November 29, 2017

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Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Mercury in Fish from the Macal River and Other Rivers
The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Department of Environment and the Belize Electric Company Limited (BECOL), has completed another assessment of mercury levels in fishes from the Macal River, Mopan, Belize and New River. The following Advisory is being issued to guide the public on the amount of fish that can be eaten safely to avoid ill effects due to mercury exposure.

San Pedro celebrates 33 years of township
The town of San Pedro celebrated 33 years of being a municipality on Monday, November 27th. To commemorate the day, The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) held official ceremonies at the Central Park, featuring informative booths showcasing the different services offered at the SPTC, along with colorful art presentations and images depicting the old and present-day San Pedro. Present at the celebration were students from the different island schools, specially invited guests, and past Mayors. Master of Ceremonies, Jorge Aldana officially started the event shortly after 10AM by welcoming the audience in attendance. Mayor Daniel Guerrero then shared a few words regarding the day’s festivities. “We have seen a huge transformation since San Pedro’s evolution from a fishing village to the tourist mecca it is today,” said Guerrero. “Today, we are the fastest growing municipality in the country with a growth rate of 17% per year and the destination with the most hotel rooms in the country,” Guerrero stated that all island residents should feel proud of the achievements and development the island has been through. He encouraged everyone to continue being part of the town’s success, which according to him is on the right path.

Ambergris Today

Mercury Reported In Various Rivers Of Belize
The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Department of Environment and the Belize Electric Company Limited (BECOL), has completed another assessment of mercury levels in fishes from the Macal River, Mopan, Belize and New River. On Tuesday, November 28, 2017, the following Advisory was issued to guide the public on the amount of fish that can be eaten safely to avoid ill effects due to mercury exposure.

Belize Tourism Board Launches Cruise Ship Application
As a part of its continuous efforts to foster the development of our dynamic Tourism Industry and keep stakeholders informed, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) launched its BTB Cruise App on Monday, November 27, 2017. The Cruise App aims in establishing a mobile presence in the Cruise Industry and is designed to share the cruise ship schedule with our valued stakeholders. In developing this modern and user friendly hybrid mobile app for IOS and Android devices, it will display all cruise ship calls scheduled to Belize as well as notify its users of any changes or cancellations.

Misc Belizean Sources

Renewing Accommodation Licensing Advisory
Please be advised that all Accommodation Licenses expire on December 31, 2017. Applications for renewal are now being accepted at BTB's Belize City and San Pedro Offices. Any Accommodation who fails to complete the entire renewal process before December 31, 2017 and continues to operate is deemed to be operating illegally.As per Section 27(1) (j) of the Hotels and Tourist Accommodation Act (HTAA), it is an offence to operate without a valid license and a person found guilty of said offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or to both such fine and term of imprisonment.

Middle Island Neighborhood Watch Cleanup
Ambergris Caye is a bustling, growing island community. Some areas have more public services than others. The “Middle Island” area begins about 4 miles north of town and extends an additional 4 miles. There are no public services for cleaning beaches or roadsides in this area. Residents, via their Middle Island Neighborhood Watch group decided to tackle the problem of beach and roadside trash. The program has been a smashing success. Outlined below is a brief story of what we’re doing on both beach and road in our neighborhood. We found that the more we accomplish the more support we receive. The cleaner the area is, the longer it stays clean. The community is coming together in a really good way and the results are significant.

Mercury in Fish from the Macal River and Other Rivers
The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Department of Environment and the Belize Electric Company Limited (BECOL), has completed another assessment of mercury levels in fishes from the Macal River, Mopan, Belize and New River. The following Advisory is being issued to guide the public on the amount of fish that can be eaten safely to avoid ill effects due to mercury exposure. Macal River Fish: Analysis from this mercury testing indicated that only two fishes (Botasis and Shortfin Molly) had levels of mercury above the recommended safety level. All other captured fishes tested were below the mercury safety level for consumption however they must be consumed with some caution especially Bay snook which was found to be slightly under the safety level. The public is therefore advised not to eat more than six ounces for both Botasis and Bay snook weekly. For Shortfin Molly, no recommendation is given since it is a small aquarium fish not eaten by the public.

New BTIA Chapter for Corozal
New members have been selected for the Corozal Chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA). Congratulations and we hope to hear more from these new members on things happening in Corozal District to help with Tourism.

"25 Acts of Green" - ACT 6:
In September, we participated in the annual International Coastal & Riverways Cleanup. We decided to stay at "home" (in Belmopan), where the enthusiasm from some students of Kuxlin Ha Government School rubbed off on us while cleaning up the creek-side in their community. Thanks to the following students AND their parents: Lucas Caal, Maylee Caal, Carlos Coc, Reynaldo Coc, Gregoria Choco, Elsy Shal, Christina Rivas, Ethan Theus, Andy Shal, Emily Cal, Triston Coc, Marlon Canti, Chepe Choc, Weiner Denis, Pearl Lo, Tanya Pop, Ilalia Coc, Deverlyl Valladares

The G.R.E.A.T. Volleyball CUP competitions continues with games being played Weekly
On Monday November 27th, 2017 ladyville Cadet hosted Hattieville cadets at the ladyville Basketball court and at the conclusion , the hosting teams were victorious in both Male and female matches. Next game will be held on Wednesday 6th December, 2017 commencing at 4:00 p.m., at Samuel Haynes sporting facility in the, St. Martin's area ,Belize City between Precinct Two and Ladyville.

4th Annual FST Science Open Day and Expo
The Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) of the University of Belize (UB) held the 4th Annual FST Science Open Day on November 22, 2017 at the UB Central Campus. The expo involved participation of the FST’s Agricultural Department; Engineering Department; Science Department and the Math, Physics & Information Technology Department. The purpose of the event was to highlight the programs of UB, the work of our students and to get people interested in science from an early age. Students from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions were invited to attend the science fair. Stakeholders and partners from Government and the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) also brought out their staff to participate in the event. Students could see firsthand the technology and work available in this field.

Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico students excel
The staff and faculty of Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico congratulates all its students who excelled in the June 2017 CSEC sitting. San Roman, Corozal District

San Pedro Boat Holiday Parade
Boat Captains: We now have more chances for you to win! We have $10,000 in CASH PRIZES for three categories: General Grand Prize: $5,000 Grand Prize (category open to all boats) • Small Boat Best of Show: $3,000 Grand Prize (boats up to 28ft) • Best Charity Boat: $2,000 Grand Prize (charity-sponsored boats only) Registration is open NOW! Message us to register your boat for the 2017 San Pedro Holiday Boat Parade! Are you a charity and need a boat sponsor? Message us and we'll find a boat for you! The Holiday Boat Parade is Saturday, December 16 this year. Don't miss out!

Verdes FC vs Bandits SC (PLB)
Sunday, December 3 at 4 PM - 7 PM. Norman Broaster Stadium San Ignacio, Belize. The National Channel

Oceana presents "Voices of Our Ocean" Art Competition
Coming to the Toledo District. If interested, email our field representative at rmendez@oceana.org

Are you ready to Rock for the Reef?
An all star lineup of Belizean artists will take center stage at the Memorial Park in Belize City on Saturday, December 9th at 2pm. THIS IS A FREE CONCERT. Free snacks and swag bags (while supplies last).

Art exhibition by Pen Cayetano in San Pedro
Belizean Arts is hosting an art exhibition by Pen Cayetano and pre-opening night for Diamond Lodge Boutique Hotel and Spa (opposite San Pedro Hardware) on the 9th December for 5-9 pm. Glen Wilson is a great supporter of the arts and also of Belize including finanacing a road in San Mateo, Feeding programs scholarships etc. All proceeds from the bar will be donated to his foundation.

Splashers
Join us on Thursday to paint “Fancy Fish” at Crazy Canucks! 2pm-4pm...make sure to sign up!

Head of the Caribbean Regional Office for the European Investment Bank Visits Belize
Today, November 28, officials from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Transport met with Mr. Rene Perez, Head of the Caribbean Regional Office for the European Investment Bank, to look at potential projects for financing by the Bank. The Government of Belize (GOB) officials included Hon. Rene Montero, Minister of Works; Hon. Edmond Castro, Minister of Transport & National Emergency Management; Mr. Errol Gentle, CEO in the Ministry of Works; Ms. Ruth Meighan, CEO in the Ministry of Transport and National Emergency Management; and Mr. Lennox Bradley, Chief Engineer in the Ministry of Works.

EU Funds Improvements to Four Rural Water Systems in the Stann Creek District
The Public is hereby informed of the contract signature for water system upgrades for the villages of Hopkins, Hummingbird Community, Middlesex and Pomona. These projects are financed by the European Union and the Government of Belize with funds from the Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM) 2013. The overall objective of BAM is to foster social and economic development leading to the reduction of poverty, focusing on workers and families in the banana belt. The Hopkins village water system upgrade Phase-2 costs BZ$2 million. The contract will include the rehabilitation of the existing well system, the installation of 9km of transmission pipelines, the construction of 55,000-gallon reinforced water tank, the construction of a new pumphouse and chlorination building, and the installation of 10km of distribution pipelines including residential and commercial metering. These Phase 2 works complements the ongoing works through the Phase-1 project, which costs BZ$2.4 million, which will result in an upgraded Hopkins Main Street and a new water system main pipe along the main street.

Belize Bank Statement re: Background on UHS debt in light of the CCJ's ruling.

Are you a Belizean Musician? Are you looking for ways to better promote yourself and your music?
EXPORTBelize, BELTRAIDE, in partnership with the Office of the Music Ambassador and NICH has an opportunity for you! Come on out to our Artist Outreach Mixer at the Banquitas House of Culture on the 7th of December, 2017 at 6:30pm to connect with other musicians and to talk about how you can promote yourself on our Artists.bz Platform FOR FREE!

Belize Water Services Limited and BEL Open Joint Utility Office in Benque
Customers can now easily access BEL and BWS services at the new Joint Utility Office in Benque Viejo del Carmen

Miss Teen 2017
The Miss Teen 2017 is this Saturday in Benque. It starts at 7:00pm at the Cancha Marshalleck.

Belize Children's Project Saves Kerisa
The Belize Children's Project flew little Kerisa up to treat her severe case of scoliosis. She's on the road to recovery. "Born with a life threatening case of scoliosis, Kerisa Guild, 7, traveled 2,500 miles to stay with a Mount Vernon family for a severe spinal surgery she wasn’t able to receive in her home country of Belize. Kerisa is one of nearly 500 children helped by the Belize Children’s Project, according to the founder Eugene Verdu, of Belleville. This year, the program reached its 40th anniversary with the Belleville Rotary Club providing orthopedic care to children in need from the Central American country."

Consular Spotlight!
Embassy Belmopan issues thousands of non-immigrant visas to Belizeans who want to travel to the United States for tourism, education, temporary work, or onward travel to other destinations. Occasionally, we encounter applicants who are using their visas to do extraordinary things. In October, we met three members of the 12-person Benque Marimba Youths Los Hijos Del West musical group who were invited to attend and perform at See & Taste Belize in Miami, Florida. The group was invited by Nich Belize on behalf of the Belize Consul in Miami. The members who traveled to Miami included Emil Hernandez at the marimba melodies position, Mark Coyoc at the drums, and musical director and founder Ian Yacab at the bass guitar. Through their participation in the festival, they were able to meet other Belizean artists and artisans, including The Garifuna Collective, as well as culinary masters from Belize. Mr. Yacab stated that their participation in the festival gave them a unique cultural exchange experience towards and appreciation of their cultural heritage, and they are proud cultural ambassadors of arts and culture for the community that they represent, Benque Viejo Del Carmen. Mr. Yacab wishes to thank each and every one who made this trip possible.

Channel 7

Cabinet Says "No" to 90 Million for Bze. Bank
Cabinet met today in Belmopan - and according to unofficial reports - members decided unanimously that the UDP Representatives in the House will vote "no" to paying 90.6 million dollars to the Belize Bank. The Prime Minister will outline the formal position tomorrow at a press conference. As we have reported, the CCJ granted permission for the Belize Bank Limited to enforce a 2013 arbitration award against the Government of Belize. That was 6 days ago, and since then, 9 UDP Representatives have gone on record to say they will vote against paying. Today, when they left Cabinet we asked if they had been persuaded otherwise - and while they all deferred to the PM - it's clear that, coming out of that meeting, the hardline was firmer than ever. We start with Wilfred Elrington who had told us over the weekend that he would vote against paying:...

Former AG Says He Wouldn't Recommend CCJ to Other Nations
And there's one more dimension to this ongoing ordeal. Yes, the UDP members are going to reject the payment, but there's also major shade being thrown at the highest court in the land, the Caribbean Court of Justice. Last week it was Party Whip Michael Finnegan and today it was former Attorney General Wilfred Elrington. Now, Elrington just lost a case involving a personal business dealing at the court earlier this month - and he said he got a raw deal from a court whose competence he clearly was not impressed with:... Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs: "It is ironic that it is under our administration that we signed on to the CCJ." Jules Vasquez: "You voted for it, you were UDP."

Belize Bank Says Central Bank Would Frown On Non Payment
And, defending its own position, today, the Belize Bank issued a three page press release, tracing the entire history of the debacle, right back to the start of the Universal Health Services project back in 2001. The bank says, quote, "the current administration has adopted a belligerent approach to the Bank's debt from the beginning." It concludes, quote, "the Bank Looks forward to the government now settling this debt after years of unnecessary litigation to recover the funds, which at the end of the day were lent from funds deposited with the Belizean Bank by Belizean depositors. The Central Bank of Belize would take a very stern view indeed of any licensed bank not seeking to recover such a debt." End quote.

Ruthless Robbery Caught On Security Camera
Tonight, there is shocking security video of a ruthless robbery which happened on King Street in Belize City last night at 10:00. Captured from the Mikado building, it shows two unsuspecting female tourists walking on King Street towards Albert Street in front of Monica's Pawn shop. That's when two men pull up quickly on bicycles. One of them snatch the purse of the woman on the right, while the other wrestled away the purse from the woman on the left. We see the women on the right putting up a fight, and trying to challenge her attacker, who then uses his bicycle to throw her to the ground. She falls backward, and he dashes off against traffic. Undeterred, her friend sets chase - and eventually two of them do, but the robber is gone.

Appeal Rejected: Former Police Firearms Examiner Must Serve His Time
Former police firearms examiner Orlando Vera lost his appeal today, and will have to serve his two year sentence in prison. In a 43 page judgement handed down today, Justice Herbert Lord dismissed the appeal of the Magistrates Court decision to convict him for abetment to pervert the course of justice. His attorney, Anthony Sylvestre, had argued that the sentence was harsh and excessive and that a fine would have been more appropriate. Justice Lord said that the sentence could have been up to 5 years and he cannot agree with the appellant's counsel that a fine would have been more adequate given the circumstances of the trial and the harm to the justice system.

The Multitudes Did Not Come Out To The Assembly Stairs
The National Evangelical Association of Belize today held a family values rally in Belmopan. The event has been in the planning stages since July, and it had already been postponed once. So, we expected them to show the muscle of the masses today, but Jules Vasquez found no such thing: Jules Vasquez reporting: It wasn't exactly Jesus and the multitudes this morning on the National Assembly Stairs. But that didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the speakers or the small audience of about 50. Bathed in the light of the truth but seeking some respite from the sunstroke - inducing heat. And while we saw familiar faces such as Patrick Menzies, there seemed to be a contingent of US men of the faith - a welcome showing, on this day when NEAB needed all the help it could get:

Charged For Slapping Cricket Referee
A woman who roughed up a referee at a cricket match was taken to court today. It happened back in June in Bermudian Landing at a match between Summer Fever and Lemonal. The umpire Herbert Escarpeta reported that after he made a call he was attacked by irate fans. One of them slapped him across the face - and he recognized her as 43-year-old domestic worker Yolanda Banner. She was charged with common assault and appeared in court today. She pled not guilty and was released on bail of $550 dollars. Her case is adjourned until the 29th of January, 2018.

Judgement Reserved in Claim/Counterclaim Attempted Murder Case
Justice Adolph Lucas today reserved his decision for December 7 for 20 year old accused Inmas Espinal. He is charged with the attempted murder of Jose Antonio Saravia - who claims that back in 2012 - he was passing by Epinal's house when Espinal came out with a knife and stabbed him once in his abdomen. Espinal said that it is Saravia who attacked him with a pint bottle. He said Saravia broke the bottle across his head. Espinal claims he picked up the broken bottle and stabbed Saravia once once in his abdomen. The Doctor who examined Saravia, testified that there were two stab wounds to his abdomen. The trial began on November 3 and Saravia was cross examined for 14 days by Espinal's attorney Hubert Elrington.

Coro North Rep. Says Customs Has To crackdown On Contraband Passing Through His Village
For the past few night we've had a lot of reports on a place called "Estero" in the Corozal District. Police and customs have made two significant weed busts, presumably coming across from Mexico. It's an illegal border crossing and a contraband hotspot - right up the road from Patchakan. Now, Patachakan is home to the UDP area Representative Hugo Patt - in fact the road to Estero passes in front of his house. Today we asked him about the contraband culture and the Customs Department:... Hon. Hugo Patt - Corozal North Representative: "It is a concern that all of us share within the vicinity. Patchakan being the area where the entry point and the exit point. I am really glad as well that the police are intervening because the issue with not only contraband, but the issue with allege drugs and even when police has caught an amount of drugs that are coming through that area is concern for all of us. I had a meeting with the village council of my particular community and they were expressing that concern. As we speak we have some marathons being organized and it is never safe when you see vehicles coming out - it's a cat and mice game and so it is unsafe for all of us. But I know Customs for a fact is doing extra work in the area and so is the police department."

Single Mother and Child Homeless After Fire
Keeping it in the Corozal District, early on Saturday morning a fire destroyed a house in Corozal Town. 28-year-old Nirsa Gomez who lived there with her child - and, luckily, they weren't at home at the time of the fire so no one was injured. But a whole lot was lost. One of the residents who witnessed the fire told CTV-3 that the fire team's response was very poor. Alfredo Gibson, Resident: "I saw flames and the house was on fire. When we went over people were already starting to gather around. People were trying to help out the fire because the other neighbor was in a tight position because her house would have been blazed too. We tried to help and they called the fire service but the fire service was very poor. It reached very late. Almost half an hour."

Frightening Mercury Levels in River Fish
Tonight, the Ministry of Health, the Department of Environment and BECOL is giving another update on the levels of mercury in fish of the Macal, Mopan, Belize and New Rivers. In the Macal, only two types of fish: Botasis and Shortfin Molly had levels of mercury above the recommended safety level. All other fishes tested were below the mercury safety level. but that doesn't mean it's all clear. The advisory says they must be consumed in moderations especially Bay snook which was found to be slightly under the safety level. So, you're advised not to eat more than six ounces of both Botasis and Bay snook weekly. The Shortfin Molly is not a factor since it is a small aquarium fish not eaten by the public.

A Truck to End Drain Pain
Last year in December we told you about a vacuum truck the City Council got. Workers spent a while learning how to use the complex piece of machinery and the hard work has paid off. This morning they took to the streets to test out the truck by cleaning drains and 7News was there to witness the vacuum truck work its magic. Councillor Willougby told us more about the truck and its great capability. Phillip Willougby, Belize City Counsellor: "This vehicle will now be in the hands of the city and the flood mitigation unit that is housed within the counsel for our staff to utilize on a daily basis." "What we have done to this end is we have zoned the city into several different zones and within those zones we created quadrants. Our technical staff since then have been collecting data. The data will be plugged into different data sets for the sanitation department, the works department, the flooded unit, the traffic department, etc. Thereafter then we generate a schedule whereby all the departments then go in based on the information and execute whatever needs to be done within those quadrants."

What Logistics And Mobility Really Mean
Today the Ministry of works held a National Workshop on what sounds like a very complicated subject. It's called "Integrated and Sustainable Logistics and Mobility Policy." We found out that it's not as complicated as it sounds. The CEO explains: Errol Gentle, CEO, Ministry of Works: "The workshop we will be discussing both the logistics and the mobility. The mobility is getting the road done. The logistics we are looking at the transportation of goods. We need to put policies in place that will ensure there is a smooth movement of people and of goods throughout the country, throughout the region. How can we improve, for example, movement of goods along the highways through our borders? How can we improve the movement of goods, movement of services, provision of services through the ports or through the airports?"

Getting Technical With Sound
In March, NICH began a 14-week Audio Technician course. The idea was to teach and certify the participants to be sound engineers. It's not easy work, and proof of that is in the numbers: it started off with 40 people and only 22 were left standing at the end. But after about 14 weeks of intense training the 22 students graduated with a head full of new knowledge last week Tuesday. The instructor told us more about the course and its importance today. Whitfield Welch, Bliss Institute Sound Engineer: "They got real intense training on each of the equipment that we use from speakers to microphones. We did not just use microphones. We went through a whole lot of microphones so they know what to expect when they see a microphone. They could tell you what that microphone can do without seeing the microphone so to me that is what a real sound engineer is about. It is a person who analyses before he gets to the job."

Dangriga Dance X
And tonight we close once again with highlites of the annual Dance X Festival which was held last week. This time the highlites are from Dangriga at the Ecumenical College where dancers from Belize City, USA, Dangriga and Cayo performed. We leave you with that, enjoy and join me back here tomorrow.

Channel 5

P.M. to speak Wednesday, but Cabinet says no to U.H.S. and Belize Bank
Cabinet met in Belmopan this morning, ahead of a scheduled press conference for ten o’clock in Belize City on Wednesday, to discuss government’s position on the pending ninety million dollar [...]

Former A.G. turns on C.C.J. after court reversal
Perhaps the biggest proponent for Belize’s signing on to the Caribbean Court of Justice as its final appellate jurisdiction in March 2015, was former Attorney General Wilfred Elrington.  He was [...]

Elrington cites hostile treatment and laziness in writing decisions
According to Elrington, the C.C.J. leaves a lot to be desired, particularly since there is a total of five jurists presently sitting on its bench. He says that only one [...]

Does Eamon Courtenay have unfair advantage at Port-of-Spain?
Elrington was critical of the court saying that the four-member CCJ is unwelcoming and has arguably had the most contact with Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay who has appeared before the [...]

Belize Bank defends loan note, sledges Gov’t.
In anticipation of Wednesday’s announcement, The Belize Bank Limited is speaking out on the ninety million dollar judgment ordered by the Caribbean Court of Justice.  Much of the Bank’s three-page [...]

P.U.P.’s party caucus to meet, will votes count?
As it relates to the position of the People’s United Party, that will be taken on Wednesday afternoon at a parliamentary caucus. The party leader, John Briceño, returned to the [...]

Women robbed and assaulted on camera on King Street
Murders may have blessedly slowed to a trickle, but that doesn’t mean crime has abated in the Old Capital. Two robbers took advantage of an opportunity on Monday night, but [...]

Corozal North rep hails Police, Customs assault on Estero
There has been a noticeable increase in the number of contraband seizures reported in the Corozal District within the past few weeks.  That’s because customs and police have been working [...]

Who’s stealing from Cayo Magistrate’s Court
There is a report tonight coming out of the Cayo District that a significant sum of money is allegedly missing from the San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court.  Those monies, according to [...]

Supreme Court turns down appeal in evidence tampering case
For more than six months, the former Ballistic Examiner, Orlando Vera has been behind bars following a conviction for perverting the course of justice in the Michael Moderi gun related [...]

Former student to learn fate in attempted murder case next week
At the age of fifteen years, Inmas Espinal, then a second form student at Canaan High School, was arrested charged and remanded to prison for the March fifteenth, 2012 attempted [...]

Police make weed bust on Orange Walk Bus
More than seven pounds of marijuana was found on a public bus at the Orange Walk Town bus terminal this morning. But according to police, no one is claiming responsibility [...]

Evangelicals say God is on their side at family values protest
While government Ministers met in cabinet over at Independence Plaza a small group of protestors were opposing the recently passed marijuana legislation to decriminalize possession of less than ten grams [...]

City Council turns on jet vacuum drain cleaner
CEMO was out in the City today testing its brand new 2017 jet vacuum cleaner. The high tech piece of equipment will be used to clean out the drains and [...]

Japanese make building donation for O.W. high school
On Monday, the government of Japan donated one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars for a garbage truck; today it was the Bishop Martin High School to benefit from a brand [...]

Works wants to get Belize moving
The Ministry of Works, in partnership with the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, held a national workshop on Integrated & Sustainable Logistics and Mobility Policy today in [...]

Is F.F.B. presidential election already decided?
The Football Federation of Belize is hoping that the third time is the charm on Saturday, when it seeks once again to elect a president. In May of 2016, after [...]

Training complete for sound engineers
Over the summer, NICH hosted a three and a half month workshop to train interested persons in sound engineering. The audio training workshop was intense and covered a number of [...]

CTV3

Will Parliament Vote For or Against $90 Million Dollars Payment To Belize Bank
Cabinet met today for a regular session, but on the agenda for discussion was anything but an extraordinary matter. The main topic was the $89 million dollars which the Caribbean Court of Justice ordered the Barrow Administration to pay to the Belize Bank, as part of a $35m loan guaranteed by the Government for the Universal Health Services under the former Musa Administration, but which Prime Minister Dean Barrow refused to honor upon taking office in 2008. The Bank appealed the rulings of the Courts in Belize, and won a favourable decision before the Privy Council. The matter was then challenged before the CCJ, and last week they ruled that the Privy Council’s decision was proper, which meant the Government is expected to pay. But the matter is not that simplified, because through all the years the payment was held back, it accumulated interest of over $50 million dollars.

Mercury Detected In Species Of Fish, MOH Issues Advisory
Traces of mercury were detected in a few species of fish that come from the Macal, Mopan, Belize and the New Rivers. Therefore, the Ministry of Health along with the Department of Environment and the Belize Electric Company Limited (BECOL) has issued a public advisory on the required amount of fish that can be consumed on a weekly basis to avoid the harmful effects brought about by being exposed to mercury.

LOVE FM

To Pay or Not to Pay?
Will the Government of Belize respect the Caribbean Court of Justice by paying the ninety million dollars to the Belize Bank? It was last week that the Caribbean Court of Justice overturned the decision of the Belize Court of Appeal and ordered Government to pay the Belize Bank. Today’s Cabinet meeting discussed the judgment. Love […]

CCJ’s reports Twenty Percent Increase in Cases
For the judicial year 2016-2017 the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is reporting a 20 percent increase in the number of matters filed before it than the previous year. In its annual report, the Trinidad-based CCJ indicated cases were filed from four Caribbean countries that are signatories to the CCJ’s Appellate jurisdiction, Dominica, Barbados, Guyana, […]

Elrington laments over CCJ’s Judgment
This month, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has made two ruling against the Government of Belize. On November 7, the CCJ also ruled against Minister Wilfred Elrington in his capacity as an attorney. The case was between Elrington’s Law Firm and Progresso Heights which surrounded a disagreement involving a real estate deal. In June […]

Hugo Patt on Border Infractions
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Hugo Patt, spoke to the media about the recent illegal transshipment of drugs and contraband activities which have been occurring in the North. Hugo Patt – Minister of State in the Ministry of Natural Resources “It is a concern that all of us share within […]

Sugar Production surpasses Projection
Between 2016 and 2017 sugar production for the Caribbean surpassed its projection of 406,000 tonnes by 12,000 tonnes. The Sugar Association of the Caribbean says that the figures affirm the region’s capability to supply the regional market, estimated at 320,000 tonnes for both brown and white sugar. For its 67th Annual Board Meeting, association members […]

NEAB holds Family Values Rally
Today, the National Evangelical Association of Belize (NEAB) held a Family Values Rally in front of the National Assembly to create awareness that the family is being eroded. The President of NEAB, Pastor Lance Lewis said that the church has a message for the nation, that is, “God wants to see the family together because […]

Bishop Martin High School receives funds for Classroom from Japan
As part of its Grassroots and Human Security Project, the Embassy of Japan in Belize yesterday gifted Bishop Martin High School with more than two hundred thousand dollars. The monies will be used to construct a classroom building for the growing school in Orange Walk Town. During a short ceremony yesterday, Principal, Luis Pook expressed […]

Tourists Robbed on King Street
A surveillance camera attached to one of the businesses on King Street, Belize City, caught two persons being robbed by two men on bicycles. The two women who are believed to be tourists were walking on King Street when the two men approached them from the rear. The video shows that the robbery occurred at […]

National Workshop to establish a Sustainable Transport Plan
The Ministry of Works is holding a two-day national workshop on integrated and sustainable logistics and mobility at the Bull Frog Inn in Belmopan. It is believed that this will help to advance our national and regional objectives of a sustainable transport plan. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, ECLAC is partnering with […]

Vacuum Truck: To Alleviate Flood Problems in the City
Last year the Belize City Council acquired a Vacuum Truck under the Flood Mitigation Project. Several trainings with regards to how to properly operate the vacuum truck have been carried out and today City Councilor Phillip Willoughby was with some of the trainees on King Street where the capabilities of the truck were put to […]

Espinal charged with Attempted Murder
In a trial without a jury, Justice Adolph Lucas today reserved his decision for December 7 for 20-year-old Inmas Espinal, charged with the attempted murder of Jose Antonio Saravia. The incident occurred between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on March 15, 2012 on Rose Cousin Street. Saravia testified that he was passing by Epinal’s house when Espinal came out […]

Umpire Assaulted by Fan at Cricket Game
Police have charged a 43-year-old woman for allegedly assaulting the umpire of a cricket game. She is Yolanda Banner, a domestic worker of Lemonal. She was charged with common assault. She pled not guilty to the charge when she appeared today before the Chief Magistrate, Sharon Fraser. She was released on a bail of five […]

Toledo Institute for Development and Environment holds Fisher’s Forum
Fishers of Port Honduras and Sapodilla Cays Marine reserves participated in a fisher’s forum held in Punta Gorda. Correspondent Paul Mahung reports. Paul Mahung, Love FM “The coordinator of the event last Thursday was TIDE’s manage access officer Ryan Moore. Ryan Moore, TIDE “The Toledo Institute for Development and Environment held a manage access fisherfolk […]

Twenty-Two Persons completed an Audio Training
Last week, twenty-two persons successfully completed a live audio training course. The course ran for five months and it was facilitated by Whitfield Welch, audio engineer at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts in Belize City. Whitfield Welch “We went through everything pertaining to a sound system. It starts with the source which will […]

Amandala

Fredezia April Lambey and Josette Allendi McGann get highest CSEC and CAPE scores
The results of the 2017 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) are in. The top student, Fredezia April Lambey, hails from the Independence High School. She obtained fifteen grade (1) passes at the General Proficiency level in Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English A, English B (Literature), Information Technology, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Office Administration, Principles of Business, Social Studies, Spanish, Electronic Document Preparation and Management and Human and Social Biology. She received one grade (2), in Physics. Lambey also achieved first place in Office Administration and Social Studies.

Lieutenant Colonel Charlton Roches target of audit report
An audit of the Belize Defence Force (BDF) has revealed questionable practices which can be traced to payments made to Charlton Roches, a Lieutenant Colonel of the BDF. Roches is a majority shareholder of a company with the name Belize Jungle Experience Ltd., and the payments that were made to him were for services that were provided to support a jungle training exercise for the German army. The report, which presented several findings and recommendations, advised that “The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) needs to be consulted if in fact there are civil and or criminal offences that may have been committed.”

Clinton Arthur Davis, 54, murdered
The wife of real estate agent Clinton Arthur Davis, 54, and the couple’s four children, got the sad news at about 11:30 on Friday morning that the land consultant of Mile 5, George Price Highway, who had gone missing recently, was dead. The owner of Davis Beach was found in a pool of water on his beach property. A bad odor emanating from the area caused a worker of the nearby Old Belize Marina to look across to the adjacent Davis Beach, where he saw the body floating in the water. Police were alerted and they went to the scene and secured the area, after which an onsite autopsy was carried out. After the autopsy, Davis was buried on his property.

Barrow dodges the media
Last Wednesday, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) dropped the hammer on the Government of Belize, ordering Government to cough up over $90 million to the Belize Bank to settle the outstanding debt of the Universal Health Services (UHS), now the Belize Healthcare Partners Limited (BHPL). One day after the judgment, Prime Minister Dean Barrow skipped town. Belize learned the whereabouts of its PM via a press release which stated that he was heading to Houston, Texas, to “attend a private function”, details of which have not been made known. Today, Barrow was scheduled to return to the country, and Amandala and several media houses camped out in the boiling noonday sun at the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA), with the hopes of getting a response from the Prime Minister about our latest massive loss in the international courts.

The strange case of the missing Indian medical student
On Friday police reported that he had been missing since November 9, but Amandala can today confirm that Indian national, Maninder Singh, 21, was never missing. Today, our newspaper contacted Keisha Lyn Belezaire, the administrator for the Central America Health Sciences University, also known as the Belize Medical College, situated on the Burrell Boom road, where Singh was a student. Belezaire revealed that after the school filed a missing person’s report, Singh emailed the administration explaining that he was not missing, but instead had withdrawn from the school because he did not have the finances to further his studies.

Bishop Ann Henning Byfield comes to Moments of Inspiration
Bishop Anne Henning Byfield and seven pastors of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E) of the United States will be visiting Belize from Thursday, November 30, to Tuesday, December 5. Virginia Echols, the host of Moments of Inspiration on KREM Radio on Sunday mornings from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., told us today that the visit of the bishop and the pastors was made possible through the collaborative efforts of Moments of Inspiration and the A.M.E. Church. The bishop and pastors will be special guests on the Moments of Inspiration show, on Sunday, December 3rd, and they will be delivering inspirational messages in different churches in Belize during the rest of their stay.

Semifinals completed; the stage is set for PLB Finals game 1
The Premier League of Belize (PLB) 2017-2018 Opening Season is now down to two teams, Belmopan Bandits SC and Verdes FC, after completing the second leg of the semifinals series this past weekend. With 6-goal margins from their first games of the semifinals, both the Bandits and Verdes coasted through their semifinals home game, to set the stage for what has become perhaps the most anticipated finals showdown in years. On Saturday night at their Isidoro Beaton Stadium, home standing Belmopan Bandits SC jumped to a 2-nil first half lead, and cruised to a 3-1 victory over a game San Pedro Pirates FC. Top Honduran striker Georgie Welcome struck twice (3’ & 34’) for the Bandits in first half, and Jerome “Jarro” James added another (51’), while talented midfielder Jesse Smith (47’) scored for the visitors. Despite the aggregate 9-1 result from the two semifinal games, the Bandits suffered some setbacks, as both captain Elroy Smith and midfielder Khalil Velasquez were red-carded by referee Fareed Ahmad, and should be unavailable for the Finals game 1. San Pedro’s Hector Martinez was also ejected, but he will serve his suspension at the start of the Closing Season.

Belmopan FA 1st Division Amateur weekend results, standings
The Belmopan Football Association (BFA) 1st Division Amateur 2017-2018 Opening Season Tournament continued over the weekend with Week 7 games on Friday and Sunday, November 24 and 26, at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium. In the opener on Friday, (Group A) Capital United crushed Camalote Warriors, 6-1, with goals from Ashton Hyde (17’ & 60’), Alex Cornelio (22’) and Julian Maldonado (37’, 78’ & 81’); while Norman Neal (30’) got the only goal for Camalote. And in the nightcap, (Group A) Juventus FC prevailed, 4-1, over Maya Mopan Rangers. Juventus goals were by Alance Ayala (41’ & 46’), Levi Pixabaj (50’) and Rai West (83’); while Edward Arthurs (65’) scored for the Rangers.

