan caves, try their balance on the rickety suspension bridges, and hover among stalactite and stalagmite formations.

Rotarians from Ellsworth, MDI deliver wheelchairs to Belize
Rotarians from clubs in Bar Harbor and Ellsworth joined a contingent from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to help disabled residents of Belize. Earlier this month, the Rotarians traveled to Belize to deliver 126 wheelchairs and help fit them to their new owners. The wheelchairs were purchased from the Canadian Wheelchair Foundation. The project was the work of multiple Rotary clubs from four distinct geographical Rotary districts. Nine Rotary clubs in Belize helped locate and distribute the wheelchairs to those who needed them. “This is a good thing that Rotary makes possible for us to do, not just our club but our district,” said Shaun Farrar, the Bar Harbor club’s incoming president. Following on the heels of a successful wheelchair distribution in Panama in 2015, the clubs applied for a Rotary International district grant to help support the effort for Belize.

U.S. Supreme Court Asks Solicitor General to Weigh in on Belize's Petition for Certiorari
On Monday, March 28, the Supreme Court of the United States called for the views of the Solicitor General regarding the Government of Belize’s petition for a writ of certiorari from a decision by the D.C. Circuit. Belize’s petition asks the Court to resolve a circuit split between the D.C. and Second Circuits regarding the vitality of the forum non conveniens doctrine, and provide much needed guidance as to the proper balancing of public policy interests, when U.S. courts are asked to enforce foreign arbitration awards. "We are pleased that the United States Supreme Court is giving careful attention to these important issues," noted Juan C. Basombrio of Dorsey & Whitney LLP, counsel to Belize. This case involves the enforceability of an arbitration award in U.S. courts that is similar to one which the Caribbean Court of Justice, the highest court in Belize, recently held to be unenforceable, because to do otherwise would disregard Belize’s “core constitutional values” and “attack the foundations upon which the rule of law and democracy are constructed throughout the Caribbean.”

2016 Women of Courage Award Winners
Debra Baptist-Estrada, Belize: Estrada has fought corruption from within the Belize Department of Immigration for the past 20 years. From her position as port commander of the country’s only airport, Estrada helped U.S. officials break up a large drug and human smuggling ring last spring. Estrada was transferred to Belize’s northern border this summer, where she has repeatedly turned down bribes and unflinchingly upheld immigration laws.

US honors ‘International Women of Courage’
The United States issued awards Tuesday to 14 lawyers, activists, humanitarians and reformers said to represent "International Women of Courage." "Fourteen leaders, fourteen role models, fourteen women of courage, one crystal clear message," said Secretary of State John Kerry. "Don't accept the unacceptable or wait for someone else to step up. Act in the name of justice. Act in the name of tolerance. Act on behalf of truth." All but one of the honorees were able to attend the ceremony in Washington, an annual event that began in 2007 to encourage women's empowerment.

The Best Vacation Depending On Your Relationship Status
Ah, relationships (or, depending on where you are in life, the lack thereof). They can be amazing - or amazingly complex. Now throw in a dash of wanderlust and what do you get? Likely confusion about where to go, how long to spend away and what to expect. Whether you’re single and ready to mingle, newly coupled, not even sure if you’re in a couple (uh, it’s complicated), or been married or partnered for years, it can be tricky to find a destination that matches where you are in life (and love). Here are Cheapflights.com‘s travel picks for every level of love. You’re together, now you’re not. You’re dating, now you’re not sure what’s going on or where you stand. Cue the confusion. A trip during an “it’s complicated” phase of a relationship, or just when you aren’t really sure how committed the two of you are can be risky. However, it’s not out of the question and could, potentially, bring you closer together. Think fun, easy-breezy and eclectic to keep things interesting yet relaxed. A good option, which has both beach and eco-adventure activities, is Belize. It’s not too far and it has enough to keep both of you busy should things get, uh, even more complicated while you’re there.

Caribbean Investment Summit 2016- Miami
The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in collaboration with the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA) will host the 3rd staging of the Caribbean Investment Summit on May, 13, 2016 at the Marriott Hotel, Miami, USA. The event will be funded and co-organised by the Inter-American Development Bank as a part of a Regional Public Goods Initiative entitled: Support to Foreign Direct Investment in the Caribbean. Produced with support from Financial Times’ fDi Magazine, the Caribbean Investment Summit offers a unique window for investors to the region’s diverse opportunities available to them, and aims to attract a wealth of potential investors interested in the dynamic Caribbean brand.

IMF concludes consultation with Belize
The executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded the Article IV Consultation with Belize. Real GDP growth reached 3.6 percent in 2014, up from 1.5 percent in 2013 and well above the five-year average of 2.9 percent. A rebound in agriculture, strong performances in tourism, electricity, construction and services offset the significant decline in oil-related activities. The fall in international oil and food prices pushed headline inflation (y/y) to -0.2 percent as of December 2014. The executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded the Article IV Consultation with Belize. Real GDP growth reached 3.6 percent in 2014, up from 1.5 percent in 2013 and well above the five-year average of 2.9 percent. A rebound in agriculture, strong performances in tourism, electricity, construction and services offset the significant decline in oil-related activities. The fall in international oil and food prices pushed headline inflation (y/y) to -0.2 percent as of December 2014.

IMF Executive Board Concludes 2015 Article IV Consultation with Belize
On September 16, 2015, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV Consultation1 with Belize. Real GDP growth reached 3.6 percent in 2014, up from 1.5 percent in 2013 and well above the five-year average of 2.9 percent. A rebound in agriculture, strong performances in tourism, electricity, construction and services offset the significant decline in oil-related activities. The fall in international oil and food prices pushed headline inflation (y/y) to -0.2 percent as of December 2014. Despite strong tourism receipts, falling exports and relatively strong imports widened the external current account deficit to 7.6 percent of GDP in 2014, up from 4.4 percent of GDP in 2013. PetroCaribe and other official disbursements continued to finance the current account deficit and help build international reserves (equivalent to 5 months of imports at end-December 2014). The fiscal stance deteriorated significantly in FY 2014/15 (April–March). The primary fiscal balance recorded a deficit of 1.5 percent of GDP, down from a revised deficit of 0.2 percent of GDP in FY 2013/14 and well below the surplus of 1 percent of GDP envisaged in the FY 2014/15 budget. Revenue collection remained in line with budget targets. Spending continued to grow well above budget targets. Financing of the fiscal deficit essentially came from a drawdown of PetroCaribe deposits and official external loans. Relatively strong GDP growth helped maintain public debt around 76 percent of GDP.

Videos

Jaguar Cave Zipline, 1/2min. Check out the only zipline in the world that takes through a cave!!!

Snorkeling in Belize 2016 - Part 1, 3.5min. Snorkeling off the Reef in Belize about 4 miles east of Coco Plum Island Resort (11 miles south-east of Dangriga)

Belize Trip Day 3, 5min. So I hope you all have been enjoying these vlogs and enjoyed the zip lining part in this one. And I will see you all tomorrow with day 4

Trippin to Belize. On a Cruise ship!, 8.5min.

Shark Ray Alley, Ambergris Caye, Belize, 2.5min.

Snuba Diving, Mexico Rocks, Belize., 2.5min.

March 29, 2016

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Editorial: The more things change, the more they stay the same
While celebrating the recent 25th anniversary of The San Pedro Sun, one nice person thought we would enjoy reading an old copy of the Coconut Wireless. The Wireless was printed in San Pedro from 1981 through 1990 and the copy we thoroughly enjoyed was dated February 7, 1989; a full 27 years ago! This particular issue featured a less than appealing front page, with headlines ranging from a tourist dying in a diving accident, a speeding vehicle flipping and crashing, a rape and a burglary. We are thankful that rarely does our front page read so grim, but it was surprising that even way back then, San Pedro was evolving from a sleepy fishing village to a community facing growing pains. We couldn’t help but think; the more things change, the more they stay the same. Ironically, the most profound example of this has to be a feature from the Wireless titled From the Mayor’s Desk. The Mayor at the, Pedro Salazar, commented on the town council’s recent regulation of closing the front street on weekend evenings, stating that although the regulation “…causes slight inconvenience for the taxis and other vehicles, it does, on the other hand, allow everyone, especially our children and tourists to feel safe on the streets. It’s a sense of liberty – the sort of environment that one expects to find on an island or tropical vacation resort. Surely there will be some inconvenience caused, but the pleasure and satisfaction of the majority has been kept in mind.” The Mayor also mentions another regulation under consideration; controlling the number and type of vehicles brought to the town.

Letter to the Editor: Rapid, uncontrolled and perhaps unregulated traffic woes
Dear Editor, It is it with deep concern that we from the People’s United Party (Belize Rural South) write to our local news media with regards to the rapid, uncontrolled and perhaps unregulated traffic woes that are affecting our town in the most negative manner. For proof, please find attached two videos that were taken this weekend in the Boca del Rio area that shows the importation of brand new golf carts presumably for rental. All this, at a time where traffic congestion is at an all time high, importations even higher, solutions and moratoriums at an all time low and the constant promise of less vehicle permits: a false reassurance to our community. There are many questions to be asked directly to the Mayor and his councillors. How many more golf carts are yet to come in to the island? Are these the result of campaign promises? Who approves these permits, the mayor himself or a traffic committee? Is there an active traffic committee or have they too been overrun? If there is a traffic committee then who are they? The public deserves to know. Why isn’t the list of approvals published in the local papers as was done in the past? These are only some of the many questions that the residents of San Pedro deserve to know.

Raising awareness for children living with disabilities
March 21st marked “World Down Syndrome Day”, and Sarah Freudenberg, special needs teacher at Ambergris Caye Elementary School (ACES), challenges the community to see past visible disabilities and learning impairments of special needs children and embrace humility. April is observed as Autism Awareness month, and ACES never misses a chance to raise awareness regarding those living with disabilities. On April 17th, ACES will be hosting their second annual autism awareness 5k. Along with volunteers, ACES will focus on awareness, promoting acceptance and bringing the conversation about Autism. Sarah hopes to enlighten people, especially those who are prejudiced towards people born with disabilities. At the moment, Sarah is working alongside other primary school teachers promoting the method of inclusion—where children with special needs are in the same classroom as children their age. Furthermore, all teachers are currently taking an online class about special education from an accredited American university. “Having a special education classroom really helps all of the students at ACES. It teaching the children to accept people with disabilities. ACES staff is like a family; all of the teachers and administration work together so well,” said Sarah.

Plan proposed to light up our beach
The San Pedro Police Department (SPPD), along with the San Pedro Town Council and other stakeholders are in the beginning stage of negotiating a much-needed addition to La Isla Bonita’s beaches. The plan proposes installing solar lights along our shores, providing adequate lighting for all pedestrians. Officers from the Coastal Executive Unit, Sandra Bowden and Henry Jemmott, will embark on this plan as an additional safety protocol/strategy to prevent crimes and accidents. “These lights will be placed around the beach where we have registered crimes in the past. The purpose of the lights is not only for tourists’ safety, but that of residents in general. If we can improve the lighting conditions in certain areas on the island, then those areas can become safer for everyone—ensuring that law enforcement can focus elsewhere. A simple light can deter a criminal, just as the presence of an officer can deter a crime,” said Bowden.

Ambergris Today

Flashbacks - The Original Sands Hotel
It is not among the first hotels but certainly among the early hotels on Ambergris Caye. Sands Hotel was built by the owner himself, George Parham, a member of the very influential family, the Parham's. The Parham's were major land owners of Ambergris Caye along with the Alamillas and the Blakes. George Parham (R.I.P. ) a born San Sanpedrano, had been living in the United States and in the 1970's returned home to retire and become involved in the a tourism industry, thus the building of Sands Hotel right in the heart of San Pedro Town. George lived the rest of his life in San Pedro enjoying his home and hotel, being active in politics, social events, and community affairs until his passing. Sands Hotel is now under the management of his granddaughter as Hostel La Vista, offering backpackers comfortable and economical accommodation in La Isla Bonita.

25 Years Ago - Singing and Feeding Program at Elementary School
In the good old days of our beautiful little fishing village of San Pedro there was a school class period (or ‘subject’) called "singing". Also in the GOOD OLE DAYS, and I mean in the really good old days, there was a feeding program in our elementary school. Here is how it went. Singing in Class: Every Thursday afternoon during the last period at the San Pedro Roman Catholic School, students enjoyed Singing Period. The teacher would write the lyrics of a song on the blackboard and the students copied it in their song exercise books. The teacher then proceeded to teach the new song and the students gradually pitched in as they became familiar with it. Once it was mastered (this took two or three weeks), the students then sang it in unison, at times in two voices to learn harmony.

AIDS Commission Commences New Mural at San Pedro High
As part of its educational campaign program, the San Pedro AIDS Commission is once again undertaking the task of painting a second mural, this time on the more visible wall of the San Pedro High School compound. The Commission has received approval from the school and works has commenced on the positive images and messages that will be painted along the wall. “We have selected attractive images about HIV/AIDS Awareness that will be painted on the fence as a constant reminder to the students to get educated and make the right choice,” commented SP AIDS Commission President, Felix Ayuso. The money collected from the group’s Carnaval Comparsa will be used to fund the mural that is being painted by local artist Pablito Guerrero.

3rd Annual Caye Caulker Kayak Island Challenge – Post Race Report
The most contested category was the Men's Single. There were five participants and first place in this category and second overall was Steven Arnold; he won $800 and trophy. Second place and third overall was Jerry Rhaburn, he received $400 and trophy. Third place and fourth overall was Kenrick Daniels, he received $200 and a trophy. The other two participants that did not finish the challenge were Brandon Lind and Sean Arnold, great effort guys!

Misc Belizean Sources

Kite Sailing from San Pedro To Placencia, Belize
Martin John, Mark Worthington & 8 others friends will be Kite Sailing from San Pedro To Placencia, Belize Beautiful Coast, from the Barrier Reef to Maya Mountains, covering 100 miles for Justice. Join Us. In memory of Jeffrey Eiley, on April 2nd 2016. Jeffrey Eiley was passionate of our National Resources especially our Barrier Reef. KITE to POINT INSPIRED BY JEFF POWERED BY WIND. We will be leaving San Pedro at 6am. More info to follow. Have a Happy Easter.

3rd Annual Caye Caulker Kayak Island Challenge – Post Race Report
The Third Annual Caye Caulker Kayak Island Challenge got on the way at 11 am on Holy Saturday, March 26, 2016. The Kayak Island Challenge is an open kayak race around the island. Seven brave kayakers which included one woman, participated in three categories – Men's Single, Women's Single, and Rudder. Chris Guydis, paddling for Paddle Stop, the only entrant in the Rudder Category used a surfski sit on top racing kayak completed the race a distance of about twelve miles in about two hours. He was overall winner and opened a gap of about 21 minutes on the second place overall winner. Although no official time was taken, this was the best estimate looking at our watches. The surfski will most likely be the racing kayak of choice in the near future here in Belize. Chris picked up a $300 cash prize with a trophy and won all station prizes along the way.

Emergency First Response Instructor Course: Caye Caulker
With tour guide renewal coming up in a few months, why not take a little refresher course at reasonable rate, or if it's your first time, why not learn to assist people and gain the confidence you need with the right knowledge. It's a great skill set for not just guides but even hotel or restaurant staff, especially during crazy party seasons like easter.Contact me via fb to set up a session, reservations must be made 3 weeks in advance. Please note, I won't just sign you off for a small fee, either take the refresher course if you want to update your card or find someone else. $70.00 bz

Fabrication! by Abdul Marin Nunez
Allah forbids oppression Some Muslims understand not this prescription Flogging for alcohol consumptions Stoning to death for adultery and fornication The Ulamah are wrong Turning their faces to Washington Allowing enemies of Islam To defame the prophet Muhammad Allah abrogation Is not a part time position When Allah made the Muslim Change their praying direction From the Khaba to Jerusalem He separated the Jews from the Muslim And created and new Ummah for them Back then the Muslims were turning their backs to the Kabah When Allah abrogated the Ayah Then instructed Muslims to turn to Mecca

The Reporter

Man dies in traffic accident
A traffic accident early Easter Sunday morning claimed a man’s life and left two more injured. The accident occurred at around 2:00 a.m., on the Bullet Tree road. San Ignacio Police were summoned to the scene and saw a red Nissan Frontier double cab pick-up truck on the left hand side of the road, with extensive damages to its front portion. Police also found three male persons on the scene with injuries. Initial investigation reveals that Juan Alvarado, 43, a carpenter of Hillview area, Santa Elena town, was driving the vehicle with passengers, John Xol, 24, a mechanic of Bishop Martin Street, Santa Elena town and Byron Barcena. The group was heading from Bullet Tree village heading towards San Ignacio Town when Alvarado lost control of the vehicle, ran off the road and overturned. Alvarado was taken to the San Ignacio community hospital bleeding from his ears. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

Breaking Belize News

Traffic accident claims one life on Bullet Tree Road
San Ignacio police are currently investigating a traffic accident that has claimed the life of 43-year-old Juan Alvarado, a Belizean carpenter of the Hillview Area in Santa Elena Town, Cayo. Officials in that municipality reported that on March 28th, at around 2:10 am, officers responded to information of an accident on the Bullet Tree Road. Upon arrival, police officers observed a red Nissan Frontier with extensive damage. Initial investigations have revealed that Alvarado was driving the vehicle in direction of San Ignacio Town when he lost control of the vehicle causing it to run off road and flip, landing on its wheel.

National debt expected to reach $3 billion by 2017
Belize’s national debt at the end of 2014 was in the range between $2.2 and $2.3 billion; now Belize’s debt is estimated to be over $2.35 billion and by next year that figure will be upward of $2.8 billion. By 2017, the national debt is projected to reach $3.03 billion! That is a staggering rate of debt growth and is indicative of the unprecedented level of borrowing the government has undertaken in recent years. And while it is generally accepted that every country must undertake a certain level of debt to finance various aspects of development, it is expected that whatever development is financed by such debt would benefit the country by creating economic advancement. But in Belize, where there is a real deficiency in transparency and accountability as it relates to the management of public funds there is enough cause to worry whether or not the growing national debt is actually benefiting the country.

Blogs

Lubaantun Mayan Ruins of Belize
Lubaantun’s 11 large, towering structures–plus five plazas and three ball courts–are marvels that have no equal, according to Belize’s Institute of Archaeology and archaeologists who oversaw excavation of this landmark. There are no doorways to be seen, and building corners are round rather than square. You’ll have to imagine thatch and wood structures that once topped these buildings because they’re gone now. Green moss peeks out from every crevice, reminding visitors that Lubaantun thrived during the Classic Period (730 to 890 AD) but remains nothing more than an echo of the past today. Despite its high elevation—200 feet above sea level—you might think this attraction easy to find, but in fact, rainforest obscures Lubaantun until one gets close. It’s situated above the Columbia River and about 1.5 miles from San Pedro Columbia Village in the Toledo District. Some speculate that Lubaantun once served as a military overlook due to its lofty elevation. If you’re starting from Punta Gorda Town in the Toledo District, travel about 26 miles to San Pedro Columbia Village and you’ll be less than two miles from the entrance. Park in the lot and follow the trail for approximately 70 yards–all downhill–to reach the visitors center.

International Sources

How Our Favorite Fish Could Recover in a Decade
Here's how the world's depleted fish populations could be turned around. After decades of declines, most of the world's fish populations could recover in just ten years, while fishermen make more money at the same time, scientists reported in a new study published Monday. The solution is for more countries to adopt systems for sharing rights to harvesting fish, which have been effective in a handful of countries, including the U.S. and Belize. "I've spent my career working on fisheries issues and I did not expect such a dramatic finding," says Amanda Leland, a co-author of the study in the journal the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Leland, a fisheries scientist with the Environmental Defense Fund, worked on the study with scientists from the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of Washington. The team ran computer simulations on a massive database of 4,713 fisheries, representing about 78 percent of worldwide fishing activity. By 2050, global fish populations could double if all countries switched to the best management practices. The percentage of fisheries that are considered biologically healthy would grow from around 47 percent today to 77 percent in 10 years.

Il Belize di Norwegian e Harvest Caye
Norwegian Cruise Line e impegnata nello sviluppo di Harvest Caye, in Belize, la sua nuova ed esclusiva destinazione dei Caraibi occidentali, per offrire agli ospiti un ambiente che rispecchi il paese in modo autentico e consenta di accedere alle meraviglie del Belize meridionale. Il resort offrira strutture, servizi di lusso e attivita eco-turistiche. Questo scalo in stile resort, che accogliera i primi ospiti nel novembre 2016, sara l'unico porto del Belize ad essere dotato di un molo per navi da crociera. Oltre alle meraviglie e alle bellezze naturali del Belize, Harvest Caye offrira tutto cio che i viaggiatori cercano in una destinazione tropicale: una spiaggia di circa 30mila m2, sport acquatici, escursioni a terra alla scoperta delle rovine Maya, tour nella natura e molto altro. Gli ospiti che privilegiano la privacy, potranno affittare una delle 11 lussuose ville sulla spiaggia: ognuna puo ospitare fino a 10 persone ed e dotata di tutti i comfort, dall’ aria condizionata, a lounge e sale da pranzo riservate, docce interne ed esterne, amache e opzioni esclusive per cene e servizio bar, con concierge dedicato.

Belize Tourists in Quintana Roo
Over the course of the past week, between 30,000 and 35,000 Belizeans have crossed into Quintana Roo. Most say they are coming on holiday, but many are coming to purchase groceries and household goods. The exchange rate is bringing on a holiday air all its own and, in many cases, the savings are completely paying for a very nice vacation. The sheer numbers of Belizean tourists has served to add quite a few new jobs in the tourism sector in Quintana Roo and it is expected that these “almost local” tourists will be back soon.

LAND OF WILD MEN AND TAME DEVILS
Here's a fun read ... a 1972 travel article in Sports Illustrated about Belize. Remember the days...
If you want to go where nobody goes, try Belize. Fish and game abound, and duendes might carry you off and teach you the guitar A puzzled look came over the travel agent's face, and he asked me if I would please repeat. "Certainly," I said. "My wife and I are looking for a place where nobody goes and we can catch a little sun and a few fish and it doesn't take forever to get there—and nobody goes there!" "Yes," the travel agent said, "I see. Hmmmmm. That shouldn't be too hard. Hmmmmmmm. Let me see. Ah, ha! I've got it! Alabama!" "We've been to Alabama." "Well, then," the agent said, pulling out a map. "Let's try something dramatic. How about Oaxaca? No? San Jose? Oh, I see. Grenada? You've been there, too? Let's see.... How about British Honduras?" "How about where?" "British Honduras, also known as Belize. Look here at the map. It's that little spot just south of Mexico. Just east of Guatemala. On the western edge of the Caribbean."

Longest Coral Bleaching Event on Record Continues to Hammer Reefs
Even as the El Niño of 2015-16 winds down, coral reefs remain threatened by the longest episode of global-scale bleaching on record. NOAA announced in October 2015 that the third global bleaching event had begun, with reefs from the Florida Keys to Fiji suffering widespread damage over the past year. In February, NOAA scientists announced that the bleaching event was the longest on record. The event is a result of widespread ocean warming related to long-term climate change as well as regional warmings triggered by El Niño, which began in early 2015. The prolonged nature of the bleaching event is especially worrisome because it allows for multiple years of damage during seasonal peaks in upper-ocean temperature, giving the reefs less time to recover. “We may be looking at a 2- to 2½-year-long event,” said Mark Eakin, coordinator of NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch program. “Some areas have already seen bleaching two years in a row.” In its 2015 annual summary of conditions across U.S. coral reefs, issued on March 7, 2016, NOAA projected that the global bleaching event will likely extend into 2017. Since 2014, the report noted, 100% of all U.S. coral reef areas have experienced at least some level of thermal stress associated with unusually warm waters, with 41% experiencing Alert Level 2 thermal stress (typically associated with widespread bleaching and mortality). Record-breaking events occurred in 2015 near Hawaii, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Florida. Reefs near Hawaii were hard hit by bleaching in both 2014 and 2015.

Videos

Spring Break: Caye Caulker, Belize, 8.5min. A collaboration of go pro footage from our spring break trip to Belize. No fish were harmed in the making of this film and all were released safely. Tight lines!

The Beer Diaries World Tour: Belize - Belikin, 28min. The Beer Diaries is proud to present The Beer Diaries World Tour: Belize, a series dedicated to using beer as an introduction to history, culture and the geo-political state of countries around the world. In this episode, we travel with host Mike Mann and his team back to the mainland, exploring the reputation of Belikin Beer and its iron-fisted business tactics that pushed Charger Beer, a Matus Brothers Brewery, out of the Belize beer market. In addition, Mike speaks with Shelly Bowen-Stonesifer, Head of Marketing for Bowen and Bowen/Belikin, about renewing a relationship with the people of Belize, in search of their continued loyalty to the brand. Ultimately, Mike chats with the first Belizean Brewmaster, Nolan Michael, about enhancing the brand and job force in the country of Belize.

Cayos de Belize 2016_ Cayo Hunting, 4min. Excursion left at 6am from Puerto Barrios, Guatemala. It takes almost two hours by boat to reach Hunting Cay. It is amazing.

Vacation in Belize 2016, 5min. My parents vacation in Belize, all filmed with a GoPro Hero3+

Belize 2016, 7min.

Spelunking Belize, 4min. Barton Creek Archeological Site, May 10 2015.

Belize, Hopkins 2016, 3min. Moto rental in Hopkins Belize up to Mayan Centre down through Sittee River Road.

Belize Garifuna Drummers2 2016, 6.5min. Belize Literacy Alive 2016.

Diving at Long Caye, Belize, 2min. Underwater life taken at Long Caye, Belize. Using a GoPro Her4 Silver plus red filter.

Belize Snorkeling Hol Chan 3 20 16 new, 3.5min.

Belize Snorkeling Shark Ray Alley 3 20 16, 6min.

Belize Trip Day 2, 9min.

March 28, 2016

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Letter to the Editor: Traffic Solutions
Solutions to help San Pedro’s Traffic problem. Everyone who owns a vehicle should keep that vehicle in the best working condition possible, both for safety and reliability. 1 – All motorized vehicles must be licensed and insured (This includes heavy equipment) 2 – Everyone driving on the roads must abide by the laws set out in the Road Traffic act of Belize. 3 – Drivers should be more considerate of other road users, not drive like they own the road. 4 – Aggressive driving should not be tolerated. If the people of San Pedro are serious about helping reduce the complaints about our traffic, they are the ones that have to change; one only has to stand on the side of any street and watch how people are driving. The way people drive here would not be tolerated anywhere else in Belize, they drive too fast and have no consideration for anyone else including pedestrians; it is only by chance that someone has not been killed. You can see the arrogance of some drivers as they bully their way through traffic, overtaking dangerously just to get one vehicle ahead. The island is small no one has miles to travel to get to work or school, so why do they feel it is necessary to drive so aggressively and dangerously to go just a short distance. I have driven in many countries as a professional driver and have never seen driving as bad as the drivers here on San Pedro.

Wolfe’s Woofer: An Old Man’s Prayer
“How are you doing today?” I asked Charlie, when he arrived. “Don’t ask,” he replied. “It’s been one of those days so far and it’s barely lunchtime. There’s no telling how bad it can get before the day is over.” We had met up at Bella Italia Restaurant for our weekly meeting. This is the meeting where we solve the world’s problems and bitch about everything. “Hello, Mr. Charles,” Ali said. “The usual? Two beers and a glass of ice?” “Thank you, sir,” Charlie said, when he brought his beer. “The world already looks a little better. If I have six of these I’ll be like that song where it says, “I think to myself, what a wonderful world.”

Police Report
Found Drugs: On Friday, March 18th at around 8:29PM, San Pedro Quick Response Team personnel’s conducted a search in an empty lot located in the Boca Del Rio Area, San Pedro Town, which led to a black plastic bag in a garbage pile containing green leafy vegetable substance suspected to be Cannabis, amounting to 70.4 grams. The suspected drug was transported to the San Pedro Police station where it was labelled and deposited as found property.
Found Firearm: On Monday, March 21st the San Pedro Police responded to a report of a fight in the Boca Del Rio Park Area. Upon arriving at location two young men, one of Creole descent and one of Hispanic descent, who were involved in said fight, ran over the Boca Del Rio Bridge and managed to escape police apprehension. Upon searching the immediate area where one of the male persons were last seen with what appeared to be a firearm, police discovered a chrome 380 pistol with black handle, Walther Brand, serial number unknown, with a magazine containing three 380 Auto rounds. The firearm and ammunition was taken to the station and was labelled found property.
Drug Trafficking: On Tuesday, March 22nd around 6:15PM acting on information received San Pedro QRT Personnel’s conducted search on 24-year-old Jovanie, Belizean Construction Worker of Bayside Area, San Pedro Town who was carrying a red gift bag in his hand leaving the Tropic Air Cargo Section which is located on Sea Star Street, San Pedro Town. Search conducted inside the red gift bag led to the discovery of a transparent plastic bag containing green leafy vegetable like substance suspected to be Cannabis, amounting to 61.2 grams. He was formally arrested and charged for Drugs Trafficking.

Doctor Love: The In-law and Apalled
Dear Doctor Love, I have been married for less than two years. Every year at Easter my mother-in-law gather’s her family together and they have Easter dinner like other families do at Christmas and Thanksgiving. We live a long way from my mother-in-law. All of my husband’s three brothers and his sister live in Punta Gorda. For them it is only a short drive or even a walk to their mom’s house. We live in San Pedro and for us it is a sacrifice to go and it costs a lot of money. We have to catch a boat to Belize and then a bus to PG while traveling with a one year-old child. We have to stay there overnight and make the trip back the next day. My husband’s mom and her children are very nice people and I do not want to hurt their feelings. It’s too late for this Easter but what can I do for next year and the future? /s/ The In-law

Misc Belizean Sources

10th annual San Pedro Lobster Festival
The 10th annual San Pedro Lobster Festival kicking off on Wednesday, June 15th, 2016! Voted #1 Festival in Belize! The San Pedro Lobster Festival is an annual event that celebrates the reopening of lobster season in Belize. The first festival was held in 2007 with a week of nightly events leading up to one epic block party. Over the past 10 years the festival has evolved into a 10 day festival filled with over 20 great activities and incredible lobster themed foods! Mark your calendars now to join us for this year’s festival! The activities kick off on June 15th with the opening party. There will be daytime and night time events leading up to the Lobster Fest Central Park Block Party on Saturday, June 25th, featuring the musical talents of the Pannerifix Steel Band!

Dog needs home, Caye Caulker
It is with a heavy heart that I must ask for urgent help. Bwian, the dog we rescued a few weeks ago needs a good home within the next 2-3 days. I unfortunately cannot keep him and due to prior commitments have run out of time. Bwian, we believe, is just over a year old and was neutered last week. He's an adorable dog and needs someone to adopt and love him. Please find it in your heart to take him or ask around if anyone you know would like him. Please contact myself, my sister or the humane society.

Holy Saturday Cross Country 2016
Kenny Lamb got some great pictures while the cyclists were in Cayo. "Men's cycling race in Belize of a 140 miles. Starts in the Old Capital to San Ignacio and return, its the 88th edition."

BELIZE FISHING REPORT: Weeks of March 20th – March 26th, 2016
Another great permit week with with tarpon fishing coming on during the full moon ( which is against conventional wisdom). Matt started his stay out with an over the top day with a grand slam on Saturday, despite 20 mph easterly windy Mr. Matt inspired the crowd with his first grand slam ever! Tom had a soft slam! (A permit tarpon and bonefish all in one trip)

The Reporter

BDF sergeant shot by Guatemalans in Chiquibul
A Belize Defense Force (BDF) sergeant is currently receiving medical attention at the Western Regional Hospital (WRH) after he was shot during a confrontation with Guatemalan intruders in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. The incident, this newspaper understands, occurred on Holy Saturday afternoon while Sergeant Richard Lambey was on patrol in the Caracol area, a “hotspot” known for frequent incursions by Guatemalans. Sergeant Lambey was shot during a crossfire with a group of Guatemalans and required air transportation out of the reserve. The matter is currently under investigation at the Ministry of Mational Security and the Foreign Affairs levels.

Breaking Belize News

Easter weekend violent in Belize City: two shootings, stabbing reported; one fatality
Two separate incidents of violence in the Old Capital have been reported up to this morning. There was a fatal shooting reported in Belize City on Saturday night. The incident took place somewhere behind the Charles Bartlett Hyde Administration Building, in the same area as a shooting reported hours earlier. Police have yet to respond to our request for information. We are also told that there was a stabbing incident on Water Lane in Belize City this morning. The victim has been identified but police have issued no statements and we will therefore withhold his name for the time being.

Do social service organizations support curfew?
We have been reporting on the Police’s efforts to keep youths out of danger and off the streets by means of a check-up program which has been referred to as a curfew. On Wednesday during his Meet and Greet tour on Fabers’ Road, reporters asked Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams about reports that not all social service organizations are supportive of the move. Williams said he knew of no such report, but expected that the matter would be resolved at a meeting to be held after the Easter break. However, Williams touted his community support for the curfew as expressed on Facebook.

The best will not come this year
The budget debate has come and gone and United Democratic Party (UDP) supporters, after wiping the brown from their noses, have hailed it as a wonder budget; while People’s United Party (PUP) supporters, with vicious snarls on their faces, have condemned it as perhaps the country’s worst yet. So what’s what? Who’s right? Because UDP sympathizers no doubt believe Belize is “stable in a time of change” and PUP supporters believe the country is going through a “recession”. So again, who’s being honest? Well, neither. Big surprise, right? The economy is indeed struggling and prospects for the future don’t seem much brighter outside of tourism, but the country isn’t yet at the point of total economic collapse, nor are we currently facing a recession.

Blogs

You are wrong, Jeffrey. Travel makes you a better person.
Let us pause for a moment and allow a wave of compassion wash over us for Jeffrey Grey. The self-defined millennial recently wrote a piece for the blog “Thought Catalog” titled, “Why Your Obsession with Travel Means You’re Living a Mediocre Life.” I’m sure we can all deduce what we need to know about Jeffrey from the title, and it is puzzling and sad, but let’s hear some more from the author: “The truth is that my generation has been completely brainwashed by bullshit #millennial propaganda. Cute little listicles featuring chic pictures of young sexy people standing on the edge of waterfalls, that tell our generation that life is only worth living if we ‘travel.’ Instagram travelers who ~perfectly~ filter every single picture they’ve taken while exploring Europe on daddy’s dime. “Do you want to know what I believe, honestly? The only people who want to travel incessantly are people who have, or want, completely mediocre lives.” I will concede one point to Jeffrey: Some globetrotters can be annoyingly shallow reporters. I’ve had enough of fascinating pictures posted to Instagram or Facebook that are entirely void of context. And I’ll say the same for selfies. Your face in the foreground does not enhance your pictures of the Bujang Valley temple ruins or the Baatara Gorge waterfalls.

International Sources

Heidelberg students study biology in Belize
For their spring break in mid-March, nine Heidelberg University students accompanied Dr. Amy Berger on her Caribbean biogeography course to the Tropical Research and Education Center on Ambergris Caye, Belize. I tagged along, and I thought you might enjoy reading a few snippets from the blog they kept during the eight-day trip. “Today was our first diving day, so we practiced in the pool then walked to the dock carrying our snorkel gear, like a flock of happy chickens...Our first snorkel location was Tres Cocos, which was located just inside the breaking waves (of the barrier reef) and was pretty turbulent. The corals here were HUGE and some even reached the surface or close to it, so it was difficult to navigate. We saw blue tang, blue-headed wrasse, a stoplight parrotfish and long-spined sea urchin here.” — Sarah Miller “I held a sea biscuit! (Look it up!) Biology is so cool! The breathtaking feeling of a stingray swimming not even five feet below you is something I won’t ever forget. Or the taste of a mouthful of salt water. Gross. Oh! — and a barracuda swam about two feet from my face! Come to find out, they’re curious animals. We also saw some squid change colors in front of our eyes!” — Sarah Parker

Caribbean economies continue to face growth challenges in 2016
As Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow welcomed Caribbean Community leaders to his English-speaking Central-American nation last month, there was one topic that he couldn’t ignore. “There has been a failure of the world economy to recover properly from the shock of the financial crisis,” Barrow said, touching on an all-too-familiar concern among leaders of the 15-member regional bloc known as Caricom. “That failure, for the majority of us in Caricom, has meant slow growth, increasing difficulties with our public finances, and tremendous strains on our capacity to satisfy the life-improvement aspirations of our people.” Indeed, the decline in global economic growth from 3.4 percent in 2014 to 3.1 percent last year provided for a difficult economic year for the region’s economies, the Caribbean Development Bank said. Still tourism in the region set new arrival and spending records. Indeed, the decline in global economic growth from 3.4 percent in 2014 to 3.1 percent last year provided for a difficult economic year for the region’s economies, the Caribbean Development Bank said. Still tourism in the region set new arrival and spending records.

For Expats Living in Mexico and Central America, Safety Is Not a Big Concern
The thought of living in certain places in Mexico or Central America can be alluring: fabulous beaches, colonial cities, inexpensive, quality healthcare, a slower pace and much lower cost of living. But some people think mistakenly that it isn't safe. To determine how safe it is for expats in places like Panama, Nicaragua, Belize and Mexico, Best Places In The World to Retire asked some of its more than 500 contributors to weigh in. They said that petty crime can be a problem, although that's no different than in the U.S. They also said that more serious crime is not nearly as rampant as the media indicates, although it's important to avoid certain areas. That's also no different than in the U.S. Overall, the expats said that they felt safe in their communities.

Videos

Body & Soul, Featuring Noel Brickell and Charlie Sorrells, 8min. This video is about a trip to Body & Soul Medical Mission in Belize.

Belize 2015, 1.5min. Ran into a crab under the old Palapa Bar, Ambergris Caye. January 2015.

Ian Anderson's Caves Branch Lodge Belize, 6min. Footage from our second stay at Cave's Branch Lodge. We toured the baboon sanctuary, Belize zoo, zip line and did the cave expedition. The kids loved it and we will be back.

Belize Cross Country 2016, 2.5min.

Belize Dives, 15min.

Ambergris Caye || Belize|| 2016, 5min. This is my first travel video of my family going to Belize for spring break

You Better Belize It!, 10min. 2016 Alternative Spring Break in Belize.

Belize 2016, 11min.

Tom Owens Caye, Belize, 5min. ReefCI project during spring break of 2016.

Snorkeling In Belize, 3.5min. Day 3 of Royal Caribbean Cruise - Liberty of the Seas. 4/27/2015.

Belize 2016 Holy Saturday Cross Country Race, 2min.

Belize - Day 1, 16min.

