October 9, 2018

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

First-ever Miss and Mr. SPHS Pageant crowns Aaliyah Pilgrim and Kurt Cus
On Friday, October 5th, the San Pedro High School (SPHS) held its first-ever Mr. and Miss SPHS pageant at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium. The pageant originated in 1974, with Celi Jeanne Greif as the school’s first beauty ambassador. Hundreds of islanders attended the 2018 event, which is the school’s biggest fundraiser. A total of five contestants, three females and two males vied for the coveted titles: Aalijah Pilgrim, Kimberly Tzul, Babee Lopez, Everal Dixion, and Kurt Cus. After an evening of beauty, elegance, talent, and entertainment, Aaliyah Pilgrim was selected as Miss SPHS, while Kurt Cus is the first Mr. SPHS.

Ambergris Today

1st Ever Hyperbaric Medical Conference Held In San Pedro
Belize is known to be a premier diving destination and with this in mind divers' safety is of utmost importance. Dive Shops are equipped with the best dive equipment and staffed with the very best dive masters and instructors. But even the very best diver can find themselves in a predicament and something can go wrong; safety and how to deal with a diver's rescue is crucial. With this in mind, Dr. Daniel Gonzalez, along with the Belize Chamber Project Ltd and DAN – Divers Alert Network (Recompression Chamber Network), held a two-day Diving Accident Management Conference over the weekend in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. San Pedro currently houses two hyperbaric chambers; the only ones in the entire country of Belize. Medical staff from different parts of the country were invited to participate in the conference including medical doctors and dive masters/instructors from San Pedro. It was a successful conference.

San Pedro Town Mayor States Opposition To Approved Development At Cayo Rosario
Mayor Guerrero stated that he is “totally against” the Cayo Rosario development as it has been approved within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. In fact, Mayor Guerrero and Belize Rural South Area Representative and Minister of Tourism, the Honorable Manuel Heredia, were a part of the initial team that spearheaded the expansion of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve to protect this very area. This approved development at Cayo Rosario contradicts the very reason so many worked hard to expand the marine reserve.

Misc Belizean Sources

Grand Opening of the Enchanting Gallery in Corozal

Meeting with cultural leaders at Maya Center
Last week, the Institute for Social & Cultural Research met with cultural leaders from across the country at Maya Center to learn about the exciting work that is ongoing to safeguard culture. Take a look at these exciting exchanges that took place. This is part of our work to promote the benefits of the 2003 UNESCO Convention on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).

FCD Chief Ranger in London
FCD Chief Ranger, participated at the Bz-Uk Association on October 6th, 2018 held in London. He updated on the State of the Chiquibul.

Restructuring of Fort George Tourism Zone
Aims to improve guest experience The Belize Tourism Board, in collaboration with the Belize City Council and other key industry stakeholders, have embarked on a project to restructure the Fort Gorge Tourism Zone (FGTZ). The objectives of restructuring the FGTZ is to improve guest experience, enhance the image and traffic flow of our Belize City Cruise passengers Port of Entry and increase sales for Belize as a destination. Over the years, the growth of the Cruise industry has also had a growth of independent tour operators selling tours. Without a proper structure to regulate the operators, the competition continues to expand and as a result creating a price war and a smaller pie. The plan is to implement an application form and criteria to operate within the area which is dependent on a trade license to operate on the public street authorized by the Belize City Council.

FRIENDS OF SWALLOW CAYE WEEK
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TOUR OPERATORS, TOUR GUIDES, BOAT CAPTAIN, CREW AND COMMUNITY YOU ARE INVITED TO FRIENDS OF SWALLOW CAYE WEEK OF ACTIVITIES.

Expansion of Hemodialysis Program
This morning, the Ministry of Health, on behalf of the Government of Belize, signed contracts with four service providers for the expansion of its Hemodialysis Program. The program will provide coverage to more than twice the number of patients with end-stage Renal Failure. The providers include KHMHA, La Loma Luz Hospital, Miguel Rosado Dialysis Clinic, and Dialysis del Caribe. The signing ceremony was followed by a press conference.

Belizean Apps for Development Competition
Can you develop an app to solve one of these three issues? Here's an opportunity to do it and win some cash and prizes! The competition is open to all secondary and tertiary level students in Belize.

2018 Breast Cancer & Diabetes 5K Walk/Run
SIGN UP NOW AT THE SAN PEDRO TOWN COUNCIL!

Dredged sand available on Caye Caulker

Channel 7

Two Die When Drunk Driver Crashes Into River
3 Belizeans - two of them teenagers - lost their lives in the Cayo District over the weekend. 2 drowned in the Mopan River after a terrible crash, and the other was murdered in a bizarre fashion at the Cahal Pech Archaeological Site in San Ignacio. We begin tonight's newscast with the double tragedy of the sisters from Succotz, 26 year-old Cindy Cowo, and 16 year-old Liarinette Cowo. On Friday night, they left from their family's home for a night out in nearby Benque Viejo Town. They were in the company of a family friend, 53 year-old Carlos Martinez. The last thing the family heard was that they were having a plate of ceviche in the early morning hours of Saturday.

Drunk Driver Told Cops He Escaped from RAV and Blacked Out
So, you've heard the Cowo family's perspective, as they continue to grieve the loss of the 2 sisters. We also got a chance to speak with police who confirmed that Carlos Martinez has been charged for drunk driving. They said he claims to have blacked out after saving himself: ACP Joseph Myvett, HNCIB: "He was the only one according to him who managed to break the driver's window. As a result the vehicle was moved from the river where the bodies were seen motionless. They were both found in the luggage or cargo area of his vehicle. Police investigation into this matter have since led to the arrest of Carlos Martinez for driving motor vehicle with alcohol concentration above the prescribed limit, and driving without due care and attention at this point."

Teenager Murdered At Cahal Pech Mayan Temple, Suspects Are Minors
And from that double tragedy in Succotz Village, we turn now to the bizarre murder of 19 year-old Bobby Garcia, a student from Kevin Drive Street in San Ignacio Town. Early on Sunday morning, Garcia's body was found inside the Cahal Pech Archaeological Reserve, in one of the temple areas that the NICH archaeologists have labelled as "Plaza E". He had cut wounds to the left arm, the left side of his chest, and to his throat. On Saturday night, He told his parents that he was heading to a nearby park. He never returned, and hours later, he was found dead, reportedly by tourists visiting the Mayan site.

Crisis At Claver College Forced To Resolution, Chairman Resigns
The crisis at Claver College in Punta Gorda seems to have been resolved tonight. But it comes after the past hour at the school has been crazy. Police showed up at 5:30. That's because a showdown was expected. Here's why. Many thought there had been a breakthrough and that the teachers would be reinstated today. But, the Chairperson Lisel Alamilla wasn't about to re-instate anyone. In fact she decided to lock down the school until the dispute could be mediated. So at 5:30 - when school was supposed to start - Claver College was locked down. Courtney Weatherburne is in Punta Gorda and she spoke to one frustrated student and the teachers' representative:

Teenager Shot, Is it Because He’s A Witness in Father’s Murder?
19 year old Thomas Ferguson Jr was shot this weekend - to the back and stomach. It happened on Saturday night at 10:00 near his home on Arlington Drive. Fortunately he survived. Especially fortunate because 4 years ago his father and namesake, Thomas Ferguson Sr. was killed - allegedly by his own nephew. FERGUSON Juniour witnessed the murder. And now, Ferguson Jr is a witness in the trial for his father's murder - where he will have to testify against the suspect, who is his first cousin. It's a dangerous mess, and reports are that's why he may have been targeted. Police told us what they know:..

Some Clues On Bones In Belmopan
On Friday we told you about the scattering of bones found near the sewerage treatment plant in Belmopan. Since then, police have gotten some clues as to the identity, but nothing definitive:.. ACP Joseph Myvett- Head of NCIB: "The forensic people did inspect these bones and they have confirmed that they belong to a human, male, which seemingly was dead between two to three months. Further searches are still being conducted in the area. It is my understanding that the main area where this was found, all the different man-holes are connected to this specific area where the sewage is connected."

30 Year Old Charged For Sex With Girl Half His Age
Going now to Orange Walk, a 30 year old man has been charged for sex with a 15 year old. The case of the missing girl came to public attention last week - and she was found day's later in the man's home. Police told us more today:... ACP Joseph Myvett- Head of NCIB: "In reference to a 15 year old missing female child, police have since arrested and charged Magdiel Ceas, 30 years of San Louis Village, Orange Walk District, for the crime of unlawful sexual intercourse."

Barbie Bar Brawl
And from that act of sexual violence, to a very serious injury to a bar girl. It happened early this morning in the city at a bar called "La Barbie". Police told us more:... ASP Alejandro Cowo- OC, CIB: "Last night just minutes before 8 police responded to a fight at 'La Barbie Bar' which is located near the Tailors Alley on Cemetery Road. Upon arrival police observed a female who was bleeding profusely; she had to be rushed to the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital. She was later identified as Anna Heredia a Belizean of #21 West Street. She was suffering from a cut wound to the left tie and to the hand which injured one of her main arteries. As a result she was bleeding profusely. She was admitted and is there in a stable condition at this moment. What we understand is that there was a fight that broke out inside of the bar involving females and she went to part the fight and that is when someone attacked her with a pint and inflicted the said injuries to her."

Teller’s Sticky Fingers At National Bank
A teenaged teller at the National Bank is being accused of theft. Now it's very rare that cases of bank theft make the news or go to the police, but that's just what National Bank Manager Alvaro Alamina did. Police outlined his report:.. ASP Alejandro Cowo- OC, CIB: "Mr. Alvaro Alamilla, the general manager of the National Bank, reported to the police that they made an audit of the National Bank where they noticed that the sum of $12,000 was missing. Upon the inspection of the surveillance camera, they noticed that one of the tellers had taken away a bundle of $50 notes..."

Cabbie’s Stabbing Was Botched Robbery
But there are no charges, and no named suspect in the case of the taxi-man who was stabbed up on Thursday night. We first told you about the story on Friday. Late on Thursday night, 51 year old Rockson Odiete was attacked and stabbed by a passenger. Police told us more:.. ASP Alejandro Cowo- OC, CIB: "Mr. Odiete was Freetown when he was stopped by a male person who asked him to carry him to Kelly Street and other surrounding areas within that area. However, the person did not give him an exact address and after Mr. Odiete passed by Kelly Street and Hunter's Lane and other areas within that area, he drove to his address by Gentle Avenue and whilst they were there, the male person who was seated behind him just stabbed him several times to the chest..."

The Many Sides of the Move To Marion Jones
On Friday's news, you saw the fiery press conference the local tour operators and FECTAB held to tell both the Belize Tourism Board and the Belize City Council that they will not be moved from the Fort Street Tourism Village. That's the plan that the BTB wants to implement, because they say that the the area around FSTV has become too congested. The tour operators firmly oppose that plan, insisting that they will lose money and the opportunity to sell their tours, if they are forced to move.

GOB Will Pay For Dialysis For 88
Last week, we told you about government's decision to pay for two dialysis treatments weekly for all persons currently receiving dialysis treatment at four centers across the country. It's a big breakthrough for most persons dealing with end stage renal failure. But, for some it is a disappointment. Today when the contracts were signed in Belmopan, we found out why:... Jules Vasquez reporting: It may look like just another signing ceremony, but these agreements will save lives. This signatories are the Ministry of Health and the four hemo-dialysis providers: Dialysis Del Caribe, Belize Health care Partners, Loma Luz And the KHMH.

Health Minister Says Take The Soda Out of Schools
So, while 2.2 million annually will be spent to pay for hemodialysis treatments, the hard truth is, that is for persons with end stage renal failure - meaning they can only be kepy alive with regular treatments - they can't be cured. The only way to stop kidney failure as a cause of death is to avoid the conditions - which lead to it - mainly diabetes. And as you just heard - that Ministry of Health is determined to make those interventions and The Minister started with a bold challenge to the Ministry of Education today:..

Claver College, School Continues
In our top segment we gave you real time updates about developments at Claver College in Punta Gorda. Well, the situation right now is that school is in session for the first time in weeks - and the teachers appear to have been reinstated. On the other side of the coin, Chairperson Lisel Alamilla told us she has resigned. She pointed out that the replacement teachers had received threats which is why police were called today. Fortunately there was no violence, and things remain clam. Courtney Weatherburne will have the full story from PG in tomorrow's news.

Proud Belizean, Jarrell Wins
Belize- American top world heavyweight contender Jarrell Miller demolished his opponent Tomasz Adamek in two rounds on Saturday at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Despite weighing in at 317 pounds, Miller seemed to be moving well and he punished Adamek with big blows. In the second round, Miller went right to work with big shots. He landed two big uppercuts that sent Adamek down for the full count. Miller at 22-0- and 1 draw with 19 knockouts is now moving to a showdown with Fres Oquendo for the WBA "regular" heavyweight title.

Brian Brown Cleared of Charge
He has several charges of using threatening words, but today, Brian Brown, the 41 year-old reputed gang leader, was freed of a threatening words charge by Chief Magistrate Sharon Frazer. In this instance, Brown was accused of threatening his brother-in-law Alex Gillett. Gillett reported to police that on April 30th, Brown threatened to kill him if he did not return a vehicle. Today, the Chief Magistrate struck out the charges out due to want of prosecution. The case had been meandering from adjournment to adjournment since April, and when the Chief Magistrate questioned the prosecutor today, he told her that there was no case file available for this charge.

Sankat Family Statement
3 weeks ago, we told you about Nishal Sankat, the son of the UB President, Clement Sankat, who got into some serious trouble with Florida law enforcement after he allegedly tried to steal a commercial aircraft from the Orlando Melbourne International Airport. Well, the 22 year-old University student, who was studying aviation management, will be deported back to his home country of Trinidad and Tobago. American news outlets say that on last Monday, he pleaded guilty to burglary to a conveyance. He was sentenced to time served for the 12 days he spent in custody, and he was ordered to pay $909.45, which was the cost of the investigation conducted by the airport's police.

Channel 5

San Ignacio Teen is Murdered Inside Temple at Cahal Pech Maya Monument
Police are perplexed at the murder of Bobby Garcia, a nineteen-year-old resident from San Ignacio who was viciously stabbed to death over the weekend. His body was found inside the [...]

Cowo Sisters Perish in Road Traffic Accident in Succotz; Driver Charged
Also in the west, two sisters perished in a horrible accident on Saturday morning. Cindy and Jarinet Cowo were travelling in the vehicle of fifty-three-year-old Belmopan contractor Carlos Martinez heading [...]

Did Pedro Pena Die of an Accidental Fall?
There is a third investigation taking place in western Belize. Benque police are looking into the sudden death of Pedro Pena. The elderly man was found with a large cut [...]

Humans Remains Found in Belmopan
Human remains were found on Friday morning at BWS’ sewage treatment compound in Belmopan. Police were alerted of the discovery at around nine o’clock that morning.  When they arrived on [...]

Body of U.S. Army Soldier Adrienne Barillas Returned to Belize
The body of twenty-two-year-old Adrienne Barillas, a Second Infantry Division soldier found dead at Camp Humphreys in South Korea, was returned to Belize this morning and handed over to her [...]

Convicted Murderers Get Sentence Reduced
Two men charged for the 2009 murder of fifty-nine-year-old Taiwanese businessman Tsong Ming Liou, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter on September twenty-sixth.  On Friday, the duo, thirty-two-year-old [...]

Ana Heredia is Viciously Attacked During Bar Brawl at La Barbie
A bar brawl at an establishment in Belize City almost claimed a woman’s life after being attacked with a bottle for attempting to part a group of fighting women.  Ana [...]

Thomas Ferguson Survives an Attack on His Life
A nineteen-year-old resident of Arlington Drive is lucky to have survived an attempt on his life on Friday night after coming under gunfire while talking to a friend a short [...]

Was Gun-toting OW Cop in the Company of a Wanted Man?
Police Constable Michael Patten remains under investigation for discharging a firearm outside of a nightclub in Orange Walk Town last week.  While the officer will be dealt with internally, criminal [...]

Magdiel Ceas Charged for Sexual Offence with Runaway Teen
Thirty-year-old Magdiel Ceas, a Belizean laborer of San Jose Village in the Orange Walk District has been charged with a criminal offense after it was discovered that he was sexually [...]

88 Patients to Now Benefit from MOH’s Hemodialysis Programme
Fifty-eight more patients with end-stage renal failure are now set to benefit from the Ministry of Health’s Hemodialysis Programme. The ministry made the announcement last week, stating that it will [...]

Claver College Nine are Back in their Classrooms
Tonight, nine teachers from Claver College Extension, who were summarily relieved of their duties at the evening division, are back in their respective classrooms after it was found that their [...]

Re-instated Teachers Say Students’ Academic Wellbeing Comes First
Word of the latest development was immediately passed on to the student body and a leaked email sent to the newly hired replacements was reportedly circulated.  That electronic communication indicated [...]

Belize Audubon Society – a Partner in Managed Access
Over the past decade or so, you may have heard fishermen report that there are dwindling fish stocks. They say that they have to go farther and their catch is [...]

Half Moon Caye Declared Rat Free
The Belize Audubon Society has successfully eradicated rats on Half Moon Caye. The invasive species were highlighted as a problem since the 1950’s and subsequent studies showed that the rats [...]

M.O.H. Wants to Ban Soft-drinks From Schools
The Ministry of Health wants to ban soft-drinks from schools countrywide, a move which has already been implemented in some Caribbean countries.  The announcement was made by Health Minister Pablo [...]

ACES Rescue Thomas the Croc!
The American Crocodile Education Sanctuary has rescued a ten-foot American Crocodile called Thomas from San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The outlook for the croc is uncertain at this time, as it [...]

The Weekend in Sports with James Adderley
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.   [Highlights of the weekend sporting activities...]

LOVE FM

Road Traffic Accident results in Cowo sisters drowning in Mopan River
Saturday morning saw a crowd gathered at the banks of the Mopan River in Succotz Village, Cayo District. It wasn’t a festive gathering but a somber one as residents and authorities struggled to recover the body of two young women. Reporter, Sitnah Blease has the story. Sitnah Blease: The Cowo family is currently mourning the …

La Barbie Brawl leaves one woman injured
La Barbie Restaurant and Bar on Orange Street in Belize City turned into a crime scene on last night just before eight o’clock. 41-year-old, Ana Heredia was rushed to the hospital when she intervened to stop a fight inside the establishment. Heredia’s son, Derrick Reneau was quite upset when he spoke via phone to Love …

5Cs helping farmers to adapt to climate change
Climate Change is a concern for many nations. While Belize is a minor contributor to the climate change impacts; its position on the map makes the country vulnerable to the effects. It is on this notion that Belize finds itself looking at ways to mitigate the effects and become resilient. Carlos Fuller, the Regional Liaison …

Taxi Driver stabbed by a passenger
Last week, we reported that 51-year-old, Rockson Odiete, a taxi driver, was stabbed multiple times by one of his passengers. Assistant Superintendent of Police, Alejandro Cowo supplied an update in the case. Asp Alejandro Cowo: “Police were called to Gentle Ave. where upon arrival they observed a male person of dark complexion lying on the pavement …

Eviction put on hold
A Belize City woman saved her family and two others from being homeless after she found out that the owners of the house she is renting was having the property demolished. Love News responded to the area on Baracat Street this morning and found the movers removing the furniture from the lower flat. The woman, …

US Army hands over body of deceased soldier to parents
Adrienne Barillas, the daughter of Michael Barillas and Emogene Lopez, was enlisted in the US Army as a water treatment specialist. Two weeks ago we reported of her unfortunate passing whilst stationed in South Korea. The body of the young woman was escorted home and handed over to her family earlier today. Jose Sanchez: “Twenty-two …

Teen killed in Mayan Temple at Cahal Pech
Nineteen year old, Bobby Garcia, a resident of Kevin Drive Street, succumbed to a tragic fate as he was murdered by his assailants in a Mayan temple, Plaza E, at Cahal Pech Archeological Reserve on Saturday night. According to Bobby’s family and the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Joseph Myvett, Garcia’s body was found around eight …

Breaking Belize News

Shyne Barrow to be endorsed for Mesop!
Music Ambassador, Shyne Barrow, will be the UDP’s candidate for Mesopotamia in the next general election. […]

New research says ancient Mayans cured fish and other meats for trade
The findings of a new study by researchers from Louisiana State University indicates that the ancient […]

Canadian arrivals up across the region
Belize and the rest of the Caribbean region have seen a significant increase in the number […]

Police: Bobby Garcia butchered at Cahal Pech Archaeological Site
Police have today issued an official report on a body recovered from the Cahal Pech Archaeological […]

Teachers from Peter Claver extension reinstated!
Our newsroom has confirmed that the nine teachers terminated from the Peter Claver Extension College have […]

Police investigating death of Benque Viejo man
Victor Cowo, 23, reported to police that on October 4, he was at his grandmother’s residence in Benque Viejo […]

Police investigating death of Benque Viejo man.
Victor Cowo, 23, reported to police that on October 4, he was at his grandmother’s residence in Benque Viejo […]

Police investigating murder of victim found at Cahal Pech
Yesterday morning around 8:30, police went to Plaza E at the Cahal Pech archeological site where […]

Hurricane Michael moves away from Belize
Belize’s National Meteorological service was closely monitoring Michael as it gained strength to a Category 1 […]

Cayo Special constables elect new Executive committee
On Sunday, October 7, 2018, the Cayo Special constables committee held an election for its executive […]

Michael strengthens to category 1 hurricane
The National Hurricane center continues to monitor Hurricane Michael. Michael has strenghtened swiftly into a category 1 hurricane. […]

Tropical Storm Michael could become Category 3 hurricane
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) says that Tropical Storm Michael was almost a hurricane early Monday […]

Blogs

Gorgeous Flowers, Pacas Preppy and Dodging Michael
Happy Sunday. This morning I awoke to a coolish breeze – had me reaching for my quiltie last night – and a… You might want to be seated for this. …a clear-ish beach. Far from perfect…and perhaps just swept out to sea for a day or two but it was a sight for sore eyes. The (now) Tropical Storm named Michael, after a week of sitting and festering off shore as cloudy, stormy weather, took a sharp turn to the north. And turned into a proper named storm.

International Sources

Stone tools found at an ancient Mayan factory reveal the mysterious culture cured fish on a mass scale and traded it with rival tribes 1,000 years ago
The mysterious Mayan culture used salt to cure fish on a mass scale as far back as 1,000 years ago, according to a new study. Ancient stone tools found at an ancient Mayan salt farm in Belize bear microscopic scuff marks that reveal they were frequently scraped against animal bones. Researchers suggest the group salted fish and other meats before trading it with other tribes, sometimes travelling 15 miles up a nearby river to close a deal. The study sheds light on how the Mayans - a culture we know little about due to their lack of a written language - met their dietary needs and traded with rival groups.

Explore these pristine, little-known Maya ruins
Dozens of swallowtail butterflies are dancing in the air, and we pull the car over to watch. We’ve been on the road in Belize for nearly three hours with no shortage of sightseeing along the way. The drive from San Ignacio winds through San Antonio, a Maya town that is also the home of my tour guide, Israel Canto. We drive through the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, and the deserted sustainable logging town next door. We take a pit stop to stretch our legs in a massive tunnel system–the Rio Frío Cave. Alas, we are on the final stretch, a few miles of dirt road leading to the largest Maya site in Belize–larger than its famous neighbor, Tikal in Guatemala. We are arriving at Caracol. “We effectively changed a lot of the perceptions about how a Maya city is composed and what a Maya city is,” says Chase. “When we started working there, no one could believe that Caracol was as large as we said it was,” a fact they proved through lidar scanning. Chase and his wife, Dr. Diane Chase, have been taking archaeological field teams out to Caracol since 1985, a time when the journey to the site was a two-day affair. In 2002, the Belizean government completed a road that cut down the trip to just a few hours. Today, Caracol sees about 10,000 visitors a year, which works out to just a few dozens a day.

Ancient Maya: Astrologists, Farmers ... And Salt Entrepreneurs?
The ancient Maya might be known for their mathematical aptitude, their accurate calendars, and their impressive temples. But did you know they were also salt entrepreneurs? During the peak of Maya civilization – from 300 to 900 A.D. — coastal Maya produced salt by boiling brine in pots over fires. The end result was shaped into salt cakes, then paddled by canoe to inland cities and traded at extensive markets. The latest evidence supporting the existence of the Maya salt empire comes from Heather McKillop, an archaeologist at Louisiana State University, and her co-author, anthropologist Kazuo Aoyama from Ibaraki University in Japan, an expert on stone tools.

Videos

October 8, 2018

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Wolfe’s Woofer: Marriage Advice
Mario and I were sitting on the deck at the Holiday Hotel drinking our coffee and looking forward to a day of doing nothing. “Hey, Mario! Hey, Mr. Dennis. You mind if I join you?” It was Moses, who works up the coast as a caretaker. “Pull up a chair Moses,” Mario said. “Hey, I hear you getting married. Is that true?” Moses said, “I been going with Tysha for three years and now she wants to get married so I guess we gonna get married. That’s what she’s telling everybody.”

What’s New: Kidtopia San Pedro
Island children can officially say they have their own club! Kidtopia San Pedro is located on the second floor of Sancas Realty Plaza (Unit #13) on Coconut Drive, downtown San Pedro. It is the island’s first-ever kids club/drop-off center that consists of a playground area, arts and crafts station, kitchen, mini library, and video game station, alongside a whole bunch of other fun-filled activities that will keep your children happy and entertained. Founder and owner Christina Potvin welcome clients warmly, the space designed to make children feel like they are on a set for “Alice in Wonderland.” The first view inside Kidtopia is the large kitchen area, where aspiring junior chefs can unleash their skills with play-doh ingredients, and sometimes even real ones. Adjacent to the kitchen is the arts and crafts area, where children get to explore their creativity with a plethora of crafty materials.

Doctor Love: First Crush and Moms
Dear Doctor Love, I am fifteen years old and I have a crush on my teacher. Even though I know he is off limits I can’t quit thinking about him and I am afraid I will let it show. Is this normal? /s/First Crush Dear First Crush, It is very common for a young lady to fixate on an older person in authority but it’s best to only allow this for a short time. If you attempt anything more than innocent thoughts it would become a big problem for him and embarrassing for you. So it is best you put him out of your mind and begin to think of a more suitable boyfriend type.