1st semifinals results in BFA – Saldivar Kids, Youth & Female Cup Late Tournament 2017
The 1st round in the best-of-2 games semifinals of the Belmopan Football Association’s (BFA) Hon. John Saldivar Kids, Youth and Female Cup Late Tournament 2017 took place on Saturday and Sunday, November 25-26, at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium. Two semifinal games each were played in the U-13 and U-15 categories on Saturday; and the two U-17 semifinals were played on Sunday. The 2nd round of the semifinals comes up this weekend:

Weekend Warriors Sunday Race results – November 26
Here are the results from racing held yesterday from Leslie’s Imports through the Boom/Hattieville road to the Philip Goldson Highway and back, for 50 miles. The race, for Weekend Warriors (WW) Open A/B/C categories, started at 8:40 a.m. with 32 riders; 28 finished the race. Finishing order was: 1st place – KENROY GLADDEN (Kulture Megabytes, 2:17:40); 2nd Warren Coye (Santino’s, 2:19:14); 3rd Windell Williams (Smart, 2:20:32); 4th Gilberto Acosta (Santino’s, st); 5th Palas Joseph (Lampaz, 2:21:08); 6th Collet Maheia (Kulture Megabytes, st); 7th Kent “Bob” Gabourel (Kulture Megabytes, st); 8th Alvan Gillett (Kulture Megabytes, st); 9th Mark Reid (Santino’s, 2:21:43); 10th Barney Brown (Scotiabank, st)...

Editorial: Belizean health care
Every day in Belize, families are having to make stressful financial decisions which have to do with health care. Poor families don’t have to make any decisions: they have to go to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), wait their turn, and hope for the best. Rich people don’t have to make any decisions: they automatically take their loved ones to one of the private hospitals, and they plunk money down on whichever private hospital’s barrel head. (No money, no care.) Very rich people may fly out their loved ones to the mighty U. S. of A. The reality is that the “in-between” people are the ones who have to be making financial decisions in health care crises. In-between Belizeans may have enough money to seek, in the first instance, the relative comforts of a private hospital for their loved ones, but the bills can pile up so fast, the health crisis may become so serious, they often have to run to KHMH, the public hospital. You may say that such a person who could not sustain the expenses at one of the private hospitals, hung his/her hat too high when he/she went there in the first place, but in matters of health, usually the first thing we think of is not the cost, but rather the need for the best treatment and most comfortable environment possible.

Belizean Softball Greatness In Retrospect!
The 1960s, 1970s and part of the 1980s culminated the historical period of Belizean softball greatness that continues to be talked about today in Belizean circles both at home in Belize and in the Belizean diaspora abroad. It was a golden age of Belize’s sporting greatness; a period of highly developed sportsmanship that was achieved through hard work and a high level of performance that appears to be unattainable today in all levels of sports in Belize. In this classic photo of the legendary Belizean women of softball greatness in the 1960s, it depicts a positive image of a world champion that had dominated softball in the Caribbean and Central America, beat the dynamic Jamaican teams in Caribbean softball tournaments, and recorded for the former “British Honduras” that is today known as “Belize”, the most accomplished sports history. We here at Belizean Legends are inspired to chronicle these historic achievements. These were ordinary Belizean women of the 1960s who practiced hard and played to win. They appeared to be some of the best in the world that played the game, and they are to be honored and remembered.

Belize, a Nation (Still) in the Making
We take a look at the interview we did with one of our own Assistant Professor and researcher Dr. Candice Pitts about her research entitled “Belize a nation (still) in the making” which was published in the international Journal on contemporary writing Wasafari Journal. Beka Lamb is a Belizean Classic that is centered on pre-independent Belize. The author, Zee Edgell, illustrates an accurate picture of the social and political fabric of that era. Dr. Candice Pitts, Assistant Professor of English at the University of Belize, made a profound analysis on the Beka Lamb classic and the role women have played in Belizean struggle for independence and shows that although they played an essential role it’s overshadowed. She compares the different characters and expounds on how they “fit” or “fight” the patriarchal society. The protagonist, Beka, is portrayed as an activist against this mentality. Dr. Pitts also used the National Anthem and Flag to demonstrate that only men are honored and women are marginalized.

Plane found destroyed suspected to be drug plane
Police are investigating the wreckage of a plane that was found in a cornfield in Hill Bank, Orange Walk District, yesterday afternoon. Residents who saw a suspicious plane in the area on Saturday alerted the police, and a combined patrol consisting of police and soldiers of the Belize Defence Force went to the area to see what was happening. No one was found in the area when law officers arrived on the scene.

Nijah Brandon, 23, construction worker, charged with possession of counterfeit currency
Belize counterfeit currency in the denomination of $50 notes is circulating in Belize City. This morning, Nijah Brandon, 23, a construction worker of La Democracia, appeared before Magistrate Michelle Trapp, who read to him a charge for possession of counterfeit currency, knowing that it was not genuine. Police have alleged that at around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 23, Brandon had two Belize counterfeit $50 notes in his possession. Police said that they went to the upper flat of a wooden house, located at 13 Pelican Street, and saw Brandon sitting on a sofa.

Espat says Barrow has to pay Ashcroft’s bank 90 mil
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling in favor of Lord Michael Ashcroft’s Belize Bank, a 90-million-dollar judgment against the Dean Barrow-led government of Belize, has generated defiant comments from government ministers, who are insisting that they will vote against the government making the payment. A ranking leader of the People’s United Party, Hon. Julius Espat, commented this week on the government’s claim that they would resist the payment of the government-guaranteed loan from the Belize Bank to the then Universal Healthcare Partners Limited now operating under the name of Belize Health Care Partners. “Under the Finance and Audit Act in 2010, that the Prime Minister did himself, it says it’s a criminal act if you don’t follow the rules and regulation. So if he doesn’t go to Parliament and he doesn’t get it passed, he is doing an unlawful act and the punishment is jail.

Sexual abuse reported at Immigration Department’s Northern Border Station
Two weeks ago we reported on the matter of three police officers from the Independence Police Formation who were accused of raping two women who were in their custody. Today, there is another very serious allegation of sexual abuse coming out of another governmental institution. Amandala has been reliably informed that a senior male Immigration officer of over two decades, who is attached to the Northern Border Station, has been accused by a junior female Immigration officer of grave sexual misconduct. Information to Amandala is that two weeks ago the two were working the night shift at the northern border when the incident occurred.

Breaking Belize News

European Union funds water systems improvement in rural Stann Creek
The Government of Belize Press Office today informed the public of a contract signature for […]

Shotgun found in Franks Eddy Village, Cayo
Special Branch personnel conducted a search in an open lot […]

House of Mennonite farmer burns down
Abram Wiebe, 54, a Belizean Mennonite farmer of Camp 50, Indian Creek Village, Orange Walk […]

Health advisory warns not to eat certain fish from Macal and other rivers
The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Department of the Environment and the Belize […]

Cool weather to continue
The 24-hour forecast is for mostly fair and cool conditions to continue across the country. […]

Tim’s Store in San Ignacio Town robbed last night
According to reports, last night Tim’s Store in San Ignacio Town was robbed by three […]

Man charged for possession of counterfeit currency
Yesterday, Nijar Brandon, 23, of Democracia Village was charged for the possession of counterfeit currency. […]

Several UDP and PUP parliamentarians say no to $90 million payment
Since the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruled that Belize should pay Belize Bank over […]

International Sources

Antivirus inventor John McAfee, 71, went on a naked shooting spree because the 'Belize government wants to assassinate him'
John McAfee went on a naked shooting spree in September because he thought Belizean intruders were breaking into his home. The antivirus software inventor started firing bullets into the walls and ceiling of his Tennessee home when his aggressive dogs started barking wildly. At the moment they started barking the 71-year-old was in the middle of a romp-session with his 34-year-old wife Janice, according to Newsweek. '[He] thought he heard a movement in the crawl space under our bedroom and in the attic,' Janice said in a statement to the FBI. 'He then fired his gun into both areas.'

Videos

November 28, 2017

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Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Donated fire truck arrives at Caye Caulker
After arriving in Belize City three weeks ago, a fire truck that was donated to the Caye Caulker Fire Department finally arrived on La Isla Cariñosa on Wednesday, November 22nd. The much-needed vehicle is part of a generous donation from the Beechwold Christian Church in Columbus Ohio, USA. The fire truck is a 1981 Pierce Arrow model in excellent condition and comes with hoses and a 1,000-gallon tank. Fire Chief of the Caye Caulker Fire Department, Miguel Matus, expressed his satisfaction at the site of the fire truck being unloaded off a barge. “I am happy it’s here, and hope people know how to appreciate what others do for our community,” said Matus. “But I hope we do not use it anytime soon.”

The Good, the Bad and the Future of Belize’s Coral Kingdom
by Alexander Tewfik – Wildlife Conservation Society. The Belize barrier reef complex is a globally exceptional collection of precious coral, seagrass and mangrove habitats, bejeweled by hundreds of cayes within a massive emerald lagoon and crowned by three magnificent atolls that nurture and protect the land and its people. This wonder of nature, defined as a globally significant world heritage site, has stood for thousands of years, long before the appearance of humans. It is home to a myriad of fish and invertebrates, including millions of tiny polyps that build and maintain castles of stone, which protect the interconnected residents of this unique coral kingdom. This almost fairytale seascape has long benefited humans through natural resources generated and protection from storms, back to the time of the Mayans and later by old world explorers and migrants who eventually settled the shores and called this new world their home. However, despite the many successes and accomplishments towards the long-term securing of marine resources, all is not well in Belize’s coral kingdom. Long-term patterns of catch reveal that many traditionally caught reef-associated scale-fish are landed more infrequently and at smaller sizes and may be defined as overfished for some species. Traditional fishers are now seen to target new species which tend to be smaller and less preferred by consumers or more difficult to access in deeper waters and farther from shore, requiring the burden of more fuel and investment in more costly gear.

Ambergris Today

San Pedro Town Celebrates 33 Years Of Township
Our beautiful town of San Pedro has come a long way, from a quaint fishing village to a booming tourism destination, Today, Monday, November 27, 2017, we celebrate its 33rd year of township. The San Pedro Town Council held a short and informative ceremony at Central Park and in attendance were past mayors and students from various schools on the island. In his welcome address, Mayor Daniel Guerrero spoke of the islands progress; he reminisced to what San Pedro was back in 1984 when it achieved its town status. He stated that our island has grown tremendously from having one police officer, one high school and one primary school to now having over 5,000 students in various schools throughout the island.

San Pedro House Of Culture Hosts Art Show
The San Pedro House of Culture held an official opening for its current Art Show on Friday, November 24, 2017. The exhibition is open for all to see and will run until Friday, December 1, 2017, viewing time is from 9a.m. to 5p.m. Beautiful paintings are available for viewing and purchasing. Go on over to the San Pedo House of Culture and appreciate wonderful art work from local artists such as Eduardo 'Papo' Alamilla, Jeovan Chacon, Manuel Rosales, Edgar Gomez, Stephanie Perez and Alfredo 'Kinishu" Trejo.

Misc Belizean Sources

Happy Township Day!!!
Commemorating 33rd Anniversary of Achieving Township in 1984. La Isla Bonita has come a long way.

Belmopan City Council Receives Grant Assistance from the Government of Japan
In recognizing the importance of garbage collection for the residents of the City of Belmopan and surrounding communities, the Belmopan City Council applied for grant assistance from the Grassroots and Human Security Program of the Embassy of Japan to purchase a new Garbage Compactor Truck. A signing ceremony to present the grant of US$87,539.00 was held today, Monday, November 27th, 2017 at the Belmopan Hotel Conference Room. Deputy Mayor Ralston Frazer signed on behalf of the City of Belmopan while Counsellor of the Embassy of Japan Mr. Shinichi Yamanaka signed on behalf of the Japanese Government.

INAUGURATION CEREMONY: Construction of the Corozal Wholesale Farmer’s Market
The public and the media are hereby informed of the inauguration of the Accompanying Measures for Sugar (AMS) 2013 – Construction of the Corozal Wholesale Farmer’s Market, on the 1st December 2017 at 9:30 a.m. at the Corozal Wholesale Farmer’s Market, Corozal Town. The Construction of the Corozal Wholesale Farmer’s Market worth a total of $384,032.00 was financed by the European Union through funds from the AMS 2013 programme. Two objectives of the Sugar Adaptation Strategy under the AMS 2013 are to foster diversification of the agricultural production base in the Orange Walk and Corozal districts and to minimize the overall macroeconomic impacts on the communities of the Orange Walk and Corozal districts that result from reductions in the guaranteed prices for Belize’s sugar exports and competition in a more liberalized market.

Burglar takes over 18K In valuables from Home
On 25.11.17, Yvonne Davis, a Sand Hill Village resident left home at 6 p.m. on 23.11.17 and when she returned on 24.11.17 she discovered that her home was burglarized. Electronic devices, colognes, footwear, assorted vehicle keys, and clothing items were stolen. The total value of the items is $18,221.90

HOUSE FIRE in COROZAL
On 25.11.17 Police visited G. Street South, Corozal Town where they observed a cement house engulfed in flames. The house is the property of Dorotea Wilshire and was rented by Nirsa Ramirez, who was in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico when it burned. The house and it's contents were not insured.

The Maya of Cristo Rey in Corozal celebrating thier saint patron
They are dancing the U Pool k'eek'en (Hoghead ) dance. Cristo Rey is one of the few villages in northern Belize who still speaks Yucatec Maya strongly .

The opening of the pool at The Truck Stop
Check it out...a really good vibe. No kid mania or horrifying MTV Spring Break...it's great. Yesterday's party had DJ Debbie in her tree during the day, live music in the eve. AND you can watch the movies (and sunset) in the pool - Wednesdays flick...JAWS!!! I'm giddy.

Opening ceremony of the San Narciso Polyclinic, Corozal
Corozal - On Friday, November 24th five Ministers of Government, including the Deputy Prime Minister, Patrick Faber attended the celebration for the official opening ceremony of the San Narciso Polyclinic, Corozal District.

Ocean Academy Christmas Gala 2017, Winter Wonderland
Saturday Dec. 9. Enjoy an evening of students showcasing their talents while you savor an elegant three-course meal followed by a dance.

Caye Chapel Development Group Public Consultation
Caye Chapel Development Group Public Consultation will be held on Thursday November 30, 2017 at the UWI Open Campus Auditorium in Belize City starting at 6:30 pm. A boat leaving Caye Caulker will leave CC at 5 pm. Sign up at the CCVC.

Wildfire In-House Art Exhibit Launch
The Wildfire Artmosphere is launching their next art exhibit this Saturday. Just in time for Christmas, so you can do some shopping, and get some treats while checking out the new art on display. There will be music too. "one thing leads to another.... come this saturday 2 Dec., gather and enjoy sangria, predeath music by joseblanco -and buy cool art for gifts."

Belize Water Services Donates to Crooked Tree Village Council
Swing set donation

The National Channel 10 Open Auditions!

Ministry Of Tourism And Civil Aviation Going The ISO 9001 Way
Last week the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation held its annual staff retreat. One of the highlights of the retreat was the ISO 9001 2015 Certification progress report. The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation is well on its way to becoming the first Ministry to achieve this certification. The plan date is March of 2018. To date, The Belize Bureau of Standards is the only government d epartment that has achieved this certification. What is ISO 9001 Certification you might ask? The ISO 9001 standard is the world’s most widely recognized quality management system (QMS) certification. With more than 1 million companies certified in over 170 countries, ISO 9001 defines requirements for companies and organizations who want to ensure that their products and services consistently meet customer requirements and continually improve their business processes.

Online Survey: Belizean Archaeology
In trying to learn more about the public perception of archaeology in Belize, we invite the public, especially Belizeans and students, to take this quick survey. Share it to your friends and family as well.

50 photos of the Belikin 2018 Calendar Launch

Channel 7

PM Avoids Press, Postpones Special House Meeting
The Prime Minister returned to the country today after a weekend in Houston. The United Airlines flight landed at 12:05, and all the Belize City media houses, Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV and KREM TV were lined up waiting to ask him what he plans to do about the 90 million dollar payment to the Belize Bank. But, he did what he very rarely does and avoided the media by having his driver pick him up on the tarmac - whisking him and his wife away, right as they got off the plane. To our recollection, PM Barrow has only done this once before and that was right after he got back surgery. Today, a senior UDP government official who was on the flight told us that the PM had severe back pain - thus the hasty exit. So, while we were all waiting to hear what he has to say about the compelling executive and parliamentary intrigue where 9 UDP Representatives have told us they will vote "no" to paying the money - tonight we are no closer to knowing - and the uncertainty grows.

Big Plane Found Burnt In Cane Field - Likely Carried Drug Cargo
Yesterday, Orange Walk police found a burnt plane in the Orange Walk District. It is believed to have carried a drug cargo - and was most likely destroyed by the traffickers flying it - which is standard procedure. The plane is a large one - believed to be a twin turbo-prop King Air 200 - and it can carry a heavy cargo, as much as a tonne. It was found crashed and burned in a corn field not far from Hill Bank in the south-central Orange Walk District . Police told us more:.. ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City: "Yesterday, Orange Walk police received information of a plane somewhere in the Hill Bank area. As a result police and BDF personnel proceeded to the Hill Bank area where they observed in a cornfield an aircraft completely destroyed by fire."

No Arrests For Davis Murder, Sibling Briefly Detained
Police haven't made any arrests in Clinton Arthur Davis's murder. On Friday at noon, the 53 year old resident of mile 5 on the George Price Highway was found dead in a swampy area not far from his home - which is beside Old Belize. He had been missing since Tuesday - and his body was found in a state of advanced decomposition. Now, according to his wife and daughter, Davis had been embroiled in a bitter family dispute over land. Police say they are interviewing a number of suspects about this:.. ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C. C.I.B. Belize City: "One was recently detained this morning and he is being questioned in regards to some information that we had received that might to lead to clarified what happened on that date." "What happened Mr. Davis left on Tuesday and nobody had seen him until his body was found on Friday. It was almost 3 days that he had left his house and nobody knew his whereabouts and nobody reported of him missing until he was found on that date. So far as I mentioned, 3 persons had been detained, one was recently detained this morning and he is being questioned in regards to that alleged murder."

Customs Caught Container with Concealed Gun Parts
Today a routine search of a 20 foot container at the Customs Department produced an alarming discovery. The container was brought in by a US National and it was supposed to be loaded with an automobile and 71 pieces of used household and personal effects. But when Customs searched it, they found a large stash of ammunition for pistols and rifles - and well as parts for a rifle and a nine millimeter pistol. There are a number of loaded and unloaded clips for a 9 millimeter pistol, about 150 live rounds of assorted calibres, and various parts to assemble a rifle and pistol. These were concealed among the used household and personal effects. The container came from Denver, through New York to Belize by an American coming to live in Belize. The matter has now been handed over to police - and we'll keep following it.

Man Charged For Counterfeit, Detained in Larger Investigation
Today twenty-three-year-old construction worker Nijar Brandon of La Democracia was charged with possession of counterfeit currency when he appeared in court before magistrate Michelle Trapp. On November 23rd at around 3:30 they went to his apartment on Pelican Street. They didn't find any firearms or drugs, but they did find two counterfeit 50 Belize dollar notes. Brandon pled guilty but said he got the money from a man whom bought a pair of shoes from him. With that Magistrate Trapp entered an equivocal plea of not guilty and he was offered a bail of $200 which he met. However, as soon as he met bail two CIB officers took him into custody because our sources say he is a person of interest in an ongoing high profile investigation.

Server Hack Causes Lottery Crisis on Sunday!
Yesterday Boledo lovers from all across the country were in a crisis when the Boledo machines froze up and they couldn't buy their numbers for the Sunday Lottery Draw. Turns out that the main computer server at Brad's was hacked and, according to a release, quote, "the attack caused severe disruption to the lottery/jackpot sellers and buyers whereby ticket sales were drastically interrupted and unavailable." But the draw doesn't rely on computers - that's just balls in a barrel - and that went ahead as usual. That left customers frustrated and irate - especially those who had the winning jackpot number of 5470, or the ending number of 70 - but couldn't get to buy it. Today Public Relations officer Karil Wallace told us the hack was not something they could have predicted.

Japanese Money For Belmopan City Council
The Japanese Government donated over $170,000 Belize dollars to the Belmopan City Council today. Now the City Council has been struggling to properly dispose of the city's waste because their run down garbage trucks are barely holding up. But with this donation, Deputy Mayor Ralston Frazer says they will be able to upgrade. Here is more. Ralston Frazer, Deputy Mayor, Belmopan: "Actually within our term since 2015 we inherited some garbage trucks that have been there for at least 1,000 years before and it started when the first two broke down and then we got another one which was not quite up there but nonetheless it was working and we could have afforded it at the time but when they broke down, we decided to take parts from one and we came up with a good one and that was the one that had been running since then and it was not initially in a very good condition and it just spent its time and we decided you know lets touch base with those people from overseas who look at us favorably and we share such relationship with and hear what their response will be and today we see the response."

Tools To Predict Climate Patterns
Climate Change professionals were at the George Price Center in Belmopan today discussing approaches and tools that can be used to analyze and predict climate patterns. Now it's more complex than what you see on the weather report. One of the facilitators told us today about a new system they came up with that will be beneficial to Farmers. Ulric Trotz, Deputy Ececutive Director Scienve Advisor: "We've been doing this workshops around the region and this one is for Belize and what it does is basically teaching our technical people across the different sectors: agriculture, coastal development, heath, tourism to use climate information that we're generating to make decisions about how they build and how they operate in the future. We have generated a lot of information about the region in terms of what the future climate would be like - how much more rainfall, how much less rainfall, how stronger storms etc., and we are now reaching people how to use that climate information for future planning."

An App For Cruise Industry Stakeholders
The Belize Tourism Board has developed a useful app for all those cruise tourism industry workers and stakeholders. The app has a variety of helpful features which will keep them on top of the cruise game. Director of Cruise and Destination Planning Noriko Gamero explained more today. Noriko Gamero, Director of Cruise and Destination Planning: "The home app which will show you the calls for the day and the calls will show you both ports, Harvest Caye and Fort Street Tourism Village you can then go into the calendar view and the calendar view will show a regular calendar on your phone and it will highlight the day in your row and below it you will be able to see the cruise calls that are coming in."

More Weed At "Estero" Crossing
Last week on the news we told you about the contraband hotspot in Corozal, called "Estero". That's where customs caught a man with 20 pounds of weed. Well, on Saturday, they caught three men with six more pounds of what is believed to be Mexican Marijuana. At 7:00 in the night Police searched a vehicle with three men inside: 37 year old Abner Cardenas from Corozal, 21 year old Ian Mossiah, and 25 year old Vincent Aldana, both from Calcutta. The cops found 3.7 kilos, or about 8 points of weed in a knapsack.

Maninder Missing Or Making Way To USA?
An Indian student is believed to be on the run tonight, heading north to the US. On Friday, police reported that 21 year old Maninder Singh, a student of Belize Medical College hadn't been seen since Thursday 9th November, 2017 when he last attended classes. They said he was missing, but today police told us they had hopes of finding him: ASP Alejandro Cowo: "We just received information that yes he is here in Belize. He is apparently at a ranch at this moment. Ladyville police are proceeding there to locate that said address along with the other medical students from Ladyville. The reason he is hiding, we wanted to establish that, we do not know what the motive is or why it is that he is trying to avoid his other colleagues or students at the medical school."

Police's Puzzling Response Over Alleged Station Rape
There is still no update and no charges tonight on that allegation of rape made by two women against multiple officers in the Independence police station. But, an interesting thing is happening: because the commander of the professional standards branch - which is investigating the case - has apparently been barred from appearing on the media - the police left to speak on the case appear quite confused. Today they told us the following three things in succession: first, that the file WILL BE forwarded to the DPP, then that the file HAS BEEN forwarded to the DPP, and then that the file IS BEING forwarded to the DPP. Here are the explanations offered to us today at the bi-weekly press brief:.. ASP Alejandro Cowo: "As we mentioned that file is being dealt with by the professional standards branch and as soon as they complete their investigation and everything they will let you know what is the stance of the police department when it comes to that alleged rape."

Teachers Playing Students
As we told you earlier in the newscast , there is an ongoing 2 week climate change workshop at the George Price Center, well right in the next room at the center, 87 teachers took up the role of students as they learned about literacy. We stopped by this morning. Nilda Muschamp, Director, Pathlight Teacher Training Program: "Our broad topic for today is called "Literacy for all." Actually as I mentioned I work with pathlight and are doing the workshop. Actually this is the last of the set of 4 that we went to 3 other districts to do the workshops. We were in Toledo, Stann Creek and in Belize districts and addressing literacy for all. We know that literacy is a problem that we have countrywide. I was sharing with people in the workshop that there are statistics that say that we have 92% of our citizens are literate, but is that a fact? I mean when we look and see what teachers are writing, what adults are saying and writing, is its 92% that is actually literate? What's the definition of literate? Is it only the ability to read the quoting words? Or is it to understand what I am reading?"

Cane Farmers Protest Against Contract
The harvest for the 2017-2018 cane crop season starts on December 4th, but things aren't necessarily going smoothly. Today farmers from the powerful BSCFA were protesting against the Sugar Cane Production Committee. They're unhappy with a new agreement that the SCPC has hammered out for harvesting groups. The SCPC wants to know some very precise details for quality assurance programs currently in the pipeline - but the farmers aren't comfortable with it. And today, about 50 of them staged a small protest outside the offices of the Sugar Industry Control Board in the Orange Walk District. While they railed outside, leaders of the different cane farmers groups of the BSCFA met with the Chairman of the SCPC inside to hammer out a way forward.

The War Of The Thorns
So, tonight the new week starts just as the last one ended - with the still unresolved political back and forth over the 90 million payout to Belize Bank for the entire Universal Health Services debacle. The main issue of contention is that 90 million dollars later and there's nothing to show, no asset owned, and all we have to marvel at is the history of costly decisions, and endless political posturing. That's how this whole thing started back in 2006 - when it was first revealed that the then Musa Administration had given a secret guarantee to the owners of Universal Health Services. Those investors were PUP friends, and government told them to proceed with the investment because NHI money would be coming through. Well, NHI was never rolled out the way it should have been, and the rest is a very ugly chapter in modern political history.

Faber Got Neither Snail Mail Nor Email from Briceno Says He
Last week Thursday, we interviewed Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber and he told us - that one month later - he still hadn't officially gotten John Briceno's letter regarding Belize Infrastructure Limited. And it seems the Deputy PM is in no rush to respond to it because Faber says Briceno can find all the information he needs on the BIL website. Hon. Patrick Faber, Deputy Prime Minister : "I have not seen a copy of the letter officially from Mr. Briceno. As I have said on my Facebook page, I believe that it is a ploy on his part but there are numerous ways in which Mr. Briceno can get his questions answered if he so desires. I am informed by the managing director of BIL Ms. Mastry that the BIL website is in the process of being updated and much of the information that he is seeking will be there I also know that if he wants a proper answer to the question he can ask it as part of questions to Minister in the House which is what he ought to have done."

Dance, Music
And we close tonight with highlites of the Dance X performance in Belize City on Friday night courtesy NICH. Enjoy and join me back here tomorrow.

Channel 5

Suspected drug plane goes down and burns in Orange Walk
In northern Belize, a second suspected drug plane has been found in less than six months to signal that the drug trade is thriving. The burnt scrap of the aircraft [...]

Did land dispute cause gruesome death of Clinton Davis?
Belize City resident, Clinton Arthur Davis, was beaten to death and his decomposing body was found three days later on Friday at his property. Davis owns a piece of land [...]

Police land multiple suspects
And while Davis’ immediate family believes that a close relative was responsible for his murder, police say they don’t have anything to corroborate that claim. But they are questioning several [...]

Police to get Independence station rape file to D.P.P., but when?
There is very little progress to report on an allegation of rape that reportedly occurred a few weekends ago inside the lockup at the Independence Police Station.  Earlier today, police [...]

Homeowner burgled in Sandhill
Burglars stole almost twenty-thousand dollars’ worth of valuables from a home in Sand Hill Village. Well-known education officer, Yvonne Davis, says she wasn’t home between Thursday and Friday and later [...]

Three charged but one pleads guilty in marijuana border bust
A trio of men was busted with a significant quantity of marijuana in the Corozal District on Saturday.  Twenty-one-year-old Ian Mossiah, twenty-five-year-old Vincent Aldana and thirty-seven-year-old Abner Cardenas were nabbed [...]

Is Maninder Singh missing or just hiding?
Twenty-one-year-old Maninger Singh, a student at the Belize Medical College, was reported missing by his roommates on Friday. He wasn’t seen or heard from since November ninth. The Indian national [...]

Audit’s tough questions for B.D.F.
An executive summary of the Auditor General’s Report on Belize Jungle Experience Limited, dated the seventh of June, 2017 has been obtained by News Five. It details the transactions between [...]

Prime Minister is back; dodges media over U.H.S.
This Tuesday’s regular cabinet meeting will be the first since the Caribbean Court of Justice ordered that the government has to pay a ninety- million dollar loan note for the [...]

Could Gov’t UHS troubles affect Superbond?
While the Government is still reeling from the recent C.C.J. decision confirming that they owe Belize Bank over ninety million dollars for a loan note in respect of U.H.S., other [...]

P.U.P.’s Mai tells U.D.P. ‘Don’t blame us’
There is more on the U.H.S. issue…Since the Caribbean Court of Justice made the order on November twenty-second for the repayment of a ninety-million dollar loan to the Belize Bank [...]

Mai wants to stop U.H.S. bleeding
Earlier today when Mai gave this interview he said the party’s parliamentary caucus is set to meet on Wednesday to formulate its official position ahead of the House meeting. However, [...]

So what will parliamentarians do?
M ai says his own constituents have raised their concerns, particularly about the interest accruing on the debt. He also notes that the long delay has helped U.D.P.-connected attorneys make [...]

Duped Democracia resident now suspect in murder
Twenty-three-year old Nijah Brandon, a construction worker from la Democracia Belize District, was today before the court to answer to a charge of possession of counterfeit currency but even as [...]

UNCAC implementation needs no excuses
The signing of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in December 2016, is nearing its one-year anniversary.  Despite the ratification of the document, legislation is yet to be passed in [...]

Christmas di come – and so are the police
Additional reinforcement will be brought into Belize City as of Friday, when the Christmas season formally commences.  With all the hustle and bustle in the streets of the Old Capital [...]

CitCo looks East for garbage truck donation
A first of its kind grant assistance from the Grassroots and Human Security Program of the Embassy of Japan will gift residents of Belmopan their own new garbage contractor truck. [...]

A resolution to school land impasse in Las Flores
When we last left the matter of the two parcels of land located next to the Roman Catholic community school in Las Flores, Belmopan, residents were up in arms, demanding [...]

Check your cruises with the B.T.B.
The Belize Tourism Board has a brand new app for the cruise industry. The free app provides real-time date information for cruise ship calls to Belize. BTB says that the [...]

PLB finalists and cruising cyclists on latest Sports Monday
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.     [Highlights of the weekend sporting activities…]

Amandala

In few words, why Krismos so awesome in Belize
It doesn’t matter what your religion is: if you are roots Belizean, if you’ve got a sense of Belize’s history, Krismos is huge in your life. Can there be anything more special than Pa, Breda, Uncle, Grampa, coming home with money in their pockets after long months working in the forest? Geng brok…batl pahn taybl, draa di kaak…pass mi, mi # 6 handkerchief. I’m not brave enough to declare my favourite Krismos album on the local scene, but I noh shy about who’s the boss from foreign…It’s the great man himself…the one and only Mr. El Rancho Grande, aka Freddy Fender…and I’ll be watching for Roodolf with his nose so bright… The Reporter deserves to be applauded for calling on our government to call out the Guatemalans about this map which includes Belize as one of their departments. It is not often that The Reporter calls out the government. When they do so we have to cheer them. A government which isn’t challenged will very quickly become sickened by the unfettered power.

“So much things to say” … national conversation needed
“SO MUCH THINGS TO SAY” (Bob Marley). The older I get, and the more I see and experience “Babylon System” as the Rastas call it, the more I respect men like Bob who I consider as the “real revolutionaries” (to use his own words). They use whatever talents they’ve been given, to uplift and empower others … not just their families, tribe, or tongue. Bob’s words and sayings like “downpression”, “Babylon system”, “Pimper’s Paradise”, “Ambush in the Night”, and so much more, speak real truth, based on his experience and the Scriptures he sung. Barely in his 20’s he sang about being “sick and tired of the -isms, schisms.” With respect to politics, in his song Slogans, he wrote, “Can’t take your slogans no more.” “Confusing the people … While your asphalt burns our tired feet, I see borders and barriers …Segregation, demonstration and riots … A-sufferation of the refugees.” In his song, “Coming in from the Cold,” he wrote, “Would you let the system make you kill your brotherman? … It’s you, it’s you, it’s you I’m talking to.”

Belizean health care
Every day in Belize, families are having to make stressful financial decisions which have to do with health care. Poor families don’t have to make any decisions: they have to go to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), wait their turn, and hope for the best. Rich people don’t have to make any decisions: they automatically take their loved ones to one of the private hospitals, and they plunk money down on whichever private hospital’s barrel head. (No money, no care.) Very rich people may fly out their loved ones to the mighty U. S. of A. The reality is that the “in-between” people are the ones who have to be making financial decisions in health care crises.

La atención médica en Belize
Todos los días en Belize, las familias tienen que estar tomando estresantes decisiones financieras que tienen que ver con la atención médica. Las familias pobres no tienen que tomar ninguna decisión: tienen que ir al Hospital Karl Heusner Memorial (KHMH por sus siglas en Inglés), esperar su turno y esperar lo mejor. Los ricos no tienen que tomar ninguna decisión: automáticamente llevan a sus seres queridos a uno de los hospitales privados y pagan a tocateja en cualquiera de los hospitales privados. (Sin dinero no hay cuidado médico.) Las personas muy ricas pueden llevar a sus seres queridos al poderoso Estados Unidos.

CTV3

Taxi Driver Pleads Guilty To Drug Trafficking
Three men were charged and appeared in Court this morning for drug trafficking after Police discovered almost eight pounds of marijuana inside the taxi vehicle they were travelling in, in Patchakan Village on Saturday November 25th. 21 year old Ian Mossiah of Calcutta Village, 25 year old Vincent Aldana of Calcutta Village also, and 37 year old Abner Cardenas, a Belizean taxi driver, were all in the vehicle at the time when the police stopped them.

P.M Returns To Belize Dodges The Media
Prime Minister Dean Barrow returned to the country today after traveling to Houston. He arrived at 12:05 at the PGIA but while some media houses line up waiting to ask him what his plans are in regards to the controversial 90 million dollars payment to the Belize Bank they were unable to do so. And that’s because today the P.M avoided the media. He had his driver pick him and his wife up on the tarmac right as they got off the plane.

Farmer Charged For Drug Trafficking
Fifty eight year old Salvadoran farmer and resident of Fire Burn Village, Guillermo Garcia, was arrested over the weekend by authorities and was formally charged with two drug offenses. Official reports indicate that on early Friday morning sometime after 6:00, Orange Walk Police conducted a search in the village of Fire Burn which led to the discovery of three marijuana plants and 803 grams of cannabis. Garcia was the only person present at the time of the search and was therefore charged for ‘Drug Trafficking’ and ‘Cultivation of Cannabis’.