March 27, 2016

HAPPY EASTER!

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Old World Explorer encourages boomers to go solo
Linda J. Brown, at 78 and a half years old, is not your ordinary retired senior citizen. Over the years, she has made exploration not only a hobby, but her lifestyle. One would think that traveling the entire world once is a great personal achievement, but Linda has exceeded her accomplishments by traveling the world three times. She is definitely not shy when coming out of her shell and has since motivated many people to travel. Linda’s adventures and experiences inspired her to publish her first book back in 2008 entitled “Hey Boomers, Dust off Your Backpacks” and she also created two blogs: www.heyboomers.com and www.insecretdiffusion.com. Her book rotates around the ‘baby boomers’ of America, which is the name given to the generation of Americans born after World War II. The dramatic growth of newborns became known as the baby boom. So Linda correlates her book around her generation of her peers that grew up in the sixties, where selective groups were hippies. “In the 1960’s, before hippies got married and had kids like I was doing, they were going all over the world with backpacks, discovering Blue Lagoon and Bali. And that’s what I am doing now. I am calling out to the boomers,” explained Brown.

SPTC introduces new Sports Coordinator
A well-known sports figure has joined The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) family as its new Sports Coordinator. He is no stranger to the island, much less the athletes around the country, as his sporting career has seen him representing the Jewel as far as the international stage. Kent Gabourel, or Bob as everyone knows him, is widely known for being an enthusiastic sports activist on Ambergris Caye. He is always very involved in the community, whether it is organizing sports camps for children or planning tournaments. Gabourel is familiar with various sports, and his experience in these makes him an asset to the community. His disciplines include swimming, running, football, softball, and volleyball just to mention a few. One of his greatest accomplishments was when he represented Belize at the 20th Commonwealth Games that took place in Glasglow, Scotland in July 2014. His greatest accomplishments do not end there, however, as he is a proud winner of the Belize Lion Man Triathlon three years in a row (2013-2015).

The Charikanari Garifuna Dance Group represents Belize in Mexico
Talented Belizeans continue to put our Jewel on the map beyond the country’s borders. Whether in sports or in cultural presentations, Belize is truly blessed with a wealth of talented people. Such is the case of the San Pedro Garifuna Charikanari Dance Group, who recently participated in a cultural show in nearby Mexico. Their performance was the most anticipated of the event, and they did not let us down! It is was Charikanari’s second visit to the event called “Cultural Evening of Latin America-Music, Dance, Culture,” and hosted by the Universidad Juarez Autonoma de Tabasco in the city of Tenosique in Tabasco Mexico. The event took place on Thursday, March 17th and saw dance groups from Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico performing. The Belizean dance group was accompanied by members of The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) and The San Pedro Cultural Committee. The Belizean delegation’s participation in the event was made possible through the Honorary Consul Jorge Valencia and The SPTC, along with the support of a few businesses on the island.

San Pedro AIDS Commission’s new board members set goals
A mural at the local high school aims to create awareness through education via a sensitive message on HIV/AIDS. Newly elected members of the San Pedro AIDS Commission (SPAC) seek to launch an aggressive educational campaign on the deadly virus, starting with the mural. The newly installed board members of the SPAC were elected during their general meeting held early in March. The new members for the 2016 board are: Felix Ayuso (President), David Jenkins (Vice President), Carmen Trejo Ancona (Secretary), and Nesher Acosta (Treasurer). According to President Ayuso, the mural by the San Pedro High School (SPHS) is being funded via money collected during the organization’s participation group in this year’s annual Carnaval Comparsas back in February. “As part of the educational campaign being launched, we have selected attractive images about HIV/AIDS Awarenes,” said Ayuso. “These images will be painted on the fence and serve as a constant reminder to the students about the importance of educating themselves on the disease and making the right choices.” The artist who will be painting these images will be Pablito Guerrero who has done many of the organization’s murals.

NCL announces first call to Harvest Caye set for November 2016
Even after much debate and controversy, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) still plans on opening a port at Harvest Caye. It’s been over three years since news first broke of the construction of a cruise port on Belize’s southern island of Harvest Caye, and even though local tourism stake holders and environmentalists protested its construction, NCL proceeded with the development. Now, NCL has announced that the first call to Harvest Caye will be on November 15, 2016. The announcement was made on Wednesday, March 16th during a presentation at Seatrade Cruise Global (the world’s largest cruise industry event). Both the Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Honorable Manuel Heredia Jr., and the Director of Tourism, Karen Bevans, were present for the announcement made by President and Chief Operating Officer for NCL, Andy Stuart. “Belize is one of the most ecologically and culturally rich gems in the Caribbean, and Harvest Caye will be the perfect destination for guests to experience all that the country has to offer in authentic, unique ways. There is so much to do on the island, from the spectacular seven-acre beach and watersports, to interactive wildlife programs. Beyond Harvest Caye, we will strongly encourage our guests to explore Belize through the spectacular eco-adventure and cultural tours this incredible destination has to offer visitors,” said Stuart, during the big announcement of the port opening.

Misc Belizean Sources

Western Ballaz Host Running Rebels
The Western Ballaz host the OW Running Rebels on April Fools Day. It's almost playoff time, and the Ballaz need to win this match. Go Ballaz!

JOEL BORLAND: BELIZEAN LEGENDS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPION!
It's is amazing to us here at Belizean Legends of the guts, brain, and bran that Belize Cross Country legend, Joel Borland, showed in the 2016 88th Belize Holy Saturday Cross Country Race. He is our champion here today, since Belize did not win the Cross Country. But Borland's third place is like first place for us here. He made us all proud at home and abroad for his relentless strength he endured being 'double benk' by two serious Guatemalan brothers cyclist who appeared to have come to Belize to win by all means necessary. Joel Borland was impressive to us here from this side of the world. We had hoped for a repeat of the 2015 Belize Cross Country Champion, Justin Williams win here, but it was not meant to be.

Hopkins International Paranda Music Festival 2016
A full night of paranda melodies by some of the best in the music industry!

CTV3

Traffic Accident Near Crooked Tree
A traffic accident that occurred earlier this evening on Mile 31 of the Philip Goldson Highway near the cut off of Crooked Tree Village has left one individual hospitalized. CTV3 News understands that the driver of the vehicle did not stop to render aid but instead fled the scene in a white pick-up truck traveling towards Orange Walk Town. We will have details of this story in Tuesday’s newscast.

PM Leaves For Easter Vacation
After two consecutive days of debate inside the House of Representatives in Belmopan on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the 2016-2017 budget, today Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow left the country on personal leave during the Easter holiday. He left Belize today and is scheduled to return on Tuesday March 29th. During the Prime Minister’s absence, the Hon. Gaspar Vega, Deputy Prime Minister will act as Prime Minister.

Belize Strengthens Capacity To Fight Human Trafficking
Belize along with four other Caribbean countries took part in a two-day workshop with the main purpose being to Strengthen Capacities to Fight Trafficking in Persons in the Caribbean region. The workshop which was organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) was held in Belize City on March 16 and 17 where future areas of collaboration and cooperation were discussed. A press release issued by the organizers of the workshop quoted project manager Rukiya Brown as saying that “One aim of the workshop is to promote among the participants the use of regional cooperation and to share information, ideas and techniques.”According to the release, Government representatives charged with leading their country’s counter trafficking efforts from Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago and Belize have all displayed their commitment to countering trafficking in persons in their countries which would lead to an increase in the number of cases investigated and successful prosecutions.

P.M Barrow Defends Budget 2016/2017
The 2016/2017 budget debate ended late yesterday evening with the Prime Minister of Belize’s presentation. The Right Honorable Dean Barrow’s speech only lasted for half hour but during that time he lashed out the Opposition for claiming that the unemployment rate is at an all-time high. “He talked about what the average earnings in this country are, but he offered no source or authority for the figure he gave. Likewise he said he had embarked on some sort of tax per dollar calculation for the people’s earnings, but in coming up with the number, and in telling us how he did so he used such outrageous sleight of hand that it required a scolding from the Minister of National Security who is the only true economist in this House. It was not surprising then Mr. Speaker that when it came to our Statistical Institute of Belize the leader of the Opposition cited them and their data with approval when it suited him.”

The Reporter

Man shot dead in Lake I
Reports are that a man was shot dead about half hour ago in the Lake Independence area of Belize City. While information is sketchy at this time, the Reporter understands that the shooting occurred in the Complex area. We will have details of this incident on Sunday.

Guatemalan brothers are top two Cross Country cycling race winners
Guatemalan cyclist, Alejandro Padilla, is the winner of the 88th Annual Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, which ended just before midday today in front of the BTL Park in Belize City. Padilla finished the race in 5: 51:09. The second place finisher was Padilla’s younger brother, Julio who rode in side by side with his older brother and allowed him to cross the finish line in a tenth of a second before him. The younger Padilla was the first to break away from his older brother and the only Belizean cyclist, Joel Borland, who was able to hang onto their repeated attacks. That break-away occurred near mile 10 coming in. At about mile eight, Alejandro rode left Joel Borland, who held on to that position to cross the finish line solo about two minutes later.

Breaking Belize News

One of Belize’s most fascinating characteristics is an exotic mix of cultures and peoples, but it’s anyone’s guess how the name of a Russian saint was bestowed upon St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park. St. Herman was born in Moscow in 1755 and became a legendary North American missionary, yet he never traveled further south than Kodiak, Alaska. You might want to solve the mystery yourself–before or after you visit.

St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park

St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park is more than just the place 200 species of birds and exotic cats call home. Caves, hidden amid forested land marked by nature trails used by jaguars, ocelots, tapir and armadillos when humans aren’t around, take visitors to a 180-foot-wide entrance that could easily be missed because jungle vines are everywhere. This cave was once used for Mayan ceremonies and rituals, remnants of which were left behind when the cave dwellers moved on. The blue sinkhole on premises is fed by underground streams and it’s fascinating enough on its own to draw crowds.

Why you should visit St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park

The unique geological features within this 575 acre forest plus the beauty and wildlife combine to offer visitors plenty of reasons to tour this area. But it’s the cave system that’s the big lure: walk the 200 yards into the enclave to marvel at prehistoric-looking speleothems and Mayan artifacts. What’s the Blue Hole? It’s the lush blue pool deep within the cavern that’s 100-feet deep and 300-feet in diameter. Don’t confuse this Blue Hole with the place near Lighthouse Reef atoll that’s beloved by divers. That said, what other excursion offers opportunities to see wildlife, Mayan artifacts, a cool cave and a sinkhole fed by underground rivers all in one place?

What makes this park unique?

Every notable site in Belize has its own romantic history and St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park is no exception. Created by Mother Nature when an underground limestone cave collapsed, this natural wonder is connected by a river that invites swimmers and tubers eager to navigate aspects of the cave via the waterway to jump in and have fun. First showcased as a great place to visit back in 1965, this popular destination became an official Belize National Park in 1978 after funds from the MacArthur Foundation, the Chicago-based philanthropic entity, underwrote a project that enhanced the location by helping to stem erosion.

Where is it located?

This destination is close to the nation’s capital, Belmopan, but you don’t have to be headquartered there to visit because licensed tour agents will be happy to escort you to and from this natural wonderland.

When is the best time to go?

Any time of year!

How to get here

From Belmopan, travel about 12 miles southeast along the Hummingbird Highway to the park’s entrance. Expect to hike through the jungle to reach your destinations.

Best way to experience St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park

Travel through dense forest to the entrance where a picnic area, visitor’s center and gift shop await. Because this site is so easy to wander, you won’t need a guide. Visit the cave, the Blue Hole and surrounding environment using easy-to-follow trails before using the site’s changing rooms to get ready for a refreshing swim. One cautionary note: because this site is, by its nature, a wet adventure, exercise caution when you encounter slippery steps on your journey back in time.

BDF soldier allegedly shot by Guatemalan
Word reaching Breaking Belize News is that a BDF soldier on patrol was allegedly shot this evening by a Guatemalan in the Caracol Area. Information is sketchy but BBN was made to understand that the soldier was injured during an exchange of fire against […]

Premier League of Belize weekends results
On Thursday night after the final whistle, the Verdes Fc won 3-0 against Wagiya FC. Shamir Pacheco scored a penalty and the other 2 goals were from Deon McCauley. Then in Belmopan, the visiting Placencia Assassins took 2 goals from the Belmopan Bandits Amilcar […]

BBN Player of the Week: Jamie Carbajal
Jamie Dominic Carbajal was born in San Ignacio. His friends and family call him “Kemba”. Growing up in one of the twin town, Carbajal went to Sacred Heart Primary School and then moved on to Sacred Heart High school where he started playing basketball. At […]

Belizean family reportedly in collision in Guatemala
Guatemalan authorities are reporting a traffic accident in La Maquina Village along the way to Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala. Reports are that a Belizean family of five suffered a collision where one Andres Lloyd, 68, died on the spot. The other four are reportedly […]

Guatemalan brothers take the Garland
Alejandro Padilla Miranda of the Guatemalan National Team edged out his brother Julio for first place in today’s Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic. Third went to Joel Borland of Team Digicell. A full story is coming shortly. © 2016, www.breakingbelizenews.com. This article is the copyrighted property […]

Cross Country 2016 – the story so far…
The 88th Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic kicked off under clear skies this morning with more than 80 elite riders participating, including visitors from Mexico, Guatemala, and the United States. Team Starlight, all of whose members including two women were involved in […]

The 88th Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic underway
The 88th edition of the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic is underway on the George Price Highway. Official ceremonies were held this morning at BTL park, followed by a lead-out to the traditional starting point at Mile 2 on the George Price Highway, […]

Blogs

Palapa Papas Surprise and My first Ad with Belize Tourism Board
As I write this I am sipping my big Easter chocolate treat iced coffee with Noah’s Boah’s Chocolate Syrup on top. If you have not tried it yet I highly recommend. At $12 a bottle it blows the regular chocolate syrups out of the water. Very rich flavor and simply delicious and made locally with all natural organic ingredients: sugar, water, cold pressed organic cocoa powder, vanilla and salt. A while back the BTB wrote me with news that The Belize Tourism Board has teamed up with The Reporter Newspaper to develop Toucan Talk – a full page, full color feature twice a month. These publications are geared at bringing awareness to Belizeans and encouraging them to be a #BelizeanTraveller. The ads will feature different sites, activities and festivals throughout Belize, and have some great visuals.

Fresh Organic Greens Grown on Ambergris Caye Plus a Super Fun Fact
Just recently I heard that people were getting deliveries of fresh organic lettuce and greens. The company called Ambergreens Organic Aquaponics Greenhouse was up and running. The very first of its kind on the island. I’d visited a hydroponics greenhouse on the Belize mainland over a year ago – that supplies some of the bagged lettuce and greens here in San Pedro… But I wondered: what’s the difference between hydroponics and aquaponics? Here is my very basic understanding. Fish. The fish provide the fertilizer and keeps the whole system organic. I walked over to Mahogany Bay to meet up with Markus and Melanie, the owners of the new business. When I’d heard that they were a pair from Austria, for some reason I was picturing a much older couple…

Pool Project: Week Two
This week has been exhausting for the crew, us, and the dogs. The guys were bound and determined to pour the floor for the pool seating area, finish digging out the pool area, installing the drain and release valve, plus building the pool's vertical steel basket. Let's see how they did. I am going to start with the pool seating area. At the end of last week, this is what that area looked like: Not much room there for seating with all that dirt. The crew obviously removed the piles of dirt, as well as the earth beneath it to create a level base. With that task done, they put down plastic and tied the steel grid for the floor.

International Sources

Green light stops sea turtle deaths
Illuminating fishing nets is a cost-effective means of dramatically reducing the number of sea turtles getting caught and dying unnecessarily. Illuminating fishing nets is a cost-effective means of dramatically reducing the number of sea turtles getting caught and dying unnecessarily, conservation biologists at the University of Exeter have found. Dr Jeffrey Mangel, a Darwin Initiative research fellow based in Peru, and Professor Brendan Godley, from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at the University's Penryn Campus, were part of a team of researchers who found that attaching green battery powered light-emitting diodes (LED) to gillnets used by a small-scale fishery reduced the number of green turtle deaths by 64 per cent, without reducing the intended catch of fish. The innovative study, carried out in Sechura Bay in northern Peru was supported by ProDelphinus, the UK Government's Darwin Initiative, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and published in Marine Ecology Progress Series. It is the first time that lighting technology has been trialled in a working fishery. At a cost of £1.40 ($2) for each LED light, the research showed that the cost of saving one turtle was £24 ($34) -- a sum which would be reduced if the method was rolled out at larger scale.

Videos

, 1/4min. Padilla brothers... winners of the 88th Annual DigiCell Cross Country Cycling Classic! Congratulations to the Guatemalans who won the cross country classic.

Fly Fishing bonefish Ambergris Caye Belize, 1min. Guide Wil Flack of Tres Pescados with the save.

San Pedro and Orange Walk Town, Belize, 3min.

Easter in Belize, 1min. Easter in Dangriga/Belize

Belize 2016 - What a Time to Be Alive !, 4min.

20160316 Belize cave tubing, 6min.

20160313 Belize cave tubing 2, 7.5min.

20160316 Belize cave tubing 3, 11min.

20160316 Belize ATV, 17min.

Butts Up Cave Tubing - Belize with Jimmy, 39min. This is a video of out Cave Tubing excursion we took in Belize with Butts Up Cave Tubing you can find them here http://www.cave-tubing.com/ Pieces of the description were taken from trip advisor and applied perfectly to our trip as follows: They picked us up right outside the cruise terminal. After leaving town, it took about an hour to get to the national park. Along the way Jimmy, our guide, provided useful information. - The "hike": About 30 minutes. Mostly a reasonable dirt path through the woods, a couple of points where it is a bit steep up or down a hill and 3 points where you wade across a river (under 2 feet deep at the deepest) - The water: Refreshing after the hike.

20160316 Belize zipline, 5min.

20160316 Belize zipline 2, 4min.

Belize 2016 - Wake Forest University, 4min.

WHS Belize Ziplining, River Caves, & Snorkelling, 5min.

Snorkeling and Diving in Belize - March 2016, 12.5min. Snorkeling and diving in the beautiful waters of Belize along the coral reef. Amazing colorful corals, tropical fish, sea turtles, rays, and nurse sharks.

Gladden reef Belize. Silky caye, 1min.

Paddle Me Hard in Belize., 6min. This video showcases our recent adventure in Belize. Highlights include: Belize City, Caye Caulker, snorkeling the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, exploring the Lamanai Ruins, and kayaking the mangroves of Caye Caulker with Ocean Academy.

Captain Jack throws a fish to a bird - Belize, 1min.

2016, 88th cross country cycling race in Belize, 2min.

Belize 2016, 13min. This video is about traveling to Belize in 2016 with my girlfriend and 4 year old son! It was a pretty amazing experience!

2016 Valentine's Cycling Tour - Belize, 4min.

March 26, 2016

Caye Caulker Fuels Easter Schedule

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Quarterfinals are set for Mayor’s and Minister’s Cup
Eight teams have advanced to the quarterfinals of the Mayor’s and Minister’s Cup Tournament. They are: Catrachos, Progresso Boys, Peacemakers, Ambergris Divers, Belize Pro Divers, Veterans, San Mateo, and Searious Warriors. A series of six games were played at the Honorable Louis Sylvestre Sports Complex over the weekend. With three more weeks until finals, all teams are aiming for the first place trophy. Best of luck to all teams for making it this far in the tournament.

Completion of barracks to alleviate inadequate police housing
Both Deputy Coastal Executive Officer Jemmott and Bowden indicated that some of the buildings in which officers are currently living are truly sub-standard. Despite numerous complaints about structural issues, leaky roofs, electricity and water outages, and poor plumbing, the rental contract on the subpar buildings were recently renewed at $3,600 a month. Limited space and resources are some of the biggest challenges the department faces on a daily basis on Ambergris Caye. Due to the lack of space, housing is not available to place much-needed additional officers. The San Pedro Police Department hopes that long-term changes and upgrades can be made by the Commissioner in Charge to ensure proper living spaces for the island’s officers. “The government needs to ensure that the island housing is up to standard so our police officers can live comfortably here,” ended Bowden. Upon the completion of the new barracks building, three more officers will have proper housing while serving on Ambergris Caye.

NEBL 2016 Tournament winding down
The National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) saw much excitement this past weekend. Basketball fans were not only treated to four spectacular matches, but also to the All Star Night. As for the San Pedro Tiger Sharks, they seem to be back in the game, nabbing a much needed win in their latest games. While the Tiger Sharks still remain in the fifth position on the NEBL leader board with 15 points, hopes are still high for a comeback. All four scheduled matches for the ninth week of the tournament were held on Friday, March 18th. Starting off the games were the Belize City No Limit who hosted the Cayo Western Ballaz at Bird’s Isle in Belize City. The home team jumped out to an early 20 – 16 first quarter lead, which they extended to 36 – 27 by intermission. In the second half, the lead was extended to 26 points, which Belize City No Limit never relinquished, easily winning the game 85 – 61. In the following game, Smart Belize Hurricanes traveled to the south to face their rivals, Dangriga Warriors at the Ecumenical High School. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, the Dangriga Warriors delivered a 72 – 54 blowout win at their home court. Also playing on Friday were the Orange Walk Running Rebels who hosted Belmopan Bandits at the Orange Walk Multi Purpose Complex in Orange Walk Town. Belmopan Bandits won 98 – 67.

San Pedro Library hosts Easter Camp
Easter season in Belize also means no classes for around two weeks for students countrywide. In Ambergris Caye different organizations set up learning programs in order to keep students occupied and learning new things, specially the very young ones. As a result, the San Pedro Library held a series of activities for the youngsters in an Easter camp that tested their imagination and creativity. The camp was held from Monday, March 21st to Wednesday, March 23rd targeting children between the ages of 7 to 12. During the three days of camp from 9AM to noon, different activities kept the children well entertained. They watched educational films, played games and even got to do some arts and craft, all related to Easter. According to Senior Library Assistant Marlene Coral, the children had fun at the camp while at the same time learning new things during their holidays. “Many of the activities dealt with teaching the children the importance of the holiday and why we celebrate Easter. Some of these children may not know the significance of the holiday, thus, through fun activities we teach them about it,” said Coral.

Ambergris Today

San Pedro Needs More Consideration for Bicycle Tourists
Dear Editor, We love to bicycle ride while on vacation. This is the reason we only book vacation on low traffic vacation destinations and preferable on island's with predominantly golf carts. We thought that your island's traffic made bicycle riding unpleasant and even dangerous at times. You have too many cars, too much speeding causing too much dust, danger and health concerns. Neither bike riders nor tourists on a golf cart want to inhale dust while driving to town or inhale vehicle exhaust in San Pedro's caravan traffic. From a tourist point of view, the traffic on the island needs containment and speed regulations. International guests will not accept such speeding and high traffic during their vacation. Tourists need to relax and re-charge while vacationing and not fight with traffic.

Misc Belizean Sources

Caye Caulker 2nd Annual Kayak Island Challenge
Saturday March 26th. Triathalon for Men and Women Sunday March 27.

Caye Caulker Free Italian, German, and karate lessons
Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th are free Italian and German lessons (3-4pm) and karate classes (4-5pm, equipment provided). Meet at the library. All ages welcome for both language and karate classes. Natascia Silvestri Jones, husband Paul and children Elisa and Luca are Ocean Academy supporters who are happy to give back to the community with these free classes over the holidays. Come on out! More info: 626-0408.

Cayo Easter Fair Setup
Happy Easter! The Cayo Easter Fair is almost ready. The fair is this weekend.

Stations of d cross, Good Friday March 25th 2016, Caye Caulker
Christians in Belize mark Good Friday with a procession through the streets, which stops to pray at several Stations of the Cross along the route. Each Station of the Cross has a special meaning. Here's wishing everyone a Happy Easter if you believe, and if not, a happy holiday! (For those that do not know, the long Easter weekend (Holy Thursday to Easter Monday) is Belize's equivalent of the long Thanksgiving weekend.

Fire on Roches street
Behind the Complex Building on Friday night.

Standard 1 sayings for Good Friday

Las Alfombras del Viernes Santo
Benque's famous Alfombras del Viernes Santo. The Benque HoC also got some great pictures, along with pictures of the Passion of the Christ. Happy Easter! "Las alfombras del Viernes Santo (The Mats of Good Friday) is a tradition in Benque Viejo Del Carmen Town in Belize which commemorates the death of Jesus Christ. The community gathers together to make various designs on the streets where the Santo Entierro (holy funeral) passes by later in the evening which is carred out by the procession. They are designed by vaious materals such as sawdust, salt, flour which are colored using various other materials to create the designs which represent christian images and messages."

ON THIS 2016 BELIZE CROSS COUNTRY EVE (PART SEVEN)! KENRICK 'THE KING' HALLIDAY!
The four times Belize Cross Country Cycling Champion, the legendary Kenrick 'The King' Halliday who won four Belize Cross Countries has gone down in Belize sports history as one of the few Belizean cyclists who had won four Cross Countries like Aston Gill, Jefferey O'Brien, and Johnito Miguel before him. It appears that no other Belizean Cross Country champion had repeated four wins as these four legendary Belizean cyclists, and Kenrick Halliday has gone down as one who had accomplished this phenomenal record in Belizean cycling. From his book, Sports, Sin & Subversion, the acclaimed Belizean writer, Evan X Hyde wrote: My Uncle (Buck Belisle) is always arguing that Hutchinson would have continued to beat Halliday on Holy Saturday, but I'm not so sure of that. I loved The Tank, but Halliday just kept getting better and better, and he and Alfred Parks ruled the remainder of the golden seventies.

A beautiful, relaxing Good Friday
With the amazing birds at Belize Bird Rescue.

The Reporter

Man found murdered in front of night club
Belmopan police are investigating a murder that was discovered early Thursday morning in front a popular night spot on the outskirts of the capital on the Hummingbird Highway. The victim, Noe Cruz, 37, a Belizean labourer of Las Flores community, Belmopan, was discovered sometime before 3:00 a.m., in a seated position beside the right front wheel of a grey and green Nissan Patrol SUV, which was parked in the parking lot of La Cabana night club. Cruz was bleeding from a cut wound above the left eye and had severe head and neck injuries. According to Lilian Raquel Salazar, 27, a food vendor who makes her living selling from the compound, she discovered Cruz’ body while making her routine rounds picking up pint bottles.

Breaking Belize News

Belmopan man murdered on Good Friday
After a dance concluded at popular Belmopan City night club, La Cabana this morning around 3:00, police were called by a food vendor who saw a badly wounded man leaning against the front wheel of a vehicle and bleeding profusely. Upon arrival at the […]

Alleged Murder suspect commits suicide
Breaking Belize News has been reliably informed that the victim who pulled the trigger on himself this morning is well-known Shane Bennet. Bennet is allegedly a suspect wanted for questioning in connection with the murder of Dwayne Logan. He is also known for a […]

Attempted murder turns suicide
Best information reaching Breaking Belize News is that a man in Independence Village attempted to shoot a lady but the gun snapped. Shortly after the man turned the gun to himself and it went off fatally impacting the culprit. This is a developing story. […]

Blogs

A Gorgeous Night For a Party at the Palapa Bar
It’s Good Friday and today there is no alcohol sold or served in Belize. In San Pedro, many tour companies are closed – it is considered by many to be bad luck to be on the sea today. But last night, was a different story…a huge surprise party was planned for Scott’s (aka “The Palapa Papa’s) 60th birthday. We arrived a bit after 5:30pm (the invite read 5) and the place was packed and it was an absolutely gorgeous night. Did we miss the surprise? We did not. So I took a look around…Jodie and Scott have done an amazing job of relocating perhaps the most famous bar on Ambergris Caye. Scott finally pulled up after a day of spear fishing and beers with some friends. He was indeed surprised when the crowd broke out into HAPPY BIRTHDAY. And then another surprise…his son flew from the states for the party. I just happened to be sitting right behind him. Super fun and I know the party continued for many many hours…but we had a 6:30pm reservation for the hottest ticket in town, Finn & Martini.

Case study of Agricultural Policies in Belize
This Report provides an analytical review of the major policy provisions for the agricultural sector in Belize. The focus is on the appropriateness of the policy mix in facilitating transformation of the sector into one characterized by higher levels of efficiency and competitiveness. The review is conducted within the context of the challenges confronting agriculture as a consequence of direct liberalization and globalization. While the primary interest was on the commodities selected for the CARICOM competitiveness study (hot pepper, sweet potato, papaya, coconut and small ruminant), the review was necessarily broader in scope to include sector-wide policies since such policies could provide incentives for enhanced efficiency and competitiveness of Agriculture in general. The review also examined commodity-specific policies for other important commodities, since it was felt that lessons could be learnt with respect to policy relevance and effectiveness from such cases.

St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park
St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park is more than just the place 200 species of birds and exotic cats call home. Caves, hidden amid forested land marked by nature trails used by jaguars, ocelots, tapir and armadillos when humans aren’t around, take visitors to a 180-foot-wide entrance that could easily be missed because jungle vines are everywhere. This cave was once used for Mayan ceremonies and rituals, remnants of which were left behind when the cave dwellers moved on. The blue sinkhole on premises is fed by underground streams and it’s fascinating enough on its own to draw crowds. The unique geological features within this 575 acre forest plus the beauty and wildlife combine to offer visitors plenty of reasons to tour this area. But it’s the cave system that’s the big lure: walk the 200 yards into the enclave to marvel at prehistoric-looking speleothems and Mayan artifacts. What’s the Blue Hole? It’s the lush blue pool deep within the cavern that’s 100-feet deep and 300-feet in diameter. Don’t confuse this Blue Hole with the place near Lighthouse Reef atoll that’s beloved by divers. That said, what other excursion offers opportunities to see wildlife, Mayan artifacts, a cool cave and a sinkhole fed by underground rivers all in one place? This destination is close to the nation’s capital, Belmopan, but you don’t have to be headquartered there to visit because licensed tour agents will be happy to escort you to and from this natural wonderland. From Belmopan, travel about 12 miles southeast along the Hummingbird Highway to the park’s entrance. Expect to hike through the jungle to reach your destinations.

International Sources

Lavallette scientist helps animals in Belize
Editor’s note: Earlier this year, Sherri Paris of Lavallette, a marine scientist, mother and entrepreneur, went to Belize to help volunteer with a nonprofit organization that rescues animals with life-threatening conditions. With a strong science background and a passion for educating youth, she started New Logic Educators to help individuals with supplemental educational needs. She combined her love for marine science and education and created Marine Science Camp, a weekly hands-on summer learning adventure with more than 20 locations along the Jersey Shore. I did it — an entire month completely off the grid, in the jungle, 2,000 miles away from home, with no connection to civilization. Forget hot water, social media, Wi-Fi, cell phones, TV, the newspaper, emails, voicemails — all I had was here and now. With heavy, packed-to-the-brim bags in my hands, one completely filled with medical supplies, I traveled by myself to a remote area of northern Belize called Sarteneja, a sleepy fishing village tucked away on Corozal Bay. No, this wouldn’t be a vacation, or a personal retreat. I was there to volunteer at Wildtracks, a nonprofit Manatee and Primate Rehabilitation Facility that rescues animals with life-threatening conditions. I was on a mission to give back, to make an impact, and as I stepped foot on to the dirt road that led to a shack that I would call home for the next month, I had no idea what would really be in store for me. This journey would be an experience of a lifetime.

Bob Bounahra Wins 2015/16 WSOP Circuit The Bicycle Casino $1,125 No-Limit Hold’em
Bob Bounahra from Belize triumphed on Friday in Event #6: $1,125 No-Limit Hold’em on the 2015/16 WSOP Circuit The Bicycle Casino schedule, collecting his first cash from the Circuit series and his first gold ring. The player’s share of the tournament’s entire prize pool amounted to $26,555. Bounahra does not have much experience in WSOP Circuit events. However, the player has been seen at the tables of WSOP tournaments over the years. He has cashed in a total of 5 Series events, scooping a little less then $1.5 million in those. Bounahra’s best career performance was his 7th place in the 2011 WSOP $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event. He took the amount of $1,314,097 for his efforts.

Videos

Belize 2016 Tour, 48min. Maya ruins

Belize Jungle Exploring, Cave Tubing, and More- Emerson Action Cam, 10min. God's Creation is beautiful! What an awesome experience with family.

Whale Shark Rescue, 1min. Huge Whale Shark lets divers approach it to cut a commercial fishing line that's wrapped around its body.

Belize 2016 - If You Can't Beat 'Em, Eat 'Em, 3min. Family trip to San Pedro, Belize for spring break 2016. Great diving, and snorkeling. All filmed on a GoPro Hero 2.

Caye Caulker Belize Scuba Diving, 3min.

Escape Away Belize fun at Palapa Bar San Pedro, Belize, 1.5min. Enjoy a beverage and a swim at the Palapa Bar near Escape Away Beach House

2016 Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic teaser - BELIZE, 2min. The 'Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic' is a yearly cycling race in Belize, Central America. The race is the oldest (88 yrs) and arguably the largest one-day cycling classic in the region. Every Holy Saturday, Belizean and foreign cyclists (USA, Mexico, Guatemala) take part, covering the distance of 144 miles.

2016 Valentine's Cycling Tour - Belize, 4min.

First zip line at Bocawina Rainforest Resort - Belize, 1min.

Second zip line at Bocawina Rainforest Resort - Belize, 1.5min.

Birds flocking on coastal island - Belize, 1.5min.

March 25, 2016

San Pedro: Easter notice for Yard trash and sandwich boards

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

National Puppy Day: Adoption is key!
Today is March 23rd; a date that celebrates some of the cutest creatures on earth: PUPPIES! National Puppy Day is a special day to celebrate the magic and unconditional love that puppies bring to our lives. In its 10th anniversary of National Puppy Day, let’s not only celebrate but also be reminded of the thousands upon thousands of puppies that are born without a loving home and owner. Pups born on the streets or inadequate homes don’t get to feel the warmth and safety offered at a loving home. Today is a day to help save orphaned puppies across the globe and educate the public about the horrors of puppy mills and strays.

Still no new First Deputy Party Leader after UDP Convention
Political fever invaded quiet Dangriga, Stann Creek District, when members and supporters of the United Democratic Party (UDP) met in the cultural capital for the party’s National Convention. Key members of the UDP were present at the important gathering, held on Sunday, March 20th, including Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow. However, his former right- hand man and First Deputy Party Leader, Gaspar Vega, were a no- show. In fact, his post remains vacant. Vega, who made history along with his party, the UDP, when they won for the third consecutive time in the General Elections in October of 2015, clearly had no intentions to become the leader of the country in the near future. This was revealed in a letter he sent to the Party, dated March 8th, wherein he stated his resignation and retirement from politics.

8-Ball Pool Tournament approaching semi-finals
Accompanied by a scenic lagoon view, the pre-season 8-Ball Pool Tournament continued this past weekend at Captain Iguanas. The fourth week of the competition saw games getting tight as the competition narrows. Female players stepped up their game as they challenged the boys in a no mercy fashion. During the heated games, pool fans showed support of their favourite teams as well. Organizers of the event once again thank everyone who is making the tournament possible. Special thanks go to The San Pedro Sun for their effort and support in getting the San Pedro Billiards Association recognized in the community.

ABC Preschool hosts Easter Show
A fun-filled occasion took place at Angel Nuñez Auditorium as ABC Preschool hosted their first ever “Easter Show” on Saturday, March 19th. Since Easter is right around the corner and schools have already closed for the holidays, ABC Preschool organized this fundraiser to treat youngsters and their parents to live entertainment featuring some beloved TV characters via actors from Mexico. Principal and teacher of ABC Preschool, Wilfredo Alamilla, explained the reason for the show. “This is our one of our biggest fundraisers and all the funds goes towards our different activities that we have in our school, including the renovation of our classrooms,” said Alamilla. With tickets being $5 (kids), $10 (adults) and VIP tickets, attendants got more than what they bargained for while still supporting a worthy cause.

Saga holds successful adoption drive
Every three months, the San Pedro Saga Humane Society tries to find homes for their sheltered dogs and cats. All those beautiful and friendly animals eagerly await to be placed in the perfect home that will give them the love and affection they long for. At such, members of Saga held an adoption drive on Saturday, March 19th in an attempt to find loving owners for adorable pets. The event was held from 2PM to 4PM next to Fairdale Plaza, facing the busy Coconut Drive. Saga members were out in full force trying to attract potential pet owners to adopt a pup or cat. Slowly as the day progressed, passers-by stopped by and met some of the various cute creatures available. “We are very happy to be here today doing our best to find homes for these well – deserving animals,” said Dawn LoCascio a member of Saga. “We will never stop caring for these beautiful creatures.”

San Pedro Town observes Earth Hour
On Saturday, March 19th, San Pedro Town joined over 7,000 communities around the world in observing Earth Hour. In an effort to bring awareness to how climate change is affecting our planet, several environmental organizations around the world, including in Belize, held candle- light vigil walks. The activity was a symbolical petition, asking everyone to turn off their electricity for one hour and contribute to the well-being of a planet that is slowly dying from the effects of climate change. The event was organized in San Pedro by Oceana in Belize, in collaboration with the San Pedro House of Culture and the Ministry of Youth Services.

San Pedro Roman Catholic Church Observes Holiest time of the Year
The Easter Holidays are here once again, and for the San Pedro Roman Catholic Church this is the most holy time of the year. The celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection was ushered in by the 40-day Lenten season which commenced on Ash Wednesday, February 10th. As such the Church has scheduled a series of events to celebrate the Holy Week. The Lenten Season culminated on Sunday, March 19th with the Palm Sunday possession. Observed as the day Jesus returns to Jerusalem, symbolic palm leaves, which according to the Bible were used to welcome Jesus to the holy city, are revered by the Catholics during this day. Here in San Pedro Town the procession started shortly after 3PM. Leading the procession were members of the congregation dressed up as the 12 Apostles and Jesus. The procession culminated with the Palm Sunday mass, where palm leaves were blessed and given to the congregation, which turns them into crosses as a token of their faith. The next scheduled event was held on Holy Thursday, March 24th. The traditional “Washing of the Feet” ceremony, which commemorated The Last Supper, took place at 7PM at the Roman Catholic Church, followed by the transfer of the Holy Eucharist to the Parish Hall at 10AM. The Adoration Vigil was then held at the Parish Hall until midnight, which is the time Judas betrayed Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane, and is the beginning of Good Friday.