Misc Belizean Sources

Launch of the 20th Edition of "DESTINATION BELIZE"
Save the Date - October 20th, 2018 is the launch of the 20th Edition of "DESTINATION BELIZE", Belize's signature magazine.

Boo at the Zoo V
The 5th annual Boo at the Zoo will be on Saturday November 3rd, from 1:30pm to 5:30pm. Are you ready to celebrate 'Howlereen?' The Belize Zoo's Halloween celebration promises unique fun for all ages. "We have begun preparing for another spooky, special event at TBZ. Our 5th annual Boo at the Zoo will be held on Saturday November 3rd. Mark your calendars, and stay tuned for updates!" more...

The Reporter

FECTAB Squares Off Against BTB
Consultations will have to be extended in order to determine if the tour operator business that is conducted at Terminal 1 at the Fort Street Tourism Village will be relocated to the Marion Jones Stadium. The extension on consultations come on the heels of firm rejection from the Federation of Cruise Tourism Associations (FECTAB) to the Belize Tourism Board’s (BTB) proposal. BTB had made the proposal for the relocation on grounds traffic congestion issues at the tourist village on days when cruise ships visit.

STRANGE MURDER AT CAHAL PECH, – ANCIENT MAYA SITE
Police are currently processing the scene of a murder at the Cahal Pech Maya site. The body of a Hispanic male has been found with his throat cut in one of the main temples of the site. He had on sweatpants and no shirt. We’ll have more details as we get them.

Breaking Belize News

Tropical Storm Michael Forms, Could Threaten Gulf Coast as a Hurricane This Week
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is monitoring Tropical Storm Michael which formed this morning in the Caribbean Sea. According to the NHC, Tropical Storm Michael is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane over the next couple of days.

Police detain driver involved in fatal traffic accident that claimed the lives of 2 sisters
Police have issued an official report on the fatal traffic accident that happened yesterday in San Jose Succotz Village, Cayo District. According to reports, yesterday about 4 am, Carlos Martinez, 53, a contractor of Belmopan was driving his grey and white Toyota Rav 4 on the George Price Highway and heading to San Jose Succotz Village. Martinez was in the company of Jarinet Cowo, 16, and Cindy Cowo 26, (two sisters from Succotz Village).

Youth found murdered at Cahal Pech Maya Ruins
The body of a Hispanic man was recovered from the Cahal Pech Mayan Temples in San Ignacio, Cayo earlier today. BBN has been able to confirm his identity as Bobby Garcia. Garcia was observed with a deep slit to his throat.

Teller charged for stealing from National Bank
Our newsroom has documented several allegations of irregularities at the National Bank of Belize (NBB). However, none of those allegations had more substance than an employee recently charged with theft from the institution. He has been identified as bank teller, Ivor Garcia, 19.

Belize’s Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller wins another fight!
Belize’s Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller knocked out Tomasz Adamek last night in the second round of their scheduled 12-rounder in Chicago, USA. Miller gave Adamek a right uppercut that left him in a squatting position at the start of the second round then gave him another right uppercut several seconds later.

Dangriga Primary School shuts down due to “messy” sewage system
Sacred Heart Primary School in Dangriga Town was shut down on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 due to a sewage problem. According to reports, the toilets in the school bathrooms were not flushing and overthrowing causing an unsanitary environment for students and staff.

Belize monitoring newly formed Tropical Depression
The National Hurricane Center and the National Meteorological Center of Belize are monitoring Tropical Depression (TD) 14. TD14 is located near latitude 18.6 North, longitude 86.9 West and is moving toward the north-northwest near 3 miles per hour.

Haiti records deaths in earthquake last night
Last night, Haiti was struck by a strong 5.9 magnitude earthquake. The United States Geological Survey reported that the epicenter of the quake was located 12 miles northwest of Port-de- Paix. Haitian authorities have recorded 11 deaths,135 injured, and significant damages to buildings.

International Sources

Regional water company clarifies recent news item from Belize
Consolidated Water Co. Ltd, a leading developer and operator of seawater desalination plants, has clarified recent news reports from Belize that stated that the House of Representatives of Belize approved a sovereign guaranty for a proposed loan from the Caribbean Development Bank of BZ$17 million (US$8.5 million) to enable Belize Water Services Ltd to acquire all of the shares of Consolidated Water (Belize) Limited and to expand its water treatment plant, retrofit the San Pedro water and sewerage system and make other improvements to the country’s water distribution network. One of these reports further stated that the “acting prime minister Patrick Faber introduced a motion in the house which will trigger the acquisition of the company (meaning CW-Belize)”. Commenting on these reports, Rick McTaggart, president and CEO of the company, clarified that “while the company had signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Belize Water Services Ltd earlier this year with respect to the potential sale of the CW-Belize shares, the parties have not negotiated nor executed any binding transaction documents.

Videos

October 7, 2018

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

GOB obtains $8.5 million loan to improve San Pedro’s water system
The acquisition of an $8.5 million loan for the water and sewerage expansion in southern Ambergris Caye was debated at the Senate on Wednesday, October 3rd in the capital city of Belmopan. The loan was obtained from the Caribbean Development Bank, and part of it will be used to acquire shares of Consolidated Water Belize Limited (CWBL), which currently supplies Belize Water Services Limited (BWSL) on the island with water. The funds will also be used to expand the existing water treatment plant, renovate the island’s water and sewage system and improve the water distribution pipelines. The debate provided mixed opinions about the loan, as some Senators believe that the monies should be invested in infrastructure, rather than in purchasing shares.

The government of Belize to expand Hemodialysis Program
On Wednesday, October 3rd the Prime Minister of Belize Right Honorable Dean Barrow, with the approval and support of the Cabinet announced that the Hemodialysis program is being expanded to cover more than twice the number of patients at end-stage renal failure. For Belizeans struggling to pay for treatment, the decision is a welcome one, as dialysis is high-priced with many patients losing lives due to the prohibitive expense. According to the release issued from the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Health will contract Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), Loma Luz Hospital, Miguel Rosado Dialysis Center, and Dialysis del Caribe to provide two dialysis sessions per week per patient, with the patient only required to pay for the third session. The ministry has evaluated and certified that these establishments have met acceptable standards for quality care.

Rotaract Club of Ambergris Caye launches Environmental Educational Campaign
Hoping to educate island children on the importance of protecting and keeping our environment clean, the Rotaract Club of Ambergris Caye along with MarAlliance has launched an Environmental Educational Campaign in San Pedro Town. The campaign is spearheaded by Rotaract’s Job Mendizabal, Kyle Vasquez, Rachel Jensen and members of MarAlliance. Vice President of the Rotaract Club Kyle Vasquez told The San Pedro Sun that the idea of the program began in May of this year after they received monetary donations from ECI Development and Grand Baymen. This new program seemed perfect as it targeted four out of the Rotaract’s six areas of focus when implementing projects: disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, basic education and literacy and economic and community development.

Misc Belizean Sources

Paco Smith on the Referendum
Allow me to begin by first stating, I acknowledge that everyone is entitled to their opinion, even in instances when all that is required is fundamental common-sense, in order to discern that which is i versus that which is not or that which is prudent, versus that which is not. A most topical issue involves the impending Referendum slated for 10th April 2019 and to even the most causal of observers, I trust the gravity of this matter has finally hit home. After all, the bipartisan "brain-trust" has, against all accepted measures and practises associated with Good Governance Principles, backed Belize into a corner, to the point that we will vote on whether to take Guatemala's unfounded claim to our sovereign territory to the ICJ. Based on their actions to-date, they are hell-bent on having their way. This is demonstrated via their farce of a so-called Referendum Education Campaign, which does not make appropriation for those with a dissenting voice, by excluding us as presenters during these sessions.

Graham Creek and Machakilha
Nurses, caretakers like Elbia Chiac, Mauricio Ack, Juan Ishim and other others at ministry of health also have to make the journey to Graham Creek and Machakilha on a regular basis...walking 2 hours each way after a long drive through mud, hot sun, rain...all kinds of things...to ensure babies are vaccinated and pregnant women get their check-ups....about 3yrs ago GOB changed the public service regulations, so that now, once you remain in the district where you are stationed, you only receive a $10 or $16.67 "meal allowance".....

Caye Caulker BTIA Annual Tourism Training 2018
Save the Date: November 1-16, 2018

FATAL RTA IN SUCCOTZ
On 6.10.2018 about 4:00 a.m., Carlos Martin Martinez 53-year-old, Belizean, Contractor of a Belmopan address was driving his Grey and White Toyota Rav 4 on the George Price Highway heading to San Jose Succotz Village and was in the company of Jarinet Consuelo Cowo 16-year-old, and Cindy Miselly Cowo 26-year-old, Belizean Sisters of San Jose Succotz Village. Upon reaching between miles 71 and 72 on George Price Highway, Martinez lost control of his Vehicle and ran into the Mopan River, causing the vehicle to submerge under water, with both Cowo sisters trapped in the vehicle. The bodies of both females were removed and transported to the San Ignacio Hospital where they were pronounced dead. The driver escaped unhurt and is in police custody pending investigation.

STILL THE CHAMPIONS
The Dragons traveled North today to the Corozal Civic Center to claim their victory over the Orange Walk Rebels with a 6 point lead as they scored the win at 57-51. Congratulations fellas!!

Launch of the Destination Belize 20th Edition
October 24th

Support Recycle San Pedro: GoFundMe
Recycle San Pedro is the only recycling organization in Ambergris Caye. Currently we have blue recycle bins for plastic bottles in over 40 locations on the island. We pick up twice weekly from these barrels and then send the bottles to be shredded and the caps to interlocking pavers to be turned into bricks. We also crush all glass for recycling and give to interlocking pavers to make recycled bricks. This does come at an expense as we have to pay the guy that collects the bottles for us, as well as for plastic bags and for the blue bins located at different businesses throughout the island. We are also in the process of purchasing a plastic shredder for the island so we can recycle more than just bottles. Then we can do bags, cups and all sorts of single use plastics. We are running low on funds to keep the recycling going and would appreciate any and all assistance to keep our beautiful island clean for future generations.

RefugiArte Exhibit Launch
From photos.google.com - October 6, 12:50 PM Pictures from the launch of the RefugiARTE exhibit launch. It just finished its run at the SISE HoC. Some really nice works of art. In related news, the new exhibit was launched on Thursday, October 4th, and it's all about the sustainable summer camp that happened in Bullet Tree. NICH has a video of the opening ceremonies. Pictures on fb.

Tropical Agriculture Educational Conference
The first Tropical Agriculture Educational Conference will be held at the National Agriculture & Trade Show grounds from November 13th through the 15th. Anyone interested in tropical agriculture is welcome to go to the free event. "Educational event for Regeneration Belize and Regeneration International. 3 days of International and Local speakers highlighting regenerative practices for no pesticide farming."

October Big Day in Toledo
We had a blast today on October Big Day! Preliminarily, we recorded 102 bird species in Toledo District, southern Belize. We will be posting our list on eBird later.

The Independent Yucatec Maya Communities during the Guerra Social Maya(Caste War 1847-1930's)
Today the Yucatec Maya in Belize also called themselves Maya Mestizo,Masewal,Maya Masewal,Maya or Mayero .During the Caste war they were divided into different groups like the Icaiche,Cruzoob etc . In 1850 the Chan Santa Cruz state founded by the Yucatec Maya group known as the Cruzoob Maya, stretching from north of Tulum to the Belize border and a considerable distance inland, was the largest of the independent Maya communities of the era but not the only one. The Ixcanha Maya community had a population of some 1,000 people who refused the Cruzob's break with traditional Catholicism. In the years of stalemate, Ixcanha agreed to nominal recognition of Mexico in exchange for some guns to defend themselves from Cruzob raids and the promise that the Mexican government would leave them alone. As Chan Santa Cruz was more of a worry, the Mexicans let Ixcanha govern itself through 1894.

The Reporter

TWO SISTERS DROWN WHEN VEHICLE RUNS INTO RIVER
Sisters, Cindy Miselly Cowo, 26, a waitress and Jarinet Consuelo Cowo, 16, of San Jose Succotz Village, Cayo, lost their lives early this morning when the vehicle they were travelling in careened off the George Price Highway and into the Mopan River. The incident happened around 4:00am, in the same village.

BANK TELLER CHARGED WITH THEFT
Police have arrested and charged Ivor Garcia, 19, a bank teller employed with the National Bank of Belize Limited, with the crime of Theft. The arrest follows a report made by Alvaro Alamina, 60, the General Manager of the bank, who told police that an audit conducted at the bank on Regent Street last week Friday revealed that two bundles of $50 worth $10,000 and another bundle in $20 notes worth $2,000 were missing.

EARLY MORNING ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ON THE GEORGE PRICE HWY KILLS 2
The bodies of the two persons who were in the vehicle that careened off the George Price Highway and into the Mopan River earlier this morning have been recovered. The Reporter has confirmed that the two persons, sisters, Cindy Cowo, 25, and Consuelo Cowo, 16, were from San Jose Succotz Village, Cayo, where the incident happened.

VIDEO – ACCUSED CHILD ABDUCTOR GOES TO COURT – BAIL HEARING IS ADJOURNED
ritish National Roger Wallis, who is accused of attempted kidnapping, is still in custody after Friday’s bail hearing. Despite the nature of the charges, the DPP’s office did not object to bail. But presiding judge, Adolph Lucas posed a number of concerns and has ordered the crown to provide him with the victim’s statements in order to decide whether or not to grant Wallis bail.

Breaking Belize News

Belizean NFL superstar signs with Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Belizean American, Rakeem Nune Roches, 25, has earned a spot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On Tuesday, the fourth-year defensive tackle officially signed his contract.

Alleged child kidnapper wants bail
British National, Roger Wallis, 63, who was arrested and charged in connection with an attempted kidnapping in Belmopan last month is asking the Supreme Court for bail. Yesterday, Wallis Attorney, Hurl Hamilton made an application for Supreme Court bail before Justice Adolph Lucas. However, Justice Lucas had concerns granting Wallis bail and thus the case was adjourned for next week Friday.

Human remains discovered in Belmopan
esterday authorities in Belmopan discovered human remains near the Belize Water Services sewage plant that is close by the Agric Showgrounds. According to reports, the remains are of a male person however police cannot ascertain the cause of his death.

Brewing tropical disturbance can target Belize early next week
Satellite data, surface observations, and radar data from Belize indicate that an area of low pressure is centered over the northwestern Caribbean Sea east of northern Belize. According to a report from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the associated showers and thunderstorms show signs of organization and the wind circulation is gradually becoming better defined.

More details surface on fatal traffic accident in Succotz
According to reports, the accident happened around 4 am today. A man was traveling from Benque to Succotz village with two young ladies when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the Mopan River. This morning around 9, BBN Newsroom was informed of a car crash in Succotz Village, Cayo District. According to reports, the car crashed into the Mopan River and two persons reportedly died.

Central American Agriculture Council Meeting Held in Belize
On Thursday, October 4, 2018, the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Central American Agriculture Council hosted a one-day National Consultation Workshop for the Central American Agriculture Council Regional Agriculture Policy. According to a press release from the Government of Belize, the purpose of the workshop was to define the objectives, lines of action and the regional policy measures for the five priority areas.

“Belizean products have global competitiveness,” says Caribbean Export
According to the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA), Belizean businesses can hold a competitive space in the world market if greater care is taken in making businesses export ready. Zamanie Moodie, Market Intelligence Adviser for the CEDA, emphasized that Belizean products are “very competitive,” however companies need to be more aware of opportunities that exist and how to access those opportunities.

Bus drivers risk people’s lives by repeatedly overtaking each other on George Price Highway
Reports reaching our newsroom are that there was almost a fatal bus collision involving a J&J Bus and a Silva’s Bus, both coming from Cayo this morning around 5:10. A source told BBN that the buses rammed at each other twice, once near Georgeville and the other in Teakettle.“Both buses were pulled over by Police in Roaring Creek. Accordingly, the Silva’s bus was behind their scheduled hours which triggered the situation to escalate.

International Sources

This major discovery upends long-held theories about the Maya civilisation
IN THE autumn of 1929, Anne Morrow Lindbergh and her husband Charles flew across the Yucatán Peninsula. With Charles at the controls, Anne snapped photographs of the jungles just below. She wrote in her journal of Maya structures obscured by large humps of vegetation. A bright stone wall peeked through the leaves, “unspeakably alone and majestic and desolate – the mark of a great civilisation gone.” Nearly a century later, surveyors once again took flight over the ancient Maya empire, and mapped the Guatemala forests with lasers. The 2016 survey, whose first results were published this week in the journal Science, comprises a dozen plots covering 830 square miles, an area larger than the island of Maui. It is the largest such survey of the Maya region, ever. The study authors describe the results as a revelation. “It’s like putting glasses on when your eyesight is blurry,” said study author Mary Jane Acuña, director of El Tintal Archaeological Project in Guatemala.

Commonwealth SG pledges support for Belize in border dispute with Guatemala
Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland has ended a two-day visit here pledging the 53-member grouping’s support for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country in its long-standing border dispute with Guatemala. The Secretary General, who held talks with Prime Minister Dean Barrow on his return to office following spinal surgery in Cuba, said that they had discussed the proposed 2019 referendum, when Belizean voters will decide whether or not to take the dispute with Guatemala to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a final resolution. “I have made it clear during my visit that the referendum is entirely a matter for the Belize electorate. What I was able to do is to reassure the Prime Minister of the trenchant support of the whole of the Commonwealth family. This was reaffirmed by leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) in April.

Caribbean continues to lament lack of support for SIDS
In a week of marathon speeches at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), no theme was unequivocally more worrisome for Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries than the lack of support – whether financial and otherwise – for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Caribbean leaders, therefore, continued to lament this paucity, saying that global policies, programmes and strategies remain “unfairly unaccommodating” to the “very real and true challenges” facing SIDS. Noting that 2019 will mark 25 years of the United Nations’ support to the SIDS Agenda, Belize’s Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred P. Elrington said his country joins in the call for a renewed commitment to the special case of SIDS and for “systematically targeted support” to respond to the particular needs of SIDS, such as those identified by the Caribbean SIDS in the San Pedro Declaration adopted in Belize in August.

Videos

October 6, 2018

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Final Update on the 2018 Re-registration of Electors Exercise
The Elections and Boundaries Department is pleased to present its Final update to the public on the 2018 Re-registration of Electors Exercise which concluded on 30th September, 2018. A Final update is hereby provided as follows for the period 23rd to 30th September, 2018. During the period a total of Six Thousand, Three Hundred and Seventy-Six (6,376) applications were accepted, therefore the total number of applications received as at 30th September, 2018, is One Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Two (130,792) or 63.78% of the registered electors, prior to the commencement of the Re-registration of Electors Exercise.

The San Pedro Town Council pleased with Sargassum clean-up campaign
A total of 1,700 yards of Sargassum was removed from the beaches of San Pedro Town during a massive clean-up campaign on September 27th and 28th, after the non-stop influx of the seaweed was declared a natural disaster. The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) spearheaded the initiative, which led to the formation of the San Pedro Sargassum Task Force Group (SPSTFG). This clean-up campaign is part of a short-term plan to ensure that the accumulated Sargassum is removed from the beaches.

Secretary General of the Commonwealth supports Belize’s integrity and weighs in on the upcoming ICJ referendum
Secretary General of the Commonwealth, the Right Honourable Patricia Scotland, reaffirmed the organization’s staunch support of Belize’s sovereignty and territorial integrity during her two-day visit to the country on October 1st and 2nd. The Secretary-General indicated that Belize and the Commonwealth continue to enjoy excellent relations, as the Jewel is very important to the organization. Scotland also spoke of the position of the Commonwealth on the upcoming referendum on whether Belize should head to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to end the Guatemalan territorial claim. While she did not encourage a yes or no vote, Scotland was clear on the Commonwealth’s point of view that there is no legality in the Guatemalan claim.

2018 Mosquito Awareness Week Jingle Competition
The Ministry of Health in collaboration with Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Belize Red Cross are officially launching a jingle competition for the 2018 Mosquito Awareness Week, which is scheduled to take place from Monday, October 22nd to Friday, October 26th, under the theme: “Fight the Bite. Destroy Mosquito Breeding Sites.” The objective of this week is to sensitize Belizeans about personal protection and the elimination of breeding sites to reduce the prevalence of vector-borne diseases (VBDS). This year’s campaign focuses on increasing community participation in the elimination of breeding sites for Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya, Zika and urban yellow fever. Aedes mosquitos are well adapted to human settlements and tend to breed in stagnant waters in manmade containers such as tires, buckets, barrels, planters, and trash containers. This is why it is so important to get citizens actively involved in mosquito control.

Ambergris Today

New Mental Health Support Group For Family Caregivers In Belize
A new organization has been established that seeks to strengthen and support family members, in their roles as caregivers of persons with mental disabilities through advocacy, networking, education, and public awareness. In 2016, a small group of concerned parents and individuals came together to share experiences of living with a family member suffering from mental illness and identified the need for an advocacy organization. FAITH (Families Advocating for Improvements in the Treatment of Mental Health) was officially registered in February 2018 and has begun working in the Belmopan community. The organization will work in collaboration with mental health professionals and other stakeholders to advocate for the necessary improvements in services.

Misc Belizean Sources

San Pedro Town Mayor Daniel Guerrero States Opposition to Approved Development at Cayo Rosario
Members of the board of the Ambergris Caye Citizen for Sustainable Development (ACCSD) held a very successful meeting with San Pedro Mayor Daniel Guerrero on Thursday, September 26th to discuss the controversial Cayo Rosario Development. Mayor Guerrero stated that he is “totally against” the Cayo Rosario development as it has been approved within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Mayor Daniel Guerrero and the San Pedro Town Council stand with the ACCSD recognizing that the Hol Chan Marine Reserve is one of this island’s most important environmental and economic assets.

Hon. Carla Barnett Meets with Christian Workers Union and Port of Belize Limited
On Tuesday, October 2nd, the Ministry of Labour was informed of an impasse in the negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to cover Stevedores via a letter from the Christian Workers Union (CWU) dated September 28th, 2018. The CWU declared notice to institute industrial action against the Port of Belize Limited (PBL) in accordance with Section (15) of the Settlement of Disputes in Essential Services Act, Chapter 298, Laws of Belize. Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour Dr. Carla Barnett, immediately embarked on a fact-finding exercise to determine whether an impasse does exist. On Wednesday and Thursday, October 3rd and 4th, the Minister held two separate meetings each with the CWU and the PBL, respectively, to ascertain what had transpired so far and to encourage both parties to resume negotiations. These meetings revealed that negotiations have been ongoing for over six years and that there are several issues on which agreements have already been reached and implemented through several Memoranda of Understanding which are to be incorporated in the final CBA.

S.O.S Cuisine is now open in Corozal
We are now open from Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Calls at 666-3640.

Tourism Industry Conference 2018 Hosted by Belize Tourism Board
You are cordially invited to the annual Tourism Industry Conference 2018. "Rising Tourism Trends & its Impact on the Belize Market." RSVP Before October 8th to reserve your spot! Friday, October 19, 2018 at 8:30 AM – 4 PM, The Ramada Belize City Princess

Miss and Mister San Pedro High School 2018-2019
Congratulations to the newly elected Miss and Mister San Pedro High School 2018-2019, Aaliyah Pilgrim (Leah J. Pilgrim), and Kurt Cus (Kurt Ayo Çus)! May you both reign well!

MONITORING INVEST 91 L - PREPARING FOR POSSIBLE FLOODING
As we enter the weekend, we advise Belizeans, particularly those living in flood prone areas, to stay alert and informed as our National Met Service and National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) continue to monitor a broad area of disturbance in the Caribbean Sea which the Hurricane Center has named Invest 91L, and which has a high chance of tropical development late this weekend or early next week in the Caribbean Sea or southern Gulf of Mexico. Regardless of development, this will bring torrential rainfall to portions of Central America (including Belize) and the Yucatan Peninsula over the next few days, which can cause flooding. So far NEMO has NOT issued an ADVISORY, but will do so if and when it becomes necessary.

Doña Maria's new location in San Pedro
Doña Maria is happy at her new location on the corner entrance of the Escalante Subdivision. Her fruit/veg stand looks bright and inviting.

Blue Creek river rising
These are the hardship and struggles High school students, primary school teachers and students, commuters face when Blue Creek river goes up.

Injured Tapir
In early March of this year, we reported on our response to an injured tapir in the Lord's Bank area, Belize District. The Vet who responded Dr. Orlando Amir Baptist recommended that "Lordess" be brought in for medical care; she had several lacerations, was very thin, loaded with ticks, she had an upper respiratory infection and was only breathing through her mouth. After consultation with the Forest Department, "Lordess" was taken to the Belize Zoo. During the past seven months, several other veterinarians including Drs.Sarrah Kaye Teri Weronko Adam Denish and George Kollias have provided additional evaluation and treatment for "Lordess." Our hope was to release her back into the wild...however on the advice of the vets this will no longer be an option. She still has a molar infection that needs to be addressed and will require at least 2 hours under general anesthesia. We are happy to report that we are finally seeing a gradual increase in her weight, from 365lbs back in May to 377lbs on her last weigh a few weeks ago. It is hope that "Lordess" will eventually join the "geriatric" tapirs at the Belize Zoo and serve as an ambassador for her species.

Football Workshop
The Corozal Football Association in conjunction with the Corozal Sports Council takes this opportunity to thank each and every participant that took part in today's workshop. We are pleased with the positive outcomes and involvement of each coach/teacher displayed during the session. Our office expresses acknowledgement to: 1. The Football Federation of Belize (host) 2. The Nsc Belize (co-host) 3. Mr. Louis Arcurio (Commissioner) 4. Mr. Frank Sutherland (Instructor/ Technical) 5. Mr. Carlos Net Acosta Sr. (Coordinator) 6. Mr. Ivan Puerto Martinez (Chairman-CSC) 7. Mr. Abimael Yam and Mrs. Daniels (Referee Representative) 8. Ms. Miriam Villamil (HR) This is the beginning of many upcoming training for our District.