LOVE FM

BDF’s Audit Report Raises Eyebrows
Last month Love News broke the story of the audit investigation conducted into the Belize Defence Force Fund. For the past few weeks we have been trying to get out hands on the full report and today we received a four-page summary containing facts from the audit report itself. In it, the Auditor General points […]

Who Hacked Brad’s Gaming Company?
There was a disruption in the sale of lottery tickets on Sunday morning. Karil Wallace is the Public Relations Officer at Brad’s Gaming Company and he told us what happened. Karil Wallace – Public Relations Officer “Sometime a little after 8 o’clock on Sunday, it was realized that our sites, our locations countrywide could not […]

Plane Found in Cornfield
Law enforcement authorities came across an airplane that was destroyed by fire. The discovery was made on Sunday in the Orange Walk District. According to ASP, Alejandro Cowo, said the plane was discovered in a cornfield. ASP Alejandro Cowo “Yesterday Orange Walk police received information of a plane somewhere in the Hill Bank area. As […]

Was Davis Murdered over Land Dispute?
On Friday, we told you about 53-year-old Clinton Arthur Davis, a husband and father of four, whose body was found on his property where he lived with his family at five and a half miles on the George Price Highway. This morning, the police department held a press briefing where they told the media that […]

Traffick Accident leaves Man Hospitalized
34-year-old Ernesto Teck, a resident of Armenia Village remains hospitalized at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in a stable condition. Teck, a BDF volunteer, was driving a motorcycle on Friday evening from his home en route to Belmopan. Upon reaching between mile 53 and 54 on the Hummingbird Highway there was a collision between the […]

Is Belize Doing Enough to Combat Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking is one of those crimes that seemingly go under the radar. Furthermore, the government of Belize has been criticized by the United States of America for not placing much emphasis on human trafficking. Human trafficking is seemingly a problem not only for Belize but Central America. Love News spoke with Senator Osmany Salas […]

BTB launches Cruise App
Tourism stakeholders will now have access to up to date information on the cruise ship industry in Belize. The Belize Tourism Board developed a mobile application it calls BTB Cruise App which was launched this morning. Hipolito Novelo reports. You can then go into the calendar view and the calendar view will show a regular […]

Missing Student: Found Alive
21-year-old Maninder Singh, a student of the Belize Medical College and a resident of Los Lagos in the Belize District, was reported missing on Friday, November 24. Reportedly, he had been missing since Thursday, November 9, when he failed to show up for classes. Today, police said that he is believed to be alive and […]

Nijah Brandon charged with Possession of Counterfeit Currency
Twenty-three-year-old Nijah Brandon, a construction worker of La Democracia, was charged with possession of counterfeit currency when he appeared today before Magistrate Michelle Trapp. The police have alleged that on November 23, at around 3:30 p.m. they went to the upper flat of a house, located on Pelican Street and saw a young man sitting […]

Ian Mossiah pleads guilty to Drug Trafficking
On Saturday, Corozal Police were on patrol when they intercepted a vehicle and conducted a search, which resulted in the discovery of drugs. Police shared the details at this morning’s press brief. ASP Alejandro Cowo “Corozal Police conducted a search of a vehicle. They were on routine patrol when three male persons were found. A […]

UN Experts on Torture Prevention to visit Belize
UN experts on torture prevention will visit Belize in 2018. The decision to visit these countries was taken during this month’s session of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture. The Un Experts will travel to Belize to assess the treatment of people deprived of their liberty and measures taken for their protection against torture and […]

Kerisa Guild receives Lifesaving Surgery
Seven-year-old Belizean Kerisa Guild, was born with scoliosis, a condition in which the spine is bent abnormally. Kerisa’s condition was life-threatening and she was not able to receive treatment here in Belize. The Belize Children’s Project became aware of Kerisa’s case and managed to arrange a surgery for her in the U.S.A. The girl traveled […]

Family Values Rally
What has been dubbed as a family values rally has been planned by the National Evangelical Associations of Belize, NEAB. Pastor Scott Stirm speaks on the objective of tomorrow’s event. Pastor Scott Stirm – Vice President of the NEAB “The leaders will be coming together from all of over the nation as well as people […]

Breaking Belize News

Authorities investigating abandoned burnt plane in Northern Belize
Over the weekend, a burnt plane was found in a cane field in Orange Walk […]

Special Sitting of House of Representatives postponed
The Special Sitting of the House of Representatives that was scheduled for Friday, December 1, 2017 […]

Barrow dodges the media at PGIA
On Friday Prime Minister Dean Barrow departed the country en route to Houston Texas on […]

FCD – Balam host forum on Chiquibul reserve
On Friday, November 24, at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel, Friends for Conservation and Development […]

Japan Government donates US $87,000 to Belmopan city council
Posted: Monday, November 27, 2017. 11:47 a.m. CST. By BBN Staff: In recognizing the importance of garbage collection for the residents of Belmopan city and surrounding […]

Belize a top pick for world-renowned travel site
Posted: Monday, November 27, 2017. 11:27 a.m. CST. By BBN Staff: Fodor’s, a world-renowned travel site, has ranked Belize as the only Central American Country in […]

San Antonio villagers plea for help with suspected dog poisoning situation
Posted: Monday, November 27, 2017. 11:26 a.m. CST. By BBN Staff: Residents from San Antonio village, Cayo contacted BBN again today to report that more dogs […]

Corozal Wholesale Farmer’s Market to be inaugurated on Dec 1st
The inauguration of the Corozal Wholesale Farmer’s Market will be held on December 1st 2017 […]

Football Federation elections in Belize – implications of a Sergio Chuc victory
By Glenn Tillett:…Between these lines … On Saturday some owners’ representatives and some executive members of the Premier […]

3 men arrested in Corozal for drug trafficking
On Saturday night around 7, Corozal police searched a vehicle that was occupied by three […]

House catches fire in Corozal
Yesterday, Corozal police visited G. Street South, where they saw a cement house totally engulfed […]

Almost $19,000 in items stolen from Sandhill home
According to police reports, on Saturday, Yvonne Davis, 53, a Belizean of Sand Hill Village, […]

Santa Elena man arrested for cocaine possession
On Saturday morning around 10, police searched Rayford Staine, 39, a labourer of a Santa […]

Blogs

Corozal Bay was cleaned up by volunteers over the weekend
It happened once again at Corozal clean up campaign on November 26, 2017. Corozal - Great efforts and time have been put in our Water Cleanup Campaign that started with our first load of trash coming out of the water along Rainbow Beach a few months ago. Students from CJC Eagles' Environmental Club, Centro Escolar Mexico Junior college, Oceana Wavemakers and students that made it all the way from Orange Walk have really taken off with this community activity and initiative.

Corozal Christmas Tree is up
Christmas music is being played everyday at the Corozal Town Hall. Everyone is gathering slowly at the Corozal Central Park. Corozal Christmas Tree is completed in Central park with various decoration around it.Corozal hosts a tree lighting ceremony every year. Not just any old tree lighting, this is a big deal. The tree that adorns Corozal’s central park every December stands tall and stands out. Children play around it and on the huge colored ornament decorations nearby, and, on the first Saturday of the month, residents come from all around to see this great tree lit for the first time.

Orange Walk: Christmas Tree is up at Central Park
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Orange Walk Town as the Town Council sponsored Christmas tree has been assembled at the Central Park. The 35 foot Christmas tree signals the start of the holiday season and for many residents the gesture sets the mood for Christmas Tree excitment. As, everyone are gearing up toward Christmas Day, the pace is already picking up in Orange Walk. Shoppers are busily searching for those special gifts for their loved ones, trees are being dusted off and decorated and houses and fences are sprouting lights like magic. While Christmas is generally enjoyed by all traditionally it is a time for the children. That philosophy held true as Orange Walk hosts an annual Children’s Christmas Party in San Lorenzo Housing Site, Philip Alvarez Park and the Village of San Estevan which all fall under his constituency. The celebration has become traditionally enjoyed each year in Orange Walk.

International Sources

Hurricane Season Closes on Thursday, November 30
On this Monday, there are no disturbances across the Atlantic basin that have any potential for tropical cyclone development during the next five days. The hurricane season officially ends this Thursday, November 30th.

American Hydro Expands Business to Central America
American Hydro, a Wärtsilä company, was recently awarded a contract by Belize Electric Company Limited (BECOL) to upgrade the Mollejon hydroelectric generating plant with hydroelectric solutions and technical support. Belize Electricity Limited is the main distributor of electricity in Belize. The Mollejon plant, located on the Macal River about 110 kilometres southwest of Belize City, is equipped with three hydroelectric turbines. In the first stage, American Hydro will overhaul the G1 unit and replace old turbine components to increase overall plant efficiency. The agreement includes new turbine runners, stationary turbine seals, wicket gates and rehabilitation of essential operating components as well as technical support of disassembly, installation and commissioning.

Vincentian activist traces Garifuna pilgrimage
Philadelphia-based Vincentian community activist James Cordice electrified a sold-out audience at a Garifuna Settlement Day celebration in Fairfax, VA on Nov. 4 in retracing the Garifuna pilgrimage. The Garifuna people developed through what has been described as “a process of ethnogenesis” on St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and were exiled in the colonial period to the Caribbean coasts of Central America. Since the late 20th century, many have emigrated from what are now Honduras, Belize and Guatemala to the United States. The Garifuna are mixed-race descendants of West African, Central African, Island Carib, European and Arawak people.

Hospitality Training Services' General Manager Certification Program in Belize
Coming in 2018, Hospitality Training Services, in collaboration with the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute is proud to launch its General Manager Certification Program in Belize. The program will be instructed by our very own Certified Hotel Administrator, Co Founder and hospitality Instructor of HTS, Mr James Scott who has extensive experience in hotel management and resort development in Belize. The Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA®) is the most prestigious certification available to hotel general managers and hospitality executives. It identifies the recipient as being part of an elite group of hospitality professionals who, by combining education and experience with dedication to the industry, have achieved a high level of expertise.

Videos

November 27, 2017

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Wolfe’s Woofer: Gone Fishing
“Jump in the boat, Mr. Dennis,” Mario said. “We gonna catch some big ones today.” Juan, Pablo, and Moses were already on board and we stopped to pick up Vernon before we got out of town. Two miles past Tres Coco’s the boat motor sputtered and died. “Oh, man!” Mario said. “I forgot to put gas in.” “We can still fish,” Moses said. “This new resort right over there got nothing built but the dock. We can fish off the dock until the water taxi passes and then we’ll send somebody for gas.” After we tied up the boat Mario said, “We got one more big problem. We were counting on Mr. Dennis to buy us some beers but we forgot that, too.”

Adopt a Bear returns for the third time to the island
As the Christmas holidays draw near, the Adopt a Bear initiative has returned to Ambergris Caye. The project, sponsored by Raise Me Up, gives individuals in the community the opportunity to gift a Christmas present to one child whose parents are not able to do so. The Adopt a Bear program began in 2014 and was founded by the owner of Sandbar Hostel and Restaurant, Britney O’Daniel and Kaitlin McWhorter of Projects Abroad with the aim to bring happiness to the less fortunate children on the island. It involves residents and visitors choosing a bear ornament from a Christmas tree at participating locations. The bear is labeled with the name, gender, and age of a child, as well as their dream gift. By adopting a bear, you are committing to purchase three items for the respective child; something they need, an educational item, and their wish gift written on the bear.

Doctor Love: Stupid Drunk
Dear Doctor Love, One night after a party I had too much to drink and I ended up hooking up with my best guy friend. It was a one-time thing and I really wish it hadn’t happened. Now he thinks he is in love with me. He has a girlfriend and he wants to break up with her and get together. I am single and I don’t want a relationship. I really messed up a friendship and I want it back the way it was. How do I get out of this? /s/ Stupid Drunk

Misc Belizean Sources

3rd round of our Water Cleanup Campaign in Corozal
TOTAL SO FAR: 71 bags of trash & 30 tyres!!!~Saturday Nov 25 was a wonderful day for all of us who dedicated some time to taking care of our beautiful Corozal Bay. Our 3rd round of our Water Cleanup Campaign yielded 25 large garbage bags of whole bottles, broken bottles, metal pieces, plastics, fishing gear and articles of clothing and 9 tyres. To date, we have removed 71 bags of trash and 30 tyres. While the numbers speak poorly of us as a society that is not conscious enough to properly dispose of our trash, the numbers also reflect the productivity and success of the initiative started by Mr. Lincoln E. Eiley. What started with his little family has grown into something that brings us together as community members, as the CJC EAGLEs Environmental Club, CEMJC Pioneers and Oceana Wavemakers to achieve the same objectives.

Why isn’t the DOE and Natural Resource Ministry Addressing this illegal groyne/groin at the Caye Caulker split?
It Disrupts normal current flow and movement of sedimentation. While it will allow sand to build up at the split but it will also cause erosion on other parts of the island. Does Caye Caulker have a Village Council? When will we begin to love our country and educate and obey laws. The responsibility lies at the Ministry of Natural Resources which grants a licence for the construction of groynes and piers. When they receive an application, they determine if DOE needs to be involved depending on the scope of activities and/or expected environmental impact.

Commentary: Now is the time for Belizean politicians to put their people and country first
Last week Wednesday, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which is the final court for our country of Belize, ruled that our government must pay BZ$90 million to another Michael Ashcroft entity, namely, the Belize Bank Limited. The CCJ sided with Belize Bank Limited, which had secured an arbitration award against the government of Belize since 2013 before the London Court of International Arbitration tribunal. Back then the London tribunal had ordered the Belize government to pay the bank $35,895,509.46, along with interest of 17 percent, which came up to a cost of £536,817.71. As a Belizean citizen I am opposed having our people and country pay this money and I am encouraging all Belizeans to stand up against paying it and to lobby their area representatives to vote against it as well. These are my reasons why: 1. Before the money was sought, the then Prime Minister Said Musa should have brought a proposal to the National Assembly for our representatives to approve or disapprove the loan;

Caye Caulker Food Handler's Certificates
All Individuals that are interested in obtaining a Food Handlers Certificate, please note that the next class will be on December 7th, 2017 at 9:00am, Caye Caulker Community Centre.

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

TACOS FEST FINALS: NICH WON: 1 Hr;31 mins;51 secs

BELIZE FISHING REPORT: Weeks of Nov. 13th - Nov. 19th, 2017
The larger bonefish continue to hang around on the flats. Sightings of five to six pounders are becoming the norm as the water continues to cool. Big numbers of bonefish were caught in a single day of fishing. Each Bonefishing angler is landing at least several larger fish as part of their daily total. It is a great time to be on the flats Bonefishing! . The tarpon are around in fairly large numbers but are not as eager to play as the bonefish and permit. The tide and wind have made some of the tarpon fishing days difficult, but anglers continue to have some success. The snook bite has been ramping up so lots of fisherman going after those guys using streamer patterns. Be sure to come prepared for snook and have a little extra fun and the chance at a Super Slam.

The Reporter

Police arrest man for weed discovery in OW; take rifle off city streets
Drug and firearm raid in Belize City and Orange Walk late last week led to the discovery of parcels of marijuana, a rifle, and several rounds of ammunition. On Friday morning, Orange Walk police searched a farm in Fire Burn village, which led to the discovery of 3 marijuana plants and 803 grams (close to 2 pounds) of cannabis. Police have charged Guillermo Garcia, 58, a Salvadorian farmer of Fire Burn, with “drug trafficking” and “cultivation of cannabis.” Police say he was present at the time of the search.

Ministers say they will vote against motion for GOB to pay Belize Bank $90 Million
Several ministers of government have gone on record to say they will vote against a motion, whenever it is brought up in the House by Prime Minister Dean Barrow, to have the government pay the Belize Bank some $90 Million, as ordered by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The money has to be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and only the House of Representatives can vote for that to happen. The Opposition, People’s United Party (PUP) Deputy Leader, Julius Espat reminded Friday that if they go against the Court’s decision, it is disrespect. “What signal are you sending in the foreign market with foreign direct investors that you are mal pago? …

Orange Walk town holds annual tacos fest
Since 7:00 this morning – and running until the last taco is served – the Banquitas House of Culture in Orange Walk town is holding that 7th annual Tacos Festival. The event has grown over the years to include tacos of every type made in Belize, done with different techniques and uniqueness to deliver that added kick. Some of these include cooking the meat underground for 24 hours, cooking the meat three times – each time adding different ingredients, or serving combinations of meat for extra flavour. Today, aside from getting tasty tacos at reasonable prices, tacos lovers can also purchase the cooked meat of their choice by the pound. Some tacos vendors are also offering hand-mae corn tortillas, instead of the thinner, factory-made ones. The event also includes entertainment for the children and giveaways. A canoe race also took place earlier, with Koop Sheet Metal, NICH, and Mountain Boys placing as the top three finishers of 10 teams.

Blogs

Gorgeous November Continues with our First Real Cold Front of the Season
After a long sweaty summer, the gorgeous crispy clear sunny gorgeous weather continues. Gorgeous I say. Wait! You might say… Hasn’t she written this blog post 3x this week? Perhaps I have. But honestly…it’s THAT good. Weather that has you grabbing a long sleeved shirt in the evening but in your bathing suit during the day. Here is the forecast — barely touching 80 degrees over the next few days…northerly breeze. LE sigh… You’ll understand why I JUST WON’T STOP going on and on and on…here are some pictures from this weekend.

2017 Taco Fest Held at Banquitas House of Culture in Orange Walk
On November 26, 2017 I travelled to Orange Walk, Belize to witness the 7th annual Tacos Festival inside Banquitas House Culture in Orange Walk. And, As I arrived at the event it was all about tacos being served. Since 7:00am that morning a number of booths where serving Original tacos which they served until the last tacos was done. Over the last few years since the beginning of the taco fest, the event has been growing bigger every year. Surprisingly, I saw many booths as I arrived serving tacos to clients. Tacos are originally made in Orange Walk which makes Orange Walk famous for its town. Tacos where included from various type that is made in Belize, done with different techniques and uniqueness to deliver that added tasteful meat taste.

Sometimes words fail when trying to describe Paradise in Belize but a picture will do
Lately, I’ve been trying to figure out how Paradise and Belize fit together. I have pages and pages of failed writing attempts. Sometimes, words aren’t what is called for. This morning, it took only one photograph with my humble iPod to make all those words moot. I will say, Paradise lasted but a moment and it felt eternal. Taken from the beach at Tres Cocos Resort in North Ambergris Caye, Belize. I’ll just step out of the picture now. Have a wonderful day.

International Sources

Heat in Belize! Allie Ayers places strategically placed hand over exposed cleavage as she rocks bathing suit for Sports Illustrated
She is in the final six of the Sports Illustrated open casting-call and search. And Allie Ayers posed up a storm in a leafy one-piece in Belize, appearing in a GIF the mag posted on its Instagram page this Sunday. The 23-year-old's left strap fell off her shoulder, and the side of the swimsuit slid down - but she held a hand over her bosom to ensure that she stuck to Instagram's Community Guidelines.

Videos

November 26, 2017

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

European Union’s sugar prices drop
The international sugar prices have decreased in the new sugar crop season, which has the Belize Sugar Industry (BSI) concerned. The price decrease came into effect in October of this year, due to the end of the European Union’s (EU) quota system. As the leading refining industry of processed raw cane sugar, the EU previously purchased the product from Belize at a preferential price. The European Union was the only sugar industry that was subjected to a quota system. It was introduced with the first rules on the sugar common market organization (CMO) in 1968, along with a support price for producers at a level significantly above the world market price. The quotas system helped raw sugar-producing countries achieve various goals in the sugar sector.

More golf carts arrive on the island; Mayor explains
A total of 40 new golf carts were reportedly delivered to an establishment south of San Pedro Town on Wednesday, November 15th. This has raised concerns among residents, who believed that the continued importation of golf carts to the island will add to the on-going traffic problem. In previous occasions, Mayor Daniel Guerrero has stated that no more golf cart rental companies would be allowed to increase their fleet. However, the new arrival of golf carts says otherwise. The San Pedro Sun spoke with Guerrero, who clarified that the latest shipment is not for any golf cart company, but rather for a dealership. “If someone qualifies for a golf cart and has the money to buy one, we cannot deny that privilege to any island resident. In that case, they can purchase it from one of the golf cart rentals that may have a dealership license or from any other cart dealers on the island,” said Guerrero. He also indicated that if a golf cart rental sells a golf cart, they have the right to replace the golf cart that was sold.

Guatemala changes date of referendum to solve territorial dispute with Belize
For the second time this year, the Government of Guatemala has changed the date of their referendum to settle the Belize-Guatemala territorial dispute at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The new date for the referendum is now set for April 15, 2018. The change was announced on Tuesday, November 14th by the Guatemalan Supreme Electoral Tribunal, explaining that the change is due to religious celebrations held in March. In Belize, the Leader of the Opposition, Honourable John Briceño of the People’s United Party, believes that there is more to it than that. “I think Guatemala has massive problems that they have to deal with,” said Briceño. “This includes corruption, bad governance… so I would not be surprised if a month from now or later they are going to change the date again.” Briceño also called on Prime Minister Dean Barrow to ensure that a re-registration for voters takes place in Belize prior to the referendum. “He has promised to do it and we need to hold him to that,” Briceño ended.

Misc Belizean Sources

The Garifuna Collective Live
Rhythm of Change (ROC) & The Belize International Yoga Festival proudly presents: The Garifuna Collective Live! Date : December 3, 2017 Time : 6:45-7:30 pm opening act Stephann Cayetano 8:00-10:00pm Garifuna Collective Live!!!!!! Location :Harbour View Greens, Fort Street, Belize City ( near the Belize sign) Cost : $50 ( children under 12 enter 1/2 price ) Contact : belizeintlyogafest@gmail.com or 610-0882 for tickets Ticket outlet: Om Shanti Belize Radisson Fort George ( Front Desk) Cellular Plus ( Freetown Road Belize City) Eurocaribe Shipping Fort Street Belize City. * Bring a blanket and chair and your entire family to enjoy this musical extravaganza under the stars to close the the 2nd Annual Belize International Yoga Festival ! It's a a family affair!

"Pirates of Placencia"
The Premier of the Movie "Pirates of Placencia." A movie short mode in the village, Yes its here! Its fantastic! Its the one we've all been waiting for! And the movie is free! Come along and bring your friends and family y'all welcome! Showing at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 pm This Sunday 26'. November at the Paradise Resort on thc beach by Yoli's Bor. Happy hour from 5pm until 7pm Stay for dinner and enjoy some “pirate food and grog"

JOB OPPORTUNITY: Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Belize
for Project Coordinator and Administrator/Accountant.

Protection of the Chiquibul-Maya Mountains
After seven years of joint work with Asociacion Balam and other organizations in Guatemala for protection of the Chiquibul-Maya Mountains, FCD and Balam reported on the actions undertaken and presented 13 recommendations for continuation of the work.

Tribute to President Fidel Castro of Cuba
Northern Maya Association of Belize at The University of Belize for special Tribute to President Fidel Castro of Cuba to deliver expression of gratitude to Cuban government for generosity and support to the country of Belize. In partnership Belizeans receive free tertiary education in Cuba and hundred of Cuban doctors render outstanding care to the entire country of Belize. Thank you Embajada Cuba Embajadora Lizette Perez Perez for your generous invitation. It was a great honor to be with you on this special occasion.

The Judges Of The ICJ
If Belize should go to the ICJ one of these days: who would be the people to decide our faith? The International Court of Justice is composed of 15 judges elected to nine-year terms of office by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. These organs vote simultaneously but separately. Judges must be elected from among persons of high moral character, who possess the qualifications required in their respective countries for appointment to the highest judicial offices, or are jurisconsults of recognized competence in international law. The Court may not include more than one national of the same State. Moreover, the Court as a whole must represent the main forms of civilization and the principal legal systems of the world.

Institute of Archaeology Report: 26 November 2017
The Xunantunich Archaeological Reserve is open with pedestrian crossing only on the ferry. All other archaeological reserves are open as normal.

Crime against Nature!! Crime against sustainable tourism!!
Sad day right here guys. I went Kitesurfing on the West Side of the island to a beach where we kitesurf if the wind is from the West. I found (12) undersized conch freshly cleaned. They were collected at the reef and brought to this side most likely by tour guides that bring tourist to the West Side for beach BBQ. Why would tour guides/fishing guides want to make ceviche so bad for tourist that they catch undersized conch to do it? Most likely it’s because they are working hard for a little bit of tip! $$ When at the same time they are shooting themselves in the foot! Harvesting undersized conch only because u cannot find large sexually reproductive legal sized conch means they are over fished! Too much pressure! Take, take, take! Every year! Don’t tour guides realize that if the only thing left is an undersized conch that is not mature enough to reproduce it means the Stock will become DEPLEATED!

The Reporter

Indian student missing for weeks
Maninder Singh, 21, an Indian student who attends Belize Medical College and lives at #80 Los Lagos, reportedly went missing after attending classes earlier this month. Talins Lima, a student service officer at the medical college on the Burrell Boom road told police that Singh was last seen on November 9 at the college. Singh is described as being of Indian descent with dark brown hair, brown complexion, brown eyes, with a mole on the right side of his face. He stands about 5 feet 6 inches tall, and is medium built. Anyone who has seen him or know of his whereabouts is asked to contact the nearest police station or to call 911.

Man’s body found near home off highway
Police are investigating the death of a man whose decomposing body was discovered near his house several days after he was last seen alive. Police were alerted of the decomposing body about 150 yards off the George Price Highway near mile 5 1/2 on Friday. The man, who was found lying face down, was identified as Clinton Arthur Davis, 53, a real estate agent who lived in the area. Police say there were abrasions on the forehead. Davis had reportedly left his house on the morning of November 21 and was not seen or heard from until the discovery of his body.

Breaking Belize News

Four more minister say they won’t support paying for UHS
According to a report from Channel 7 News, four other UDP ministers including Pablo Marin, […]

Family believes Clinton Davis was killed over land dispute
Clinton Arthur Davis, a 53-year-old father of four and owner of Davis Beach at mile […]

Police confirm women claiming rape were “carnally known”
The Belize Police Department, this week, confirmed that two women who alleged they were gang […]

Body of real estate agent found on George Price highway
Around noon yesterday, police officers visited an area at mile 5 1/2 on, George Price Highway […]

Police confirms allegation of police abuse in San Ignacio
Yesterday, BBN reported of an incident involving Kevin Yacab, 34, who was detained by police […]

Chief Meteorologist attends 57th Session of Caribbean Meteorological Council
Belize’s Chief Meteorologist, Catherine Cumberbatch, returned earlier this week from Antigua, West Indies, where she […]

Yelling. Blaming. Pointing Fingers
By Charles Leslie Jr.: Seth Godin once wrote this short blog titled “Yelling upstairs.” He wrote: “When you’re […]

Blogs

Strength in Numbers Belize Tourism Industry Association Membership Mixer
As I walked into El Divino at Banana Beach Resort I was surprised at the turn out for the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) for the Membership Campaign. Close to 80 people showed up to the mixer, a blend of business owners, San Pedro Town Council and a few residents. Honored guest speaker Osmany Salas BTIA President & Senator and our own MC and our knowledgeable Ambergris Caye chapter chairwoman, Tamara Sniffin both had the same message; strength in numbers. We need to join together and work smarter not harder to tackle the big issues. If there is ever a time to join BTIA and get behind making a long-lasting change it is now.

International Sources

Honduras blames Guatemala for 'creating environmental disaster'
Shocking photos reveal "trash islands" in the sea surrounding the idyllic Caribbean island of Roatan, Honduras. Guatemala is being blamed by Honduras for creating an "environmental disaster" after shocking images revealed a blanket of plastic rubbish engulfing the sea around a Caribbean island. Leonardo Serrano, deputy mayor of the Honduran town of Omoa, claimed communities in neighbouring Guatemala are dumping their refuse into a river which is then gathering at sea to form floating "trash islands". Some of the rubbish is being deposited on beaches around the seaside town of Omoa, which he claims is clearly from Guatemala. Mr Serrano said: "It's an environmental disaster." The accusation comes after underwater photographer Caroline Power released pictures in October of the "sea of plastic" around the idyllic Honduran island of Roatan where she lives. In the pictures, large masses made up of plastic bottles, cutlery and polystyrene plates can be seen engulfing the water's surface. Ms Power, a supporter of coral reef conservation group Roatan Marine Park, has disputed Mr Serrano's claim Honduras is to blame. She said: "We also do not know where the garbage comes from. "One of the main sources are rivers on the mainland of Honduras and Guatemala." "But the rest could come from anywhere. It could come on currents from anywhere in Central America or the Caribbean. "Some of the micro plastics have probably been floating around for years."

Ease into Belize with an island hopping kayak excursion
As the sun was setting on the tiny Belizean island of Tobacco Caye, I lay in a hammock on the outdoor veranda of a rustic little over-the-water bungalow, taking in the scenery. On the nearby shore, a brown dog named Delilah was pacing back and forth. She’d been chasing sting rays since we got there. She was at full attention when a large stingray swam directly in front of the bungalow — perfectly visible in the clear water. Exploring Belize’s Southwater Caye Marine Reserve by sea kayak is one of those trips-of-a-lifetime that I’d been dreaming about. Island Expeditions, a British Columbia-based tour operator, has been running kayak expeditions in Belize since 1987 and their six-night, island-to-island expedition seemed to have just the right combination of paddling, snorkelling and relaxing. Our journey began with a flight to Belize City and an overnight stay at the Tropical Education Centre, an accommodation affiliated with the Belize Zoo. We stayed in rustic cabanas tucked away in a tropical forest and later that evening we had a special night tour of the Belize Zoo. It was a chance to see and learn about the animals that are native to this part of the world.

“Colonial Reparations” to the Caribbean. Plunder, Slavery and Genocide of the Native People
On September 22, 2017 in New York during the General Debate of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Belize Wilfred Elrington recalled that […] through the Caribbean Community, we are also leading the charge for reparation of the victims of slavery and their descendants […], while the Deputy Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Louis Straker said that […] a substantial part of the backdrop or context of the continuing socio-economic challenges of the nation-states of our Caribbean civilisation is the awful legacy of underdevelopment which European colonialism has bequeathed to us as a consequence of native genocide and African slavery. The international campaign for reparations from the former colonial powers to assist in repairing this malignant legacy is urgent and timely. It deserves the full support of this Assembly particularly within this decade, declared to be focused on the upliftment of persons of African descent […].

Videos

November 25, 2017

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

SPTC hosts Horse Shoe competition
The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) organized a horseshoe competition on Saturday, November 18th at the Central Park. A total of eight teams joined in the tournament, which started shortly after 1PM. After five plus hours of intense horseshoe hurling, the top three teams taking the prizes for the evening were Alejandro Mejia’s team in third, Frank Edward’s team in second place and Darwin Williams’ team in first. Each team consisted of two players having to win in the best of three games for a chance to play in the championship. One by one, teams began to get eliminated. Mejia and his comrade played hard to stay in the game, but after a couple defeats, they settled for third place.

Canadian National remains in critical condition after boat accident in Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker resident, 61-year-old Canadian Guy Smith has been placed in an induced coma as he continues to receive medical treatment following a boat accident on Friday, November 17th on the west coast of Caye Caulker. Smith and his 19-year-old son Travis Smith were aboard a dinghy (small boat) when a large vessel belonging to Koko King Restaurant accidentally collided with them. An unconscious Smith was taken to the Caye Caulker Polyclinic where he was briefly treated before being transported to Belize City for further treatment. While he remains in dire condition, Travis was transported to Mexico by his mother, where he has been treated and is recovering.

CCJ orders GOB to pay $88 million to Belize Bank
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has ordered the Government of Belize (GOB) to pay a sum of $88 million plus interest and costs to the Belize Bank. The verdict was made on Wednesday, November 22nd, when the CCJ overturned a ruling by Belize’s Court of Appeal, regarding the controversial Universal Health Services (UHS) loan agreement signed by the previous administration with the said bank. The decision of the arbitration calls for payments to be made immediately or in less than 30 days if a deadline needs to be enforced. GOB has expressed extreme disappointment over the judgment made by the CCJ. In a press release, GOB stated that it is at a loss to understand this latest decision by the Court. The note continues by saying that to make matters worse, ‘Belize Bank earlier sold the UHS assets to Belize Healthcare Partners Limited for approximately $39 million, and yet still claimed the award money from the Belizean people in the same amount.’

Finals draw near for the San Pedro Volleyball Tournament playoffs
The San Pedro Volleyball Tournament playoffs continued this past weekend at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium in San Pedro Town. The first round of matches was played on Saturday, November 18th, starting at 1PM, with the semifinals of the Female Primary School Category. The first game saw San Pedro Roman Catholic School (SPRCS) girls taking on the Holy Cross girls. It was a tight match between both teams, but in the end, the SPRCS girls came out victorious after winning three out of the four sets (23-25, 25-18, 25-22, and 25-13). With this win, the SPRCS girls advance to the finals in their category. Games continue this weekend, on Saturday, November 25th and Sunday, November 26th, starting at 1PM. Islanders and volleyball enthusiasts are invited to come out and support their favorite team.

Ambergris Today

Whale Shark Spotting Off Ambergris Caye
Whale Sharks season in Belize is from March to June, that’s when the tours are set for visitors to head to sea and catch a glimpse of the migratory sharks that are passing through Belize. But this lucky fisherman and his guests had a close encounter with this amazing and friendly Whale Shark just off the coast of Ambergris Caye. YES! This beautiful sea creature was spotted right in front of San Pedro Town on Wednesday, November 22, 2017!. It’s a rare sighting, as the sharks are mostly encountered in the deep waters of southern Belize. Local fisherman Cord Oliva was very excited to share this video on his Facebook feed.

Misc Belizean Sources

Fire destroys Seine Bight building
On 22.11.2017, Seine Bight and Placencia Police visited the Palacio`s Temple located on the Main Road in Seine Bight Village, where a thatch building measuring 100 x 40 feet was engulfed in flames. The building, valued at $110,000 was completely destroyed. The building was not insured and the cause of the fire is unknown. The building was owned by Mary Palacio.

Jankunu Festival Dec. 23 in San Pedro
The Jankunu is a satirical dance where individuals dress like English colonial slave masters with a pink face mask, and dance off-beat to a fast tempo drum beat. The dance has been traditionally held on the slave off days of Christmas Night and New Year’s Day.

Reusable bamboo straws
Meet this clever entrepreneur, Mark Jacobs who came to special deliver our reusable bamboo straws for Coolcoconuts! The perfect eco-friendly solution to plastic straws. He handmade these.

Chief Meteorologist Attends Fifty-Seventh Session of Caribbean Meteorological Council
Belize’s Chief Meteorologist, Catherine Cumberbatch, returned earlier this week from Antigua, West Indies, where she attended the Fifty-Seventh Session of the Caribbean Meteorological Council and Related Meetings. The Caribbean Meteorological Council meets once a year, usually in a different Member State. Prior to the meeting of the Council, there is a two-day meeting of the Board of Governors of the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), followed by a one-day meeting of the Heads of National Meteorological Services.

Opening ceremony for the San Narciso Polyclinic
Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Patrick Faber, and other Ministers attended the official opening ceremony for the San Narciso Polyclinic, Corozal Town.

Prime Minister Departs the Country on Personal Leave
The Office of the Prime Minister informs that the Hon. Dean Barrow left the country today to attend a private function in Houston, Texas. The Prime Minister returns to Belize on Monday, 27th November, 2017. In his absence, the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Patrick Faber, will act as Prime Minister.

Annual Christmas Tree Lighting in San Pedro
Mark your calendars for December 3rd! The San Pedro Town Council invites everyone to come out and witness the Annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree at the Central Park, starting at 6:00 p.m. There will be entertainment by the schools of San Pedro and a live steel band by Pandemonium Steel Band! There will also be refreshments and surprises! Hope to see you there! Bring the whole family and take your picture in front of the Christmas Tree! See you there!

BELTRAIDE and TNC hold Seaweed Cultivation Training
EXPORTBelize, a unit of the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), held an all women Seaweed Cultivation Training from November 21st– November 23rd at Little Water Caye. This training provided both a theory session along with hands on experience to fisher women in seaweed farming and cultivation. This initiative was one of many activities under a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) signed in November 2016 between BELTRAIDE and TNC. A key objective of this MOC is to support fisheries diversification through the development of a sustainable seaweed industry in Belize.

Institute of Archaeology Report: Thursday 24 November 2017
The Nohoch Cheen, ATM and Barton Creek Archaeological Reserves are open. The Xunantunich Archaeological Reserve is open with pedestrian crossing only on the ferry.

The Bram
“It is the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the Christmas season. The mahogany workers are coming home from camp to families they have not seen for months. The women and children are looking forward to the festivities ahead. What made those festivities in the Christmas season so exciting? The Bram, of course. And what, might you ask, is the Bram? The Bram is a spree traditionally done during the Christmas season. It is like an exodus of people dancing in the streets from one house to the next, the goal of which is to spread the merrymaking by singing, dancing and playing music at each house as a sign of good cheer. Traditionally, bramming occurred in Belize City (old Belize Town) and in the villages along the Belize River Valley; and later in most other Kriol (Creole) communities in Belize. As urban Belize City embraced less traditional Christmas celebrations, the Bram became relegated to the countryside where it still relishes a critical presence…….”