Solani Graniel is crowned SP Lions Queen 2016/2017
On the evening of Saturday, March 19th San Pedro Lions Club members and invited guests congregated at the Lions Den to celebrate an evening of gratitude and to crown their new queen. The night kicked off with a social hour where attendees enjoyed cocktails and mingling. SP Lion President Fatima Graniel then welcomed the guests, and issued certificates of appreciation to local businesses who have generously supported the organization over the years. Following the certificate presentation, San Pedro Lions Queen Marisha Thompson 2015/2016 took the opportunity to thank the San Pedro Lions Club for the amazing experience she had during her tenure. It was then announced that Miss Solani Graniel would be crowned San Pedro Lion Queen 2016/2017. Miss Thompson had the honors of sashing and crowning Miss Graniel, who told the audience she was very excited and honored to be their new queen.

Child Friendly Ceremony honors San Pedro Town’s youngsters
On Friday, March 18th, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) held their official “Child Friendly Acknowledgment Ceremony” at the town’s central park. The ceremony formally recognized San Pedro for its efforts at being a Sustainable and Child Friendly Municipality (SCFM), while sharing on their progress thus far. Being a SCFM guarantees the right of every child in San Pedro to: 1) influence decisions, 2) express opinions about needed improvements, 3) participate in family, community and social life 4) have access to necessities like health care, education and shelter, 5) receive safe water to drink and proper sanitation, 6) be protected from violence, abuse and exploitation, 7) walk safely on streets, 8) have a meeting place to play, 9) have agricultural space for planting and raising animals, 10) live in an unpolluted environment, 11) be able to participate in cultural and social events, and 12) be an equal citizen of their city with access to every service, regardless of ethnicity, origin, religion, income, gender or disability.

Ambergris Today

Give a New Spin to your Easter Break in San Pedro
Easter on Ambergris Caye is all about parties and this year is no exception. Fido’s is all geared up for "Island Invasion", Holiday Hotel’s "Easter Fest" is sure to draw a crowd with DJ Capone (all the way from Canada) and DJ Karlo and Luna Loca’s "Easter Loca Fest" will be on fire with many talented local DJs including DJ Lacelle, DJ Smallz, DJ Tracks, DJ Gracie Rock, Island Invasion DJs and my personal favorite DJ Karizma. Aside from all the party madness bringing spring breakers in by the boat load, I thought I’d come up with a few other suggestions of things you MUST DO if you’re spending Easter on Ambergris Caye.

Belize is the 52nd Happiest Country in the World
Back in 2012 Belize was fourth on the list of the Happiest Country in the World, but we stand at 52 in the 2016 report that was just released in March. What could be causing our diminishing happiness? We surely still are a happy nation by the Caribbean Sea, that enjoy freedom, sovereignty, unity, cultural diversity, peace and a country that is so magnificent that it is fast becoming a global tourist hot spot. The top ten happiest countries this year came up to be the same as those in the 2015 report, although the order in which they rank changed. Denmark ranks as happiest country in the world once again with a “happy index” score of 7.526, followed closely by Switzerland, Iceland and Norway.

Easter Break on Ambergris Caye is a Massive Undertaking
When visitors arrive to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, during Easter break all they think about is the fun in the sun, beach, sea, the concerts, parties, water activities and relaxing vacation. What they do not see is all the preparations the town has made in order for them to have an enjoyable break. Preparations for Easter/Spring break on the island are a massive undertaking as the San Pedro Town Council makes sure that everything is on point to ensure that our visitors have a fun and safe experience. The San Pedro Town Council ensures that all entities are working cohesively; making sure the island is kept clean, safe and beautiful for all to enjoy. Mayor Daniel stressed to all public service workers to practice courtesy and good public relations when dealing with the public. Good Friday is observed as a “dry Friday” with no sales of alcohol allowed from Holy Thursday at midnight to Saturday at 12:15a.m. Restaurants can sell alcoholic beverages to customers on Good Friday after 7p.m. and hotels will be allowed to sell alcohol to bona fide guests only.

Misc Belizean Sources

BELIZE FISHING REPORT: March 14th – March 20th, 2016
A great permit week with some great folks at the lodge. What more could you ask for, good friends, good fishing and good beer! The bonefishing was no surprise with boats landing as many as 25 fish. Each day out. Barry, Jim. Bill, Buddy had their way with the bonefish although their true passion was permit. Long time guests, Scott, Gina & John (first bonefish ever honors for Gina this trip!) all had a blast, Lon and Jan returned again this year with Jan tanning like a champ on the boat and by the pool and Lon handling most of the fishing duties, Norm and Beth’s 18th visit to EL Pescador was an honor for us…

Intolerance!
There’s a battle of ideology Tolerance and discriminatory Whenever there is descending analysis We cry deportation and kill Scott Stirm has free will Is this Garinagu bigotry? I see this as an opportunity Garinagu have gotten lazy They’ve stop telling their story Stirm has given Okeke more validity Garinagu have settled for assimilation into Christianity I’m surprised by the response of the NGC To give credence to Stirm statement nationally These are the actions of a ‘cry baby’

Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow Departs the Country Today
Office of the Prime Minister informs the general public, that the Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow departs the country on personal leave during the Easter period 24th – 29th March, 2016. During the Prime Minister’s absence, the Hon. Gaspar Vega, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Environment and Sustainable Development will act as Prime Minister.

Disposal of National Lands
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Immigration, through the Lands and Surveys Department, hereby reminds the general public that in accordance of Section 7 of the National Lands Act, DISPOSAL of national lands may only be authorized and granted by the Minister responsible for Lands upon application and on SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS as he thinks fit for such periods as to him may seem proper. The general public is hereby advised that in accordance to Section 9 (1) of the National Lands Act, every application for a lease of national land shall be made to the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys in the form of the First Schedule (Lease application). The Ministry, further advises that any person found disposing of national land and collecting monies for doing so, is guilty of an offence under the National Lands Act. The Ministry also clarifies that persons found in occupation of land as a consequence of the illegal disposal are also guilty of an offence and the development on the land will not constitute any rights over the lands.

Mayor Daniel Guerrero had a meeting with members of the Dr. Otto Rodriguez Polyclinic II in regards to the Easter Break
Present at the meeting were Nursing Supervisor, Nurse Marion Jones, Medical Coordinator, Dr. Larrinnaga and Medical Attendant, Mr. Enrique Alpuche. The Dr. Otto Rodriguez Polyclinic & the Health Department will be working closely with the other departments alongside the San Pedro Town Council to ensure a safe and harmonious Easter for everyone. The Dr. Otto Rodriguez will proceed with having its 24-Hours Emergency unit open and patients must present any type of identification when visiting the Emergency Unit.

Town Council Meeting for Easter
Mayor Daniel Guerrero, Deputy Mayor Gary Greif and Councilors: Ruben Gonzalez, Hector Alamilla and Gabriel Nuñez had a meeting with the San Pedro Traffic Department, San Pedro Police Department, San Pedro Fire Department, Belize Port Authority, NEMO and the Belize Coast Guard in preparations for the Easter weekend. The San Pedro Town Council will be working closely with these various departments and organizations in order to have a safe Easter weekend bearing in mind the influx of people that will be visiting our island - both locals and tourists. As seen on the pictures, our Transport Department is well equipped and are more than prepared to tackle any traffic situation that may arise. Mayor Daniel Guerrero took advantage of the opportunity of the presence of Superintendent Sandra Bodden and presented her with the keys of a red pick-up truck which will come in handy for the San Pedro Police Department in their patrols. We strongly advise you to have your driver’s license and permits up to date and at all times. We also ask you to drive with precaution at all times and to avoid drinking while driving.

THE SP CHARIKANARI DANCERS PERFORM IN TENOSIQUE, MX
The San Pedro Town Council and the San Pedro Cultural Committee is proud of the attendance of The San Pedro Charikanari Dance Group at the Cultural Evening of Latin America – Music, Dance, Culture hosted by the Universidad Juarez Autonoma de Tabasco. The event took place at the town of Tenosique, Mexico and the participation of the Belizean contingency was made possible through the Honorary Consul Jorge Valencia and The San Pedro Town Council with the support of a few businesses on the island. The Belizean dancers shared the stage with groups from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico. “Participation such as these put our Belizean heritage on the world stage,” commented Honorary Consul General Jorge Valencia. The dance group brought on stage Garifuna cultural dances including paranda, punta and Charikanari, amongst others. As part of the cultural event, the Belizean group got the opportunity to tour the university’s facility that specializes in six areas including agriculture and aquaculture. The Belizean delegation was headed by Councilor Hector “Tito” Alamilla who is responsible for culture on the island.

Letter: Belizeans, this is no time to be politically correct
Dear Sir: Belize is under siege, not only from outside, but also due to seemingly subversive elements from within. For those who disagree with me on this matter, I trust it is obvious that we must agree to disagree, because I shall not allow the fact that someone is a conscript in Belize's armed forces to influence my perspective on this matter of national security. Guatemala is advancing rapidly with its unfounded territorial claim by way of: (1) using strategic and cunning moves which are being woefully facilitated at every turn, by Belize’s elected representatives, (2) enhancing their physical presence and administration over sovereign Belizean territory via the use of its military apparatus, with no reprisal from the OAS and (3) using its diplomatic services to make its case to the international community. Meanwhile, Belize’s political directorate and their primary conscript, act as if Belizeans who are willing to stand up for all that is Belizean, that being our: territorial integrity, national patrimony, and sovereignty is tantamount to committing a crime!

Poets Corner: Next door!
By Abdulmajeed K. Nunez. A few years ago in Punta Gorda Leo Sanchez organised a lecture With some heavy hitters At the time he was the president of cattle growers Dr Noguerra, John Carr and Theodore Aranda Who presented economic plans for Belize’s future Belize’s relationship with Guatemala Is like that of America and China We have to change from a consumer paradigm Create the engine and start to grind Their presentations left impression in my mind Belize is beholden due to its lack of production Though it’s at an advantage with its abundance of land But we’re not into production Our neighbour a starving for relation But Belize an refuse to supply their demand In cattle, bean, sugar and banana production Even when it comes to goods transportation Look at the Commerce Bight Port situation Opening the Commerce Bight Port was Theodore Aranda sugge

Corozal District Invites
Don’t forget the Sunday Easter Regatta in Sarteneja Village this March 27th and the grand Saturday Football Marathon in the Village of Copper Bank this March 26th. Let us not forget the purpose of the Easter Holiday and celebration. The Holidays are a time to celebrate, to give thanks and reflect, and the Easter holidays are no different. March 25th (Good Friday) - March 26th (Holy Saturday) - March 28th (Easter Monday) will be observed as Public and Bank Holidays. Corozal invites you to the many events being held here this weekend. The main event is the Easter Sunday Regatta in Sarteneja Village. Bring out your loved ones. Here is a list of the many restaurants and bars in Corozal Town that you can have a “bub” and non-chalantly mounds of “grub”. Let us all enjoy a safe and pleasant holiday weekend in Corozal. If we happened to miss your restaurant or bar please add it to the comment section.

Dawn Campbell Adderley was awarded by NICH
At the 11th Annual Outstanding Women Award Ceremony last night. She was one of the 15 women awarded by different organizations. Congratulations Dawn!!!

"Egg - citing" Easter celebration at the Cayo Welcome Center
Children from the twin towns of San Ignacio/ Santa Elena having an "egg - citing" Easter celebration at the Cayo Welcome Center courtesy of the BTB's Hospitality Team.

Easter with the cruise passengers
Easter is a happy time and the Belize Tourism Board celebrated it in fun colorful ways with the cruise passengers at the Fort Street Tourism Village. Both adults and children were treated to Easter candies and chocolates.

Paradise Theater playing this weekend:
The Paradise Theater will be closed this weekend for the Holidays .. we will Reopen the following weekend with The Movie you all have been waiting for .... finally .. See you April 1st (Not an April fools day prank)

Discover A New Magical World of Aromas And Caribbean Spices
Just three days after graduating from Bayou Chicot High School, in Ville Platte, Louisiana, Libby Vidrine packed her bags and left home in search of new adventures in the Eastern Caribbean Islands. Besides traveling to many other countries in Asia, Europe and the South Pacific, Libby spent the next four years in the Eastern Caribbean, exploring the islands, discovering cultures and culinary practices, while employed at local restaurants, and spent her time off traveling around the different islands of the Eastern Caribbean, addicted to experiencing the diversity of the many island’s culture and cuisine. After four years in the Eastern Caribbean she decided to go west to the Caribbean Nation of Belize. Selling her first spice blend in an open bag on the beaches of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye to a tourist, who then sent four more people to buy from me that same day, she recalls. Delighted with the epiphany, Libby launched her first restaurant in 2000 featuring the spice blend, Caribbean Creole Seasoned Sea Salt, and has never looked back. In the following 5 years, Libby became the proud owner of three restaurants on the island of Ambergris Caye, Belize featuring her unique local spice blends.

Palm Sunday in Benque Viejo del Carmen
Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and commemorates the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before he was crucified. Palm Sunday is known as such because the faithful will often receive palm fronds which they use to participate in the reenactment of Christ's arrival in Jerusalem. Palm Sunday in Benque Viejo del Carmen,images courtesy of Ricky Cunil 2016

Mama's Pizza Anniversary Specials
Happy anniversary, Mama's Pizza! It's not too late to call Mama's Pizza tonight to order for tomorrow.

SHJC Wins ATLIB Football Nationals
Congratulations, Sacred Heart Junior College. The Sacred Scorpions won in both the male and female divisions at the ATLIB Football Nationals. The male team defeated SJC 8-0, and then Escuela de Mexico 4-2. The female team defeated Belize Adventist JC 7-1, and then UB(0-0 with penalty shots win of 3-2).

JUSTIN & COREY WILLIAMS: HOUSE OF THE MIGUEL BROTHERS DYNASTY
It is known for sure by now that the 2015 Belize Cross Country Cycling Champion, Justin Williams and his brother Corey Williams from the Belizean Community in Los Angeles, are Belizeans across the diaspora hope for Belize in winning the upcoming 2016 Belize Cross Country Race on Saturday 26, 2016. Belizeans both at home and abroad will be supporting their champions against the flood of foreign riders who will be coming in with some serious power to capture the Belize Cross Country garland of roses again. We here at Belizean Legends can feel the heat and the fever that is to come. But Belizeans across the Belizean diaspora will be shouting for their two champions, Justin and Corey Williams on Belize's Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic come Saturday. Blow the bugel, and bring it on!

TRIBUTE TO ASTON GILL: 1945 BELIZE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPION!
It is an honor for us here at Belizean Legends to pay respects to the 1945 Belize Cross Country Cycling Champion, Aston Gill, who is still alive today. We honor him for his relentless perseverance in life even after his great work on the bike as an athlete and Belizean with such tenacity. May you be blessed with many more years to come champ!

REMEMBERING PROF DRUMMOND: MR. SHOWTIME!
Its been some time now that the legendary Lord Rhaburn stylist singer, drummer, and artist, Prof Drummond passed away. We here at Belizean Legends will always remember the quality discussions we had and how he was able to discuss all matters openly and candidly about Belize and Belizeans. He was fun to be with, and shared so many memories that became education for those of us who were willing to listen and to learn. We will always miss Prof. Gone but never forgotten. Sing on Mr. Showtime.

THIS IS CROSS COUNTRY FEVER!
Two times Holy Saturday Belize Cross Country cycling champion, Rudy Miguel as he wins his first Cross Country in 1969! Rudy Miguel also won the Belize Cross Country in 1970.

THEY WON THE FIRST EVER GOLD MEDAL FOR BELIZE!
Belizean softball Queens are the champions of Belize first ever gold medal in sports in Belize in 1974 at the Central American & Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo in the Caribbean . A history making feat for Belize in the world!

BELIZEAN LEGENDS MEETS BELIZEAN BASKETBALL LEGEND CLINTON 'PULU' LIGHTBURN!
It was a very historic moment for me, yours truly, to meet personally for the first time, up and close up, the legendary Belizean basketball player, Clinton 'Pulu' Lightburn in 2013. My seeing this incredible Belizean basketball player and athlete play in the year of 1979 when he lead his outstanding team, the Happy Homebuilders to basketball championship was a history in the making for me. It was also a pleasure to meet him in discussion on Belize city's KREM TV when he hosted me as his guest on KREM's popular Sunday Review produced by Yaya Marin Coleman. Respect all the time Pulu. What a champion you were!

BELIZEAN CYCLING CHAMPIONS & THE CUIDAD DEL CARMEN CYCLING CLASSIC IN MEXICO!
When Belizeans dominated cycling in the whole of Central America, Belizean cyclists like two times Belize Cross Country Champion, Rudy Miguel, Noel 'Muscles' Gordon, Ferguson and many other Belizean outstanding sprinters seen here, would always win the Cuidad Del Carmen Cycling Classic in Mexico. The classic photograph was taken in Mexico during the cycling classic. Apart from the Cuidad del Carmen race, Belizean cyclists like Rudy Miguel and Noel Gordon would also competed in other cycling races in Mexico and win them. An important piece of cycling history from Belizean Legends.

BUCK BELISLE: LEGENDARY BELIZEAN ATHLETE, COACH & MENTOR!
Let's recall some legendary Belizean coaches and mentors! As the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Race approaches in full speed, the name Buck Belisle is ringing all over the globe where Belizean cycling enthusiasts are. Especially in Belize where he became a living icon because of his coaching brilliance of some of Belize's most outstanding and legendary cyclists like, Louis Peyrefitte, three times Cross Country cycling champion, Alpheus Williams, and two times Cross Country cycling champion, Anthony 'The Tank' Hutchinson. In his book, Sports, Sin & Subversion, Evan X Hyde, who is the nephew of Belisle, dedicated his book to his uncle. In the book Hyde wrote:

REMEMBERING A BELIZEAN NATIONAL HERO & COACH: CHARLES 'BIG CHARLES' ROGERS!
The week proceeding Belize recent national elections, one of its forgotten local hero died in virtual obscurity. Coach Charles Rogers and one of Belize legendary bodybuilder/community organizer/ youth advocate/ health & fitness guru had faded from the public eye as a result of failing health. And tragically as with most local heroes, we quickly develop an amnesia of his work and contribution to our advancement as a people and nation. I will try and highlight a few of coach Charles Rogers accomplishment in the next couple of paragraphs. Charles Rogers was one of Belize's dominant bodybuilders who competed against legends like Ben McCoy and Mike Christy among others. But (Big Charles) as he was popularly known, saw the need for strong mentor-ship among the young boys who were incarcerated at the hostel in Belize city. Long before Belize plunged into an urban killing field, Charles stepped forward and began volunteering his service of coaching the youths at the hostel in physical fitness and discipline.

Traffic Hints for Easter in San Pedro
Reminding you all that Barrier Reef Drive will be closed to all vehicle traffic and parking from 12 noon tomorrow Friday 25th and Pescador Drive will be closed from 5:00pm untill the procession has passed, NO PARKING during these times. Thank you and have a safe Easter.

Channel 7

US Cycling Team Plowed Down While Preparing For Cross Country
Tonight, on the cusp of the 88th Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, the cycling community is shaken after one of the premier foreign teams, Team Starlight was plowed down en masse on the western highway. It happened at around 9:30 when a pickup, driven by 74 year old Denton Hendy, knocked all of them down. 6 American cyclists, 4 males and two females were injured. The most seriously hurt is Lory Harkey, wife of former Cross Country champion Chris Harkey - who received minor injury, along with Jacqueline Flynn, David Flynn, and perennial cross country contenders Scotty Weise, and John Delong. Emanuel Pech reports. The large crack that you see here on the windshield of this Toyota pickup, is where the head of Lory Harkey slammed into the vehicle. This morning Lory along with her husband Christopher Harkey, and four others, were mauled by a pickup as they were riding on the George Price Highway- their last practice ride before the upcoming cross country. President of the Cycling Association Dion Leslie was one of the first responders:

Car Wreck Near Crooked Tree
And there was another accident on the highway today - this one happened on the northern at mile 31, near the Crooked Tree junction. Three vehicles were involved in a very major collision. Two pickups were seen on the side of the road piled up on top of each other, and while another vehicle was overturned on its side on the other shoulder of the highway. Remarkably, no one was killed: police say one person was taken to the hospital while the other - who is believed ot have the blame fled the scene.

City Thieves Seize On Scotland Halfmoon
Scotland Halfmoon is one of the villages in the Belize River Valley. Home to a population of about 600, crime is a rare occurrence, and when it does happen it's usually petty theft, or a domestic issue. But, yesterday afternoon, there was a city style jacking in the tiny village. The criminals were daring, but the police were swift in catching up to them. I went to the village to find out more today: Courtney Weatherburne reporting: This 4 Runner taxi was the escape car for 2 city thieves. It was their ride to freedom after they robbed a Gas Station in the Belize River Valley area. But they never got to take that ride because Ladyville police apprehended them shortly after the holdup. It happened at 1 yesterday afternoon at the Scotland Half-moon Gas Station. It was a typical afternoon inside the store, the cashier Benjamin Schrock was behind the counter and he had just served a customer when 2 boys dressed in the Fort Point Security uniforms barged in through the back door and held everyone up. And it was all caught on the security camera

Urban Criminals Going Rural?
And while Rural Police are still trying to piece together the many strands of this criminal operation, they are also taking note that city thieves are now looking to the Belize River Valley as a new staging ground for their criminal exploits. Assistant Commissioner Broaster connected the dots: ACP Edward Broaster, O.C, Eastern Rural Division: "We had the robbery at Altun Ha, Sarkis Abou Nahra, Scotland Halfmoon. We are asking people to be more vigilant and if they see something, they say something and they might just have something. We are also looking to see if they have anything to do with the Altun Ha robbery. It is quite apparent that because of the defense dome that we have established within Ladyville proper, they are going out in the rural communities that do not see this type of crime and preying on these individuals."

Minors Carrying Out Major Crimes (Again)
And another element of this crime is the re-appearance of minors carrying out major crimes. The minor in the Scotland Half Moon robbery is 17 years old. Broaster acknowledged the problems and said that's why he supports the curfew:.. ACP Edward Broaster, O.C, Eastern Rural Division: "One of the reasons that we have analyzed why minors are being utilized to commit crime now is because the more seasoned criminals know that the police have out their patrol. We have effective patrol going, so they know the likelihood of being caught is higher. They set up these young people to go and commit the crime hoping that they escape and get away, but if they don't, they won't be going to the big prison, they'll be going to the Wagner's facility or the youth hostel. I want to join with the commander for south in advising the parents to keep their children close to them and monitoring their children because the gangs are utilizing them to commit these crimes because they can't go and do it themselves."

McFoy Charged
In our first segment we told you about 22 year old Trevor McFoy accused of being part of the gas station hold up in Scotland Half Moon - but we failed to show you his picture. Here he is now, charged for three counts of robbery. McFoy was additionally charged for keeping a firearm and ammunition, namely a nine millimeter CFZ pistol with 8 live rounds, without a gun license. Police say they found the weapon in a grey bag he was carrying - as he left cattle field in the village. Police had to rescue him from the cattle herd after he threw the knapsack into the herd.

Man Accuses Chinese Grocer Of Beating Him Up
Usually when Chinese business owners make the evening news, it's because they are the victims of crimes. But, 2 weeks ago, 53 year-old complainant Harrison Bruce, went to police and accused 4 Chinese men of jumping him in Hattieville and putting a beatdown on him. Those 4 men, 28 year old Wei Lin Huang, 25 year old Wei Feng Xu, 35 year old Da Hong Jiang and 27 year old Xing Hua Zhang, are out on bail tonight. According to Bruce, the incident happened on March 10 in front of the Everyday Supermarket. Bruce told police that he was standing in front of the store selling his CDs when he got into a quarrel with Wei Lin Huang. He told police that he punched Huang, but he fell to the group when he lost his footing. He said that all 4 men then jumped him.

PM Winds Up Debate Around 8:00
Last night at around 8:00, after almost 12 hours of budget debate, Prime Minister Dean Barrow wound it up with his response. At the beginning of his presentation, the Prime Minister proposed to the House that the standing orders be amended to limit the speeches from each member to an hour maximum. He freely conceded that his colleagues from both sides have a pattern of being long-winded. He then gave his 27-minute rebuttal of all the arguments that the Opposition made his "stability" budget. Here's a snapshot of what he had to say to his critics: Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister: "I wish to thank all for their contribution and single out of course the public officers including those at the Ministry of Finance." "Now among the half-truths, untruths, falsifications and misrepresentations from the Opposition, one stood out. That was the charge that the Petrocaribe projects being implemented by BIL, had contracts awarded on the basis of cronyism. Mr. Speaker, that's why we put representatives of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Chamber of Commerce on the BIL board of directors, to make absolutely sure of transparency, to guard completely against any possibility of HP as your station called it "hanky panky." And those representatives will tell you that all these contracts were awarded on the basis of fair and open bidding. You talk about the civic center? The outfit that won, went up against Kee Chanona from Trinidad and Tobago. First class regional reputation and the local outfit that won which is a partnership, came in some 6 million dollars under Kee Chanona. Thats why they won the contract and as you can see work has already started and is proceeding apace."

PM: On Kareem And Kant
At the start of his presentation, Opposition Leader John Briceno had implored his colleagues from both sides to keep a level of civility and respect. Briceno told the House that his consultation with the public had revealed that there is dislike for the house debates when they devolve into name-calling and scandalous accusations flung across the aisle. Well, the gloves came off when first term representative, Kareem Musa, openly accused the Prime Minister yesterday of overpaying his brother, Denys Barrow, his niece Naima Barrow, and his ex-wife Lois Young-Barrow, a cumulative figure of about 40 million dollars in legal fees. In his opening remarks last night, the PM had a few choice words for Kareem Musa, and his father, Said Musa. He suggested that the younger Musa would inherit his father's stained legacy:

Pm To Julius: Distaff Disparagement?
And in the very same breath, The Prime Minister responded to Cayo South Area Rep. Julius Espat's presentation. Now, Barrow and Espat have clashed many times before in the house, but last night, the Prime Minister made a veiled reference to a touchy subject: "The minister for Mesop warnings applied equally to that other vulgarian, the member for Cayo South. His definition of small B Barrow, taken from old English was first employed by Glen Godfrey at the Belize Times. You remember Glen came with that? Now the member for Cayo South does resembles Mr. Godfrey in a number of unwholesome ways, but Glen at least had facility with language, some style, some width. The member for Cayo South crudity is unredeemed. In other words Mr. Speaker, not even lipstick on that pig. His crassness is unreeled and so I certainly had come to expect nothing but utter ugly boorishness from this money-grooving parvenu, whom even those in his own party find distasteful. As to castration, maybe he should inquire from some of those sitting not too far from him whether castration is not the cause of a certain wondering abroad from his distaff side. If I seem to be talking in riddles Mr. Speaker, it is because some art of concealment, camouflage is necessary. If I am to comport with the ruled on the House and public boundaries, but slauder he is. He will figure it out and that's all that I require."

PM Barrow Sefue Para Santa Semana
And after all that parliamentary jousting, the Prime Minister left for his Easter break. He flew out of the country today on personal leave until Tuesday, 29th March. While he is away, trusty Deputy Gaspar Vega will hold over as Prime Minister.

The Curfew And The Law
Yesterday we told you about the pushback on the Southside kids curfew imposed by police commander Chester Williams. There are concerns in the social services and child support sector that the result will be kids detained by police, a formula which is known to trigger its own adverse consequences. It also contravenes the Convention on the Rights of the Child - to which Belize is a signatory. But, Williams says he's simply enforcing the law. Now we've already told you about the Section 116 subsection 1 under the Families and Children act, which makes provision to place children under emergency protection for a period of no more than 48 hours. But ACP Williams also pointed out a law from 1999, which imposes a standing curfew for children in Belize City. It says "any person who, being the parent or guardian of a child, allows or suffers such child to loiter, wander or be in in a street park or other public place in Belize City between the hours of 8:00 pm and 6:00 am, unaccompanied by a parent or guardian commits an offence."

Hon. Wilfred: A Brief History Of Land Cession Proposals
In last night's news, we showed you excerpts of Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington's presentation on Belize Guatemala relations while he was contributing to the budget debate. He minced no words when he lambasted the local press for the coverage of the flash points related to the territorial dispute. Well, he also went after the Opposition PUP, and their allegations that he's ceded the Sarstoon River to Guatemala during his 8 year tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Elrington dug deep into the history books to revisit proposals that the PUP administration's of the distant and recent past had to discuss about handing over Belizean territory to settle the dispute: Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs: "The most recent myth is that the Sarstoon is gone. That Prime Minister and myself have given away the Sarstoon. Night and day I was accused of giving away to Guatemala parts of Belize and the Sarstoon. To the point where I went on the street, people looked at me and curse me. Nothing was further from the truth, but I never responded and I never responded because this issue is too important to bengaline it, and trivialized it and to make it a political football - it's too important."

Cross Country On the Doping Ropes?
Last week you heard from champion cyclist Byron Pope, who won't be riding in the Cross country because a blood test showed banned substances in his body. And while Pope came forward and made a public disclosure, another elite cyclist who also tested positive after the New Year's Classic has not. But he also won't be riding on Holy Saturday because of his positive test. Today we spoke with the president of the Cycling Association and a cycling lifer who weighed in on the specter of doping that hangs over the 88th Cross Country. Deon Leslie, President of the Cycling Association: "The truth is, it's a process that when major races do happen and anti-doping is done, the federation we only request the anti-doping. Once it's done, it's the national anti-doping organization who take it from there. All the federation is done, we're informed whether the tests come back positive or whether it comes back negative, we're just formally informed by NADO. we don't really have any say even in the suspension if that rider is found with a substance in their body, we don't have anything about that, all we do is enforce a suspension handed down from the national body and from the regional body being WADA."

What Will Saturday Bring?
So, two top cyclists have been suspended for banned substances, and as we told you earlier, there was a scary accident this morning where 6 American cyclists were plowed down by a 74 year old driver. Those situations have slightly fouled the air heading into the 88th Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic. But, Cross Country has its own energy, it's own history, and Belizeans from all walks of life have a deathless love affair with the drama of the race. So what are the expectations for the Cross Country race this Saturday? We stopped by today around 4:30 this evening to see the annual cycling parade - a teaser to this Saturday's race. This is the 88th annual Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic. The event starts at 6 am and will see hundreds of cyclists, mostly local and some foreign, face off for the garland and a bevy of prizes. Channel 7 will team up with KREM TV for live coverage of the race of Saturday. IT starts at 5:00 am, so tune in then.

Police Say Easter Requires Vigilance
And while some will stay home to see the cross country, and others will be traveling to their Easter getaways, who will be watching your home? Regrettably, in some cases, thieves will, and that's why the South side's deputy commander Senior Superintendent Alden Dawson, reminds the public, particularly in the south-side, to be cautious when they leave home during easter.

Good Friday Fish Finders, 2016
Christmas may be in December but for fisher folk, you could say their Christmas comes during Easter. That's because they cash in on the crowds clamouring for barracuda, jack, mackerel, snapper, grunt and other popular varieties of fish. Indeed, for Good Friday, most Belizeans will eat fish which both as a religious observance and a cultural practice. And fisher folk know that if you have to eat fish, you're probably willing to pay above market value for it. This year's prices range from $8, to $14 dollars per pound; depending on what you are buying. Today we stopped by the Conchshell Bay Fish Market to take a look at the favorite fish selections, the pounds that are being bought, and of course the price. Some Fishermen told us the Northern winds that brought a brief cold front over the past couple of days lessened their general supply of fish.

Vega Says Blame Monchi, Not Barrow
Finally, tonight, 15 days after he penned an unexpected letter of resignation as UDP Deputy Leader, Gaspar Vega spoke to the press. The media caught him outside the House Meeting in Belmopan where he had just supported the Barrow Budget and spoken up for his constituency of Orange Walk North. You’ll hear those remarks later, but first to the burning question: why did he resign?. Here’s his explanation: Mike Rudon - Channel 5 News: "Let's start first of all with the thought that went into your decision to resign as first deputy leader." Hon. Gaspar Vega - Former UDP Deputy Party Leader: "A long thought difficult decision, one of the most difficult ones I've done in my life but I knew that I would never be area representative forever, the time had to come. I thought that it was the best thing to do so that I could give the people of Belize both most importantly the people in Orange Walk North; those that whole heartedly supported me to give them enough time so that together we can search for the most appropriate candidate to take over my position. I think it would have been and it’s not within my character to mislead the people that I'll be running next general election and 6 months prior to elections; so I thought this was the most appropriate and most decent and mature thing to do."

Canal Side Killing In City
In 2012 Victor Garnett got off a drug related double murder, escaping the possibility of life imprisonment. But today he did not escape from the verdict of the streets. He was shot and killed at the corner of St. Jude and Sibun Street inside a known gang area. It happened just a few minutes after two which is when our cameras got there. Police say that Garnett had gone to that area and parked his vehicle to the side of the road. Police say he was either waiting for someone or had stopped to talk to someone when he was shot. Residents report hearing, at the most, 5 distinctive shots and at least one of those shots caught him in the head. And here is another telling fact that the investigation is revealing so far- it was a teenager who pulled the trigger. Southside commander ACP Chester Williams told us what they know so far.

Rejected In Panama, Ghost Town Boss Goes Off At PGIA
Notorious Ghost Town leader Roger Anthony: whenever we hear his name the first thing that comes to mind is some gang warfare. But tonight he is in the news for something else completely: how about disorderly conduct at the PGIA? Here’s what happened: Anthony and his wife were heading to Panama over the past weekend. He claims that he was going to get medical treatment for his severe back pain, but Panamanian airport authorities sent him back to Belize saying they don’t accept persons with a criminal record. So they sent Anthony and his wife back through Salvador. The trouble started when he arrived here yesterday after customs tried to search his wife – Anthony was with two children and shouting obscenities left and right – the police say. Assistant Commissioner of Police Edward Broaster told us that eventually 3 officers had to subdue him. ACP Edward Broaster - O.C, Eastern Rural Division: "There was an incident at the Phillip Goldson International Airport yesterday where one Roger Anthony who was refuse to land in Panama over the weekend, his wife arrived at the PGIA and was subjected to search and he entered the arrival lounge acting boisterous and disorderly and he was escorted outside where he had to be subdued by 3 of our officers and he's now being faced charges of disorderly conduct, resisting arrests, assaulting police officers and threat of death to 2 of our officers."

Fatal Stabbing Was Murder Not Suicide or Self-Harm
Last week we told you about Oscar Gomez – who, had allegedly stabbed himself in the throat. But, it wasn’t suicide – the police had their suspicions and would only call it a fatal stabbing. Well, tonight, it is now a murder investigation: 41 year old Oscar Gomez was allegedly murdered by his own friend. Today police told us they have ruled out suicide because the post mortem results show that Gomez had 8 stab wounds to his throat – and they say there is no way that Gomez could have done that to himself. ACP Edward Broaster - O.C, Eastern Rural Division: "After the post-mortem was conducted, we learned Mr. Gomez had 8 stab wounds to the throat; 4 of which went 2 and a half inches deep and another one that went 3 and half inches in depth. And for that reason we're not investigating that matter as a murder and we have the prime suspect in custody who is the witness that originally reported to us that Mr. Gomez had committed suicide."

No Charges For Fat Cat Killing
Ladyville police also had an update on that clear case of murder – the one that happenedon Friday night involving Rene “Fat Cat” Chavarria. No one has been charged for the murder but police are investigating a man for the shooting of the 13 year old boy. The boy was just standing outside of his house when the two men opened fire on Chavarria. He was hit to the leg. The incident happened on Friday night when Chavarria was riding along Marage Road. 2 gunmen came up behind him and shot at him - hitting the minor as well. Chavarria tried to escape but the men followed him and finished him off with shots to the back of his head and back. Today police gave us an update on this case. ACP Edward Broaster - O.C, Eastern Rural Division: "As it pertains to Chavarria's murder we had one suspect in custody, he was identified by the minor and he will be charged for aggravated assault and using deadly means of harm. As it pertains to the murder of Chavarria, we don't have any evidence as yet to tie anyone to that particular murder but the investigation continues and we're working on that as we speak."

Report: Child Curfew Getting Blowback From Social Services Sector
Last week you heard Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams talk about his hurry-come-up South-side Child Curfew. In a society often gripped by panic, Williams had popular support, but child rights advocates weren’t so sure. Reliable information reaching our news room is that several key stake holders in the social services sector are not on-board with the program – because it victimizes children for the failings of their parents, and flies in the face of the convention on the rights of the child. But according to Williams, he has not heard any of this negative feedback. ACP Chester Williams - OC, Eastern Division South: "I have not heard any negative blow back from UNICEF or the Human Services Department and as it related to that, I will say no more, other than to say that after the Easter break, we will be seeing how best we can get together with all the social partners to see how we go with this new initiative and that is all I will say at this time."

Debate Day Two Is Feisty
The budget debate rolled on today in Belmopan – in fact at this hour, it is still going into the night. And why not – it’s the only parliamentary session when Members of the House are given wide latitude to speak on almost any matter of national interest – once they can sort of tie it into the budget. That budget is called "Stability in a Time of Change”, but not surprisingly, the Opposition’s representatives rejected any notion of stability. Here’s a few excerpts of the presentations made by members on both sides: Hon. Julius Espat - Area Rep., Cayo South: "It is a very sad situation Mr. Speaker but it seems that once again we will be forced to lead on the judiciary to seek a judgement of the unlawful practices that the prime minister continues to adhere to. Meaning we will take him to court again. It seems that this is the only avenue left to us Mr. Speaker." Hon. Omar Figueroa - Area Rep., Cayo North: "This budged while scrupulous demonstrates yet again that this United Democratic Party government is driven at its core by fiscal prudence. Therefore Mr. Speaker this budget does indeed provide stability in a time of change as such even as we prepare to face uncertainties in the source of revenues from Petrocaribe and our own petroleum industry, this budget preserves hallmark programmes of this administration."

Foreign Minister Takes On BDF Report
And while that will end the day late in the night, Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington started it off this morning at 9:00 speaking on Belize Guatemala relations, and the recent flare up in the Sarstoon River. Last week, during his press conference on the Bilateral Talks with Guatemala in Washington DC, we asked him about the BDF Threat Assessment Report which outlines the 10 years of aggressive encounters with the Guatemalan military in the Sarstoon. He said then that he hadn’t read the report, but it appears that over the weekend took the opportunity to review it. Today, he took another bite at the cherry and made a 1-hour, 10 minute presentation on the territorial claim. Here’s his explanation of the context that these aggressive incidents should be taken in:

Minister Maligns Media
As you heard in those comments, Elrington is not happy with the media. And you can kind of understand why…in his 8 year sin the job, he’s been repeatedly pilloried in the press. In Friday’s newscast, you saw our examination of the diplomatic double speak on Belize/Guatemala relations that has been a feature of the discussions about controversial incidents at the border. Well, while he had everyone’s attention this morning, Elrington confronted the press squarely: "I find it so incomprehensible Mr. Speaker that we have so many knowledgeable people about the Guatemalan issue and whenever the issue comes up, especially involving the Sarstoon, the most prominent media find the least informed person to interview ad nauseam. People who they interview can't even talk, can't even articulate their views properly but the media invariably seek them out. What are you trying to do with your population, in my view it’s an injustice, you're doing a disservice to your population."