His Excellency Mr. Charles K. Y. Liu,visits ATM
His Excellency Mr. Charles K. Y. Liu, the Ambassador of Taiwan (ROC) to Belize recently visited both the Actun Tunichil Muknal and the Benque Viejo Archaeological Reserves.

VACANCY: Massage Therapist/Esthetician in San Pedro

Channel 7

Labour Minister Says Port Players Inching Back Towards Negotiating Table
Last night you saw both sides of the labour dispute between the Christian Workers Union, which is representing the stevedores, and the management of the Port of Belize. The negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement between the waterfront workers and the port's management have reached an impasse. And so the Government, through the Ministry of Labour, has had to step in a try to resolve it as a mediator, so that the stevedores don't strike in 21 days. The dispute is based on hours of work. The Port wants the stevedores to stop working very long shifts - from the Port's perspective, it's against the labor law. The stevedores - on the other hand - welcome the long hours of work, because they earn more. Both sides aren't budging, so the Minister of State for Labour, Dr. Carla Barnett has been doing shuttle diplomacy to break the impasse.

Heavy Weather Rolling In This Weekend
Some heavy weather could be rolling into Belize this weekend and you need to be prepared - especially if you are in flood prone areas. The low pressure area is called Invest 91L, and right now it's sitting near Cabo Gracias a Dios or just north of eastern Honduras. Here's why you need to watch it closely. The National Met Service says the models show that it will move west-northwest towards Belize then turn northward on Sunday. Some models show the low center coming just offshore Belize by Sunday morning.

Alleged Attempted Abductor Asks For Bail, Judge Balks
63 year-old Roger Wallis, the British national who police charged for 2 counts attempted kidnapping, has been on remand at the Belize Central Prison for 5 days. Police say that he tried to kidnap an 8 year-old boy in Belmopan on last week Monday. Well, his attorney, Hurl Hamilton, made an application for Supreme Court bail on his behalf today before Justice Adolph Lucas. Hamilton tried to convince the judge that Wallis is not a flight risk, and that he has been living in Belize for the past 3 years.

FECTAB Fumes And Then Makes Friends
Last night, we told you how the Belize Tourism Board and the Belize City Council pumped the brakes and postponed what they were calling a "dry run" to move the small local tour operators from the FSTV to an area near the Marion Jones Stadium. The idea is to ease the congestion outside of the tourism village. It first came up earlier this year when the former UDP City Council first floated it. At the time, the local tour operators strenuously resisted it - and Mayor-to-be Bernard Wagner sided with the local tour operators. But that's back when he was trying to get elected, and so those same tour operators were outraged when it appeared that he was going back on his word. This morning, FECTAB organized a press conference at the Radisson, to sending a resounding message that they will resist this change, if BTB and the Council tries to push the issue.

School Shut Down For Sewage Problem
Imagine a school of almost 500 students having to shut down for four days - just because the sewerage system is all messed up. It's happening right now in Dangriga at Sacred Heart Primary School. Principal Phillipa Hewlett told us she was forced to shut down school simply because all the school's toilets could not flush and many of them were backing up. A filthy mess, and no way to have 480 students and 23 staff. So, the principal took a decision to call off classes from earlier this week on Wednesday to next week Tuesday. During that time, she has used some donated funds to replace the ancient sewerage system that has been failing for years.

Cabbie Stabbing
A taxi man was stabbed in Belize City last night - fortunately he survived and is in a stable condition. At around 11:00, 51 year old Rockson Odiete was in a van with a male passenger on Gentle Avenue - which happens to be close to the taxi-man;s home. This passenger reportedly attacked him, and stabbed him to the chest and hands. Odiete ran into a drain and his passenger dashed off. Police have made no arrests but do have a suspect.

Bones In Belmopan Yield No Clues
A gathering of bones, believed to be human remains were found in Belmopan today. The discovery was made near the WASA sewage plant, near the agricultural showgrounds on hummingbird Highway. It's far from definitive as there are just a few scattered bones - which is hardly enough for police to form a full picture. They note also that it could have run off form the sewage plant. The Forensic examiner has not yet reached any conclusion on whether the bones are form a male or female or of what age the person was.

Fire on Jimmy Dyer
A 72 year old man was almost burnt alive in his home last night. It happened after 8:00 on Jimmy Dyer Street on Fabers Road Extension. Delvino Vasquez was inside his home sleeping when his house caught on fire. A man alerted him and he was able to get out in time. We spoke to a helpful neighbor off camera. Voice of: Neighbor: "I was in my room already laying down on my bed when I heard my daughter yelled fire. So I came outside. We all ran down the steps, but I went straight to the pipe to get a bucket that was already filled. But when I came to the gate, the fire was already blazing. So I didn't even bother to throw the water. One of the neighbors called the fire service and then we just waited, but during the time when the fire started the neighbor was in the house, but at the same time a BDF soldier was passing and he helped the man out of the house and so he came out and just watch the house go up in flames."

Arenal Sensemilla
Yesterday we told you about major weed discoveries in the north. Well out west, Benque Viejo Police say that they found a sack of weed yesterday.. At around 2:00 in the afternoon, cops searched a bushy area at mile 3 on the Arenal Road. That's where they found a red sack which contained 26 pounds of marijuana. Nobody was in the area, and the drugs were deposited as found property. Arenal is known as a major transit point for weed from Guatemala.

Buckshot in Benque
And the Benuqe cops say that also found an illegal shotgun. At around 7:30 a.m. yesterday, officers searched a bushy lot on Riverside Street in the Town, and after an entire sweep of the property, they found a 12-gauge pump action shotgun. Again, no one was in the area, and so it has been labeled and deposited as found property.

The PSE And Prisoners
Every year we cover the PSE, we interview the kids after they sit the exams and of course evaluate their performance. Well, there is a group of PSE takers that don't get all the publicity, they are the Kolbe Foundation prisoners and they are very much worthy of note. There was a ceremony at the prison today to celebrate 13 inmates who passed the PSE. Also, over 50 inmates received certificates in andragogy training which is a method of teaching adult learners. Here is Chief Executive Officer Virgilio Murillo's message to the inmates.

Claver College Crisis Continues
Today there were reports that the situation at Claver College in Punta Gorda had been resolved. The story we got was that the teachers would be re-instated, and the students - who spent all of last week protesting - would be back in class. That would have been a happily ever after, but it is not to be. Chairman of the Board Lisel Alamilla told us that she is happy to hear the students are coming back to class but the teachers are not being reinstated. She said the new teachers will be the ones showing up to teach. She added that police will be there to ensure their safety since threats have been made.

Jarrell, The Big Baby Ready To Rumble at 317 Lbs.
Tomorrow, Belizean-American Jarrell Miller will fight in Chicago - as the top ranked heavyweight contender makes another step towards his bid for the world heavyweight title. The undefeated 30 year old will face 41 year old Polish fighter, Tomasz Adamek at DePaul University's Wintrust Arena. According to boxingscene.com, Jarrell, or as he is known, Big Baby, weighed in at a career-high 317 pounds, 90 pounds more than Adamek's 227. Big Baby has definitely been doubling up on those salbutes he likes to talk about so much - and he is about 13 pounds heavier then he was for his last fight which was a victory.

Channel 5

FECTAB: We Will Not Be Moved to Marion Jones
The Federation of Cruise Tourism Associations of Belize, FECTAB, is at odds once again with the Belize Tourism Board; this time over a proposal to remove tour operators from the [...]

FECTAB Predicted Shortcomings of Cruise Tourism Industry
FECTAB President, Yhony Rosado broke down how the move has personally affected him and other tour operators, saying that the small tour operators predicted that their fate would be hanging [...]

CitCo to Shelf Proposal until Further Consultations
As we said, Thursday’s press conference was postponed at the request of the City Council because of the outcry by the tour operators. Today, Deputy Mayor Oscar Arnold attended the [...]

Does B.T.B. Have the Best Interest of Small Tour Operators?
FECTAB says that the B.T.B. is appeasing Carnival Cruise Lines at the detriment of the small tour operators and tour guides posted outside of FSTV. According to the umbrella organization, [...]

CEMO Meets to Look at Approaching Weather System
A weather system is looming near Honduras and it is expected that it will become a tropical depression as it passes near Belize over the weekend.  The City Emergency Management [...]

Flood Prone Areas are Identified in the Belize District and the Old Capital
According to Al Westby, Central Regional Coordinator for NEMO, district coordinators have been asked to identify flood prone areas within their respective communities.  River monitors have also been called in [...]

Stevedores and Port Management to Resume Discussions on October Tenth
Will cooler heads prevail between waterfront workers and the management of Port of Belize Limited, as the twenty-one day notice for industrial action inches closer?  Both parties are yet to [...]

Graham Creek Village Forgotten and Neglected?
This week, we showed you the story of Graham Creek Government School, where the commitment of two dedicated teachers to the teaching profession has inspired many across the country. The [...]

MOE Knows About Graham Creek Teachers’ Hardship
The arduous journey that teachers of Graham Creek Government School embark upon in order to carry out their responsibility of teaching children in one of Belize’s most southern villages continues [...]

MOE to Intervene in Claver College Troubles
Some sixty-five students at Saint Peter Claver College Extension in Punta Gorda are demanding that the nine teachers who were terminated by the school’s board be reinstated. The students staged [...]

13 Inmates Successfully Sit P.S.E.
Thirteen inmates of the Belize Central prison today proudly received their certificate of recognition for successfully sitting the Primary School Examinations. Another fifty-six inmates also received recognition for completing training [...]

Fire Destroys Small Home on Jimmy Dyer Street
A fire in vicinity of Faber’s Road on Thursday night completely destroyed a small wooden structure reportedly occupied by an elderly couple.  The blaze happened on Jimmy Dyer Street sometime [...]

OW Police Looking for Juan Quintero
Twenty-eight-year-old Orange Walk resident Juan “Canikas” Quintero is wanted by police. Quintero is a known affiliate of the Back-A-Town Crips gang and from what we understand, he is on the [...]

State of Emergency Affected Tour Operators in the City
The state of emergency on two south side neighbourhoods has expired and as you heard on Thursday night, several persons caught in the dragnet complained of being unlawfully detained. But [...]

Costa Rica Minister Says the Region Must Preserve its Forests to Tackle Climate Change
This week, we bring you another story about the Global Climate Action Summit held two weeks ago. At that summit, a number of cities, businesses and organizations made commitments in [...]

The Mayan Art of Making Chocolate
Situated in San Ignacio Town, Ajaw Chocolate and Crafts attracts thousands of visitors every year, but the family owned and operated company is struggling to get its name out there. [...]

Tea Party at HelpAge
The Help Age Belize District Branch held its annual Tea Party for over one hundred and fifty seniors today in Belize City. This week the organization is observing older persons [...]

LOVE FM

Grace Primary hosts Math Fair
The Primary School Examination (PSE) reflects the struggle students continue to have with mathematics. For example, half of the students who sat the PSE exam this year scored an E on the math portion of it. The Ministry of Education and schools continue to seek ways to help students better perform at mathematics. Today, Grace …

Low pressure to dump more rains on Belize
The rains have been incessant in the past few days and as the weekend approaches the Belize Weather Bureau is forecasting similar weather conditions. Reporter, Johnelle McKenzie took a drive north to meet with the Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Derrick Rudon. Derrick Rudon Deputy Chief Meteorologist: “There is an area of low pressure located near North …

Prison inmate receives highest score on PSE
Inmates at the Belize Central Prison who sat the Primary School Examination or underwent the Education Andragogy Training were honored today during a ceremony on the compound. Marvin Stephens topped the PSE results among his peers at the prison. According to Stephens he is looking to better his life. Marvin Stephens, Inmate: “I want to …

Prison inmates honored for participation in PSE and MOE A
Cindy Gregg School: it is an education centre for the inmates at the Belize Central Prison. Sitnah Blease reports on how and why the centre exists. Sitnah Blease: 71 inmates of the Belize Central Prison were recognized by the Kolbe Foundation for their efforts made at higher learning. A ceremony took place this morning on …

Couple’s home destroyed by fire
A couple is homeless after fire completely destroyed their home located on Jimmy Dyer Street in Belize City. Delvino Vasquez said he was sound asleep when he was awoken by the smell of smoke. Love News spoke with Berrisford Matura, Assistant Fire Chief, who said that the fire department was alerted to the fire at …

CEMO holds Press Conference since Invest 91L Will Make it Rain
Invest 91L is the name given to a weather system that is expected to bring a lot of rain over Belize this weekend. There is so much downpour expected that it has prompted the City Emergency Management Organization (CEMO) and the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) to have their volunteers across the country on standby. …

Labour Minister meets with PBL and CWU but braces for possible Tribunal
Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour Dr. Carla Barnett met with the Christian Workers Union (CWU) over the impasse it has with the Port of Belize on the collective bargaining agreement for the stevedores who service the ships at the port. The last two days saw Minister Barnett meeting with both the CWU …

Amandala

Stevedores threaten waterfront strike!
In the wake of a 21-day notice for industrial action against the Port of Belize Limited (PBL) that the Christian Workers Union (CWU) served on September 28 on behalf of stevedores employed by PBL, there has been a feverish attempt on the part of the Government of Belize to find an end to the labor impasse. Minister of State in the Ministry of Labor, Dr. Carla Barnett, and the Acting Labor Commissioner, Mrs. Paulette Wagner, have brokered a series of meetings between the two parties — the CWU and the Port of Belize Limited, represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Arturo “Tux” Vasquez. More meetings between the parties are scheduled for tomorrow, Friday.

51 State of Public Emergency detainees released
In the early morning hours of September 4, police units raided the homes of a number of suspected gang affiliates in two Southside neighborhoods — Ghost Town (Banak Street) and George Street, which were declared areas of public emergency, defined by a proclamation that was signed by Governor General, Sir Colville Young. Last night, before the stroke of midnight, several police vehicles went to the Belize Central Prison, on the Hattieville/Burrell Boom Road to collect all the men who had been detained for the one-month period under the state of emergency proclamation.

4 home invasions/burglaries in one week in the Cayo District
News of two worrisome incidents came out of the Cayo District this week concerning two senior citizens who were badly beaten during separate home invasions. The first incident occurred on Monday, October 1, at the home of an American national, William Scott Field, 64. According to police, one of Field’s workers arrived at his home in Santa Elena and began calling out for him. The worker became concerned when Field did not respond, and, having his own keys to the home, he used these to enter. When he did enter, he found Field on the floor in a semi-unconscious state, with serious injuries to his face. Field was taken to the San Ignacio Community Hospital, and later transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City, where today he reportedly was in a coma and was listed in a critical condition.

Belizean-American remanded for hotel murder of Caye Caulker man
A police investigation into the brutal murder of Christopher Meighan, 21, a baker of Caye Caulker, led to the arrest of Belizean-American Lalman Richard Logan, 29. Logan was arrested Friday evening at the Philip Goldson International Airport, while he was waiting to board a plane to fly out of the country. Today, Logan was arraigned on a charge of murder at the San Pedro Magistrate’s Court, and remanded until December 6. A second suspect in Meighan’s murder, Rufino Hernandez, a fisherman of San Mateo, San Pedro, was arrested in Belize City.

UWI signs agreement with UNIBAM for new course
On Tuesday, October 2, the University of the West Indies (UWI) signed an agreement with the United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM) to start implementing a course to explore different topics regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. The course is titled “Citizen Rights and State Responsibilities for the Sexually Vulnerable and Victimized in Belize” and will commence sometime this month. According to the head of UWI’s Open Campus in Belize, Jane Bennett, UNIBAM had approached them with the idea of this new course. Caleb Orozco, executive director of UNIBAM, worked alongside UWI Belize’s program officer, Sharmayne Saunders, for a few months developing the course.

Check out the free KREM app today!
This year, KREM FM, Belize’s first private radio station, has become more accessible than ever with its new app. Launched in March of this year, the app can be easily downloaded by users either from the Google Play Store or the Apple Store so that they can access the latest news and listen in to select KREM radio programs on the go. The app allows users to listen to KREM Radio live, as well as listen to repeats of the evening newscasts that are aired daily. As mentioned, the programming for the different radio shows can also be found on the app.

Softball great, Claudette Busch passes
As softball fans prepared for the Annual Charles Solis Invitational Tournament this past weekend at Rogers Stadium, news was received of the passing on Friday of softball great, Claudette Busch in Los Angeles, California, USA. Chief umpire at the Charles Solis Tournament on Sunday, Leslie Rogers, who shared a son with Claudette, informed us of her passing. Claudette, who attended All Saints’ Primary and Belize Junior Secondary School No. 1 (later named E.P. Yorke High School) before going on to the Belize Technical College, spent most of her adult years in Belize as an employee at Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), while enjoying an outstanding career in ladies softball, representing Belize in every international tournament between 1978 and 1987, when she migrated to the U.S.

Dangriga bi-monthly pool tournament winners
This past weekend in Dangriga, Hon. Frank Papa Mena’s bi-monthly individual pool tournament at Aba Isieni Cool Spot had 18 players from across Stann Creek District partaking. The defending champ, Enfield Coleman retained his title in this round. The winners are: 1st Place – Enfield Coleman; 2nd Lyndon “Jet P” Parham; and 3rd Carlos Molena.

Belize represented at Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games
The III Summer Youth Olympic Games will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina from October 6 – 18, 2018, where almost 4,000 athletes will compete in 36 disciplines. The Youth Olympic Games are an elite multi-sport program for athletes ages 15 to 18, and are held every 4 years. Buenos Aires 2018 will be the first gender balanced Olympic event, meaning equal numbers of male and female athletes. Belize will be represented by a contingent of 2 athletes, 2 coaches and a Chief of Mission.

Corozal FA U-15 and U-17 update
This week marked the 8th week of the Corozal Football Association’s (CFA) ongoing U-15 Male and U-17 Male Tournaments, with a total of 5 teams for the U-15, and 10 teams for the U-17. The tournament also includes U-10 Male and U-17 Female categories. We are pleased to report that all games have been a success. We extend a sincere thanks to our Organizing Committee Chairman, Mr. Melhem Williams, for his continued support, commitment and dedication. A big thank you to all the parents, club managers, players and coaches. This past weekend’s games on Saturday and Sunday were all played at the Carolina Football Field.

Belizeans, have we failed?
Bobby Lopez’s Belize Peace Movement honored the late Hon. Philip Goldson this Wednesday in Belmopan on the anniversary of our national hero’s death in the capital city on October 3, 2001. Such honor for Mr. Goldson is good. There is a mystique which surrounds the memory of Mr. Goldson: he has become a saint almost, and the reason is that his patriotism was so pure and unflinching. On the anniversary of Mr. Goldson’s death, this newspaper would like to take a hard look at Belize’s political independence. We have to ask the question: have we failed?

From The Publisher
Casual students of the Mexican Revolution, which may have lasted from 1910 to 1940, will readily recall the names of Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa, but it is only serious students of that revolution who are aware of the important revolutionary presidencies in Mexico of Calles in the 1920s and Cardenas in the 1930s. It may be that many of the socio-political gains of the Mexican Revolution have now been reversed. There were some Mexican presidencies in the latter part of the twentieth century, such as that of Carlos Salinas de Gortari, which were practically neoliberal.

Let’s be equitably informed on the referendum
Although some Belizeans have already decided how they will vote in the upcoming referendum next April, there are still many more that are confused by the noise in the market place. I am therefore writing these few lines in the hope that they may, in some small measure, add a little clarity to a crisis which has now become political as well as existential.

Andy Jones cries out from Peini …
Dear Editor, I wonder if you would find it worthy to print this letter. It’s quite late at night as I write this, but I am thinking back on the many articles that Amandala has printed giving the common man on the streets a voice to the world, which has convinced me to go ahead and write this letter. It is only because of the Amandala’s generosity to the people that I write and ask your assistance in helping me show my displeasure towards the Punta Gorda Town Mayor, his administrator and some of his councillors.

Belize can only draw, or lose …
Dear Editor, “To go or not to go to the ICJ;” that is the question. Just borrowing from Shakespeare. For Mr. Elrington to have fought for sixty years to go, and now Belizeans are against it, must be mind-boggling to him and those who believe we should go. Belizeans are already skeptical of courts, and compounded by all of our losses in international cases, we cannot be blamed. Sixty years is very long, and short at the same time; time is relative. Still, many things have happened in Belize since then, including a couple threats of invasion from Guatemala. The British, and a couple natural disasters (God), have helped our little country remain intact.

Revisiting past child abductions in Belize and missing children
It seems as if every other week a child is reported missing. The relief of families when their loved one is found is immense. Far too often, the story ends in grief. Sometimes, the bodies of children who disappeared are discovered, and although the family receives the closure they need, it does little to lessen the grief. Last Monday, September 24, three children narrowly escaped being abducted by a Caucasian man who was driving a white van with painted decorations on the side and front.

Reflections on the Heads of Agreement
In his September 28, 2018, column, the Publisher of Amandala called for more reflection and conversation surrounding the events which happened 37 years ago during the civil uproar that came with the pronouncement of the Heads of Agreement in March of 1981. Indeed, it is important to ask what is the stigma surrounding this momentous period and why it has resulted in a seeming avoidance of any serious public discussion on the subject for the last thirty seven years.

Guats trying to turn back the time
I told one of my nephews that I preferred Judy Boucher to Sade, and I saw his eyebrows go up. I think Sade is super spectacular, a talent for all time. But I measure artists by what they do for my melancholia. If you don’t understand the possessive pronoun there, well, you should – as all the without of a person is theirs, so is all that’s within. The human mind, it’s a crazy labyrinth, and the craziest people to emerge from its corridors are the homosexuals. They have the full patent. They’re quite the study, and that’s why they oftentimes hog up the headlines. Bah, they’re not going to hog up my headlines. This story is not about them.

I got to visit the border this weekend!
As the youth focal point on the National Steering Committee for the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Program, I get the amazing opportunity to travel the country conducting pre-site and follow up visits of our grantees, and I took my first official visit to the beautiful Toledo District. We first visited Jalacte Village, which sits along Belize’s western border with our neighbour, Guatemala. The village has no connection to electricity nor does it have running water. Villagers depend on water pumps that run dry during the dry season.

Gas prices up yet again
Yesterday, the price for regular gas went up seemingly for the umpteenth time this year. The price rose by 16 cents per gallon, from $11.04 to $11.20. The last time gas prices increased was very recently, on September 19, when the price of premium gas went up 7 cents per gallon, from $11.70 to $11.77. This time, the price of premium gas remained the same, and so did the price of diesel, which remained at $10.69 per gallon, and the price of kerosene, which remained at $8.34 per gallon.

CCJ rejects appeal of convicted murderer Dionicio “Life” Salazar
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) heard submissions this morning, via teleconference, between the Supreme Court in Belize City and its Port of Spain, Trinidad headquarters, in the appeal of Dionicio “Life” Salazar, a convicted murderer who is serving a life sentence under the previous sentencing regime for murder. After hearing submissions from Salazar’s attorney, Anthony Sylvestre, and the Crown, represented by Senior Crown Counsel, Sheiniza Smith, Belize’s highest court, the CCJ, denied the appeal and upheld the Court of Appeal decision that Salazar is guilty of the June 13, 2010 murder of Marlon Rivera, which occurred in San Ignacio Town, Cayo District.

Retired immigration officer held up in Corozal; vehicle stolen
Retired immigration officer Eugene Middleton, 65, of Halls Layout, Corozal Town, was held up on Olga Marin Drive in Halls Layout at about 10:00 Saturday night by two armed robbers. He pleaded with them not to kill him; one of them punched him in the face and they sped away in his pickup. Middleton later reported the robbery to the Corozal police at about 7:00 Sunday morning. After making the official report, he and his brother-in-law began to search for his vehicle, and they found it abandoned in San Antonio, Corozal District.

More drama at Youth Hostel: 10 girls break through the ceiling and climb on the roof
Ten adolescent girls who are resident inmates at the Princess Royal Youth Hostel staged a protest around 10:00 a.m. this morning when they broke through the sheetrock ceiling and ended up on top of the roof of one of the buildings at their Mile 21 compound. Authorities had to rely on police and Belize Defence Force soldiers to remove them, said a government press release that was issued today. In the press release, the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation gave their version of what occurred at the girls’ section of the institution.

The Reporter

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE & NEMO, WARN OF HEAVY TURRENTIAL RAINS AND FLOODING
All NEMO District Coordinators met this afternoon to make sure of their state of readiness in the EOC (Emergency Operations Centers) as they monitor the movement of a weather system approaching the Yucatan. NEMO is advising people living in low-lying and flood-prone areas to closely monitor the weather system, which will produce heavy rains as it crosses near northern Belize over the next few days.

HUMAN REMAINS FOUND NEAR BELMOPAN SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
Police have confirmed that human remains were discovered today in a pond near the Belize Water Services sewage compound behind the Ministry of Works in Belmopan . A pathologist who examined the remains has certifed that they included a human jawbone and shoulder bones. No injuries were detected on the bones retrieved and the pathologist said that the person was male and death occurred about three months ago.

COLA SUPPORTS STEVEDORES
The Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action (COLA) says it supports the stevedores in their plight with the Port of Belize Limited (PBL). In a press release issued today, COLA points out that while stevedores are essential workers just as are teachers, doctors and police, they are not given the same level of courtesy and appreciation. COLA notes the efforts that stevedores have put out over the years to seek a solution to their labour issues with the Port of Belize Limited (PBL).

CLOCK TICKING ON STEVEDORE STRIKE
The Christian Workers Union (CWU) announced this week that despite meetings with the Minister of Labour, it is still prepared to hold industrial action within its 21-day deadline for stevedores working at the Port of Belize Limited (PBL). The CWU held a press conference on Thursday evening, explaining that the Union had two meetings with the Minister of Labour, Dr. Carla Barnett, the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Labour and the Acting Labour Commissioner.

DPP’s OFFICE BLASTS BPD! – POLICE DROPPED THE BALL
Last Wednesday, September 26th, eight men charged for the murder of Orange Walk resident, Ariel Salazar in February 2018 walked out of the Magistrate’s Court free men after the matter was struck out. In an interview shortly after, Deputy Commissioner of Police Chester Williams explained that they received the case file from the office of the DPP just one day before the case, and because it contained instructions for the Police, it was incomplete and could not be taken to Court.