Channel 7

Father of Four Found Dead: Land Dispute?
53 year old Clinton Arthur Davis was found dead on his property at mile 4 on the Western Highway today - right beside Old Belize. Davis was last seen on Tuesday and since then his family had been looking for him. Well at midday they found his body thrown in the swamp. 7News was first on the scene and Courtney Weatherburne has the story: Clinton Arthur Davis had been living on this seafront property for about 32 years. He developed this prime land into his estate - an area he called Davis Beach. Davis cared for and protected his land because it meant so much to him. But it's on that same property that he was found dead this afternoon. Shocked and dismayed, Davis' family try to find comfort in each other's arms.

For PUP The Ay's Have It
It's been all the news this week: on Wednesday, the Caribbean Court of Justice granted permission for the Belize Bank Limited to enforce a 2013 arbitration award against the Government of Belize to the tune of 90.6 million Belize dollars. But, it has to be paid out of the consolidated revenue fund - and the only way to get money out of that fund is with the approval of parliament. The Minister of Finance, Prime Minister Dean Barrow is now required to take it to Parliament for approval - but tonight, there is some doubt as to whether the house would approve it: for the first time in Belize's parliamentary history, the "nay's" could have it. That's after we tracked down four ranking UDP representatives yesterday and they all made the most remarkable declaration: they say that when the Prime Minister brings the motion to the House of Representatives they would vote against it.

Four More UDP Reps Say Nay to 90 Million
And so while Espat says he will vote in favor of a motion to pay out the 90 million dollars and extinguish the debt, tonight, there are four more UDP Representatives who are saying emphatically that they will vote against it. 7News polled Corozal Bay Representative and Minister of Health, Pablo Marin, Belize Rural North Representative, Edmond Castro, Corozal North Representative, Hugo Patt, Dangriga Representative Frank Pawpa Mena, and Corozal Southwest Representative Dr. Angel Campos by phone today. We asked them by phone if they would vote for or against paying the 90 million. Here's what they said.

House Hysteria? PM H-Town Bound
And what does the Prime Minister think of all this? Is he entertained, encouraged, or alarmed? Well, we wouldn't know - he hasn't commented, and tonight he's out of the country. An official release announced that he left the country today to attend a private function in Houston, Texas. He returns on Monday, and Deputy PM, Patrick Faber, will act in the interim.

Belmopan OC Overseeing Bridge Repair
Four men died in less than 24 hours on the St, Margaret's Bridge last weekend. In total there were three accidents on the bridge - where, in all three cases, vehicles plunged off the embankment into a creek below. Last night on the news, you saw Ministry of Works CEO Errol Gentle say blame the drivers, not the road or the bridge. Taking a slightly more compassionate approach, today the Belmopan commander - who is responsible for policing that stretch of road - said that urgent upgrades of the signage and reflectors will soon be completed:... Supt. Howell Gillett - O. C, Belmopan Police Station: "Accidents, yes indeed some of them might have been caused because of speeding or unfamiliarity with the area but also or attendant to that they needed some addressing of the signals and the different signage before the approach of the bridge and that is being done, I believe either today or tomorrow the Ministry of Works has pledged to complete the rails to both approaches of the bridge and that would render it better for road users. But we still ask people not to drink while driving and we still ask people to respect the speed limit for villages which is 55 miles per hour and if you are unfamiliar with an area it is best you drive with caution. I believe those accidents could have been prevented if the things that I referenced earlier were adapted on those days."

BDF & Friendly Forces Train for Kingpin Capture
For the past 19 days, soldiers from Jamaica, Canada, and the US have been in Belize for an annual joint military training. It's called Operation "Tropical Dagger", and the idea is to prepare these different militaries to work together against terrorism and transnational organized crime. For this month-long training, instructors are here from the Canadian Land Forces, with observers from Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana and Jamaica. And today there was more observer: the Belize media. We went out to Chan Pine Ridge, Orange Walk where we saw how these militaries would work together to capture a cartel kingpin, if he was ever to try and hide out in Belize. Daniel Ortiz has that story:

BDF Commander Cagey on Incriminating Audit
So, while the Acting BDF Commander was eager to talk about this training, he was not so forthcoming about last year's jungle training with the German Army. That's the one where the Auditor General is trying to find out if BDF Lieutenant Colonel Charlton Roches used his inside connections to have his company benefit from a troop of German soldiers who trained in Belize. Our information is that he was the BDF Assigned Liason Officer for the German jungle training in 2015, 2016, and 2017. He is also the majority shareholder in his company, called Belize Jungle Experience, which was contracted to provide logistical support for the German soldiers who came to train here. In the leaked portion of the Auditor General's report says, quote, "Lt Col Roches should be questioned about his dealings with the German Army to ascertain how the Jungle Package being offered by the BDF ended up into private arms via a company that he directed."

Garbage Truck Flips
And 18 wheeler flipped this evening on the roundabout in Hattieville Village. Images posted on social media show the truck on its side. It's one of those garbage disposal trucks that goes to the sanitary landfill at mile 21. It appears to have been loaded and headed westbound to the dump when it came around the roundabout with too much speed, and toppled over. We have confirmed that the driver escaped unhurt. It deposited a huge amount of garbage on the shoulder of the road which is now being cleaned.

Health Fair About Youth Health Fears
They say youth is wasted on the young - well at least that's what the old folks say. For the young, you can't tell us much - especially about our health since that's almost guaranteed when you're 25 and under. But when those years start racking up, so do the health issues: chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and the list goes on. That's why the Ministry of Health is hoping to get the attention of the youth with early messaging and intervention. That did that today with a youth health fair. The organizers told us more:.. Robyn Daly - Nutritionist, MOH: "We are looking at mental health which affects a lot of our youths as we look at, you know, how healthy their mind is. We are looking at nutrition of course, what they are eating. And of course, we are looking at drug abuse..."

US Philanthropist Talking A Risk On At-Risk Youth
And just about a half mile away, the youth apprenticeship program was working with another kind of youths - the ones who are 'at-risk". And while that's an easy label, the hard part is turning that risk into promise. That's just what one US philanthropist is doing. Amy Giuliano came from Hawaii to invest and offer mentoring to a number of participants in the program. She told us why:.. Four of those who excelled in the program got the resources to open their businesses.

Dance X In Excess
The 8th Edition of Dance X continues tonight with more stellar performances from our Belizean dancers as well as from Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, and the US. Tonight Trini dancers from the Astor Johnson Dance Theatre will take the stage along with others. We spoke to a few of the dancers at a pre-show event for kids this morning. Dance X continues tomorrow in Dangriga, Orange Walk, and Belize City.

Not A Mirage, A Motorbike
Senior Superintendent Howell Gillett knows how to press the private sector for donations to his formation. Her met the owner of Mirage Store at a Governor General's cocktail and has been pestering him since to buy a motorbike for the Belmopan cops. Today he got the bike, and the Mirage owner told us he was only too happy to help:… Gillett says that the motorbike will be used in rural areas where there are no serviceable roads, common in areas between Belmopan and Cotton Tree.

Weather and Disaster Experts Traveling
Chief Meteorologist Catherine Cumberbatch was in Saint John's Antigua for all of last week. She was there to attend the 57th Session of the Caribbean Meteorological Council and Related Meetings. The chief meteorologists discussed the impacts of the past hurricane season, which viewers know was particularly active with major hurricanes that devastated Caribbean island nations. The meteorologists also discussed the impacts of the rainy season. So while the Chief Meteorologist was in Antigua, Colin Gillett, the Deputy National Emergency Coordinator, and Suleima Celiz, the Orange Walk District NEMO Coordinator were in Mexico City last week Wednesday and Thursday.

NDACC Has Its Doubts About Decriminalization
In last night's news, we had a cross section of perspectives on marijuana use, its decriminalization and the possibilities for legalizaiton. But throughout the debate, we didn't head from the National Drug Abuse Control Council. That's the body charged with getting youths and adults to stop using, or minimize usage of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and other harder drugs. But, now that one more drug has been legalized what does the NDACC think. We asked the Director today:..

The Wider Cannabis Conversation
And now going back to the larger conversation on marijuana perspectives from Belize, we have the rest of our story on the consultation sessions that the CARICOM Commission on Marijuana held in Belize. It was an all-day session, and due to time constraints, we were only able to provide you with a few soundbites yesterday. Here now is the full story: The Commission will now move on to another Caribbean nation, but there is a liaison officer out of the Solicitor General's Office who will take any additional comments or views from Belizeans.

Channel 5

Julius Espat Says P.M. Must Confront U.H.S. Debt
The House of Representatives is scheduled to meet for a final time before year’s end sometime in early December.  Until then, the Barrow administration is forced to stare down an [...]

P.U.P. Rep Accuses U.D.P.’s of “Diversion;” Says His Party Made Errors Too
The P.U.P. Cayo South Area Representative is not known for mincing words.  So, in true Julius Espat fashion, he says that in the face of all the chatter in the [...]

U.H.S. ‘Came Up,’ but Belize Must Pay
But what Espat will readily agree to is the fact that UHS has since changed hands and has gone on to become an entirely new company with different ownership, all [...]

The Government’s “Catch-22”
When asked whether members of the U.D.P. government abstaining from supporting the motion is tantamount to a vote of no confidence, Espat says that they would, for all intents and [...]

Clinton Davis Discovered Dead near City Estate
Fifty-three-year-old Clinton Arthur Davis is the latest victim of murder in the Old Capital. Around noon today his partially decomposed body was found face down with an abrasion to the [...]

B.D.F. Trains with International Partners; Criminals Targeted
Belize may not have fought any wars in its young existence. But every day of their lives, the more than thirteen hundred men and women of the Belize Defence Force [...]

Audit of Jungle Experience Continues as Owner/Soldier Sent on Leave
While the Force was busy training with its international partners, a prior such training involving German soldiers and the costs asked for by a senior officer’s private company remains under [...]

“Tropical Dagger” Targets Terrorism, Transnational Crime Training
The Tropical Dagger Joint Military Training exercise has been ongoing since November fifth, with the participation of security forces from Jamaica, Canada and the United States of America. According to [...]

Uniform Diversion Investigation Stalled
No charges have been laid, but interest is still high in the case of used battle dress uniforms and discarded outboard engines that had been property of the Belize Defence [...]

Education Minister Makes Plea for Help; Takes Shots at Teacher’s Union
At the annual CXC ceremony on Thursday in San Ignacio, Minister of Education Patrick Faber addressed the gathering, directed a portion of his speech at parents, school administrators and teachers, [...]

Answers Coming on BIL and Civic
Co-Chair of Belize Infrastructure Limited, Patrick Faber, says that he has not seen any letter from Leader of the Opposition John Briceño where he requested information about contracts put to [...]

New Management Will Make Civic “World-Class” for Entertainment
So when will the much anticipated and controversial Civic Center be completed? There were reports it was supposed to have been done in October, but Co-Chair of BIL Patrick Faber [...]

Spreading Wings of Excellence in CSEC, CAPE Exams
On Thursday, we showed you the top students in this year’s CXC exams where more than one hundred and eighty students were recognized for good grades in the CSEC and [...]

To Youths’ Good Health
A national youth health forum was held today in Belize City. The event brought together students from various high schools to discuss health challenges affecting them and the youth population [...]

Apprenticeship Program Finding New Entrepreneurs
Earlier today, a handful of young men and women was recognized by the Youth Apprenticeship Program for having completed a three-month program in entrepreneurship.  This morning, certificates were handed out [...]

Turning the “Comfort” of Tattoos Into a Business
Joshua Hyde, a young tattoo artist from Hattieville, is one of four participants to be recognized for outstanding commitment to excel in the program.  His reward for doing so was [...]

Dance X 2017 Rocks the Bliss
The seventh annual Dance X opened on Thursday night in Belize City at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts with a free show featuring Anabella Pareja from Mexico and [...]

LOVE FM

Julius Espat: GOB has to pay the $90 Million
On Wednesday the Caribbean Court of Justice overturned the decision of the Belize Court of Appeal and ordered Government to pay the Belize Bank a little over ninety million dollars, an arbitration award that was granted to the Bank since 2013. The debt was incurred under the Said Musa administration who guaranteed a loan between […]

BDF’s Audit Report Still under Investigation
An investigation is still ongoing with regards to what was revealed by an audit report on the Belize Defence Force Fund. We have only seen a portion of that report but as we have been reporting since last month, the audit revealed several discrepancies and questionable financial transactions. The portion of the report we have […]

Belize Infrastructure Limited Accounts Questioned
Co-chair of the Belize Infrastructure Limited and Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber says he still has not received the letter sent by Opposition Leader John Briceno. That letter was sent on November first and was addressed to the DPM. In it Briceno demanded copies of all audited accounts of BIL, a list of all projects […]

When is the Grand Opening of the Civic?
And while on the subject of BIL, we also asked DPM Faber about the Civic Center. A few months back, contractors had said they would complete the building by September but yesterday the DPM said it will be done by December as had initially been planned. Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber “The projection was for […]

A Family Grieves the Loss of their Love One
A family is distraught after their loved one was found dead. 54-year-old Clinton Arthur Davis, a husband and father of four, was found on his property where he lives with his family at five and a half miles on the George Price Highway. According to his daughter, Leanne Davis, her dad went missing on Tuesday. […]

Security Forces from the Region in Belize
Tropical Dagger’, that’s the codename given to a joint military training being conducted by the Belize Defence Force along with security forces from Jamaica, Canada and the United States of America. The training which was designed to improve operational readiness, effectiveness, and inter-operability within partner nations began on November 5. Instructors from Canadian Land Forces […]

Family Homeless after Fire
Today a family in Sandhill Village was disposing of everything that was destroyed during a fire yesterday morning. Goldburne Reed says that he and his family of four were not at home when the fire broke out. The neighbors quickly alerted the National Fire Service but when firefighters arrived on the scene, the fire was […]

Fatal Accidents Raise Safety Concerns
Dangriga Police have expressed concern following an increase of traffic incidents within their jurisdiction. Harry Arzu has more in this report. “Another person lost his life as a result of injuries sustained from a road traffic accident that occurred on Wednesday night on George price drive here in Dangriga. Superintendent of Police Leslie Wade tells […]

Youth Apprenticeship Program offering Hope for the Less Privileged
Life can be hard, especially for young persons who are faced with challenges whether it is as school dropouts, becoming pregnant at a young age or finding oneself on the wrong side of the law. The Youth Apprenticeship Program works with youths in these categories to make life better for them to the point where […]

Hackathon’s Second Pitch
On November 13, a total of five teams competed in a first pitch Hackathon Competition that was held by the Small Business Development Center Belize (SBDC) of BELTRAIDE and sponsored by Belize Electricity Limited (BEL). From the first competition, three teams advanced to the second pitch which was held today, namely, Galen University, Corozal Junior […]

Belize Represented at Technical Meeting held in Mexico
Deputy National Emergency Coordinator Colin Gillett and Orange Walk District Coordinator Suleima Celiz represented Belize at a technical meeting for the Mesoamerican Network for Integrated Risk Management held in Mexico City. The Mesoamerican Network for Integrated Risk Management is a component of the larger Mesoamerica Integration and Development Project which includes all Central American countries […]

Amandala

$90 mil battering for Belize
On November 9, the Government of Belize (GoB) paid out US $78 million to a Michael Ashcroft group as final compensation for the nationalization of Belize Telemedia Limited. Barely two weeks after that massive payout, GoB is now faced with the grim reality that it will have to cough up over BZ$90 million more, to yet another Michael Ashcroft entity, the Belize Bank Limited. On Wednesday, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) sided with the Belize Bank Limited, which had secured an arbitration award against GoB since 2013 before a Tribunal of the London Court of International Arbitration.

Two accidents at St. Margaret; one-lane bridge claims four lives
Last weekend’s Garifuna Settlement Day celebration was marred by two road traffic accidents that resulted in four fatalities at the same location, less than 24 hours apart. In the wake of those two tragic accidents over the long Garifuna Settlement holiday weekend, the Ministry of Works, Belmopan police, and Cisco Construction have teamed up today to increase the safety of drivers using the one-lane bridge at St. Margaret, on the Hummingbird Highway, by placing the necessary signs on the approach to the bridge and erecting a guard rail. The latest and most horrific accident occurred on Sunday afternoon, and it resulted in the deaths of three men. The men had spent a part of their weekend celebrating Garifuna Settlement Day in Dangriga Town.

University of Belize holds business expo at Princess
The University of Belize (UB) held a business expo today at the Princess Hotel, at which students from the university showcased their inventions and a number of established businesses promoted their products and services. Bernard Watler, UB’s Dean of Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, told Amandala that the University of Belize has been holding the business expo for the past 10 years, but it has grown and the university needed a bigger venue than their campus to hold the event. “The prestige that comes along with it makes it fitting for us to have a venue like this now to showcase the students’ talents,” Watler said.

The Immigration Department did not contact me for any advice, said Solicitor General
Today, the Senate Special Select Committee held its fortieth sitting to investigate the findings of the special audit which documented some of the darkest days at the Immigration Department, between the years of 2011 and 2013. Today’s session, however, was off to an unusual start, because this morning the committee met privately with the head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Kent Clare. We say unusual because the committee’s Terms of Reference call for the hearings to be held publicly. It has not held a private sitting previously.

Corozal woman– shot after refusing to provide murder suspect’s alibi — dies
While many spent Sunday, November 19, celebrating the settlement of the Garinagu in Belize, Corozal resident Brenda Jandrez, 22, took her last breath of life. Jandrez was shot once in her stomach at around 8 o’clock on Wednesday, November 1, while lying in her bed with her boyfriend at her home on Mahogany Street in Corozal Town. An armed assailant had pushed his hand through her window and fired a single shot. Jandrez was rushed to the Corozal Community Hospital, and later transported to the Northern Regional Hospital in Orange Walk Town and thereafter to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), where she had been fighting for her life for 18 days.

A former cop turned UBAD member reflects on his times
Salim Malik went from being a member of the British Honduras Police Force to becoming a card-carrying member of the United Black Association for Development (UBAD). Amandala asked Malik how he made such a transition from being a law enforcement officer to joining the radical UBAD group. “In 1969, I enlisted in the British Honduras Police Force and at that time UBAD was on the scene. Whenever they had political meetings out at Court House Wharf — that’s what they used to call BattleField Park back then — they used to send us out there for crowd control. All the policemen they used to send out there would stand far away, because UBAD was considered radical boys. I was one of the only ones who used to go around the rostrum,” Malik said.

2017 9th Annual brothers HABET Table Tennis Team League concludes!
The 2017 9th Annual brothers HABET Team League concluded this past weekend, November 18 & 19, after 7 weeks of intense competition. This year saw participation from over 60 players and 17 teams, making this our largest team tournament to date. November 18th final Round Robin Results were as follows: Division 1: Hurricane defeated Racqueteers, 3-1. Division 3: Cho Le Cho def. SJC Wildcats, 3-1; Smashers def. VAV, 2-0. The top four teams in each division then proceeded to play on Sunday, November 19.

Playoff favorites, Verdes and Bandits win by 6-goal margins in PLB semifinals game 1; on pace to finals showdown
-The home and away semifinals in the Premier League of Belize (PLB) 2017-2018 Opening Season got under way over the weekend with game 1, but for all intents and purposes, the “fat lady” has sung for this one; it’s over for BDF FC and San Pedro Pirates FC, both of whom lost their home games by 6-goal margins to the two top seeds in the PLB semifinal playoffs on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. #2 seed Verdes FC was the odds on favorite when they visited #3 seed BDF FC at the MCC Grounds on Saturday afternoon for game 1 of their semifinal series, but few fans expected the onslaught that occurred. First half ended 2-1 in favor of Verdes, but it was all Verdes in second half.

Leal’s Football Cup 2017 climaxes; Sandhill Blue Hawks are first champions
Postponed from last week due to inclement weather, the inaugural Leal’s Football Cup 2017 Football Tournament finally came to a climax yesterday, Monday, November 20, at the Sandhill Football Field. Nine (9) teams had participated in the senior football tournament, which began back on August 13, with all games being played in Sandhill. Those teams were: Corozalito, Maskall Strikers, Hattieville YSC, Ladyville FC, Sandhill Scorpions, Sandhill Blue Hawks, Burrell Boom, Lucky Strike, and Sandhill New Site Warriors. Four teams saw action yesterday, two in the third place (consolation) match, and two in the championship game. The opening match for third place saw Ladyville FC crushing Lucky Strike, 5-1, with Shawn Young netting 4 goals for the winner, and Matthew Leal getting the other; while the lone goal for Lucky Strike was by Fredrick Garbutt.

CONCACAF Women’s Football Day in Belize a success
The Football Federation of Belize (FFB) would like to thank all those who made CONCACAF Women’s Football Day in Belize a success. We had participants from the districts, with a total of thirty-six girls. The girls participated in a festival and in a match, 11 vs 11. The following girls were selected to be a part of the National U-15 Team: Jada Zuniga, Geidy Andrades, Ruzelia Parham, Alahnie Bainton, Evania Sarceño, Margarita Coh, Georgelli Acosta, Babee Lopez, Tanya Teul, Aaliyah Herbert, Theresita Cucul, Carlene Tillett, Tanya Garbutt, Rinelva Ico, Elisa Coy, Tiana Rowley, Shemeria Orellano, Davan Nelson, Jazanni Rodriguez, Gabriela Mendoza, Ahniyah Cocom.

Editorial: Financial concussions for The Jewel
In the last few weeks, the public finances of Belize have been hit by several devastating blows to the head. We are no financial experts at this newspaper, but we have to believe that these blows represent some palpable danger to Belize’s currency peg, which is officially two Belize dollars to one American, in the cumulative sense and in the foreseeable future. Let’s give you an idea of how weak and ignorant we Belizeans are at the base of our socio-economic pyramid. No one here has ever said when it was exactly that we were told to begin celebrating Columbus Day in British Honduras. All we know is that it had to have been the British colonial authorities here who instructed us to begin celebrating, because they are the ones who declared October 12 an annual public and bank holiday. We know that when the British first declared the Garifuna Settlement Day holiday in 1941, it was a holiday only for the Stann Creek and Toledo Districts, where most of the Carib population lived at the time. In 1977, a self-governing Belizean government extended the holiday to the entire nation of Belize.

From The Publisher
The Guatemalan claim to Belize, the racist, aggressive Guatemalan claim to Belize, was a very big issue for the leadership of the UBAD movement, which became the UBAD Party in August of 1970 in the immediate aftermath of the sedition trial and acquittal of myself and the late Ismail Omar Shabazz. It is impossible to recreate for you the nature and nuances of party politics in British Honduras during the 1960s, one reason being that what is Belize today was so different in population composition back then. Very big people (I would feature the major Christian churches) and very rich people in Belize have almost no visibility here with respect to the activities of the major political parties. But the Christian churches are very influential in our party politics because they control so many votes, and the big-time capitalists (very rich) write the large checks which the two major parties use to finance their campaigns.

An open letter to the U.S. Secretary of State
Please share my open letter to the United States Secretary of State with your readers. Secretary Tillerson: I write to you as President Trump has yet to appoint an Ambassador to Belize. In a democracy when the government does wrong it is the responsibility of the citizen to speak. Thus I request you review diplomatic immunity for U.S. Army Captain Justin Guidry. The military officer was involved in an October 7th traffic accident near Belize City that killed Samantha and Deanna Castillo and Martha Vasquez. According to news media accounts, witnesses claim Captain Guidry was both speeding and passing on a curve when the head-on collision occurred. Guidry was whisked from the accident scene and avoided a blood-alcohol test by Belize authorities. Guidry was quickly transferred out of Belize purportedly with a claim of diplomatic immunity thus escaping any charges or liability that might arise from the traffic accident.

Calls for marijuana clarification
Dear Sir, I am a bit curious about GOB’s intentions. Are we decriminalizing marijuana, or are we legalizing ten grams of marijuana? Methinks that decriminalizing means that if you are caught with ten grams or less you will only be fined and not incarcerated. No criminal record. This does not mean you can have it in your possession. Legalizing ten grams of marijuana means you can have it legally in your possession and the police cannot prosecute you for it. This is a very tricky path for GOB. Decriminalization carries a lot less stigma than legalization. Nobody cares to see anybody smoking pot freely, especially the church groups. Consumption of any mind-altering substance is a problem for society.

Corrections to ACB article
Dear Editor, I refer to an article in the Amandala dated November 17, 2017, entitled “Where is the Association of Concerned Belizeans (ACB) now?” I wish to point out two inaccuracies in the article on page 55. Firstly, I have checked with Dylan Vernon and he informed that he was never a member (active or inactive) of the ACB. This is in relation to the sentence which states: “This is the present status of some of the more prominent members of the ACB who were engaged in the war to being down the Musa/Fonseca government…”

Please address the carnage on our highways!
Dear Sir, I would be honoured for you to grant me a small section within the most prominent newspaper to voice my concern on a topic that has been plaguing me for some time now. This is a matter of public policy concern that hardly gets any public discourse. I speak of the almost weekly carnage of road traffic accidents that plague our highways. I share common sentiments as many Belizeans on the issue of crime and violence within our country, and I applaud the efforts of the Police Department in addressing this situation. However, there seem to be limited efforts being done to address the carnage of traffic accidents on our highways and at times on the streets of our cities and towns. Just as the murder rates are increasing, there is a continuous rise in the number of deaths as a result of road traffic accidents. At writing this piece on November 20, 2017, there are unconfirmed reports of the 3 deaths on the Hummingbird Highway.

UDP spent: PUP must step up
Most everyone knows that this UDP is spent. It happens in every life. Properly, we should keep our pataki with our belongings, by the door. Stubbornness is a quality not even prized in mules. We should be ready at all times, to leave. There are two recent aberrations on our political scene – 2012, when the PUP shouldn’t have come close; and 2015, when the UDP shouldn’t have won. There are people in the PUP who really think that their near miss in 2012 indicated that their 1998-2008 regime was on the right path. They couldn’t be more wrong. The PUP came close in 2012 because the UDP, the “Our Turn” party, really messed up badly. It is a fact that national coffers weren’t exactly bursting with cash when they took over. But the bigger story is that they were way too busy hating.

My reflections on Jeremy A. Enriquez’s book, “To Educate a Nation”
I ask permission from the elders to speak. I will draw on the conversations that I have had with my mother, Ethel Bernadine Ellis, and her brother, Simeon Sampson, about their experiences while their father, Simeon Marcus Sampson, taught in Barranco, Hopkins and Seine Bight during the period 1919 to 1957. My father, Godsman Ellis (deceased), taught in the villages of Dolores, Toledo District, in 1950; August Pine Ridge, Orange Walk District, in 1952-53; and Succotz, Cayo District, in 1954-57. In addition I was privy to reflections of Mrs. Bernadine Avila, whose father taught in the villages of Chunox, Progresso, and San Estephan. Uncle Clifford Palacio and his wife, Aunt Rita Palacio (deceased), who were both teachers in Bullet Tree Falls, Uncle Eugene Hernandez (deceased) and his wife, Felicia Hernandez (my godmother), who taught in Santa Familia and Santa Elena also shared with me their reflections of their teaching experiences in those communities. Their shared reflections have deepened my appreciation of the noble sacrifices of Garifuna teachers and their families.

At Pen Cayetano Studio Gallery, The Legacy of the Garifuna People opens
Shortly after 4:00 p.m., beneath a brilliant Dangriga sky, the artist Pen Cayetano climbed on the stage in his yard. Some of his guests were already seated. Two very young boys sat with their drums between their legs, waiting. The drums came to life as Pen Cayetano broke out in song. After singing in Garifuna, he addressed his audience, telling them about a part of the journey that he has made in becoming an artist. Pen Cayetano said it was very hard to be an artist down here. “People used to say to me, ‘Hey man, why you noh goh work, find a job and do something. Yu to idle.’ So I went all the way from here to Corozal to look for a job, and I found a job to cut cane,” he related.

Hubert “Fiddle” Richards missing since Thursday, November 16
It has been exactly one week since a senior citizen left his home and has not returned. According to police reports, at around 6:30 a.m. on November 16, Hubert “Fiddle” Richards, 83, left his home in Sandhill on a bus en route to Belize City. His granddaughter, Kenisha Richards, today told Amandala that he went to Belize City to visit his wife, Gertrude Richards, at her home in Coral Grove, Belize City. After spending some time with his wife, Richards headed to his grandson’s barbershop on Mahogany Street, where he had his hair cut. Thereafter, he said that he was heading for the bus stop to go home.

http://amandala.com.bz/news/british-woman-volunteered-ladyville-childrens-home-murdered/
The body of a British woman who worked as a volunteer at the Liberty Children’s Home in Ladyville was found decomposing inside an apartment she rented on Perez Road, Ladyville. Michelle Anison, 46, was late in paying her rent and was not answering her cellphone, so her landlady decided to pay her a visit at home. When the landlady arrived at apartment #6 and called out for Anison, she did not get a response. Upon checking further, the landlady was overwhelmed by a foul smell coming from Anison’s apartment. Upon entering the apartment, the decomposing body of Anison was discovered lying face-up with multiple stab wounds in the body. Anison’s personal identification documents were missing, as well as her Nissan SUV.

Customs charges Minister of Labor Hugo Patt’s brother, Edgar Patt, for contraband beer
Villagers of Patchakan, in the Corozal District, became riled up over the long weekend after a vehicle which was being chased by customs officers overturned. Villagers made off with some of the load of contraband beer, which the vehicle was carrying. The incident occurred on Monday, around 9:30 p.m., when customs officers chased down Edgar Patt, who, according to the Customs and Excise Department, was on its way back from making an illegal crossing at a place called “Estero.” Patt, a brother of Minister of Labor Hugo Patt, reportedly lost control of his vehicle and ran off the road, slamming into a lamppost. Customs officers found Patt trying to hide his contraband beer in a cane field, and they took possession of them.

A former cop turned UBAD member reflects on his times
Salim Malik went from being a member of the British Honduras Police Force to becoming a card-carrying member of the United Black Association for Development (UBAD). Amandala asked Malik how he made such a transition from being a law enforcement officer to joining the radical UBAD group. “In 1969, I enlisted in the British Honduras Police Force and at that time UBAD was on the scene. Whenever they had political meetings out at Court House Wharf — that’s what they used to call BattleField Park back then — they used to send us out there for crowd control. All the policemen they used to send out there would stand far away, because UBAD was considered radical boys. I was one of the only ones who used to go around the rostrum,” Malik said.

Corozal woman– shot after refusing to provide murder suspect’s alibi — dies
While many spent Sunday, November 19, celebrating the settlement of the Garinagu in Belize, Corozal resident Brenda Jandrez, 22, took her last breath of life. Jandrez was shot once in her stomach at around 8 o’clock on Wednesday, November 1, while lying in her bed with her boyfriend at her home on Mahogany Street in Corozal Town. An armed assailant had pushed his hand through her window and fired a single shot. Jandrez was rushed to the Corozal Community Hospital, and later transported to the Northern Regional Hospital in Orange Walk Town and thereafter to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), where she had been fighting for her life for 18 days.

The Reporter

Police arrest and charge suspect for double chopping
Belize City police have charged a Belize City resident who allegedly inflicted multiple chop wound to two individuals while they were socializing at a residence on Central American Boulevard early on Tuesday morning. Aymon Flores, 22, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Sharon Frazer last Wednesday […]

Police arrest and charge suspect for double chopping
Belize City police have charged a Belize City resident who allegedly inflicted multiple chop wound to two individuals while they were socializing at a residence on Central American Boulevard early on Tuesday morning. Aymon Flores, 22, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Sharon Frazer last Wednesday […]

Wedding crasher is charged with wounding a woman
A fight broke out at wedding held at the YWCA on November 18th and an alleged wedding crasher currently faces a number of wounding charges, after getting into a fight with a woman. After a night on lock down at the police station, 26-year-old Lennox […]

Corozal woman succumbs to gunshot injuries
The investigation into a shooting incident which happened over two weeks ago in Corozal town has been updated to a murder investigation after Brenda Jandrez, 22, died from her injuries over the weekend. Police are now seeking two suspects, who were previously in police custody […]

Missing man’s family seeks help
The family of an elderly Belize City man are worried after he reportedly went missing on Thursday afternoon en-route to his home in Sand Hill Village. Hubert Richards, 83, was last seen alive on November 16th, in the Coral Grove Area of Belize City after […]

Arsonist sets fire to house and vehicle in Mahogany Heights
Hattieville police are searching for a man suspected of setting fire to a house and a vehicle in the Mahogany Heights village early Friday morning. According to police, around 3:00 a.m. last Friday, a man dressed in full black was seen running away from the residence of […]

Farmers & BSI finding the sweetest sugarcane to harvest first
The 2017-18 sugar cane harvest is about to start next month, but with Belize no longer having access to preferential markets and guaranteed quotas a premium prices, the open competition of the world market has growers and processors united to find ways to get the […]

CARICOM and Cuba expand trade relations
The CARICOM (Caribbean Community) and Cuba now have expanded trade opportunities in each other’s territories, through the signing this week of a second Protocol to an existing Agreement. The protocol to the Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreemen allows for Cuba to expand duty-free access to […]

DPM has no response to opposition over BIL complaints
Opposition leader, John Briceno, has raised public concern that Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber has not acknowledged receipt of a letter he sent questioning projects done by Belize Infrastructure Limited (BIL). Briceño wrote to Faber on November 1, requesting key pieces of information regarding BIL, […]

British minister says Caribbean needs to forget about reparations
While Belize is preparing to rejoin the fight for reparations for the legacy of slavery, the government of the United Kingdom is encouraging the entire Caribbean to abandon the reparations movement. In his trip to Jamaica last week, UK Minister of State with responsibility for […]

Doing Business Report to Belize: Pick Up The Pace
Last week’s article focused on one of Belize’s “priority sectors”, renewable energy. The sole purpose of that piece was to highlight the immense potential for business growth that the Belizean economy has in that sector and many others. Clearly, along with renewable energy, most would probably already be aware of […]

Sixth US airline to stop flying to Cuba in a year
Alaska Airlines has become the sixth United States carrier in a year to cut its flights to Cuba. The airline, based in Seattle Washington, confirmed this week that that its last flight to Cuba will be on January 22, 2018. The decision came after a […]

GOB inaugurates expansion of Corozal pre-school
Hundreds of children in the Corozal district now have greater access to early childhood education through the expansion of the Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLOG) Primary R.C. School Extension and new pre-school building, courtesy of the Government of Belize. GOB held the official inauguration ceremony […]

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence
“Leave No one Behind – End Violence against Women and Girls is the theme of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based violence, which the National Women’s Commission launched at the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City on Thursday afternoon, November 23. The NWC […]

Supreme Court names new Registrar General
Trienia Marie Young, the former Head of the Police Prosecution Branch has been sworn in as the new Registrar of the Supreme Court and the Registrar General of Belize. Young reported in on Thursday, November 17th, for her first day on the job. She succeeds […]

What is glaucoma and how can it affect vision?
Glaucoma is often associated with increased eye pressure. It is a collection of diseases that have irreversible damage to delicate nerve fibers and the optic nerve which sends information to the brain. Often referred to as “the silent thief of sight,” it causes major, irreversible […]

Safety First
On the way to Stann Creek there is a narrow bridge that links the Hummingbird Highway across St. Margaret’s Creek. The bridge, if we can call it that, is just a slab of reinforced concrete connecting the separated portions of the highway. It has no protective rails, and while it […]

Losing streak continues $360 Million lost in litigation
The Government of Belize, this week, sustained its latest in a series of court battle losses, totaling over $360 Million. On Wednesday, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) overturned the Belize Court of Appeal’s ruling in the case of GOB vs. the Belize Bank on the controversial Universal Health Services […]

KHMH CT-Scanner busted
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital confirmed on Thursday that its Computed Tomography (CT) Scanner, an essential imaging machine used for X-Rays and internal scans, has broken down. Credible reports to the Reporter indicate that the malfunctioning machine has left hundreds of patients without access to […]

Guatemalans enter Belize illegally
Five days after a team of Guatemalan soldiers and camera crew illegally crossed the border into Benque, Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release with brief details about the incident. On Wednesday, the Ministry’s press release stated that Benque police had notified them […]

Medical reports confirm women were “carnally known” during police detention
The Belize Police Department is “still investigating” a report from two women who say they were raped by police while they were held in custody at the Independence police station more than two weeks ago. The only new information police did reveal this week is […]

Bridge gets upgrade after 4 fatalities
Following a Garifuna Settlement Day weekend which recorded three tragic accidents resulting in four fatalities at the same one-laned bridge in Saint Margaret’s village, new signs, markers and rails are being put in place to prevent any further accidents there. The signs and markers were […]

Breaking Belize News

NEMO officials attend Mesoamerican risk management meeting in Mexico
Deputy National Emergency Coordinator Colin Gillett and Orange Walk District Coordinator Suliema Celiz represented Belize […]

PM Barrow departs country on personal leave
The Office of the Prime Minister informs the public that PM Barrow left the country […]

Another case of alleged police brutality in San Ignacio Town
A family in San Ignacio contacted BBN today to express their discontent with the San […]

Faber to Musa, “You should be ashamed”
Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber has condemned former Prime Minister Said Musa over remarks made […]

Indian student missing
Today, Talins Lima, Student Service Officer at the Belize Medical College on Burrell Boom Road, […]

Thatch building valued at over $100K catches fire in Seine Bight
On Wednesday evening around 3, Seine Bight and Placencia police visited the Palacio`s Temple located on the […]

Man dies in fatal traffic accident in Dangriga
On Wednesday night around 9:45, police responded to a traffic accident on Miles 1 & 2 on […]

UDP ministers will vote ‘No’ to paying UHS debt
Four UDP ministers, in interviews with Channel 7 News, said that they would vote “no” […]

San Antonio villagers concerned about dead dogs in community
Villagers in San Antonio, Cayo are requesting assistance from the relevant authorities regarding dead dogs […]

Indian Honorary Consul donates motorcycle to Belmopan police
The Belmopan police formation continues on their work of proactive community policing. Today, the Honorary […]

Fair weather to prevail
The 24-hour forecast is for mostly fair and dry conditions to prevail. Sunny skies are […]

Delmar Ortega charged for fatal traffic accident
On November 11, 2017, Mark Leslie and his common-law-wife, Myrna Vasquez were involved in a […]

Blogs

Myth: Thanksgiving in Belize Just Wouldn’t Feel like THANKSGIVING!
There is nothing Black about this Friday. The weather is glorious on Ambergris Caye. Perfect for just about everything. Especially Thanksgiving and the massive amount of food that comes along with this CLASSIC American holiday. Now I know what some of you might be thinking… “It just wouldn’t be the same to celebrate Thanksgiving in the Caribbean” I TOTALLY challenge that. Yesterday I had turkey, stuffing, pumpkin-y desserts, sweet potatoes and more – TWO TIMES. I watched the Macy’s Day parade on TV, I saw the Brussels Griffon win the National Dog Show… Football was ALL OVER the TV, I enjoyed friends and family, I took a late afternoon nap… So what was I missing? The cold weather? YES I WAS!