First Termer Feeling For Feinstein Or Singing For Supper?
First term Representative Kareem Musa used his first opportunity on the national stage to ask the Barrow Government to reconsider its position on Belizean Developer Mike Feinstein’s Stakebank Cruise Port project. The government has already passed the law for this project to act as a port of entry, but it’s been one delay after another to get to the construction phase. The latest hurdle, according to Government, is that Feinstein wants an exclusivity guarantee that his Cruise Port will be the only berthing facility in Belize City that can accommodate the Oasis Class Cruise Ships. Well, Musa told his fellow parliamentarians that Prime Minister Barrow didn’t tell the whole story. Here’s how he put it today in the House:

Fighting Over Fees
Another topic that Musa took on are the legal fees that the Barrow Administration is paying the Prime Minister’s relatives: brother Denys Barrow, neice Naima Barrow, and ex-wife Lois Young Barrow. Now, you might want to call this a case of political double jeopardy since this was a centerpiece of the PUP campaign in the November 2015 general elections – which the PUP lost. But, Kareem Musa, himself an attorney, brought it back to the house today – following his father who did so yesterday. But this time, UDP Party whip Michael Finnegan – ever a defender of the Prime Minister – didn’t let him go unscathed. Here’s what they both had to say: Hon. Kareem Musa - Area Rep., Caribbean Shores: "And you want to know how much money the Prime Minister and as the Minister of Finance gave to his family members and friends in legal fees? If you turn to page 46 of the budget Mr. Speaker, at 41.10 you will see that over the last 3 years, the Prime Minister as the Minister of Finance has paid out a whopping 14 million; this isn't monopoly money by the way, this is real money, 14,895,432 dollars to his friends and family in legal fees but that is only one line item, 14 million plus...

Frank Pawpa Mena Tells Scott Stirm To Fly Away
And finally from the house today…in last night’s news, we showed you Pastor Scott Stirm saying that the revered Garifuna Dugu Ceremony is “witchcraft.” Today Dangriga Representative Frank “Pawpa” Mena, who represents the Garifuna stronghold of “Dangriga” responded. He said that Stirm is free to leave the country at any time: "I need a couple of seconds to address the presentation made by the Eurocentric pastor who's obvious skin colour seems like its entitlement to ethnocentrism. Garifuna spirituality is what it is, it is Garifuna spirituality. It is part and parcel of a rich heritage called Garifuna Dugu. Much of the black and indigenous cultural practices were destroyed by the forceful introduction of those Eurocentric believes as early as the 15th century. Those days are gone Mr. Speaker, the pastor's utterances are obvious signs of the time; if you can't respect a great people in culture and country then there are daily flights out of Belize on a regular basis. We are a people of faith, courage and resilience and we normally say in Garifuna god in front of us and we follow."

Children Threatened In Biospharms Dispute
In February, we told you about the case of the Biospharms subdivision in the Cayo District. Americans who bought into the project, say that the owner, American Developer Darin Smith had taken their money and jilted them out of a title. Well, on Monday in court, one of the disgruntled Biospharms owners, Cyndi Carson won a case against Smith on the title dispute. But the news is what happened on Tuesday morning in Los Tambos village where the Biospharms subdivision is located. This sign threatening the life Jeremiah Allen’s children by name appeared at the entrance to the village. Allen has been one of the most outspoken critics of Darin Smith and Biospharms.

Cocaine On A Plane?
The GSU found cocaine on a Tropic Air plane. On Monday evening after 5 the Gang Suppression Unit searched a Tropic Air flight at the Municipal airstrip which was heading to PG. They found a black hand bag with 528 grams or 1.2 pounds of suspected Cocaine. The plane made a stop at Placencia and information suggests that the cocaine was to have been dropped off there but no one was there to pick it up. From drugs on a plane to ammunition on a boat. At 1 On Monday afternoon GSU searched a skiff on East Collett Canal in the Conch Shell Bay area. They found (10) ten live 9mm rounds of ammunition. The rounds were labeled as Found Property. And more drugs were found on Monday morning at 11 , this time on Saint Jude Street. The GSU found 440 grams of weed – about one pound - hidden in a tree in an abandoned lot. No one was in the area so the drugs were again labeled as Found Property. The drugs are believed to be for a known drug peddler living in the area.

Taking On TB
“I Am Stopping TB,” that is the theme adopted for this year’s World Tuberculosis awareness day – which is observed on March 24th. That’s tomorrow, but to make use of the down town foot traffic today, the Ministry of Health held its annual TB Awareness Fair at the Battle Field Park. We spoke to with nurse Annette Uhser-Welcome one of the organizers of the event, who told us about the local fight against Tuberculosis. Last year, the Chest clinic in Belize City recorded a total of 35 cases of Tuberculosis. 35% of those cases were cured.

Police Reach Out To Faber's Road
It’s Wednesday – so that must mean it’s time for police meet and greet. Today South Side Police were in the Faber’s Road extension area. Commander Chester Williams says this community interaction has yielded measurable results. And while we’ve heard a lot about the kids curfew, to take Kids off the streets, another avenue that police are using to reach out to youths is, of course, their weekly meet and greet sessions in south side neighbourhoods.

Channel 5

RED Police Capture Armed Robbers in River Valley
There have been a string of violent robberies of late in the Belize District and with the Easter holidays upon us, the police are asking residents to be careful. The [...]

Motorist Mows Down American Cyclists Training for Cross Country
A group of US cyclists training on the George Price Highway this morning was hit by a vehicle near mile thirteen driven by a seventy-four year old Denton Hendy. All [...]

Regular & Diesel Pump Prices Go Up Again
The domestic cost of fuel went up again earlier this week with the cost per gallon of regular inching closer toward the nine dollar cap. While the cost per gallon [...]

Coast Guard Graduates 46
The eighth class of recruits of the Belize National Coast Guard graduated this morning at the Williamson Compound in Ladyville. The intake of forty-six trained for three months to prepare [...]

Papa Mena Takes on Pastor Stirm in the House
Well-known Pastor Scott Stirm has come under some fire in the wake of the release of a video which has gone viral. In the edited video, Stirm is speaking to [...]

Barrow Uses Debate to Slam Caribbean Shores Rep
The debate on the 2016/2017 budget ran the full two days allocated in the House, and was closed with the Prime Minister’s presentation at around eight on Wednesday night. For [...]

PM Says Cayo South Rep Is a Pig Without Lipstick
But the PM reserved special insult for Cayo South Representative Julius Espat. In his presentation Espat played on the Old English definition of barrow which he claimed referred to a [...]

Prime Minister Claims Opposition’s Debate is Full of Untruths and Half-Truths
And then to the budget for the fiscal year 2016/2017! Starting with the leader of the Opposition, members on that side of the gallery claimed that based on all relevant [...]

OW South Rep Says Budget Has Nothing for Agro-Productive Sector
A major plank of the Opposition’s debate in the House was agriculture. They pointed to situations in the papaya, shrimp, citrus, sugar and banana and put the blame squarely on [...]

PM Rebuts Mai – Says His Administration is All for Agriculture
Prime Minister Barrow says that criticism is unfair based on the many factors which are completely out of government’s control. Additionally, he states that any claim that his administration has [...]

Opposition Leader Praised by U.D.P. Mesopotamia Rep
We close tonight’s coverage of the 2016/2017 budget debate with something we’ve hardly before been privileged to witness. The sessions in the House are always confrontational and testy, often hostile [...]

Fisheries Officer Charged for Crazy Sexual Assault
An allegation of sexual assault has been lodged against a Fisheries Officer by a woman who claims he sexually assaulted her at the corner of Regent Street West and the [...]

4 Chinese and Male Vendor in Hattieville Charged for Altercation
The Manager of Everyday Supermarket in Hattieville and three employees were arraigned on Wednesday for wounding entertainer Harrison Bruce fourteen days ago. Wei Lin Huang, Manager of the supermarket, and [...]

ACP Broaster Supports Implementation of Curfew for Minors
As we’ve reported, the suspects in many of the recent crimes in the Belize District are minors and the three regional commanders of the Eastern Division are actively looking at [...]

Canon Leroy Flowers Reflects on the Meaning of Easter
Easter, like Christmas, is a special time of year. While many celebrate the birth of Christ on December twenty-fifth, they also mourn his death on Good Friday and honor his [...]

Coast Guard Issues Boating Advisory for Easter Season
The exodus from mainland to the cayes began earlier today, with dozens of private vessels heading out to San Pedro, Caye Caulker and other secluded locations. While Belizeans take to [...]

Gapi Vega Explains His Abrupt Departure
Day-two of the budget debate started promptly at nine this morning. All eyes have been on the representative for Orange Walk North, Gaspar Vega. In the biggest political news of [...]

Vega Says He’ll Remain Active in Orange Walk North
There has been rampant speculation that Vega’s resignation is a result of the Ministry of Lands being removed from him after general elections of November fourth, 2015. One very popular [...]

Sedi Addresses Issue of Sarstoon Incident in Debate
Today’s session in the House of Representatives, the second day of the new budget for the fiscal year beginning April first, was led by Area Representative for Pickstock Wilfred Elrington. [...]

Elrington Says Belizeans Are Provoking Guatemalans at the Sarstoon
The head of this country, Prime Minister Dean Barrow, has condemned the aggressive actions of the Guatemalans at the Sarstoon, not only in the wake of this last incident but [...]

Guatemala Responds to CARICOM Release on Sarstoon Incident
Still on the issue of the Sarstoon, Guatemala’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded fast and furious to a release from the CARICOM Secretariat in which the region expresses support [...]

Mid-Afternoon Murder – Victor Garnett is Executed on Sibun Street
There is more bloodshed in the Old Capital and there appears to be a pattern. In today’s murder, as in three recent homicides, the suspected gunmen are all minors. This [...]

Oscar Gomez Did Not Commit Suicide; He Was Murdered
The post mortem results are in and all indications are that forty-one-year-old Salvadoran national Oscar Gomez did not take his own life. The Ladyville resident bled to death after being [...]

Who murdered ‘Fat Cat’ in Ladyville last Friday?
Who murdered ‘Fat Cat’ in Ladyville last Friday? That’s what investigators want to know. Despite an open inquiry into the weekend murder of Rene Chavarria, police are no closer to [...]

Roger Anthony Before the Court Following an Encounter with Officers
Well-known street figure Roger Anthony is back in the news tonight, following a scuffle with security personnel at the Phillip Goldson International Airport on Tuesday. Anthony accompanied his wife to [...]

Millions of Dollars in Legal Fees Paid to Barrow’s Family and Friends
Representative for Caribbean Shores Kareem Musa had one of the longest and one of the most passionate presentations of day-two of the budget debate. In his first budget presentation, Musa [...]

Is B.T.L. Actually BPL – Barrow Pinata Limited?
Musa also turned up the heat on Belize Telemedia Limited, nationalized by the government in 2009. While the government touts this acquisition in consecutive budgets as one of the stellar [...]

The Staggering Debt to GDP Ratio
During the first day of the budget debate, which broke Tuesday evening at around six o’clock, Opposition members in the gallery condemned the budget as pure rhetoric, and claimed that [...]

Fonseca Reiterates that Belize is in Recession
According to Fonseca, while our debt continues to grow, the economy is stagnant, and that is a recipe for disaster. He toed the Opposition line and assertion that whether it [...]

Julius Espat Rejects Budget; Speaks on Supplementary Appropriations
Julius Espat, Area Representative of Cayo South and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, joined his colleagues in rejecting the budget presented by the Prime Minister. His focus was on [...]

Julius Espat Takes A Swipe at the PM
Espat concluded his presentation by taking a swipe at the Prime Minister, who in a prior session has used the privilege granted by the House to refer to Espat as [...]

Sedi Takes Aim at the Media
And after complaining that Belizeans travelling to the Sarstoon as stalkers, and suggesting that those Belizeans are provoking Guatemalans, Elrington turned his attention to the media. He announced that he [...]

World Water Day – Water and Jobs
This Tuesday was celebrated across the globe as World Water Day. In Belize, the activities since last week with a two-day water symposium held at the Biltmore Plaza. The symposium [...]

Women in the Port and Maritime Sectors
A group of women, a majority of whom are stakeholders in the local maritime industry, met this evening at a forum organized by the Belize Ports Authority and Women in [...]

Police Officers Out on the Streets Meeting Faber’s Road Residents
Eastern Division South police officers were back on the beat today in the south side of Belize City for its weekly meet and greet with residents. Faber’s Road Extension has [...]

LOVE FM

Five Cyclist Injured on Highway in Western Belize
Four cyclists from the United States who were scheduled to participate in this weekend’s annual cross country cycling classic were involved in a road traffic accident this morning on the George Price Highway. The four men along with two women were between mile 13 and 14 in the Village of Hattieville when the incident occurred. […]

Two Armed Robbery Within One Week in Punta Gorda
Punta Gorda Police are looking to the public for assistance following a second armed robbery in that municipality within a one week period. We hear more in this report from correspondent Paul Mahung.

Security Guard Imposters Rob Gas Station in Rural Belize
Yesterday, Belize River Valley Supplies Gas station in Scotland Half Moon Village was robbed. Two males dressed in Fort Point Security uniforms entered the vicinity and demanded money from the cashier at gunpoint. A total of eleven hundred dollars cash in different denominations were stolen, along with a number of outdoor products from the shelf […]

PetroCaribe and the Budget for 2016/2017
Prime Minister Dean Barrow wrapped up the budget debate last night inside the National Assembly building. One of the first criticisms that Barrow answered from the Opposition, People’s United Party had to do with the PetroCaribe funds and contracts awarded for infrastructural works. In his presentation, John Briceno, the Leader of the Opposition […]

8 Injured in Holy Thursday Accident
A road traffic accident occurred on the Phillip Goldson Highway just after three o’clock this afternoon. It occurred at mile thirty one near the Crooked Tree Junction and involved three vehicles, a grey Hyundai, a white four door pick up and a maroon ford expedition. Police on the scene could not say what caused the […]

Riders Ready for Cross Country 2016
The annual cross country cycling classic is the biggest event on the cycling calendar and one of the hallmarks of the Easter weekend. Cyclists covet the title and the chance to wear the garland. President of the Cycling Federation of Belize, Dion Leslie spoke to Love news about the upcoming race. A number […]

2016 Budget Debate Review
The 2016 Budget debate continued yesterday inside the National Assembly Building and despite having started an hour earlier, it finished after sunset. Each Area Representatives had their turn to speak on the budget and voice the concerns of the constituency they are representing. Here are a few of those comments. Prime Minister Dean Barrow […]

Shopping for Fish on Holy Thursday
One of the traditions upheld for years for Good Friday, is the consumption of fish. With today being Holy Thursday, we ventured out to the Vernon Street Fish Market to see what the last minute shoppers are getting and what they are paying. Several boats were docked at the market when we got there just […]

Easter Plans 2016
The long holiday Easter weekend has begun for many and as is tradition for most families, it is a weekend to get away from the norm. It is a weekend that also requires some extra monies. Today, while many have already left their homes for the weekend vacation, many were still in the city and […]

Vega Speaks on His Resignation
The news of Gaspar Vega’s decision to resign from the post of First Deputy Leader of the United Democratic Party came as a shock to many. In a letter sent to the Chairman of the UDP, Vega also stated that will not seek re-election in the next general elections. The three term UDP minister says […]

Elrington Insists on the ICJ
During his budget speech, Foreign Affairs Minister, Wilfred Elrington, spoke on Guatemala’s claim on Belize as he was expected to. Minister Elrington spoke specifically about the situation surround the Sarstoon River and Sarstoon Island. During his address, Elrington reiterated the government’s position in taking the issue to the International Court of Justice. WILFRED ELRINGTON “ […]

Foreign Minister Chastises Media on Belize/Guatemala Reports
While he was speaking on Guatemala’s territorial claim on Belize, Minister of Foreign Affairs turned his attention to the media of Belize. Minister Wilfred Elrington criticized the media for offering a disservice to the public stating that media houses, twist and turn his words to make him look bad and incite hate. However, with that […]

Murder on St Jude Street
A mid-afternoon shooting in Belize City has left one man dead. When Police responded to the scene on St. Jude Street, just before two o’clock this afternoon, they found the body of Victor Garnett with a gunshot wound to the head. Garnett is no stranger to Police. He has been charged for a number of […]

Minor Suspected of Killing Fat Cat
Rene “Fat Cat” Chavarria, allegedly a gang leader of the Rocky Road gang was murdered last Friday night. Chavarria was riding his bicycle along Marage Road in Ladyville when he was shot. During the gun fire, a minor was also injured. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Edward Broaster, Officer in Command in the Rural Eastern Division […]

Police Says It Was Murder not Suicide
The death of forty one year old Oscar Gomez has been ruled as murder. Last week Thursday, Gomez was found bleeding from his neck in Lords Bank. While police are unsure of what took place, they were told by eyewitness Alex Williams that his friend, Gomez had stabbed himself in the neck. Following the autopsy […]

Roger Anthony Barges in Airport After Wife Subjected to A Search
Well known street figure, Roger Anthony, is facing a number of charges for acting unruly at the Phillip Goldson International Airport. Yesterday, Anthony went to airport to pick up his wife who was travelling from Panama. Reports are that when Anthony heard that his wife was being searched by security inside Anthony became irrational. Assistant […]

Philip Goldson’s Predictions of the Belize/Guatemala Dispute
While the matter is one being dealt primarily by the National Security and Foreign Affairs ministries, we did ask Cabinet Minister, Anthony Boots Martinez, what his weigh-in is on the matter. ANTHONY BOOTS MARTINEZ “As Cabinet we operate collectively and so the discussion has been intensive and I think that government is working hard to […]

Guatemala Tells CARICOM Sarstoon River Is Theirs
There has been much concern regarding the Belize/Guatemala matter over the years but as of recent, those concerns have increased especially since the Saturday, March 12 incident at the Sarstoon. Since then we have been reporting on matters arising out of that incident including a statement from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) expressing its solidarity with […]

Pier One Bar and A Child Friendly Municipality
Last week the Belize City Council presented the Child Advisory Board for Belize City that is made up of twelve children and established under the UN’s program to make municipalities child-friendly. These children are being given the opportunity to speak on behalf of other children on issues that pose as obstacles in reaching the targets […]

The Guardian

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow endorsed as UDP leader one last time
Sunday March 20th marked the United Democratic Party’s National Convention. Filled with energy and vigor, the UDP family gathered to pass two amendments to the party’s constitution as well as to recognize those who have contributed greatly to the accomplishments of the UDP (see page 3) The day began with a presentation by special guest speaker, Dr. Arlie Petters who congratulated the party on the accomplishments of national development and in particular singled the UDP as the only party who has done so much for the people of his hometown Dangriga. He went on to explain that true development comes when people are empowered and valued as well as ensuring that their standard of living are improved starting from the street level. After a mix of entertainment presentations from artists the convention ratified two changes to the constitution which was presented by Senior Counsel Michael Young. The amendments will see the Secretary General of the party allowed to vote at the Central Executive of the party and the second amendment will see the national convention be suspended for 4 years only allowing it to be held no earlier than January 2020. In the second amendment there are provisions for special conventions to fill vacant posts in the leadership only in the case of a resignation or a death.

Scott Stirm calls Garifuna Dugu withcraft
Over the past weekend, a presentation that was streamed on the web via a webcast (http://static.xpmedia.com/video/15973) which features Scott Stirm, went viral after he stated that, “we have a reasonable, pretty good amount of withcraft that still takes place in Belize”. According to Stirm, that witchcraft is practiced by the Garifuna. If his statement seems outlandish it is! We have taken the liberty to transcribe his rant and here is what he stated: There is a people group that’s called the Garifuna in Belize and they are the closest descendants to the African slaves that came over. They fought and resisted slavery so they never submitted to the colonial rule and in that people group two of our adopted sons are from that people group and so. But I got to know a wonderful, wonderful lady in the southern part of Belize, amazing on fire woman of God; leading people to the Lord praying for healing and signs and wonders. And what happened is her, one of her family members was an extremely, extremely powerful witch and also a multi-millionaire off of her witchcraft and what happened is, this is a real story. This lady told me, she said, “I was invited to come to a family reunion.” She said, “when I got there I realized that it was not a family reunion. I realized that it was what was called a Dugu, which is the ancestors are upset! This witchlady said: with you , you and you...”

UDP Deputy Leadership void to be filled soon...John Saldivar
The United Democratic Party held its National Convention on Sunday March 20 during which Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow declared that Hon. Gaspar Vega, in his not opting to be endorsed as the first Deputy Party Leader of the UDP a vacuum was left however he noted that "holes are made to be filled and the United Democratic Party will fill the hole. No sooner had the convention concluded than when Collett Area Representative and Minister of Education Hon. Patrick Faber called a press conference in which he declared via a press conference that he will be contesting for the position. Almost simultaneously Hon. John Saldivar also came out with a statement declaring that he too will be contesting the position. Hon. Faber is going into the election with the slogan "Patrick Faber - the path to the future" while Hon. John Saldivar's slogan being "Unity, Maturity, Continuity!"

UDP has renewed commitment to Women and Youth development
The United Democratic Party renewed its commitment to women and youth development at its national convention in Dangriga on Sunday, March 20. Normally there are a number of policy statements on national issues introduced at the party’s national convention but this time the sole focus was on providing opportunities for women to be better represented at the national decision making level and recruiting and developing young leaders across the country. Diane Haylock, President of the United Democratic Party’s National Organization of Women (UDP-NOW), delivered the policy statement on women. The United Democratic Party commits to assist women in achieving their ambitions; challenge conscious and unconscious gender bias; strive for gender-balanced leadership at all levels; value women and men’s contributions equally and demonstrate zero tolerance for discrimination and violence against women. Haylock pointed out that Belize has joined the international community in the signing of international conventions with commitments to strive for gender equality, equity and women’s empowerment. “In this context, we committed, at the very least, to achieve a minimum 30% representation of Women at the highest levels of decision-making. We committed to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women. We committed to parity in education and employment. We committed to end gender-based violence.”

PUP guilty of Shakron mathematics
When the new Leader of the Opposition rose to speak on the 2016 Budget Appropriation Debate on Tuesday March 22nd, one was tricked into thinking, wow a new approach. But that feeling did not last for long. He soon sank into the traditional high pitched tone of blame and finger pointing. Unfortunately for the lonesome Leader, he got not even a whisper of inspirational support from his flock. The lone ranger Leader put up a good front trying to be objective, by suggesting that he held consultation with the Agricultural sector. Soon however the Leader drifted into that abyss where only his memories reside. For, the truth be told only a crippled mind can or would want to hold on to projects such as MaxBoro, Mahogany Heights, Fresh Pond, and an incomplete Southern Highway as measures of success. Mr. Briceno, however while slow in thought is not lacking for brevity. This man in the mirror soon spoke on the issue of corruption, a topic for which his past government became known as the leading architect. The poor leader seems to have forgotten that Wikileaks has fingered him as accepting cable companies in return for certain favors. He has also forgotten those claims of payments made in his direction by one Allen Sam for PSA’. By the way Channel 7 news is still awaiting that promised disclosure of source of financing for those cable companies.

“Riding for Belize” - Honourable Elodio Aragon, Jr. Minister of State – Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture
The Annual Cross Country Cycling Classic is an iconic sport in Belize. This annual race forms a part of our history and is embedded in our culture. As the race takes off on Holy Saturday, Belizeans at home and abroad are filled with excitement as they tune in to follow this national sporting event. This race is testament to the fact that the Cycling Classic is not only a demonstration of our strength, endurance and skill; it is also one of the most powerful uniting forces for Belize. So as our male and female cyclists make their way across our western hills and valleys, we hail their talents and celebrate them as our sporting heroes and heroines. In the midst of this 2016 race, I invite you to see sports as a key element in nation building. Sports remains pivotal to breaking down racial and ethnic barriers, engaging youth, promoting diversity, ensuring gender equity and equality, and fostering community cohesion and community mindedness. In this sense, the Annual Cross Country Cycling Classic is a ride for Belize, a ride that says to the world that while we are a part of the regional and international community, we also remain a sovereign nation.

Budget debate day 1
With the New PUP Leader promising that under his leadership there would be a new approach to the way the opposition makes their presentations on matters before the National Assembly , being that the content of their presentations would be about substance rather than political grandstanding, our hopes were high and we were awaiting day one of the debate on the 2016/2017 Budget Estimates. However all hopes and expectations were squashed as soon as the Opposition Leader got up and started to speak. His presentation was full of the usual PUP political rhetoric. There was no change as he had promised. He was speaking but saying nothing as usual. His presentation must have been the cue for the other members on that side of the house to follow in his footsteps because his Super Deputy Cordel got up and made a mockery of himself . There is another word that we would have liked to use to describe him but because this is a public space, common decency prevents us from so doing.

Internet access for Belizeans is a priority
Internet access continues to be a priority for all Belizeans, considering the tremendous technological advances that have been sweeping across the World. Only decades ago, a main frame computer occupied an entire room, in contrast with today, where speeds of microprocessors have not only increased, but gone down in size; making it possible for internet ready computers to fit in the palm of our hands. As a result of increased speed in microprocessors, computer units have also been able to perform multitasking with greater efficiency; speeding up communications in real time from anywhere on Earth. All this has led to the rise of data rich mediums such as Facebook, Viber, Windows Live, WhatsApp, Skype and others that are now changing the business models of internet providers and at the same time giving endless joy to tech savvy consumers. In 2015, some 43% of the World’s population was connected to the internet, with a share of the population covered by mobile broadband networks. Also in 2015, there were still 4.1 billion people without internet access and 1.6 billion without mobile broadband coverage. As a result, the United Nations General Assembly and the International Telecom Union ITU recently called on the International Community to provide universal access to affordable internet by 2020. This was partially prompted by studies, which suggest that a 10% increase in broadband penetration in developing countries is correlated with a 1.35% increase in Gross Domestic Product GDP.

Man dies on the George Price Highway in Cayo
Another man has died as a result of a traffic accident in the Cayo District. The accident occurred at about noon on Monday of this week in front of Windy Hill Resort on the George Price Highway. A visit by San Ignacio Police revealed that a blue Ford Escort was extensively damaged on the right hand side of the George Price Highway. It was also observed that a Hispanic male person was trapped under the car and motionless. The body was identified as Orlando Neri Madrid, a Belizean Driver of Cristo Rey Village, Cayo District. The body showed injuries to his face and chest area. Initial investigation revealed that Orlando Madrid was driving alone in his car coming from the direction of Benque Viejo Town to San Ignacio Town and upon arrival in front of the Windy Hill Resort, lost control of the car. The 32 year old subsequently ran off the road and overturned.

Fatal traffic accident in Spanish Lookout
There was fatal traffic accident in Spanish Lookout last week. Police received information of a road traffic accident on Wednesday 16th March 2016, about 11:30 a.m. in Spanish lookout. Police subsequently visited the scene where it was processed. Initial investigation revealed that Mr. Felix Sandoval of a Duck Run 1 address was reversing his vehicle from the Esso Gas Station compound on the Center Road in Spanish Lookout when the accident happened. Police were later able to identify the accident victim as Mr. Alejandro Padillo from Duck Run 2. The elderly man was transported to the Western Regional Hospital and subsequently to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. A Notice of intended Prosecution has since been served to Mr. Felix Sandoval and statements have been recorded. Upon completion of the case file, relating to this accident, it will be forwarded to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution for advice.

Fatal traffic accident
Thirty three year-old Hattieville Resident Jason Robinson was knocked down and killed by a bus on Friday night, March 18, 2016. According to police, just before 8 p.m., Robinson was on his bicycle heading toward Belize City. He was approaching mile 16 when a Shaw Bus, heading in the same direction, hit him from behind. The bus ran him over, crushed his body and completely wrecked his bike. The driver of the bus has reported to police that it was dark, and while he was on the George Price Highway, there was a portion of the road near mile 16 that isn’t well-lit. The driver said that by the time he spotted Robinson on the bike, there wasn't enough time to react and avoid the accident.

Church brother charged for slapping the Devil out of a child
An eleven-year-old boy reported to police that William Linarez, 20, who he knows from church, slapped him across the face because he was allegedly possessed by a demon at the time. On Wednesday afternoon, March 16, the boy’s 44-year-old mother took him to the police station to report the incident. The boy claims that he was at Mel’s Restaurant on Albert Street with his brother when Linarez walked up to him, told him that he was possessed and being used by powerful demons and slapped him to the left side of the face. Linarez, a resident of #38 Racecourse Street, was arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court and charged with common assault. Linarez pleaded not guilty to the charge before Magistrate Carlon Mendoza. Since there was no objection to bail, Linarez was released on bail in the sum of $500 plus one surety of the same amount which he met. The prosecutor asked that conditions be set to his bail and as a result Linarez is not to come within 100 yards of the victim.

Boom farmer busted with unlicensed shotgun
Burrell Boom Village farmer, Carl Charley, 42, is on remand at the Belize Central Prison after he was busted with a shot gun on Thursday, March 17. The bust occurred at 2:15 a.m. at a police checkpoint set up between Miles 13 and 14 on the Phillip Goldson Highway. According to police, officers of the Mobile Interdiction Team (MIT) were conducting a checkpoint in the Sandhill area when their attention was drawn to a vehicle which was heading towards them. The vehicle suddenly made a U-turn and police set chase behind it. During the chase, officers saw when the driver of the vehicle threw an object out the window. One officer exited the vehicle and picked up the object while another officer continued the pursuit. The officer eventually intercepted the vehicle and ordered the driver to exit. He complied and a search was conducted. Nothing incriminating was found and that is when police took him back to the area where the object was thrown. There they found a green crocus sac with a shotgun inside.

Rene Chavarria hunted down and killed in Ladyville
Twenty five year-old Ladyville Resident Rene Chavarria was shot and killed on Friday night, March 18, 2016. Chavarria, also known as “Fat Cat”, had developed a sort of reputation for the street life, and a few years ago, he was facing attempted murder charges. It appears that his enemies hunted him down and executed him. According to police investigation, at around 9:10 p.m. on Friday, Chavarria was riding his bicycle on Mirage Road. He was heading home in the Milpa area of Ladyville, and that’s when 2 men rode up on him on bikes and opened fire at him. Chavarria tried to get away, and he jumped a drain. He was trying to take cover near the Caribbean Shrimp Farm area, but before getting there, he collapsed in the nearby bushes and took his last breath. He had been shot in the back of the head, the upper right shoulder, and the center of the back.

Robbery on the Bullet Tree Road in Cayo
A taxi driver has been robbed en route to Bullet Tree Falls in Cayo. Belizean taxi driver, Albino Itzab from San Ignacio Town reported that about 1:45pm on Wednesday of last week, he was travelling with his wife in his 2002 grey Toyota Corolla taxi, when he was robbed on the Bullet Tree Road. The 61 year old Albino Itza had unsuspectingly allowed entry into his four door taxi, two males in their early twenties and a female in her fifties. They did so from in front of the Caoba Restaurant in San Ignacio Town, and all are of Hispanic descent. The unassuming passengers had asked for a taxi ride to Calla Creek and after being about 500 yards from a farm on the Santa Rosa area, one of the males took out a knife and began behaving in a threatening manner. He pointed his knife to the neck area of Albino Itzab and asked him to render all possessions.

U.S National found dead in Cayo
A U.S National has been found dead in the Cayo District. San Ignacio Police visited a two storey concrete house at the corner of Minerva and Quarry Hill on Friday of last week, whereupon a male Caucasian was discovered hanging from an orange electric cord that was tied from a post at the top of the second floor. He was identified as fifty eight year old Robert William Carter. No signs of physical violence were observed on the U.S National. His body was taken down and transported to the San Ignacio Hospital, after which he was pronounced dead. The body awaits a post mortem examination and the U.S Embassy has been informed--in keeping with the Police Department’s protocol.

Kaydine Pinello is the 17th Junior Cross Country Champion
The Cycling Federation of Belize in partnership with Belize Electricity Limited sponsored its 17th Annual Junior Male Cross Country Cycling Classic on Sunday 20th March, 2016. The event started at the Succotz Ferry and concluded at Leslie’s Imports at Mile 2 on the George Price Highway. The 70 miles event attracted some 38 riders in the junior and youth categories which saw 22 riders completing the course. At the end of 3:12:10, it was Kaydine Pinello of SMART Junior Cycling Team that crossed the finish line first to capture the Junior Cross Country Title. The second rider to cross the finish line was Brian Sutherland of Cabral/Marin Cycling Team and he was followed by Darien Anderson of WKC Strikers, and he was followed by Andre Belisle of Cabral/Marin Cycling Team and then by Gian Lino also of Cabral/Marin Cycling Team to round off the top five finishers in the event.

Dangriga Warriors dish out second defeat to Smart Belize Hurricanes
The National Elite Basketball League competition continued last Friday 18th March, 2016, with three games on the schedule. At the Stann Creek Ecumenical High School Auditorium in Dangriga Town, the home team Dangriga Warriors upended the highly regarded and competition’s favourite the Smart Belize Hurricanes by the score of 72-54. The top scorers for the Dangriga Warriors were James Ewing with 20 points, 6 rebounds and a steal; Edgar Mitchell with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals and Macario Augustine with 10 points, 17 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. For the Smart Belize Hurricanes were Farron Louriano with 15 points, 5 rebounds and a steal; Akeem Watters with 10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 steals and Darwin Leslie with 9 points, 2 rebounds and 4 steals.

WORDS OF LIFE
On Palm Sunday Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, to fulfill prophesy. The people were looking for a political or military deliverer, but Jesus came as our spiritual leader and Savior. During the last week of his earthly ministry, which we call Holy Week, Jesus taught about the Kingdom of Heaven and future events. He also predicted his betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection. After his final meal with his disciples, they all went to the Garden of Gethsemane for prayer. It was here that Jesus was betrayed and arrested. This was Thursday evening, and after being brought before a night court of the Jewish religious officials, he was sentenced to death. The Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, was the only one who could carry out this sentence, and it would be by crucifixion. It was the Chief Priests and elders of the people who wanted Jesus to be executed, for the crime of blasphemy. This was because he claimed to be the Son Of God. Despite all the evidence and fulfillment of prophecies, they did not recognize that Jesus was their long-awaited Messiah.

Gapi’s Departure
The central topic in many gatherings these days here in OW is the abrupt resignation of Hon. Gaspar “Gapi” Vega as Deputy Party Leader of the United Democratic Party, and the consequential relinquishing of his substantive post as Deputy Prime Minister. Fuel to these weekend parleys was heightened when the Hon. Vega was not present at the budget presentation, nor did he attend the UDP convention in Dangriga on March 20. From what I have heard on the ground, there is little doubt that Gapi’s departure from electoral politics has, in the short term at least, significantly affected the Party’s strength in the North. He was the leader, coordinator and organizer for the UDP here in the OW and Corozal Districts. He will leave a vacuum that will take some time to fill, both in terms of financing and in matching his charismatic nature in dealing with people. Two mitigating factors related to this unexpected development are that there is, in the first instance, sufficient time to identify a suitable substitute for Vega before the next Generals and, secondly, the PUP is not poised to take immediate advantage of this sudden drawback facing the UDP. The PUP has its own internal anxieties to deal with and simply cannot make any strategic move up North due to the existing hostile temperament within their Executive.

Desperation Squared
I make it a point to steer clear from commenting on the different practices and traditions of the several religious denominations that exist in Belize today. This is because many scholars hold firm the opinion that religious intolerance between differing faiths has sparked the most appalling conflicts in our world’s civilized history; several of these deadly conflicts continue without abate even to this day. That said, and I say this tongue in cheek, I will risk one comment here on a ritual which I thought was pretty uncommon and bizarre, especially coming from a nationally recognized organization who participated in this ceremony. Last week Wednesday January 15 the leadership of the People’s United Party went to sing “happy birthday” songs at the tombstone of the late Rt. Hon. George C. Price, and then later went on to sponsor a press conference at Independence Hall, evoking the former PUP leader’s name several times during the in-house political rally. In my view, the entire episode, but especially the part in front of the grave, came across as superficial since the PUP leaders were without question exploiting the departed gentleman’s legacy for political profit in promoting their so called “new and improved” social justice agenda.

Pittsology 101
Oreo Cookies and people I used to DISGUST eating Oreo Cookies! However, I now realize that it’s just the cream filling that’s nasty (to me); the actual cookie tastes like heaven! Similarly, countless humans are the same in that just a few of their qualities are actually disgusting. If you are able to pardon, adjust and/or work around the ‘turn-offs’, you may end up experiencing greatness in some of the people you normally block out impulsively. You end up meeting, appreciating and loving much more people as well!

Rado’s unintelligible speech
We all know that Rado is not the sharpest tool in the citrus grove and that was again proven as he stood to make presentations in the budget once again. He was reading words that he could not pronounce he quoted figures that he is unable to understand and gave suggestions that were not his. The question then needs to be asked, who is it that wrote what Rado read? Some have speculated that he did not write the budget speech but say that it was actually one Canton who came up with what was presented in the house. It was as if it were the very hand that was stuck behind Rado’s neck as he went about the motion of reading the speech. It was like we could see the ventriloquist at work quoting figures and giving suggestions. We know that this Canton is a power broker in the citrus industry and it is unfair for him to have done this to Rado and the industry. He would have been better served if he had actually made the presentation himself since what Rado read was barely intelligible.

World Tuberculosis Day
World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is observed every year on March 24th as a means of creating public awareness about TB. This year’s theme is “Unite to end TB”. TB remains a public health concern and is still responsible for 1.5 million global deaths every year. Tuberculosis is a curable and preventable disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (which generally affects the lungs). When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. TB is transmitted from the infected person to another weak person through the droplets formed in the throat or lungs. In 2014, 9.6 million people fell ill with TB and 1.5 million died from the disease. Over 95% of TB deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, and it is among the top five causes of death among women aged 15 to 44. Tuberculosis is a leading entity in terms of mortality of HIV-positive people: in 2015, one in three HIV deaths was related to TB.