CLAVER COLLEGE TEACHERS AND BOARD MEET
The teachers of Claver College Extension (CCE), in Punta Gorda, have agreed to a meeting with members of the school’s board to resolve a dispute which has seen the school dismiss 9 of its 11 teachers on staff, sparking a week-long demonstration by students supporting their instructors. That meeting was scheduled for late Thursday evening as the Reporter goes to press. We will have updates following the outcome of the meeting.

THE FOUR STOOGES
All of Belize became alarmed, and rightly so, when on Monday 24th September, the Minister of National Security sent the Chiefs of our security forces to shamelessly push the Yes-to-the-ICJ agenda. Many people were horrified that the Commander of the BDF and the Commandant of the Coast Guard allowed themselves to be placed in such an unholy position.

TASK-FORCE SEEKING ALTERNATIVES TO STYROFOAM AND PLASTICS
Since the government introduced legislation to phase out the use of Styrofoam and single-use plastic utensils by 2019, several government departments, NGOs and industry stakeholders have been engaged in a collaborative effort to draft the standards which will guide the industry under the new law. A working task force comprising various government departments, including the Department of the Environment and the Customs Department, as well as organizations such as Oceana, the Belize Tourism Industry Association and others, has been formed to hash out the details.

TEST OF BELIZE’S BANKING SYSTEM LOOMS
The banking system of Belize is about to be tested in new and historic ways. An urgent application has been made by several companies to the Supreme Court in regards to the liquidation of Choice Bank Limited. A group of claimants comprising several companies who claim that Choice Bank held funds for them as trustee, including Orion Corporate and Trust Services, Glen D. Godfrey & Co LLP, AC Webconnecting BV, XTB International Limited IPC Trade INC and FBS Markets INC filed a claim in the Supreme Court asking that the liquidation of Choice Bank be continued; but under the additional supervision of the Supreme Court of Belize.

NIGERIAN TAXIMAN VICIOUSLY ATTACKED, STABBED
Police have confirmed with the Reporter that the victim, Rockson Odiete, 51, left his house on Gentle Avenue around 10:30pm, in his taxi van along with a passenger when the two got involved in an argument which resulted in the stabbing.

MISSING BOBCAT MYSTERIOUSLY APPEARS
A missing bobcat which was gifted by Central Government two years ago to the previous City Council but went missing before it even landed in the Council’s possession found its way to the Council’s Mile 4 Works compound yesterday, with tires that had been worn to the rim and in deplorable shape overall.

Breaking Belize News

GOB cautions against fake social media accounts of Minister Erwin Contreras
The Ministry of Economic Development, Petroleum, Investment, Trade and Commerce notes that fraudulent Instagram and Facebook accounts have […]

National Committee of Families and Children urges parents to keep children safe
Today, the National Committee for Families and Children (NCFC) issued a release expressing its outrage by […]

Carla Barnett meets with Christian Workers Union and Port of Belize Limited
On Tuesday, October 2, the Ministry of Labour was informed of an impasse in the negotiations for a […]

Gang members back on the streets, police give strong warning
Over 50 men who were imprisoned during the Government of Belize’s State of Emergency have been […]

Police find pump action shotgun and 26 lbs of weed in Benque
Yesterday morning around 7:30, police conducted a search in an overgrown lot on Riverside Street, Benque Viejo Town […]

Fire destroys home in Belize City
Authorities in the old capital are investigating a fire that destroyed a home last night. According […]

Belize City police search for suspect after cab driver stabbed
Police in the old Capital are investigating a stabbing incident that left one man injured. According […]

Police need citizen cooperation in investigating Trial Farm attempted kidnapping
Police are calling on the parents of the children involved in the reported attempted kidnapping in […]

“Strike still on,” says CWU
Yesterday, the Christian Workers Union (CWU) announced that the stevedores working at the Port of Belize […]

PC Micheal Patten to face disciplinary charges
Police constable Micheal Patten will face disciplinary charges for an incident that occurred at a club in Orange […]

San Pedro man dies after ingesting poison
A San Pedro man died on Tuesday afternoon after drinking a toxic liquid. Police responded to […]

Corozal taxi driver busted with weed
Police yesterday arrested a Corozal taxi driver for over 11 pounds of weed. Around 11:50 a.m. yesterday, police […]

Police make major rum bust in San Pedro
Police yesterday found an assortment of contraband rum at a boat dock in San Pedro. Around […]

Police locate Analeily Chi in Orange Walk
Five days after 14-year-old Analeily Chi’s father reported her missing, police found her inside a home in San Luis […]

Carlos Canchan returns home 5 days after being reported missing
Earlier this week, Breaking Belize News reported on sixteen-year-old Bullet Tree resident Carlos Canchan who went missing on […]

Guatemala’s new license and Government ad includes Belize in map
A Guatemalan advertisement posted on the country’s official Government page shows the map of Guatemala […]

Blogs

This is How We Shop
For as long as I can remember we have been doing stuff swaps on Ambergris Caye, so I feel qualified to say hands down Coco’s Loco Beach Bar was the best setup ever. Tricia had a tent beside the Caribbean sea, and most the clothes were sorted by size and either nicely folded or hung-up. It was unlike the days of Pedro’s Hotel when first I convinced owner Peter to let us do stuff swaps. He said, “right, just chuck it all on the pool table.” This sip and swap venue was perfect as the popular beachfront bar is Sargasso and smell free due to the seawall. Remember to add this odorless place with a view on your vacation to do list, they do weekly gaming days and you will always fun a fun local crowd. They also have great food made by Island Tung a food cart conveniently set up near the picnic tables.

National Consultation Workshop for the Central American Agriculture Council Regional Agriculture Policy
On Thursday, October 4, 2018, the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Central American Agriculture Council hosted a one-day National Consultation Workshop for the Central American Agriculture Council Regional Agriculture Policy. The event took place at Kiki Witz Resort in Belmopan. The purpose of the workshop was to define the objectives, lines of action and the regional policy measures for the five priority areas that included i) Trade and Agri-Business: ii) Agricultural Health and Food Safety; iii) Technology & Innovation; iv) Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change; v) Institutional Streamlining and Strengthening.

Fraudulent Social Media Accounts
The Ministry of Economic Development, Petroleum, Investment, Trade and Commerce notes that fraudulent Instagram and Facebook accounts have been created to impersonate the Hon. Erwin Contreras. The public is informed that these accounts do not belong to Minister Contreras and are in no way associated with the Ministry. Any activity or information originating from these fake profiles constitutes fraud. The Ministry does not support this and hereby advises the public to not accept any requests from the pages and to report the accounts.

International Sources

Tropical storm may aim for Gulf
A broad area of showers and thunderstorms, currently over the Caribbean Sea, will drift into the Gulf of Mexico and may organize into a tropical depression or storm later this weekend and into next week. Slow-moving and repeating downpours will continue the threat of flash flooding and mudslides into this weekend from Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and southeastern Mexico to Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico as well as the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. During this weekend, as the mass of downpours begins to drift, an uptick in downpours is likely to spread over the Yucatan, Cuba and perhaps the Bahamas. "This disturbance will move to near the Yucatan Channel between the Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba by late Sunday, then move into the southern Gulf of Mexico or over the northern Yucatan on Monday," according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.

Caribbean Currents: Tourism aggravates water shortages in islands
The price we have to pay for progress! Tourism is the biggest money-maker in the Caribbean economy and we are all grateful that we have tourists clamoring to come to vacation in the islands. But of course, like with anything else, there is a price to pay. One issue that has come to light is the impact on water in the tourist areas. When there is a drought across the islands, it is the local residents who pay for it. What we mean is, water rationing and water lock-offs can happen at any time of the day in households across the islands, but not so at the hotels that service the hundreds of thousands of tourists. Water is diverted to those areas. If water is diverted from the residents, how does the government expect its people to respond? Climate change is also a factor in this equation. A Drought Bulletin issued in April 2018 by the Caribbean Drought and Precipitation Monitoring Network showed the water levels in waterways and reservoirs all at record lows, especially in Cuba and Antigua. The report also cited that parts of Haiti and Belize should be regularly monitored because of the possibility of “long-term drought.”

Videos

October 5, 2018

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Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Softball marathon champion to be determined this weekend
A softball marathon held on Sunday, September 30th saw four teams at the Honourable Louis Sylvestre Sporting Complex battling for the top spot. Team Xtreme, Quality Reef, San Pedro High School (SPHS), and Team RCGO, entertained a crowd of softball fans, who from as early as 10AM, filled the sporting arena to support their favorite team. After countless matches, RCGO and Quality Reef won the top team positions, and they will now compete for the grand trophy prize on Sunday, October 7th. The marathon is the official opening to the upcoming San Pedro Town Council’s Co-ed Softball Tournament. The tournament will take place every Sunday, starting right after the marathon championship game this weekend. Fans are encouraged to come out and support their favorite teams.

2018 Copa San Pedro regular season coming to an end
Only two weeks are left in the 2018 Copa San Pedro regular season, and football fanatics are anxious to see which teams will make it to the playoffs. The Ambergris Stadium in San Pedro Town was the place to be from Thursday, September 27th to Sunday, September 30th, as a variety of games took teams closer to the finale. Copa San Pedro 2018 continues this weekend at the Ambergris Stadium, starting on Thursday, October 4th at 7PM with San Mateo F.C taking on San Pedro Pirates U17 and Talal F.C versus Genesis F.C. On Friday, October 5th Warriors F.C will face Boca Bombers at 7PM, followed by Vince Assassins going against G-Strikers at 9PM. The last day of the football weekend will be on Sunday, October 7th starting at 3PM with Young Strikers versus Ambergris Hopes, San Pedro Pirates U17 against San Mateo F.C and Los Catrachos taking on Peacemakers. Everyone is invited to come out and support their favorite team this weekend. Food and drinks will be on sale during all games.

BTB Media Familiarization Tour highlights the Western Region
The annual Belize Tourism Board (BTB) Media familiarization tour took media house representatives on a whirlwind tour filled with adventure and excitement. Focusing on the Western district of Cayo, the tour featured adrenaline-filled activities, traditional experiences and even a touch of luxury. 11 members of the media spent three days and two nights immersing themselves in the Belizean experience in Cayo, learning more about its tourism attractions to better share with viewers and readers. The weekend of adventure began on Friday, September 28th, in Frank’s Eddy, with a zip line and cave tubing adventure setting the tone for an adrenaline-fueled tour through Vital Nature and Mayan Tours, owned and operated by Belizean Vitalino Reyes.

Ambergris Today

Mirab Launches State Of The Art Department Store
The Bou-Nahra family made a bold move in launching Belize’s first high end shopping experience, located on the Highway to home happiness (yes that’s what discerning shoppers are calling its new location at 1.5 Miles on the Philip Goldson Highway.) The 100,000 plus square foot of exquisite design is a must see and a must shop location that boasts not only the Mirab Department Store in its new plush designer inspired surroundings, but also the renowned Ashley Furniture Home Store which will also share space in this mega shopping experience. The company also launched its new slogan Welcome Home where it caters to pedestrians, bicycle riders, drivers and bus passengers with parking and the designer bus stop known as the Welcome Center.

Misc Belizean Sources

Movie Night at KoKo King
DUE TO MACHINERY MALFUNCTION LAST WEEKS MOVIES WERE NOT ABLE TO BE SHOWN. WE ARE THEREFORE RE-SCHEDULING THEM FOR THIS FRIDAY. HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3: SUMMER VACATION (PG) - Count Dracula and company participate in a cruise for sea-loving monsters, unaware that their boat is being commandeered by the monster-hating Van Helsing family. SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (PG13) - During an adventure into the criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his future co-pilot Chewbacca and encounters Lando Calrissian years before joining the Rebellion. MOVIES START AFTER DARK

Corozal Organization of East Indian Cultural Heritage fund raiser
Curry Time & Curry Chicken will be on sale for $10/plate - Friday, October 12th, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Round House, Miami Beach, Corozal Town. Please support our Corozal Organization of East Indian Cultural Heritage (COEICH) for a fund raiser to send Miss East Indian to represent Belize in Trinidad. Thank you all for your support! Photo credit M. Arnold Copyright 2018.

ONE MALL 1st Anniversary
Happening Tomorrow - The ONE MALL, a Corozal Super store and Supermarket located in Ranchito Village will be celebrating its 1st Anniversary on Friday, October 5th. To honour all our faithful customers and to thank them all for their support, we will have a 5% OFF special on all items tomorrow only. We will also have corporate sponsors and other major companies joining us with different promotions. It will be a great event! There will be lots of give-away, gifts and surprises waiting for you. So come out and join us and celebrate our 1st Anniversary.

"ALLAN "D REAL" McCOY"at ArT In ThE ParK in Corozal
Get a chance to meet and hear the mighty sounds of the great "ALLAN "D REAL" McCOY" on Saturday, October 13th at the ArT In ThE ParK event.

Illegal liquor confiscated in San Pedro
On Thursday, October 4th around 3PM, a joint operation was conducted by members of the Quick Response Team, San Pedro Custom Department and other officers. A search was conducted at a boat dock resulting in the discovery of three Feeny's Irish Cream Liqueur, three Absolut Vokda, six Jack Daniels Whisky, one Bombay Sapphire Dry Gin, one Tanqueray and 16 Dos Equis can beer. No one was found in the area and the items were confiscated.

Sargassum Cleanup in San Pedro Friday and Saturday
Help us clean the beaches from the Sargassum! Sign up now for the clean up on Friday and Saturday at 6:00 a.m.

Urban Bird Watch 2018
The Belize Audubon Society is having their 2018 Urban Bird Watch this Sunday in Cayo. They'll meet at Columbus Park at 6:00am. The one for Belmopan will be on Saturday October 27th. "Updated Urban Bird Watch 2018 Flyer! Please make note of the change to Placencia's date. See you there! For more information, email us at conservation@belizeaudubon.org or 223-5004"

Garbage cleanup along the Macal River bank
The twin towns of San Ignacio-Santa Elena are members of the Bi-national Watershed Alliance. As part of their conservation activities,over 30 police cadets and scout collected some 15 to 20 bags of garbage along the Macal River bank. This activity was supported by the British High Commission Office in Belize.

2018 Belize City Primary School History and Social Studies Competition
The Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project is gearing up for its 2018 Belize City Primary School History and Social Studies Competition taking place at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts on October 17th and 18th with the Finals on the 26th. Fifteen schools have registered to participate. Salvation Army is the 2017 reigning Champion and they plan to defend their title at all cost. Who will win in 2018? Catch all the action starting at 9:00 a.m. on October 26th on Love FM as history comes alive!

New three-story concrete building on Albert Street
Yesterday the Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project signed a construction contract with Coleman Construction Ltd. to build a new three-story concrete building on Albert Street where the Human Development building once stood. The new building will house the new office of the Women's and Family Support Department. Construction is scheduled to start in a couple of weeks. This new building will be built simultaneously with another building the Downtown Rejuvenation Project is currently building on Cockburn Lane.

NICH VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS
The National Institute of Culture and History is seeking suitable applicants for the attached vacancies. Please see photos for more information on the four open positions.

Channel 7

Sate of Emergency Prisoners Get Free
When we left you last night, it was with the news that the 64 men detained under the state of emergency were being released after 30 days in jail - held with no charge, other than being gang affiliated.  Government decided not to extend the state of emergency, and so, last night, with hours to go before midnight, police went to the prison to pick them up.  7News was at the prison when they were escorted out, and Daniel Ortiz has the story of what happened next: After a month on lockdown under the emergency measures, these 51 men from Belize City - all of whom police have determined to be a threat to public safety - were removed from the detention area of the Belize Central Prison. Last night was the last night of their 30-day detention by the state.

One Day Out of Jail Rocky Road Detainee Says Police Harassment Persists
Now, supposedly at that mediation session last night, police told the gangsters to keep the peace - just as it has been kept for the past month - or else.   But one of the detainees today told us that the cops also gave them the assurance that police wouldn’t be harassing them if they did keep the peace. Well, one gang affiliate from Rocky Road who just came out of jail last night - says by this afternoon the police were back at his house pointing a gun in his face:… Jules Vasquez: "But they told last night they were not going to arrest you."

CWU Holding Firm On Hours Of Work
Last night you saw Dr. Carla Barnett, the Labour Minister of State, who said that she would attempt to break the impasse between the Port of Belize and the stevedores, represented by the Christian Workers Union. That’s because the clock is ticking down on a possible strike at Belize’s biggest Port.  At this time, there is an impasse where the Port’s management disagrees with the number of hours that the stevedores work on a given shift. CEO Arturo “Tux” Vasquez says that they are breaking the labour law which says that employees should only be working 15 hours a day, with a 9-hour rest. He wants the stevedore gangs to implement a shift system, which the stevedores have rejected outright because they say it would substantially cut into their earnings.

Port Comments On Way Forward with Minister’s Shuttle Diplomacy
This evening, we also got a chance to speak with Port CEO Arturo “Tux” Vasquez, who has been meeting with Minister Barnett, and the Acting Labor Commissioner. He shared his perspective on how the Government’s intervention has been going so far, and we also asked him what it would take for him and the Port’s management to return to the negotiating table: Arturo Vasquez - CEO, Port of Belize: "To be honest we have had two meetings, we had one today at 2 o'clock and we had one yesterday at 6 in the evening and in my view it has been very productive. I think the Minister of Labour is doing what they are supposed to do when it comes to the essential services act..."

Labour Minister Pushes To Break Impasse Tomorrow
And so that’s the view from both sides - and while they may seem far apart, Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour Carla Barnett sees both sides inching closer.  After two days of separate meetings with both sides, she told us, quote, “I believe we have reached a point where they will be able to come back to the table and have one meeting tomorrow morning with the two sides.  She added,  quote, “it feels positive to me, (and) through shuttle diplomacy we feel we have worked it through.  She concluded, quote,  “I expect we will have solved it by tomorrow morning,” end quote.  We’ll keep following it closely, of course.

Trial Farm Abduction Report May Be More Scare Than Real
The attempted child kidnapping report in Orange Walk which we told you about last night, may be just a big misunderstanding. According to police, a 15 year old girl and an 8 year old girl were heading home on Tuesday evening around 4:00, when they saw a man behind them and another in the bushes. The girls thought the men were following them, but so far police say that doesn’t seem to be the case. There was no physical contact nor was there any kind of conversation between the men and the girls. Here is what police had to say. ACP Joseph Myvette - Head of NCIB: "According to the report is that an 8 year old female accompanied by a 15 year old walking in Trial Farm Village on Plum Street towards their home when they observed someone walking behind them, a male person of Hispanic descent was walking behind them..."

Weed Found in Free Zone
Keeping it in the north, from that alleged kidnapping case to a sizeable weed bust near the Corozal free zone….Police have more on this find. ACP Joseph Myvette - Head of NCIB: "Border police were called to an area outside the perimeter fence of the Northern Free Zone yesterday where they retrieved a brown in colour package which when opened contained suspected cannabis and when weighed amounted to some 23 pounds. No one was found in the area and the drugs were deposited as found property."

Camry Con Cannabis
And police made another substantial weed find this morning - this one was apparently coming from the north. A mobile patrol in the Sandhill area stopped this Toyota Camry at mile 19 on the Phillip Goldson Highway.   The driver, a taxi man from Corozal, saw the polcie and tried to speed off.  He also threw a crocus sack out the car window.  But police pursued and caught him and then brought him back to get the sack - which contained 5 parcels of weed.   The driver, Jose Martin Maldonado from Corozal Town  was arrested and charged for drug trafficking. The bundles of weed weighed in at 11.64 pounds or 5.2 kilos.

Contraband Sittin’ On the Dock Of the Sea In San Pedro
And while that weed was being trafficked to the city - a nice stash off contraband was destined for San Pedro.   Today at 3:00 in San Pedro, a joint police and customs operation led them to a boat dock where they found 14 bottles of top shelf liquors and 16 contraband beers.   No one was around so the items were confiscated as uncustomed goods.

Trigger Happy Constable In Commanders’ Crosshairs
A trigger happy Belmopan police constable is on the wrong side of the law. PC Michael Patten was hanging out at an Orange Walk night club early Saturday morning. He was off duty at the time but according to his report, he had to spring into police mode to break up a fight and defend himself by firing shots in the air. It was caught on surveillance camera, and his police colleagues don’t agree with his approach to defuse the situation. Here is what police had to say. ACP Joseph Myvette - Head of NCIB: "Yes the police did receive a video that was circulating where upon one PC Michael Patten who is attached to the special patrol unit in Belmopan according to him he was socializing with others at a night club in Orange Walk on Guadalupe Street..."

US Man Critical After Home Invasion
Turning now to the west - another US national was targeted in a home invasion - and he is critical tonight. It happened in Santa Elena over the weekend.  William Scott Field was at home alone - when he was attacked, and his home was ransacked:.. ACP Joseph Myvette - Head of NCIB: "San Ignacio police was called to the residence of one William Scott Field, 64 years American national of Santa Cruz area Santa Elena Town, where upon arrival it was reported to them by one of his workers that he went to his workplace at Cristo Fields residence where he was calling for him and as a result of him not answering the worker then used his key to enter the building..."

Cops Still Can’t Confirm Identity of Human Remains
Police still can’t confirm if the severed legs found in Teakettle and Camalote belonged to missing teen Gerardo Vasquez. Police are holding off on the post mortem until they can find more body parts. But every passing day gets more difficult for the Vasquez family who need answers. Here is police on this case. ACP Joseph Myvette - Head of NCIB: "It is still a matter that is being investigated; the search continues for him as we speak officers along with villagers are still continuing those searches."

Missing Girl Found Safe
On Tuesday we told you about the missing 15 year old Analeily Chi - whose dad cried for her on TV. Well, thankfully, she’s home tonight. Police report that 2 hours ago they searched a residence in San Luis Village, Orange Walk where she was found alive and well.

One Murder, Two Charged
Two men have now been charged for Christopher Meighan’s San Pedro hotel room murder last Friday. They are Lalman Logan and Rufino Hernandez. According to police, the men had just met a couple days before the incident so police are still trying to piece together the motive in this case. ASP Alejandro Cowo - O.C., C.I.B., Belize City: "Reference the murder of Christopher Meighan that happened on Friday the 28th, police arrested two individuals, the first one was arrested on Sunday 30th of September, that was Mr. Lalman Logan and thereafter on Tuesday Rufino Hernnadez was charged, both were charged jointly for the crime of murder."

The Experts At Exports
Exporting is a measure of success for any major business and Beltraide wants to help business’ break into the European market. Today Beltraide hosted an information sharing session at the Biltmore. We dropped by. There were a number of presentations. Representatives from Caribbean Export and members from the delegation of the European Union to Barbados attended. 

CITCO Gets Cold Feet
A “dry run” - that’s what city hall wanted to do with the small local tour operators by pushing them into the Marion Jones Stadium for two weeks.  It would be a test to ease the congestion outside the Fort Street Tourism Village. City Hall had already planned a press conference along with the BTB to announce this dry run, until today when there was a sharp change of direction. Now this idea has long been proposed by the BTB and when it was floated by the UDP council earlier this year - the local operators shot it down.  And at that time, so did the then candidate for Mayor, Bernard Wagner:

Senator Draws The Line Against Domestic Violence
Earlier on the news, you saw Dr. Carla Barnett as Minister of Labour.  But yesterday in the senate she was crusading to end to systemic violence against women.  Now, it’s a chorus that we’ve heard often, but, yesterday, Barnett used her bully pulpit in the Senate to say the line has to be drawn:… Barnett faces a contested convention on the second Sunday in November.

Vitalino Started From The Bottom…of The Sink
Throughout this week - we’ve been showing you tourist attraction in the west - and one of them was owned by Vitalino Reyes, the owner of cavetubing.bz. His company Vital Nature Mayan Tours is one of the big players in the hugely popular cave tubing attractions at Nohoch Che'en.  But while he heads a large operation, Reyes told us he started from the bottom.  We thought it to be a useful insight into the initiative needed for self-starting:… Reyes offers Belizeans a special rate of $60 BZ for cave tubing, zip line and lunch.

The Sargassum Struggle
Last week Tuesday, the San Pedro Town Council declared sargassum beaching on Ambergris Caye a natural disaster. Large quantities of sargassum, that brown seaweed that is usually present near coastal communities, have washed ashore, and it has created a huge eyesore in San Pedro. That’s a major problem for the island which depends on tourism, and since the tourists come to enjoy the San Pedro’s beaches, the sargassum beaching could hurt the industry. The Council acknowledges that sargassum beaching has occurred in the past, but they say that this time, it is the worst it has ever been. They also say that they’ve used all their resources to keep the beaches cleaned to an acceptable level, but this amount of sargassum is just too big for them to handle alone.

Man Poisoned Himself On Water Taxi
A San Pedro man poisoned himself and died on a water taxi. It is a strange suicide case. Police found Umberto Alcoser’s lifeless body on the boat on Caye Caulker on Tuesday afternoon. His family was rushing him to receive treatment in Belize City after he drank the poison. Police told us more. ASP Alejandro Cowo - O.C., C.I.B., Belize City: "Caye Caulker police were called to the pier at the San Pedro Belize Express where the inside of the vessel police saw a male person who was lying down, Mr. Umberto Alcoser, 39 year old Belizean of Tarpon Street San Pedro. He was rushed to the polyclinic in Caye Caulker and about 20 minutes later he was pronounced dead.

Channel 5

State of Emergency Lifted; Detained Inmates Share Their Stories Upon Release
Fifty-one inmates, all presumed to be members of the George Street and Ghost Town gangs, were discharged from the Belize Central Prison on Wednesday night and returned to Belize City.  [...]

Notice of Strike Still in Effect by CWU & Stevedores
Despite an intervention by Labor Minister Dr. Carla Barnett, a notice of strike by stevedores at Port of Belize is still in effect. That’s the message from the president of [...]

CWU Prez Says Other Issues Pending with Port of Belize
According to the CWU president, there are several other issues on the table, outside of the hours of work proposal, that need to be negotiated. Hyde says that among those [...]