Visit Northern Belize (Corozal)
The Northern interior of Belize is a treasure trove for culture lovers, naturalists, and Archaeology fans. Between Mexico, Ambergris Caye Corozal's turqoise shores and diverse landscape from beaches and historical sights to a nature reserve draw visitors in search of a relaxing, less touristic escape. And, is the birthplace and home of the Mestizos (Maya and Spaniard culture). Today, the district encompasses a diverse population of ethnic backgrounds that have blended to give the people a distinctively relaxed outlook on life, making Corozal a tranquil paradise. The warm and welcoming locals makes this haven the perfect getaway destination. At sunset, you may want to enjoy the weather in at Miami Beach waterfront view among the breathtaking sunset view. Corozal, has a ferry that take's you 30 minutes to Sarteneja Village and 2 hours to San Pedro Ambergris Caye. Sarteneja Village is a quite slow paste village. It is one of the Belize's traditional home made sailboats. Sarteneja village is known for fishermen to catch big on fishing. They, also transport vegetable's to San Pedro Ambergris Caye. Very Cheap price's at the lagoonside.

Stuff that is almost ready and stuff that isn’t in San Pedro, Belize
Progress has a speed all its own on Ambergris Caye. Sometimes you can watch for years as projects go up around you. Slowly. Very slowly. Resorts and condo projects for example. Some have been in the building stage since long before we got here and look like they will still be in the building stage long after we are gone. In between, they may experience a bankruptcy or two, experience a resurrection by the hand of a financial angel, all sorts of curious financial intrigues. And hardly a wall gets poured as rebar returns to rust. Then there are things that actually look like they are getting done. Small things, in the current scale of island projects. Here’s an easy one: The Central Park Christmas Tree.

International Sources

‘New and better deal’ needed for climate resilience in Caribbean, UN chief tells donor conference
Caribbean countries need “a new and better deal” – one that includes access to concessional finance and adequate insurance – if they are to build climate resilience, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday at an international conference to mobilize support for the reconstruction of communities devastated by a series of powerful hurricanes. “During my visits to Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, I saw a level of devastation that I have never witnessed before in my life,” Guterres said, noting that in these islands alone, damage is estimated at $1.1 billion, and total economic losses at $400 million. This year’s Atlantic hurricane season was particularly active, with storms having been more frequent, and stronger. Of the 13 named storms, eight were hurricanes and of those, four were major hurricanes, including Irma and Maria. Across the entire Caribbean region, there was tragic loss of life and widespread devastation

Thanks to program that started in Belleville, this Belize girl got her spine repaired
Born with a life threatening case of scoliosis, Kerisa Guild, 7, traveled 2,500 miles to stay with a Mount Vernon family for a severe spinal surgery she wasn’t able to receive in her home country of Belize. Kerisa is one of nearly 500 children helped by the Belize Children’s Project, according to the founder Eugene Verdu, of Belleville. This year, the program reached its 40th anniversary with the Belleville Rotary Club providing orthopedic care to children in need from the Central American country.

CCJ reports increased workload during 2016-17
The Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is reporting a 20 per cent increase in the number of matters filed before it than the previous year. According to the newly released Court’s annual report for the 2016-7 judicial year, cases were filed from Dominica, Barbados, Belize and Guyana, the four countries that are signatories to the CCJ’s Appellate jurisdiction. The CCJ, established in 2001 to replace the London-based Privy Council as the region’s final court, has an Original and Appellate Jurisdiction but also serves as an international tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC) that governs the 15-member regional integration movement, CARICOM. While most of the CARICOM countries are signatories to the Original jurisdiction, only Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Guyana have signed on to the Appellate jurisdiction.

Videos

November 24, 2017

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Iris Salguero returns from Miss Earth 2017
San Pedro’s very own Iris Salguero returned to the island on Tuesday, November 21st after participating in the Miss Earth 2017 pageant in Manila, Philippines. Salguero represented Belize, and while she did not take the crown, she made the country proud by placing in the top 16 ‘Articulate and Intelligence’ segment. Belize’s beauty ambassador arrived in San Pedro Town via Tropic Air shortly after 2PM, where supporters and fans gathered at the waiting area of the terminal to welcome her. An emotional Salguero greeted everyone, stating that she had an amazing experience – one which she will never forget. Salguero told The San Pedro Sun that during the days prior to the pageant’s main event on November 4th, she and all the other participants from around the world took part in many activities. “We engaged in reforestation projects, beach clean-ups, school tours, educational and cultural presentations, and visiting protected areas,” said Salguero.

DOE issues stop order for over-the-water structure on Boca del Rio Drive
The Department of the Environment (DOE) has temporarily shut down construction of an over-the-water structure in the Boca del Rio area as of Friday, November 17th. According to DOE, the proprietors did not obtain an Environmental Clearance permit prior to starting the construction. As such, they must apply for one in order to resume work. DOE representatives indicated that they were not aware of the project until they were on the island conducting environmental inspections. After noticing the shell of the over-the-water structure, they proceeded to inspect it. They immediately found that it had not been granted the appropriate permissions from DOE. As such, the persons responsible for the construction were ordered to stand by until an Environmental Clearance was granted. DOE indicated that the project seemed to have consent from the local authorities, and perhaps other entities such as the Central Building Authority (CBA). However, by law, any over-the-water-building needs environmental clearance as well.

Copa San Pedro 2017 quarter-finals begin
Copa San Pedro quarter-finals kicked-off this weekend at the Ambergris Stadium in San Pedro Town, with the first two matches played on Friday, November 17th. At 7PM, Legends F.C took on G. Strikers, securing a slamming victory of 6-0. Sandy Point trumped Martha’s Ice 4-1, capping off the first round of quarter-final games. The Copa San Pedro 2017 quarter-finals continue this weekend. On Friday, November 24th, starting at 7PM, Jokers F.C will face United F.C, followed by Terror Squad facing off against Assassins F.C. On Saturday, November 25th at 7PM, Martha’s Ice takes on Sandy Point. That game will be followed by Legends F.C challenging G. Strikers. All football fans are invited to come show their support. Food and refreshments will be on sale.

2017 Children’s Week comes to an end with a grand parade
On Friday, November 17th, island schools joined educational institutions across the country of Belize to celebrate the culmination of Children’s Week 2017. This year’s celebration was held from November 13th through to the 17th, under the theme: “Children of Today; Our Keepers of Tomorrow”. Throughout the week, educational institutions across the country organized several activities for the children such as sports day, crazy day, arts and craft day, among other events. The national celebration recognizes the talents, skills, achievements, and rights of young people to enjoy childhood. Thousands of children and their families took part in the event through the participation of schools, kindergartens, cultural groups, youth departments and community groups.

Ambergris Today

Ambergris Caye: Spend Your Retirement Life In The Top Caribbean Relaxing Spot
Well, who doesn’t want to spend their retirement in the lap of nature while being away from the hustle-bustle of the world? But, not everyone knows about the best places where they can experience such a breathtaking ambiance!! Like, Have you heard of Ambergris Caye? I guess the answer won’t be a ‘Yes’ from the majority people, thanks to the fact that it is quite a secluded and small island in the Caribbean. But, this island with its stunning turquoise blue waters and the longest barrier reef in the Western hemisphere presents you with just the perfect place to spend your retired life in the most soothing way ever. And, when the companies like Travelogue is existing around you then to fly into such an exhilarating place is even not a tough task to do. Moreover, if you choose to live on Ambergris during your retired life then you could always expect to wake up each morning while hearing the mesmerizing sounds of the sea-waves lapping with love onto the white sand beaches outside your house. Won’t it be something worth living for?

Police Officers Accused Of Taking Nude Pictures Of Youth Cadets
According to news sources a pair of unnamed community officers are being accused of taking nude pictures of male cadets attached to the Placencia Youth Cadet Corp, while the parents of the cadets are not taking court action against the officers, their officers in command have taken disciplinary actions against the police officers. Their action are disturbing to say the least, as it is reported that not only did the officers forced the youth to take naked pictures but also charged them for using the restroom and drinking water. According to the head of the National Crimes Investigation Branch, Joseph Myvette, the two officers have since been placed on charged; one officer got five disciplinary charges and the other one had one single charge and both would be removed from the community policing unit.

Misc Belizean Sources

Belize Signs Status of Forces Agreement with the Kingdom of Netherlands
Today, the Government of Belize and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) concerning the Status of the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands while in Belize. Military Personnel from the Netherlands undergo Jungle Warfare Training with Belize’s and other international armed forces personnel in Belize. This Agreement sets out the legal framework within which personnel of the Netherlands will operate while in the country. The SOFA also constitutes the discipline and jurisdiction, privileges and immunities, communications facilities as well as the entry and exit requirements of personnel in Belize. It will serve to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the two countries which share thirty years of diplomatic ties.

Celebrating the biggest group represented at our 3rd annual Diabetes Run (promoting Diabetes Awareness)
On November 22, 2017 YWP- Wellness Ambassadors held a recognition ceremony for 50 future Young Diabetes Coaches from the Belmopan Comprehensive High School: they conquered 23 miles on the Hummingbird Highway on Saturday November 4th 2017 and deserved to receive recognition. All runners received medals and several received gift packages. The youngest male and female runner received cash prize.

Splashers
Hi!! Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Better late then never!!! Come paint “A Quiet Beach Stroll” with us tomorrow Crazy Canucks Beach Bar at 2pm-4pm. Please make sure to sign up on the website! We know the signup will lock out tonight at midnight so private message us at Paint N Splash if you want to come.

GOB's Controlled Pump Prices (Belize City)
Effective Date: 24th November 2017

The Christmas tree goes up in Central Park, San Pedro

Big Ferry (Pueblo Nuevo) will be closed until Sunday
The most recent report from the Ministry of Works now says the Big Ferry (Pueblo Nuevo) will be closed until Sunday, November 26th at 5:00 PM. All we can do is hope ... sad times for the people of the North. Please continue to share these posts, and if you know anybody in Media or Government, it's time for them to help us get noticed. This road is too busy, and so much economy of the North relies on workers passing, plus the future generations...currently struggling to get to school everyday need this route to be reliable. There is no need for us to complain any longer, its time to explain why they need to improve our daily route.

RUMBA LATINO 2.0
Back by popular demand! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's the Rotaract Club of Orange Walk's RUMBA LATINO 2.0??? It's all going down on Saturday November 25th, 2017 at D' Gym Sports Bar (previously Butchy's). Come and dance the night away to only the best Latin hits of all time! Prizes and giveaways throughout the event! WARNING: uncontrollable body movement to the rhythm of latin beats. Wear comfortable dance shoes to Rumba all night long ??

CEMJC Crazy Day 2017
A lil late post but certainly worth the memories.

Postponed until further notice: Power outage scheduled for portion of Cayo District on Friday, November 24
from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.

Verdes FC Visit Octavia Waight
The Team Verdes visited the Octavia Waight Centre to spend some time with the older generation. Thanks, and go all the way this season! "Our Green Machine giving back to our elderly community."

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
American Made, American Assassin, The Little Vampire, Home Again.

BARROW Vs MUSA: Political Scions spar on Facebook
Today we saw a showdown of what might someday be the future Prime Ministers when two political scions, Kareem Musa and Shyne Barrow, squared off in what started with Shyne going for the jugular, Kareem hitting back and surprisingly the two ending the exchange by agreeing to the possibility of Barrow’s suggestion of a basketball tournament between Musa’s Caribbean shores team and Barrow’s Mesopotamia team with the teams playing on each other’s turf as a way to promote non violence on the south side in particular. Shyne suggested the match after he accused Kareem of “doing nothing for the people of Caribbean shores” and Musa responded by inviting Shyne to attend a tournament being held by Musa in Caribbean shores. Shyne said “to show we can disagree and not kill each other” would be the point of the two working together for this positive example. Kareem agreed and said “he was down for the positive movement”

Truck Stop 2-Year Anniversary Pool Party!
Sunday, November 26 at 2 PM - 9 PM. This Sunday, in honor of The Truck Stop's 2-year anniversary, we're going to be having our first pool party at the brand-new Truck Stop pool! DJ Debbie will be turning out the tunes poolside all afternoon, followed by live music on the front stage from Dennis C. Wolfe II and his band. And join us at 2pm for our weekly Cornhole Tournament! It's free to compete and the grand prize is a $100 bar tab. It's going to be an awesome Sunday Funday!

Channel 7

Will the "Nay's" Have It? Four UDP Reps Says they Would Vote Against 90 Million Dollar Judgement
Last night the news was all about that 90 million dollar judgement against the government for the Universal Health Services debt. But, tonight, the narrative has shifted, and that's because four ranking UDP Representatives say they will vote against paying all that money to the Belize Bank. To give you some background, the Caribbean Court of Justice granted permission for the Belize Bank Limited to enforce a 2013 arbitration award against the Government of Belize. The original award was for 36 million Belize dollars - but that was back in 2013, and since then interest of 17% has been running. The interest alone has now added up to another 50 plus million dollars, tot a total cost of 90.6 million dollars - for a hospital the government doesn't even own.

Hon. Saldivar Firm And Clear Cut: He Will Vote Against It
And while Finnegan is prepared to go to jail, Belmopan Representative John Saldivar is prepared to go right down to the wire. He says he cannot see himself voting for such a bill:.. Jules Vasquez, reporter "Would you support the government paying 90 million to the Belize Bank to settle this matter?" Hon. John Saldivar, UDP Belmopan: "First of all, Jules, let me state that I am disappointed in the decision of the CCJ and secondly, I certainly cannot, under any circumstance support passing a bill to pay moneys to Michael Ashcroft." Jules Vasquez: "However, that may be an emotional reaction, but - real talk- the Minister of Finance, the Prime Minister, is obligated to take it to the National Assembly and you have to support your Prime Minister. You can't- it is an existential crisis for the UDP if members of his own government- if he says 'yay' and they say 'nay'. That's like a vote of no confidence in the PM." Hon. John Saldivar: "Well, I think you're assuming that he will say 'yay'. What is clear from the decision is that the court has made it clear that the Ashcroft people cannot collect on this award unless it is passed by the parliament. And so it is clear also to me that the CCJ cannot direct or compel the parliament to pass a law. And so it is clear to me, also then, that the CCJ is saying that the parliament must decide if they will or will not pay this award."

Hon. Boots Says His Conscience Wouldn't Allow Him to Vote In Favor of $90M Payment
And while Saldivar was cut and dry, and very firm, Port Loyola Representative Anthony Boots Martinez was a little more animated. He says he is going to the grave with this one on his conscience if he votes "yes":... Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez: "Parliament will decide, and my vote is mine. My vote belongs to the people of Port Loyola, and I must vote my conscience. And if I tell you that I noh sleep good last night, I can't do nothing else but vote what is my conscience." Jules Vasquez, reporter: "But if the Prime Minister and the minister of finance brings a motion like that to the house to make certain payments out of the consolidated revenue fund, the government side has to support him. Never in history has he not - has the Prime Minister, whoever it is..."

UDP Albert Rep Says She Is Against Fleecing, Would Vote Against
And the member for the Albert Division, Tracey Taegar - Panton says she joined the UDP to stand against corruption - and if she votes for this, it would be supporting what she calls the fleecing of public funds:... Hon. Tracy Taegar Panton, UDP Albert: "I feel very strongly about it, Jules. I think the only word I can use to describe it is criminal. It is no secret that I come from a family that supported the People's United Party, and one of the reasons I made a decision to run under a UDP umbrella was because of the fleecing of public finances under the PUP administration. So I am very clear on my view on this matter. It was an illegal act as far as I am concerned and there is no way that this administration should be made to pay for an act that I clearly believe was illegal and a fleecing of public funds."

DPM Faber Opposed Judgement, Lambastes Rt. Hon. Musa
Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber joins his UDP colleagues in rejecting the CCJ judgment. Today at another event Faber gave his view on this matter and at the same time, called out Former Prime Minister Said Musa for being at the root of this $90 million dollar problem. Hon. Patrick Faber, Deputy Prime Minister: "It is terribly disappointing, it continues to have us make the point that the horrors and the evils of last PUP administration continue to haunt us. Of course our position is that this is not something we should be paying at all, there are no benefits to the Belizean people and so it is an absolute nightmare for us that this is the outcome coming from the CCJ. We will now have to discuss what our position will be as a government. We did have preliminary discussions in cabinet on Tuesday but we did not know what the official outcome would have been so it is left to be seen what those discussion will yield. But if you want my personal view right off I don't think this a burden that the Belizean tax payers should be carrying at all and it is going to deprive us of monies that we could be doing a whole lot more things with."

AG Peyrefitte Stands With The PM
So, while the Deputy Prime Minister was more circumspect about what will come out of Parliament, Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte says that he will support the decision of the Prime Minister. As an un-elected Senator he can't do much about a money bill, but Peyrefitte made it clear that his gut reaction is an emphatic "no" to paying that 90+ million dollar award: Hon. Mike Peyrefitte, Attorney General: "The CCJ made it very clear that that money has to be made available by parliament. So we don't know what will happen. The minister of finance, in my view - and we are still making sure that we get all legal advice so that we are on the right page, on the same page with everybody. But in my view, the Prime Minister as the minister of finance should not pay that 90 million until it has been budgeted for and the only way it can be budgeted for is if the matter is taken to parliament and parliament votes for it to be budgeted for."

The Best & Brightest That Belize Has
Almost 400 students from all over country traveled to the Sacred Heart College Auditorium in San Ignacio for the 23rd CXC National Awards today. Now like the PSE, it is important to highlight those outstanding performers because it certainly took a lot of preparation and dedication to nail....let's say 16 CSEC exams with grade one's and two's or 9 CAPE units with all grade one's. That's pretty stellar and it's just what these students did. We were at the awards ceremony and the Chairperson for the CXC National Committee of Belize Brenda Armstrong told us how important these achievements are in a student's academic life. We also spoke to the proud awardees and their parents.

Scholarships For The Best
Now although taking all these exams can be a grueling task, it comes with great reward. Minister of Education Patrick Faber outlined the scholarship opportunities and grants that are given to top CSEC and CAPE achievers. Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education/Deputy Prime Minister: "We increased the award for the Belize Open Scholarship which goes to the Top CAPE performer. That award used to be for $80,000 dollars." "That money is a very small contribution if you compare it to what we pay for professional and technical scholarships for example, it is a very small contribution to their education so we increased it and so for the last few years it has been $200,000 so that top performer today received that scholarship for $200,000 and the top CSEC performer as well as the second place also at the CAPE level will receive scholarships courtesy of the Government of Belize."

Works CEO Says Blame Drivers For Accidents, Not A Bad Bridge
The Ministry of Works CEO says "Don't blame it on the Bridge." As we have reported there were 3 accidents near the St. Margret's Bridge on the 19th weekend causing 4 fatalities. Harold Smith, Keith Frazer and their friend Marlon Flowers died in one accident on their way to Burrell Boom on Sunday afternoon while Glenn Reneau was killed in an accident on his way to Dangriga on Saturday night. Now the families all agree that the bad conditions of the bridge caused these accidents but CEO Gentle has a different perspective. Errol Gentle, CEO, Ministry of Works: "We need to be very careful as drivers because we continue to upgrade the highway and every time we upgrade the highway, every single highway in this country that has been upgraded we have accidents and it is because of speeding or some driver error the thing is, to be very honest a road or a bridge don't cause accident it is the driver."

Cops Charge Cross Border Weed Smuggler
Today, the police held their bi-weekly press brief but seemed to have been stung by a recent release from the PUP United Women's Group. That release zeroed in on the slow-going investigation into an allegation by two women of rape at the Independence Police Station. And, second, the PUP criticized the cops for seeming to blame murder victim Michelle Anison's friendliness for contributing to her demise. So, today right off the bat - the Police Media Relations Unit told us there would be no comment on those pressing matters at today's press brief.

Anison Murder, Cops Have Lots Of Leads, No Arrests
And moving unto the case of British National Michelle Anison who was murdered in Ladyville sometime last week - like we said, the police didn't want to comment on it, but Superintendent Cowo seems to have sort of stumbled into a minor update. He says police had plenty of leads but no arrests yet. ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City: "The Michelle Anison is still under investigation. We are following several leads that we are dealing with at this moment. The police is still following leads that we are getting and we are getting good leads and we are following up on that."

Cops Says They Have Been Actively Assisting In Search for 83 Year Old
And the police also bristled at the suggestion that they have not been doing enough to find missing 83 year old Hubert Richards. The Sandhill resident has been missing for a week now. Last night the family told 7News that they had not been getting assistance from police in their search. Well, Superintendent Cowo said that it is the family who failed to make a missing persons report until yesterday - but even without that police have been doing searches since the 17th - when the missing case was first reported on social media:... ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City: "We are aware that this information has been on social media from the date that he disappeared which was the 16th, Thursday last week. However, an official report was made to the police until yesterday at the Ladyville Police Station. But before we have received the report we have been following it up from other leads that we have been getting and we are assisting the family as much as we can at this moment."

Charges For Injured Man After Accident
He's an accident victim in his own right, but also the man alleged to have caused the deaths of Mark Leslie and Myrna Vasquez. Two weeks ago, Leslie and Vasquez were in a Toyota Corolla which collided with a GMC Yukon driven by Delmar Ortega who was overtaking a tractor hauling oranges. Well Ortega has been in the Hospital since, and just after he got out - even though he could hardly walk, he was taken too out today and charged. Police told us for what:... ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City: "We were told that he will be in Dangriga this morning along with his attorney. The charges are two counts of manslaughter, 2 counts of negligent harm and 1 of driving without due care and attention."

Pinks Alley Fire Not Conclusively Arson
Police also commented on the small fire in a Pink's Alley apartment which occurred on Tuesday afternoon. The homeowner claims arson, but police say that they're not so sure:... ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City: "It was just a minor sofa and a table that were damaged, in reference to that arson. We cannot say it's an arson yet because the fire department is still investigating. It is almost completed, but they have mentioned to us that it could have possibly been an electrical problem, not any arson. You have to understand that arson is when somebody actually lights up a building and when it comes to a house fire, there are many causes for a house fire which have to be determined by the fire department."

All Things Marijuana Considered At CARICOM Forum
In Tuesday's news, we told you how the Attorney General's Ministry was teaming up with the CARICOM Commission on Marijuana to have a conversation on whether that drug should be legalised. The Commission intends to visit all the Caribbean states, sample the opinions of the citizens and produce a report which reflects the CARICOM groupthink about marijuana its treatment under the law. That report will then be handed over to the CARICOM Heads of Government for their consideration. The Commission was at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel today for an all-day consultation with as broad a cross section of the population as they could reach. It was well attended, and 7News was there to see how it went. Here's what the Chair of the Commission, and the participants had to say about the hours of conversation about the herb:

16 Days Of Activism, Where Are The Men?
The National Women's Commission, today launched the 2017 version of 16-Days of activism against Gender-Based Violence, especially violence against women. They had a lengthy and emotional ceremony at the Radisson today where we picked out the women at the front and center of the campaign to ask them, where are the men?: Ann-Marie Williams: "16 Days of Activism is an international observance and so it's not only Belize, but Belize joining the rest of the world and we have to continue to do it as long as men continue to violate women and girls. If there were no violations, we don't have to do it, because these 16 days ramp up the activities that we've been doing all year round." Kim Simplis-Barrow: "For us this is symbolic. it's a time to really focus and look at it in a way that we try to bring people together to give their testimonies and so forth."

Celebrating Energy Efficiency
This is Energy month all across the Caribbean and lead agencies in different countries are spearheading activities to promote efficient energy. In Belize, today was an energy awareness fair. Different companies came out to showcase energy-efficient products. 7 news was there and spoke to a few of the companies. The Ministry of Energy, and Public Utilities has been in charge of the energy week and the energy awareness fair is one of many things they have done throughout the week to promote energy efficiency.

Dance X Excites
The Dance X 2017 festival starts tonight where dancers in all styles from all over the country display their talent, their flair and their form at venues in Belize City, Orange Walk, Dangriga and San Ignacio. This year's festival has a special guest from Mexico that has come to perform her dance called "masterpiece". She told us about what people can expect from her unique performance. Robinson's performance should be on stage right now at the Bliss Center in Belize City.

SDG Goals And Realities
Earlier this month we told you about the 2017 Global Youth Conference held in Belize. The main objective was to discuss the sustainable development goals from a youth perspective. Well today, government agencies and civil society partners presented the work they have done on those same Goals. They held a knowledge fair at the Belmopan Civic Center and we dropped by. The plan spans 15 years.

Channel 5

Deputy Has P.M.’s Back as Discussion Begins on U.H.S. Payment
Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber minced no words earlier today when he openly spoke out against the decision by the Caribbean Court of Justice on Wednesday.  The CCJ has ordered [...]

Faber Cries Shame on Ex-P.M. Musa
As you heard in the news on Wednesday, former Prime Minister Said Musa said that the matter could have been settled during his term in office and that government had [...]

National Assembly Has Tough Decision to Make
But with all that said and done – the CCJ judgment still stands and G.O.B. must now cough up ninety million Belize dollars. And where will this money come from? [...]

CARICOM and Belizeans Ponder Marijuana
The debate about recreational usage of marijuana continues, even after the decriminalization of possession of ten grams or less of the drug took effect earlier this month. While there is [...]

A.G. Says New Law Didn’t End the World
Closer to home, how have things been going since marijuana decriminalization went into effect on November first? Very well, according to Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte, who told us that the [...]

1 Small Step for Weed – 1 Giant Leap to Cultivation?
A persistent question being asked is, if the law can ease up on users of marijuana, what happens to those who plant fields and cultivate and sell “weed” for recreational [...]

This Isn’t 10 Grams! O.W. Cabbie Busted in Corozal
While legislators were busy discussing the decriminalization and the reclassification of marijuana from a regional perspective, local law enforcement was proceeding with drug trafficking charges against a cab driver in [...]

Robbers Strike it Rich with Escuela Mexico’s Dinero
Was the theft of a substantial amount of monies from the principal and bursar of Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico the result of a well-orchestrated heist or did their assailant benefit [...]

Pinks Alley House Burns; Was It Arson?
A small house fire in Pinks Alley on Tuesday afternoon destroyed the contents of a cement structure belonging to Lorna Wade.  According to twenty-three-year-old Dawn Higinio, she was asleep inside [...]

Who Set Fire in Abandoned Van?
Around twelve-thirty this afternoon, a large plume of smoke rose above the Haulover Creek in the vicinity of Belize Water Services Limited. An abandoned van in close proximity to a [...]

Search Continues for Hubert Richards, 83; Seen in Los Lagos & Orange Walk
Eighty-three-year-old Hubert Richards remains missing tonight, despite all efforts being expended by his loved ones in trying to locate him alive.  The elderly man is said to be suffering from [...]

C.E.O. Errol Gentle Says Don’t Blame the Road or Bridge for Accident
Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Works, Errol Gentle, says that neither roads nor bridges are to be blamed for the fatal accidents that happened between miles thirty-one and [...]

Hummingbird Highway to be Rehabilitated
And as we reported on Wednesday night, Ministry of Works, Cisco Construction and the Belmopan Police are putting in some remedial work at the bridge in Saint Margaret Village. These [...]

SolGen Promises Training for Top Public Officers at Public Service Commission
Solicitor General Nigel Hawke was actually the second of two witnesses called on Wednesday by the Senate Special Select Committee. On Wednesday morning, the senators held a private, in-camera session [...]

What is Everybody Waiting for from Senate Committee?
We leave this week’s hearings with a reminder of just how important they have become in the eyes of some. One year ago this month, the six members of the [...]

Feel the Power: 16 Days of Activism Off to Enlightening Start
Over the next two weeks, a number of anti-violence presentations at schools, as well as health talks and an exhibition by the Women’s Department, will take place as part of [...]

CSEC, CAPE’s Best Honored in the West
The CXC national committee recognized the best and the brightest in the Caribbean Secondary Education Examination and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination for Belize. The high academic achievers from all across [...]

Harnessing Energy to Help the Community
Energy Week commenced this past Sunday, but today, a fair was held at the Biltmore Plaza to showcase the local energy sector and shift the focus on renewable energy sources. [...]

Channel Five’s Veranda Tales is Back!
Tonight, Channel Five is bringing back an old favorite. “Veranda Tales” was an original series in the 1990’s which employed familiar faces to read to primary school-aged children. It’s part [...]

Healthy Living: Be Good to Your Skin
As the end of the year draws near, cooler temperatures will start to set in and our version of the “Caribbean winter” will commence. While a break from the hot [...]

LOVE FM

Faber Reiterates GOB’s Disappointment in CCJ’s Ruling
On Wednesday the Government of Belize lost a case against the Belize Bank and was ordered by the Caribbean Court of Justice to pay the bank an arbitration award that was granted to the institution since 2013. The case dates back to 2004 when the Said Musa led government signed as guarantor for a loan […]

AG: “CCJ cannot compel GOB to take Money out of Consolidated Revenue Fund”
Today, the Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte commented on the CCJ’s judgment. Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte “The judgment is the judgment, the way we analyze it is what the CCJ said was that the Privy Council has already said that the loan note which was really a promissory note was a legal contract entered into by […]

National Consultation on Marijuana
On October 25, the Misuse of Drugs Act which decriminalizes ten grams or less of marijuana was passed by the Senate. The bill had a lot of opposition to it, nevertheless, it was passed into law.Today, a National Consultation facilitated by the Regional Commission on Marijuana was held at the Best Western Plus, Belize Biltmore […]

When will UNCAC be Implemented?
Last year on International Anti-Corruption Day, December 9, Belize signed onto the United Nation’s Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) making it the one-hundred-eighty-fourth country to sign the convention. This came after several demands from civil society and a number of non-government organizations. In January, the government started to take steps toward the implementation of UNCAC, including […]

Works CEO comments on Traffic Accidents that claimed Four Lives
Last weekend, four persons died in two separate traffic incidents that happened at the bridge located between miles 31 and 32 on the Hummingbird Highway, in the vicinity of Saint Margaret’s Village. The incidents have stirred concern over the safety of the bridge, a one-lane crossing. Today, we spoke with the CEO in the Ministry […]

“Leave No One Behind; End Violence Against Women & Girls”
On Saturday countries around the world will commemorate International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The day marks the commencement of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign. The theme this year is “Leave no one behind; end violence against women and girls”. It is a time when several organizations incite […]

UB pays Tribute to Fidel Castro
The University of Belize teamed up with the Cuban Embassy for a tribute to Fidel Castro to mark the first anniversary of his death. Correspondent Fem Cruz has the story. Fem Cruz “An official ceremony was held today at the Jaguar auditorium in Belmopan to celebrate the first anniversary of the passing of the first […]

Abandoned Van goes up in Flames
An abandoned van went up in flames at around midday today in Belize City. Residents of Consuelo Street in the Lake Independence area, say that they heard a loud bang and upon making checks they saw the van on fire. Firefighters quickly managed to take control of the blaze, preventing it from spreading. A resident […]

Marijuana Bust in San Andres Village
Yesterday morning a routine customs operation resulted in the discovery of twenty pounds of marijuana. The bust was made in San Andres Village. ASP Alejandro Cowo shared more details. ASP Alejandro Cowo “Sometime after seven in the morning, the police responded to assist a custom personnel in the San Andres Village, Corozal District. Whereupon arrival […]

Police investigate Fire in Pinks Alley
Yesterday we reported on a house fire that damaged a portion of the apartment that Dawn Hijinio and her family were staying in. The fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon while Hijinio and her two children were asleep. Initially, the fire was believed to be a case of arson, but this morning ASP Alejandro Cowo […]

Corozal Robbery: Opportunistic Crime
Police are looking for two men in connection with an armed robbery that occurred in the Corozal District. As we reported yesterday, the Finance Assistant of Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico, William Mendoza, and principal, Carlos Castillo was on their way to Corozal Town to deposit monies in a bank account. On their way the car […]

“Re-Thinking Energy: Shaping a Resilient Community”
Belize is celebrating Energy Week under the theme “Re-Thinking Energy: Shaping a Resilient Community”. Mark Usher, Electrical Engineer at the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) told Love News that during Energy Week several events are held to create awareness of the use of energy.Usher described energy as being the “lifeblood” of the country. Today the Ministry […]

BAY to hold Arts Festival
The Belmopan Active Youths, BAY, will be hosting its third annual Arts Festival at the Belmopan Civic Center on Saturday, November 25. Co-Founder and Executive Director of BAY, Anna Banner Guy along with Coordinator of the Festival David Smith stopped by our studios to share why you should stop by. “The youths are very innovative […]

The Guardian

CCJ says GOB to pay $90 Million for UHS… only if parliament approves!
The Caribbean Court of Justice has issued a judgment for the Government of Belize to pay an Arbitral Award which the Belize Bank had gotten against the Government back in 2013. In a release the CCJ says, “In the case of The Belize Bank Ltd. v The Attorney General of Belize, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) today granted permission for the Belize Bank Limited to enforce a 2013 arbitration award against the Government of Belize. The arbitration award, made by a Tribunal of the London Court of International Arbitration, required the Government to pay the Bank the sum of BZ$36,895,509.46 together with interest at 17% and arbitration costs of £536,817.71. The CCJ’s ruling means that the award now has the same effect as if it had been a judgment given by the Supreme Court of Belize. In addition, the Court also granted the Bank its legal costs in the CCJ and Belize’s Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture survive plane crash
It caused a stir all over Belize on Friday, November 17, when news went out that a Tropic Air plane, carrying Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Patrick Faber and Agriculture Minister, Hon. Godwin Hulse, went down. Fortunately, the two Government leaders and the other 7 occupants on the plane survived a crash landing in the sea off the Placencia Peninsula. Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber told the press that he, Hulse and Christy Mastry, the General Manager of the Belize Infrastructure Limited, were all on the same flight heading to Punta Gorda Town. Their intention was to participate in the official opening ceremony of the new PG multi-purpose sporting complex. So, they left on a flight from Belize City, which makes stops in several different locations on the way to PG. DPM Faber recounted that the plane landed in Dangriga without incident, and the passengers were dropped off. They then took off and left for Placencia, where they landed, again without incident.