Truth revealed
Last Friday night our attention was drawn to a Facebook post of a video recording of a man purported to be one Scott Stirm. We in Belize know only one person by that name and that is one Pastor Scott Stirm. He is a gentleman who sometimes Co-hosts Plus TV's Rise & Shine Morning Show, along with Louis Wade. Stirm purports to be a man of the cloth (A PASTOR) . This man has been a very public figure in Belize for some time now. He has been busy pointing out perceived wrong doings and the sins of the government and the nation, breathing BRIMSTONE and FIRE whenever he saw what he viewed as those sinful deeds of the government and the nation. In other word this man has placed himself in the position as the man who sees all wrongs, sort of Mr Man Without Sin. However what we saw and heard on that recording paints a whole different picture of him . What we concluded after viewing the recording was that the person who was on that recording was a vile and hateful individual. He certainly did not sound like the Scott Stirm we know . The way this man attacked not only Belizeans but also all people in the Caribbean, was like he had a hate factory in his heart.

Marcos Garcia charged for armed robbery
On Friday afternoon, March 18, a gunman walked into Super Pollo Express at #8 Central American Boulevard, pointed the gun at a minor who was working as cashier and ordered him to hand over all the money. Fearing for his life, the minor handed over what was inside the cash register. In total, the robber made off with $800 and ran off. His escape was not properly thought up; however, as police managed to catch up with him a couple hours after the crime was committed. He was identified as 21-year-old Marcos Daniel Garcia, a stevedore and resident of Ebony Street. According to police, one hour after the robbery at Super Pollo Express was reported, officers were on mobile patrol at the corner of Vernon Street and Central American Boulevard when they spotted a man fitting the description of the robbery suspect. They approached him and conducted a search which led to the discovery of a firearm clip containing 4 rounds of .25 ammunition. Garcia was detained and escorted to the police station.

Guatemalan charged for drug trafficking
A Guatemalan male has been charged by Benque Viejo Police for drug trafficking. A group of officers belonging to the Special Patrol Unit (SPU) were on special operations in Arenal Village, near Benque Viejo, when their attention was drawn to a red and white car coming from Guatemala into Arenal Belize. As a result, members of the SPU intercepted the Toyota Corolla car at the Arenal Bus stop. The car was occupied at the time by three Hispanic male persons. They were asked to step out of the vehicle and were informed that a search would be conducted. A search on one of the male persons carrying a knapsack, revealed a green leafy vegetable substance suspected to be cannabis. He was immediately informed of the offence committed, placed under arrest and cautioned. The male person was escorted to the Benque Viejo Police Station and his name was learnt to be Joel Baltazar Pedro, of Barrios, Guatemala. At the Benque Police Station the suspected cannabis was weighed in the presence of the 25 year old, which amounted to 284 grams. Joel Pedro was subsequently arrested and charged for the offence of drug trafficking.

Jamel Webster free of accusation of stealing gun from BSAG
Jamel Webster, 24, a BDF Soldier who was accused of burglarizing the Belize Special Assignment Group’s (BSAG) office at Price Barracks, was freed from a charge of burglary on Thursday, March 17. Allegations are that on Thursday, April 30, 2015, Webster, then a BDF soldier, broke into the room of the BSAG, located at Price Barracks in Ladyville, and stole one 9 mm Beretta pistol. His case was set for trial on Thursday but that was when the Prosecutor in the case, Cpl. Christopher Smith, informed the court that he was withdrawing the charge against him. We were reliably informed that the withdrawal was as result of insufficient evidence against Webster.

Minors, 14 and 15, charged for Godfrey Hemsley’s murder
Two minors, age 14 and 15, are on remand at the Belize Youth Hostel after they were charged for the murder of 31-year-old Godfrey Hemsley. Hemsley was shot to death on Wednesday, March 16, as he was socializing on the bleachers after playing basketball on the Yarborough Green court. His attackers crept up on him from behind and fired numerous shots, leaving Hemsley for dead. He succumbed to the injuries while enroute to the Karl Heusner Memorial. On Monday afternoon, March 21, CIB personnel escorted the minors to the Belize Family Court where they were arraigned before Magistrate Dale Cayetano, Director of the Belize Family Court. Relatives of the minors were present. Due to the nature of the offense of murder, no plea was taken and bail could not be granted. They were both remanded to the Belize Youth Hostel until their next court appearance on May 15, 2016.

Ronalph Ramsey Jr. cleared of murder charge in absence of case file
After ten months on remand for the murder of Kenroy Parham, 25, Ronalph Ramsey Jr., 20, is a free man because no case file is available. No disclosure had been provided to Ramsey since he was arrested in May of 2015 and on Friday, March 18, 2016, Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser asked Prosecuting Inspector Hector Rodriguez for the disclosure. He told her that there is still no case file at the moment. According to Rodriguez, when he made checks for the case file at the DPP’s office he was informed that the case file had not even reached the office as yet. With that, Senior Magistrate Fraser struck out the case against Ramsey. In May of 2015 police arrested Ramsey for the murder of Kenroy Parham who was shot and killed in the Mahogany Heights Community on Friday, November 28, 2014. Ramsey told the court that the police officer who charged him with murder is “punking” him because he was held for 24 hours without any evidence and he did not get to make a phone call. The Chief Magistrate made a note of Ramsey’s statement and the case was turned over to the court room of Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser.

Belize Defence Force new leaders in Closing Season tournament
The Premier League of Belize Closing Season Tournament is fast coming to a close with just about two weeks left in the competition. On Sunday 20th March, 2016, at the MCC Grounds in Belize City, the host team and the new leaders in the competition, the Belize Defence Force blanked the visiting Wagiya FC by the score of 3-0. The Belize Defence Force made it onto the scoreboard when Mark Arzu scored his team’s 1st goal of the game in the 32nd minute of play that gave his team a 1-0 lead. The lead was further extended when Ricky Ricketts scored the Belize Defence Force 2nd goal of the game in the 38th minute of play for a 2-0 lead. That lead was further extended when Osmar Duran scored his team’s 3rd and final goal of the game in the 41st minute of play for a 3-0 lead and the victory.

Caye Caulker Chronicles

Gilligan’s Island, Belize
Saturday morning was upon us and twenty or so of us headed from all directions to our gathering point on the Ocean ferry dock. “Twenty or so” is an accurate number in these parts and anyone that thinks differently should, maybe, kinda, possibly change their mentality and embrace the vague, fuzzy, indistinct mannerisms of our happy community. A day trip had been planned by Boston Mike to the idyllic destination of Goff’s Caye, a tiny island located a good boat journey south from Caye Caulker. If you’ve never been there and somebody says, “Desert island” to you, whatever you are picturing in your head is pretty much spot on. It’s in the Caribbean, azure waters surround it, it’s on a barrier reef and there are palm trees intermittently dispersed to break up the white sand and create shade for would-be castaways. I’m sure Robert Louis Stevenson had something like this in mind when he wrote Treasure Island. 8am was the time we were due to cast of and start our adventure, so, on true Caye Caulker style, we all arrived early and left on time (please refer to paragraph 1 for the definition of local accuracy). We all climbed aboard our vessel, got comfortable and prepared for a day of sun and fun. Breakfast was served cold… thankfully. I mean, who in their right mind wants warm rum punch or beer? Ropes were untied and we were under way promptly at 8:40am. Our lady of the seas for the day was the SS Minnow and being the only Brit on this trip, that meant nothing to me amongst a boat full of Americans and Canadians who all laughed and joked about its name. I honestly thought that they were laughing about the word “Minnow”, because rather than being small; this was a big old bus of a boat. Oh how innocently ignorant and wrong I was.

Amandala

Disturbing edited video of Pastor Stirm goes viral
The video entitled “Scott Stirm insults the Garifuna and admits his real agenda!” has raked up almost 2,500 views on YouTube since it was posted on Friday, March 18. The video, posted by an account named Belize Freedom, is 6 minutes and 14 seconds in length. Belize Freedom’s edited version of the original “Holy Covenant” video shared on the XP Ministries website 8 months ago has gone viral because of the disturbing claims made by Stirm against the Black nation of Haiti and a reference to a Garinagu spiritual leader as a “witch-lady,” at a gathering in Arizona by XP Ministries, whose president is Patricia King. In the description section of the YouTube video the video editor Belize Freedom makes the statement: “You can watch the full video from XP Ministries to see that NOTHING was edited or taken out of context. Stirm starts at about 40 minutes,” and the original video link is shared. Truthfully, the video has been edited; background music is added at times, large sections are cut out (Pastor Stirm speaks for a full 30 minutes in the original) and the editor adds written commentary between clips.

16-year-old murdered over a horse
A minor, 16, died after he was attacked and stabbed in the chest by a young man who became angry because a horse was not lent to him by the boy’s brother, 18. The minor was rushed to the Independence Village Polyclinic, but he was declared dead on arrival. Cheston Arzu, 18, of Independence, was arrested and charged with murder, and taken to the Dangriga Magistrate’s Court today, where he was arraigned and remanded to the Belize Central Prison until May 16. The incident occurred at about 8:00 last night, in Independence. Police reported that the boy, his brother and a friend were in their yard when Cheston Arzu, who is known to them, approached them and requested to borrow their horse. The minor’s brother refused to lend him the horse, however.

Miscarried 19-week fetus missing from hospital; mother was planning a funeral
Shameka Flowers, a young expectant mother, is devastated after having had a miscarriage this week and learning, when she returned to the hospital with a white casket to bury her unborn child, that the fetus was nowhere to be found. The Crooked Tree resident, who is seeking legal advice, said that friends and relatives in her village were waiting for her to return for a funeral. She was bereaved that she would have to return with an empty casket and no answers. Flowers was nearly 5 months pregnant. She said that her baby was due this August, but she suffered a miscarriage on Friday, March 18, at the Northern Regional Hospital in Orange Walk Town. Flowers told Amandala that on Friday at 10:30 a.m., she went to the hospital because she was experiencing complications.

Briceño blasts Barrow’s budget
Four political heavyweights—Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Johnny Briceño, and four-term People’s United Party area representative for Lake Independence, Hon. Cordel Hyde, on one side of Parliament, and the two men contending for the deputyship of the ruling United Democratic Party: Patrick Faber, UDP member for Collet, and John Saldivar, member for Belmopan, on the other side—opened the national budget debate this morning with arguments over whether Government spending had really been improving the lives of Belizeans. Spending on national security, economic growth, joblessness, and PetroCaribe spending were some of the topics discussed. There was much debate over the Marion Jones Sporting Complex—which Hyde described as “the mother of all public fleecing.” That project is still incomplete 12 years after it was initiated and its tab is to the tune of $25 million, according to the Opposition.

Verdes can still make PLB playoffs; Police United can clinch Champions League berth
The Premier League of Belize (PLB) Closing Season 2016 is fast winding down its regular season, and the playoff picture is still uncertain after Week 9 games this past weekend. Three teams are sure of a playoff spot – BDF, Bandits and Police; but presently fourth ranked Placencia Assassins is facing a challenge from Verdes FC, who still have a chance to wrest the last playoff spot from the Assassins. (See standings below.) At the MCC Grounds in Belize City yesterday, home standing BDF FC seized first place in the standings with their 3-0 win over a short-staffed Wagiya FC, some of whose players were reportedly otherwise occupied at the ATLIB (Association of Tertiary Level Institutions of Belize) football championships. Wagiya could only field 10 men, but BDF couldn’t find their focus until the field was equalized with the red-card ejection of their right midfielder Paul Nunez at the 27th minute. The army promptly responded with a flurry of goals, from Mark Arzu (32’), Ricky Ricketts (38’) and Osmar Duran (41’), for a 3-0 lead, which they never relinquished. Second half was nevertheless competitive, with the highlight for Wagiya being two spectacular long range missiles from left defender Aaron Lopez, one sailing inches over the crossbar, the other just into the side of the net that gave BDF goalkeeper Tevin Gamboa some anxious moments. The tall and wiry Lopez displayed a lethal left foot reminiscent of the legendary Dean Lewis from the 1970’s Stann Creek Selection.

C-Ray Saturday Race Series 2016 – prizes issued
The C-Ray Cycling Club issued prizes to the winners of the Saturday Race Series on Friday night, March 18, at the Bliss Center during a fundraiser event held for Dorren August (the light technician at the Bliss, who needs to go undergo brain surgery in Merida.) This idea brought out more people to support the fundraiser, as well as to expose our cyclists to an even larger fan base than we already have. The series started on January 18 and concluded on March 5, racing on six Saturdays between those dates. A total of 65 cyclists participated throughout the duration of the 6 races – 14 “Junior,” 1 “Female,” 10 “Category 4/5,” 8 “40 Years & Over,” 2 “50 Years & Over,” and 30 “Elite.” The idea was to race weekly to gain the most possible points each week; and at the end of the series, the person with the most points would be the overall winner. Weekly prizes, not including the points given, were mainly tires and tubes paired with gift certificates from various places in Belize City – The Stationery House Retail Outlet, Freetown Drug Store, Ordonez Bike Shop, Da Bizz BBQ, Simmons BBQ, and Milky Way Restaurant...

Ashton Edwards drops 45 down south, including 30 from down town
Cayo Western Ballaz stunned by Belize City No Limit On Friday night, Belize City No Limit hosted Cayo Western Ballaz at Bird’s Isle in Belize City. The home team jumped out to an early 20-16 first quarter lead, which they extended to 36-27 by intermission. In the second half, the lead was extended to 26 points, which Belize City No Limit never relinquished, easily winning the game, 85-61. Belize City No Limit (4-5) was led by Michael Babbles, who had the game high of 24 pts, to go with 6 assists, 4 steals and 3 rebounds. Jamal Augustine had the best game of his career, with 19 pts and 6 rebs, while Gregory “Chippy” Rudon scored 18 pts to go with 4 rebs, 2 assists and 2 steals. Keith “Superman” Acosta finished the game with 18 pts and 9 rebs. The top scorer for Cayo Western Ballaz (6-5) was Winston Pratt with 17 pts, 5 rebs, 4 steals and 3 dimes. The only other scorer in double digits for the visiting team was James Milton with 16 pts and 8 rebs, while Brandon Flowers finished with 8 pts and 9 rebs.

Editorial: Schizo Sedi
Well now, here come the Easter holidays, and for sure Belizeans, especially younger ones, will be drinking and drugging and partying. We wish, nevertheless, that you take time out this week and weekend to read the following editorial, and that you do so carefully. Our country is in danger. Over the near 47 years of its existence, this newspaper has fought, from time to time, with every single government administration, from those of Mr. Price through those of Dr. Esquivel and those of Mr. Musa to the present ones of Mr. Barrow. When our political leaders are under attack, they make emotional appeals to their party members and supporters in order to inflame them, to turn them against the sources of the attacks. Political leaders will seek to convince their party faithful that the attacks on themselves are personal in nature. In fact, the counterattacks they will launch on their critics are invariably personal in nature. This is politics in Belize. It is very, very difficult for the major party faithful to be fair to anyone who is criticizing their leaders, but if the faithful of the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) were to be fair, they would agree that this newspaper has not commented that much on the controversial performance of Belize’s Foreign Minister, Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington.

From the Publisher
Younger readers will not be aware of all the drama which surrounded Belize’s attainment of political independence in 1981. Once British Honduras achieved the status of a self-governing colony in January of 1964, it had seemed that we Belizean people were on our way forward and upward. As the saying goes, forward ever, backward never. This was the vibes. None of us at the time could have foreseen what is happening today, where almost thirty-five years after we achieved our goal of independence, which had been the Holy Grail of those before us, we Belizeans would be staring dismemberment of our beloved Jewel straight in the face. When Belize became self-governing, I was sixteen years old, and had just graduated from the high school section of St. John’s College, in December of 1963. My political views, mostly influenced by my mother, were those of Hon. Philip Goldson’s National Independence Party (NIP), in the sense that Guatemala’s President Ydigoras Fuentes and his threats to “recover Belice” had intimidated me, and I wanted a strong rejection of the Guatemalan claim.

CARICOM expresses “grave concern” over Guat aggression against Belize military at Sarstoon
Last week, the Government of Belize issued a statement saying that tensions between Belize’s and Guatemala’s military at the Sarstoon are at an all-time high, after reports of hostile behavior by the Guatemalans near the Forward Operating Base which Belize is constructing on the northern bank of the Sarstoon River. Today, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) issued a statement expressing “grave concern” over the incident. “Although the incident ended peacefully following contact at the highest level between military and political leaders on both sides, CARICOM notes with grave concern the tension caused as a result of the incident,” its statement said. “The Caribbean Community restates the importance it places on respect for international law and the sanctity of treaties and deeply regrets any actions of the [Guatemalan Armed Forces – GAF] which violate the sovereignty of Belize and attempt to change the status quo prior to the submission of the Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory to the International Court of Justice in accordance with the Special Agreement ratified by both parties,” the statement added.

Wil explains the genesis of the BTV
The Belize Territorial Volunteers (BTV) has been taking some heat from the Government on allegations that the group’s expeditions to the Sarstoon area have been causing a backlash from the Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF), leading to an escalation in tensions between that military and the Belize Defence Force (BDF). In essence, the BTV and its supporters have been accused of putting the BDF at risk by their “well-meaning” activities to express Belizean sovereignty at the Sarstoon – Belize’s southern boundary with Guatemala. However, BTV founder, Wil Maheia, told Amandala that the BTV was formed back in 2009 in response to incursions by Guatemalan civilians inside the Columbia River Forest Reserve in southern Belize, because these unchecked incursions have posed a clear and present threat to Belizeans. Maheia said that around 2008 the idea was birthed after he attempted to establish an eco-tourism, adventure travel enterprise from San Jose Village to Caracol, across the Mayan divide for tourists seeking extreme adventure. The idea, he said, also was to provide supplementary income for Maya villagers who were being asked to stop their traditional slash and burn farming for environmental purposes. The “green” alternative was to create the trail, which would enable tourists who would be up to the challenge to take a 7-day hike or almost 50 miles through very steep terrain.

Municipalities across Belize “recognize and honor our children”
Municipalities across the country held ceremonies throughout this week, vowing to be “sustainable and child-friendly municipalities.” Today, it was Belize City’s turn to make such a vow and to recognize and honor our children. Usually, these official ceremonies don’t focus on children, but this one was especially was for these younger ones among us. It outlined the need for our children to have a voice in the community, of which they are a part. Present at the launch were Mayor Darrell Bradley; Karen Bernard, UNDP (United Nations Development Program) Representative; Ivan Yerovi, UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund) Representative; Hon. Hugo Patt, Minister of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development; and other stakeholders. Children from Grace Primary School and St. Mary’s Primary School also made presentations.

Illegal Guatemalan farmer detained for farming inside “Adjacency Zone”
Asuncion Garcia, 57, of San Jose, Petén, Guatemala, was detained earlier this week, while a second illegal farmer escaped after they were found with horses transporting three sacks of corn, harvested from an illegal plantation in the Chiquibul Forest, and inside the “adjacency zone” – which spans a kilometer on either side of the Belize-Guatemala border, and is subject to a special bilateral regime under the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS). Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) reported that on Wednesday, March 16, rangers who were monitoring for illegal farming activities in an area known as Cohune Ridge in the Chiquibul National Park, intercepted two males pulling two saddled horses, loaded with corn. The farmers were approximately 310 meters from the Belize-Guatemala border, inside a clearing comprised of about 5 acres of corn plantation and another 5 acres of forest which had been freshly slashed and burnt, the FCD reported.

Belize among CRFM states seeking to strengthen the links between Fisheries and Tourism
Four member states of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM)—Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize and Grenada—are participating in a project which is exploring the synergies between the fisheries and tourism sectors. Belize is among the most sought-after Caribbean jurisdictions known for its “sea, sun and sand” ambiance but also for its array of sumptuous seafood! Through tourism, which brings almost 30 million visitors to the Caribbean’s shores each year and which contributes nearly $50 billion to the regional economy, the potential exists to catalyze the socio-economic impact which fisheries has across the region. The two multi-billion-dollar sectors are intricately intertwined, and even as tourism is the backbone of the region’s economy, so too is fisheries.

Belize and Guatemala Foreign Ministers reassure that ICJ is the answer, and ask for millions in OAS funds
On Tuesday, March 15, at the Organization of American States (OAS) office building located in Washington, D.C., a meeting was convened for the central purpose of appealing for funds to keep open the OAS office in the adjacency zone along the Belize-Guatemala terrestrial border. The annual cost to keep the office open is at least 2.5million US dollars. At the head table, from left to right, sat HE Patrick Andrews, Belize’s permanent representative* to the OAS; HE Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington; the Chief of the OAS Peace Fund Magdalena Talamás; HE Minister of Foreign Affairs for Guatemala, Carlos Raul Morales Moscoso*, and HE Ambassador of Guatemala to Belize, Manuel Roldan Barillas. The audience at the meeting, as described by OAS staff, included 22 “Friends” (those countries that give money and political capital to the OAS Peace Fund) and of these 14 were member states; the “Group of Friends” were seated at the central table and included vocal representation from Mexico, Spain, the European Union and others.

Santander mills first sugar
Santander Sugar announced this week that it has milled its first batch of sugar at its Belize facility. As we reported last month, the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Andres Ayau, had indicated that the company would commence grinding this month. Although Santander does not go into full operation until 2017, when it plans to grind 800,000 tons of sugar cane to produce sugar and molasses, mostly for the European market, it does plan to produce on a smaller scale over the coming months. Santander has also said that it intends to supply biomass-based energy to the national grid. According to Ayau, the company’s current investment is US$150 million, with 60% coming from local and foreign lenders and a third from Belize banks.

Shaw bus driver blames bad lighting for fatal traffic accident
On Friday, March 18, the George Price Highway was the scene of yet another traffic accident, this time involving a Shaw bus and a cyclist. On Friday night, a Shaw bus, with license plate 3746, left Novelo’s Bus Station in Belize City at approximately 7:00 p.m., en route to Hattieville. Upon reaching between Miles 16 and 17, however, at approximately 7:45 p.m., the bus knocked down a cyclist, which brought the traffic on the George Price Highway to a standstill, backing it up for at least half a mile. Edward Broaster, Superintendent of Police and Commanding Officer of Eastern Division Rural, said that the cyclist, Jason Robinson, 33, a Hattieville cook, suffered head and body injuries and was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.

“One ring” cell phone scam – beware, Belizeans!
Smart and Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) have issued alerts, warning customers not to be duped by calls coming from a foreign number with the +8-818 prefix. The phone companies say that it is a credit scam being perpetrated on unsuspecting customers; and if customers answer a missed call from this number, their phone credit is wiped out. The US Federal Trade Commission, in warning against such scams, explains that, “Scammers let the phone ring once — just enough for a missed call message to pop up. “The scammers hope you’ll call back, either because you believe a legitimate call was cut off, or you will be curious about who called. If you do, chances are you’ll hear something like, ‘Hello. You’ve reached the operator, please hold.’ “All the while, you’re getting slammed with some hefty charges — a per-minute charge on top of an international rate.”

Ruling imminent in multi-million-dollar arbitration dispute over BTL nationalization
Amandala has been informed by a member of the Government of Belize’s legal team that a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), based in The Hague, Netherlands, could come any time now, in the litigation between Dunkeld International Investment Limited of the Turks and Caicos and the Government of Belize, following the challenge made by the Ashcroft group to the 2009 nationalization of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) by the Government of Belize. The PCA tribunal was initiated to settle the dispute arising in the context of a 1982 investment treaty between Belize and the UK, which the Government was accused of violating when it nationalized BTL. The arbitration proceedings began in December 2009 and last September, the Government announced a partial settlement, including the payment of $97 million to British Caribbean Bank, for the $45 million loan which the Government had acquired when it nationalized the phone company. The Government had also announced that it would make a down-payment amounting to 32.5 million Belize dollars for the shares which it had acquired through nationalization, at the rate estimated by its consultants, NERA Economic Consulting, at 72 cents a share.

Faber and Saldivar contend for Vega’s position on the heels of UDP’s Dangriga convention
Social media was abuzz on Monday, March 21, after both Patrick Faber, United Democratic Party area representative for Collet, and John Saldivar, UDP area representative for Belmopan, formally announced that they would be seeking election as the party’s deputy leader. Their announcements were made immediately after the UDP’s national convention held at the Ecumenical College in Dangriga on Sunday, March 20, and just days after Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega, UDP stalwart in the north, announced that he would demit his position as UDP deputy leader. At Sunday’s event, four UDP leaders were endorsed to continue in their existing posts: party leader Dean Barrow, chairman Alberto August, second deputy leader Erwin Contreras, and deputy chairman Fern Gutierrez.

Guatemala responds to CARICOM – the Sarstoon is ours
Guatemala’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a formal response to a recent statement from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) after the Saturday, March 12, 2016, incident in which Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF), according to the Government of Belize account, entered Belizean territorial waters and “behaved in an extremely hostile and threatening manner,” while insisting that Belizean soldiers should not be at the Sarstoon. CARICOM issued a strong statement on Friday, March 18, calling out GAF for entering “Belizean internal waters” and acting in an intimidating manner towards members of the Belize Defence Force (BDF) who were at Belize’s Forward Operating Base, which is under construction on Belize’s mainland at the mouth of the Sarstoon River. CARICOM said that while the GAF claimed that the River belonged to them, the mid-channel of the River was the settled and agreed border between the Republic of Guatemala and the United Kingdom long before Belize’s independence in 1981.

The Reporter

Six American riders knocked down while training for Cross Country race
Six American cyclists who were training for the Annual Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic were knocked down this morning on the George Price Highway. Former Cross Country champions, Chris Harkey and Scottie Weiss were training along with John Delong and David Flynn, Flynn’s wife […]

Gaspar Vega says he resigned for family reasons
Deputy Prime Minister, Gaspar Vega has said the primary reason for his resignation as his party’s deputy leader is his family. Vega told reporters on Wednesday that his political career has started to affect his personal life for more than a year. “The last year […]

UWI says region needs to address math and science scores
The University of the West Indies is calling on Caribbean countries to employ innovative strategies to help high school students perform better in science and math. At the recent mathematics symposium entitled ‘Dare to be Different: Revitalizing Mathematics,’ Dean in the Faculty of Science and Technology at […]

CARICOM backs Belize after latest incident with Guatemala
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) this week issued a statement supporting Belize in its continued conflict with Guatemala. CARICOM called for Guatemala to respect Belize’s sovereignty, after the March 12 confrontation between the Belize Defense Force (BDF) and the Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF). CARICOM, in a statement released […]

Santander produces first sugar harvest
The Santander sugar group in Valley of Peace, Cayo, formerly Green Tropics Limited, produced its first harvest late last week, after the factory started milling sugarcane earlier in the month. Santander, which set up shop in 2012, will not give any official details of its […]

Grief-stricken woman says hospital dumped baby she miscarried
Crooked Tree resident, Shamika Flowers, 22, has accused Northern Regional Hospital (NRH) personnel of discarding her five month-old fetus, after she had a miscarriage. Flowers, who is hypertensive, suffered the miscarriage last Friday. The mother told the media that she signed a form agreeing to […]

Another ranger patrol in Chiquibul results in a Guatemalan”s arrest
Rangers patrolling the Chiquibul National Park last Wednesday apprehended another Guatemalan for illegally harvesting corn in Belize. The encounter happened 310 meters on the Belize side of the border, in an area called Cuhune Ridge, in two corn plantations, each measuring roughly five acres. The […]

Police Easter stop & search operations will be conducted professionally
Assistant Commissioner of Police and Eastern Division Rural Commander, Senior Superintendent Edward Broaster said, this week, that while his division will be increasing security measures over the Easter weekend, officers will act with the utmost professionalism. Broaster this week acknowledged that increased police activity has often resulted […]

Rise in fuel taxes dullness competitive edge Senator Mark Lizarraga reports
Government’s decision in late December to increase fuel taxes does little to no good for Belize’s competitive industries, declared Senator Mark Lizarraga. At the budget presentation, Prime Minister Dean Barrow explained that the increase levied on the fuel should earn government at least an additional […]

Is witness protection feasible?
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Edward Broaster gave his expert opinion on establishing an effective Witness Protection Program in Belize. The lack of witnesses has been admitted as a major influencing factor for criminals walking free. Witnesses, on the other hand, are intimidated by fear instigated […]

GST tax collection shows significant improvement
One of the areas in the national budget that has shown improvement in government’s performance is revenue collection, says Business Senator Mark Lizarraga. The Senator pointed out to the Reporter this week that government’s revenues from General Sales Tax (GST) went from $756 million to […]/p>

Editorial
As he came near to the end of his ministry, Jesus began to speak openly about his divinity. Before the final days he was meticulous about keeping this awesome secret among his close friends. But as his final days drew nearer Jesus began to proclaim himself the Messiah with unrelenting […]

Saldivar vs Faber; gunning for Top Spot!
Patrick Faber and John Saldivar both launched their campaigns to run for First Deputy Party Leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP) on the same day this week. Both candidates made their official announcements on Monday, each being endorsed by several colleagues within the party. […]

“Fat Cat” Chavarilla gunned -down in Ladyville
Ladyville’s first murder for the year occurred last Friday after 9:00 p.m. when 25 year-¬old Rene “Fat Cat” Chavarria was shot several times. He died on the spot. Chavarria, a well¬known Belize City gang member, was found by a fisherman in the Milpa area of […]

UDP ‘Dream’ Budget makes PUP unhappy
The government and opposition gathered in the House of Representatives on Tuesday morning for day one of the two-day National Budget debate. Members of both sides were eager to voice their opinions and criticisms of the budget. United Democratic Party (UDP) hopefuls vying to fill […]

Happening now: Day 2 of the Budget Debate underway in the National Assembly building in Belmopan.
Day two of the Budget Debate is underway in the National Assembly in Belmopan. The first member to speak today was Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington. He spoke of the importance for Belize and Guatemala to resolve our territorial claim. He also spoke about the history […]

The Belize Times

“Haad Time Budget” – PUP lashes out at 2016 Budget
The proposed Budget for the year 2016/2017 fiscal year went under the microscope today as the debate of the Government’s revenues and spending commenced before the House of Representatives. The Opposition Leader Hon. John Briceño opened the debate with a forceful speech, lashing out at the Budget. He referred to it as a “haad time” budget, as it will not provide any alleviation to the increasing poverty, rising cost of living and high unemployment but deliver another year of pain and sorrow. “The priorities set out in this budget, if any, are not the priorities of the Belizean people, they are recycled initiatives and programmes put in place by an administration that lacks the competence to find real solutions to the serious problems that face our generation. “This budget will not make us safer; it will not provide those much-needed jobs that will grow our economy; it will not encourage any new growth in the business sector; it will not expand education for our young people who are out of school and it is not reflecting the fairness we need if we are to lift up all Belizeans,” remarked Hon. Briceño.

Minister of Health goes to Chetumal for health services
While Belizeans are forced to settle for Belize’s crippled and costly health care system, Health Minister Pablo Marin uses tax dollars to access higher standard health services in neighbouring Chetumal, Quintana Roo Mexico. A few weeks ago, in February, Marin was spotted attending the “Hospital General” in Chetumal for unknown treatment. Our sources are currently investigating the specific medical reasons Marin was attending the hospital across the border. While Belizeans struggle to meet the rising cost of healthcare in Belize, Marin takes tax monies outside the country to access the best primary healthcare available.

Belize imports Vietnamese Catfish for Easter!
With the long Easter holiday weekend here the demand for traditional Easter foods is on the rise. Here in Belize, hot cross buns and fish are two special features. While the source of the hot cross buns are likely local fire hearths and kitchens, an important question Belizeans need to ask themselves is where is your fish coming from? The BELIZE TIMES has confirmed that for Easter, Belize imports Basa fish all the way from Vietnam. Tons of Basa fish will make it into the Belizean market and onto dinner plates this week as the local fishing industry is unable to meet the growing demand. Basa fish is slowly taking over the local fish market triggering concerns among local fishermen. It is becoming a popular sea food item at supermarkets because it is cheaper and tastes like regular catfish, but do we know what we are consuming?

Barrow throws Gapi under the bus!
Inquiring minds would like to know the real reason why Gapi Vega, the second most powerful man in Belize as Deputy Prime Minister and next in line to lead the UDP, would out of the “red” resign. Some speculate that it had to do with some kind of outside pressure but Gapi has faced those issues for years and he withstood those pressures all along. For those in the inner circle, Gapi’s resignation is a direct result of any ongoing problem between him and Dean, who cited the resignation as a personal hit. He must have meant a hit on his arrogance and dictatorship. The truth is that Gapi has slowly seen no way forward in a Party that holds no democratic events, that holds secret meetings for a select few to make decisions, and that fixes conventions against non-favorites like Delroy Cuthkelvin in Stann Creek and David Constanza in Orange Walk. Gapi, a man of great ambition, had no choice but to resign.

Think About It
Lord Rhaburn is the greatest song writer and performer in the history of Belize. He is also the most prolific writer of songs. Prolific means he has written the most songs and lyrics in Belize. In short, Lord Rhaburn is a musical genius. His musical career has spanned a whole generation, if not two such generations. From the 1960s, Lord Rhaburn has been burning a musical trail which is unprecedented and unparalleled in our history. No amount of praise can be too much to bestow on this musical and lyrical giant. We who write this know so little about the man, where he came from and what awful inspiration beckoned and propelled him from one fantastic song to the other, to the other and on and on through the years. Who among us can forget when the tenth of September parades were throbbing through the streets of Belize City with Lord Rhaburn and his band and the huge number of fans and followers revelling to his beats? Who can forget getting ready in Los Angeles or New York or Miami for him to arrive and give one of his unforgettable performances?

PUP Offers Hope!
It is a great disservice to our people that an important aspect of our governance such as the Budget debate is carried out in these times when most Belizeans are anxious to get away to spend an enjoyable holiday. Perhaps it is intentional. We are hoping that despite the hype that the long Easter holiday brings, our Belizean people have taken the time to listen to the Budget debate. It is not difficult to discern between the UDP’s rhetoric and propaganda spinning versus the PUP’s real talk and attempts to bring to light the monumental shortcomings of the budget. PUP Leader Hon. John Briceno kept things real in his presentation, shedding light on the Barrow Administration’s failure to build a Belize that provides equal opportunities for all. Hon. Cordel Hyde returned to the debate table, providing his insight into the poor administration by the UDP Government. Hon. Hyde said that in his view the Budget should be a weapon of mass alleviation for poverty, but the budget presented by the Prime Minister caters more to get rich schemes than anti-poverty measures.

Independence High girls win NSSSA softball champs
The Independence High School girls won the National Secondary Schools softball championships hosted by the Belmopan Comprehensive School at the Elston Galvez field in Roaring Creek over the weekend. The Independence girls defeated Ladyville Tech 6-1. Winning pitcher Camryn Linarez struck out 6 batters and conceded only one run. The IHS girls got 3 hits off Elma Wade’s pitching, and even though Wade struck out 6 batters, she also walked 4 batters and the diamond made 6 errors.

Sacred Heart wins ATLIB football champs
The Sacred Heart Junior College male and female football teams won their first ever Association of Tertiary Level Institutions of Belize (ATLIB) national football championships at the Sacred Heart College football field on Sunday. Sacred Heart outgunned the University of Belize 3-2 in a penalty shootout, after regulation and 10 minutes of overtime ended in a nil-zip draw. Naomi Gamboa, Shamera Wade and MVP goalie Jasmine Armstrong scored for Sacred Heart; while Armstrong also blocked 2 penalties and only Delmi Cornelio and Tracy Chi scored for UB.

Kaydine Pinelo wins 2016 Junior Cross Country
Team SMART’s Kaydine Pinelo won the 17th annual BEL Junior Cross Country Cycling Classic, setting a new record of 3:12:10 on the 70-mile ride from the San Jose Succotz Village ferry to the finish at Leslie’s Imports on the George Price Highway in Belize City on Sunday.

THE BEDS ARE BURNING!!
There is an Australian rock music group called Midnight Oil, and they have a famous song with an intriguing lyric that goes: “How do you sleep while the beds are burning?” That is exactly what Prime Minister Dean Barrow, Minister Sedi Elrington and the entire UDP administration have been doing in relation to the Sarstoon River issue which has dominated the news recently. This is a very serious, even dangerous situation that we find ourselves in, and it will take gargantuan efforts to extricate ourselves from this one. Don Hector Silva, who never tires of giving his insightful views, has called the recent reaction of Rt. Hon. Barrow and his Government as “going from the sublime to the ridiculous.” And it surely has. Much continues to be said and written about Minister Sedi. I call him the Great Appeaser, but of course the buck stops with his boss the Prime Minister. And boy, have they failed us!! I decry in the strongest terms the lame and lily-livered attempts by the Prime Minister and his Foreign Minister to lay blame at the feet of the Belize Territorial Volunteers for the escalation of tensions and the worsening situation at the Sarstoon. This is Guatemalan naked aggression, and it has become worse not due to the BTVs but because of the terrible neglect, negligence and lack of proper response from the Government of the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Barrow.

Budget Debate Statement by Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, Fellow Citizens It is my honour to address this house and our nation in response to the budget presented by our Prime Minister on behalf of his UDP Administration. We in the PUP believe that the budget is the most significant part of our legislative agenda and the budget presentation and debate is a very important exercise. We take it very seriously and participate in this annual exercise in a sprit of patriotism and in fulfillment of our responsibilities as elected members of this Honourable House. As is our practice, we prepare not only through our work as a Parliamentary Caucus, but also by consulting with our Party Supporters, Private Sector Organizations, the unions, the churches and civil society. We do this so that our contribution, as best as possible reflects the will and concerns of the people. And so on behalf of all of us here on this side of the House I thank all those who assisted us and engaged with us during our consultations.

Nightmare at Northern Regional Hospital – Young Crooked Tree mother says hospital lost the fetus she delivered
The administration of Northern Regional Hospital is under heavy fire after a Crooked Tree young woman has accused them of losing the premature baby she delivered during a miscarriage. An empty coffin reminds Shameka Flowers of her painful tragedy. She bought the coffin so she could give her unborn child a proper burial, but it hasn’t been possible since the hospital where she delivered left the baby’s body has not been able to say where the body is. Flowers said that into her fifth month of pregnancy, she experienced complication which led to a devastating miscarriage on Friday. The body of the fetus was left at the hospital at the medical institution’s request. Flowers was told to sign a permission form which she left the hospital. She was told that her child’s body will be secured until she returns.

PUP Leader meets church leaders on 2016 budget
At a meeting that lasted over two hours, the country’s key religious leaders had an opportunity to discuss public spending in the 2016-2017 Budget with the Opposition Leader, Hon. John Briceno, and other officials of the People’s United Party. The religious leaders met with Hon. Briceno, PUP Chairman Henry C. Usher, Deputy Leader Kareem Musa and recently-appointed Secretary General Linsford Castillo at the Independence Hall on Queen Street on Monday morning. In attendance were the Anglican Bishop Rt. Rev. Philip Wright; Canon Rev’d Leroy Flowers; Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Belize City and Belmopan Most Reverend Christopher J. Glancy; and Methodist Rev. Roosevelt Papouloute, the President of the Belize Council of Churches.