The “Mess” at Vital Stats to be Cleaned Out
The Vital Statistics Unit is a ‘mess’ according to Church Senator Ashley Rocke and U.D.P. Senator Macario Coy. The issue of the unit’s inefficiency was debated on Wednesday during the [...]

Amendment to General Registry Act Debated by Senators
Another piece of legislation relating to registration that was debated by the Senator was an amendment to the General Registry Act which seeks to alleviate the administrative burden of the [...]

An Alleged Abduction Attempt is Foiled in Orange Walk District
A pair of minors in Trial Farm Village, Orange Walk District reported an incident to police in which they were being pursued by two unknown individuals.  An eight-year-old girl and [...]

A Marijuana Haul Near the Corozal Free Zone
Twenty-three pounds of marijuana were discovered on Wednesday just outside of the Commercial Free Zone in Corozal.  The quantity was found inside a brown wrapping, away from the outer fence [...]

PC Patten Discharges Firearm Outside of Sugar City Night Club
A police officer is under investigation tonight for discharging a firearm outside of a nightclub in Orange Walk Town.  Michael Patten was captured on video letting loose his service weapon [...]

Still No Signs of Missing Ontario Teenager, Despite Discovery of Severed Human Legs
An intense search effort continues in the Cayo District where seventeen-year-old Gerardo Vasquez vanished without a trace from Ontario Village over a week ago.  Despite the subsequent discovery of a [...]

UNCAC Report Completed, But Minor Corrections to be Made
A team of experts from Tuvalu and Haiti came to conduct an assessment of the country in July as part of Belize’s implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. [...]

Senator Speaks Out Against Gender Base Violence
Speaking on the adjournment during Wednesday’s Senate meeting, Senator Doctor Carla Barnett touched on the much talked about topic of gender-based violence. In her address, Senator Barnett remembered the tragic [...]

Belize at SOTIC 2018
Tourism Minister Manuel Heredia Junior is in the Bahamas for this year’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference. It commenced on Wednesday under the theme “Rejuvenate. Recreate. Reconnect. New Directions [...]

Commonwealth Secretary General on Guatemala: There is no Lawful Claim
The Secretary General of Commonwealth, Right Honorable Patricia Scotland was in country on an official two day visit. Officially she visited to promote the Commonwealth and its work. However, during [...]

Baroness Scotland on Role of the International Community
Baroness Scotland is recognized as an esteemed international public leader and a former Attorney General of the United Kingdom. In her interview she was also asked to share her perspective [...]

MOH and Mayors Sign MOU
Fifteen million people between the ages of thirty and seventy worldwide die as a result of non-communicable diseases such as cancers and diabetes which are the largest preventable causes of [...]

Economic Partnership Agreement Brings Local Producers and Service Providers Together
A workshop hosted by the CARIFORUM-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement on business to business strategic networking was held today at the Biltmore.  The seminar brought together local producers, as well [...]

The Role of Caribbean Export in Regional Market for Goods and Services
Zamani Moodie, advisor for market intelligence with the Caribbean Export Development Agency discusses the role of the agency in the workshop, as well as the technical assistance provided by the [...]

Belize’s Finest, Chaa Creek: Belize Luxury Resort
As part of this year’s B.T.B. Familiarization Tour, the media was taken to Chaa Creek: Belize Luxury Resort in the Cayo District. The resorts boast top notch accommodations with great [...]

Healthy Living: PG Yogi Studies in India
Tonight we share this story about a young man from Punta Gorda who recently returned from studying across the globe far away in India. He completed his studies through a [...]

LOVE FM

Government concerned about Jalacte
The Sarstoon River is the primary area where friction between Belize and Guatemala is evident; but there is another part of the district that is a growing concern. The Chief Executive Officers for the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, National Security along with the Cabinet Secretary met earlier in the week to discuss various national …

Seminar brings neighboring Universities together
A seminar about Sustainable Development in the Maya World is occurring at the University Of Belize (UB). Love Correspondent Pauline Soberanis Tillett spoke to UB Vice President Dr. Marriot Simon about the goals of the seminar. Pauline Soberanis Tillett: “Sustainable development in the Maya world is the theme for the fourth Bi national seminar with …

“Financial Planning for Retirement”
Retirees have contributed significantly to the development of this country. Every year the number of retirees increase and with both men and women living longer, financial stability for our senior citizens is a concern. The National Council on Ageing wants to ensure that more persons get to experience financial security in their golden years. In …

Agriculture Minister discusses 8 Million US Climate Resilient loan
The Government had procured a 16 million Belize dollar loan from the International Fund for Agricultural Development for financial assistance in the execution of the Resilient Rural Belize Project. The education measures, as well as development goals, are geared towards rural areas to fortify our farmers who need to implement measures to offset the effects …

Gang related men released from prison
The State of Emergency declaration saw fifty one men incarcerated in early September as part of police’s efforts to reduce the gun violence and crime wave that were plaguing the city streets. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams in his address to the media, noted that the men would be held for 30 days at …

The death penalty question
The last man to die by the death penalty in Belize was Kent Bowers who was hanged at the Belize Central Prison in 1985. “Bring back hanging” is one of the regular phrases that we hear when crime seems to go unabated and the courts are unable to provide justice. When Nicolas Guevara was 34 …

Businesses equipped with tools to access the European Market
Beltraide aims at tackling the problem of poverty by promoting business growth. Beltraide in collaboration with the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) held a workshop to sensitize potential exporters as to the requirements of the European Union market. Dr. Leroy Almendarez, Executive Director of Beltraide, told the media that when our export expands it can …

Attempted abduction in the North
Tonight there are many reports circulating of kidnappings, attempted kidnappings or abductions. Our reporters have reached out to several law enforcement officials who have denied any truth to those reports. Yet, the messages keep coming in especially from out west of multiple incidents. Recently, there were reports coming out of the north about an attempted …

Police constable under investigation after firing firearm in public
A police constable is currently under scrutiny of the law as an incriminating video has surfaced with him firing several shots outside an Orange Walk nightclub on Guadalupe Street. However, as investigations are being conducted, PC Michael Patten revealed to investigators that his actions were solely a result of an altercation that transpired within the …

CWU: “PBL is not negotiating in good faith”
The Stevedores are disgruntled over the new working hours, which is being proposed by the Port of Belize Limited (PBL). Therefore, the Christian Workers Union (CWU) has sent a letter to the PBL threatening industrial action. Under their present working hours, stevedores may work from fifteen to thirty hours per shift. Meanwhile, under the proposed …

US national becomes victim to home invasion
An American national who investigators say has an active social life out west was the victim of a home invasion. 64-year-old, Juan William Scott Field lives in the Santa Cruz area in Santa Elena Town, Cayo District. He was found in his home unconscious by one of his workers …

The Reporter

ORANGE WALK TEEN FOUND ALIVE, SHE WAS REPORTED MISSING A WEEK AGO
Police are reporting that Analeily Chi, 14, was found alive and well in a home in San Luis Village, Orange Walk at around 5:30pm today. We are told that a man from San Jose Village has been detained as the investigation continues. Chan was reported missing almost a week ago by her father, who told Police he dropped her off near the market in town where she was supposed to meet friends to do a group project.

POLICE OFFICER FACE DISCIPLINARY CHARGES FOR DISCHARGING WEAPON AT OW NIGHTCLUB
Police sources have confirmed that a Police Officer assigned to the Special Patrol Unit is facing disciplinary charges after he fired his gun outside a nightclub in Orange Walk. The video shows a man in a white shirt, allegedly gang affiliate Jose Medina.

EDEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ARRESTED FOR CARNAL KNOWLEDGE
On September 24, Eden High School in Santa Elena was in the news after Police detained two students, and were accused of using excessive force. There was public outcry because family members of one of the students, who is a 16 year old, claimed that he was being harassed simply because he was involved in a relationship with the daughter of the arresting officer; she is a 15 year old.

‘ALLEDGE’ HOME INVASION OF AMERICAN IN SANTA ELENA
According to reliable reports, American architect Scott Field, 64, is at the K.H.M.H. in a medically induced coma. Field appears to have been the victim of a brutal home invasion sometime between Sunday night and early Monday morning at his home in Santa Elena. He was found unconscious by an employee on Monday morning, with serious injuries to his head and face.

Breaking Belize News

Taiwan to celebrate National Day on Oct 10th
Taiwan commemorates October 10 as their National Day. The day is set aside to commemorate the […]

Santa Cruz Primary School renovation project completed
On Friday, September 28, 2018, a closing ceremony was conducted at the Santa Cruz Primary Government […]

Carla Alvarez is US Embassy’s Woman of the Month
Every month, the United States Embassy in Belize honors a Belizean woman for her arduous work […]

More rains coming our way
The 24-hour forecast is for moist and unstable conditions to prevail over the region. Cloudy skies […]

National Hurricane Center monitoring weather system in the Caribbean Sea
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is currently monitoring a broad low pressure area centered near the northeastern coasts […]

San Ignacio police inform that they have not received reports of attempted kidnapping
Today, several residents of San Ignacio and Santa Elena asked the San Ignacio Police Commander to […]

Belize lends help to Canadian authorities to prosecute kidnapping case
Belizean authorities have granted a mutual assistance request from the Canadian prosecutors to assist in a […]

Belizean Writers Invited to Enter The 2019 Commonwealth Short Story Prize
Belizean authors are invited to participate in The 2019 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. The organization is searching for […]

BBN’s Zoila Gonzalez reflects on International Visitor Leadership Program experience, Week 1
Prominent online Belizean journalist, Zoila Gonzalez, a member of our Breaking Belize News is in the […]

Belizeans in the US concerned over Presidential Alert
Yesterday, many American citizens, as well as Belizeans in the USA, got a ‘ Presidential Alert’ text message. According to American media outlets, President Trump’s Administration is testing a never before used texting system.

Blogs

Belikin’s Octobeer Fest 2018 rolls out the Black and Tan!
Boil and bubble, toil and trouble…it looks like Belikin Beer has been brewing up something new! The brewing company of Belize has seasonal hits Sorrel Stout and Chocolate Stout, and this October, they’re running with the Octoberfest idea with their newest creation, the Black and Tan. By definition, a Black and Tan is a combination of a pale beer and a dark beer, with the pale ale poured first in a tall pint glass. The darker beer or stout is then poured carefully using an upside down tablespoon to prevent splashing and mixing of the beers. The end result is a layered drink that goes down quite deliciously! Of course, we’re not expecting a layered drink in the iconic Belikin bottles, but we’re sure the flavor is epic. Pre-sold on October 2nd, the limited-edition beers made their long-awaited arrival to the island’s refrigerators by late Wednesday evening.

Snapshots in San Pedro: Mixed Weather and Good Eats
I was ready to sit down and blog a few hours ago. After a quick walk with the dogs. We hurried out; dark clouds were looming. And as we closed the outside door to the balcony…a gust of wind and SLAM. I didn’t know it until we hurried back in light rain but…the lock broke and we were locked out. UGH. But now…back inside…here are my photos from the day. October weather is here. To me, it’s the stormiest, most changeable time of year. Torrential rains at night…followed by dark clouds early morning… and then BLAZING sun. Followed by clouds and then…you get the picture. This is all before noon. The heat is more intense than any other time of the year. The humidity is always around 100%…

International Sources

A Quest to Learn More about the Common Man
Archaeologist Eric Fries digs deep into the Maya civilization. Eric Fries’ inspiration stems from his childhood adventures alongside his grandfather. “My grandfather was a hobby archaeologist in Germany. He took me out when I was little into the fields to work with him,” he said. Now, Fries is in his second year of the anthropology doctoral program studying archaeology; only this time, he is working in the fields of Belize. He researches Maya archaeology, focusing in settlement, where he looks at big cities and their outlying areas. Fries will share his research at the third annual Graduate Showcase on Oct. 12.

Videos

October 4, 2018

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Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

The Queen Conch Season is officially open; illegal conch fishing continues to be a challenge
Monday, October 1st, marked the beginning of the 2018-2019 fishing season of the Queen Conch (Strombus Gigas). The season closed on June 30th, and after three months, fishermen across the country are now allowed to harvest one of the most significant sources of revenue in the fishing industry. Conch is a staple on Ambergris Caye, prepared in dishes like ceviche, soups, fritters and more. This seafood generates millions of dollars for Belize, and the season usually runs for approximately seven months or until conch quota set for that period has been met, which ever comes first.

Second round of PLB 2018 begins: San Pedro Pirates lose 1-0 against Police United F.C
For the first match of the second round of the Premiere League of Belize (PLB) 2018 Opening Season, the San Pedro Pirates F.C traveled to Belmopan City to face Police United F.C on Sunday, September 29th. It was a tight match, but Police United F.C managed to edge out the Pirates and claim a 1-0 victory. For their next match, the San Pedro Pirates will be playing at home against Freedom Fighters on Saturday, October 6th. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30PM at the Ambergris Stadium. All islanders are invited to come out and support their team. Food and drinks will be on sale during the game.

Ambergris Today

1700 Yards Of Sargassum Removed In Two Day Cleanup Campaign
As part of the ongoing short and long term plan for the island, the San Pedro Sargassum Task Force Group (SPSTFG) was formed. The San Pedro Sargassum Task Force Group will assist the San Pedro Town Council carrying out its short and long term mandate as it relates to addressing the non-stop large influx of sargassum that is beaching on the island. The group includes representatives from the San Pedro Town Council, San Pedro Tour Guide Association, San Pedro Chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association, representatives from the San Pedro Poly-Clinic, San Pedro NEMO Coordinator and a few volunteers.

Misc Belizean Sources

Secretary General of the Commonwealth Visits Belize
The Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland, Secretary General of the Commonwealth, is in Belize on a two-day visit on the invitation of the Government of Belize. This marks Baroness Scotland’s second visit to Belize as Secretary General of the Commonwealth. The Secretary General’s visit underscores the Commonwealth’s unequivocal support for Belize’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which was recently reaffirmed by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their meeting in April 2018 in London. The Commonwealth has been a longstanding supporter of Belize’s sovereignty and territorial integrity from before Belize’s independence.

Bee keeping program in the Vaca Forest Reserve
With GEF SGP support, four farmers in the Vaca Forest Reserve have started a bee keeping program aimed as an alternative, sustainable means in the use of the forest.

Mosquito Awareness Week by Belize Red Cross
Write a Mosquito Song (Jingle) and win $500

Study in South Korea!
The Organization of American States (OAS), through the OAS Partnerships Program for Education and Training of the Department o f Human Development, Education and Employment (DHDEE) and KDI School of Public Policy and Management, are offering scholarships to qualified candidates of the Americas to participate in Graduate Programs at KDI in the Republic of South Korea. **Application deadline is October 15, 2018.**

Promote healthy lifestyles in San Pedro
In agreement with the Ministry of Health, Deputy Mayor Mr. Ruben Gonzalez from the San Pedro Town Council signed a memorandum to help promote healthy lifestyles, wellness spaces and physical activity in the community!

RESIDENTS TEAM UP FOR SARGASSUM CLEAN-UP ON AMBERGRIS CAYE
As part of the ongoing short and long term plan for the island, the San Pedro Sargassum Task Force Group (SPSTFG) was formed. The San Pedro Sargassum Task Force Group will assist the San Pedro Town Council carrying out its short and long term mandate as it relates to addressing the non-stop large influx of sargassum that is beaching on the island. The group includes representatives from the San Pedro Town Council, San Pedro Tour Guide Association, San Pedro Chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association, representatives from the San Pedro Poly-Clinic, San Pedro NEMO Coordinator and a few volunteers.

Stop order issued on Caye Caulker
In light of an incident that occured yesterday, October 2nd, 2018 where Ms. Badillo was issued a stop order the Caye Caulker Village Council would like to clarify the following points: The reason the project was stopped was due to the very close proximity of high tension wires to the building which possesses serious fire hazard, and if any individual is to come into contact it can lead to electrocution. The CCVC have not seen any plans for the said location.

Rotaract Haunted House 2018
The Rotaract Club of San Ignacio is having their annual Haunted House and Costume Contest on Saturday, October 27th. It'll be happening at Hode's, and will televised on The National Channel. This family friendly night has become one of the biggest Halloween events in Belize. "Join us at Hode's Place on October 27th for our Annual Costume Competition! There will be lots of prizes and giveaways throughout the night! Registration starts at 6pm SHARP! See you there!"

Promotion of Wellness Spaces and Healthy Lifestyles
This morning, Mayors from all nine municipalities across the country convened in Belmopan to sign unto a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Ministry of Health for the promotion of Wellness Spaces and Healthy Lifestyles. In August, the Ministry presented the idea to the Mayors Association and received overwhelming support for the partnership. The MOA was drafted to primarily create a partnership between the various municipalities and the Ministry of Health to promote healthy lifestyles, wellness spaces and promote physical activity within their communities.

Government of Belize to Expand Hemodialysis Program
The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, with the approval and support of Cabinet, has agreed to expand the Hemodialysis program to cover more than twice the number of patients with end-stage Renal failure. The implementation of the expanded program is as follows: 1. Ministry of Health will contract with the following providers: KHMHA, Loma Luz Hospital, Miguel Rosado Dialysis Center, and Dialysis del Caribe. The Ministry has evaluated and certified that these establishments have met acceptable standards for quality care. 2. The Ministry will pay the contracted provider for 2 dialysis sessions per week per patient. The patient will be required to pay the third session directly to the provider.

Caye Caulker Public Meeting Today
Join us on Thursday, October 4th @ 6:30pm at the Caye Caulker Community Center with Mr. Andre Perez. Come and express your concerns we will be there to listen and discuss. Join us, and together, we can make the difference.

COROZAL COMMERCIAL FREE ZONE is on LIFE SUPPORT
Corozal Commercial FREE ZONE.... For the past 6 to 8 of years ,Corozal Free Zone has being declining in its gross income and importation of goods, almost 73% of Businesses have shut down, employment rates drastically going down, people being let go every day.... Corozal Free Zone has being estimated to CLOSED DOWN by the end of next year or early 2020,No Economic Activity, No Business, No Diversity....,the Casinos are scheduled to be close by the end of 2019, No Business no deh...!!!! Corozal FREE ZONE only serves as a Drinking and Alcohol hub, Corruption for our young people, hardly a young employed person in the FREE ZONE win $125 to 150 per week,.Corozal Free Zone also serves for money laundering and other illegal activities such as CONTRABANDING of FUEL, ALCOHOL and CIGARETTES apart from Corruption and Mismanagement of funds and finances by the Political Directorate ...

International Archaeology Day
In celebration of International Archaeology Day we are delighted to have the Institute of Archaeology with us to present the Mayan Tools & Utensils Exhibition. You are kindly invited to visit the House of Culture on Friday October 19th to view this extraordinary exhibit!

300 mahogany and breadnut trees planted
300 mahogany and breadnut trees were planted in Las Flores de Chiquibul, Guatemala by students, villagers and soldiers. This initiative was led by Todos para un Mundo Verde youth group, which is a counterpart to the FCD Youth Environmental Group. This initiative is financed by the Canada Fund.

BTB at the Canada Roadshow 2018
Photos....

Ya'axché Nursery Seedling Sale
Get your plants for as low as BZ $2.75 per seedling at Ya'axché’s Nursery! Available in stock are Balam, Bay Leaf, Bilimbi, Bread nut, Cacao Regular, Cashew, Cedar, Coffee, Custard Apple, Kinep, Mahogany, Molley Apple, Monkey Cap, Tambran, Vanilla and Yellow Ginger Call 722-0108 or email marcelia.assi(at)yaaxche.org to order. Our nursery is located at the Mile 68 Southern Highway, Golden Stream Corridor Preserve.

Channel 7

State of Emergency Prisoner Released
The state of public emergency in two areas of the southside was declared 30 days ago on the 4th of September. The proclamation specified that it was for a period of only 30 days - and that comes to an end at midnight. So, everyone is asking, will the more than 60 men now be set free? Well, there is late word to 7News that this could be underway at the prison at this very minute - and we are monitoring it closely. We know that no extension has been given, and even the Attorney General - who is never shy - told us today - he is waiting on word from the Minister of National Security:...

Labour Minister Tries to Solve Dispute At Port
The clock is ticking at the Port of Belize where the stevedores gave notice of industrial action 5 days ago. Today, after the Senate meeting, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour, Dr. Carla Barnett said she would be meeting with both sides and not making any pre-judgements:.. Hon. Carla Barnett, Minister of State - Labour: "I am preparing to meet with both sides. We will try to meet with them urgently. The 21 days has been invoked. So there are certain processes that you go through under the law under which they invoke that 21 days. So we are trying to keep the peace. We are trying to get them to talk. That's what we would want to do and if there isn't the possibility of talking then we have to move beyond that, because the port is an essential service. We have to keep it open. We have to keep the flow of good into and out of country. So we are prepared to work with both sides."

Deliverance For Dialysis Patients
Tonight, 100 or so persons with kidney failure all across the country are breathing a sigh of relief, as government announced the details of a long-promised dialysis support program. According to a release, Government has agreed to expand the current program to cover more than twice the number of patients with end-stage Renal failure. Minister of Health Pablo Marin gave us the broad outlines of the program this morning in Belmopan:.. Hon. Pablo Marin, Minister of Health "For the people that have the renal failure, my objective is if I can help one person, I don't think that is right. We were given 3 dialysis sessions to a group of patients which were about 60 of them and then I saw another 40 of them that are struggling to pay one. I didn't see it right. So I started to look at all the different aspects of it and how I can change it..."

Graham Creek Just Qualified For Hardship
Last night you saw the torturous hike we had to take to get the Graham Creek Government School in extreme southwestern Toledo. It was more arduous than the far reaches of Chiquibul or anything our seasoned news team had ever encountered in Belize. But, what we didn't know is that - according to the Ministry of Education - Graham Creek - incredibly - was not included in the list of schools that qualified for hardship. The last hardship list, compiled in the year 2000 does not include that school - but the revision this year - does include it. The Deputy Chief Education Officer explained today in Belmopan:...

BTL’s Profits Went Up
BTL held it's annual general meeting last week Thursday - and though we weren't invited for the first time in, literally, decades - the company made up last night by having a press conference at its flagship store on Regent Street. We found them in deep self congratulation and taking victory laps in a year that saw profits increase:... Jules Vasquez reporting: Like the breathless promotion video they put on display for us- to hear these senior managers tell it - BTL is on a roll like never before: Rocus Schriber, CEO - BTL: "This fiscal year was very successful for us. We completed the destination greatness strategy execution. Under the destination greatness, we built a submarine network that connected San Pedro to the mainland. We significantly expanded our mobile network and we started to roll out our fiber to the home, which is unique because this is the only country in Central America that is building fiber to the home network across the entire country of Belize..."

Another Attempted Abduction of A Minor
There is another daring attempted child kidnapping to report, this one happened in Trial Farm, Orange Walk yesterday. And there was no white van, it was a man on a bicycle. A 15 year old girl went to pick up her cousin from his school and when they were on their way back home, the report is that a man on a bicycle was following them and another was up ahead waiting for them. The kids got scared and ran off screaming. Our colleges from CTV-3 spoke to a little girl who saw what happened. She described the men she saw. Voice of: Witness: "I went to buy because I was already at home and then when I came back I heard them scream. So, I saw a man going to the river with an orange shirt and a green hat and a lot of tattoos. So, afterwards I came here and I saw the police and that is the only thing I saw."

Deputy Compol Explains B-Sag Situation
Deputy Commissioner of Police Chester Williams was up north today - where he appeared on the Despierta Belice morning show on Orange Walk's CTV-3. He discussed the hot-button issue in the north - which is the murder and attempted murder charges - which he pressed - against 8 lawmen. They were set free by the Magistrate last week ago when police did not have the case file ready. Williams said he feels the decision was premature, and explained the delay in re-arresting:.. DCP Chester Williams "What happened with that matter is that the case file was sent into the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, as is normally the case in any indictable matter, for their advice..."

DPP’s Office Rages Against Compol
And while Williams says he felt the judge acted prematurely, the DPP's office is apparently very sensitive about the case. Crown Counsel Javier Chan fired off an angry latter to the Commissioner of Police today saying THE DPP's office is, quote, "utterly displeased with the police handling of the case…we are aggrieved in particular by the misleading information that was provided to the court and the media…" end quote. That, we take it is the suggestion that the DPP's office was somehow to blame for the case going off the tracks.

NEWCO 6 M USD Settlement Debated In Senate
On Friday the matter of the NEWCO 6 million US dollar settlement went to the house of representatives Today it went to the Senate where the debate was lively, if not energetic:.. Hon. Anthony Mahler- PUP Senator: "Anytime the Belizean people have to pay more than we should pay, I have a problem with that. Like the BTL issue, like the UHS issue, this issue has been litigated all over the place and the only thing that has happened is that the Belizean people end up paying more than we should be paying. I have a serious problem with that Mr. President."

PM Back At Work
The Rt. Hon. Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland left Belize today. It was a short two day visit. In a release sent out it states "The Secretary General's visit underscores the Commonwealth's unequivocal support for Belize's sovereignty and territorial integrity….the visit is also aimed at promoting the Commonwealth and its work". Scotland met with the Governor General, the Leader of the Opposition John Briceno, Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington, members of the Referendum Commission and Prime Minister Dean Barrow. In fact, meeting with Scotland, was Prime Minister Barrow's first order of business as he returned to his office yesterday after his surgery in Cuba. This is Scotland's second visit to Belize.

Municipalities and Wellness
Dieting and exercising is tough to stick to especially if you have spent most of your life avoiding it. Well, the Ministry of Health along with the Mayor's from all municipalities countrywide have committed to help you, the citizens, live a longer and healthier life. The partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Belmopan today to promote wellness spaces and healthy lifestyles. Here is more from the signing. Robyn Daly, Nutritionist: "The purpose for this whole campaign and this signing is to create and secure partnerships with the Ministry of Health as well as with the various municipalities and the Mayor's."

Regional Strategy For Climate Change
Today the Belize Climate Change office hosted a regional meeting at the Biltmore. Representatives from several Central American countries attended. The main focus was to assess the regional strategy and discuss ways to improve it. The Chief Climate Change office Lennox Gladden told us more. Lennox Gladden, Head, National Climate Change Office: "As you know Belize holds the presidency for SICA currently, today's event focuses mainly on climate change, whereby we have the regional climate change focal points from Nicaragua, from Panama, they all came today to discuss just that and to review the regional climate change strategy."