Deadly bridge at St. Margaret’s claims 4 lives
A triple fatality on the Hummingbird Highway has turned the Garifuna Settlement Day celebrations into tragedy for 2 families. The victims, 37 year-old Harold Albert Smith, 37 year-old Keith Alonzo Frazer, and 41 year-old Marlon Flowers, died after the car they were travelling in ran off a bridge and went into the creek below. This very same bridge had claimed a life less than 24 hours earlier. At around 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 19, 2017, Belmopan police were alerted to an accident which happened between miles 31 and 32 on the Hummingbird Highway. When they responded, they found a gold Toyota Camry Car at the bottom of the Saint Margaret’s Village bridge. The driver, Harold Smith, was found trapped inside the vehicle in the driver’s side. Unfortunately, there was nothing that the authorities could do after they rescued him from the vehicle. Smith had already passed away. His nephew and best friend, Keith Frazer, was found motionless on the ground nearby; the accident also killed him at the moment of impact or shortly afterwards. The final passenger in the vehicle, Marlon Flowers, had already been rushed to the Western Regional Hospital by the time police arrived on the scene. Unfortunately, he died on the way.

Deadly bridge claims life of Glen Reneau
Glen Bert Reneau, a 36 year-old Belize City resident, died in an accident, hours before the Garifuna Settlement Day celebrations. He was on his way to Dangriga, the “Culture Capital”, but he and his 2 passengers never made it because he ran off a narrow, one-lane bridge into a creek at the bottom and totaled his vehicle. At around 9:51 p.m. on Saturday, November 18, 2017, Belmopan police responded to reports of an accident at mile 31 and 32. On the scene, at the Saint Margaret Village Bridge, they found a grey Honda Accord car, which was submerged in the water, and which had extensive damages. Police have not specified if they found any of the occupants in the vehicle.

90 million more for Vampire Ashcroft thanks to the PUP
The Caribbean Court of Justice on Wednesday handed down a judgment that says that government should pay 90 million dollars to the Belize Bank for a loan which was resisted first by the people of Belize and then by the UDP government. Now the decision lies on the National Assembly to instruct that payment be made. Some readers will recall that when the Musa administration on Friday May 18, 2007 attempted to pass a bill which would have seen the PUP pay a 33 million dollar debt incurred by Universal Health Services Belmopan was literally torn up. Thousands of Belizeans literally resisted causing chaos in Belmopan. After the mass discontent the PUP secretly paid the debt, obtaining 10 million dollars that the Venezuelan Government had granted Belizeans for the construction of new homes for the needy and additionally 10 million dollars that was granted by the Taiwanese government for improvement of healthcare in Belize was used to pay the debt.

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Entry into Belize of Guatemalan Kaibil on November 17th, 2017
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been notified by the Benque Viejo del Carmen Police Station that at about 10:45 a.m. on November 17th, 2017, four Guatemalan Military Kaibil personnel crossed into Belize along with three Guatemalan journalists. Belizean Police Officers, stationed in the vicinity of the border, approached the Kaibil who were at the “Welcome to Belize” sign, and informed them that they were in Belizean territory; the police requested that they leave immediately, which they did without incident.

BTIA Cayo Chapter meets
The Belize Tourism Industry Association BTIA Cayo Chapter held an important meeting on Tuesday night at the Cahal Pech Resort Conference Room in San Ignacio Town. For all those attending it was a learning experience to get a snap shot of what is currently affecting the tourism sector. First to present was Rudolf Orio, who said that there should be all efforts to “…protect tourism, the goose that lays the golden egg.” He invited members of the BTIA Chapter to work along with the bodies that are now in place to ensure public security such as the People’s Coalition, Neighborhood Watches and Volunteer Special Constables. Rudolf Orio also recommended to the group that a Tourism, Taxi and Village Watch also be formed to enhance security. (There is now one Business Watch in place for San Ignacio Town.)

Schools in Southern Belize Become a Part of a Food Security Program
As part of the “Mesoamerica Without Hunger” initiative, a project was implemented in schools in southern Belize to improve food and nutrition security as well as to encourage healthy eating habits for those communities, a project that extends across the region to include, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, as well as other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean of which Belize is the first Caribbean country to sign. The program, which was introduced on April 2016, was officially launched on Thursday, November 17, 2017 at the Conference Room on the National Agriculture and Trade Show Grounds in Belmopan during a ceremony which featured representatives from the ministries of health and agriculture as well as the Mexican Ambassador to Belize. There, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed which will extend the project countrywide.

The Most Hated Man in the PUP
It seems like every time we turn around , there is another PUP QUARREL from inside the PUP to report on. Although the combatants may appear to change at times, there is one constant that remains the same. That constant is that whoever the combatants may be at the particular time, the genesis of the quarrel, stems around being in control of the PUP. Now once again we are seeing another such PUP quarrel playout on social media. In this latest PUP QUARREL the focus of the attack is Johnny. He is being attacked over his relationship with one Ambassador Stewart Leslie.

Mentorship program in Belmopan gathers strength
The guiding force of our youths towards their productive capacities have taken on a new dimension in the Nation’s Capital. The City of Belmopan now has ten newly trained mentors. These are people who decided that they will take the time to guide, teach, mold and build lasting relationships with youths in their community. Each newly trained community member will be given the opportunity to mentor one youth between the ages of 11 and 16. This is possible through efforts of the Belmopan Active Youths BAY, the Belmopan City Council and the Child Development Foundation.

New Registrar and Registrar General appointed
Trienia Marie Young, the 37-year-old former Head of the Police Prosecution Branch, has been sworn in as the new Registrar of the Supreme Court and the Registrar General of Belize. Thursday, November 16, 2017 was Young’s first day on the job after being sworn in on the previous day. Young succeeded former Registrar Velda Flowers. In her capacity, she will be overseeing the Supreme Court, Vital Statistics Department, BELIPO, and the Belize Companies Registry. Young is a former graduate of Saint Joseph Primary School and Pallotti High School. She began her career in law when she entered the UWI- Mona Campus in Jamaica in 2003 and graduated in 2006. She later entered the Norman Manley Law School in 2006 and graduated in 2008.

Promoting Agriculture in Toledo primary schools
On Friday November 17th, the Ministry of Education along with the Food and Agriculture Organization and AMEXCID the Mexican Agency for Cooperation and International Development cut the ribbons declaring open 4 structures 30 feet by 40 feet. The structures are located in four primary schools in the Toledo District, namely in Pueblo Viejo, Santa Elena, Santa Cruz, and San Antonio. They are part of a collaborative effort between the aforementioned organizations to promote gardens for vegetable production. The overall objective is to introduce agriculture and self-sustainability at the primary school level in the Toledo District. Under the program there will also be upgrading and or construction of new school kitchens.

Albert Valentine and Minor freed of murder charge against a taxi driver
On Friday, November 17, 2017 in the Belize City Supreme Court, Justice Denis S. Hanomansingh, who is presiding over matters in the Dangriga Supreme Court, handed down a ruling that set two persons free of murder. They are 24-year-old Albert Valentine and a 17-year-old minor. They were acquitted of the murder of taxi driver Antonio Rodriguez of Eldred Village, Punta Gorda. Rodriquez was stabbed multiple times to the body on December 15, 2015 in the Joe Taylor Creek area of Punta Gorda near a bridge at the entrance of PG. On the day of the murder, Valentine was heading to chop a yard on a bicycle when he met the minor and they allegedly decided to hire Rodriguez’s taxi with the motive to rob Rodriguez of his firearm.

Messenger charged with fake dealer’s license and driving unregistered vehicle
A messenger with Home Protector Insurance was arraigned on two charges, a criminal offense and a traffic offense, on Tuesday, November 21, 2017. He is 32-year-old Charles Requena of Fuller’s Lane in Belize City. Requena appeared before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford to answer to two charges, one count of uttering upon a false document and one count of driving an unregistered motor vehicle. The allegations are that on Thursday, November 16, 2017, he uttered a Belize City Dealer’s License dated August 2017 knowing it to be forged. Further allegations are that on that same day, he drove a Lincoln Zephyr without it being registered.

Liberty Children’s Home volunteer killed in Ladyville
Ladyville police have detained several men for questioning in connection with the murder of 46 year-old Michelle Anison, a British national who was volunteering at the Liberty Children’s Home. She was found inside her Ladyville apartment with stab wounds to the neck and chest. At around 10:55 a.m. on Friday, November 17, police visited that apartment, located at #6 Perez Road, and inside they found her body, with the injuries inflicted on it. The cops searched her home and determined that her only missing property is her grey Nissan Rogue SUV. It was not parked outside the apartment’s parking lot, as it normally was. The last time that she was reportedly seen alive was on Monday morning, November 12, about 4 days before she was found dead inside her home. Police say that her body was in an advanced state of decomposition.

Mother and son in court on weed charges
A mother and her son were taken to court on Thursday, November 16, 2017 on a single charge of possession of a controlled drug for 29 grams of cannabis which was found wrapped in a polo shirt in their yard. They are 45-year old Stephanie Gotoy, a babysitter, and her son 27-year-old Adrian Gotoy both of Kings Park. The duo appeared before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford in Court where Adrian wasted no time and pleaded guilty with an explanation to the charge while Stephanie pleaded not guilty. Adrian recanted his plea when he heard what the police said that it occurred during the house search.

12 year old raped in Ladyville
Police in Ladyville are investigating a case of unlawful carnal knowledge in Ladyville which occurred in July of last year. A 12-year-old Belizean student visited the Ladyville Police Station in the company of her mother and reported that sometime in the month of July, 2016, she visited the residence of a male neighbor in Ladyville to charge her mother’s cell phone and the male person had sexual intercourse with her. A medical examination was conducted on the minor where the doctor certified that she was carnally known. Police are investigating.

Alleged robbers on bail
Two persons, a 19-year-old and a 17-year-old minor, were before the court on Thursday, November 16, 2017. They were charged in connection to an attempted robbery of two men in Belize City and for allegedly causing a wound to one of them during a struggle. The 19-year-old has been identified as Degron Joseph, a student of King’s College. Joseph and his accomplice were arraigned before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford on separate charges of robbery to which they both pleaded not guilty to. The allegations are that they committed the offense by use of force but not with a firearm upon two friends whilst on Orange Street in Belize City. The two victims, Oscar Itza and Dennis Eck, were both walking together on Orange Street between the hours of 7 and 8 p.m. when they were approached by the two male persons.

Verdes FC and Belmopan Bandits FC came up with big scores in Premier League playoffs
The Premier League of Belize 2017-2018 Opening Season semi-final round commenced last weekend with 2 games on the schedule. On Saturday 18th November, at the MCC Grounds, Verdes FC the number two team into the playoffs blasted the Belize Defence Force FC by the score of 7-1. Verdes FC cored first when Alcides Thomas scored the 1st of his 3 goals in the 15th minute of play to give his team a 1-0 lead. The Belize Defence Force FC was able to tie the score at 1-1 when Vallan Symms scored the equalising goal in the 30th minute of play via a penalty kick.

Sandhill Blue Hawks Leal’s Football Cup champions
The 2017 Leal’s Football Cup Tournament came to an end on Monday 20th November, with the third place and the championship game played in Sandhill Village. In the championship game, Sandhill Blue Hawks defeated Corozalito by the score of 3-0. The goals for the champions Sandhill Blue Hawks were scored by Travon Martinez, Charles Canton and Sergio Luna. Earlier in the day for the third place game, Ladyville FC defeated Lucky Strike by the score of 5-1. The goals for Ladyville FC were scored by Matthew Leal and Shawn Young (4), while the goal for Lucky Strike was scored by Fredrick Garbutt.

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

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

UB hosts Marketing and Small Business Expo
Marketing and Small Business students at the University of Belize took to the Princess Ramada Hotel and Casino King’s Room to display their creations on Wednesday, November 22, 2017. Items ranged from cosmetics, food and beverages, recycled materials, footwear, and several other innovative and useful materials. At the expo, there were over 20 groups and each group presented a different and unique approach to both new and existing ideas. One new idea was Backyardigan’s concept of recycling old tires and repurposing them. The tires are personally scavenged and decorated with paint and other embellishments to make comfy and beautiful chairs, center tables, and even coolers. The items start at $80 and go up to $170 for larger pieces. Lypp Magic was another group that presented a fairly new idea to the Belizean public. While lip scrubs are readily available outside of Belize, they are not as available here. Lypp Magic, a group of marketing students, used that available market to produce flavored lip scrubs to exfoliate, moisturize, and soften lips while removing dry and dead skin. There was a multitude of other creations that included wine, like Sugar Fix Wines, sweets, swimming products, and other creations.

Tourist dies suddenly at ATM cave
On November 16, 2017 about 1:00 p.m., police visited the Western Regional Hospital where they observed the lifeless body of Madhukar Jiggini, a 68-year-old doctor of California, USA. Initial investigations revealed that Jiggini was along with his wife and other tourists doing a river crossing at the ATM Cave in Teakettle Village, Cayo District when he began feeling weak and lost consciousness. He was immediately taken out of the river and transported to the Western Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead. No signs of violence were observed on the body and no foul play is suspected. The body now awaits a postmortem examination.

Celebrating the 19th in Western Belize
The mood in Western Belize on the 19th of November was celebratory as members of the National Garifuna Council NGC, San Ignacio Branch, came out in full traditional dress to observe the Yurumein. At about 7:00 am on Saturday two boats with Garinagu landed on the calm bank of the Macal River to be greeted by other Garinagu and Cayo residents. Closely watching the ceremony was Cynhtia Ellis, President of the National Garifuna Council in San Ignacio, who is just back in Belize after visiting indigenous communities in the Caribbean and Americas. Ellis spoke to us about the significance of the Yurumein. “Yurumein is a re-enactment of the arrival of the Gariganu to Belize. Part of the history is that we were exiled because we would not succumb to colonial rule and we were given the choice to stay in St. Vincent or to leave.

MARITIME AREAS ACT “QUID PRO QUO’ FOR RECOGNITION
The AMAMDALA editorial of Friday, November 17, 2017 was a pleasant read because of some startling admissions: 1)“… revolutionaries leading the People’s United Party (PUP) were attracted by his [Arbenz] policies and saw Guatemala as an ally…” 2)”…PUP contact with Guatemala…” 3)”…sent Mr. Price home… because he had held talks with a Guatemalan official.” 4)”…the PUP Leader was trying to sell out the country “lock, stock and barrel.”” The above rank right up there with Smith’s:”…he [Price] had received financial assistance from Guatemala in the 1950s.” I say startling, because every PUP supporter had vehemently denied all of the above over and over and over – for years! PUP lied to cover-up dangerous national misdeeds! Guatemala has Pacific and Caribbean coastline, together longer than Belize’s! The south west limit of the Cayman Trough is at Guatemala’s toe – she has the best access to high seas!

Millennials and our Money
Youths today, are often referred to as millennials for having been born in or near the new millennium. One of the things we millennials have found and continue to find out is that life can get expensive; I am talking about the cost of simply staying alive. If you cannot relate then maybe you have not come into full independence just yet. As a young, independent millennial, I experience one of those “aha moment” every time I go to the store to purchase things that I formerly paid no attention to and took for granted; such as tooth paste and purified water. Growing up with my mom and dad, things like toiletries and drinking water were just always there. They were never things that I ever gave any thought to. Although they cost relatively little compared to most of my other expenditures, these are the things that remind me daily that I am officially an adult, responsible for financing my own existence.

Words of Life with Pastor Barry Fraser
Today we look at Roaring Lions. In the book of the Prophet Joel chapter 3, verse 16, we read, “The Lord God roars from Zion, and utters His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth tremble. But the Lord is a refuge for His people, and a stronghold to the sons of Israel.”

Breaking Belize News

83-year-old man still missing in Sand Hill, Belize District
Yesterday, Stanley Richards, 52, a Belizean laborer of Sand Hill Village, Belize District, reported that on Thursday, […]

Orange Walk taxi man arrested for drug trafficking
Yesterday morning around 7:25, police and custom officials conducted a check point in San Andres Village, […]

Belize signs status of forces agreement with Netherlands
Today, the Government of Belize and the Government of the Netherlands signed a Status of […]

The 88 million dollars bukut – Is Said Musa or Dean Barrow to blame?
By Hugh O’Brien: BUKUT NUMBER 1 – Former Prime Minister of Belize, Said Musa, guaranteed a Belize Bank loan for the Universal Health Services (UHS) owned by PUP cronies and ended up paying the Belize Bank $40 million for this private hospital in December 2007. Belizeans got nothing for this $40 million investment, not even the hospital or any of its equipment.

Blogs

Fun Caye Caulker Itinerary and It Can Happen at Home too - Belize Time
I shortlisted the Caye Caulker Itinerary to second place as it was born from the invisible forces that were pulling me onto Belize time that led me to write it so first comes my story about getting derailed in my own home. You may have read in previous blog posts about how the island is like Sesame Street and a simple trip to the store can have you instantly on delay and often catapulted into a new direction for any number of reasons. You might run into friends and decide to hit a beach bar or, you could get “paraded”. Island people love parades and there is nothing better to remind you why you came here than to get caught behind one. It forces you to slow down and appreciate life’s unexpected surprises and delays.

International Sources

US State Department awards additional funding for sustainable local organizations in Belize and Latin America
The US Department of State has awarded the World Environment Center (WEC) and its partner, Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel), additional funding to grow innovative, sustainable local organizations in Belize and Latin America. The current program, known as La Red de Innovacion and Impacto (La Red), established in 2014, is a collection of 30 such innovative solutions from 11 nations across the region. The La Red network conducts training and workshops to scale business solutions to sustainability challenges; assists enterprises to participate in internationally renowned acceleration programs; communicates best practices throughout the network; and monitors and evaluates progress. To date, more than 2,230 MSMEs in Latin America have benefited from the technical assistance funded through this project, and more than 1,800 individuals have been employed or promoted. Some 1,240 farmers have improved their operations as a result of the work conducted through La Red.

Howlers, hot sauce and Hopkins - discovering the secrets of Belize
It is 9 a.m. and a sweltering 38C as we slowly walk a dirt path beneath towering mahogany trees. Even though we’ll hear him before we see him our eyes are scanning the tree-tops for a howler monkey. Our guide Conway, leads with a growl, hoping for an response. The quiet of the forest is soon shattered with an answering bellow from a male, and we are now standing below six members of a howler monkey family. The youngest monkey swings down the tree branches as he stuffs leaves in his mouth, keeping an eyes on us as we happily snap photos. Thanks to the dedication of a local women’s co-operative to protect the monkeys, travellers are able to learn about the monkeys, locally called baboons. There are 4,000 primates living in the Community Baboon Sanctuary in this Belizean village of Bermudian Landing. I’m here on a 10-day group tour with National Geographic Journeys G Adventures tour which offers a circuitous route through this Central American country, from a Mayan site north of Belize City, west to San Ignacio on the Guatemala border to the south coast beach town of Hopkins and to the second largest barrier reef via the island of Caye Caulker, a combination of Mayan history, wildlife and indigenous culture.

How will Francis Ford Coppola divvy up his business among family?
“Have you heard of Italian Alzheimer’s?” Francis Ford Coppola asks, brown papa-bear eyes playful. “You forget everything – except the grudge.” The 78-year-old padrino is At Home. Not his main residence, the sprawling historic Inglenook wine estate in California’s upmarket Napa Valley. But his home away from home: Bernalda, an insignificant dot of a non-tourist town set in the middle of southern Italy, where his paternal grandfather Agostino was born. (His mother’s side came from Naples.)

Videos

November 23, 2017

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Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Entry into Belize of Guatemalan Kaibil on November 17th, 2017
he Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been notified by the Benque Viejo del Carmen Police Station that at about 10:45 a.m. on November 17th, 2017, four Guatemalan Military Kaibil personnel crossed into Belize along with three Guatemalan journalists. Belizean Police Officers, stationed in the vicinity of the border, approached the Kaibil who were at the “Welcome to Belize” sign, and informed them that they were in Belizean territory; the police requested that they leave immediately, which they did without incident.

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition 2018 shoot on Ambergris Caye
The Sports Illustrated Magazine team along with six models arrived at Mahogany Bay Village in San Pedro Town on Wednesday, November 15th, to shoot the 2018 Swimsuit Edition of the publication. For four days International photographer Yu Tsai photographed the models at Mahogany Bay as well as other destinations on the island. The six models included Olivia Jordan, Allie Ayers, Haley Kalil, Camille Kostek, Iyonna Fairbanks, and Tabria Majores. While some of the women had pageant and modeling experience, others are considered novices. Model Olivia Joran was Miss USA in 2015 and the second runner-up at the prestigious Miss Universe beauty pageant also in 2015, Ayers has a couple years of modeling experience under her belt, while Fairbanks, Kostek, Kalil, and Majores are somewhat new to the experience. However, all the participants hope that this opportunity will open more doors for their modeling careers.

San Pedro Pirates lose first semifinal match against Belmopan Bandits
The Belmopan Bandits defeated the San Pedro Pirates Football Club on Sunday, November 19th at the Ambergris Stadium in San Pedro Town during the first round of the Premier League of Belize (PLB) semi-finals. While the San Pedro Pirates did their best to properly represent the island, in the end, it was a clear 6-0 victory for the visiting team.

Ambergris Today

Government Of Belize Strengthening Development Of School Feeding Programs In Belize
The Government of Belize has embarked on an agreement to strengthen School Feeding Programs in Belize in order to provide healthy food to needy school children in our country. This project is more than just a feeding program, a key element in the program is to incorporating agriculture into other areas of study while at the same time, promoting the value of self-grown food. On Thursday, November 16, 2017, a new cooperation agreement to foster the strengthening of the School Feeding Program in Belize was signed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Health and the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation.

The Ya’axché Conservation Trust Celebrates Its Third Year Of Successful Agroforestry Farming
Thirty farmers in Toledo are celebrating their third year of successful farming in Belize’s first agroforestry concession within a protected area. The cultivation of cacao among other crops within the Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve is being guided by an agroforestry management plan and a conservation agreement. Ya’axché Conservation Trust (Ya’axché) is working with farmers to ensure that both the environment and livelihoods are considered in protected area management. In 2012, 30 landless farmers with interests of farming within Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve made contact with Ya’axché to support their aspirations. Ya’axché, along with the farmers, developed an agroforestry management plan to guide the cultivation of cacao under the forest canopy and created a conservation agreement that incorporated the commitment of the farmers to protect the area of natural wonder.

Belize Makes Fodor's Travel Go List 2018 At #10
Belize has ranked number 10 out of 52 countries on the Fodor’s Travel Go List for 2018, underscoring once more the effective efforts of the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) to market Belize as growing, viable and a must-visit destination in Central America and the Caribbean. The announcement was made last week on Fodor’s Travel’s Website. In its introductory page, Fodor’s Travel said “Belize is full of rich history, rewarding explorations, and natural beauty ....part Caribbean and part Central America, Belize feels untouched by the rest of the planet, making it seem like a true getaway.”

San Pedro RC School Library In Need Of Urgent Repair
The San Pedro Roman Catholic School is reaching out the community of San Pedro to kindly assist in form of donations so as to be able to fix their library that is dire need of repairs. For some time now the current building has been deteriorating slowly and after the September Mexico earthquake the building shook and needs to be reinforced. The building has broken doors and windows and the exterior walls are all rotting and falling apart. Heading this fundraising initiative is Catherine Whitney also known by the students as “Teacher Kate” who has been volunteering at the library for several years now. The children have grown to love and appreciate everything Teacher Kate does and love spending time with her at the library reading stories and doing other fun activities.

Misc Belizean Sources

Institute of Archaeology Report: Thursday 23 November 2017
The Nohoch Cheen, ATM and Barton Creek Archaeological Reserves are open. The river level at the ferry crossing remains the same as yesterday, therefore,the Xunantunich Archaeological Reserve remains closed.

Caye Caulker Liquor License Renewal Notice
Caye Caulker Liquor License Board takes this opportunity to remind all business owners that applications for the renewal of Liquor Licenses for the year 2018 are now being accepted. Please be advised that the deadline for submitting all renewal applications at the office is December 15th, 2017. All applications must be completed before it's submitted to the office. Business owners who fail to comply will be charged a late fee. The Caye Caulker Liquor License Board also takes this opportunity to remind all License Holders to settle any arrears before the new year.

CCJ Overturns Ruling of Lower Courts in UHS Settlement Case
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) today, 22nd November, 2017, handed down its decision regarding the matter of the Belize Bank vs the Attorney General of Belize where the Belize Bank was appealing the decision of the Belize Court of Appeal on the Universal Health Services (UHS) matter delivered on the 24th day of March 2017. In that ruling, the Court of Appeal upheld the Supreme Court’s decision that enforcement of the final arbitral award of the London Court of International Arbitration dated the 15th day of January 2013 by the High Court in Belize would be contrary to public policy of Belize, and offend the legal and constitutional order of Belize. The CCJ overturned the decision of the Belize Court of Appeal and ordered that the Government of Belize (GOB) pay to Belize Bank the money that the Said Musa administration had saddled the government with back in 2007. The total award in favor of Belize Bank is approximately BZ$88M plus interest and cost.

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Entry into Belize of Guatemalan Kaibil on November 17th, 2017
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been notified by the Benque Viejo del Carmen Police Station that at about 10:45 a.m. on November 17th, 2017, four Guatemalan Military Kaibil personnel crossed into Belize along with three Guatemalan journalists. Belizean Police Officers, stationed in the vicinity of the border, approached the Kaibil who were at the “Welcome to Belize” sign, and informed them that they were in Belizean territory; the police requested that they leave immediately, which they did without incident. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has raised the matter with the Guatemalan authorities to prevent reoccurrence.

Pharmaceutical Licensing
Effective 1st November 2017, all pharmaceutical facilities are required to have a Ministry of Health Certificate of Registration License in order to provide pharmacy services to the public. The Ministry of Health has publish the most updated list of Retail Pharmaceutical Establishments, Wholesalers and Importers with a valid MOH License. See the lists at the below links:

A Christmas Recital
O'Brien's Music Studio Presents! Dec 2, Saturday, at the Bliss Institute. Special invited guests The Belize Elementary School Choir.

6th Annual Yoga & Meditation Vacation in Belize
Sat Feb 03 2018 at 06:00 pm. Ak'bol Yoga Retreat and Eco Resort, North San Pedro Town, San Pedro, Belize Escape winter, relax, and nourish body, mind and spirit at the beautiful, peaceful Ak'bol Yoga Retreat Center and Eco resort on the tropical island of Ambergris Caye. Belize (the former British Honduras) is located in Central America and is about five hours from Chicago via plane. English is commonly spoken, and the dollar is widely accepted. The peaceful cultural melting pot of Belize is home to unspoiled beaches and jungles as well as the second largest barrier reef in the world. We will practice yoga twice a day on an exquisitely handcrafted platform at the end of a pier, surrounded by the Caribbean Sea.

Dance X BZ Cayo
The 2017 Belize Dance X will be performing at the Cayo Welcome Center this Friday, starting at 8:00pm. There will be local and international dance troupes performing. This free event is perfect for the entire family. "Performing: Belizean Heat - Cayo, Gen-Ex - Cayo, Faith Nazarene - Cayo, Dwayne Murillo - Belize City, Western Masqueraders - Cayo, DK Flix - Cayo, Teatro de la Danza del Caribe - Cuba, The Astor Johnson Repertory Dance Theatre - Trinidad."

Calling for Belizean Artists to submit their Original Art Pieces!
Once again, the Museum of Belize is proud to invite its 2nd Call for Artists- Art submission for our talented Belizean Artists. We are requesting for artists to submit three (3) pieces of their original artwork, to be displayed in our new art exhibition on December 12th, 2017. Pieces should be no bigger than 24 inches by 36 inches, and must be submitted by Friday, December 8th, 2017. Artwork does not need to be theme-based, but must be family appropriate content. For more information, contact Ilona Smiling at ilona.smiling@nichbelize.org or Yusleidy Chan at yusleidy.chan@nichbelize.org. You could reach them at 223-4524.

Belizean Rowan Garel as a Caribbean Ambassador for Adventure
Oceana Belize is proud to support the nomination of Belizean Rowan Garel as a Caribbean Ambassador for Adventure. This young man continues to prove that nothing should stop us from exploring our beautiful Belize.

Caye Caulker Environmental Awareness
A list of restaurants and tour boats that use biodegradable take-out containers and refill water bottles:

Corozal Sports Council District Sports Coordinators Serious and Committed to take NSC Primary School Sports Program to the next Level
We visited 15 Rural Schools today Wednesday 22nd November 2017 from Chen Chen Government to Buena Vista RC as school Principals opens their school doors to discuss our sporting tournaments together with their Sports Coordinators,this effort has been very successful. Tomorrow we continue visiting the Town Schools. Play-Exel- Participate-Special thanks to all schools Principals and Education Officer Corozal Mrs Velma Godoy.

Corozal Cleanup, Saturday November 25th
Public Announcement - The Corozal Daily, Corozal Junior College Eagles' Environmental Club, Oceana Wavemakers and our Centro Escolar Mexico Junior College are joining their efforts this Saturday November 25th, for another Water Cleanup to make our Corozal Bay cleaner, more attractive, healthier and safer. We are expecting over 50 responders. This is an open invitation to the entire community so please join us. If you have a kayak and wish to join us kindly do so. If you can't participate but have a kayak that you would like to lend us, kindly call us at 602-2126 and we will personally pick it up one day prior. You can also inbox us your message through this media platform and we will respond. We would also appreciate if you can bring one trash bag. We will be meeting at the foot of the Thunderbolt Dock at 8:00 a.m. and will carry on until 12:00 noon. Come out this Saturday November 25th and join this incredible effort to keep our town safe and clean! Snacks and juice will be given. You Better Belize It!

Celebration of Maya and Garifuna Cultures through the streets of Louisville Village, Corozal District
Always proud of our heritage. The beauty and true treasures of Belize is that all culture reside harmoniously and respectfully with each other. Courtesy Adela Pederson.

Attention to all Corozal Hoteliers
The Belize Hotel Association is hosting its Bi-Annual General Meeting on December 5, 2017 at the Banyan Bay Suites in San Pedro Ambergris Caye. You are cordially invited to hear about the BHA's activities over the current membership year, and the exciting projects scheduled for the upcoming months! Dynamic Guest Speakers ! Kindly RSVP via email to membership@belizehotels.org or call us at 223-0669.

Staff of (ESTM) Escuela Mexico Secundaria Tecnica Mexico robbed of over $8,600.00
According to reports, yesterday around 3:25 p.m., twenty two year old William Mendoza working as the finance assistant at Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico reported to police that about 2:30 p.m., he left school with principal, seventy three year old Carlos Castillo, of Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico to make a bank deposit in a Navy Blue Ford F150. Mendoza told police that upon reaching miles 77 on the Philip Goldson Highway while he was heading to Corozal Town, the vehicle started to experience mechanical problems so they pulled off the road to check the vehicle’s engine. Mendoza said that while he was checking the engine, an unknown man held a machete to his neck and demanded cash.

Attention to all Corozal Tourism stakeholders
The Belize Tourism Industry Association is cordially inviting you to our 32nd Annual General Meeting to be held on December 7, 2017. Key items on the agenda will include the following: -ED Yearly Report -Presentation on 2018 Birding Festival - 2018/2019 Destination Belize Presentation Brunch -Elections of 1st Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer

Artists in the Park 2017
Pictures from the Artists in the Park 2017. Great art, and some rock and roll in the evening from Ascenthium. In related news, The 7th annual Cayo Art Fest will be on Saturday, December 9th, and the CWC. "The CAYO Welcome Center was happening yesterday for the 2017 Art Fest. Ascenthium rocked the park, once again. During the day, there were many different artists from around Cayo and Belize displaying their art. Thanks, San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Council for yet another spectacular event at the CWC!"

HONORING BELIZEAN FOOTBALLER STEPHEN "CUPCAKES" FLORES OF "QUEENS PARK RANGERS"!
Belizean football player of the 1960s "Queens Park Rangers" Stephen "Cupcakes" Flores was honored on Saturday November 18, 2017 at the "Belizean Legends" studios in Los Angeles by the "Belizean American Football Hall of Fame". Flores who is seen here in the middle of the photo and third from the left, played forward as well as other parts of the field for the legendary football team of Belize in the 1960s, "Queens Park Rangers". He left Belize in 1964 where in lived in the states for the rest of his life. He was also a policeman in his hometown of Dangriga, Belize, and played on the police football team. The honor bestowed upon him by BAFHF as one of those legendary Belizean football players from one of the greatest football teams of Belize, came in a series of honors that the Belizean football hall of fame organization is spearheading.

Garifuna Settlement Day in Belize City
Lots of great photos....

Channel 7

Another 90 Mil: Crushing and Costly Defeat for GOB at CCJ
90 million more - that's how much the Government of Belize will have to pay the Ashcroft Alliance - after losing another huge case at the Caribbean Court of Justice today. But this time, it has nothing to do with compensation for BTL. This one goes all the way back to 2004, when then Prime Minister Said Musa gave Universal Health Services a secret government guarantee for 35 million dollars in private debt owed to the Belize Bank. When they couldn't pay, the Government guarantee kicked in, and the Musa Administration then came up with a loan note to use public funds to cover the private debt. That was in 2007 - but when the UDP won, they refused to honor it - saying the undertaking to use public funds was made without Parliament's approval and that made it unlawful. But, in 2013, the London Court of International Arbitration held that the Loan note was valid and gave the Belize Bank an award of 37 million dollars.

Hon. Elrington: Judgement Marks Sad Day For Country
Speaking about the CCJ decision today, former Attorney General Wilfred Elrington said that it is a sad day for the country: Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs: "Whenever we get judgments of that type it makes it that much more difficult for us to provide for the people of Belize the badly needed goods and services that we so depend on. We are already such an impoverished country most Belizeans don't understand the extent to which we as a nation rely on grants and loans just to survive from day to day when you get a decision of this type it will ultimately have a devastating impact on the ordinary poor Belizean citizen. It is a shame that these things are happening. It is a sad day for the country when you get decision of this type given against."

Making Deadly Bridge Safer In The Aftermath of Four Traffic Fatalities
The public outcry was not ignored: Belmopan Police along with private contractors and the Ministry of Works have teamed up to upgrade the safety features, and renovate the deadly St. Margret's bridge. Works have already started to make both approaches to the mile 31 Hummingbird Highway bridge safer for drivers. Belmopan police say that reflective stickers will be placed on the bridge and the Ministry of Works will install guard rails at the approach of the bridge. CISCO construction says that they installed reflective stickers and other safety features in and around the bridge before, but vandals would remove the stickers and dump safety drums into the river.