Belize Rural South Traffic Concerns
Dear Editor, It is it with deep concern that we write to our local news media with regards to the rapid and unregulated traffic woes that are affecting our town in the most negative manner. At a time when traffic congestion is at an all-time high, importations of new golf carts, presumably for rental, are high while solutions and moratoriums are at an all-time low and the constant promise of less vehicle permits turn into a false reassurance to our community. On a weekly basis the issue of traffic has been a hot topic on the local media as well as public discussions among social gatherings, creating negative reviews from our visitors. Downtown traffic has reached a point where there is no parking space and residents find themselves circling around several times looking for a place to park. To make matters worse, the Council’s only solution so far has been to grant even more permits for the importation of several large vehicles and many more permits for golf cart rentals.

UB Going Nowhere, Fast!
Dear Editor, Over the past weeks I have read with great interest the articles being shard about the University of Belize. Please allow me some space in your newspaper to share my views on the current situation the University finds itself in; from the perspective of a faculty. The University has been its fair share of struggles over the years as has been borne out by the previous articles, but it is my studied opinion that nothing compares to the present state of stagnation, demoralization, frustration and cronyism currently being experienced by faculty and staff of the university. As a Faculty member at the University this is the first time that I can recall a contract has not been issued to any full-time Faculty. We are currently employed and have no clue if and when our services will be terminated because we have no contracts; our last contract signed ended July 31, 2015. The second semester will soon be over and we have heard nothing about or status within the University. This saddens me and all other faculty because we provide the best quality education to the students although our hearts are torn with the manner the University treats their most important asset.

Breaking Belize News

Victor Garnett murdered in ambush on Lakeview
Yesterday, there was a murder in the afternoon in Belize City. Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, in charge of Eastern Division (South), identified the victim as Victor Garnett of San Pedro, who had just moved to Belize City. He was accused of three murders […]

Cyclists from U.S. in serious condition after colliding with vehicle
Six foreign cyclists, four of whom were preparing to ride in the biggest cycling event this coming Saturday were knocked down just before 10 this morning. The tragedy occurred between miles 13 and 14 on the George Price Highway and involved the US riders from the […]

Early indications of support for deputy leader candidates of UDP
This week saw the formal start of the race to the special convention to elect a first deputy leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP). The dust had only just begun to settle on the party’s national convention when two of its most senior members […]

Traffic accident on Philip Goldson Highway sends one to the hospital
A traffic mishap on the Philip Goldson Highway, has landed at least one person in the hospital. Information is limited at the moment but Breaking Belize News was made to understand that the incident played out a little after 2:00 this afternoon. Luckily there were […]

Prime Minister leaves country for Easter break
In a government press release issued earlier today, it was announced that Prime Minister Dean Barrow will be leaving the country today on personal leave and is returning on Tuesday, March 29 after the Easter period. During his absence, Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega will […]

Guatemala responds to CARICOM statement on Sarstoon incident
In the wake of a CARICOM statement, defending Belize’s sovereignty over the Sarstoon following the March 12 incident involving Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) and Belize Defense Force (BDF) soldiers, Guatemala has lashed back dismissing CARICOM’s assertions. On Monday Guatemala’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a […]

Premier League of Belize action heats up
The Premier League of Belize (PLB) will see a Thursday night football show down. Verdes will travel down South to take on Wagiya at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium. Then the Belmopan Bandits will host the Placenica Assassins as Police United FC will take on BDF FC at […]

Five Caribbean countries receive training to counter trafficking of persons
Belize joined four other Caribbean countries in a two day workshop geared at strengthening the coordination to counter trafficking in persons in the Caribbean region, organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). A press release quoted project manager Rukiya Brown as saying that […]

Cyclists knockdown on the George Price Highway
Reports reaching Breaking Belize News is that 6 cyclists were knocked down on the George Price Highway near Hattieville Village this afternoon. BBN reporters are currently following this report and will have more on it shortly. Picture Courtesy of Nathan choc. © 2016, […]

NGC demands apology from Pastor Stirm
The National Garifuna Council (NGC) has demanded a public apology from outspoken Evangelical Pastor Scott Sitrm over what it describes as “discriminatory and defamatory” characterizations of the Garifuna culture. Stirm, the head of the Jubilee Ministries in Roaring Creek, made the comments during a presentation […]

Lands Department warns about illegal disposal of land
A press release issued yesterday by the Lands and Surveys Department, stated that there is ongoing illegal disposal of national lands in the Cowpen, San Juan and Santa Cruz areas of Stann Creek District, which is an offense under the National Lands Act. According […]

Relatively warm and dry southeasterly airflow to continue
The National Meteorological Service of Belize is predicting mostly sunny skies today and partly cloudy skies tonight with little or no rainfall. Winds will be blowing from the East-Southeast at 10-20 knots and the sea state will be moderate. High temperatures today are expected around 86 degrees […]

Sixteen-year-old Guatemalan drowns in Mopan River
A 16-year-old resident of San Pancho Peten, Guatemala, drowned in the Mopan River yesterday, during a fishing trip with a 15-year-old friend. Sometime around 6:15 a.m., Benque Viejo Del Carmen police responded to a report of an apparent drowning. According to the 15-year-old Guatemalan national, Esbin […]

Gaspar Vega says he quit politics for his family
Gaspar Vega, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said his main reason for resigning his position in the United Democratic Party (UDP) and choosing not to run for election again is his family. Vega, in an interview with the media today, said that over […]

Blogs

An important cleaning tip, a party and a few Holiday reminders
Easter in Belize is the biggest party weekend and it is coming fast and furious. Ambergris Caye is rapidly filling with people, stores are super stocked with floaty toys for the holidays, and from what I have heard, many businesses have been well booked for a while. A few Easter weekend reminders Be safe and be smart while out celebrating. Get money from bank machines sooner than later – as you will see below the line ups have begun. Post office closed at noon till Tuesday. (I missed getting my package by minutes.) Town Council and Traffic department offices are also on holiday closure. Good Friday and Alcohol. All License Holders with Beer, Malt, Convenience Store, Publican’s Special, Publican’s General License must either conceal or completely remove all liquor products off the shelves. Restaurants can sell alcoholic beverages to customers on Good Friday (March 25, 2016) after 7:00 p.m. Night Club License Holders must close on Holy Thursday at midnight and may re-open on Saturday, March 26, at 12:15 a.m. Hotel License Holders can sell alcoholic beverages to guests only.

What to Expect from Easter in Belize 2016 Plus The Dress Code?
It’s Holy Thursday. The official beginning of Easter weekend – kids are off from school, San Pedro Town Council and many offices are closing at noon and THE BIGGEST PARTY WEEKEND OF THE YEAR COMMENCES. The water taxis are running in fleets and PACKED, the lower priced hotel rooms that sleep 2 now sleep 15 and it seems like the entire country heads to the beach. Placencia, Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are all full. Every golf cart in town will be rented out and you can expect some serious traffic along with some serious police check points this weekend. If you do not enjoy crowds or loud music or just people watching, I’d steer clear of town. Even the Labour Department applies some heavy-duty overtime rules that give some businesses enough incentive to shut down for the whole weekend. Employees are paid double time on Easter Monday and Good Friday and 1.5x on both Saturday and Sunday.

My Week In Belize in Snapshots
The weather has been close to flawless since I returned from India. (It’s been 2 weeks now!) Hot and rainless with just a brief delicious “cold front” over the last few days. Over the next day or two we return to hot…it was hot for St. Patrick’s Day…

BELIZEAN LEMON MERINGUE PIE
Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine flour and salt. Cut in the shortening until coarse crumbs form. Add water, a little at a time, and stir until mixture forms a ball. May add more water or use less to get the dough to a rolling consistency. Roll dough on floured surface to approximately 10 inches and arrange in a 9" baking dish. Prick dough generously with a fork and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until crust is golden. Remove from oven and cool slightly. Set aside. Reduce oven to 325°F.

RELEASE YOUR FEARS – THE BLACK HOLE DROP EXPERIENCE!!!
The Hike to the Mother of All Caves (Actun Loch Tunich). There was a considerable amount of rainfall in the country just prior to our trip – so the terrain was quite adventurous. Time to pack your gear. The company provides back packs with a helmet and ropes. I was curious as to what the ropes were for but didn’t think to ask. They also provide you with water. I’d recommend taking about 3 liters – depending on how much water you consume. It could get pretty hot. Watch the first slope as you start. I must have slid about 8 inches before re-gaining my stance. This was the first of many. Expect a couple scratches – even the more fit – come out with some physical evidence of the journey. Thick jungle surrounds you as you make your way through the path. There is about 3-4 rest stops on your ascent. Bear in mind, you are going up hill and down-hill – some are so steep that it requires that you crawl. As expected, my fearless companion Tatiana and myself, were the first to brave the slope. Adrenaline increasing as I make my way to the edge of the cliff. Teeny steps, ….step by step – backwards – “don’t look back” – I keep repeating this to myself. As I reach to the edge and I was instructed to assume a 180 degree angle, the fear and adrenaline mounted. “The only thing keeping me from a 300 feet free fall plummet and a crap load of limestone is this tiny rope” (which I was assured collectively can carry over 10000 pounds) “and I’m only 100 plus pounds (smiling sarcastically). ” I thought to myself.

Drink more Belikin, fight potholes: A cap-ital idea
Ambergris Caye is famous for many things. Among the most famous, its pothole-filled streets. It is just the nature of island living. We are sitting on a fluid pile of sand, silt and rock that shifts and seeps and moves with the wind and the rain. Especially the rain. So, it is not unusual to see a town truck drop crushed rock on a badly pocked stretch of road, only to have the craters back in a matter of days. Which brings me to the absolutely brilliant idea I had this morning as I walked along Boca Del Rio. While grappling with sun stroke. Just kidding. No sunstroke. But really, it is a brilliant idea. In a word: bottlecaps. (Spellcheck tells me bottlecaps is two words. Not in my blog, Spellcheck. Back off, or I’ll break you up into “spell” and “check.”) Bear with me. While walking, I noticed an especially flat section of the road. Believe me, when you see a flat section of an unpaved road in the midst of undulations, crevices and craters then it behooves you to investigate.

Foodie Friday Infographic – Top 9 Belizean Eats!
Here’s an infographic showing Belize’s top 9 eats! One of your first happy discoveries about Belize will be how wonderful and varied the food is. Generally inexpensive, dining in Belize is a treat. There’s great variety, ingredients are fresh & organic, and hygiene is never a worry. I’ve dined with gusto from excellent resort kitchens to beach shacks and the humblest of street side vendors, and never had a rumble of tummy discontent. It’s usually real food made by real folks with a certain amount of Belize’s national ingredient – pride. Any selection of the Belizean culinary arts is by nature a multicultural melange, and here are my top favourites:

International Sources

UK billionaire discusses sargassum solutions with OECS ministers
Officials from the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Dominica, and Antigua and Barbuda, along with leading scientists and experts from around the world, joined British billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Richard Branson this week in the BVI to discuss the ongoing issue of sargassum seaweed, which is affecting the Caribbean and the very important tourism industry. It is a high stakes event involving the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), with expectations of immediate solutions to stem the problem to include making a business from sargassum. Branson is working with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to develop a regional strategy to be implemented locally by member states. The OECS is acting as the technical moderator for the conference along with BVI technicians and Branson's own team of environmentalists.

Errollyn Wallen: review – fine portrait of a wide-ranging artist
Music seemed to yank me towards it,” writes the Belize-born British composer Errollyn Wallen, and the unselfconscious plain-speak of her work chimes true with that statement. Her writing sounds instinctive. Moods are blatant, gestures are unambiguous, she pinches from baroque, jazz, film, romantic and minimalist idioms and wears those influences bright and proud on her sleeve. Some passages risk straight-up pastiche and the chugging rhythmic stuff wears thin when there isn’t enough else going on, but this album – the first devoted entirely to Wallen’s orchestral music – features vibrant performances from the ensemble she established to play her work. Overall, it’s a fine portrait of a wide-ranging artist. The Cello Concerto opens with a bold and nuanced soliloquy from cellist Matthew Sharp and in the touching final piece, In Earth, Wallen herself sings Dido’s Lament. Her voice is breathy, intimate and immediate while echoey rumbles from bass guitarist Tim Harries smudge the edges of Purcell’s melody.

Smithsonian scientist creating DNA database to track Caribbean conch and lobster
Smothered in tartar sauce and cheese it’s difficult to know just what species of fish lurks beneath the breaded surface of a fast-food fish sandwich. Likewise for much of the fish ordered at even the finest restaurants. Equally important to knowing the type of fish you are eating, says Nathan Truelove, postdoctoral fellow in the Marine Conservation Program at the Smithsonian Marine Station in Fort Pierce, Fl., is knowing just where it was caught. Tragically, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is one of the greatest threats to many commercial fish species around the world. Recently, Truelove has been using genetic sequencing to try and address this problem for two species from the Caribbean: spiny lobster and queen conch. Here we ask Truelove a few questions about his work to protect these animals from being taken illegally from the sea. After a lobster’s eggs hatch, ocean currents can carry their larvae for several months. This means that populations found in different regions of the Caribbean, even though separated by thousands of miles, can be closely related. For example, a lobster found off the coast of Honduras can be very closely related to a lobster from Belize. As there is so much interconnectivity between different populations of spiny lobster in the Caribbean, I realized I could not use this part of an animal’s genetic ID to determine where it was caught.

5 Caribbean Overwater Bungalow Hotels
You wake up with just the sound of the waves, in touch with the elements. It’s your own aquatic paradise. But the overwater bungalow fantasy isn’t limited the Pacific — there are a handful of tucked-away hotels in the Caribbean offering precisely that. All you have to do it look to the west and you’ll find such places in destinations like Belize, Panama and Honduras. Here are five worth considering. Thatch Caye, Belize: If you’re planning a honeymoon, consider this private-island all-inclusive. The idyllic setting is a 25-minute boat ride from the mainland but feels a world apart, with five cottages and a large villa perched on stilts above the turquoise water that washes Belize’s barrier reef.

Videos

BSI ASR WEEKLY CROP REVIEW 2016 WEEK 15, 3min.

Howler monkeys at Xunantunich in Belize, 1.5min. hey are LOUD and scary-sounding! They didn't care that we were standing right below them.

Diving Belize roughcut, 15min.

Largados e Pelados Belize, 42min.

How To Eat Cow Foot Soup, 1.5min. Try a local delicacy in Belize - Cow Foot Soup. Watch American kids try it for the first time.

Goff's Caye, Belize Snorkeling, 3min. Goff's Caye, an amazing and beautiful island in Belize. Wading in the crystal clear waters and snorkeling nearby. March 2016.

GIANNI GOES - San Pedro, Belize - PART 2, 4.5min.

Belize Boat Timelapse, 3min.

Belize Diving 2016, 4.5min.

Belize: New River and Lamanai Ruins, 8.5min. A trip on Friday 22 January 2016.

March 23, 2016

I will be unable to do the daily news tomorrow, Thursday morning March 24. I will return on Friday morning.

Kindly see below the updated schedule for upcoming Tour Guide courses for 2016

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

No liquor on Good Friday in San Pedro
Easter has arrived and with it comes a variety of activities. While many people see the occasion as an opportunity to take some days off, and go to the beach, others tend to celebrate the holiday’s religious history. For others, it is a time to party, and what better way than with alcohol? Well, there is some bad news for these folks, as this Good Friday will be another dry one, with no liquor available for the entire day. The San Pedro Police Department, along with The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) and the San Pedro Liquor Licensing Board, will once again be enforcing the ‘dry’ Good Friday regulation. All License Holders with Beer, Malt, Convenience Store, Publican’s Special, and Publican’s General License must either conceal or completely remove all liquor products off their shelves during this day.

Caye Notes: Easter Monday Cycling Race
The San Pedro Cycling Association will be hosting a bicycle race on Monday, March 28th for persons of all ages. The Easter Monday Cycling Race will begin at 8AM from Village Supermarket, just north of Sir Barry Bowen Bridge. Prizes will be awarded to top finishers for the designated race categories. Interested persons are asked to contact Kent “Bob” Gabourel for registration details at 604-9013. All participants must have a bicycle of their own for the race.

Ambergris Today

Rapid Uncontrolled and Perhaps Unregulated Traffic Woes
Dear Editor, It is it with deep concern that we from the People’s United Party (Belize Rural South) write to our local news media with regards to the rapid, uncontrolled and perhaps unregulated traffic woes that are affecting our town in the most negative manner. For proof, this image that was taken this weekend in the Boca del Rio area that shows the importation of brand new golf carts presumably for rental. All this, at a time where traffic congestion is at an all time high, importations even higher, solutions and moratoriums at an all time low and the constant promise of less vehicle permits: a false reassurance to our community. On a weekly basis the issue of traffic has been a hot topic on the local media as well as public discussions among social gatherings, creating negative reviews from our visitors. Downtown traffic has reached to a point where there is no parking space and residents find themselves circling around several times looking for a place to park. To make matters worse, the Council’s only solution so far has been to grant even more permits for the importation of several large vehicles and many more permits for golf cart rentals.

25 Years Ago - The Good Old Days When One Police Officer was Enough
Everybody likes to talk about the good old days; and why not if the subject brings pleasant memories. Even young people just recently out of school like to talk about their great days in school. In the good old days children could not stay out late at night on the streets and that does not mean that there was a curfew. Also in the good old days of San Pedro, there was only one police officer in San Pedro and there was almost perfect law and order. What time do children stay out on the street in today's very permissive society? I don't know because I do not stay out at one or two in the morning, so you tell me. But in our good old days children were expected to be home by 7p.m. What you are about to read now will give you ample reasons to understand why this was so. First and foremost, if a child arrived home too late or after 7p.m., he was sure to receive a good lashing and this one was from dad with a leather belt or the hammock rope. Sometimes, or I may say many times, when a child got home late, the door would be locked and the parents threatened that he/she would have to sleep outside. This sent the child into tantrums, crying and begging for forgiveness. After a long time and the shedding of many pints of tears, dad would open the door and scolded like you had never heard him before.

Pic of the Week - What did I Get Myself Into?
"What did I get myself into?" says the Manatee as it sits at Central Park's playground allowing children to climb onto its back. "What did I get myself into?" says the little boys who got stuck atop the manatee sculpture at Central Park. It's just another beautiful day in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, with children enjoying the new open space at Central Park.

San Pedro High Wins at Sagicor Visionary Challenge
Many times the news of student violence or student drinking spread like wildfire, but the accomplishments of teachers and students spread slowly or go unnoticed. This is exactly what a team of teachers and students at San Pedro High set out to change when they joined the Sagicor Challenge.

Misc Belizean Sources

World Water Day
World Water Day is celebrated every year on March 22nd. The United Nations theme this year is "Water and Jobs". On March 15th and 16th, an exhibition and Water and Jobs Summit was held in Belize City and Belmopan to commemorate the day. Here are a few photos from the opening of the event in Belize City.

Belize Protectors in Vegas
First place for the Belize Protectors in the mixed category and 6th place overall in their first Baker to Vegas race! Congratulations Brigadier General David Jones and team.

Emergency power Interruption 9:00am to 12:00 midday, Wednesday, March 23, entire Caye Caulker
BEL to connect new standby unit and replace recloser at Caye Caulker Substation.

Tapir caught in camera
To understand the dynamics of ecological processes in the Chiquibul forest Ms. Lauren Watine from the University of Florida has installed cameras this year once more.

Bird-a-thon Lodge Competition Team Results
With fierce competition between 60 team members and ten Lodges competing for the H. Lee Jones Cup this year made for an exciting 3rd Annual Bird-a-thon Lodge Competition. Three new lodges got in the action and added to the fun this year (duPlooy’s Jungle Lodge Resort, The Lodge at Chaa Creek and Casa Stevens Cabana Rental and Adventures). The competing lodges included: Black Rock Lodge, Bocawina Rainforest Resort and Adventures, Casa Stevens Cabana Rental and Adventures, The Lodge at Chaa Creek, duPlooy’s Jungle Lodge, Farm Inn, Hamanasi Ecoresort, Lamanai Outpost Lodge, Mountain Equestrian Trails, and Pook’s Hill Lodge. The goal of this event is to raise money for our research and conservation efforts, but a big objective is to get people outside looking at birds while having fun doing so with great people while raising awareness about bird conservation. We accomplished all this year with the participation and support of many great lodges that are conservation-minded and contribute to giving back to better our environment.

Alumni Meeting
The U.S. Embassy Belize Alumni Association invites all Exchange Program Alumni for an alumni planning meeting this Thursday, March 24, 2016 at 8;30 am. Please join us and learn about what the association has to offer and get involved! Please RSVP to BelizeAlumni@state.gov with your name, the exchange program you participated in and the year, and your contact information.

3rd Annual Disney Show on Caye Caulker

Paint Party Events
Come paint with us the beautiful "Rainbow Fish" Thursday at the crazy Canucks beach bar. :March 24, 2016, 2:00 PM

Ocean-themed mural on Caye Caulker
Wonderful new ocean-themed mural on Caye Caulker's Front Street, created by artists from Oceana and Ocean Academy senior students Lilly and Alessa.

Kent Bob Gabourel new Sports Coordinator
We would like to welcome Mr. Kent “Bob” Gabourel as the Town’s Sports Coordinator. Bob, as almost everyone knows him, is widely known for being a sports activist in our community; whether he’s organizing sports camps for the kids or planning tournaments, you are sure to find Bob occupied with some kind of sports planning. His experience in sports is definitely an asset to our community as Bob is very familiar with various sports; such as, swimming, football/soccer, softball, volley ball and many others. One of his greatest accomplishments was to participate in the 20th Commonwealth Games which took place in Glasgow, Scotland in July of 2014. Bob is also the proud winner of the Lion Man Triathlon, which takes place in Belize City, for three times in a row, from 2013-2015. Bob will be working closely with Councilor Hector “Tito” Alamilla who has Sports as part of his portfolio and Councilor Ruben Gonzalez who has Education as part of his portfolio. We are excited to have Bob as part of our team and are more than excited to see what Bob has in store for our community. Welcome to the San Pedro Town Council Bob!

Beltraide signs MOU with Atlantic Bank
On Wednesday March 16th the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service, BELTRAIDE and Atlantic Bank Ltd. signed a memorandum of understanding to partner in outreach initiatives where possible. This first of its kind partnership features the Government’s leading development agency and one of the country’s largest financial commercial banks agreeing to sensitize entrepreneurs and the business community on services and products aimed to improve their business enterprises. The agreement also seeks to promote global trade finance programs including pre-import and pre-export financing. Ms. Lejia Melanie Gideon, General Manager of Enterprise and Innovation Division, Beltraide signed on their behalf while Ms. Sandra Bedran signed on behalf of Atlantic Bank Ltd.

Italian Easter Bread
In a large mixer bowl, combine yeast, warm (not hot) milk, salt, butter, eggs and sugar. Add about half the flour and beat until smooth with dough hook. Slowly add the remaining flour to form a stiff dough. Don’t worry about how much flour it ends up being, just keep adding until the dough is not sticky anymore. Knead until smooth with either dough hook attachment or turn out on floured board and knead. Place in a greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about an hour.

Palapa Bar hosting JAM Night
Palapa Bar is now hosting JAM Night EVERY Thursday from 7p-10. Dennisito sets the tone. Come join him and others on stage. Bring your own instruments, sing and dance. ALL are welcome!

Valdemar "Bambito" Alpuche Jr. passes away
The Corozal Daily extends its deepest condolences to the entire Longsworth and Alpuche families. May Valdemar "Bambito" Alpuche Jr. rest in peace and rise in glory.

Going to Mexico Travel Tips!
IF YOU ARE TRAVELING TO MÉXICO, PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT FIRST.

Power interruption 9:00am to 11:00am, Thurs, March 24, North San Pedro
Portion between Captain Morgan’s Retreat & Tranquillity Bay Resort. Two 15 min power interruptions: 9:00am to 9:15am & 10:45am to 11:00am will also affect portion from Boca Del Rio to Belizean Cove Estates. BEL to repair hotspots on power distribution system in area.

ALPHEUS WILLIAMS: Three times National Belize Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Race Champion!
"On the road, I have been impressed by two young riders---the unknown Alpheus Williams, and Sam Halliday, younger brother of The King." "Trained and coached by Buck Belisle, Alpheus Williams had won Cross Country three times." "Alpheus was one of the best thinkers ever among Belizean cyclists." Evan X Hyde (From his Book, Sports, Sin & Subversion). Which three years Alpheus Williams won the Belize Cross Country Race?

Easter Celebration!
Easter is a happy time and the Belize Tourism Board celebrated it in fun colorful ways with the cruise passengers at the Fort Street Tourism Village. Both adults and children were treated to Easter candies and chocolates.

Mano a Mano - Caribbean Kings & Super Furia in San Pedro
March 26

Channel 7

BDF General Sticks By Soldiers' Assessment of Sarstoon
Last week, a very telling BDF threat assessment report was leaked to the media and, by all indications, it shows a pattern on provocation in the Sarstoon by the Guatemalan military going back at least 10 years. The report concludes gravely that from the BDF's observation, the aggressive tactics of the Guatemalan armed seem designed to force a conflict. The Foreign Minister told us he hasn't read the report; the Prime Minister said he'd gotten a synopsis, and today we asked the BDF commander if he stands by the findings of this report. Here's what he said. Brig. Gen. David Jones - Commander, BDF: "It may be seen as a provocation, but it is as bad as what being portrayed in the media. There have been instances where I have mentioned there are conflicting orders. They believe that the entire river belongs to them and we believe that half the river belongs to us and it's just a matter of understanding and something that requires a political solution and then I don't believe there will be any conflict. I am confident that both militaries are working peacefully together. It is just an effort where our diplomats need to work out for things to work smooth. What was mentioned in the assessment was comments by one of our officers. That his comments and it should be treated as such. I am telling my view; we believe that it can work peacefully. There has been instances that can be interpreted as provocation. That's the way our soldiers view its and the officer was right in making that assumption and also making recommendations in there. But from my perspective and from the BDF perspective, we are fully aware and based on the fact that I've met the new general who is committed to ensure that there is peace and de-escalation on any tension in the area. I am sure we have smooth running of things going forward."

A Pattern Of Provocation or Business As Usual
And while the two sides are talking at the highest military level, at the diplomatic level - they're also talking, but almost in a different language, it seems. That's because the official Belize account of what happened on Saturday March 12th is completely different from the Guatemalan account. The Guatemalans completely rejected the Belize claim that they behaved aggressively towards the BDF. So how does the BDF commander see it. Did Guatemala provoke his soldiers? Here's how General Jones put it. Brig. Gen. David Jones - Commander, BDF: "Well I wouldn't view it as that sort of aggression. You can view it that way if you look at it that they came into our waters. But as I explained before, they believe they are in their waters and that's where the conflicting problem is. So without that diplomatic solution we will always view it as if though they are threatening to us. But they came over to speak to our guys, our guys weren't comfortable with it because they were in Belizean waters. So you can view it as a threat. But they weren't pointing weapons, they weren't being aggressive as such towards the troops and the situation was resolved amicably, without any incident."

Belizean Woman Held up at Knife Point in Chet
If you are planning to spend the Easter weekend shopping in Chetumal you might want to leave your expensive jewelry and other valuables either at home, or at your hotel. That is what one city woman advises Belizeans to do after she was held up this weekend in the Sam's Club parking lot. Therese Diego Blease left for Chetumal on Saturday to celebrate a friend's birthday. But her friend had an emergency and had to rush back to Belize City. Blease went along with her. They decided to go shopping at Sam's Club before traveling back and that is when Blease was held up at knife point. Here is her frightening story. Therese Diego Blease, Robbed at Sam's Club Chetumal: "We decided to go to Sam's just to do some shopping before coming back home. When we got to Sam's, my co-worker and I, it was only two of us in the vehicle, we walked in. from the onset of walking in, we sort of got a glimpse of the guy, but he was just standing there and he had like a motorcycle helmet, so it was a very big helmet over his head. I just glanced at him, she saw him as well. We went in, we did the shopping, and we came back out. When we came back out, we pushed the cart to the vehicle and we packed the truck. I had my back basically turned to him the whole time so he had the opportunity then, but I'm assuming because it was both of us he didn't want to take the chance. As soon as we finished packing, she told me to just take the cart back to the cart area which I did.

Budget Debate Starts Up With Fireworks
The Budget Debate is the highlite of the annual parliamentary calendar; it's the opportunity for all 31 representatives to speak about their constituencies, and explain how the new budget is serving, or failing them. Today, the Leader of the Opposition set the tone for the opposition response, with his traditional speech leading off the debate. Briceno called last year's budget incompetent, and said the Prime Minister's new budget, dubbed "Stability in a Time Of Change" is a model of instability: Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition: "Last year's budget was yet another exercise in incompetence. It was fairytale without a happy ending. That is proof enough that this is an irresponsible budget. Government overspent by more than 140 million dollars. In a 4 billion dollar economy, government spending seems out of control. Government is spending 25 cents out of every dollar in our economy. Well Mr. Speaker, the chickens have come home to roost and in 2016, as the soca song says "the party done." Just before the budget speech, the PM whop us with that fuel tax to the tune of 50 million dollars. The truth is that this 2016 budget is no celebration of stability. There is no boldness in this budget. The big picture here is that Belizeans will take a lick in 2016. You know how much of that 50 million dollars each of us will have to pay? Every Belizean man, woman and child will have to pay $143.00 more for government this year. This budget will not make us safer.

Vega & Barrow: "Walk On By"
And while speeches dominated the day, we did catch one interesting sight in the margins. Orange Walk North Representative Gaspar Vega did come to the meeting, but he slipped in a little late. The interesting thing is that when he did, he and the Prime Minister didn't even exchange a glance much less a word. The two are usually jovial so the body language seemed telling to us. What was also telling was that opposition leader John Briceno's 11 PUP Representatives did not give him one salvo of applause or - as is customary in parliament - table thumping - until the 47th minute of his speech! That's kind of (MAKE HAND GESTURE) for a leader of the opposition in his first formal response. And it did not escape the notice of John Saldivar:... Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security: "This is his second turn as Leader of the Opposition. Unfortunately he may have taken over under circumstances not too friendly, because it was very noticeable in his presentation the lack of applause from his colleagues on that side of the House." Day one of the budget debate finished after 6:00 this evening, and it continues tomorrow.

Punta Gorda Robbers Left Loot Behind
Punta Gorda police ended up in a shoot-out with armed robbers on Monday night after they foiled the robbery of a Chinese store. It happened around 9:00 when police received a 911 call of a robbery in progress, and they quickly responded to James Store, located on Maria Nunez Street, PG Town. There they found the store's security guard had been tied up. They went inside and found the 2 shop attendants also bound by the hands and feet. The shop's employees signaled to police that the thieves were still in the shop, and that's when the officers went to the back building. The encountered 2 men who immediately opened fire on them and fled on foot. The officers set chase, but the two gunmen escaped. When the officers returned and searched the area, they found a blue knapsack, apparently abandoned by the thieves who ran off and forgot the bag. When the officers searched it, they found the entire stolen loot from the store including just over 41 thousand dollars cash, an assortment of phone cards, electronics, and merchandise belonging to the store that the men were attempting to steal.

Man Swerves Off Cayo Road To His Death
A traffic accident on the George Price Highway has resulted in the death of Orlando Madrid, a 32 year old Belizean Driver of Cristo Rey Village. At around 1:00 on Monday morning, Madrid was driving alone westbound to Benque Viejo in a Ford Escort. But upon reaching an area in front of the Windy Hill Resort, he ran off the road and overturned. When police arrived at the accident scene, Madrid's body was found trapped inside the wreckage of the overturned vehicle. Madrid leaves behind a wife and a 5 year old son. At this time San Ignacio police are appealing to residents to exercise extreme caution when driving on the George Price Highway especially around curves.

Someone Threw Away My Baby's Body
Shamika Flowers will never get the closure of burying the remains of her unborn child because someone threw it away. As we reported, Flowers had a miscarriage on Friday and she told the attendants at the Northern Regional Hospital that she wanted the fetus so she could bury it. She even signed a form stating that she would get the remains. But there was some major breakdown in communication and someone threw away or probably burnt the remains. Today CEO in the Ministry of Health Dr. Ramon Figueroa told us that measures will be put in place so this never happens again. Dr. Ramon Figueroa, CEO - Ministry of Health: "In terms of an actual medical care, I think everything was done as they were supposed to do, but I think it's after the collection of the fetus, the product, there seems to have been, I want to say maybe misunderstanding. We are still trying to find out where the process failed, but I know that there was a signed form by the parents saying that they wanted the product and somebody slipped along the line and did not pass that information on to people who regularly dispose of these and disposed of the product. If the family wants the product, then we are entitled, we should be responsible enough to provide that to the family.

No Confirmed ZIKA Cases In Belize
For the most part the global public health alarm over Zika has subsided. But, because it's all around us, Belize is one of those countries which remains on alert for any possible cases of Zika. Many Latin and Caribbean countries are still testing samples and monitoring cases - but so far Belize remains Zika free. Today Figueroa told us that they have sent 4 samples for testing and all have come back negative for Zika. Dr. Ramon Figueroa, CEO - Ministry of Health: "We're still negative. Yesterday we were discussing it with the director of health services and I was informed that we have sent out 4 samples and they have returned back negative. At this point in time, as far as I know, we don't have any case of interests, anything that seems to indicate any Zika, so hopefully we can continue along that light." Figueroa also told us that Dengue cases are also on the decline due to their clean up campaigns and of course because it hasn't been raining - meaning the mosquito breeding grounds have dried up.

Briceno Reinforces Bi-Partisan Guatemala Position
One of the most remarkable turnarounds since John Briceno took back control of the PUP is that his party has joined hands with the Government in taking a unified Guatemala position. Now, we don't know if Briceno has the wholehearted support of his entire executive on this - but today in the house he re-iterated the party hardline:... Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition: "We will work with the government on finding a peaceful and lasting solution to Guatemala's unfounded claim to Belizean territory. Clear in the understanding that we will never surrender one square centimeter of what we know to be rightfully Belizean territory. Be it land, sea or river, we are going to protect every single square centimeter of our territory Mr. Speaker." Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security "I want to thank the leader of the opposition for the about face that he has made and notice I'm saying 'he', I am not saying 'his party'. I am thanking you sir, for the about face that you have made about the Guatemala issue. Thank you. But I don't know, I did not hear any applause from your colleagues when you said so. I have to wonder if that is the view of your party."

Belize Will Get Boat For Territorial Waters
And in other news of a territorial nature, the police minister today announced that the coast Guard is getting tow huge new vessels for policing Belize's territorial waters:... Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security: "And we will acquire, Mr. Speaker, for the first time in the history of this country, two hundred foot patrol boat craft valued at over 10.2 million U.S dollars. This, Mr. Speaker, will allow our Coast Guard to properly police and manage even our economic zone which is over 200 miles out. In the BDF, over 2 million will be spent on training for our helicopter pilots, yes Mr. Speaker we now have 3 helicopters in the BDF."

Capital Cops Charged
Tonight, 3 Police Officers: Emericiano Alcoser, Edwin Marin, and Jose Uh, are facing disciplinary and criminal charges after 3 males, 2 of them minors, accused the cops of putting a beating on them for no apparent reason. 2 young men, one of them 15 years old, and the other 16, reported to police that on Monday, they were asleep inside the 16 year-old's grandmother's house on Uruguay Street, in Belmopan. They awoke to the sound of their room door being broken down. 2 men, one dressed in a black police outfit, and the other in a standard police uniform barged into the room. The 16 year-old says that he recognized officer dressed in the traditional uniform as one of his grandmother's neighbours. Both men immediately started to beat them, kicking and punching them all over their bodies. The officers threw them into the pan of a pickup truck, where another officer beat them while they were being escorted to the Belmopan Police Station.

Gusman And The Gun
19 year-old Joey Gusman, a construction worker of Sandhill, is at prison tonight after police say that he tried to throw away shotgun cartridges when he spotted them coming. According to Ladyville police, on Saturday, March 19, they were at the Dew Drop Estate in the village when their attention was drawn to Gusman. The cops say that they saw him throw away 3 objects in the bushes. Before he could leave, they detained him, and when they retrieved the items, they discovered that it was 3 shotgun cartridges. He was arrested and charged with keeping unlicensed ammunition. He was arraigned today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer, where he pleaded not guilty. Due to the nature of the offence, he was remanded into custody until May 3.

Loathe Thy Neighbor?
25 year-old Robert Wagner, an electrician of Neal Pen Road Extension in Belize City, is out on bail after police say that he admitted to breaking into his neighbour's house. According to police, Harold Grant, who's a resident on the same street, reported that between March 9 and March 16, someone broke into his house and stole just over 23 hundred dollars in personal items. Police investigated the report, and they detained Wagner, who - according to the cops - admitted during interrogation that he was the thief. He was arrested and charged with burglary, and when he was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer, he pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was released on bail of $4,000, and he must return to court on May 24.

Boat Thieves Lurking In Caye Caulker
2 weeks ago, in the early hours of Tuesday, March 8, Caye Caulker resident Ernesto Marin realized that his 25 foot boat, named Kyli, had been stolen. He had a 60 horsepower Yamaha Enduro engine on it, and when he showed up at his usual docking area, neither the vessel nor the engine could be found. His family tells us that his boat is one of several that was stolen in the month of March. The fishermen and tour guides who use their boats for their livelihoods have to be vigilant around the clock to ensure that they aren't the next victim. Marin's family tells us that they suspect the thieves strip the stolen boats apart and sell off the engines. The Marin family is asking that if anyone suspects that a stolen engine is being offered to them, please pass the information unto the Police.

B2V: WE WON
The Belizean delegation that left for the US last week to participate in the annual Baker to Vegas footrace is back in the country today. And guess what? They won! It was the first time ever in 32 years of hosting the 120 mile relay that Belize was invited to participate- but they did more than participate. Although there was resounding faith in the Belize team, certainly no one expected them to do so well. They clocked in at a time of 7 hours and 11 minutes, which won them first place in the mixed category. They also ranked them 6th over all- out of 269 teams. Today they arrived back in Belize City to much fanfare. A motorcade followed them through the streets of Belize City, rounded the corner of Albert and Regent Street and made it back to the Belize Protectors Headquarters in front of Home Protectors Insurance. There we met up with the entourage who was greeted and honored with the respect reserved soldiers returning home from war.