Police Go To Pick Up Prisoners
We now have an update on the 64 men detained under the state of emergency. At this hour, specialized police units have pulled up at the Belize Central prison to transfer the men back to Belize City. It appears they will be set free before midnight tonight. Government did not extend the 30 day state of emergency - but this morning in Orange Walk Deputy Compol Williams did explain that it could have been extended to a year:.. Chester Williams- Deputy Commissioner of Police: "The public reaction to what was done has been excellent. As a matter of fact, people are clamoring for us to make recommendations to Cabinet so that the Cabinet can make resolutions to the house to pass a resolution to extend the state of emergency to another area..."

Concerns For Missing Teen
Another concerned parent is asking for help in locating her 15 year old son - Carlos Canchan. He left his parents Bullet Tree home on Saturday evening with a bag of clothes and didn't say where he was going. He hasn't come home since. His mom says he has left home before but he came back the same day. This is the longest he has ever taken to come back home. His parents have made a police report. If you see this boy please call police or his mom at 664 - 0854 or their family friend at 634-1161.

Muslim Hoops In Miami
Belize's Ahmadiyya Muslim basketball team nabbed second place in its first US tournament. It is called the Masroor International Sports tournament or MIST. It was held in Miami this weekend. We spoke to the Ahmadiyya Muslim President as well as the team's point guard about this rewarding experience.

Sentences Coming Down For Killers
Last night we told you about 60 year-old Nicolas Guevara, a convicted killer ordered to be released from prison after serving 26 years. The Caribbean Court of Justice has set aside mandatory life sentences for murder, so the Supreme Court is now imposing fixed term sentences. It's a progressive step - one that has seen hanging commuted to life in prison, and now life reduced to 25 years. We asked the Attorney General about how this squares with the public's desire for justice of the Old Testament variety:...

Will The People of Port Choose Peyre?
We asked Peyreffite his reaction to the public perceptions - since he is trying to go from the senate to the House, as a popular politician. The convention for Port Loyola will be held in a less than a month - and we asked Peyreffite where he stands in relation to his three opponents:... Reporter: "Explain to me what are your hopes and projections going into that convention?" Mike Peyrefitte, Attorney General: "I hope to win the convention and I will project to you what will happen on November 5th. I don't know what will happen. The people on that day go out and they will vote which of the 4 of us they prefer and whatever the result is, I will accept that result."

Mike P, Senator “Fluffy”?
And, as you saw, Peyreffite isn't afraid to poke fun at himself, either. He spoke today about legislation to regularize many loose ends between the judiciary and the civil registry. And said he's got the energy even as a quote, "fat boy":

Media Does It Uo Out West
And while that drew some chuckles on the house floor, there was a whole lot more than chuckling this weekend when the media did it up out west as part of a BTB familiarization trip. Here now is part two of our story on all the stuff the media did on a three day weekend out west:… All the places we visited have special discounted rates for Belizeans.

Balloons OF Hope For Sickle Cell
And finally tonight, Remember brave little Orlando Romero? He is the 9 year old sickle cell patient we did a feature on in April of this year. Well since that story aired, his mom Rockel Romero has been trying to start a sickle cell awareness campaign. On Sunday she organized a balloon release at the Peini sign in Punta Gorda. Her family, friends, PG residents and other kids suffering from the disease attended. Romero says September is sickle cell awareness month. You can follow or get in contact with Romero through her Sickle Cell Association facebook page.

Channel 5

State of Emergency Nigh on to Expiry; What’s the Fate of the Inmates?
As many as fifty-one inmates from the George Street and Banak Street gangs are being released from the Belize Central Prison tonight, after being held in detention for the past [...]

Senators Debate Crime Control and Criminal Justice Amendment
With the State of Emergency now being suspended, earlier today the Senate debated an amendment to the Crime Control and Criminal Justice Act. The amendment is in relation to bail [...]

What Happens Should Port of Belize Preempt Pending Strike Action?
The Port of Belize and its attendant stevedores are at an impasse over working hours that that should be covered per ship.  The management of the company which remains in [...]

Port of Belize Prepared for Eventuality of Industrial Action
According to C.E.O. ‘Tux’ Vasquez, the Port of Belize has put in place security, as well as measures in the event that stevedores proceed with industrial action following the twenty-one [...]

G.O.B. Intervenes in Stevedores/Port Impasse
The Port of Belize provides an essential service. It is a port of entry used to import and export millions of dollars worth of merchandise every single month. The standoff [...]

Senators Buck Heads over NEWCO/G.O.B. US $6 Million Settlement
The most debated motion brought to the Senate today was the conditional settlement agreement between NEWCO Limited and the Government of Belize. In 2002, the Belize Airports Authority and NEWCO [...]

First US $3 Million Payment Due End of October
Taking part in the debate were U.D.P. Senator Orson Elrington and P.U.P. Senator Eamon Courtenay. Both Senators touched on Cabinet’s decision at the time to terminate the concession agreement.   [...]

Should Convicted Killers Be Given the Death Penalty?
On Tuesday, we told you about sixty-year-old Salvadoran National Nicolas Guevara. He is the man who was convicted for the 1992 murder of thirty-six-year-old Marcus Antonio Tzul in the Orange [...]

G.O.B. Gets Loan to Improve San Pedro’s Water System
Also today, Senators debated a loan for the Water and Sewerage Expansion in South Ambergris Caye Project.  The loan is being provided by the Caribbean Development Bank and is for [...]

U.D.P.’s Mike Peyrefitte Hopes He Wins Port Loyola Convention
Attorney General and U.D.P. Senator Michael Peyrefitte has been hitting the ground in the Port Loyola Division meeting U.D.P. voters in his attempt to cement his candidacy as the U.D.P.’s [...]

G.O.B. Announces Expansion of Hemodialysis Programme
The Government of Belize announced today that it will be expanding the hemodialysis programme to cover more than twice the number of patients with end-stage renal failure. According to the [...]

The Journey to Graham Creek – the Teachers’ Story
The Belize National Teachers Union and Ministry of Education have been at odds about the re-categorization of hardship allowances and time off. The argument being put forward is that the [...]

B.T.L. Earns $159 Million in Revenue in 2017
Belize Telemedia Limited, or Digi, as it has since been re-branded, held a media mixer on Tuesday night during which executives of the company presented a report covering the fiscal [...]

From Destination Greatness to Go Beyond
Company C.E.O., Rochus Shreiber provided an overview of the past year under his leadership, particularly the rollout of Destination Greatness, as well as the vision for customers to take full [...]

A Donation to the Buttonwood Bay Nazarene Primary School Computer Lab
The Buttonwood Bay Nazarene Primary School on Coney Drive in Belize City has been transforming into a model education facility.  Aside from expansion works here and there, the institution has [...]

Transparent BPO Recruiting Employees this Weekend
Recruitment manager Audralee Enriquez also took the opportunity to invite persons, eighteen years and older, to come to a job fair hosted by Transparent BPO. The company currently has eight [...]

LOVE FM

SICA holds meeting in Belize
Representatives of the member-countries of the Central American Integration System (SICA) are meeting in Belize discussing climate change issues within the region. In this regard, the workshop is looking at formulating a strategy to tackle climate change. Love news spoke with Lennox Gladden, Chief Climate Change Officer, at the National Climate Change Office, who said …

Passing the baton
Over the years, Cynthia Ellis-Topsey, Founder and Director of Belize Rural Women’s Association, has been involved in shaping and developing women leaders in Belize. As a result, her organization has assisted in establishing several women’s organizations including the Sandy Beach Women’s Cooperative in Hopkins and the Blackman Women’s Cooperative. Today, the Women’s Department invited Ellis-Topsey …

BTL receives it’s highest revenue ever in 2017/18
The Belize Telemedia Limited is blossoming financially; that is according to the Chief Financial Officer, Ivan Tesucum. The company held a press conference last night at their offices on Regent Street in Belize City where they boasted of the millions made this last financial year. Tesucum noted that BTL is continuing to advance its services …

CCCCC reach-out to Caribbean countries devastated by hurricanes
Hurricanes Irma and Maria tore through countries such as Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica wreaking havoc and causing many fatalities in 2017. The Caribbean Community Climate Change Center (5Cs) is focused on making these Caribbean countries more resilient to these hurricanes. Carlos Fuller, Regional Liaison Officer, says that the 5Cs is helping Antigua and Barbuda and …

Minister of State comments on Stevedores plan to Strike
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour Carla Barnett is attempting to diffuse a highly combustible situation between a lucrative industry and the blue-collar workers whose toil and sweat perform the manual labor that keeps the shipping industry on schedule. One hundred and fifty stevedores, members of the Christian Workers Union (CWU), had …

High School Principal on Admin Leave during Investigation
The Principal of Belmopan Comprehensive High School, Maria Hutchinson has been placed on administrative leave. Jahmor Lopez, the Principal Education Officer for the Cayo District also sits on the board of the school. He told Love News via phone that the administrative leave for Hutchinson is just part of an ongoing process. Via Phone, Jahmor …

Senator speaks about Gender Based Violence
While the Ministry of National Security and the country focus on the violence that occurs between gangs, there is another important group that is not often included in the dialogue on violence. In February Hermelinda Pinks was killed by her ex during a murder/suicide encounter; in July a man was convicted of brutally stabbing to …

Will 51 men be released from Detention?
Today is “D Day” for the gang affiliated men who were hauled in a police dragnet in Belize City. Initially over one hundred men were locked up at the police station, but that number was whittled down to fifty one; those fifty one men were shuttled to the Belize Central Prison for what officials say …

Chaos on the grounds of the youth hostel
Immediate concerns were raised yesterday as reports of chaos on the grounds of the youth hostel at mile twenty one quickly circulated via social media. A release from the Ministry of Human Development noted that at about ten o’clock yesterday morning ten of the female inmates pried through sheetrock and zinc in one of the …

Breaking Belize News

MIRAB launches state of the art department store
The Bou-Nahra family made a bold move in launching Belize’s first high end shopping experience, located on the […]

16-year-old boy missing in Bullet Tree Village
A 16-year-old boy is missing in Bullet Tree, Cayo. According to reports, Carlos Canchan, 16, went missing […]

American man badly beaten in home invasion
Early Monday morning, Scott Fields, an American man was badly beaten and robbed at his home in Santa […]

CARICOM Offers Condolences To Indonesia Tsunami and Earthquake Victims
Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General has issued a statement expressing the Community’s deepest solidarity […]

Mayors from across Belize sign agreement to promote Wellness Spaces and Healthy Lifestyles
This morning, Mayors from all nine municipalities across the country convened in Belmopan to sign unto […]

Government of Belize to Expand Hemodialysis Program
PM Dean Barrow, with the approval and support of Cabinet, has agreed to expand the Hemodialysis […]

Family of slain Belizean teen in Chicago pleads for justice
flowers Seventeen-year-old Darnell Flowers moved to Chicago from Belize when he was 10 years old. Flowers […]

Home invasion in Blackman Eddy; 3 Cayo homes burglarized this week
Burglaries in the Cayo area appear to be on the rise this week with the third […]

Another house in Cayo gets burglarized
Police in Cayo are investigating a burglary that happened on Monday between the hours of 2-3 […]

Rufino Hernandez arrested for murder of Christopher Meighan
Yesterday authorities arrested Rufino Hernandez, 39, a resident of San Mateo in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye for […]

Belize company implicated in money laundering scheme
A Belize-based company has been implicated in a money laundering scheme at Nordea bank. According to […]

Nishal Sankat to be deported for attempting to stealing plane
Nishal Sankat, the Trinidad and Tobago resident and son of University of Belize President Clement Sankat, is being […]

Secretary General of the Commonwealth Visits Belize
Patricia Scotland, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth is in Belize on a two-day visit on […]

Jungle habitat for jaguars in Belize under threat of deforestation
The Wildlife Conservation Charity World Land Trust (WLT) has launched an urgent campaign to save jungle […]

CCJ dismisses appeal from convicted murderer
Convicted murderer, Dionicio Salazar, has come to the end of the road in trying to overturn his […]

Blogs

The Mesoamerican Reef: A shared vision for prosperity and conservation
Transformative change on an ecosystem scale is extremely challenging. But in the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR)— stretching 600 miles of coral reefs, mangrove forests and seagrass beds along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras—sustaining a rich array of biodiversity and thousands of local people, it is happening. Leaders from all four countries recently convened on a shared vision for prosperity and empowered coastal communities—setting a new course for sustainable fishing and ecotourism in the region. The complex balance of the coral reefs, mangroves and seagrasses protect and nurture more than 500 species of fish—essential in these countries for food security, economic development, and poverty alleviation. The beauty of the reefs attract visitors and ecotourism dollars to local communities.

International Sources

Abduction trial to go ahead with co-operation of Belize officials
The legal case against a Lethbridge woman accused of parental abduction has been given the green light to proceed after Canadian authorities were able to gain the co-operation of authorities in Belize. Crown prosecutor Tony Bell informed the court Wednesday that officials in Belize, which has no formal treaty with Canada with respect to legal or police matters, have granted a mutual assistance request in the case.

The Queen Loves Callaloo Soup!
On Monday, October 1 HBO aired a new landmark documentary — Queen of the World. Having been given “privileged access to The Queen, her family, her staff and her residences” the documentarians (Oxford Films, which also produced Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy ) allow viewers to peer into the life of 92-year-old monarch Queen Elizabeth II. Queen of the World has however revealed something quite surprising. Queen Elizabeth II loves callaloo soup! “The callaloo soup was an absolute sensation,” said Royal Chef Mark Flanagan. “I had email after e-mail telling me that it must now feature more regularly.” Thursday Food is still hunting for the recipe but from what we gleaned, The Queen's new favourite soup comprises callaloo, thyme, allspice, garlic, coconut milk and pork.

Videos

October 3, 2018

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Fisheries Department Skills Training Graduate Receives Opportunity in Anguilla
The Fisheries Department in collaboration with the Belize Marine Conservation and Climate Adaptation Project congratulates Mr. Noe Verde, an Electrical Installation graduate from Sarteneja Fishing Village, who was selected to work with other Belize City ITVET graduates with DCK Worldwide company in Anguilla. Mr. Verde left the country on September 28, 2018 and will work in Anguilla for 2-3 months, all expenses paid. Mr. Verde was one of 15 Trainees who completed the Electrical Installation (Level 1 and 2) course at Orange Walk ITVET.

New Year Honours Conferred to Eight Belizeans
The Governor General of Belize H.E. Sir Colville Young conferred New Year Honours to eight Belizeans, on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, at the Belize House in Belmopan. Receiving the honours were six men and two women. The New Year Honours are conferred to citizens of Commonwealth territories in recognition of their good work and contributions to their home countries.

Ambergris Today

Final Update On The 2018 Re-Registration Of Electors Exercise
A Final update is hereby provided as follows for the period 23rd to 30th September, 2018. During the period a total of Six Thousand, Three Hundred and Seventy-Six (6,376) applications were accepted, therefore the total number of applications received as at 30th September, 2018, is One Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Two (130,792) or 63.78% of the registered electors, prior to the commencement of the Re-registration of Electors Exercise. The Department wishes to thank all those persons who participated in the 2018 Re-registration of Electors Exercise.

Pic of the Week: Would You Dare Eat Conch Penis?
“It’s the BEST part of Conch Season in Belize!” said Lisette Graniel Chacon as she snapped this pic of a handful of conch penis. She then continued to eat them raw!! Conch season in Belize opened yesterday, October 1. It’s a delicacy; It’s an aphrodisiac; It’s a MUST when the season opens. Conch Soup, Conch Fritters, Conch Ceviche and now Conch Penis. Would you dare?

Wellness Park Coming To San Pedro
Mayors from all municipalities across the country will convene in Belmopan to sign unto a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Ministry of Health for the promotion of Wellness Spaces and Healthy Lifestyles on Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018 at the steps of the Independence Plaza starting at 9:00 a.m.

Misc Belizean Sources

Final Update on the 2018 Re-registration of Electors Exercise
The Elections and Boundaries Department is pleased to present its Final update to the public on the 2018 Re-registration of Electors Exercise which concluded on 30th September, 2018. A Final update is hereby provided as follows for the period 23rd to 30th September, 2018.During the period a total of Six Thousand, Three Hundred and Seventy-Six (6,376) applications were accepted, therefore the total number of applications received as at 30th September, 2018, is One Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Two (130,792) or 63.78% of the registered electors, prior to the commencement of the Re-registration of Electors Exercise.

Halloween BASH at Crazy Canucks
It’s our 2nd Annual Halloween BASH. DJ begins at 8. Prizes for costume categories. Free shots throughout the night. Boo-takular time on the beach!

Statement on Incident at Youth Hostel
The Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation has contained an incident which occurred at the girls’ section of the Princess Royal Youth Hostel residential facility this morning. At around 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, ten (10) female residents gained access to the roof from inside the female dormitory by breaking portions of the sheetrock ceiling and forcefully prying loose sheets of zinc. Upon discovering the breach of the building, the staff, with assistance from the BDF volunteers on site and the Police, worked together and safely removed the residents from the roof.

Paint N Splash
See you this week at from 2-4pm Thursday to paint "Señorita Jeanna" with us.

BINGO by Corozal Animal Program
Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 2 PM – 4 PM, Jam Rock Bar & Grill. FUNDRAISER FOR COROZAL ANIMAL PROGRAM (CAP) Please join us for a fun afternoon of Bingo called by our very own Teamous Newberne! DATE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3. TIME: 2 TO 4 PM. PLACE: JAM ROCK. There will be cash prizes, as well as other great prizes. 100% of the funds we raise goes to CAP!

Belkize Diabetic Association Walkathon Fundraiser
Oct 13th, Elvira's Belizean Cafe, Corozal

International Archaeology Day Poem Competition
The Institute of Archaeology is having a slogan and poem competition for International Archaeology Day. You could win a trip to ATM or Xunantunich. The poem and slogan competition is open to high school and junior college students. When submitting your entry please specifiy what school you go to and what level. While only one submission is allowed per category, you may enter in both the slogan and poem categories.

La Tarde Cultural XXV
The 25th Sacred Heart College La Tarde Cultural will be on Friday, October 26th. This one's going to be bigger and better than ever before. It's fun for the entire family. Last year's was hilariously fun.

International Visitor Leadership Program participants with Author Dan Kennedy
Kennedy is the author of the Book: The Return of the Moguls: How Jeff Bezos and John Henry Are Remaking Newspapers for the Twenty-First Century

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
The Darkest Minds, Dark Web, Hotel Transylvania 3, Ant-Man Wasp

NICH International Archaeology Day Slogan & Poem Competition

On this #TreeTuesday, we are highlighting the Criollo Cacao tree (Theobroma cacao)!
We’re all familiar with the final product derived from this tree, but how familiar are you with the tree itself? The tree that gives us chocolate belongs to the plant family Malvaceae (the same as some other useful plants — hibiscus, okra, and the ceiba tree). Cultivated cacao is generally grouped into 3 types: Criollo, Trinitario, and Forastero. In Belize, trinitario is the most commonly planted variety, whereas criollo exists primarily as “wild” cacao. Commercially, Criollo Cacao is a high quality product with a thin outer pod layer and large, white beans. Theobroma cacao has been cultivated in Central America for more than 2,000 years!

Channel 7

Convicted Killer “Life” Salazar Rejected By CCJ
A convicted killer has appealed his conviction to the highest court in the land, and lost. Today, via teleconference, the Caribbean Court of Justice upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal and rejected the appeal of Dionicio "Life" Salazar. Salazar was convicted for the June 2010 murder of Marlon Rivera in San Ignacio. Now that he has exhausted his final appeal he can only hope that new sentencing guidelines will reduce his time in prison from a life sentence. His Attorney Anthony Sylvestre discussed what's next for him:..

After 26 Years, Killer Freed
And, another convicted killer got his new sentence today. Last Thursday, we told you about 60 year-old Nicolas Guevara, a Salvadoran who has served 26 years in prison after he was convicted of murder. He was sentenced to life in jail, but because the Caribbean Court of Justice has quashed mandatory life sentences for murder, the Supreme Court decided that he need to have a new sentence. Well today, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin has set him free after consideration. The judge decided that his new sentence should be 25 years in jail for the murder conviction. But, as we told you, he's already served 26 years, and so, his time in jail has amounted to time served. Guevara has indicated that he intends to return to El Salvador after he is released - which should be in a few days.

Port of Belize Won’t Budge on Reducing Stevedores’ Hours of Work
The clock is ticking on industrial action against the Port of Belize. The CWU set that into motion on Friday when it wrote to Prime Minister and Minister of Labour Dean Barrow, informing him that - on behalf of the stevedores - it's giving 21 days notice of industrial action against the Port of Belize. As you probably know, stevedores are the ones who clear off the ships - so without them - the Port of Belize would grind to a halt. It's a serious matter and one that came to a head last week when the Port of Belize simply refused to discuss anything other than the hours of work. That currently stands at 18 hours per shift - which is above the legally allowed 15 hours. The Port CEO says he wanted to force that impasse in negotiations over that point:..

Teachers’ Hardship, The Graham Creek Case Study
On last week Friday's newscast, we showed you the press conference from the Belize National Teachers Union. They were responding to the Deputy Prime Minister and other officials from the Ministry of Education, who were seeking to justify the changes they've made to the hardship allowances that teachers from some schools get. As we told you earlier, the hardship allowance is a stipend of between $100 to $200 a month for teachers who work in the harshest conditions, and who face arduous challenges commuting to remote schools. The Ministry has revised the list of schools who receive this allowance, and some schools have been removed from the list, or they have had the stipend cut because the Ministry has determined that the working conditions have improved.

Re-Registration Exercise Finished With 64% Outturn
The re-registration exercise is finished and, in the last week, a total of Six Thousand, Three Hundred and Seventy-Six (6,376) persons applied to be re-registered. So, the total number of applications received at the end of the exercise is One Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Two (130,792) or 63.78% of the registered electors, prior to the commencement of the Re-registration of Electors Exercise. All the applications that meet the qualifications for registration will be published in the New Registers of Electors; after which the revision of the Registers will be held.

Father Pleas for Missing Daughter
An Orange Walk father is in the grips of distress tonight as he anxiously awaits his 14 year old daughter's return. On Saturday morning at 8:00, San Luis Village resident Sergio Chi dropped his daughter, Analeily Chi at the market in Orange Walk. She told her father that she had to meet up with friends in Trial Farm village for a group project. Chi told his daughter to call him when she was done. She contacted Chi and told him she would be done by 2:30 but when he went to pick her up, she was nowhere to be found and she was not answering her phone. Chi and other relatives formed a search party and went looking for her all over Orange Walk, until finally they got word that she was with a teenaged boy at Western Diaries in Orange Walk. It has been a mad search for Analiely and her family just want her home. Our colleagues at CTV-3 spoke to her father Sergio Chi today.

Pleads Guilty To Shooting At Cops
He shot at police and today, Twenty-six year old Lloyd Parchue pleaded guilty to 2 counts of aggravated assault when he appeared before Justice Adolph Lucas. Justice Lucas deferred sentencing until Tuesday, October 16th until the Belize Central Prison can submit a report on Parchue's character. The incident occurred on the October 26th, 2012. Two police officers, corporal Renaldo Bruhier and Constable Carmelo Ack, were on mobile patrol when they received information of a robbery at Moon Grocery Store on Coney Drive. When they arrived they saw three men and they recognized one of them as Parchue.

Dawson Charged For Fatal
The driver who knocked down and killed Oscar Coc in Santa Elena has been charged. He is 53 year old George Dawson. He was charged with Manslaughter by negligence, Causing death by careless conduct, and drove motor vehicle without due care and attention.

Guatemalan’s Pushing Into the Southwest
Earlier we took you to Graham Creek on southwestern Belize. But there are also concerns in Jalacte and Palo Grande where the President of the District Association of Village Councils Lawrence Bolon says Guatemalan incursions are becoming more aggressive and sinister. Lawrence Bolon, President - DAVCO Toledo: "The village leaders and people of Jalacte are very much concern about their safety and security in their village. Frequent and systematic incursions into Jalacte lands have been the status quo along the border with Guatemala and continues to happen. Too often their encounters with illegal settlement of Palo Grande and most recently on September 23rd, 2018, the village leaders were threaten and are now fearing for their lives..."

Hon. Elrington Tells UN Belize Needs Sarstoon Protocol
And when he spoke at the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington discussed the Guatemalan claim at the very top of his speech, pressing for a Sarstoon protocol:... Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs: "There is still one pending issue for us to agree upon. In continuing that spirit of good faith we urge our neighbor Guatemala to agree on a procedure or protocol for confidence building measures on the Sarstoon River, our southern boundary with Guatemala, to facilitate the management of incidents of the kind that gave rise to heightened tensions between our two countries in 2015 and 2016."

Pressure Mounts from The Claver-o Kids
Keeping it in the south, The Claver College Extension protest continued tonight but this time the teachers and students marched all around PG. That is because they don't have a permit to protest tonight until Thursday the 4th. This video is from yesterday's protest but they carried on this same energy into this evening's march in PG. As we told you, the teachers and students will continue their protest until the teachers are re-hired and paid every month.

Females Reject New Rules At Hostel
There was an incident today at the girls' section of the Princess Royal Youth Hostel residential facility. At around 10:00 AM, (10) female residents climbed on the roof in protest. They broke through the ceiling and then pried open loose sheets of zinc. The instituion staff reacted by calling in the BDF volunteers and Police to bring them down from the roof. The girls were protesting a change in the educational classes within the dormitory building, instead of the usual classrooms. A release says, "A few staff members had called in sick and so relief staff were being brought in to provide proper supervision...

Talking Adolescent Health
It is hard to get teens to sit an opening talking about their problems much less their sexual urges, well the Ministry of Health is trying to change that through it national adolescent consultation. Here is more from today's session. Dr. Natalia Largaespada Beer, Technical Advisor, MOH Maternal and Child Health Unit: "We are having a national consultation with adolescents from the different districts and we want to get their input because we are working as a team, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Human Development along with other partners providing services to adolescents in developing the national strategic plan for adolescent health so we want to hear from young people what are their perceptions of what are the issues that are affecting adolescents currently in Belize."