Contraband Area in Coro Stays Hot: Man Caught with Weed
Tonight Corozal police are holding a man pending charges of drug trafficking after customs caught him with 20 pounds of marijuana. Early this morning, a customs patrol team was back in that area of "Estero" - which is a contraband river crossing near the village of Patchakan in Corozal North. At around 6:30, they intercepted a vehicle coming from the riverside landing. When he saw Customs, the driver of the Geo Prizm tried to reverse - and the passenger jumped out and threw a large object in the bush.

UDP Area Rep Doesn't Defend Busted Brother
Now that "Estero" contraband passing point is the very same area where customs caught Edgar Patt on Monday with a contraband stash. The stash valued at a thousand dollars was unremarkable, but the near riot by the Pachakan villagers made news. They pelted the customs officers with pints and rocks - and so customs charged Patt - and is seeking to fine him twenty thousand dollars. They're doing this to set an example because of the way the villagers acted. But how does that make his brother feel? We're talking about the area representative, UDP Minister Hugo Patt. Today he told CTV-3 that Customs has to do its job:.. Hon. Hugo Pat, Corozal North Area Rep.: "I am not in a position to respond to that. It is my brother who was caught, but if there is anything that needs to be responded to or any questions that need to be as a consequence it would be him. Personally I do my work and if you want to question my credibility politically, you can check the people from Corozal North and I prefer them to give you the answers on myself."

ACP Broaster Wasn't Talking About Pachakan Showdown
And, in a clarification of last night's news on that same Pachakan incident - we had comment from Police Commander of Operations Edward Broaster. We described the event in detail - explaining how customs had to call police for backup - but Broaster said there was really no confrontation. Well, it turns out he was talking about another weekend contraband bust Police made in Corozal. That involved One white Isuzu trooper which the cops stopped at a hundred yards from the junction of San Antonio and Yo Creek road. Police saw that it was loaded with contraband beers and the occupants along with the vehicle were escorted to the customs office. Customs counted the beers and found more than two dozen cases of canned Corona beer and 5 cases of bottled beers.

Answers on What Those Clueless Kaibiles Were Doing in Belize
Finally, tonight there are some answers about that incident we told you about last week where 4 Guatemalan soldiers and two media persons came over to the Belize side of the western border and were walking around without permission. Today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is also the police minister said it should be interpreted as intimidating behaviour: Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs: "I was told that there was a visit by the Guatemalan military in the vicinity of the border but I didn't get the part that it was done in an intimidating way. The report I got was that they were spoken to by our police personnel and after that they withdrew." Courtney Weatherburne, reporter: "But is that usual, is that something normal to come over and do their own tour?" Hon. Wilfred Elrington: "I do not know the extent to which they came across if they did come across but we are neighboring countries and they must have some good reason why they want to be able to show what is the situation between us and them and I gather they were along with some journalists so it very well might have been an innocent expedition where they simply wanted to show the journalists what is the situation along the border with Belize."

PUP Women's Group Bashes The Cops
And keeping it on police matters, the PUP Women's group has spoken up to blast the cops for their loose language at yesterday's press briefing. A release says, quote, "It has been over a week since 2 women alleged that while in police custody at the Independence Police Station, they were raped by 3 police officers. Gang rape is a serious allegation yet the officers accused remain on active duty. (There) is a strong suggestion (by police) that it was not rape, something that the police are not in a position to say. The women's arm of the People's United Party condemns in the strongest possible terms the irresponsible and unprofessional manner in which this allegation of gang rape by police authorities is being handled." end quote.

Another (Much Smaller) Pinks Alley Fire
Pinks Alley in the Fort George area of Belize City witnessed an epic fire in March of this year that left more than 50 people homeless. And yesterday, all that trauma came back when there was a fire at an apartment in the Alley. Fortunately, this one was much smaller and easily contained. Bu there's nothing easy about it for the family that got burned out. We spoke to the family about what happened. Sahar Vasquez reports: Yesterday afternoon before 2:00, Heston Young left his 2 children and wife at his apartment on Pinks Alley for a court appearance. But when he returned a fire was being put out at his apartment. A shocked and frightened Young scanned the yard and thankfully found his family standing outside. They were safe, but Young does not understand how this could have happened. The only conclusion he can come to is arson.

Sol. Gen. Before Senate Select
At the top of the news, you saw our interview with Solicitor General Nigel Hawke where he was speaking about the judgement from the Caribbean Court of Justice. Well, right after that court appearance in Belize City, he had to rush to Belmopan to appear as a witness in the 40th session of the Senate Hearings on Immigration. Now, Hawke wasn't in the hot seat. The senators only wanted his professional opinions on several different issues, as the lead administrator in the Attorney General's Ministry. This afternoon, he testified for an hour about the legal implications of some of the findings of the Auditor General. They asked him about those ill- gotten nationalities, and who in the Immigration Ministry is to be held accountable for the numerous cases of persons getting Belizean citizenship that they were not entitled to.

Can Dubious Nationalities Be Revoked?
So, since these persons holding nationality that they were not entitled to, the Senate also asked him about the process of revocation, and what would have to happen if and when this Committee makes that recommendation at the end of these hearings. He said that it will be the responsibility of the Director of Immigration, the Minister of Immigration, and the CEO to follow through: Eamon Courtenay - Senator for the Opposition: "Persons who have nationality, there is a list of about 2,000 people who, we've had testimonies, that they were irregularly granted nationalities. First of all, what is the process for revoking those nationalities?"

Revocation Raises The Prospect Of Stateless Persons
So, as you just heard, Senator Courtenay based his question on the premise that there may be persons who got nationality in the run-up to the 2012 Elections, who did not qualify. That's an important issue for the Opposition, which is convinced that in that rush, UDP politicians helped new voters who did not qualify for citizenship to get nationality in time for the elections. Since that revelation in January, where Former Immigration Director Ruth Meighan confirmed it in her testimony, the PUP have been pushing for the mass cancelation of those nationalities. There is still the question about those over 2,000 new Belizeans who got their nationalities in that time, and the Auditor General has recommended that this list be investigated to ensure that they properly qualified. Now, the current Director of Immigration was hesitant to go ahead and cancel those nationalities. She was concerned about the possibility that they may become stateless, since they had to denounce their citizenship to their birth country in order to swear in as new Belizeans.

Can PSC Get Some Teeth?
And finally from today's hearing, the Senate asked the Solicitor General for his opinion on whether heads of the different government departments can discipline public officers who are guilty of wrongdoing. The Sol Gen agreed that improvements need be made. Here's how he explained it: Nigel Hawke - Solicitor General: "I think at a general level, and I can perhaps take some blame for it as the officer solicitor general, I think what needs to happen is a lot more institutional training and the building of capacity in two instances even in relation to training for the commissioners or the public services commission in terms of the protocols that should be adopted, how cases and hearings should be conducted, and also more importantly public officers presenting cases before the commission. I've seen some instances where unfortunately you had a person who is bringing the case before the commission also presenting the case and that is a strict no-no. So, I think we all have to play a part and I would take some of the blame in the sense where we need to get to a level where I think if we are able to lift our level of capacity building and training I think we can get there."

Motorbike Passenger Critical After Accident
A man is reported to be in critical condition after he was knocked off a motorcycle today in Dangriga town. It happened at around 2:45 at the corner of George Price Drive and Ecumenical Drive. According to reports, Antonio Flores was turning out of Ecumenical into George Price Drive when he hit an oncoming Skygo motorbike carrying two persons. 20 year old Kayen Kerr and 17 year old Henry Thomas were flung to the pavement. Thomas was seriously injured and had to be rushed to the KHMH. Kerr is in stable condition at the Southern Regional Hospital. Flores has been served with a notice of intended prosecution.

Principal Robbed on Roadside
The principal of Escuela Secundaria Tecnica in Corozal was robbed in a frightening afternoon hold up. Yesterday around 3:25 Principal Carlos Castillo along with Finance Assistant William Mendoza went to deposit money in the bank. But they had some vehicle trouble along the way and pulled over between miles 77 and 78 on the Phillip Goldson Highway. That's when a man approached them with a machete and held them up. He hit Mendoza in the back of his head with the machete threatened to chop him. He fled with the principal's cell phone and the deposit bag with $8,667 dollars. The money was for the school cafeteria.

Richards Family Says Cops Not Helping
Tomorrow will make one week since 83-year-old Hubert Richards has been missing. The family has been searching tirelessly for their loved one and today after another long search they were feeling more than frustrated due to what they say is the lack of assistance from police. Now, this contradicts what police told us yesterday when they said that they were working with the family. This evening they told us that's not so, and they are making a plea for help from the authorities as the number of days increase. Sheri Richards, Granddaughter: "We've been coordinating with the investigating officer. He's been putting out the information. However, it's like the other police departments have not been working on the information received."

UNICEF, Taking Stock
Today UNICEF held its annual end of year review at the Biltmore. It was an all-day event highlighting the work they have done for 2017. The main objective like any review is to evaluate the effectiveness of their programs and to see how they can improve next year. Here's more. Susan Kasedde, UNICEF Country Rep.: "Today we are holding our annual review meeting with our partners. Every year of our country program, UNICEF intends to hold a consultative session with our partners in government, civil society, and the UN system and beyond to reflect on the commitments we made in support of children's health and development in Belize and the progress we have made towards those commitments and so today we will spend the entire day hearing some of the results that have been achieved in 3 areas: in child rights monitoring and reducing multidimensional poverty , in access to justice and safety and violence prevention and in the area of lifelong learning."

Making Marketing Work At UB
Almost any product you could think of was featured at this year's University of Belize marketing Expo. Food, drinks desserts even furniture - you could pretty much decorate your living room, if you shopped around at the Expo. We stopped by the Princess Hotel to see the creative business ideas the students came up with. For the Most creative product category Woodbrite Furniture came in first, second place went to Tropical Walk - they re- created sandals from recycled materials, and third place went to Kash U, Cum Up. There was another category with winners as well.

OW, Tacos Town
Orange Walk is where Belizeans go to get the best tacos in the land, and, tonight we'll declare that instead of Sugar City, that place should be called Tacos Town. And, if you have any doubts, try going there on Sunday for the annual tacos takeover. It's the 6th annual tacos fest, where vendors will serve up any kind of meat that can be wrapped in a tortilla. One of the organizers shared more about the highly anticipated event. Robert Usher, Event Organizer: "We will be having chicken tacos, beef tacos, seafood tacos. We will also be having tacos el pastor. The tacos that go around and the meat is turning around and you can cut it and drop it and make your tacos quick. They have the cochinita pibil that they put under the ground. They also have special from August Pine Ridge. They make their tacos right there and they make the tortilla with their hands. That is a ver y special part of the tacos festival as well. We have over 20 vendors that registered so we will have a lot of tacos."

Fodor's Bigs Up Belize
There is great news coming out of the tourism industry: Belize is featured on Fodor's Travel Go list 2018 as the 10th best place to visit. There are 52 countries on the list. Fodors is a prestigious travel guide that features some of the best destinations in the world.

Channel 5

C.C.J. Orders Belize Bank Payment for U.H.S.; Resistance is Futile
The Barrow administration has been dealt yet another crippling blow by the Caribbean Court of Justice, after losing an appeal in respect of a long-drawn-out matter involving the defunct Universal [...]

Costs from Arbitration Rose Due to Government ‘Obstinacy’
According to Courtenay, a letter will be forwarded to government later this week requesting payment.  Should there be no response or a refusal to pay the outstanding debt, a certificate [...]

G.O.B. Disappointed, Still Insists Deal Was Corrupt
Solicitor General Nigel Hawke appeared on behalf of government and was first to express disappointment with the CCJ’s verdict.  While he is awaiting further instructions, the Sol Gen maintains that [...]

Vindication for Ex-P.M. Musa in U.H.S. Affair
The source of the lengthy proceedings is former Prime Minister Said Musa, whose administration back in 2004 entered into an agreement by signing a loan note between the Belize Bank [...]

Musa Says Taiwan & Venezuela Grants Would Have Settled Debt
According to Musa, the matter had been settled during his term in office and that government had indeed received funding from Taiwan and Venezuela that would have cleared the debt. [...]

Belize Bank Says It’s All Over; U.S. Refused Hearing on Enforcement
Late this evening, the Belize Bank also issued a press release on the decision, stating, “In its judgment today, the CCJ granted permission to the Bank to enforce the L.C.I.A. [...]

Associate of Late Michelle Anison Disputes Portrayal of Her Character
Are police any closer to cracking the murder case of Michelle Anison? The decomposing body of the British expat was discovered in her apartment on Perez Road, Ladyville last Friday; [...]

Children’s Home Devastated by Loss of ‘Humanitarian’
The murder of Anison has left the staff and children at Liberty Children’s Home traumatized. Director Valentine says that persons have been brought in to counsel them; she also describes [...]

Plans in Train to Revoke Nationalities in 2012 Rush, SolGen Reveals
Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay and Solicitor General Nigel Hawke were on opposite sides of the bar in a different forum this afternoon, specifically at the National Assembly in Belmopan where [...]

Fixing the Guatemala Conundrum
The other legal opinion has to do with clarifying the status of Guatemalan nationals renouncing their citizenship in order to become Belizeans. The process of granting nationality to Guatemalans has [...]

Review on Whether Marriage Makes One a Belizean
Also questioned was the matter of nationality through marriage to a Belizean. As seen in the case of Peter Dahlstrom, section eleven of the Nationality Act requires persons registering to [...]

Ministerial Influence Not Necessary; Will Immigration Minister Do Something?
And finally from the Senate Special Select Committee tonight, Solicitor General Nigel Hawke addressed the issue of ministerial responsibility and alleged interference in the Department through direct instructions and recommendations [...]

Cisco, Works Move In to Address Site of Fatal Accidents on Hummingbird
If you traveled along the Hummingbird Highway today, you may have noticed some ongoing works at a bridge between miles thirty-one and thirty-two – the very same spot where four [...]

Chamber, Unions Say Lower Fuel Taxes
Can more be done to stabilize and reduce fuel prices? Despite the best promises of Prime Minister Dean Barrow after a series of cruel spikes between August and early October, [...]

Education the Key as First Anniversary of UNCAC Approaches
Belize is coming up on the one-year anniversary of the signing and accession to the United Nations Convention against Corruption on December ninth, World Anti-Corruption Day. The government devoted a [...]

Dialogue Continues on Re-Introduction of OSH Bill
What’s happened to the Occupational Safety and Health Bill, which would address working conditions for all employees countrywide? In October, Prime Minister Dean Barrow stated that he had no update [...]

C.W.U. on the Move – S.S.B., Stevedores Could Get CBA’s for Christmas
Earlier this year, two bargaining units affiliated with the Christian Workers Union – employees of Social Security Board and stevedores working at the Port of Belize – engaged in high-profile [...]

U.B. Doing Business in Belize City
The annual marketing expo organized by the University of Belize was held today at the Ramada Belize City Princess where thirty-five innovative business ideas came to fruition. News Five’s Duane [...]

Red Cross Building Up River Valley Communities
The Belize Red Cross is enhancing capacity and building resiliency in sixteen communities in the Belize District. The Belize Red Cross has ongoing assessments in communities to identify gaps and [...]

Ladyville Mom Has New House for Christmas
A deserving mother of three children was the lucky recipient of a house in the Lord’s Bank community, just in time for the upcoming Christmas season. Taralee Burgess and her [...]

Orange Walk is Tacos Central this Weekend
The seventh annual tacos festival is this weekend. On Sunday, Orange Walk will come together to celebrate the tacos. A staple of the Orange Walk food and culture scene, organizers [...]

LOVE FM

CCJ orders GOB to pay over Eighty Million Dollars
The Caribbean Court of Justice has overturned the decision of the Belize Court of Appeal and ordered Government to pay the Belize Bank in excess of eighty million dollars plus cost. The case date back to 2004 when the Said Musa led government signed as guarantor for a loan agreement between the Belize Bank and […]

Elrington comments on the Illegal entry of Guatemalans
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed today that four Guatemalan Military Kaibil soldiers along with three Guatemalan journalists illegally entered Belize. The incident occurred on Friday, November 17 and a statement from the Ministry says that quote, “Belizean Police Officers, stationed in the vicinity of the border, approached the Kaibil who were at the “Welcome […]

Should Born Guatemalans be allowed to vote in Belize Guatemala Referendum?
The illegal entry of the four Guatemalan soldiers and three Guatemalan journalists can be interpreted as either an honest mistake or a daring move to get the story. However, Belize law enforcement officers made sure that they returned to their side of the border. This is not the first and will not be the last […]

IMF addresses Belize’s Correspondent Banking Problem
Belize was one of the Caribbean countries that was most affected after two-thirds of its correspondent banking relationships was lost in 2015 and 2016. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has decided to assist countries like Belize to recover. This commitment was expressed by IMF’s Managing Director Christine Lagarde who said that some progress had been […]

Family escape from Burning House
Dawn Hijinio, her common-law husband Eston Young and their two children live at #10 Pinks Alley in Belize City. Yesterday, Young left home to attend a court hearing, leaving his common-law-wife and their two children at home sleeping. Love News spoke with Dawn Hijinio who said that it was a scary moment when she was […]

Minister of Foreign Affairs was in Taiwan on Official Business
Last week, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wilfred Elrington, was in the Republic of China (Taiwan) on a working visit. There he met with the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Dr. Tsai Ing-wen and his counterpart, Dr. David Lee. On his way back, Minister Elrington met with members of the Belize diaspora in the […]

UNICEF holds Workshop
The United Nations Children’s Fund gathered its partners to hold a one day workshop for its annual end of year review of its programmes in Belize. The forum was Co-Chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington who moderated the discussions surrounding UNICEF’s tremendous amount of work done in Belize for the attainment of the […]

UB holds Tenth Annual Marketing Expo
Today, the University of Belize held its tenth annual Marketing Expo at the Ramada Princess Hotel and Casino where the students got the opportunity to display products that they developed as a class project for their course. There was a total of thirty-five booths. The students’ booths were judged on two categories, namely, most creative product […]

Men held up and robbed on Highway
Police in Corozal are investigating the armed robbery of two employees of Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico. Twenty-two-year-old Finance Assistant, William Mendoza, reported to police that at around 3:25 pm yesterday, he left the school compound with the principal, 73-year-old Carlos Castillo, en route to deposit monies at a bank in Corozal Town. According to Mendoza, […]

Reflectors installed on Bridge after Accidents
Reflectors on the south and north approaches of the one-lane bridge between miles 31 and 32 on the Hummingbird Highway have been installed. After the accidents on the bridge that claimed four lives this past weekend, Belmopan Police contacted Cisco Construction for assistance in putting up signs and markers. We understand that the Ministry of […]

Tropic Air Flight 3073 a Total Loss
Last Friday Tropic Air flight 3073 was forced to land in the sea after the wheel clipped the top of a SUV that was on the road at the Placencia Airstrip. The flight was departing from the airstrip at approximately 8:55 in the morning en route to Punta Gorda. The Cessna Caravan aircraft came into […]

Breaking Belize News

Police Disrespect of Women on Claims of Rape
The United Women’s Group (UWG), the women’s arm of the People’s United Party (PUP), today issued a […]

Belize responds to Guatemalan journalists and soldiers that crossed over into Belize illegally
Last Friday BBN reported on a Guatemalan media crew and some Guatemalan soldiers who strolled […]

Finance assistant at Escuela Mexico robbed of almost $9000
Yesterday around 3:25 pm, William Mendoza, 22, the finance assistant at Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico reported to […]

Gunman robbed north side residents of jewelry and possession
Cops on north side Belize City are busy investigating a case of aggravated burglary. According […]

Woman loses her home in Majestic Alley fire
Pinks Alley in Belize City, the base of the notorious Majestic Alley gang, was the […]

Man busted with weed in his pocket
A San Pedro resident has been charged with the offense of drug trafficking. Police say […]

Police find weed in PVC pipes
San Pedro police have taken almost 700 grams of weed off their streets in an […]

Labor Minister’s brother busted with contraband
Police confirmed yesterday that a contraband bust involving Edgar Patt, the brother of Labor Minister […]

BDF hosts training with international partners
The Ministry of Defense informed that the Belize Defense Force (BDF) is conducting a joint […]

Belize to pay $88 Million for UHS loan guarantee
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), this morning, overturned a ruling by Belize’s Court of […]

DPM Faber explains absence from Garifuna Settlement Day ceremony
Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber, in an interview with the media this week, responded to […]

Belize ranking drops on Ease of Doing Business Index
Belize’s ranking on the Ease of Doing Business Index prepared by the World Bank Group, […]

Blogs

Belize is #10 on Fodor’s Travel List
Out of 52 countries on Fodor’s 2018 Travel list, Belize has landed on the number 10 spot! The Central American/Caribbean country continues to grow and is clearly a viable, must-visit destination. Fodor’s describes Belize as “full of rich history, rewarding explorations, and natural beauty ….part Caribbean and part Central America, Belize feels untouched by the rest of the planet, making it seem like a true getaway… For 80 years, Fodor’s Travel has been a trusted resource offering expert travel advice for every stage of a traveler’s trip. They hire local writers who know their destinations better than anyone else.

So Much to be Thankful for On Ambergris Caye
Thanksgiving is tomorrow. I have a friend visiting Belize…we are all making turkey legs, sweet potatoes, (canned) cranberry sauce and stuffing tomorrow. Also, since we are in Belize, we will add in ham and rice and beans – both crucial parts of any holiday meal in this country. She is going out diving to the Blue Hole (an amazing experience) and then DINNER! You can go diving and eat your turkey too on Ambergris Caye in November. For just that, I am thankful.

Travel essentials for Belize
Hospital public and private hospitals are available.. Hospital are located in urban areas of the country. Rural areas are equipped with medical clinics and nurse practitioners. What to Bring in Belize: With crystal blue waters, a short flight from the U.S. and English as its official language, Belize is the best of both worlds — central American culture and beaches paired with relative traveling ease. My husband and I picked Belize as our honeymoon spot for those exact reasons, knowing that we would need a mental break after months of hectic planning. That’s exactly what we got: endless hours spent in hammocks or reading on a dock mixed with day trips snorkeling, tubing and exploring ruins.

“Don’t Get Me Wrong ” when away from San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.
Now where was I ? Oh, that’s right, in a taxi in Nicaragua heading from Léon to Granada. We’d been told that the taxi ride would take around 90 minutes but this proved to be far from accurate. It actually took around 130 minutes, but there’s no doubt that the heavy rain that we experienced for a good part of the journey did slow things somewhat. The time passed quickly though (what an inane comment that is ie time is time ) because there was lots to see as we passed through village after village, most of them serving farming communities. We knew that we were nearly there when in front of us we saw the Horse Carriage Monument . I’d love to be able to include a photo but we were moving too fast. Or did I move too slow ? Now I know that I’m a little ( massive understatement here) biased but I think it was the former.

WHAT IS GARIFUNA SETTLEMENT DAY?
Every November Belizeans all over the country, no matter their color or heritage, take one day to indulge in the rich festivities, music, and food of the Garinagu People. Garifuna Settlement Day: On November 19th, 1802 the first boats carrying the first Garinagu people landed on Belizean shores. The people were escaping slavery plantations from Caribbean islands such St. Vincent, and with them they brought a wealth of culture, languages, music, clothing, and food. A culture so strong, it still lives strong generations later. The Garinagu people are a priceless contribution to Belizean society and have been a huge influence on several other cultures, even influencing a national public and bank holiday to celebrate their arrival on the 19th November every year. The Garifuna language is a mix of Arawakan, Caribbean and European languages, particularly French, English and Spanish. The language is spoken throughout Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua having come from St. Vincent to Honduras and spread through the neighboring countries.

Thanksgiving in Belize isn't that different...
As for why Belize celebrates Thanksgiving, I am not certain if it is due to the influence of American television or religion, but I believe it may be the latter. I say this because as a kid I remember having to go to church on Thanksgiving Sunday, and it was a big deal. Interestingly, everyone gave special offerings on that day, as a way to show God that we were grateful for our blessings received throughout the year – kids would take a small basket of fruit, and adults would take homemade baked goods. At the end of the sermon, the items would be sold back to the congregation. Lol I always looked forward to the baked goods of Tia Dodi, her pies were the bomb dot com.

International Sources

HELP BELIZE'S ROWAN GAREL BECOME THE CARIBBEAN ADVENTURE AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR!
As part of the programme of activities for the Caribbean Year of Adventure, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) has been featuring people who display the spirit of adventure as Caribbean adventure ambassadors. Now it is your turn to determine the Caribbean adventure ambassador of the year by voting for your favourite ambassador. There will be two voting rounds. The first round will begin on Friday 17 November at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Caribbean Time (11:00 p.m. EST on Thursday 16 November) and ends at 11:59 pm Pacific Time on Saturday 25 November.

Jamaican Soldiers In Belize For Joint Military Training
Security forces from Jamaica, Canada and the United States are participating in joint military training exercise that ends at month end, the Belize Ministry of Defence announced Wednesday. It said that the Belize Defence Force is also participating in the joint military training exercise code-named 'Tropical Dagger' and will end on November 30. “The aim of this training is to enhance interoperability, operational readiness and effectiveness within partner nations. The areas of focus during the month-long training are both conventional and non-conventional tactics including combating terrorism and fighting transnational organised crimes,” the Ministry of Defence said.

Former Murrieta teacher donates 20,000 books to students in Belize, plans to send 100,000 more
Three years ago, Mandy Themm traveled to Punta Gorda, Belize, with her parents and family to help the rural fishing village. What they found was what the community needed most were books and school supplies for the children. After spending months gathering books from friends, the former elementary teacher sent 20,000 books to Belize. She is in the process of sending 100,000 more. “When we went into the classrooms and saw the lack of books, there were about 20-25 kids with so few books,” Themm said. “In the US we have an abundance, so I decided that I would come back and help.” Themm asked fellow teachers to donate books they no longer needed and within a month she had amassed 4,000 books. This past year, the Murrieta Valley Unified School district donated thousands of k-5 books. The books continued to come in and Themm needed a place to store them. Fortunately, a friend donated a house on property where two rooms are filled with donations. Themm currently has 5,000 books in her garage and two storage units for all the supplies.

Meet the Turkey's Glamorous Mexican Cousin
It's nearly Thanksgiving for American folk which means that everyone is talking turkey on their turf, but these birds are more than just a holiday tradition. From elaborate courtship displays to flying, here are some surprising facts you may not have known about the dinnertime favourite. The wild turkey has six subspecies and a glamorous cousin from Central America. What better time than Thanksgiving to meet the whole family? Male ocellated turkeys, which range throughout Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, sports copper and emerald feathers and a blue face. Female feathers are more subdued. “What a gorgeous bird,” says Bob Mulvihill of the National Aviary in Pittsburgh. The term ocellated comes from the eyespot pattern on its tail, explains Mulvihill—ocella means "small eyes" in Latin. Males will fan these fancy feathers to impress females. (See our favourite pictures of turkeys for Thanksgiving.)

Videos

November 22, 2017

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Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Ambergris Caye joins in the celebration of the Garifuna Settlement Day
Island residents joined thousands of Belizeans home and abroad, during the 2017 Garifuna Settlement Day Celebrations on Sunday, November 19th. The event honoring the arrival of the Garifnagu people to Belize in the 1800’s was held under the theme ‘Lidan Nei Uarani Awanseruni… Mabuleida Wamei (Progress Lies in Unity… Always Remember It). The San Pedro Branch of the National Garifuna Council (NGC) held several activities, including cultural presentations, drumming and the re-enactment of the arrival also known as Yuruemein. Early on Sunday, November 19th, residents and visitors gathered in front of the beach by the Central Park to witness the traditional ‘Yurumein,’ a dramatization of the arrival of the Garifuna to Belize. Despite an unprecedented rain, the re-enactment was a success with two boats arriving on the beach to cheerful singing and drumming. After disembarking, the group attended a short blessing mass hosted by Pastor Scott of the San Pedro Roman Catholic Church. Immediately after, a parade took place through the main streets of downtown San Pedro.

Ambergris Today

Canadian National Critically Injured In Caye Caulker Boat Collision
On Friday, November 17, 2017, at about 9:50p.m., police visited the Caye Caulker Polyclinic where they observed Canadian National, Guy Cooter Smith, 61 years old, in an unconscious state suffering from a small cut wound to his right elbow. Initial police investigation revealed that about 9:45 p.m., Smith and his son Cooter Smith, 19 years old, were in a dinghy in the sea without light or reflectors when a boat belonging to KokoKing Beach accidentally collided into their dinghy. Guy was admitted at KHMH in a critical condition. Police are Investigating.

Children's Day Celebrated With Fun Activities
“Children of Today; Our Keepers of Tomorrow” - Under this theme Children’s Day 2017 was celebrated in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, with schools organizing a week full of activities for children to have fun with their peers and parents. To kick off the week of activities, at the San Pedro Roman Catholic School, they held a Skipping Rope Day where all of the children had to participate in this fun-filled activity. Parents were invited to do arts and crafts such as piggy banks, cute monsters, clothes pin arts and Christmas decorations along with the children. They also part took in games that had them laughing all afternoon long as their inner child came out. Lime and Spoon, Sack Race and Balloon Toss were just some of the games students, teachers and students played.

Robbery Reported At Local Cell Phone Shop
San Pedro Police are investigating a robbery that took place at Procell Store located on Sea Grape Street, south of San Pedro Town. Owner of the store, Gladys Adelita Cortez, reported that while she was in her store attending to a customer, two male persons entered and stole items to a total value of $3,150.00Bze.

Misc Belizean Sources

Government of Belize Provides Educational Opportunities for Over 300 Students in Corozal
An Official Ceremony to inaugurate Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLOG) Primary R.C. School Extension and new Pre-school building will be held on the school’s compound in Altamira Village, Corozal at 10 a.m. on November 22nd, 2017. This is as a result of the Government of Belize recognizing the critical role of education for social, economic, cultural, environmental and political development, by way of empowering future leaders with knowledge, skills, and values to enhance Belize’s socio-economic development. The Government has funded the completion of Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLOG) Primary R.C. School Extension project and Pre-school building courtesy of a grant of $1.2 million BZ dollars from the Caribbean Development Bank under the Basic Needs Trust Fund, BNTF7’s Education & Human Resource Development Sector with counterpart funding from Government.

CRS Under 10 defeated Bacadia Warriors
TEAM - Together Everyone Achieve More, That's what CRS is about. CRS Under 10 defeated Bacadia Warriors is the first leg of home and away 3 goals to nil and in the second game Bacadia didn't show up so we won by default and now awaits d finals. Then the rivalry games between CRS and Czl Invaders. In the first of two games, CRS demolished Czl Invaders 3 to 1 and in the second game drew 3 to 3, so CRS moves on to the finals while Invaders have to settle to play for third place. Big up to all CRS players, fans, Coaches and supports. God Bless.

Miss Debs at Consejo Just For Fun Golf Tournament
Sat Feb 17 2018 at 11:00 am, Consejo Shores Limited, Corozal Belize, #8 Wavesongs lane, Consejo Shores

METAL MAYHEM 2017
Presale tickets available at Scotty's Bar and Grill, 1st avenue beachside, Corozal Town or call 6204726. Presale price $10.00. Price at the door $15.00. Saturday, December 16 at 9 PM - 1 AM

Power outage scheduled for entire Corozal District on Sunday, November 26 from 6:00am to 2:00pm
BEL to replace transmission and distribution poles, replace insulators, install load break switch, and reconfigure the new system on Corozal Blvd. (7th Avenue)

Water outage Wednesday for parts of San Pedro
Belize Water Services informs customers in parts of San Pedro that there will be an interruption in the water supply on tomorrow, Wednesday, November 22, 2017 starting at 1:00pm. The areas to be affected will be Town Core, San Juan, Boca Del Rio, San Pedrito and San Mateo. This interruption is necessary for the installation of a new water main. Due to the upgrades, customers may experience low water pressure and/or discoloration in their water supply when water is restored. Residents of these areas are advised that water is expected to be fully restored by 5:00pm. If they experience water supply problems after that time, they should immediately call our hotline at 0-800-CALL-BWS to report it.

Art Show by Local Belizean Artists
The San Pedro House of Culture is delighted to launch the Art Exhibit showcases various of our talented artists from Belize. You are cordially invited to the launch Friday Nov. 24th, 2017 beginning at 7pm.

Vote on Offshore Oil Moratorium Legislation
DECEMBER 8th 2107 SAVE THE DATE. The members of the House of Representatives will meet at the National Assembly building in Belmopan on December 8th to debate and vote on the Petroleum Operations (Maritime Zone Moratorium) Bill, 2017. The Senate is scheduled to meet on December 13th. There is still still to let Belizean leaders know you support this legislation.

KAYA CATTOUSE TRACK RACE
Let's bring back the excitement and spectators to the sport we love - Kaya Cattouse. You may also like the following events from the same organizer: Next Sunday, 3rd December, 08:00 am, Digicell Belmopan Race

16 Days of Activism
The Special Envoy of Belize is launching the 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence this Thursday in Belize City. Everyone in Cayo is welcome to go represent, and make a change. "Join us! Everyone is Welcome Thursday, November 23rd, 2017 2:30 p.m."

Belize Red Cross Officials Meet with NEMO Minister to Discuss Project in Rural Belize District: “Strengthening Partnerships through Accountability and Transparency”
In Belmopan this afternoon, Minister of National Emergency Management Hon Edmond Castro met with officials of the Belize Red Cross (BRC) to discuss cooperation with respect to a program which that organization is spearheading in Rural Belize District. The project is titled, “Strengthening partnerships through accountability and transparency” and is aimed at enhancing capacity of communities and service providers in disaster response. The Belize Red Cross says it aims to establish transparent and equitable service delivery in the key areas of Disaster Risk Reduction, Health and Hygiene, and Post Disaster/Emergency Relief in the most vulnerable communities.

A power outage is scheduled for a portion of the Cayo District on Friday, November 24 from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.
To affect Unitedville to Arenal including Benque Viejo, San Ignacio, Santa Elena, Duck Run 1 & 2, Billy White, Georgeville, Central Farm, Esperanza, San Miguel, Cristo Rey, San Antonio, Santa Cruz, Bullet Tree Falls, Branch Mouth, Santa Familia, Calla Creek, Corozalito & Succotz. BEL to install jumpers on structure at San Ignacio Substation.

Students and town council plant cortez seedlings at Macal Park
FCD congratulates the San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Council and the St. Andrews Anglican Primary School for the planting of cortez seedlings at Macal Park in commemoration of Children’s Day. These twin towns form part of the Bi-national Watershed Alliance.

Mista Peetaz Brokdong Bram 2017
The Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation project in collaboration with NICH and Love FM will bring to you the Mr. Peetaz Brukdong Bram on December 14th through 16th - All happening behind the historic Court House next to wharf. This event will combine some of the best traditional Creole cultural foods, drinks and music. Bring your friends and family and get into the Christmas spirit the old fashion way!

Institute of Archaeology Report: Wednesday 22 November 2017
The Nohoch Cheen, ATM and Barton Creek Archaeological Reserves are all open The Xunantunich Archaeological Reserve remains closed. Another update on the possibility of pedestrian crossing only on the Ferry will be provided at 8:00 am

People, Livestock & Jaguars Forum and Workshop
Ya'axché Conservation Trust is hosting a People, Livestock & Jaguars Forum and Workshop on Friday, 24th November 2017 at our Field Station in Golden Stream. We will be sharing the results of our project to reduce conflict with jaguars and people. Guest speakers from 6 communities in Toledo and partner organizations will join the discussions. Livestock farmers and interested persons can contact Marchilio Ack to participate.

Channel 7

One Weekend, One Dangerous Bridge, Three Accidents, Four Dead
Four men died in two fatal accidents weekend - and both of those accidents happened on the same bad bridge between miles 31 and 32 on the Hummingbird Highway. It's known as the St. Margaret's Bridge - and it's a single lane span across a creek. What makes it dangerous is that - apart from being narrow, it's on a downhill, and then it has no railings, plus it's on a dark stretch of road. All those factors - plus lack of safety measures - combined this weekend two create two fatal accidents: one of them a triple fatality. Courtney Weatherburne has the story:..