Storm Of Controversy Over Stirm's Statements
You might know Pastor Scott Stirm as one of the firebrand Christian evangelists who came out swinging against the LBGT Agenda, as well as the first draft of the National Gender Policy. He's also the Vice President of the National Evangelical Association of Belize. But, tonight, he's making the news as American Belizean missionary who made some controversial comments during a webcast earlier this month. He was speaking to a congregation in the US about his missionary work in Belize, and why he chose Belize. Here he is, during that anecdote, explaining how one of his high school friends refused to accept his drastic decision to move to Belize: So, that certainly has to be a joke, the part about overthrowing the Government. But, those who've seen the broadcast back home certainly aren't laughing about his comments on the Garifuna. He made some controversial remarks about the revered "Dugu" Ceremony:

Finnegan Looking For A Job
Right after the November 2015 general election there was a lot of talk about which politician will be retiring before the next big dance. Names we've heard include Anthony Boots Martinez, Said Musa, Michael Finnegan, Dean Barrow, and Francis Fonseca. Finnegan has been talking about it for years, in fact, his nephew Shyne Barrow even stepped up to take the seat. But, as the smart pundits always said, Finnegan isn't going anywhere. This was more or less confirmed when he spoke at Patrick Faber's endorsement yesterday and begged for a job. Hon. Michael Finnegan: "Like how I want 4 terms. I would be nice to serve in a cabinet of Patrick Faber. You hear how I am begging for a job right." Finnegan is a six term representative.

Programs Underway To Address MENTAL HEALTH Issues
In the past few months we've reported on as many as five cases of dangerous crimes involving mentally ill persons. It's a growing problem, but what is being done to address the pressing mental health issues in Belize? That is the question we ask any health professional we come in contact with and very disappointingly, their response is that they can only do so much with the little resources they have. Today Health Ministry CEO Ramon Figueroa outlined the various Mental Health plans and programs they are working on. "Mental health is one of the priority service programs that we have identified among the chronic noncom cable diseases, injuries, maternal and child health and mental health. Certainly it's a hidden problem because we've only seem the tip of the ice burg. If your start putting in the whole aspect of depression, the suicides that you have heard, all the drug addiction problems that you have, alcohol consumption, those are all part of the signs and symptoms of underlining mental illness or mental problems. The kind of interventions that we have, we have to start building the mental health or capacity to deliver a good mental health program. We're starting right now with partnership, discussions with the University of Belize to be able to train more of our nurses in psychiatric nurse practitioner that we have, to provide the kind of services that we need. So we're starting to build, we need to build the foundation, that's one aspect. Just recently we got, through the assistance of some partners in the UK, the mental health program is getting a van so that we can do more outreach programs. And right now we are also trying to invest some funds in the Palm Center, to improve the lighting. I went there the other day and I mean, frankly it hurts you to see that we have a facility like that, we need to enclose the place. In the past we've heard some stories about people who have been lost, but obviously if you go and visit the facility, you can understand why that happens."

Fatal Accident Down South
24 year old Virginio Sub, a resident of San Jose Village, Toledo, died early on Sunday morning as a result of injuries he received in a traffic accident on Saturday night. The crash happened near San Antonio WaterFalls on the Jalacte Road. Valentina Sho Emmanuel, a 39 year old resident of Belmopan, was driving her green ford escape in the direction of Punta Gorda Town, coming from Pueblo Viejo Village, when she collided with a man riding a motorcycle near the entrance of the San Antonio Village. No one was in the area when police responded to the scene. However they later met with the driver of the Ford Escape by the "Dump" junction. She told police that she left the scene after Virginio Sub was transported to the hospital and she did so with the sole intent of finding the nearest cell service and to call police. Virginio Sub was taken to the hospital in an unconscious state suffering from large cut wounds to the head, a broken right leg, and bruises on different parts of his body. He was pronounced dead at 12:55 am on Sunday. As for Valentina Sho Emmanuel, who was with her husband and two children at the time of the incident, she has been served with a notice of intended prosecution. Police investigations continue.

Channel 5

P.U.P. Leader Disappointed with Budget
On March eighth Prime Minister Dean Barrow presented the budget for the 2016/2017 fiscal year under the theme – Stability in the time of change. He claimed that it was [...]

Briceño says Belize is in Recession
Briceño claims that the U.D.P. has deliberately refused to admit that Belize is actually operating in a recession, and there is no sign of the best that was to come [...]

Unemployment Figures – Are They Up or Down?
The Leader of the Opposition, to bolster his argument of economic crisis, used the figures on employment between 2008 and today. Not surprisingly, Area Representative for Belmopan John Saldivar used [...]

Publics Officers and Teachers to Receive Third Pay Raise
Saldivar, who publicly announced today that he intends to contest for the vacant post of first deputy leader in the U.D.P., boasted that if Briceño’s statistics and assertions are valid, [...]

P.U.P. Prepared to Work with G.O.B. on Issues of National Concerns
But with all that said, Briceño ended his presentation to kick off the debate by extending the hand of cooperation, claiming that his party is prepared and able to assist [...]

John Saldivar Reveals Plans for National Security Ministry
In terms of the specifics as related to the Ministry of National Security, Belmopan Area Representative John Saldivar revealed that as it has every year, the budget for the departments [...]

Poverty Rate Almost 50%
Lake Independence Area Representative Cordel Hyde was the third to weigh in on the 2016/2017 budget. It is his first address in the House since elections of November, 2015. In [...]

Cordel says Underprivileged Won’t Benefit from Budget
Hyde claimed that for all the rhetoric surrounding its presentation, and for all the money this government says it has spent, that money hasn’t reached the people who need it [...]

Protocol to be Developed for Entry and Access to Sarstoon
In the absence of an adjacency zone at the southern border with Guatemala, a protocol on how to deal with civilians and military personnel traversing the area of the Sarstoon [...]

Is an Adjacency Zone needed in the South?
If you’ve wondered why there is no rise in hostility between Belize and Guatemala when illegal hunters are found inside Belizean territory it’s because the adjacency zone clearly demarcates the [...]

Leaked Threat Assessment in Sarstoon – B.D.F. General Sends Warning
The Belize Territorial Volunteers, led by activist Wil Maheia, has come under fire recently for its purported role in rousing hostilities in the south, between the B.D.F. and Guatemalan military. [...]

Did Faber Get the Memo on the Wrong Budget?
Representative for Collet Patrick Faber spoke at length today, but interestingly the major portion of his presentation did not touch on the Budget for the fiscal year 2016/2017. He instead [...]

Faber’s Love Affair with the People of Collet
Faber didn’t comment on the obsession, but he did take time to revisit the now infamous Petrocaribe-funded pibil and barbecue fest in Corozal. The young Minister has taken flak for [...]

Musa Says Budget is Hangover from Bazaar Spending by G.O.B.
In his presentation, Musa took on the deficit in the 2015/2016 budget – a one hundred and eighty-two million dollar gap between revenue and actual expenditure. It’s an unprecedented deficit [...]

Minor Killed in Independence Over a Horse
Over the weekend, a street figure was killed in Ladyville. There was another murder, which occurred on Sunday in southern Belize for which an eighteen year old was arraigned today. [...]

Did Orange Walk Hospital Dispose of Fetus Without Mother’s Consent?
A young mother from the Belize District heard the most devastating news earlier this week. After suffering a miscarriage and preparing for the burial of her unborn child, she was [...]

Decision to be Handed Down in Orange Walk Murder Trial
A decision by Justice Herbert Lord is expected in mid-April following the submission of final arguments today in the trial of Osmar Sabido. The twenty-six year old Orange Walk resident [...]

Burglary in Punta Gorda
An elderly night watchman was bound at the wrists and ankles during and armed robbery in Punta Gorda Town which briefly netted a pair of thieves over thirty thousand dollars [...]

Team Belize Wins in Las Vegas Relay
A team from the three arms of the security forces returned to Belize today to a warm welcome. A motorcade through the streets of the Old Capital culminated on Coney [...]

Family of Accident Victim Speaks Out
Jason Robinson, a resident of Hattieville, will be laid to rest on Wednesday. He perished at the start of the weekend after being ran over by a passenger bus. On [...]

Police Department: Citizen Security and Safety for the Easter Holidays
Road traffic accidents along major thoroughfares are among the leading causes of death for Belizeans. Since the beginning of the year, a number of incidents have been reported and despite [...]

CTV3

Murder Trial Against Sabido Comes To An End Judge Reserves Verdict For April 18h
Today the case against Osmar Sabido came to a conclusion at the Orange Walk Supreme Court with the prosecution and the defense presenting closing arguments on the case. During yesterday’s court session the prosecution made a submission for the judge to allow the testimony of three witnesses that would verify that the statement made by the accused during his testimony on Tuesday of last week where he stated that that on the 28th of February 2011, he arrived home from work at around 6:00 in the evening and met Christie at home and she immediately started an argument with him, accusing him of being with another woman, as being a false statement. Today Judge Herbert Lord upheld the submission made by the prosecution and allowed the three witnesses to take the stand. The first to testify was Bertha Alonzo who stated that Christie was at her grandmother’s wake on market lane while she was conducting a rosary in her memory.

CEO Discusses Missing Fetus At NRH
In last night’s newscast we reported about twenty two year old Shameka Flowers of Crooked Tree Village who suffered from a miscarriage on Friday due to high blood pressure. Flowers was only five months pregnant and when she arrived at the Northern Regional Hospital, she had already lost her fetus. After the ordeal, Flowers decided to sign a document requesting that the fetus remain at the morgue of the NRH so as to give her the time to make preparations for burial. However, when Flowers returned to the hospital yesterday she was informed that the fetus had gone missing and now the mother is seeking legal advice. During an interview earlier today, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Health, Ramon Figueroa, gave his input on the matter and blamed the entire ordeal on lack of communication.

Belizean Woman Robbed At Popular Shopping Center In Chetumal
In the month of December there were a number of reports about Belizeans that were victims of robbery at the shopping malls in Chetumal Quintana Roo, Mexico. The string of robberies included the cloning of credit cards in the different stores as well as the stealing of cash and personal belongings in the mall’s parking lot. As a result of the reports that were made to the consulate, the Honorary Consul of Belize in Chetumal, Jorge Valencia, issued an advisory for Belizeans to be cautious and alert when visiting Chetumal and ensured the public that they would do their best to find a solution to the problem. But while the cases of robbery may have seemed to vanish over the past months, tonight we can tell you that another Belizean by the name of Therese Blease from Belize City was robbed at Sam’s store over the weekend in Chetumal while in the company of one of her co-workers. During an interview with the media earlier today, Blease spoke about the events leading up to the ordeal.

Belizean Protectors Make Belize Proud
One Hundred and twenty miles of pavement, 20 stages, over 8,000 runners, hot days, cold nights, pride and honour…..that’s what the world’s most prestigious and unique law enforcement foot race held annually on the 19th – 20th March is all about. This unique law enforcement foot race held in the United States starting in Baker, California and ending in Las Vegas, Nevada, is a gruelling but rewarding and challenging event for enforcement officers from around the globe as they battle it out every spring for the chance of winning the coveted cup trophy. The Annual Challenge Cup/Baker to Vegas Relay course takes place through extreme temperatures as it is held across the desert, it begins 25 miles north of Baker on Highway 127 to Shoshone, California; then northeast on Highway 178, across the state line into Nevada on Highway 372 to Pahrump, Nevada; it proceeds then southeast on Highway 160 to the finish inside the Hilton Hotel Convention Room in Las Vegas. All participating teams were scheduled to run in eleven flights, depending upon their ability, with flights starting hourly from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Onion Producers Graduate From Farmers Field School Program
On April of last year the European Union funded a project known as Promoting Agro Business in Northern Belize. The project was implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Ministry of Agriculture as a backup in case the price of sugar in preferential market saw a drop. The project saw the birth of the Value Chain Approach, geared towards the improvement of the production of onions, honey and sheep. In the area of onion production the project counted with a Farmer’s Field School where for 19 weeks onion producers learnt how to improve the production and productivity of onion in Northern Belize. On Thursday March 17th, 28 farmers were awarded for successfully completing the 19 weeks of class in a ceremony at Centro Escolar Mexico marking the end of the project but not the end of the working relationship between the famer, extension officers and F.A.O.

Belize Remains Free Of Zika
The spreading of the Zika virus in various parts of the world raised alarming concerns over the past months especially here in Belize due to the fact that the Aedes Aegyti mosquito that is responsible for the transmission of the virus can also be found here in the Caribbean. In Belize there were four suspected cases of the virus and today the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Health, Ramon Figueroa, made it clear that the country remains Zika free. This is partly due to the clean-up campaigns that are currently taking place country wide.

LOVE FM

Opposition Leader Kicks Off Budget Debate 2016/2017
Day one of the 2016/2017 budget debate got underway this morning in Belmopan inside the House of Representatives. As is the tradition, the leader of the opposition kicked off the debate. Hipolito Novelo reports. HIPOLITO NOVELO REPORTING “Kicking off the debate was the Opposition Leader, John Briceno. He said, after consulting several groups such as […]

Health CEO Concedes to NRH Making Blunder in Discarding Fetus
Yesterday we shared the story of 22 year old Shameka Flowers, the mother who had a miscarriage at the Northern Regional Hospital last week Friday. She signed a paper in which it was understood that she would be back to claim the fetus with the plan to give it a proper burial in Crooked Tree […]

PG Police Recovers $41K Taken in Armed Robbery
Police have recovered over forty one thousand dollars and a quantity of items stolen during an armed robbery last night in Punta Gorda. Correspondent Paul Mahung has the details. PAUL MAHUNG “

World Water Day 2016: WATER AND JOBS
Today, Belize joined the rest of the world in celebrating world water day. Rudolph Williams Junior, the Director of Water and Waste Water Sector at the Public Utilities Commission shared with us the importance of the day. RUDOLPH WILLIAMS JR “World Water Day started off after the Rio Summit in Brazil in 1992 when the […]

Belize Protectors Takes 1st Place in B2V Race in the US
The Belize delegation that traveled to the US for the Relay competition in Las Vegas, Nevada returned home this morning with quite a welcoming from their supporters and colleagues. Renee Trujillo was at the Belize Protectors Headquarters in Belize City awaiting the arrival of the motorcade that brought in the participants.

Three Police Officers Under Investigation for Alleged Brutality
Yesterday we told you of two minors who alleged that they were beaten by police in Belmopan. The injuries to the sixteen year old have been classified as wounding. As for the fifteen year old, he received a fractured skull. Three police men have been under investigation and have been arrested for the allegations. Superintendent […]

Belize is ZIKA Free
Belize remains free of the ZIKA Virus. Of all the samples sent for testing, all of them have returned negative for the virus. CEO in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ramon Figueroa shared more good news. DR RAMON FIGUEROA “Yesterday we were discussing it with the director of health services and I was informed that […]

Opposition Leader Wants to See Budget Allocated for Mental Health and Maternal Care
In his budget speech, Leader of the Opposition, John Briceno pointed out that out of the one hundred and twenty six million dollars the government is proposing to spend in health; monies have not been allocated to specifically deal with addressing the mental health issue in Belize. Briceno also pointed out that no monies have […]

DAY 1 – 2016/2017 Budget Debate
Before going into his budget contribution, Opposition Leader John Briceno noted that during his meetings with the various public and private groups, the common concern and criticism brought forward is the way Area Representatives speak to each other. It was becoming a norm to hear the elected representatives be disrespectful to each other. Not much […]

CARICOM Expresses Solidarity with Belize on Territorial Dispute
In response to the incident on the Sarstoon on Saturday, March 12, between the Guatemalan Armed Forces and the Belize military, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has expressed solidarity and support for Belize. The statement from CARICOM reads, quote, “The Caribbean Community expresses its grave concern over the incident which took place at the Sarstoon River, […]

Breaking Belize News

CEO in Health Ministry says “process failed” Shamika Flowers
CEO in the Ministry of Health, Ramon Figueroa says that the “process failed” Shamika Flowers at the Northern Regional Hospital. Figueroa says that while Flowers received proper medical care, her miscarried baby boy did not as there was a “misunderstanding” along the way in the […]

Murder case against Osmer Sabido finalizes
Final testimonies and closing arguments were presented today at the Orange Walk Supreme Court as the case against Osmer Sabido concluded. On Monday the prosecution led by Attorney Javier Chan and supported by Attorneys Shanidi Chell and Javier Burns had entered a submission to have […]

Scott Stirm defends statements to U.S. church congregation
An edited version of a video posted some eight months ago on the website xpmedia.com by the Shiloh Fellowship, led by evangelist Patricia King and featuring local pastor and vice-president of the National Evangelical Association of Belize (NEAB), Scott Stirm, speaking to a U.S. […]

“Pawty done!” PUP lash budget on first day of debate
Prime Minister Right Honorable Dean Barrow’s 9th Budget was severely criticized on the first day of a two-day debate. Barrow’s revenue and expenditures titled “Stability in a time of change” contemplates spending of 1.151 billion dollars. Opposition leader, Honorable John Briceño, responded by saying […]

Prison officer is latest to be jailed for weed smuggling
25 year old George Reyes, a prison officer who was busted yesterday when he tried to smuggle 47 grams of cannabis into prison by hiding it in his groin area, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking when he appeared today before Magistrate Deborah Rogers. Because it […]

BDF commander says he is working with Guatemalan counterpart to ease tensions in Sarstoon; warns media over leaked report
Today Commander of the Belize Defence Force (BDF), Brigadier General David Jones, issued a report on the ongoing efforts to ease tensions between his forces and those of Guatemala in the Sarstoon River. Speaking in Belize City, General Jones said he has established camaraderie with […]

Belize Protectors win relay in Las Vegas
Over the weekend, a group of Belizean law enforcement personnel dubbed the ‘Belize Protectors’, traveled to the United States and participated in a 120 mile long ‘Baker2Vegas’ relay race along with 260 other teams from that country. Having been invited to this annual event […]

Over $50k recovered from robbery scene in Punta Gorda
Just before closing time last night at around 8:45, James Store in Punta Gorda (PG) Town was robbed by three masked men armed with guns, who assaulted the store’s Chinese owners before exchanging gunfire with police officers and making their escape. According to information […]

World Water Day observed
Dating back to 1993, the United Nations designated March 22 as World Water Day and each year since then, a theme has been set for this important day, corresponding to a current or future water related challenge. This year’s theme is “Water and Jobs”, inspired […]

Blogs

The cave beyond secret beach
Eventually Kendall mentioned it was time to stop being lazy and get to the real reason we came to the west side of the island – adventure. It is known that a network of underwater caves (cenotes) exists beneath Ambergris Caye and we were about to go in search of one. We piled back into the cart and drove the cart up a small sand dune through a short tropical corridor and parked at the next stretch of beach. I had only been this far on foot before and had never seen the cave so it was fun to take the cart and explore going further north in a different way. The secret underwater cave was easy to find marked with a big stick. Both Kendall and Mark decided to don masks and snorkel. As they explored the area, I opted to check out the cave from above and take pics. Had my underwater camera not just crapped out on me that second I would have done some underwater cave shots. Thankfully I had two cameras. Eventually, we ended up sitting and chatting around the cave. In the interest of safety and not pissing off a big barracuda Kendall had seen inside earlier, we decided to just watch the fish action from the edge. I managed to get a couple of cool fish pictures from above the water.

A Trip to Belize City and Our Last Cold Front?
Sunday evening the weather changed ABRUPTLY. The day was warm, still and humid and at about 8:30pm, an epic dust storm blew through town…winds up to 40mph whipping up everything. It seemed like rain was coming (and it did on the mainland) but we got nothing. Just an island full of vehicles that need a good power washing. The lights flickered and went out on some parts of the island and we woke up Monday morning to grey skies, a north wind and cooler temperature. I headed out on the 8:30am San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi to meet friends for lunch in Belize City. Here’s what I saw – and despite the winds, the boat ride was quite easy. About an hour and 20 minutes from San Pedro to Belize City. I love this guy…he usually has good music playing from his speakers outside. But it was too early.

Hot Cross "Cheese" Buns
Good Friday is not the same without some Hot Cross Buns. I did a spin on our Belizean Hot Cross Buns and added cheese to them. I made them mini because everything in better when it's mini.

Seeking an Unspoiled Belize Paradise? Visit Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary
This world of wonder is composed of a huge tract of land that’s peppered with creeks, thickets, marshlands, lagoons and savannas amid a hardwood forest that provides unique habitats for wildlife living in this protected preserve. The variety of animals and birds hanging out in this forest is astonishing; you could even encounter the hemisphere’s largest flying birds: Other-worldly looking Jabiru Storks. Just about everything that crawls, prowls, slithers and roams in Belize is at home here, including black howler monkeys, turtles, iguanas, ducks, crocodiles and too many bird species to get an accurate count. How often are you given an opportunity to visit a 300-year-old, 16,400 acre wildlife sanctuary that, some experts believe, may have been the first European settlement to have been built in Belize around 1750? There’s a small Mayan excavation site in the southwest corner of the Western Lagoon, so if you’re interested in how archaeologists work, you might catch a glimpse of Chan Hiix as it’s being revealed. Birders are particularly impressed by so many avian species found in here, and anyone interested in botany will discover vegetation, plants and flowers not seen elsewhere in the region. If you’re driving on your own, take the Northern Highway from Belize City until you reach Mile 33, a dirt road leading to Crooked Tree. Alternately, the Orange Walk/Corozal bus will drop you two miles from your target destination and you can walk there. Alternately, book a tour from all points in Belize courtesy of your resort concierge and they will take care of all arrangements including transport and perhaps a picnic.

Belize Spring Break Guide – What to do and where to go!
Easter in Belize is packed full of things to do, today we bring you the 5 standout activities everyone must have in their itinerary this weekend! 1. Religious festivities in Benque Viejo Del Carmen:Every year for easter the residents of Benque become a buzz with the excitement of the church displays to come, avid church go-ers sign up to be script actors and extras to dress up as Jesus, his disciples, Mary and the various Roman characters. All over town, along the route of the “Stations of the cross” procession locals create elaborate, colored sawdust carpet art on the street with diverse symbolisms of the catholic faith. 2. Cross-country bicycle race: The Cross Country Cycling classic is an amateur cycling race held every year on Holy Saturday that spans from Belize City to the heart of San Ignacio town and back. The idea for the race was put forward by Monrad Metzgen (one of Belize’s national heroes) in 1928 after a trip to one of the northern villages on which he was struck by the amount of bicycles that the locals used to travel around. 3. Burrell Boom Horse race: As the Easter festivities wind down, Burrell Boom in the Belize district holds its annual day of races on Monday (the day Jesus resurrects) at the Castleton Race Track. It’s very popular event in which Belizean jockeys ride Belizean bred horses for cash prizes and spectators from all districts and even outside the country gather to socialize and enjoy delectable Belizean dishes including all manner of traditional preparations of rare game meats and even sea food. 4. Beach Parties on the islands (and Placencia): Easter weekend has sort of become a Belizean version of “Spring break”, filled with people enjoying the sun and the sea, dancing at large beach parties, and partying the night away in one of the many nightclubs, or bars. San Pedro has signature events like “Island Invasion” at the Fidos bar and Luna Loca is famed for its outrageous beach parties, and the Holiday Hotel is also the spot to be on Sunday with their large foam beach party usually headlined by an international DJ. 5. Restaurant Hop for local delights: There is a traditional belief in Belize that swimming on Good Friday will turn you into a mermaid, and that also on the day one should not travel, it is a day to stay home, be reverent, and eat, but not red meat, only fish. This means, of course, that there are stacks on stacks of cultural-religious food traditions that sprung out from peoples’ creativity sparked by religious “law” from the bible.

Now the Sarstoon has become Guatemala’s
by Thérèse Belisle Nweke … A Belizean in Nigeria on the Annexation of the Sarstoon. The subterfuge, excuses and unimpressive attempts to conceal the truth have ended. The Sarstoon is no longer Belize’s, but is now a part of the Republic of Guatemala. This, the redoubtable Wil Maheia recently proved when as head of the Belize Territorial Volunteers (BTV), he and 19 other Belizeans were arbitrarily prevented by armed Guatemalan military personnel from entering the Sarstoon river, on their way to the Gracias a Dios border marker. Guatemala’s uncompromising Foreign Minister, Carlos Raul Morales, justified the action by accusing the Belizeans of “entering Guatemalan water”. This recent February 27 action by Guatemala to exercise sovereignty over Belizean territory did not create any great furore among Belizeans at home, including the PUP Opposition, or those in the Diaspora. Diasporan Belizeans neither protested at nor picketed Guatemala’s UN Mission in New York, or spoke to correspondents of Al Jazeera, the BBC, Reuters, AP, AFP, even VOA, Press Trust of India, NAN, and CNN – which are among those media organisations with wide international coverage operating in the US. In a sense, I can understand why Belizeans at home did not take to the streets as would have been the case once upon a time. They are a generally decimated people; a former majority, now Diasporan, has become an impoverished minority at home. They are hungry, jobless, careless, unknowing and, therefore, indifferent – broken, used, abused and sold down The Belize or Old River by their black brothers, whose only mantra is: “It’s the money, Stupid”!

Top 5 Activities for the Easter Break in Belize
Are you searching for a great place to enjoy your Easter Vacation? Look no further than the beautiful country of Belize. There are a wide variety of intriguing and exciting activities occurring country-wide, making Belize an ideal destination to truly enjoy the break. Here’s our list of the “Top 5 Activities for the Easter Holidays in Belize”:

Pool Project - The End of Week One
The end of the first week of our project drew to a close with much forward progress. On Friday, the crew mixed a boatload of cement and poured the footer. All of the cement was vibrated to ensure it was even and there were no air gaps. On Saturday, block started to be put in place, on the footer, for the exterior walls. Each tier of block was cemented together and the corner blocks were filled with cement. While all that was going on, a couple of the guys started digging out what will eventually be the pool itself. I think it's important to point out that all of this manual labor is being done with the sun beating down on the guys and with 90-degree temperatures. We have never heard any of them grousing. Instead, to the muted strains of Spanish music, we hear some of the crew singing or whistling to the music and a fair amount of laughter.

What a Difference a Few Days Make
Boy, stuff has been happening around here during the last few days. First off, there has been a ton of digging done to create the trenches for the footers of the pool and pool house. By Wednesday, the dirt piles really grew. It's now at a point that getting to our forest of tomato plants is becoming a bit of a challenge. By late Wednesday, the crew finally hit the marl level. This is far more stable than the black dirt.

Band Fest in Belize – Unique Belizean Talent is what determines the best Marching Band!
Band Fest is a festive and exciting event that happens once a year just before the Easter Break in Belize. It involves the youths of the country showcasing their musical talents through a marching band, musical instruments and perfectly choreographed dance movements. The youths through organized groups compete for cash prizes, trophies, medals and of course, one full year of bragging rights as the best marching band and champion of the competition. Prior to the day of the main event all participating groups would spend countless hours recruiting members, procuring instruments, securing funds and training and practicing. The effort placed in this phase determines the rewards on the big day when the groups are required to compete via field performances in the presence of spectators and judges. The day starts with a road march, where marching bands parade through the streets of Belize and each one is judged based on how they perform during the march, coordination and musical presentation while supporters lined the sidewalk cheering them on. Once the road march concludes the field performance competition begins and the groups compete in four categories, two primary and two sub-completion, all judged by professional musicians. The primary category includes the drum core and marching band with wind instrument performances while, the sub completion-categories which are optional includes the drum line and best choreograph band.

International Sources

CARICOM backs Belize after confrontation with Guatemala military
A confrontation between military officers from Belize and Guatemala at the disputed Sarstoon River has triggered concern from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) which also called for Belize’s territorial rights to be respected. Tensions between the two countries are running high, following the March 12 incident involving the Belize Defence Force (BDF) and the Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) at the river on the southern Belize border. According to a Belize government statement, the GAF approached the Belize forces and “behaved in an extremely hostile and threatening manner, insisting that our troops should not be at the Sarstoon”. It said the Belize forces stood their ground and after some time the GAF withdrew. In the intervening period, the government said, the BDF Commander had spoken to an opposite member in Guatemala and Prime Minister Dean Barrow had sent a message to President Jimmy Morales. The Belize government sent a note of protest to Guatemala which has disputed Belmopan’s version of the incident.

CARICOM concerned about Belize-Guatemala incident
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has issued a Statement expressing concern over an incident between Belizean Security Forces and Guatemalan Armed Forces, at the Sarstoon River, the Southern boundary of Belize with the Republic of Guatemala, on 12 March 2016. “Although the incident ended peacefully following contact at the highest level between military and political leaders on both sides, CARICOM notes with grave concern the tension caused as a result of the incident,” the CARICOM Statement said. PRESS STATEMENT ON INCIDENT BETWEEN BELIZE AND GUATEMALA AT SARSTOON: The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) expresses its grave concern over the incident which took place at the Sarstoon River, the southern boundary of Belize with the Republic of Guatemala, between Belizean Security Forces and Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) on 12 March 2016. The GAF entered Belizean internal waters and acted in an intimidating manner towards the Belizean forces at their Forward Operating Base on Belize’s mainland at the mouth of the Sarstoon River. The GAF claimed that the River belonged to them, although the mid-channel of the River was the settled and agreed border between the Republic of Guatemala and the United Kingdom long before Belize’s independence in 1981. Since Independence Belize has always continued to assert its sovereignty over the area. Although the incident ended peacefully following contact at the highest level between military and political leaders on both sides, CARICOM notes with grave concern the tension caused as a result of the incident.

10MW PV solar farm being developed in Belize
The development of the project is being overseen by Natcore Technology along with Catalyst565, and will start adding a solar presence to a country with huge renewable energy ambitions. With an already burgeoning renewable energy sector, Belize is setting a good example of how small economies can be powered using predominantly clean energy. Solar PV has almost no say in the country’s energy mix, which is dominated by hydro and biomass resources, so this project is an exciting development for PV in the region. Solar research company Natcore Technology is the chief consultant on the design and construction of the facility, and will work alongside energy development company, Catalyst565, to make the project become a reality. It will be constructed on a 90-acre stretch of land in the country’s southeastern town of Palcencia, and will have a capacity of 10MW. The project approached Natcore through the company’s Best of Breed program, which aims to offer technological advice and consultancy to upcoming solar projects. "We developed Best of Breed in response to requests from entities that wanted access to our advances in solar technology," said Chuck Provini, Natcore president and CEO.

The World's Largest Whale Sharks Are Disappearing
Scientists are spotting fewer of the biggest whale sharks in global oceans, but no one is sure why. You’d think finding something as big as a school bus would be a cinch. But large whale sharks—the biggest fish in the sea—seem to have vanished from the world’s oceans, scientists say. Until a decade ago, adult whale sharks measuring an awesome 43 to 49 feet (13 to 15 meters) plied warm waters from India to Belize. Today these biggest of the big are seen only in the eastern Pacific, a new study says. Animals elsewhere average a mere 23 feet (7 meters) and under, which are small fry too young to breed.

THE BREDAA / SPEAR LOS ANGELES BELIZEAN DIASPORA EDUCATION FORUM!
The BREDAA / SPEAR Los Angeles Belizean Diaspora Educational Forum in 1989 was an historic Belizean diaspora education forum that brought the legendary Belizean organization, the Society for the Promotion of Education & Research (SPEAR) to the Los Angeles Belizean Community in 1989 at the invitation of the legendary Belizean diaspora grassroots organization, the Belize Rural Economic Development of Agriculture through Alliance (BREDAA). SPEAR"s visit brought a great degree of Belizean popular education and consciousness to the Los Angeles Belizean Community where Belizeans as well as Caribbeans, Central Americans, Latin Americans, Africans, and Americans were educated about Belize's social, political, economic, and cultural foundations that have brought the country to independence since 1981. The forums included speaking engagements by Assad Shoman, Diane Halock and Wlifred 'Sedi' Elrignton at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), California State University Northridge (CALSTATE Northridge), the Latin American Pathfinder Socialist Forum, and to a large town meeting for Los Angeles based Belizeans in the Belizean Community at the Jesse Owens Park Auditorium in South Central Los Angeles. All the forums and town meetings were highly attended, and Belizean engagement in Belizean affairs at home were at an all time high, and historicaly attracted the largest attendance of Belizeans in the history of the Belizean diaspora in the United States, particularly in the state of California.

Videos

Sharked, 3min. Sharks- Caye Caulker Belize

Ambergris Caye, San Pedro, Belize 2016, 7.5min.

Owl in Belize city Central America, 1.5min. Releasing an owl from case.

Winners of 17th BEL Junior Cross Country Cycling Classic, 1.5min. Belize Electricity Limited thanks all participants and congratulates winners of the 17th BEL Junior Cross Country Cycling Classic held on Sunday, March 20 from San Jose Succotz to Belize City.

Hicatee Nesting Education through Storytelling, 1min. Two girls of St. Peter Claver Primary School in Belize present their storyboard focusing on the importance of protecting nesting sites of the endangered Hicatee turtle. Taught by Min Lee and Annalisa Seavey.

TIDE Hicatee Puppet Show, 9min. The Forest Home Methodist School of Belize presents the Hicatee Puppet Show as part of the marine ecosystem education and outreach efforts with our parter TIDE.

A Spring Break Abroad in Belize, 3min. This slideshow illustrates a week spent in Belize by a study abroad participant, Kayla M. Wilkins. The students enrolled in the class were given the opportunity to shoot footage of various tours in Belize to put together promotional items highlighting agritourism.

Belize Band Fest Melchor Ciencia y Tecnología by. Mr. Kevin Barillas, 13min. la Banda De Centro Educativo Ciencia y Tecnología, en su 2da presentación en Band Fest en la ciudad de Belize.

The Birds of Orange Walk, Belize, 3.5min. As recorded on the balcony of the Hotel de la Fuente overlooking the New River in Orange Walk, Belize, January 2016

The Birds of San Ignacio, Belize, 1min. As recorded up the hill from the town center at Home Hill Apartments near Cahal Pech (pictured), San Ignacio, Belize; January 2016.

Belize, la splendeur des Mayas Documentaire 2016, 45min.

Belize, Monday February 29, 2016, 13min. The dive of many sharks...

March 22, 2016

Caribbean Export OUTLOOK 2016 (English)

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Easter is a party on La Isla Bonita
If there was ever an equation for Easter break it would be S+S+S+P=FUN! And clearly partying is my go to activity for this long awaited four-day holiday. From beach festivities to hitting the club after hours, Easter is a time to let loose and party like a rock star! Saturday means time to hit the beach. Beach parties across the island beckons the young at heart ready to have a great time. Caprice Bar and Grill has once again partnered up with Carib Beer to bring you EASTERFEST 2016. This year’s party promises to be bigger and better, featuring three international and local deejays including DeeJay Capone and DJ Karlo. The party goes on from midday to midnight. Close off your Saturday at Fido’s Courtyard with Island Invasion’s Easter Madness Volume 6. Island Invasion is one of the most anticipated parties and this year’s instalment will be epic. Dance the night away under the largest palapa in San Pedro to the tunes of DJ Biggz, Evolution Sounds, Dj Jago, Dj Odessey, Fyah Statah and Lady X.

SPHS Boys Softball Team: 2016 NSSSA Champions!
Ambergris Caye is in a celebratory mood once again, thanks to its San Pedro High School (SPHS) male softball team. The SPHS boys traveled to the Capital City of Belmopan this past weekend, where they competed in the National Secondary School Sports Association’s (NSSSA) softball nationals. Needless to say, the SPHS boys claimed a blowout victory, becoming the 2016 NSSSA Champions in a competition that saw the results of a committed and dedicated team. Following the end of the competition, each team was then presented with their trophies, while the respective members of each team were also awarded. The MVP prize in the female category went to Camry Linarez from Independence High School , while in the male category it went to San Pedro High School’s Shemar Broaster, who was also third baseman. Additionally, the winning pitcher of the tournament was another vibrant member of the SPHS team; with a total of 13 strike outs, Lester Gamez was awarded the title of best pitcher of the competition. The team members are: Lester Gamez, Nahor Howe, Leonard Lopez, Christian Orellana, Shemar Broaster, Angel Navidad, Mauricio Pleitez, Wilmer Arias, Faustino Campos, Jafeth Castillo, Rodel Mendez, Luis Valdez, Jimmy Zometa and Mario Rodriguez.

The 2016 Mesoamerican Eco-Audit launched
The Belize Barrier Reef is the largest in the Western Hemisphere and second only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. However, the health of the 180- mile long reef structure that runs parallel to the coast of Belize has been declining year after year. Even though different environmental agencies in Belize work hard for the preservation of this World Heritage Site, its condition continues to deteriorate annually. According to Healthy Reefs for Healthy People, an eco-audit is on-going to determine how far Belize is in respect to a number of reef management measures. The launching of the audit took place on Thursday, March 10th at the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City. At the end of the audit, a report will be issued in which an update will be provided regarding the condition of the entire Mesoamerican Reef, of which 80% lies within Belize. In the 2015 Mesoamerican Eco-Audit report, Belize was given a red card, as the state of its reef was declared very poor. However, the Reef Health Index dubbed the reef as fair. At the start of the audit for 2016, environmentalists have stated that Belize is ahead in the management of the ecosystem and marine protection. This gives an optimistic expectation that the results of the audit this year might be very positive.

Angelina Worthington is Miss ACES 2016-17
On Friday, March 11th, six contestants from Ambergris Caye Elementary School (ACES) competed in the “Ms. ACES” pageant. The function was held at the ACES school compound, and was organized by Principal Amanda Burgos. The pageant contestants proudly represented the six districts of Belize. Last year’s “Ms. ACES 2015-2016” was Amber Rivero, and she ran again as Miss Corozal. However, there is a new Miss ACES for 2016-17, and she is Angelina Worthington, Miss Cayo. This pageant focused on talent, poise, public speaking and stage presence. Angelina won a lavish amount of titles, including Ms. Popularity, which is based on fundraising for the school via monetary votes from the community. She also won Ms. Public Choice, a title carried through audience votes, and she also took the title of Ms. Photogenic. The first runner up was Yari Flores “Ms. Toledo”. Naggiin Valladarez, “Ms. Orange Walk”, took the title of Ms. Congeniality, Jasmin Sanchez represented Stann Creek, while Yaire Castaneda represented the Belize District.

2015 shows increase of 34 turtle nests on Ambergris Caye
Forman indicated that during the course of 2015, a total of 111 turtle nests were recorded. This is an increase of 34 nests when compared to 2014. The different areas of Ambergris Caye where the nests were located are in the northern part of the island. Robles Point was the area with the most nests, with total of 63 nests found at this location. 25 nests were found in Rocky Point, and 11 nests in the Basil Jones area. The last spot where 12 nests were located was Punta Azul. Additionally, another major increase was the amount of eggs found compared to the past nesting season. The 111 clutches yielded a total of 10,767 eggs showing an increase of over 2,000 eggs, compared to the statistics of 2014. The report further details the hatch rate at 47.5%, and that 40% of the total eggs made it out of the nests successfully. These figures are higher than the last season, and due to the increase in the number of eggs for this nesting season, these percentages are considered a great success. “We hope that this trend does not change and if it does, let it be for the better. We will continue our conservation campaigns so that the numbers of the nests keep getting higher,” stated Forman.