Channel 5

A Standoff Between Port of Belize and Stevedores Threatens Industrial Action
The Port of Belize Limited is once again at odds with gangs of stevedores working at the harbor, as well as their representative union.  For years, the company has shared [...]

A 21-Day Notice is Served on Port of Belize Ltd.
According to Arturo ‘Tux’ Vasquez, Chief Executive Officer at the Port of Belize, the labor law mandates that there be a minimum of nine hours of down time for persons [...]

Mose Says Stevedores Will Not be Bulldozed!
Since both parties are at a logjam, it is expected that Prime Minister Dean Barrow, who is also Minister of Labor, will have to intervene in the matter.  Vasquez cites [...]

C.C.J. Dismisses Convicted Killer’s Appeal
The Caribbean Court of Justice today dismissed an appeal brought by convicted murderer Dionicio Salazar. Found guilty of the 2010 murder of Marlon River, Salazar first appealed the decision of [...]

Dionicio Salazar to be Resentenced
Dionicio Salazar was given a life sentence for the murder of Marlon Rivera. River was fatally shot on June thirteenth, 2010 in San Ignacio near the police station. His attorney [...]

Rufino Hernandez is Jointly Charged for Murder of Caye Caulker Resident Christopher Meighan
This afternoon in San Pedro, Rufino Hernandez, one of two persons suspected of the brutal murder of Caye Caulker resident Christopher Meighan, was arraigned in the magistrate’s court.  He joins [...]

Convicted Murder Sentenced to Life Behind Bars is Freed
Sixty-year-old Salvadoran National Nicolas Guevara is a free man tonight. He had been charged, convicted and sentenced for the murder of thirty-six-year-old Marcus Antonio Tzul. He was sentenced to life [...]

Price for Regular Fuel Goes Up
If you are a vehicle owner and if your car runs on regular gasoline, we advise you to visit the nearest gas station after this newscast. That’s because the price [...]

Claver College Extension Students Stage Protest in Support of Fired Teachers
On Monday night, sixty-five of the eighty plus students at the Claver College Extension in Punta Gorda staged a peaceful demonstration at the campus. The adult continuing education institution has [...]

Former Teachers Request Meeting with Board
The teachers were terminated by the board which is chaired by former minister, Lisel Alamilla; the only other active member is the treasurer, Mark Miller. The mass firing was a [...]

What Were Youth Hostel Residents Doing on the Roof?
Just before ten o’clock this morning, news spread like wildfire that resident youths at Princess Royal Youth Hostel were on the roof of one of the buildings. Speculation was fast [...]

A National Consultation on Health of Adolescents
Today, young people from across the country gathered at the Biltmore Plaza for a national consultation spearheaded by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the [...]

Re-registration Final Update: 130,792 Applications Received
The mass re-registration is over with a total of one hundred and thirty thousand, seven hundred and ninety-two applications received by the Elections and Boundaries Department over the three month [...]

Coast Guard’s Criminal Past Comes Back to Haunt Him
The criminal past of a current coast guard officer is being brought back to life after it was reported that Belizean-born British soldier Lee Charles Busano is back in Belize [...]

B.T.B. Fam Trip: A Look at Cayo’s Top Resorts
Over the weekend media representatives were taken to Cayo to visit top tourist destinations as part of B.T.B.’s annual familiarization excursion. On Monday showed you the thrilling zip-lining and out [...]

LOVE FM

An adolescent’s perspective on health
Today’s breakfast meeting with the Ministry of Health officials was followed by the National Consultation -Adolescent Health event which focused on getting first hand information from young persons. Here is Reporter, Sitnah Blease with a report. Sitnah Blease: “Many young persons throughout Belize gathered today to attend the National consultation for Adolescent Health with its …

Four arrested for Corozal robberies
Police have arrested several persons in connection with a number of robberies, which occurred in Corozal Town. ACP Joseph Myvett, Head of National Crimes Investigation Branch, provided the media with the details. ACP Joseph Myvette: “On Wednesday last the owner of Aquafina water in Corozal Located on G Street reported that sometime after 8pm whilst …

Port of Belize says Mediator needed for discussions with CWU
Arturo Vasquez, President of the Port of Belize has also written to the Labour Minister who happens to be Prime Minister Dean Barrow. Vasquez referred the Labour Minister to the negotiating framework that would then make allowances for the introduction of a mediator into the scenario, not a strike notice as has been done by …

CCJ dismisses appeal
Dionicio Salazar was convicted of murder in May 2016 stemming from an incident that ended the life of Marlon Rivera. Since then he has appealed to the Court of Appeals but his conviction remained. The case made it to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which rendered its ruling this morning. Anthony Sylvestre represented Salazar …

Ministry of Health hosts meeting to discuss adolescent health
The Ministry of Health invited the media to a breakfast meeting today to look at the current situation on adolescent health. It was an informative session that looked at various perspectives and issues involving young persons ranging from eating habits, sexual activity, among others. Dr. Natalia Largaespada Beer, Technical Advisor and Maternal and Child Health …

Will 51 men be released from the prison?
It started as a dragnet of over a hundred gang-related persons but the effectiveness of the State of Emergency should be tested on Wednesday when the 30 days dry up on the detention of 51 men who are currently awaiting freedom at the Belize Central Prison tonight. The measure was addressed as far back as …

Stevedores Give CWU 21 days notice to Industrial Action
The Christian Workers Union (CWU) had given 21 days’ notice last Friday to the Port of Belize Limited (PBL) and the Labour Minister, Dean Barrow on its intention to institute industrial action against PBL. 150 stevedores are expected to walk away from working on ships in a little over two weeks. CWU’s President, Evan Mose …

Father of missing Orange Walk teen speaks out
It is approaching four days since 14-year-old, Analeily Chi of San Luis Village, Orange Walk District went missing. We had reported that the minor was taken to the market in Orange Walk Town just after eight o’clock on the morning of September 29 with a claim that she would be meeting friends to do a …

Foreign Minister speaks about ICJ at the 73rd UN General Assembly
Belize’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wilfred Elrington addressed the 73rd Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations on Saturday. He spoke about various issues social issues and developments in Belize but he opened his speech speaking about Independence and the most significant threat to the country’s territorial integrity, Guatemala’s unfounded claim. Wilfred Elrington, …

Customers will have to pay more for regular gasoline
Effective midnight, the price of a gallon of regular will increase by sixteen cents. The new price will be eleven dollars and twenty cents up from eleven dollars and four cents. Premium remains at eleven dollars and seventy-seven cents, diesel at ten dollars and sixty-nine cents and kerosene at eight dollars and thirty four cents

Amandala

The man in the mask
On Friday, September 28, British national Roger Wallis, 63, a resident of Belmopan for about 15 years, was charged with two counts of attempted kidnapping for trying to abduct an 8-year-old boy on Monday, September 24. He was arraigned in Belmopan Magistrate’s Court today in front of Senior Magistrate Merlene Moody. Wallis was remanded without bail until December 3. Friday’s Amandala reported in its headline that an 8-year-old boy was almost kidnapped by a Caucasian man in a white van that bore painted decorations on the sides and front. Because of the child’s bravery, and the bravery of his 12-year-old sister and 14-year-old brother, who all fought off the attacker, all three children managed to escape unharmed.

“I am not going to talk about that!” – Chester
In the next two to three days, the one month period for the southside Belize City state of emergency that was signed on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 by the Governor General, Sir Colville Young, will expire, and the Government of Belize will have to release the 41 young men, considered “gangsters” by Belize’s Police Department, who have been held at the Belize Central Prison in accordance with the emergency measures that came into being under the proclamation. On September 4, a state of public emergency was declared in two areas of the south side of Belize City which are considered the strongholds of the Ghost Town Crips and the George Street group, respectively.

Dismembered legs found floating in river
Since Gerardo Vasquez, 17, a resident of Ontario, a village in the Cayo District, was reported missing on Wednesday, September 26, there have been extensive searches conducted in an effort to locate him. Late last Friday, September 28, a dismembered leg was found floating in the river that flows behind the villages of Ontario, Teakettle, and Blackman Eddy. While there is speculation that the leg could belong to Vasquez, this has so far not been confirmed.

Samuel Castro, 25, shot to death in Orange Walk Town
Samuel Castro, 25, a baker of Trial Farm, Orange Walk District, died after he was shot in a drive-by shooting on Muffles Street at about 12:30 this morning. Castro was rushed to the Northern Regional Hospital, where he died while doctors were trying to treat his injuries. Information we’ve received is that Castro and a friend were walking on Muffles Street when two men on a motorcycle rode by, and one of them fired at Castro and his friend, whose name was not revealed, several times before the motorcycle sped away.

GOB introduces motion to pay NEWCO US $6 million
The government is committed to pay NEWCO Limited six million US dollars in two installments of three million dollars each over a period beginning in the next 30 days when the first payment becomes due, and thereafter, on September 30, 2019, when the final payment is to be made. The NEWCO Limited agreement was negotiated under the People’s United Party government, led by the two-term prime minister Said Musa, and it reportedly came to an end in 2003 when the company was unable to come up with investors to invest in the privatization of the Philip Goldson International Airport.

Hon. Cordel Hyde blasts government’s Crime Control Amendment bill
The Barrow/Faber-led United Democratic Party government has passed a string of legislation to tackle the ever-growing crime problem that Belize has been experiencing for some years now, but one law that the government continually amends is the Crime Control and Criminal Justice Act. Notwithstanding the stiffer penalties under the law, however, the government has been unable to curb crime and that is essentially what the Lake Independence area representative and deputy leader of the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP) Hon. Cordel Hyde took the government to task for at today’s House of Representatives meeting.

Two-horse race; Bandits and Verdes way in front at Week 8 of PLB 2018-2019 Opening Season
There are 4 playoff spots in the Premier League of Belize (PLB) 2018-2019 Opening Season, but at the end of Week 8 it does appear that 6 of the 8 PLB teams will be battling for the 2 remaining playoff spots, because defending champion Belmopan Bandits SC and Verdes FC are apparently having a race of their own, with only 1 point separating them, while the other 6 teams are way, way behind. (See standings below.) And, with both their sights fixed on the other race for a berth in CONCACAF League, the two teams clash this coming weekend in what some fans are dubbing our own “Classico.” (Bandits won, 1-0, in their first round meeting in Belmopan.)

Puppy and Yabra U-14 on Krem’s Press Sports Show
The Press Sports Show on Krem Radio had some surprise guests yesterday morning, as renowned basketball star, Darwin “Puppy” Leslie was accompanied by some members of his Yabra U-14 basketball team that will participate in the upcoming Digi-Puppy Leslie Youth Basketball League which tips off this Friday at Swift Hall on the St. Martin’s compound. The show host, Gilroy “Press” Cadogan invited each of the excited youth to introduce himself “live” to the listening audience, and they all jumped at the opportunity.

Baseball resurrected in the Jewel by Baseball Visionary Foundation
Baseball is being resurrected in the Jewel by the Baseball and Softball Visionary Foundation, comprising of a group of men from Belize City who are excellent baseball players. They are Andrew Tramel, Troy Williams, Carlyon Flores, Sr. (President of the Foundation) and Anthony Smith. The aim of the foundation is to establish and resurrect baseball in Belize, build state of the art baseball stadiums in Belize City and in Belmopan, after which they will incorporate structure, including Minor and Major Leagues, which is hoped to produce excellent baseball players from Belize, who can potentially be drafted by multimillion dollar companies, and that they would be able to earn millions of dollars in contracts, like other players who are drafted from Central America and the Caribbean who are presently playing in the Major Leagues.

BECOL/DIGINET Basketball Tournament tips off in San Ignacio
The San Ignacio & Santa Elena Basketball Association (SSBA) tipped off its twelfth annual basketball tournament on Friday night at the Sacred Heart College Auditorium in San Ignacio Town. This year’s BECOL/DIGINET tournament has teams in 6 divisions, which are: Under 13, Under 17, Under 21, Females, Senior, and Over 35. So far, 26 teams have registered to participate in this year’s tournament, and the deadline to register a new team is this coming Friday, October 5. Interested teams can register with Mark O’Brien (627-8606) or Elvis “Tigre” Usher (605-3390), or they can message us on our San Ignacio and Santa Elena Basketball Association Facebook page.

Editorial: Money talks …
In 1981, the celebrations for Belize’s independence were one-sided, so to speak. Political independence for the country once known as British Honduras had been the Holy Grail for the ruling People’s United Party (PUP) from the party’s foundation in September of 1950. The circumstances of Belize’s independence in September of 1981 had been such, however, that it was really only the PUP section of Belize (and the chronic bacchanals) that celebrated. Three years later, however, the United Democratic Party (UDP) section of our population got the chance to celebrate when the PUP was defeated for the first time in a general election, and Belize experienced its first change of government in our modern political era, since adult suffrage in 1954.

50 years ago – Tlatelolco, Walter Rodney, Tommie Smith …
Tomorrow, October 2, is the fiftieth anniversary of the Tlatelolco murder of hundreds, some believe thousands, of students in Mexico City. The background to the massacre was that the Mexican government of President Gustavo Diaz-Ordaz had invested a lot of money into preparations for the Olympics, which were to begin in Mexico City a couple weeks later. The political turmoil in the capital, however, featuring many thousandsof students, threatened to embarrass the Mexican government by delaying the Olympics, perhaps even forcing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to move the sports spectacle to somewhere else.

Too much chaos amidst the cock-fight
The testosterone level in Belize is high and the outright grand-standing of John Saldivar and Patrick Faber, both desperate for UDP leadership, cannot go unnoticed. John, taking the hard approach, wants to be the saviour of the crime situation, while Patrick, taking the softer approach to gain visibility and show he is fit to be leader, has been touring and using his September celebrations platform to speak. John only has police press conferences as his means for visibility. Sadly, I don’t think any is worthy of the leadership, an indication that there is either bankruptcy or full foreclosure on the pool of leadership for this country. John knows his skeletons in the closet and why Dean Barrow, in the era after the RECONDEV fiasco, had banished him from the party, vouching never to allow him in the upper ranks… well, he swallowed his vomit!

Cracks in the façade
I listened with interest to the departing British High Commissioner’s Monday morning interview on Love FM and must say that I am in total agreement with his position on the benefits that an ICJ decision on the validity of the international border established by the 1859 Treaty would confer on Belize. However, I consider it disingenuous of him to purport that this is what the Special Agreement seeks to accomplish. I also take exception to his contention that a “No” vote in the upcoming referendum would necessarily make us lose the moral high ground with the international community.

What, no risk in status quo?
We keep hearing from the “No to ICJ” bloc about a thing called litigation risk. The way they sound, there is no risk in status quo. Well, I have a little story about why status quo is not always a good state. I see a man in a dory, and he is leaning over and looking through a water glass at a rock. There are “feelers” by the “hundreds”; wow, the rock is loaded with big fat lobsters. Inside the man’s dory is a pair of fins, a diving mask, and a hook stick. Seems like a no-brainer that he will gear up and go get those juicy bohgaz. But at that moment he wavers. He wavers because the night before he was watching one of those JAWS movies and that has him thinking bad things.

After almost 26 years in prison, Nicolas Guevara, 60, convicted of murder, to get fixed sentence
The fate of Nicolas Guevara, 60, who was convicted of murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment, will be known on Tuesday, October 2, when the Chief Justice, Hon. Kenneth Benjamin, gives him a fixed sentence. Earlier today, Tuesday was set as the date for announcing the sentence after Chief Justice Benjamin heard submissions from Guevara’s attorney, Iliana Swift, and he listened to two impact assessment statements that were read to him by Crown Counsel Sheringe Rodriguez, that were provided by Alfonso Tzul, who is the father of the victim, Marcus Antonio Tzul; and Marcus Tzul’s wife, Maria Tzul.

Integrity Commission publishes names of 42 persons who did not declare assets
The Integrity Commission of Belize has published a notice in the Government Gazette dated 25 August, 2018, containing the names of various persons in public life who have been delinquent in declaring their assets and liabilities to the commission, in accordance with the Prevention of Corruption in Public Life Act of 2007. Under provision of the Prevention of Corruption in Public Life Act, the Integrity Commission is mandated by law to publish the names of persons in public life who have not declared their assets with the Integrity Commission.

Justin Diaz, 23, shot at corner of Sapodilla and Zericote Streets
Justin Diaz, 23, a laborer of Orange Walk Town, is presently in a critical condition at the Northern Regional Hospital after he was shot in his chest and leg by one of two men on a motorcycle that drove by at about 1:30 this morning. The driver then sped away. The shooting occurred about an hour after Samuel Castro was fatally shot, also in Orange Walk Town, by a gunman who also was on a motorcycle with a companion.

Cayo South Rep says no pathway plans for villagers
The present crowd in government has thrown crumbs for the people. In everything else they are for the rich and famous. What the Cayo South Area Rep, Julius Espat, revealed in the House on Friday about the road rehabilitation/construction taking place in Cayo South is just plain painful. What, all that investment and no pathway for villagers? Please say it ain’t so, Mr. Minister of Works, Rene Montero. Julius Espat is an architect, so he knows how to read plans. But maybe, hopefully, he didn’t see the full sketch. Hmm, I’ve watched the freeway and wondered, not altogether frivolously, how much Guatemala is contributing fu this. You recall the cart road and how we were to “conjointly” pay for the project to enhance business between us. Our little country shouldn’t be footing the entire burden to facilitate.

The Reporter

PERSON #2 CHARGED FOR THE HOTEL MURDER OF Christopher Meighan
Just after 4:00pm today Rufino Hernandez, 29, a resident of San Mateo in San Pedro Town, was charged for the murder of Christopher Meighan. Meighan’s body was found in a room at the Hotel Central Park on Friday morning. His throat had allegedly been cut and there were multiple stab wounds to his body. Hernandez joins Lalman Logan who was arraigned Monday for the same murder.

STUDENTS PROTEST AT PETER CLAVER SCHOOL IN PUNTA GORDA
Students of Peter Claver School in Punta Gorda Town, along with teachers who were terminated, have stated that they will protest those terminations again today. On Monday only 3 students of 85 were in class, along with six new teachers hired to replace the nine that were fired.

Breaking Belize News

While two Taiwanese allies remain silent, Belize vocal in support at UN
Tensions are high in the Republic of China (ROC) Taiwan, after two of its 17 remaining […]

Ministry of Human Development issues statement on Youth Hostel Incident
The Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation has contained an incident which occurred at the […]

Fuel price goes up … again
Today, the Belize Bureau of Standards announced that effective midnight tonight, regular gas is going up by 16 […]

Final Update on the 2018 Re-registration of Electors Exercise
The Elections and Boundaries Department is pleased to present its final update to the public on […]

National Library Hosts 17th Annual Book Fair
The Belize National Library Service & Information System (BNLSIS) issued a statement today thanking all those […]

Government of Mexico offering scholarships to Belizean scholars
The Embassy of Mexico in Belize has just announced the open call for the, “2019 Program for […]

Police investigate burglary in San Ignacio Town
Last night around 7:30, police visited the residence of Melida Diaz, 34, in San Ignacio Town who reported […]

Santa Elena man charged for the death of Oscar Coc
Oscar Javier Coc, 32, a resident of Santa Elena Town in Cayo died on a fatal traffic […]

Guatemala dispute should be settled now!
Should the dispute with Guatemala be left to future generations? The Government of Belize says it is engaged in an “education” campaign to inform Belizeans so that they can make the best decision to vote in the referendum planned for April 10, 2019. […]

Compre principal terminated and escorted off school compound!
The Principal at the Belmopan Comprehensive High School, Maria Hutchinson, was escorted off the compound yesterday […]

Two held for San Pedro murder
Two men, Belizean-American Lalman Loga, and Rufino Hernandez, have both been detained in connection with the San Pedro […]

Body parts discovered on Saturday could be that of missing teen
On Saturday we reported that a search team found human remains floating in the Belize River […]

Commonwealth Secretary General visits Belize
Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, is currently on a visit to Belize and has met with several […]

18 women from San Victor complete computer training course
Eighteen women from San Victor, Orange Walk yesterday completed a four-month computer training program. The program […]

Conch season reopens
The conch season in Belize officially reopened yesterday. The Wildlife Conservation Society reminds fishers of the […]

John Saldivar congratulates Cayo Police for Crime Reduction
The Minister of National Security, John Saldivar yesterday publicly congratulated the police formations from the Cayo […]

International Sources

Caribbean National Who Tried To Steal AA Plane Chooses Self-Deportation
The 22-year-old Caribbean national who allegedly tried to steal an American Airlines Airbus 321 at the Orlando Melbourne International Airport on Thursday, September 20th, is set to be deported back to his native land today, Oct. 3, 2018. Trinidad and Tobago national Nishal Sankat, the son of Belize University President and former UWI principal, Professor Clement Sankat, is being deported after prosecutors dropped charges of trespassing and grand theft against him. Trinidad & Tobago Minister of National Security, Stuart Young, was quoted by Wired868.com as saying Sankat will be received and treated like any returning deportee upon arrival.

UNC researchers find coral reefs face additional threat
Many people’s knowledge about coral reefs and climate change stops at coral bleaching — the phenomenon where corals turn white and die in reaction to extreme temperatures. While this is a pivotal part of reef research, it is by no means the only problem that has arisen from the changing climate, said John Rippe, a graduate student and doctoral candidate for marine sciences in UNC's College of Arts and Sciences. In studying coral density and growth rates in the reef system of the Florida Keys, researchers from the UNC Department of Marine Sciences have found another underlying issue with dangerous implications for marine life. By studying CT scans of drilled cores from two different species of reef-building corals across the reef tract, the researchers found some unexpected results. “In a lot of areas — for example, in the Belize region — we see declining growth rates,” said Rippe, who led the study. “In this study, we saw that both extension and calcification have been pretty stable, which is not what we expected. But we found that the density of the coral skeletons is actually declining.”

Videos

October 2, 2018

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Belizean-American Lalman Logan charged for Christopher Meighan’s murder; Police seeking Rufino Hernandez
On the afternoon of Monday, October, 1st, 29-year-old Belizean American Lalman Richard Logan was formally arraigned at the San Pedro Magistrate Court in connection to the murder of Caye Caulker resident, 21-year-old Christopher Meighan. No plea was taken and Logan was denied bail and remanded until his next court date on December 6th. Meighan was found dead inside a hotel in downtown San Pedro on Friday, September 28th with a cut wound to his throat, a stab to his abdomen and left foot. The previous day, Meighan was observed checking in to the hotel accompanied by Logan and another person identified as 29-year-old Rufino Hernandez. After the discovery of the murder the following day, Logan was detained at the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) as he was attempting to leave the country, while Hernandez is being sought by police.

2018 Central America Regional Security Initiative, Economic Support Fund (CARSI ESF) grants support civil society and good governance initiatives
The U.S. Embassy announced the recipients of the 2018 Central America Regional Security Initiative Economic Support Fund (CARSI-ESF) grants during an award ceremony on Thursday, September 27, 2018. The four grants are valued at a total of $1,261,666 million USD and are focused on good governance programming, specifically strengthening citizen participation and oversight of government, reducing corruption, and improving accountable government service provision. Through the full CARSI program, the U.S. Embassy has committed more than $42 million USD in funding for justice-related, at-risk youth support, good governance and citizen security programs in Belize since 2008.

Ambergris Today

One Charged And One Wanted For The Murder Christopher Meighan
Police have arrested and charged Belizean American, Lalman Richard Logan, 29 year-old of Missouri, USA. He was in connection with the murder of Christopher Meighan which occurred on September 27. According to sources Logan was captured at the Philip Goldson International Airport attempting to board a flight to the US hours after the murder. According to initial investigations, Lalman Logan booked the room at the Central Park Hotel where Logan, Christopher and a third person checked into the room on Thursday, September 27th around 9:30PM. The room was apparently booked for one night only and when the guests failed to check out an employee when to check the room and discovered Meighan’s body.

Misc Belizean Sources

Zika Prevention Clean up Campaign in Corozal Town
Here is a snippet of the Zika Prevention Clean up Campaign held Sunday in Corozal Town. Thanks to the Belize Red Cross, Corozal Branch, the Corozal Town Council and everyone else who came out to help. The next scheduled Belize Red Cross "Prevent Zika" cleanup event will be held in San Narciso Village on October 14th from 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Meeting Place will be the Football Field.

Water interruption in parts of San Ignacio October 3
Belize Water Services informs customers in parts of San Ignacio that there will be an interruption in the water supply on Wednesday, October 3, 2018, starting at 1:00pm. The area being affected is Cahal Pech area. This interruption is necessary for electrical maintenance at the Cahal Pech Pump Station. Customers may experience low water pressure and/or discoloration when water is restored. Residents of these or nearby areas are advised that water is expected to be fully restored by 9:00pm.

Water interruption in parts of San Pedro October 3
Belize Water Services informs its customers in San Pedro that there will be an interruption in the water supply, Wednesday, October 3, 2018, starting at 1:00pm. The areas to be affected are Princess Drive, Sea Grape Drive, and Sea-star Drive. This interruption is necessary to conduct repairs on a 6” valve. Due to the repairs, customers may experience low water pressure and/or discoloration when water is restored. Residents of these or nearby areas are advised that water supply should return to normal by 6:00pm.

Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative - YLAI
Find out more about the great experience and work our #YLAI2018 fellows are doing in Boston, Detroit, Arkansas, and Miami!

Belize's Wonder Women! Carla Alvarez
We are proud to announce that for the month of October, Carla Alvarez is our Belize Wonder Woman! Ms. Carla Alvarez has been an educator all of her adult life. She believes in community service, and has been a volunteer at the Corozal Mercy Kitchen and youth groups. During the 11 years that she taught at Anglican Cathedral College, besides being Head of Department, CXC Examiner, ATLIB Table Leader, part-time lecturer, she also served in the school feeding program and mentored at risk students.

Rufino Hernandez arrested
Police have confirmed that Rufino Hernandez, who is wanted in connection with the murder of Caye Caulker resident Christopher Meighan, was detained in Belize City late in the afternoon, Monday, October 1st. Hernandez is expected to be escorted to Ambergris Caye today Tuesday, October 2nd, where he will appear before the San Pedro Magistrate Court.