Should Police Have Done More?
And - as Courtney mentioned in her story - there was another vehicle that also slipped off that very same St. Margaret's bridge this weekend. That accident actually happened on Friday night at 7:00 - when, according to reports, this Ford Pickup was the first to tumble off the bridge. We have to say according to reports, because, incredibly, 96 hours after it happened, Belmopan police still cannot produce a report of that accident. So, then, the first accident was Friday night - which was non-fatal, and the second accident was Saturday night, which had one fatality, and then on Sunday during the day, the triple fatality. So why didn't Belmopan police or the Ministry of works do something pro-active? Commander of Operations ACP Edward Broaster told the media today that they were counting on traffic stops in Dangriga:

Driver on Rampage on Central American Blvd. Injures Four
And while those fatal accidents happened on a visibly dangerous bridge, there's no easy explanation for a traffic accident in Belize City on Saturday morning. It was caused by a driver who - it seems - just went crazy on a very busy road and started to plow through traffic at the height of the morning rush at around 10:30 AM. The drivers wild rampage started at the Hand Roundabout - which is the one you meet who coming off the George Price Highway. 58-year-old Lincoln Webster was halfway across the roundabout in his Toyota Corolla when 65-year-old Phillip Neal crashed into his front end and raced off. Sahar Vasquez tells us what happened next:

Four Runner Flips In City
And another unusual accident happened in the city this morning. A Toyota Four Runner flipped in front of BTL Park. Apparently, a minivan was coming out of the corner by Newtown Barracks - and he peered out a little too far, which is right when the Four Runner was passing. The Four Runner scraped off the van's bumper and toppled over on its side. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt.

Canadian Critical In Caye Caulker
And now to news of another accident, but this one at sea. A Canadian is critical condition after a water ferry ran him over in Caye Caulker. At around 9:40 on Friday night, 61-year-old Guy Carey Smith was along with his 19 year old son Travis Tanner Smith out on the sea a dinghy - which is like an inflatable version of a dorey. They were going along when a Koko King Water ferry ran over them. Police say the dinghy had no lights or reflectors - making it impossible to see them in the water. The 61 year old Smith was knocked unconscious and rushed to the KHMH where he is critical and remains in an induced coma. His teenaged son did not receive major injury.

DPM Faber Narrates Plane Accident
On Friday's news, we told you about the Tropic Air Flight which landed in the sea in front of the Placencia Airstrip. There were 7 passengers on the flight including Acting Prime Minister Patrick Faber; his Cabinet colleague, Godwin Hulse; and the General Manager of Belize Infrastructure Limited, Christy Mastry. They were headed to Punta Gorda for the official opening ceremony of the PG sporting complex, but, they never made it because as soon as the flight was attempting to take off from the Placencia Airstrip, a Subaru SUV ran into the path of the ascending plane. That vehicle's passenger side clipped the landing gear, and according to Tropic Air, the impact caused the aircraft to lose the speed required to remain airborne. The pilot had to make a forced landing in the sea. It's the type of nightmare that no passenger would want to experience, and in his first interview since the accident, Deputy Prime Minister Faber described the entire accident to the press this evening. Here's what he had to say:

Hon. Hulse Didn't Want To Drown In A Sunken Plane
Minister Godwin Hulse's account is similar - but different - because Hulse, who is an engineer by training - prepared himself for the water landing in a different way. He told us how his main idea was to get out immediately and not drown in a sinking plane. We spoke to him via phone - where he picks up the story at the moment of takeoff:... Hon. Godwin Hulse, Survived Downed Plane: "And I looked through the window and I saw the vehicle, but I could not imagine that that vehicle would not stop. I did see the vehicle going, but I didn't pay it any attention. So when I heard this huge bang, I could not imagine that it was something we hit and then immediately I knew we would have landed in the sea, because whether that was a hole blown in the bottom or something, we were not in any position to land back on land. I will commend the pilot, because I think he accelerated and the plane continue to rise which was good. I think we went maybe a minute, if not less, and we got to maybe 200-300 feet and then I just notice when the wing dips and I knew his was it. So I braced myself and we hit the water."

Civil Aviation Looking For Answers
And it's the job of the Civil Aviation Department to find out if that barrier was working. As of tonight, they still aren't sure which safety procedures failed and caused the vehicle to end up in the path of the aircraft while it was trying to take off. On Friday newscast, first responders told us that the barriers did not go down reliably to warn the driver that he needed to give way to the ascending Cessna caravan. So, we asked the Deputy Director of the Civil Aviation Department if the investigators have been able to confirm that, and he told us via phone today that it is still inconclusive. He was only able to share preliminary information:

Cops Have Four In Ladyville Murder
Turning now to police news, four persons are detained in the investigation into the murder of British woman, Michelle Anison. Police say that her practice of taking a few with villagers may have contributed to her demise: ASP Alejandro Cowo, CIB - Belize City: "Upon inspection of the body it had several stab wounds to the chest and to the neck area. The information we have is that the last time she was seen alive was on Monday, sometime after 10:30 in the morning." "Her vehicle is up to now missing and other belongings are also missing." Jules Vasquez, reporter: "Okay, so then are you all able to say if the person was there, forced entry or the person it appears had some...?" ASP Alejandro Cowo: "There was no forced entry into the apartment and so far we have four persons that were detained. One was detained yesterday and we are presently conducting interviews with them so as to see what kind of evidence we can get in regards to the interviews we're conducting."

22 year Old Woman Dies: Jandres Shooting Now A Murder
And police in Corozal also have a murder to investigate. 22 year old Brenda Jandres was shot in the midsection in her home three weeks ago. But today we learned that she died from her injuries:.. ACP Joseph Myvette, Head - NCIB: "Over the weekend, on the 19th morning, Brenda Jandres passed away. The police had initially detained two persons when the shooting had recently occurred on the first of November and those two persons are now being sought for further questioning in regards to that matter." Jandres's family declined comment.

Cops accused of Station Rape Still On Duty While Investigation Lumbers On
And while there is no one detained in that murder, there are also no detentions in a more clear cut case where the alleged culprits are right in the police station! We're talking about the alleged rape in the Independence Police station which the victims say happened over a week ago. The police officers alleged to be involved remain on active duty - and police still have not concluded their investigation. Though today they did confirm that the women were carnally known:... ACP Joseph Myvette, Head - NCIB: "Yes, the investigation or the examination proved that they were carnally known." Jules Vasquez, reporter: "So what's the status, right now, of the investigation?" ACP Joseph Myvett: "The investigation is still ongoing."

Customs Busts Hon. Patt's Relative, And There's a Near Riot In Pachakan
Customs officers came under close and contentious contact this weekend in Patchakan village, Corozal when they made a contraband bust. On Monday at 9:30 Customs officers say they were chasing down Edgar Patt - who is said to be a relative of UDP Corozal North area representative Hugo Patt - when Edgar ran off the road and into a lamp-post. Customs says he was coming form an illegal crossing called "Estero" and they say they found him trying to hide his stash in a cane field. Customs took possession of the items and claim that a throng of villagers started to hurl stones at them, and so they called in police for backup. The commander of operations seemed to think it unremarkable. ACP Edward Broaster: "The police officers intercepted a white vehicle with twenty-five cases of beer and turned them over to customs. I don't have the particulars of the driver."

Octogenarian Hubert Still Missing
On Friday we told you about 83-year-old Sandhill resident Hubert Richards who went missing last week Thursday. He was running errands in the city and has not been seen since. Today police told us that none of the leads have panned out: ACP Joseph Yvette, Head - NCIB: "I know that the investigators are out there and there are at some point coordinating with the family, and following leads as well as to where this person may have been. I believe that there was some surveillance video showing him in the Ladyville area, I believe around Friday." "There were several leads which the police had followed, and most of them turned out to be that he wasn't in that area. But we are continuing, and we are continuing working with the family."

They Want You At The Marijuana Forum
On last Tuesday's news, we told you about the national marijuana consultations that the Attorney General's Ministry intends to carry out in collaboration with CARICOM's Regional Commission on Marijuana. It's been 2 weeks now that the marijuana decriminalization amendment has been in effect. And, even though the opponents of this decision may believe that a conversation on full legalization is way too early, it will start 2 days. The CARICOM commission is visiting all the Caribbean nations to get their perspective on whether legalization of marijuana is a good idea or not. They will then compile a report and present it the CARICOM Heads of Government. Today, the Solicitor General invited everyone to participate. He said that the Commission wants everyone's views, no matter what their position on marijuana is:

Police Go Big Time With WhatsApp Investment
In October of last year, we showed you how police officers from the Rural Eastern Division rolled out a new technology based program to help curb crime. It utilizes WhatsApp, turning the messaging platform into a real time information sharing system. Well, observing the success of that program, cops from Belize City will get their own version. With last week's 100 thousand dollar donation from the Taiwanese Embassy, the department has purchased 60 rugged phones and 3 desktop computers. The Eastern Division's regional commander told us how they will be put to use:

Border Enforcement For Bogus Goods
We often see name brand goods in local stores throughout Belize, but many of the products are bogus, counterfeit versions of top shelf products. It's a global issue that happens with not just with shoes and hats but also with medicines. Today a four-day workshop to discuss this subject began at the Ramada hotel in Belize City. It's called a Sub-Regional workshop on Border Control and the main goal is to combat counterfeits. 7 news was there and we spoke to a few of the participants. Sandra Wens, Technical Expert Consumer Protection/IPR Programs Compliance Directorate: "Counterfeit is a big problem globally. We see it in every country. Every country has their specific problem. We see also in this region that there are certain specific problems when it comes to certain goods and it is important to the region that we work together and as a good cooperation between the different custom agencies in the region to tackle to problem together and by hosting this event Belize clearly shows their intent to tackle the problem in the region."

Faber Explains 19th. Absence
Earlier in the news, we showed you our interview with Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber he spoke about his recent airplane mishap. Well, he said that his brush with danger caused him to decide to take a weekend off from his responsibilities as the Acting Prime Minister. That included his involvement at the official ceremonies in Dangriga for Garifuna Settlement Day. The Prime Minister went there in a dashiki last year, so Faber's absence was surely noticed - and the Opposition made sure to pounce on it in their social media outlets. When the press asked him about it, he said that he meant no offense: Hon. Patrick Faber, Deputy Prime Minister: "After the ordeal on Friday I made a decision that I was going to just relax for the weekend. I think that is fair. I don't think anybody can quarrel with that. I was not certain that I was on the agenda in the manner in which it turn out that I was. I thought that there was some miscommunication initially because I was acting PM that they had expected the Prime Minister to be there. But when I verified with the Prime Minister today he said no, he had intended to be at the Belize City one, but as you all may know by now he had an emergency family situation and he had to leave and he made his apologies."

What it Was In Griga
And for Faber's benefit - since he missed it - we leave you tonight with highlites of the Yurumein festivities from Dangriga town. It is the re-enactment of the arrival of the Garifuna not Belize's shores - and it was held at coastal municipalities countrywide. But, Dangriga is the root of the root, and hundreds gathered for the event… Enjoy and join me back here tomorrow.

Channel 5

D.P.M. Faber Tells Story of Placencia Plane Crash
The Garifuna Settlement Day holiday weekend proved deadly on Belize’s roads, particularly the Hummingbird Highway, where three fatal crashes took place at the same stretch of road in less than [...]

4 Questioned, But Why Was Michelle Anison Killed?
Fifty-six-year-old Michelle Anison was buried with haste on Friday evening, following an autopsy which confirmed that she had been stabbed multiple times inside her apartment in Ladyville, sometime early last [...]

Family in United Kingdom Informed
According to Assistant Superintendent Cowo, the British High Commission has been informed of the incident, so has Anison’s family in the United Kingdom.   ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize [...]

Brenda Jandrez is Latest Murder Victim in Corozal
A shooting in Corozal has now turned murder and police have been unable to crack this case.  Twenty-two-year-old Brenda Jandrez, a resident of Corozal Town, has succumbed to gunshot injuries [...]

Hummingbird Deadly; Trio Killed near 1-Lane Bridge Sunday Afternoon
Four men died in two separate road traffic accidents at the same location. We start with the most recent accident that happened on the Hummingbird Highway that claimed the lives [...]

City Man Killed and 2 Injured at Same Site 24 Hours Earlier
Before that fatal accident on Sunday afternoon, another man lost his life at the same spot. Glen Bert Reneau, a construction worker of Belize City, was heading in the opposite [...]

Police Respond to Deployment along Highway
Four persons died in two accidents at the same location in less than twenty-four hours. According to police, they will be able to rule out alcohol as one of the [...]

Port Authority Investigates Sea-Going Crash; Father Critical, Son Also Involved
Sixty-one-year-old Canadian national Guy Carey Smith remains hospitalized at the Belize Medical Associates, following a boating collision in Caye Caulker on Friday night around ten o’clock.  Smith was along with [...]

Villagers Bat for Contrabanding Minister’s Brother in Wild Patchakan Brawl
The Customs and Excise Department has to continuously grapple with contrabandistas, especially in the north. The latest culprit has been identified as one Edwin Patt, the brother of Labour Minister [...]

Guat Military Crossed Border with Camera Crew – Big Deal?
Later in this newscast, we will show you what the Customs Department is doing about enforcement on importation of known counterfeit goods. But the Department is practically a sort of [...]

Women Accusing Rape in Independence Had Sex; Police Don’t Know Much More
Is the Belize Police Department attempting to keep under wraps details of an alleged incident in Independence where two women are said to have been raped while in detention last [...]

Chamber, Unions, I.L.O. Talk Social Dialogue
For the next two days, representatives of both the employers and employees in Belize will meet at the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s office complex here on Coney Drive. [...]

Chamber Says Foreign Exchange Problems Continue
The Government had to put together seventy-eight million U.S. dollars to repay Dunkeld International Investments Limited and the B.T.L. Employees’ Trust as final payment for the acquisition of Belize Telemedia [...]

Unions Frown on B.T.L. Settlement; Will Workers Get Shares?
The more than half a billion-dollar in settlement for Belize Telemedia Limited with its former owners has been paid off, but at what cost to the nation? President of the [...]

Dr. Carla Barnett Addresses Climate Change in Annual Lecture
Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Natural Resources, Doctor Carla Barnett, on Thursday delivered the thirty-second Adlith Brown Memorial Lecture as part of the Forty-ninth Annual Monetary [...]

Customs on the Hunt for Counterfeit Goods
It has been a very busy few weeks for the Customs and Excise Department, at least in terms of training. First it was about trade facilitation two weeks ago; last [...]

Where is Hubert Richards, 83?
The search for eighty-three-year-old Hubert Richards, a retiree of Sand Hill Village, continues after five days of being lost.  Anna Richards reported to police that she hasn’t seen her father [...]

Garifuna Settlement Day Rocks Belize City
Despite cloudy skies and showery weather, the Garinagu of Belize marked Garifuna Settlement Day this past Sunday. It commemorates the arrival en masse of Garifuna settlers in 1832, although a [...]

Why G.O.B. Was a No-Show for Ceremonies in City, Dangriga
Prime Minister Dean Barrow, as we had reported last Tuesday, was to have been the designated guest speaker at Sunday’s official Garifuna Settlement Day ceremony in Belize City. He had [...]

PLB Playoffs Top Sports Tuesday
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.   [Highlights of the weekend sporting activities…]

LOVE FM

Vehicle Runs off the Bridge Resulting in Fatalities
Police are also investigating another accident that happened on the very same bridge over the weekend several hours before. It happened on Saturday around 9:45 in the night when 36-year-old Glenbert Reneau, a construction worker of Belize City was heading to Dangriga in a grey Honda Accord car. He lost control and fell into the […]

Who Murdered British Woman, Michelle Anison?
Police have still not made any arrests for the murder of 46-year-old Michelle Anison, whose body was found on Friday morning, November 17 in her apartment in Ladyville. Police were called to the apartment complex where they found her body which displayed several stab wounds. This morning police spoke of the progress in their investigations. […]

Investigations continue into Rape Allegations
This morning police reported that the Professional Standards Branch of the Police Department continues to investigate the allegations made against police officers attached to the Independence Village Police station. As we have reported, two women, a Belizean and a Salvadoran, who were detained on suspicion of drug possession, have accused officers of rape. They were […]

Shooting Victim Succumbs to Injuries
Twenty-two year old Brenda Jandress passed away over the weekend. Jandress, a resident of Corozal Town, was admitted to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after being shot to the stomach while inside her house on November first. Police reported that sometime after eight o’clock that morning, she was inside her house located on Mahogany Street […]

Man succumbs to Injuries Sustained from Motorcycle Accident
A man who was involved in a motorcycle accident on the George Price Highway last week has succumbed to his injuries. Correspondent Fem Cruz reports. Fem Cruz, Love FM “On the 12th of November love news reported about a motorcycle accident that occurred sometime around 2:30 AM between mile 43 and 44 on the George […]

PG Mayor Claims Sabotage
The Mayor of Punta Gorda says the newly handed compactor garbage truck was sabotaged. The truck was recently handed over to the Punta Gorda Town Council by Belize Water Services Limited. Correspondent Paul Mahung reports. Paul Mahung, Love FM “During an official ceremony at the BWS compound in Punta Gorda on August 29th this year […]

Workshop on Intellectual Property Rights Border Management
A sub-regional workshop on Intellectual property rights border management is taking place in Belize City. The workshop focuses on combating counterfeiting and piracy, health and safety. Capacity building in the fight against infringements of intellectual property rights appears increasingly necessary for customs administrations faced with the double burden of ensuring trade facilitation whilst simultaneously working […]

Four Person Caught Red Handed with Contraband Goods
Four persons were caught with contraband goods in two separate operations. The most recent bust was made up north, in the village of Patchakan. Reports to Love News are that one Edgar Patt was caught with a pickup load of contraband goods. During the interception, villagers reportedly aggressed customs officers, attempting to take back the […]

Missing Man’s Family desperate to find Him
The search continues for 82-year-old Hubert Richards also known as Fidel, a resident of Sandhill, Belize District. Richards normally travels by bus to get home; however, on Wednesday, November 15, he never made it home. Love News spoke with his daughter, Anna Richards. “That’s when my brother called me and told me that my dad […]

Municipalities: Building with Children’s Needs in Mind
In 2014, the Sustainable and Child-Friendly Municipalities Agreement was signed by the Mayors of nine municipalities. The nine municipalities are the cities of Belize and Belmopan and the towns of Corozal, Orange Walk, San Ignacio, Benque Viejo Del Carmen, Dangriga, Punta Gorda, and San Pedro. This means that when planning and building are being done, […]

Teenage Pregnancy on the Rise in Belize
Belize has a high teenage pregnancy rate which is of concern since this can lead to other problems such as a high level of high school dropouts, unemployment, and poverty. Therefore, UNICEF and the government of Belize are working together to see how they can improve the quality of life for adolescents. Paulette Wade, Monitoring […]

Massive Car Accident leaves Several Cars Damaged and Two Persons Injured
On Saturday, November 18, a collision occurred on Central American Boulevard which damaged five vehicles and injured two persons. According to police report, at approximately 10:40 a.m., 58-year-old Lincoln Webster reported that he was driving his green 1999 Toyota Corolla car across the roundabout, when a white Honda Van drove by 65-year-old Phillip Neal, a […]

Breaking Belize News

Belize ranked 156 out of 196 countries in cost of broadband Internet
Belize was ranked 156 out of 196 countries on a list of the world’s most […]

Reckless driver crashes into 3 vehicles, knocks down man, and assaults police officer
On Saturday, November 18, 2017, around 10:40 a.m., Lincoln Webster, 58, reported to authorities that about 10:38 a.m. […]

Belmopan police officer launches new CD
Today, a police officer attached to the Belmopan police formation launched a CD with original […]

GOB to inaugurate extension and new Pre school at Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Corozal
An official ceremony to inaugurate Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLOG) Primary R.C. School Extension and […]

Corozal woman succumbs to gunshot injuries
Police have today confirmed that twenty two year old Brenda Jandrez passed away on Sunday, […]

International Labour Organization and Chamber join up for two-day workshop
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) came […]

Farmers celebrating 3 years of success in the agro-forestry concession
Thirty farmers in Toledo are celebrating their third year of successful farming in Belize’s first agro-forestry concession within a protected area. The cultivation of cacao among other crops within the Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve is being guided by an agro-forestry management plan and a conservation agreement.

Blogs

Hidden Valley Inn – An Adventure Traveler’s Dream Destination
If you are an adventure traveler your outdoor escapades may be rugged, but there’s no reason why your amenities must be. If you long for the best in creature comforts after a day full of exploration, the Hidden Valley Inn located in the Mountain Pine Ridge area of Cayo, Belize couldn’t be more perfect. Not only do they offer lavish amenities such as pool, hot tub, spa and gourmet dining, but you have exclusive access to their private nature reserve set on 7,200 acres of wilderness in the Maya Mountains. With miles of hiking trails to explore (many leading to waterfalls, breathtaking vistas and even yoga platforms) and a host of other cultural experiences, here you have the best of both worlds; outdoor recreation complemented with well-appointed accommodations, delicious meals and the ultimate in relaxation.

Getting to Hatchet Caye in Style
Hatchet Caye Resort is located on the edge of Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve, just seventeen miles east of Placencia village. Getting to the island is easier than you might have imagined. If you are visiting from outside of Belize you will be arriving at the Phillip S.W. Goldson International Airport in Ladyville. After arriving at the airport, you can take a puddle jumper domestic flight on Maya Island Air to Placencia, which takes roughly 45 minutes and then a boat ride to the island, which takes about an hour. Or, you can now arrive in style with a direct helicopter ride from the International Airport to Hatchet Caye Resort. This newest transportation to the island is done by Astrum Helicopters and takes approximately one hour.

Two Black Friday Seat Sales YYZ to BZE and Useful Belize Airline Information
When it comes to holiday shopping, Black Friday has always rated for scoring deals. It only makes sense that the airlines would start cashing in on the popular shopping day with seat sales for those who are looking to cash in on a low-cost tropical trip. Calling all Torontonians and those in close enough proximity for it to make sense. There is a WestJet “Black Friday” direct flight seat sale on right now, from YYZ to BZE (Toronto to Belize) for $429.94 CAD, return. Not quite as good as this November 2017 $69 Southwest Seat Sale, but still worth mentioning.

International Sources

‘He’s a little fighter:’ Disabled dog travels across continent to SC to save his life
He may be little, but for this dog, making the trip from a small island off of Belize to South Carolina is a matter of life or death. Sharky, a four-year-old chihuahua, is traveling from Ambergris Caye to Pawleys Island with veterinarian Kristina Decina to prepare for surgery that will hopefully save his legs - and his life. Decina, who often travels to the island to work with the Saga Humane Society, worked with Sharky’s owners who signed surrender papers that allowed Decina to bring the dog back to the states. Now, with the help of veterinary surgeon Dr. Chris Hill in Charleston, Sharky will have a bone graft surgery that will work to save his legs. “His legs may not be saved, but this is our chance,” Decina said.

Why the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season ranks among the top 5 most intense ever recorded
One of the most destructive Atlantic hurricane seasons in recent history is nearing its end. From Harvey's historic flooding of southeastern Texas to the Irma-battered Florida Keys and Maria's widespread devastation in Puerto Rico, the fallout from a series of major hurricanes was dramatic and will be felt for years. While there are a couple of weeks to go until the Nov. 30 conclusion, this tropical season is already the busiest in the Atlantic since 2012 as 17 storms were named. While it was not a record-setting season in terms of the number of storms, it will likely be remembered as the one of the most intense in United States history.

Timeline recounts the devastating 2017 Atlantic hurricane season and storms that made it memorable
With 17 storms, 10 hurricanes and 6 major hurricanes, the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season is considered a hyperactive season, according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski. While the season on a whole was impressive, three storms stand out to Kottlowski as really making this season memorable. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria are all storms that stand out even in this hyperactive season. Hurricane Harvey was the first of the three storms, developing on Aug. 17. Harvey started out right around the middle of August as a tropical storm east of the Lesser Antilles.

Belize’s Ambassador to the United States: Who Is Daniel Gutierez?
Francisco Daniel Gutierez presented his credentials as ambassador from Belize to President Donald Trump on July 21, 2017. Gutierez also serves as Belize’s ambassador to the Organization of American States. Gutierez was born in 1974 in San Ignacio, Cayo district, in the western part of Belize, not far from the border with Guatemala. He attended primary and secondary school in San Ignacio before going to Rafael Landivar University in Guatemala. He earned a degree in communications and advertising in 1997. Gutierez then came to the United States to continue his education at Philadelphia’s St. Joseph’s University. There, he earned an M.S. in international marketing in 1999. Gutierez returned to Belize to lecture in business, marketing and communications at Sacred Heart College, a high school and junior college in San Ignacio. In 2003, Gutierez was named dean of the junior college.

American Hydro to upgrade Belize plant
American Hydro will overhaul the 25.2MW Mollejón hydroelectric plant in Belize in what will be the company's first foray into the ...

American Hydro expands its business to Central America
American Hydro, a Wärtsilä company, will enhance the efficiency and performance of the Mollejon hydroelectric generating plant, located in Belize, Central America. The company was awarded a contract in September 2017 by Belize Electric Company Limited (BECOL) to upgrade the plant with high quality hydroelectric solutions and technical support. Fast delivery and experienced technical installation support will ensure earlier return on investment for the project. Belize Electricity Limited is the main distributor of electricity in Belize. The Mollejon plant, located on the Macal River about 110 kilometres southwest of Belize City, is equipped with three hydroelectric turbines. In the first stage, American Hydro will overhaul the G1 unit and replace old turbine components to increase overall plant efficiency. The agreement includes new turbine runners, stationary turbine seals, wicket gates and rehabilitation of essential operating components as well as technical support of disassembly, installation and commissioning.

Videos

November 21, 2017

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Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

San Pedro BTIA holds membership mixer on Ambergris Caye
It was a full house at El Divino Restaurant, as the Belize Tourism Industry Association San Pedro Chapter (BTIA-SPC) hosted a membership mixer on Thursday, November 16th. The event, held in part to increase the San Pedro Chapter’s membership had an impressive turnout. Not only did business and tourism stakeholders attend, but even local and national authorities were present, eager to participate in the event.Invited guests began arriving by 6:30PM, proceeding to the second-floor lounge of El Divino where they mingled for about an hour, socializing and enjoying some refreshments. Mistress of Ceremonies and Chairwoman of the BTIA-SPC, Tamara Sniffin delivered the welcome remarks. Sniffin thanked everyone for attending the event and explained the importance of making the local chapter bigger and stronger.

Misc Belizean Sources

Kokomo Beach Suites has a vacancies for full time receptionist and room cleaner
Kokomo Beach Suites located on the beach in between the two water taxi docks has a vacancy for a full time receptionist and room cleaner (individual will perform both functions.) This is a customer facing position and therefore the successful candidate must be friendly and outgoing. Must also be reliable, honest and dependable. A willingness to work on weekends and holidays is a must. Serious candidates, please email your resume to info@KokomoBeachSuites.com. No phone calls or walk ins please.

TWO CONFIRMED DEATHS IN TRAFFIC INCIDENT
Love News has confirmed that two persons lost their lives as a result of a road traffic incident which occurred this afternoon on the Hummingbird Highway. It happened between miles 31 and 32. Drivers are asked to drive safely on the road. This is the third traffic incident that has occurred in the same area within the past two days.

Belize Volleyball
Team Belize wins Copa Revolucion 2017 in Cancun!!!

THE GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE LIVE
Rhythm of Change (ROC) & The Belize International Yoga Festival proudly presents: The Garifuna Collective Live! Date : December 3, 2017 Time : 7:00-10:00pm Location :Harbour View Greens, Fort Street, Belize City ( near the Belize sign) Cost : $50 ( children under 12 enter 1/2 price ) Contact : or 610-0882 for tickets * Bring a blanket and chair and your entire family to enjoy this musical extravaganza under the stars to close the the 2nd Annual Belize International Yoga Festival ! It's a a family affair! Proceeds go to supporting a Rhythm of Change (ROC) various outreach programs! ??

BTIA CAYO CHAPTER ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
PLEASE JOIN US ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 21st AT Cahal Pech Village Resort, San Ignacio Belize for our ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING where we will be presenting our CAYO PLAN ON SUSTAINABILITY, BELIZE DESTINATION MAGAZINE, AUXILIARY POLICING, TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES & FOR ELECTION OF OUR CAYO CHAPTER BOARD 2018. See you there!! Btia Belize BTIA Belmopan

TACOS FEST - ORANGE WALK TOWN
Come and enjoy Maya Mestizo Cultural Dances brought to you by the young and energetic Sugah City JRs. Sugah City JRs will also be having a pastry sale. Delight your taste buds with some sweet treats whilst enjoying the cultural performances. We thank everyone for their kind patronage and support. Sunday, November 26 at 1 PM - 6 PM.

A power outage is scheduled for the entire Corozal District on Sunday, November 26 from 6:00am to 2:00pm
Necessary for BEL to replace transmission and distribution poles, replace insulators, install a load break switch, and reconfigure the new system on Corozal Boulevard.

Pet's Place Grand Opening
Pet's Place had their grand opening this month. They are located on Burns avenue, right next to Dibary. They have everything you need as far as pet supplies and pet toys go. They also perform veterinary services on site.

A beautiful night of cultural celebration
Honouring our brothers and sisters of the Garinigu with Flavours of the Garifuna. We give great thanks for the soulful sounds of Larubeya Band. Thank you to the Lisanigu Libertad Group for the culturally rich and colourful Jon Kanu presentation. A garcious thank you to Miss Bibb and Family of Libertad Village for the delicious Garifuna cuisine enjoyed by all in attendance. Thank you to our beloved Corozal community for your continued support of our signature events, we look forward to next year's event!!

Maimouna Youssef and Friends participated in Garifuna Settlement Day celebration service
And learned about the history of the Garifuna people in Belize, and shared their music with the local community at the Holy Family Church in Hopkins.

Garifuna Nuguya Music Video
Clayton Williams' Garifuna Nuguya. Try not to smile during this video. "Music by Clayton Williams https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clayto... from the village of Hopkins,Belize. Music video directed and produced by Jeremy Christoph from Out Da Box Films in association with Nituwana Foundation"

Chaa Creek's Cayo Companion
Chaa Creek has a new online travel guide for Cayo(and). It's immaculately done, and has tons of information about all the sites and excursions around Cayo, along with the cultures of Belize. Chaa Creek's history is also shown, along with their views on ecotourism and sustainability.

Adopt-A-Bear
It’s that time of year again!! Adopt-A-Bear and fulfill a Christmas wish for a child! Bear trees go up Friday November 24th so visit Hidden Treasure Restaurant, Sandbar San Pedro, Wayos, Palapa Bar and Grill, Marbucks Coffee House, Crazy Canucks Beach Bar, or The Truck Stop to get yours!

The Reporter

Three more dead after vehicle plunges from off bridge
Three more persons lost their lives in a traffic accident on Sunday when the vehicle they were traveling in plunged off a one-lane bridge in St. Margaret’s village. Police report that around 2:05 p.m., on Sunday, Harold Albert Smith, 37, was driving a gold-colored Toyota Camry car from Belmopan towards Dangriga along with passengers, Alonso Frazier, 37, and Marlon Flowers, 41. Smith reportedly lost control of the vehicle and plunged off the bridge and into the river. Police say that upon their arrival at the scene, they observed the extensively damaged car in the river, with Smith trapped inside, apparently dead.

Breaking Belize News

Star in my community- Adele Ramos
You may not know Adele O. Ramos as the painter, fashion designer or GIS technophile, but you most likely know her as one of Belize’s most proficient print journalists for almost two decades. In late October 2017, however, she launched a new chapter of her life as a freelancer and entrepreneur. Her works previously appeared twice a week in the Amandala, Belize’s leading national newspaper. Adele’s first publication was released in 2001: “Thomas Vincent Ramos, The Man and His Writings”. She followed that publication with her debut poetry anthology of love poems – “PHASES”.

U.S. Embassy continues work in Belize after nearly a year without ambassador
One year since U.S. President Donald Trump took office, a new U.S. Ambassador to Belize has still not been appointed. On Wednesday, BBN was hosted at the U.S. Embassy’s Housing compound in Belmopan City for an exclusive interview with Charge d’ Affairs, Adrienne Galanek about the work that continues at the embassy even in the absence of an Ambassador.

Corozal barber charged for drug trafficking
Last night, Corozal police were conducting a patrol on 7th Avenue, Corozal Town. Police saw Curlin Samuel Thompson standing in front of his barber shop looking suspicious.

3 people die in fatal traffic accident in St. Margaret, Cayo
Yesterday around 2:05 p.m., police responded to a traffic accident between miles 31 and 32 on the Hummingbird Highway near a one lane bridge in St. Margaret’s Village. Upon arrival at the scene, police saw a gold Toyota Camry car in the river extensively damaged .

Moist weather to continue
The 24-hour forecast is for mostly moist weather to continue. Cloudy skies with some showers and periods of rain are expected mainly along the coast today. The wind will blow from the North to Northeast at 5-15 knots.

Iguana Creek Bridge in Cayo impassable
Residents travelling to Spanish Lookout are advised that the Iguana Creek bridge is under water and completely impassable due to heavy rains yesterday and last night. The Macal River is also rising rapidly but as of this morning, the low lying wooden bridge was still open.

Chief Transport Officer appeals to motorists to drive with caution
After the third traffic accident occurred yesterday in the same vicinity on the Hummingbird Highway claiming two lives, Chief Transport Officer Tirso Galvez issued a statement on his Facebook page pleading to the public to drive carefully.

Traffic accident on the Hummingbird Highway claims 2 lives
By BBN Staff: Reports to BBN is that there was another fatal road traffic accident yesterday between miles 31 and 32 on the Hummingbird Highway. Confirmed reports is that two occupants of the vehicle succumbed to their injuries.

Man dies; 2 injured in traffic accident in St. Margaret, Cayo
According to police reports, on Saturday night around 9:51, officers responded to a report of a road traffic accident in St. Margaret’s Village, Cayo. Police arrived at the scene between miles 31 and 32 on the Hummingbird Highway and saw a grey Honda Accord car in the creek extensively damaged.

Blogs

Belize Q and A: And now, a few words with Moppit, the island wonderdog
Quite a few people have asked me recently about Moppit. For example, when a crazy-ass San Pedro taxi driver with a “Pretty chicks only” decal on the back window of his dust-encrusted van knocked me off my bike and I was laid flat out in the street, a number of friends rushed up to me. “How’s Moppit been?” one asked. “Is Moppit adjusting to you OK? If not, I’d be glad to have her,” said another. “Any time you want to go somewhere, I’ll babysit Moppit for you,” offered a third. And so it goes.

International Sources

Business owners in top Belize destination want increased mangrove protections
Walking the shore of San Pedro provides a solid picture of the tension between natural resources and the economy in this, the top tourist town in coastal Belize. White coral sand gives way to several hundred feet of stunningly deep blue water out to where Caribbean waves strike the Mesoamerican Reef, the world’s second longest barrier reef, which stretches from Honduras in the south to its Mexican terminus to the north. Just below swooping frigatebirds stands a phalanx of hotels, ranging from funky and low slung to sleek, new, and relatively tall. Bars, restaurants and dive shops elbow right up to the water’s edge, too, where one can sit in a plastic chair drinking local rum while dangling your feet in the warm tide at establishments with names like “Sandy Toes.” But walk north along the beachfront just a little ways and your path is diverted away from the water by a wiry stand of mangrove trees growing in the gentle waves. This mangrove belongs to yet another open-air bar, La Choza, and reminds one of what this whole area once looked like. “If I cut those trees, erosion will get our bar,” owner Luis Cabanas explained when asked. “The mangrove protected us from Hurricane Earl last year, the roof didn’t go.” Cabanas has been in San Pedro 28 years and remembers the beachfront at that time was a lot wilder, with mangroves marching right into the waves along much of it. When asked if he keeps the mangrove trees for any other reasons, he added with a smile, “We like to give homes to the little fishes.”

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