Is traffic driving away tourists?
The natural beauty of Belize attracts thousands of tourists to Ambergris Caye annually. Their experiences led to choosing Ambergris Caye as a top vacation destination. For San Pedro, tourism is the largest, fastest growing industry, and contributes significantly to Belize’s economy. In 2013 and 2014, Ambergris Caye was consecutively selected as the number one island destination by TripAdvisor. However, in 2015, ratings dropped drastically, leading many to believe that the complaints about traffic and an increase in local crime has led to the island’s drop from the celebrated list. Over the past several months, The San Pedro Sun has accumulated numerous ‘letters to the editor’ regarding the traffic situation on the island. With so many unsatisfied tourists expressing their feelings and concerns, the tourism industry in San Pedro might be at risk if improvements are not made. Many of the letters reflect the same issue: visitors spend a lot of money to travel to Ambergris Caye, but their experience has been dampened by many factors, including terrible traffic conditions. The San Pedro Sun met with San Pedro Town Council Mayor Daniel Guerrero to address these concerns, and hear the status of town council’s plans to improve the situation. “We are very concerned when it comes to tourism,” said Guerrero. “Tourism is truly our bread and butter. It is increasing, but as it increases, the complaints increase. The more people, the more complaints. It is a living process. We just have to polish here and there until we finally get it fine-tuned,” he said.

Los Catrachos FC leading Five-a-side Football Tournament
The San Pedro High School (SPHS) and Island Citizen Sporting Club (ICSP) Five-a-side Football Tournament is now in its 11th round of games. And while all teams remain competitive, one has remained on top of the leader board from the start of the competition. Currently Los Catrachos FC are leading the tournament will 27 points, only having lost one out of their 10 matches. But they can’t be too comfortable, as other top teams like United FC (26 points), Scorpions FC (24 points), Pro Drivers FC (22 points), We Them Boys (21 points) and Island Pure FC (20 points), still have time to take the lead and claim the second championship of the Five-a-side Football Tournament. The next couple of weeks will be interesting as the tournament starts heading into the final games.

Letter to the Editor: Disappointed with the island’s appeal for tourism
We are working for one of the larger travel agency in the US and were visiting to promote one of the island’s resorts. In general we were disappointed from the island’s appeal for tourism. Therefore we were asked to express our expertise. It is unpleasent to see that the good reputation of La Isla Bonita must have long passed. To point out: high traffic density and congestions, parking problems, tourist safety especially in town, unusual high commercial truck traffic, pollution, visual ugliness from junk, signage and even with some structures on your island as well as high boat traffic close to swimming areas . . .many things we did noticed on your island were rather disappointing. Visually and by vibe, San Pedro and surroundings transmitted more of a “Little Tijuana” feeling than of attractive vacation town with charm or a desirable tourist destination.

Letter to the Editor: Sunshine Scholarship Foundation says thanks
The Sunshine Scholarship Foundation wishes to acknowledge and thank the following businesses on our successful fund raiser on March 5th: Dominique from Top Notch and Love Belize, Mathy from Divas and Dudes, Horacio “Chito” from Island Gear, Molli Kultra for her swim wear line (available at Island Gear). A special thanks to Jan Brown for her expertise as an auctioneer and for volunteering her time as well as all the volunteers who participated. Kudos to the staff and management at Corona Del Mar who helped make our event possible and enjoyable. Also Karen Brodie for her photographs and Tamara from The San Pedro Sun. We thank our sponsors who were generous and supportive:

Wolfe’s Woofer: Hot Date
“Jan, please stay with me after the group leaves. I want to talk to you about something.” “I certainly will, Margaret.” The two little old ladies at the table next to mine were with a vacation group of elderly people eating breakfast on the deck at Fido’s Courtyard. At least, I thought they were elderly until I noticed most of them were about my age. “All right, Margaret,” Millie’s friend said, after a while. “They’re mostly gone. What’s going on?” Millie said, “I want to talk to you about our group leader from the retirement village. He asked me out to dinner and I know you had a date with him last month.”

Police Report
Found Property: On Saturday, March 12th at about 8AM, acting on information received, the San Pedro Police visited a beach front area of San Pedro Town where they retrieved a black garbage bag, which, when opened, contained four compressed parcels of a green leafy substance suspected to be Cannabis, amounting to a total of 74.85lbs.
Drug trafficking: On Tuesday, March 15th at 11:10PM, while San Pedro Police was on mobile patrol on Laguna Drive, San Pedro Town, they stopped and searched a 17-year- old male minor. Inside a black and grey, with red stripe school bag, which was being carried by the minor, police found a transparent plastic bag containing a green leafy vegetable substance suspected to be Cannabis.

Ambergris Today

San Pedro High Celebrates National Softball Victory
In game one SPHS trounced Gwen Lizzaraga High School of Belize City 12 to 2 runs led by the pitching of Christian Orellana. The final match for the championship was against Independence High School of the South. At the third inning our heroes had them sweating cold with a score of 5 runs to nil. But our boys had no mercy as they fought vigorously and bravely to the end only to be crowned National Champions 2016 with a final score of 5-1. According to Coach Marion, other stars who shone were Home Run King third baseman Shemar Broaster who drilled a homerun over the centerfield fence. The victory was a complete team effort from all the young men on the Roster namely: Christian Orellana, Leonard Lopez, Nahor Howe, Angel Navidad, Jimmy Zometa, Mauricio Pleitez, Wilmer Arias, Faustino Campos, Mario Rodriguez, Jafeth Castillo, Rodell Mendez and Luis Valdez

Ambergris Caye Joins in Earth Hour 2016 Observance
On Saturday March 17, 2016, Oceana Belize, NICH (San Pedro House of Culture) and Ministry of Youth Services collaborated in conducting a candle light vigil/ parade through the streets of San Pedro in observance of Earth Hour. The parade lead participants from Central Park to the San Pedro House of Culture where a campfire awaited everybody to start roasting marshmallows. Snacks and refreshments were served while the San Pedro Dance Academy and Garifuna Black&White Charikanari Dancers entertained the gathering. As a tribute to Mother Earth, special lanterns were released into the night’s sky.

San Pedro Joins Efforts in Making Island Child Friendly
A ceremony in recognition of accomplishment and commitment towards achieving a ‘Sustainable Child Friendly Municipality’ was held on Friday, March 18, 2016, at Central Park. San Pedro Town was being recognized as one of the nine municipalities in Belize that signed an agreement in 2014 to make their communities better, safer and more productive for children. On March 15, Belize’s Ministry of Labor, Local Government and Rural Development, UNDP, and UNICEF started a nation-wide tour to acknowledge the country’s municipalities that have committed and made progress in the Sustainable and Child Friendly Municipality Initiative.

Misc Belizean Sources

CHILD FRIENDLY MUNICIPALITY CERTIFICATION CEREMONY
A ceremony in recognition of accomplishment and commitment towards achieving a ‘Sustainable Child Friendly Municipality’ was held on Friday, March 18, 2016, at Central Park. San Pedro Town was being recognized as one of the nine municipalities in Belize that signed an agreement in 2014 to make their communities better, safer and more productive for children. On March 15, Belize’s Ministry of Labor, Local Government and Rural Development, UNDP, and UNICEF started a nation-wide tour to acknowledge the country’s municipalities that have committed and made progress in the Sustainable and Child Friendly Municipality Initiative. By working with the initiative, San Pedro and the other municipal authorities developed a Sustainable and Child Friendly strategy in their planning, budgeting and management.

Thunderbolt Water Taxi announces that there will be no runs on Good Friday March 25th
Our regular schedule remains the same

Baffu Vol 8
The 8th Issue of BAFFUY Magazine is out! Contents: 1. Francis Ruiz 2. Carlos Quiroz 3. Felene Cayetano 4. Marvin Vernon 5. Adriana Smith 6. Carolina Maite Dominguez 7. Rasheed Palacio 8. Rudy Thompson 9. Gerardo Polanco 10. Katie Usher 11. Maja Skenderovic 12. Chante Pascascio 13. Kesha Peyrefitte 14. Yasser Musa 15. Sean Gibson 16. Mercy Sabal 17. Alfonso Galvez 18. Paul Stevenson 19. Briheda Haylock 20. Tony Rath 21. Keyren X 22. Michael Gordon 23. Cricel Castillo 24. Kevin Baizar 25. Yassine Boutouil 26. Abdulmajeed K Nunez 27. Ansel Diego 28. Evan V. Evans 29. Marlene Sulker 30. Sean Taegar 31. Alex Ellis 32. Nia Alulaij 33. Ellen Joseph 34. Patrick Peyrefitte 35. Avery 36. Kyo D’Assassin 37. Ansel Diego 38. Gerzon 39. Margaret Reynolds 40. Janai Garnett 41. Cindy Burgos 42. Jemuel E. Robateau 43. Keisha Diane Rodriguez

Liquor Sales on Good Friday & Town Council Easter Hours
The San Pedro Town Council and the San Pedro Liquor Licensing Board hereby informs the general public and all Liquor License Holders the following regulations regarding the sale of liquor on Good Friday (March 25, 2016). • All License Holders with Beer, Malt, Convenience Store, Publican’s Special, Publican’s General License must either conceal or completely remove all liquor products off the shelves. • Restaurants could sell aloholic beverages to customers on Good Friday (March 25, 2016) after 7:00 p.m. • Night Club License Holders must close on Holy Thursday at midnight and may re-open on Saturday, March 26, at 12:15 a.m. • Hotel License Holders can sell alcoholic beverages to bona fide guests only.

Capacity-building for strategic planning and management of natural resources in Belize
The Belize Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Environment and Sustainable Development hosted a 1 day workshop earlier in March, 2016, at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel under a project entitled "Capacity-building for the strategic planning and management of natural resources in Belize”. This project is being implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, with funding from the Global Environment Facility, and aims to facilitate sustainable development as we seek to manage and adapt to the effects of climate change. The concept of a low carbon development strategy came up at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun in 2010 where developing countries such as Belize were encouraged to pursue development with minimal outputs of greenhouse gas emissions and at the same time prepare for its impacts.

Today we celebrate our forest, here in Belize
Forest provides to us more than tangible benefits. Ya'axche is protecting the integrity of over 435,000-acres of forest within the Maya Golden Landscape. Below are 12 Things a Standing Forest provides to us: 1. Access to natural resources 2. Game population replenishment 3. Flagship species for tourism 4. Natural pollinators of crops 5. Natural pest control 6. Soil stabilisation on the river edge 7. Clean water availability 8. Reducing flood risk 9. Soil doesn’t dry out as fast 10. Carbon storage 11. Provision of oxygen 12. Local rainfall generation

ON THIS 2016 BELIZE CROSS COUNTRY EVE (PART FOUR)!
The incredible 1990 Belize Cross Country Champion, Charlie Lewis, in the center flanked by Ronald 'Jack Sutherland' to the left and who also got the second place, and Barrington 'Bomber' Young to the right who came in third. What a race that was for the Belize Cross Country history books.

Belize 2016 Big Day 1.0
The mission was to break any and all previous Big Day records for Belize. In 2014, along with my friends Michael O'Brien and Louise Zemaitis we set the record of 225 species with little planning. I mean, 225 species of birds within Belize in less than 24 hours is pretty good, but we knew we could do better... Yesterday we broke it and set a new bar with 260 species within 24 hours. Exhausting, exhilarating, epic... tired, but lets do it again. At the end of April is Big Day 2.0 in southern Belize. Get ready...

Channel 7

“Fat Cat” Hunted Down And Killed
Rene Chavarria Jr - or Fat Cat as he was known - was a man well known to police - and he had also gained notoriety in his Ladyville community. The 25 year old was fatally shot on Friday night as he was going to his home in the La Milpa Area of Ladyville. His younger brother Jaime was killed on March, 31, 2015, and on Friday night, Rene was hunted down and killed. 7News was on the scene and we got more from police today: On Friday night at around 9:00, the lifeless body of 26 year old Rene Chavarria Jr., known as fat cat, lay inside these bushes after he was shot by two assailing gunmen. Police say Chavarria was riding his bicycle on Marage Road heading home, when two gunmen opened fire from behind. The spray of bullets hit a 13 year old minor in the leg as he was standing outside his yard. At the same time Chavarria made a desperate sprint towards the Caribbean Shrimp farms. He jumped across the drain, trying to escape his attackers. But before he could make it very far, he was shot three times: to the back of his head, to the upper right shoulder and to the middle of his back.

Bus Crushes Cyclist
A cyclist was knocked down and killed on the Western Highway. It happened on Friday night around 7:45, when 33 year old Hattieville resident Jason Robinson was heading to Belize City on his bicycle. But as he was approaching miles 16, a Shaw's Bus heading to the city as well, ran him over -hos body was mangled and his bicycle was crushed beneath the bus's front bumper. Today we spoke with an eyewitness who was a couple cars back when the accident occurred. The police also gave us more details on the incident. Norman Augustus, Eyewitness: "I was in Pearl bus. I was like say like 4 vehicle behind the incident and all I know that there is a full stop and police came suddenly quickly and let us know that we cannot pass this way. So we waited like an hour and a half to two hours and then they took us around the old street behind the church and meanwhile this is happening, I saw a couple of gentlemen, Mr. Craig and Mr. Bush actually crying out saying that the bus ran over Mr. Robinson. Now, I was stunned."

Man Drowns In Front Of Daughter In Corozal
There was a drowning in Corozal yesterday afternoon. Reports are that around 3:00, 39 year old Customs Officer Valdemar Alpuche Jr. was Jet Skiing with his daughter and some friends in the South End Area. That's when a strong wave overturned the jet ski - hurling Alpuche and his daughter into the water. While his daughter, who is a minor stayed afloat with her life vest, Alpuche did not resurface. A friend, Lewelyn Kelly jumped in to try and save Alpuche but he couldn't - Kelly almost drowned trying to save him. Alpuche's body was found about an hour after the incident. Our colleagues at CTV-3 tried to speak with the family but they declined comment.

Fatal Stabbing in LADYVILLE: Still A Mystery
Did Oscar Gomez kill himself? That is what police are still investigating and today they told us they are not ruling anything out in this case. As we told you on Thursday 41 year old Oscar Gomez went to visit his friend in Lords Bank LADYVILLE. They hung out as usual but later on in the day, Gomez began to act very strange. And then, without any warning, Gomez allegedly grabbed a knife and stabbed himself in the throat. Police gave us an update on this bizarre case. ACP Edward Broaster - OC, Eastern Division Rural: "As it pertains to the stabbing death of Mr. Gomez, we are still doing some investigation. As a matter of fact we are awaiting the post mortem. We did a mock scene where we had the witness reenact to us what actually transpired and we are still leaving it open due to the wounds that Mr. Gomez received. We want to satisfy ourselves what is being told to us is actually what occurred. Hence the reason why we are continuing to do more investigation."

Grieving Mother Says She Wants Her Baby's Body Back
Tonight a young mother is left heartbroken after she couldn't bury the remains of her unborn child. And that's because she claims that the Northern Regional Hospital misplaced her baby's remains. Shamika Flowers was about 5 months pregnant when she had a miscarriage on Friday. It was a devastating blow for her after she had been trying for so long to have her first child. But her world came crumbling down when she went to the Orange Walk morgue to get her baby's remains - they told her they couldn't find it. Flowers told our colleagues at CTV 3 more about her disheartening situation. Shamika Flowers: "Friday I had the miscarriage and they made me sign the paper saying that the baby is at the morgue. When I went this morning to go get my baby, there was no baby there. I don't know what to do because, I want my baby in his box - to put him at rest. Now I don't have my baby, what am I going to do with this box? Everyone is already home at my village in Crooked Tree waiting for me to bring the baby to bury him. They already made the tomb. This isn't right."

UDP Go To Griga To Regroup
Yesterday, the UDP held its national convention in Dangriga Town. Unlike the recent one for the PUP, this was no big deal really, since there was no challenge for any of the four executive posts and they were all endorsed. But, the sudden resignation of Deputy Party Leader Gaspar Vega - did make it interesting - since Vega was absent and his post vacant, creating a kind of inner drama for the party beneath its calm exterior. Daniel Ortiz went south to drill down for drama. Here's his story: Daniel Ortiz reporting The grounds of Stann Creek Ecumenical College was overflowing with red shirts from supporters all across the country. Though it was mostly housekeeping, the ruling party made no apologies and enjoyed the comfort of its faithful gathered in masse. Hon. Frank Papa Mena & Mayor Francis Humphreys: "Welcome the UDP way, all the way, the only way." Mayor Francis Humphreys: "Let us hear you, UDP." For this party convention to validate the endorsements, two-thirds of the delegates on the list needed to have shown up. They had no problem making quorum because the official count was that 97% of Party's delegates were present.

PM Says: Ask Vega
And as you in that story, Gaspar Vega was nowhere to be seen at the convention. According to incumbent Party Chairman Alberto August, there were representatives from his constituency of Orange Walk North. Yesterday, Prime Minister Barrow was willing to take questions on the hot button subject, and he told us that we'd have to ask Vega why he stepped down: Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Leader, UDP: "In terms of my personal conversation with him, he repeated what's in the letter that he really has grown tired and he does not want to contest the next general elections and in that context he doesn't want to continue as first deputy. Because had he been endorsed today, that would have been for 4 years because as you see, we have changed the constitution. So there will not be another convention until just under 4 years' time and that's to accommodate the fact that I am going at that junction. There clearly is, apart from what he had said, factors that I am sure influenced his decision, but as to what exactly those are, I am sure when the media gets a chance to talk to him he might wish to in fact expound on those. He has been with me as the number 2 from the time of the general elections in 2008. He has been a colleague and he has been a friend, so his departure now does leave me experiencing a personal sense of loss. I salute him..."

Patrick And John Make Their Case
So, as we've told you, both John Saldivar and Patrick Faber want to become the new 1st Deputy Party Leader. They both launched their campaigns today, and yesterday, we got a chance hear both make their political pitch: Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security: "I believe that my biggest strength has to be my performance as area representative for Belmopan and what I've been able to deliver for my people in my constituency - something I would want to see happen in other constituencies and I am sure that as deputy leader I would be able to influence that process. Other than that, I believe I've done an okay job as Minister of National Security and with my colleagues we get along well and I expect that they are going to give me that nod." Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education: "My record of working in this party and building relationships and taking care of the people in this party is great and that is the primary foundation upon which I will lead my campaign. But as all know, it will also signal once you become the deputy leader, that you are also the deputy prime minister. And assisting the Prime Minister in the work of the government is also very key and so my work, again, will speak for itself and that is the basis upon which I will bank. The work of the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, Culture is very important work. I believe that I've delivered well on these fronts and so I am asking people for a support for something much larger."

PM On GAF’s History Of Provocation
All of last week, the headlines were dominated by the news that the Guatemalan Armed Forces had confronted the BDF at the Sarstoon Forward Operating Base on Saturday, March 12. As we showed you, however, the BDF have cataloged 10 years of hostile and aggressive engagements from the Guatemalan Military in the Sarstoon River. It's all contained in their Threat Assessment Report, which you heard Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington say last week that he hasn't seen. He's a member of the National Security Council, and so is Prime Minister Barrow, who is the Chairman. So yesterday, we asked him if he's read that report. He says that he hasn't either, but does know the contents in a general sense. So, we asked him about that worrying assessment from the BDF that the other country's military has tried to goad them into an armed conflict. Here's what he told us: Daniel Ortiz: "The BDF are calculating based on sober observations of 10 years of interactions, some 10 incidents thereabout. Their suggestion is that the military tactic seem to be provocative with the intent to lure Belizean forces into an armed conflict." Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister: "I'm sure that the BDF has been nothing but professional. and while I haven't read that report, the verbal reports that I have gotten from time to time about little incidents all suggest to me that the Guatemalans while acting in an undesirable manner, might not have has as their objective provoking a shooting war. Now the description that I first received of the Saturday incident worried me because that appeared to have taken things up a notch or two."

PM: ICJ the Only Way
The Prime Minister told us that once again, incidents like these underscore that a peaceful resolution needs to happen sometime soon. We told you how the International Group of Friends are getting impatient with the referendum delays. Prime Minister Barrow said that this is yet another reason that the citizens need to consider it closely: "In our view, in the official view of the government, that really is the only way to solve this issue once and for all, but it does take two to tango and we have not yet gone to a referendum because the Guatemalans seem to be having great difficulty in terms of their own internal politics. In setting the stage for them to go to referendum. The key is to try to come up with a way forward with respect to the Sarstoon. That's priority 1, that's job 1. In the larger context, we in Belize continue to be interested in going to referendum as soon as is practicable. But I repeat, I don't see us going without the Guatemalans also being prepared to go. There has been provision now for us to go separately. Speaking for myself, I don't see Belize going until Guatemala has gone. It's either going together or they need to go first."

OW Protestors Want Justice For Christie
Today, residents of Orange Walk Town went in front of the Court House to demonstrate their outrage over the Christie Carrasco case. As we've been reporting, accused murderer, Osmar Sabido is on trial right now for the stabbing death of his common-law wife, Christie Carrasco, who was killed in February of 2011. The prosecution has called witnesses to testify against Sabido, and in response, he's claimed self-defense. He claims that he didn't kill Carrasco, and that she attacked him with a knife and fatally injured herself while trying to hurt him. Some in the community say that this is an outrageous claim, and so when he was marched into court today, they stood on the street with picket signs. Our colleagues from CTV 3 News were at the courthouse, and they spoke with a few of the protesters:

Car Run Off Road And Explodes
A vehicle burst into flames last night after it overturned on the Philip Goldson Highway. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. By the time the vehicle caught fire, the driver had managed to jump out. So how did it happen? Well according to a statement recorded by police, someone - although they couldn't say who - rear ended the vehicle causing it to fishtail and flip several times. Assistant Commissioner of Police Edward Broaster told us more. Police continue investigations.

Faber And Friends Launch Candidacy For Deputy
So far on the news tonight you've heard a lot from the UDP - it was their national convention yesterday, after all. It's also a busy time for the party as Patrick Faber and John Saldivar vie for the post of first Deputy. Saldivar launched his candidacy today with an advertisement you may have seen in our last ad break - and Faber did his launch at UDP headquarters with a press conference. Faber designed the event to show the ranks and depth of his support within the party. Jules Vasquez was there:.. The special convention to elect a first deputy leader will be held in May or June. The Prime Minister has confirmed that whoever gets the party post, will also get the same promotion in Cabinet.

A Finney Farewell For Vega
And after Gaspar Vega, it's clear the UDP is eager to move on. That's not to say the Deputy Party Leader and Orange Walk North won't be missed - but, as Party Whip Michael Finnegan made clear today, the Party will move on, so..."ta-ta":...: Hon. Michael Finnegan: "It's an unfortunate situation, but it is not something that will bring the United Democratic Party to a halt and the party will not die because of that. I can trace history for you. I think I've made mention this to another television station while I was in Dangriga yesterday; Hubert Elringhton, Derick Akeman, Paul Rodriguez, Keneth Tillet, Lionel Tillet, Dr. Aranda, they have all left the United Democratic Party. And so many years later, the United Democratic Party is a 3 time government. People will come and people will go, and if you are in the UDP and you want to go, I don't want to see you go, but if you want to go then go and go in peace. Nobody will miss you." Jules Vasquez: "So you don't shed tears for the departure of Gaspar Vega?" Hon. Michael Finnegan: "I like Gaspar Vega as a human being, and as a person in the United Democratic Party, and I have the greatest of respect for him. But politics is a big man game, you don't baby people in politics, and if Mr. Vega wants to depart, it is an unfortunate situation. But if he wants to depart, so what? We wish him all the best."

Finnegan Says Goldson Warned About Guatemalan Bullying
Apart from providing some sly commentary on his colleague Gaspar Vega, Finnegan also gave us a little history lesson. Discussing the present difficulties with Guatemala, he said that in 1980 on the cusp of Independence, National Hero Phillip Goldson warned about this very type of Guatemalan bullying:...

Marcus Caught Hot After Robbing Chicken Joint
21 year-old Marcus Garcia, a stevedore of Ebony Street, is at prison tonight after he was taken to the Magistrate's court for a robbery in progress. On last week Thursday, somebody robbed the Pollo Express, a Mexican Fast Food Chain, which opened for business on Central American Boulevard just this year. The employee, a 16 year-old boy, told police that a gunman entered, and the man demanded money at gunpoint,. Fearing for his life, he handed over $800 cash. Police were responding to that crime in progress, and they say they spotted Garcia on the corner of Vernon and Mayflower Streets. He matched the description of the robber from Pollo Express, and so they detained him. When they searched Garcia, they found a rusty magazine which contained 4 live arounds of .25 ammunition. Police arrested him, and after investigating the robbery report, they charged Garcia with the offences of robbery, and keeping unlicensed ammunition.

Channel 5

U.D.P. Holds Biennial Convention – Gapi is a No-Show!
The United Democratic Party held its National Convention in Dangriga over the weekend. The biennial event should have been held in 2015, but that turned out to be a banner [...]

How Will Vega’s Departure Affect the U.D.P.?
There’s no doubt that Vega’s departure from the political scene will have a significant effect on the U.D.P. Vega has generally held the fort in the north – pumping resources [...]

Patrick Faber Launches Candidacy for First Deputy Leader
There are two contenders to the slot of first deputy leader of the U.D.P.: Ministers John Saldivar and Patrick Faber. Within twenty-four hours of the national convention in Dangriga, Faber [...]

Customs Officer Drowns in Corozal Bay
A thirty-nine-year old custom officer well-known in Corozal Town tragically lost his life on Sunday afternoon. Valdemar Alpuche Junior and his two daughters were trying out a brand new jet [...]

Gang Figure “Fat Cat” Slain in Ladyville
In the Belize District, there was a violent end to the life of twenty-five-year-old Rene Chavarria, who was shot and killed in Ladyville on Friday night. Chavarria was riding a [...]

RED Police Continue to Investigate Alleged Suicide Stabbing
A locus retracing the sequence of events resulting in the stabbing death of Salvadoran national Oscar Gomez has been completed. Despite making progress in the ongoing investigation, Ladyville police are [...]

Cyclist Dies after Being Hit by Bus on the George Price Highway
There was other loss of lives, but on the highways. A cyclist perished at the start of the weekend after being hit by a passenger bus while traveling along the [...]

Toledo Resident Knocked Down and Killed in San Antonio
On Saturday night, there was another fatal road traffic accident, this one on the Jalacte Road near the San Antonio waterfalls. At around ten-fifty that night Police were called to [...]

Vehicle Bursts into Flames After Collision on Sunday
A motorist is tonight lucky to be alive, following a near fatal road traffic accident along the Phillip Goldson Highway on Sunday morning. The white Chevy Tahoe, driven at the [...]

Faber Says He Has Staying Power to Guarantee Leadership
The Patrick Faber campaign was launched this afternoon amid much fanfare within the United Democratic Party. While a date for the convention is yet to be determined, it is expected [...]

Faber Asked if Past “Indiscretions” Will Come Back to Haunt Him
But what about his temper? Faber is known for his sporadic outbursts, a trait that has rubbed quite a few people the wrong way. According to the leadership candidate, it’s [...]

U.D.P. Whip Says Belize Should Have Gotten a Defense Guarantee from Britain
Barring an official protocol governing the rules of engagement at the southern-most border of Belize, the Sarstoon, there seems little clarity on the situation there. Things came to a head [...]

Minister of Tourist Says Stats Up Despite Crime
At least in the first quarter of 2016, violent crime has been on the rise, in record-setting numbers. Murders in particular have been spread out across the country, including in [...]

Final Submissions in Sabido Murder Trial Delivered – Judgment Reserved
Closing arguments from the prosecution and the defense commenced today in the murder trial of Osmar Sabido, who is accused of taking the life of his common-law-wife Christie Carrasco. A [...]

No Case File – Accused Murderer Ronalph Ramsey Walks
At the opening session of the Supreme Court this year, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin set ground rules in respect of the time frame for an accused person to be provided [...]

Football and Basketball Stats in Sports
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. The playoff picture inside the PLB closing season is taking shape but there are some crucial back matches remaining [...]

LOVE FM

The Belize Protectors Takes First Place in B2V Race in Vegas
Last week we met up with the law enforcement members who make up the Belize Protectors Team and they were getting on a bus to Cancun after which they would be heading to Las Vegas to compete in the B2V Race. Tonight, we can tell you that the Belize Protectors Team placed first in the […]

‘Fat Cat’ Chavarria Killed in Rural Belize
A murder was reported in Ladyville on Friday night. The victim was well known to Police. Reporter Judy Turton has the story.

Minor Murdered in Independence
16-year-old David Chinchilla Junior of Independence Village was fatally stabbed last night. Correspondent Harry Arzu reports. HARRY ARZU “A fatal stabbing incident that occurred in Independence Village last night has claimed the life of a minor. Independence police say that sometime around 8:15 last night they visited the polyclinic in the area and observed the […]

Gomez’ Death Still Under Investigation
Last week we reported on the death of Salvadoran national Oscar Gomez. He had been stabbed to death. The witness that was in the room at the time of the incident told police that Gomez took his own life. Police has not yet ruled out murder. They are looking at the case very closely. Assistant […]

Hospital Disposes of Fetus; Mother Wants Proper Burial
Twenty two year old Shameka Flowers is accusing workers at the Northern Regional Hospital of gross negligence. She says that they threw away her dead baby. Flowers told Love News that she had a miscarriage on Friday but when she went this morning to get the body of her 19 week old fetus, she was […]

Guatemala Needs to Go To Referendum First, Says PM
With the recent increased tensions with Guatemala military, an even greater urgency has been expressed by members of the public and other sections of the country in bringing a resolution to the matter. The one option that the Government has supported is through the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Yesterday in Dangriga, we asked Prime […]

UDP Holds National Convention in Dangriga
On Sunday, the UDP held its national convention at the Stann Creek Ecumenical High School auditorium where four of five leaders were endorsed and two amendments were made to the party’s constitution. The event began just after ten o’clock when the Party Leader, Dean Barrow arrived. We spoke with the Party Chairman, Alberto August on […]

Vega – A No-Show at UDP Convention
Notably missing from yesterday’s convention in Dangriga was the Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega who also serves as the Area Representative for Orange Walk North. We asked UDP’s Chairman, Alberto August if Vega’s absence was with an explanation and we also took that opportunity to ask August to weigh in on Vega’s resignation. ALBERTO AUGUST […]

Community Pleads for Justice for Christie Carrasco
The trial without a jury against Osmar Sabido, the man accused of stabbing Christie Carrasco to death five years ago, continued today in the Northern Session of the Supreme Court. After being on remand since 2011 the trial began last week and it was expected to end this afternoon but the matter was adjourned until […]

Bandfest 2016 – Another Success
The 2016 Belize Band Fest was held on Saturday. Hundreds of spectators made their way into the Marion Jones Stadium to watch the competition. Judy Turton looks back on what transpired.

Consultations Come After Announcement of Curfew
Following our meeting with Mayor Bradley, we met up with ACP Chester Williams and in that encounter he laid out the idea and details on the initiative of detaining minors found on the streets unsupervised. Williams says it is not a curfew. To further elaborate on this idea, Williams says that it is not […]

Mayor Not Embracing of the Curfew Notion
While the Belize Police Department is implementing measures in keeping the city crime-free and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams is holding parents accountable for their children’s whereabouts at night, the Mayor of Belize City, Darrell Bradley is not so embracing of the curfew approach. Mayor Bradley says the entire idea is extreme.

Breaking Belize News

Robbery attempt foiles
A short while ago on Jose Maria Nunez Street in Punta Gorda Town, a robbery attempt was foiled by police officers who responded to the scene quickly and fired several shots at the fleeing culprits. According to information received from eye witnesses, officers were able […]

NRH accused of losing miscarried baby
A woman from Crooked Tree is claiming that the Northern Regional Hospital (NRH) lost her baby after she miscarried last Friday. The woman, 22-year-old Shamika Flowers, spoke to the press and said that she arrived at the NRH last Friday seeking medical attention as she […]

Protest outside Sabido murder case
The case against Osmer Sabido, accused of killing Christie Carrasco on February 28th, 2011, continued today at the Orange Walk Supreme Court where final submissions were made. The prosecution made a submission to bring three more witnesses to the stand. The court was adjourned to […]

World Tuberculosis Day to be observed on Thursday
A government press release issued earlier today serves to announce that World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is to be observed on March 24th as it is annually, to create public awareness about the illness which is responsible for 1.5 million global deaths each year. Under this year’s theme, […]

SSSSA National Softball champs
The Southern Secondary School Sports Association (SSSSA) held its nationals competition over the weekend in Belmopan City. Competitors came from North, Central, Western and Southern zones. For the boy’s category, the Northern zone’s San Pedro High School took the championship. Lester Gamez, the team’s pitcher […]

Belize 52nd happiest country in the world
Belize has been ranked 52 of 157 countries on the World Happiness Report 2016, which was released over the weekend in Rome to commemorate UN World Happiness Day, March 20th. The study was done by leading experts across fields including economics, psychology, survey analysis, national […]

Body recovered from Corozal Bay and identified
Corozal Police and a search party recovered the body of Valdemar Alpuche Jr., a Customs Officer, from the sea about an hour after he went under water on Sunday. According to witnesses, around three the afternoon Apluche was on a jet ski with his daughter, a […]

Patrick Faber wants to be first deputy leader of the United Democratic Party
This afternoon the Honorable Patrick Faber launched his candidacy for First Deputy Party Leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP) at party headquarters in Belize City. Faber, who also turns 38 years old today, has been a member of the National Assembly since 2003 […]

Sports action results
In National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) sports action over the weekend, the Cayo Western Ballaz took a loss in Belize City against the No Limits 61-85. In Orange Walk at the Multi-Purpose Complex Belmopan Bandits won against the Running Rebels 98-67. Down South in Dangriga, […]

Orange Walk Football Federation holds election
The Orange Walk Football Federation has a new membership following elections on Sunday. The election for the Chairmanship of the federation went for two rounds of votes. By the end of the second, Ladrick Sheppard Jr. was elected as the new Chairman, beating Carlos Umania. The […]

Trade mission from Florida visits Belize
A team of business persons from a number of companies in the United States arrived in Belize, Thursday, March 17 for a trade and investment meeting which opened last Friday, at the Placencia Hotel & Resort. The 15-member trade and investment mission is here to […]

CARICOM backs Belize
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has publicly declared its support for Belize’s territorial sovereignty following the most recent confrontation between the Belize Defense Force (BDF) and the Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) at the forward operating base under construction in the Sarstoon River. CARICOM said yesterday that although the […]

Cold front causes cloudy and windy conditions
The National Meteorological Service of Belize is predicting variably cloudy, windy and cool weather with a few showers or periods of light rain, mostly over southern and some coastal areas. Winds will be blowing from the North-Northwest at 15-25 knots with occasional higher gusts […]

UDP holds convention in Griga
Under the theme “One Team, One Dream: United we work, United we win,” the United Democratic Party (UDP) travelled to Dangriga on Sunday for its National Convention. Prime Minister Dean Barrow and his entire leadership executive minus Deputy Prime Minister, Gaspar Vega were endorsed. Those persons […]

Blogs

Lobster Bisque Soup/Good Friday 2016
LENT RECIPE: Simple Lobster Bisque. This recipe is simple, but savory and delicious.

International Sources

St. Charles Family Profiled on HGTV's "Caribbean Life"
A St. Charles family got its 30 minutes of fame Sunday night on the HGTV show "Caribbean Life. The show gives people from across the nation the opportunity to be filmed while searching for their dream beach home. "I really like the Casa Cay view. It has my own apartment in it." The Doty family watched their story for the first time Sunday Night with a group of friends and family. There was plenty of laughing going on... while the Doty family searched through 3 different locations for their perfect home. But this experience almost didn't happen. "HGTV had a couple that had backed out and on a Friday before Labor Day we got an email asking if we wanted to participate," explains Norm Doty. Though the Doty family bought their dream home in Belize, they won't officially move until their youngest daughter graduates from high school.

It Seems Fortis Inc Will Go Up. Have Another Big Increase
The stock of Fortis Inc (TSE:FTS) is a huge mover today! The stock increased 2.05% or $0.8 on March 21, hitting $39.81. About 815,703 shares traded hands. Fortis Inc (TSE:FTS) has risen 2.17% since August 13, 2015 and is uptrending. It has outperformed by 3.80% the S&P500. The move comes after 8 months positive chart setup for the $11.10B company. It was reported on Mar, 21 by Barchart.com. We have $48.57 PT which if reached, will make TSE:FTS worth $2.44B more. Out of 7 analysts covering Fortis Incorporated (TSE:FTS), 0 rate it “Buy”, 0 “Sell”, while 0 “Hold”. This means NaN are positive. $38.42 is the highest target while $32.27 is the lowest. The $35.02 average target is 13.39% above today’s ($39.81) stock price. Fortis Incorporated was the topic in 13 analyst reports since August 4, 2015 according to StockzIntelligence Inc.

Videos

Awesome shark feeding near the Anchorage on Caye Caulker. (Please do not try to kill the shark, peeps!), 1.5min.

It's always this cheerful and alive in Belize. Children celebrating as San Pedro Town, 1min. It's always this cheerful and alive in Belize. Children celebrating as San Pedro Town Council works on making municipality child friendly.

Belize Shark Attack 2016, 1.5min. Shark attacks a spotted Ray off the docks of Caye Caulker, BZ on March 20, 2016! Hubby happened to be getting pics of rays!

Belize 2016 Cave's Branch Lodge & Indigo Villas, 9min. Return trip to Belize. Stayed at Cave's Branch Lodge on the mainland then Indigo Villas on Ambergris Caye. Fished with Eric Henkis of Uprising tours.

3rd Annual Belize Bike Rally, 3.5min. Bikers from the region Meet In The Middle to celebrate one common passion - to ride in Belize. "Like" iTravel Belize Facebook Page to keep updated as more posts and pictures to come of the 3rd Annual Belize Bike Rally.

Parade!!! Celebration!!!, min. San Pedro High School celebrates national victory of male softball team. Congratulations!!!

C.c.c Marching band 2016 Belize Band fest practice, 2min.

Belize snorkling spring break 2016, 2min.

Belize Cocoa From Bean To Bar, 3min.

Impacts of Climate and Land Use Change on Belize's Water Resources, 12min. University of Belize Environmental Research Institute

Snook Caught by Jon B, 1min.

Belize Diving 2016, 5min. Diving in San Pedro Belize 2016.

Big blue hole belize may 2015, 9.5min.

March 21, 2016