Intermagia 2018 in San Pedro
The Rotary Club of Ambergris Caye Belize Presents Table-side Magic and Stage Show and Dinner fundraiser to benefit Dr. Otto Rodriguez Polyclinic II. Great event, for a great cause!

New Year Honours Conferred to Eight Belizeans
The Governor General of Belize H.E. Sir Colville Young conferred New Year Honours to eight Belizeans, on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, at the Belize House in Belmopan. Receiving the honours were six men and two women. Mr. Douglas Singh received the highest honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) for his contributions to Commerce and Industry and Community Leadership. Mr. Dinesh Bhojwani and Mr. John Longsworth both received Ordinary Officer of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire - Mr. Bhojwani, for his contribution to Commerce and Industry and Community Leadership, and Mr. Longsworth, for his contribution to Public Service.

Mayors from all Municipalities to Sign Memorandum of Agreement to Promote Wellness Spaces
Mayors from all municipalities across the country will convene in Belmopan to sign unto a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Ministry of Health for the promotion of Wellness Spaces and Healthy Lifestyles on Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018 at the steps of the Independence Plaza starting at 9:00 a.m. In August, the Ministry presented the idea to the Mayors Association and received overwhelming support for the partnership. The MOA was drafted to primarily create a partnership between the various municipalities and the Ministry of Health to promote healthy lifestyles, wellness spaces and promote physical activity within their communities.

International Day of Older Persons 2018
October 1st is observed as International Day of Older Persons. Approximately 6% of Belize’s population is older persons each year this population continues to grow and it is projected that by 2040 this number will have more than doubled to 18%. Older persons in Belize remain a vulnerable population. Many older persons continue to be the backbone of their families contributing through childcare, housekeeping and other domestic tasks that go unrecognized and unpaid. October 1st offers us an opportunity to show appreciation and recognition to older persons for their contributions and also to recognize the challenges that come with ageing.

Conch Season Opens Oct 1
October 1 marked the official opening of the conch season here in Belize. Conch is a staple of Belizean seafood cuisine and it is a healthy and natural food that’s also “good for the back”, said to be an aphrodisiac. Conch is a fleshy marine mollusc that thrives in our barrier reef system. Free divers harvest conch based on size and weight limits. October 1st marks the opening of the fishing season for Queen Conch throughout Belize. The Belize Fisheries Department advises Restaurateurs and the General Public to use, consume and dispose of all Queen Conch meat in their possession on or before June 30 the following year before the closure of the conch season.

Drawing classes with Rose Elwell
Drawing classes coming soon in Corozal!

Emergency power outage 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in Belize City
Tuesday, October 2 to affect Barrack Rd, Craig St, Eve St, Goal Lane, Daly St, Handyside St, North Front St, Gabourel Lane, Queen St and Pinks Alley. BEL to replace utility pole at the corner of Eve and Craig Streets.

Cayo Independence Parade 2018
The 501 Boyz got some amazing pictures of the Independence Day parade this year.

FIT Argentina 2018
Represented by Karen Pike, director of Marketing & Industry Relations, and Zinnia Magaña, Senior Hospitality Officer.

ICJ SONG COMPETITION!!!
10 days until the ICJ song competition! Special give aways! Sing how you feel about going to the ICJ to settle Guatemala’s unfounded claim! Submit your songs by September 26th! $4000 for the winner!!! Make sure you come out and see who will win!

Orange Walk Carnival 2018

Channel 7

One Dead, One Critical in OW Cycle Shooting Spree
There was a frenzy of gun violence in Orange Walk on Sunday morning where two 25 year old men were shot within minutes of each other, and a few hundred feet apart. One man died, the other is critical. The first shooting happened early on Sunday morning at about half past midnight. 25 year old Samuel Castro was standing in front of a gate on Muffles Street when a shooter on a motorbike did a drive-by. He was shot four times. Police told us more:...

Castro’s Girlfriend Says Samuel Was a Baker, Not A Gangster
But, Samuel Castro was not a gangster, he was a baker, working at LA Popular in Orange Walk Town. So who would want to kill him? His girlfriend said it is surely a case of mistaken identity:... Yvette Leiva, Girlfriend of the Deceased "I don't know why that night why he was there out there, because he works on Sundays and he always comes home early because he has to work the next day. That night I don't know what he was doing out there." "

Shooter on Motorbike Strikes Again
So, that happened at 12:30 am on Muffles street and 15 minutes later, at a quarter to one, shots rang out again - this time at the corner of Sapodilla St and Zericote Street. Again the shooter was on a motorbike, and this time the target was 24 year old Justin Diaz. Police told us more:.. ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB: "Police received a report of another shooting incident where they responded to the Sapodilla Street area which is almost within the area of the first shooting. Where upon arrival, one Justin Diaz, 24 years old scene with multiple gunshot injuries to the body and as well he was on the ground..."

Belizean American Charged for Hotel Murder in SP
One man has been charged for murder in San Pedro, and another who was on the run was reportedly caught this evening - and is being held pending murder charges. This stems from the murder we told you about on Friday. Christopher Meighan from Caye Caulker was found dead in a hotel room - and police had to track down his alleged killer at the airport - the US resident was about to catch a plane. He is 29 year old Belizean American Lalman Logan - he's the one who had rented the room at the Central Park Hotel - and he was arraigned for murder today. He is a salesman from St. Charles, Missouri.

Body Parts Found in Camalote, Family Fears It’s Missing 17 Year Old
The family of missing teen Ontario Gerardo Vasquez is in turmoil tonight after police found body parts out west this weekend, and they are believed to be his. It was ghastly discovery as police found two severed legs in separate locations. Police with a search party found the first leg in the river near the Warrie Head Bridge in Teakettle and then later they found the second leg in the Chia Maya area on the Dream Valley Resort road in Camalote. It is a sinister case and the police are still trying to get to the bottom of it. They can't say for certain if the body parts are Vasquez's but his family was at the Belmopan morgue examining the severed legs. Here is what police have on this case so far.

Port of Belize Gets 21 Days Notice…
For year now, the Port of Belize and the Stevedores have been trying to hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement. The stevedores' representative which is the Christian Workers Union has gone through four presidents - and still there's no agreement. But the current President Mose Hyde says the buck stops with him. He wrote to the Labour Commissioner on Friday, telling him that the CWU, quote, "on behalf of its Stevedore Members, hereby invokes the twenty-one days notice to institute industrial action against Port of Belize Limited" This comes out of a meeting last week Wednesday when the CWU claims the Port declared an impasse in the negotiations - after the CWU rejected the Port's hours of work proposal.

Capital Cops Charge White Man In White Van
The white man in the white van snatching kids was picked up by police and charged. He is 63 year old British national Roger Wallis. As we told you on Friday, he was positively identified in an ID parade. He has been charged with two counts of attempted kidnapping. According to reports, Wallis has been living in Belmopan for close to 15 years. Now is Wallis the elusive man behind all those white van sightings in other parts of the country? Police can't confirm that at this time but here is what they have so far. ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB: "Police conducted an intensive investigation which resulted on the detention of one Roger Wallis, 63 year old British national. Who have since been arrested and charged for 2 counts of attempted kidnapping. He was today taken to court where he was remanded into custody until the 3rd December."

Man Who Assaulted Girl At Church Restroom Needs Psych Evaluation
And in Belize City - police have caught the man who allegedly sexually assaulted a 12 year old girl at a church restroom - but the judge says he may need a psychiatric assessment. Here's more from the Crimes Investigation Branch who says it happened at a church on Freetown Road: Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino, C.I.B., Eastern Division: "We reported of an incident which occurred at a church on Freetown Road. This incident was reported on the 23rd September. On the 28th September, police detained Benesford Bennett, a 27 year old unemployed of 3838 Jasmine Street. He has since been charged for 1 count of sexual assault in regards to that matter. We've been made to understand that he is not employed with the church. He is just a visitor there. He has no affiliation with the establishment."

Murder Suspect Lost and Found
For months, Kevin Bodden was wanted for the high profile murder of gang figure Kendis Flowers which occurred in March. The cops caught him and charged him on the 9th September, but he promptly escaped. Well, 19 days later, they caught him again on Friday night in the Martin's area. Police told us more: Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino, C.I.B., Eastern Division: "Mr. Kevin Bodden having been charged for murder, escaped from the Queen Street Police Station. On the 29th September he was recaptured and in police custody. As a result of his escape he was charged for 1 count of escape and during the process of escaping he had damaged a window for the station. So he was additionally charged for damage to property. He was captured in the St. Martin's area of Belize City."

Fatal Accident In Santa Elena
A man was knocked down and killed out west on Saturday. He is 32 year old Oscar Coc. The man who knocked Coc down raced him to the San Ignacio Hospital but it was too late. Police gave us more details. ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB: "On Saturday 29th September, sometime around 2:30am, police were called to the San Ignacio Community Hospital where upon arrival they observed a Hispanic male person identified as Oscar Coc, 32 years old, with head and body injuries, who was undergoing treatment. He later succumb to his injuries whilst undergoing that treatment."

Two Arrested For Coro Robberies
And police have made major headway in the two daring armed robberies in Corozal. They have laid charges against the robbers. Here are more details. ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB: "In relation to the first issue. On Wednesday last, the owner of Agua Fina water in Corozal, located on G Street, reported that sometime after 8pm, whilst himself and 2 other employees were outside his business place they were approached by 2 male persons; one of whom was armed with a firearm and they were taken inside the business place where they were relieve of monies and other personal belongings."

Television Reporters Turned Tourists
Tonight the news has been too full of bad news, so we change gears now to something lighter. The media took a break from crime reporting, hopped in a tourist van, headed west to see the Belize that tourists come from around the world to enjoy. Our team enjoyed zip lining, swanky digs, and rustic retreats in the BTB's now annual fam-trip, short for familiarization. Our team got a bit too familiar, here's more:...

Hard Times In Cruise-ville
Of course there are two sides to the tourism coin, and for every two shots of happy, you've got one shot of sad. Vitalino Reyes of CaveTubing.bz can tell that story very well. He pulled himself up in the business from dishwasher to Tour Operator, but he told us that these are trying times - and he explained why:... Again, our tourism escapade out west continues tomorrow.

Students Support Peter Claver Teachers In Protest
The teachers and students of Claver College Extension in Punta Gorda aren't backing down. The disgruntled teachers, as well as about 65 of the 85 students, along with supportive community members gathered in front of the school building in protest this evening. They assembled at 5:00 and looked on as six new staff members carried on with a 3-student session. That's right, six new teachers showed up and only 3 students went upstairs for classes. The crowd left shortly after 7:00. Teacher Rep. Vanna Noralez says they continue their protest tomorrow evening at 5:00. Noralez says they remain firm in their position that they want to be re-hired and be paid every month. They are not re-considering the new stipend system presented by the board.

Fit For The Queen’s Honours
Eight Belizeans, six men and two women went to Belmopan today to get their Queen's New Year's Honours from Governor General, Sir Colville Young. Leading the list, as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire is Doug Singh, for his contributions to Commerce and Industry and Community Leadership. Dinesh Bhojwani and John Longsworth were honoured as OBE's, or Ordinary Officers of the British Empire. Bhojwani, for his contribution to Commerce and Industry and Community Leadership, and Longsworth, for his contribution to Public Service.

Channel 5

British National Arraigned for Attempted Kidnapping in Belmopan
A British national was arraigned this morning in the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court for an alleged kidnapping. He is sixty-three-year-old Roger Wallis, a well-known businessman in the community, who drives a [...]

Orange Walk Baker Shot Dead; Could it be a Mistaken Identity?
There was a murder and shooting in Orange Walk for which there are more questions than answers.  Twenty-five-year-old Samuel Castro was shot early on Sunday morning. He was running an [...]

5 Minutes Later, Another Orange Walk Resident is Shot
Less than five minutes after the shooting of Samuel Castro, Orange Police responded to another shooting. This time the victim was twenty-three-year-old Justin Diaz. Diaz was at the corner of [...]

Pair of Severed Legs Discovered in Ontario; is it that of Missing Teen?
Two severed legs were retrieved from the Belize River over the weekend. The gruesome discovery was made on Saturday by Coastguard and police search parties scouring the area of the [...]

A Caye Caulker Chef is Butchered Inside Central Park Hotel in San Pedro
Before noon on Friday, the body of Caye Caulker chef, Christopher Meighan was found in a room at the Central Park Hotel in San Pedro. Meighan had been viciously stabbed [...]

Accused Murderer Kevin Bodden is Recaptured After Escaping from Police Custody
Kevin Bodden is believed to have been the triggerman in the execution of Ghost Town boss Kendis Flowers back in March.  It took investigators six months to crack the sensational [...]

Oscar Coc Loses His Life in Road Traffic Accident
A thirty-two-year-old resident of Santa Elena Town lost his life in the early hours of Saturday morning after being knocked down by a vehicle on Eden Drive.  Oscar Coc was [...]

Corozal Police Crack Cases of Armed Robberies
Corozal police have been able to tie up a string of armed robberies in that jurisdiction after making several arrests in respect of incidents that were reported last week.  A [...]

Foreign Minister Sedi Elrington Addresses the UN
Since the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wilfred Elrington, addressed the United Nations one year ago, the government has announced a date for the referendum on whether or not Belizeans want to [...]

P.U.P. National Executive Meets: Briceño on Principles of Social Justice
The People’s United Party held its national executive meeting at Memorial Park in Belize City. Hundreds of delegates from constituencies in the districts, travelled to join the Belize City delegates [...]

B.T.B. Fam Trip: Zip-lining and Cave-Tubing
As an annual event, the Belize Tourism Board hosted members of the media for its 2018 familiarization tour. This year, the media was taken to the Cayo District where journalist [...]

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

LOVE FM

Cancer Center Celebrates a Milestone
The Belize Cancer Center Dangriga (BCCD) opened its doors on October 1st, 2008. The BCCD is celebrating its tenth year anniversary today and continues with its commitment to bring accessible cancer care to all Belizeans. To date, the BCCD remains the only cancer center in the country and it has provided oncology consultations and chemotherapy …

Murdered on Ambergris Caye
A Caye Caulker resident was murdered on Ambergris Caye over the weekend. On Saturday night Christopher Meighan entered the Central Park Hotel on Barrier Reef Drive but he never left it alive. Love News spoke to Meighan’s parents who say he was respectful of others and well-liked on the island. Jose Sanchez: “A last minute …

Six new commissioners sworn in at Supreme Court
Tonight, there are a few more commissioners of the Supreme Court of Belize to serve in the various districts. Sitnah Blease reports. Sitnah Blease: “The Belize Supreme Court gained six new commissioners today as they were sworn in by Belize’s Chief Justice, Kenneth Benjamin in Belize City. At the ceremony, Chief Justice Benjamin explained the …

Family believes body parts found may be that of Gerardo Vasquez
Over the weekend, police discovered a pair of legs in the Old Belize River near Teakettle village, Cayo District. The Vasquez family believes that the legs may be that of 17-year-old Gerardo Vasquez, who has been missing since September 25. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Joseph Myvett says, however, that they would not be able to …

Roger Wallace arrested on kidnapping charges
British national, Roger Victor Wallace was arrested and charged with two counts of attempted kidnapping in Belmopan, Cayo District. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Joseph Myvett who heads the National Crimes Investigation Branch told the media today during a press brief that Wallace has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison. ACP JOSEPH MYVETT, Head of …

Traffic accident claims one life
A traffic incident in Santa Elena Town, Cayo District has taken the life of 32-year-old, Oscar Coc. According to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Joseph Myvett, the incident occurred in the wee hours of Saturday, September 29. ACP Joseph Myvette, Head of NCIB: “Initial police investigation revealed that Coc was taken to the hospital sometime …

Belmopan teen still missing three months later
As more teenagers are being reported missing, Belmopan resident, Karen O’Brien, is still trying to come to terms with the sudden disappearance of her daughter, seventeen-year-old daughter, Alyka Coye, that occured in June of this year. O’Brien recalls the day her daughter went missing, she shared with Love News, the little information her family has …

PUP, sixty-nine years later
Over the weekend, the People’s United Party (PUP) marked its 69th anniversary by holding its National Party Council at the Memorial Park in Belize City. The event did not go without promises of better governance as the PUP’s Party Leader, John Briceno says they will stamp out corruption. Leader of the Opposition John Bricenio: “As …

International Day of Older Persons
Today is being observed as International Day of Older Persons. Presently, older persons account for six percent of Belize’s population. Ix-chel Poot is the Executive Director at the National Council on Ageing; she says many of these older persons are the backbone of their families. Ix-chel Poot – Executive Director, National Council on Ageing: “Our older …

CWU THREATENS STRIKE ACTION
Will the stevedores go on strike? That’s seems to be the direction the Christian Workers Union (CWU) is heading as it is planning to call 150 of its members to Industrial Action. The CWU, on behalf of the negotiating Team representing the Stevedores, sent a letter to the Minister of Labour, the CEO of Port … This morning the Embassy of China (Taiwan) handed over one hundred and twenty footballs to the Commander of Eastern Division Region One, Senior Superintendent Howell Gillett. These will be used to have an under thirteen competition among all primary schools on the Southside of Belize City. This latest donation comes on the heels of another donation to the police department by the Embassy of China (Taiwan) of 100 Lifan motorcycles.

The Reporter

UPDATE Oct. 1- SUSPECTED MURDERER CAUGHT BOARDING FLIGHT
Late reports to the Reporter indicate that Rufino Hernandez has been apprehended. Hernandez is believed to have been in the room where Caye Caulker resident Christopher Meighan was killed Thursday night in San Pedro.

THE MYSTERY OF HUMAN BODY PARTS NEAR TEAKETTLE CONTINUES
Police say that the search continues for Gerardo Miguel Vasquez, 17. Meanwhile they will be doing DNA testing of the dismembered legs found in the river behind Teakettle. Vasquez was reported missing on September 25th and just days after, residents of Teakettle alerted Police that they had seen human body parts in the river.

THE RIDE ACROSS BELIZE TO FIGHT CANCER
The RIDE ACROSS BELIZE TO FIGHT CANCER will be held on October 13th.

Breaking Belize News

Belizeans awarded New Year honors
The Governor General of Belize, Sir Colville Young conferred New Year honours to eight Belizeans, on behalf of […]

Mayors from all Municipalities to Sign Memorandum of Agreement to Promote Wellness Spaces
Mayors from all municipalities across the country will convene in Belmopan to sign unto a Memorandum […]

Caribbean to benefit from US $34.5 million grant for climate resilience from United Arab Emirates
Belize is among several Caribbean countries to benefit from US $34.5 million worth of grant aid […]

Belize observes International Day of Older Persons
October 1st is observed as International Day of Older Persons. In Belize, approximately 6% of the population […]

Accused kidnapper remanded to prison
British National, Roger Wallis, 63, was remanded to prison today. Belmopan Magistrate, Hurl Hamilton, took no plea […]

PUP holds National Party Council Meeting
The National Party Council (NPC) of the People’s United Party (PUP) convened on Saturday, September 29, […]

Man in serious condition after being knocked down by drunk driver
Walter Blanco, a resident of Santa Familia in Cayo is in a critical condition at the […]

Blogs

October 1st: Conch and Construction North
Today is October 1st. Shocking to be sure. To feel year end approaching. But here in Belize it heralds the opening of CONCH SEASON. The Queen Conch – a large snail in her beautiful beautiful shell – is delicious. My favorite seafood in Belize. But she is also increasingly rare and endangered. I wrote a post about my favorite spots to eat it a few years ago…(not knowing at the time that the chef that made the sushi would later be my boyfriend) but my new favorite is at Aba Isieni Restaurant. Just a small wooden deli that does some REALLY food in the Boca del Rio area. Oh…and the conch pizza at Truck Stop. I NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THEY RE-OPEN on October 17th.

Enthusiasts are flocking to the first ever Belize Birding Festival
In celebration of our beautiful feather friends the Belize Tourism Industry in partnership with the Belize Audubon Society, the Belize Hotel Association and the Belize Tourism Board are organizing the first-ever Belize Birding Festival. Held in the capital city of Belmopan, the one-day event will be held on Saturday, October 27th. The festival not only welcomes local birders and wildlife aficionados but invites international birders to experience an amazing array of birding tours within the spectacular natural of habitat of resident and migrant birds while engaging with local tourism service providers who are promoting Belize as a prime birding destination.

Glover’s Reef: Vacationing ‘Off the Grid’ in Belize
Indeed, self-sufficiency, an adventurous spirit, and a great deal of patience are mandatory tools to equip yourself with for an island experience in Belize. And Glover’s Reef, a partially submerged atoll approximately 45 kilometers from the country’s southern coast, tests your mettle but does so only playfully, the ideal marriage of island relaxation and adrenaline-pumping thrills. Low-key resorts abound throughout the Reef, ours featuring humble thatch-covered bungalows, hanging over ankle-deep, sun-kissed water, stand like alert sentries, each patrolling a swatch of sandy shore. Luxury doesn’t live here, but these modest, electricity-free accommodations – little more than a simple bed, table with chairs, hot plate and hammock (swaying gently on the back porch, naturally) – exist subtly, suitably perfect for an unplugged escape. You’ll be expected to work here, lending muscle to load and subsequently unload the mid-sized, chartered boat transporting you and your island mates the handful of hours from the mainland, but the investment is small when compared to the pairing of adventure and tranquility awaiting you.

Trip Report - What a vacation in Belize looks like when you split time between San Pedro and Placencia!
Since we have opened our second hotel in Belize, in San Pedro, we have had a lot of questions about what a vacation might look or feel like to do both San Pedro AND Placencia in one trip! We have had a number of guests book the package deal and thus far we are getting rave reviews, because Placencia and San Pedro are VERY different - they are like different countries. Recently, we had a group of two single women come down and do both (they started at PUR Boutique Cabanas in San Pedro, then went down to Caribbean Beach Cabanas in Placencia), and they offered to write a guest blog about their adventures here!

Philip Goldson
The practice of naming airports after famous people has been in existence for many years. Presidents, artists, explorers, musicians, philanthropists and even footballers grace the names of some of the worlds most travelled airports. Here in Belize, it is our National Hero, Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson, who lends his name to the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA). Philip Goldson was born on July 25th 1923 in Belize City at a time when Belize was still under British rule and known as British Honduras. At the age of 18 he took a job in the Civil Service, which sparked his lifelong interest in journalism and politics. He quickly became involved in the Nationalist movement, a movement focusing on the country’s independence from Britain, which took off with the formation of the Peoples United Party (PUP) in 1950.

ADO Bus from Cancun to Belize City
Belize is located just south of Mexico’s famed Yucatan Peninsula, so many travelers are interested in information on how to get from Cancún to Belize City or vice versa. The cheapest option by far is to take the bus. The ADO Bus company operates the sole Cancún-Belize City route with an express service that operates each way twice per day. From the main bus terminal in Cancún, the bus leaves at either 7:30 AM or 10:15 PM. The busstops at Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and then Bacalar before crossing the border into Belize. The bus also makes brief stops in Corozal Town and Orange Walk Town before arriving at the central bus terminal in Belize City. Transit time is approximately eight hours. Going back, the bus departs Belize City at 11:00 AM and 7:30 PM with the same stops along the way, arriving at the Cancún airport approximately eight and a half hours later. To board the bus in Belize City, the fare is BZ$19, but you will need to pay the rest of the fare (roughly $40 USD) upon arrival in Cancún. The price for the ADO bus is subject to change, but expect to pay around 840 Mexican pesos (roughly $45 USD) for departures from Cancún and slightly lower fares for service from one of the other stops along the way.

Belize Mayan Temple Vacations: Face-to-face With a Lost Civilization
Tucked just underneath Mexico’s legendary Yucatan Peninsula, the small nation of Belize is home to more ancient Maya temples, palaces, pyramids, and sacred caves than anywhere else in Central America. These magnificent historical structures are the principal reason that many visitors book Belize vacations. Whether it’s a day trip from Belize City to tour iconic sites like Altun Ha or trips deep in the jungle to explore the enormous ancient metropolises of Xunantunich or Caracol, there are Maya sites sure to attract any traveler. Families especially love incorporating a trip to ancient Maya sites into their Belize travel plans because it offers a chance for children of all ages to get some hands-on experience with one of the most advanced cultures to arise in the New World, one key reason why most Belize resorts offer guided tours to ancient Maya sites for their guests.

What You Need to Know About Birding in Belize
Birds are one of the most iconic wild creatures that can be found in Belize. Ranging from tiny, iridescent hummingbirds to the elegant majesty of giant Jabiru storks, more than 600 species of birds have been recorded in Belize. Birds thrive in Belize‘s warm, subtropical climate, and the pristine nature of the different habitats in the country, including grasslands, savannas, rainforests, coastal regions, and wetlands, make Belize an ideal place for birds to thrive. But when it comes to spotting birds in Belize, the process can sometimes be quite frustrating. The jungles and rainforest have thick vegetation which makes it hard to see birds. And many birds live high up in the jungle canopy, forcing human observers to strain their neck looking upwards. And because nature is so wild in Belize, the presence of predators makes many birds zip about in quick, furtive movements that offer tantalizing glimpses of their presences.

The Great Blue Hole of Belize
Sometimes known as the “Blue Hole of Belize,” the Great Blue Hole of Belize is a natural phenomenon located approximately 60 miles (100 km) offshore of Belize City. Formed by a cave system that collapsed hundreds of thousands of years ago, the Great Blue Hole of Belize is almost perfectly circular, measuring 980 feet (300 meters) across and some 400 feet (125 meters) deep. Named for its startlingly deep blue waters, the Great Blue Hole is surrounded by the Lighthouse Reef, a small coral atoll that is a popular snorkeling destination.

Fun Facts for Kids about the Amazing Belize Rainforest
One of the most mysterious and least explored places on Planet Earth, the vast rainforest in Belize is home to an astounding variety of beautiful flowers, colorful birds, and exotic wildlife. Here are some fun facts about Belize’s rainforest: It’s Huge! More than half of mainland Belize is covered in rainforest. A rainforest is like a regular forest except that it gets lots and lots of rain (as you’d expect), meaning that plants and animals really love it. There are hundreds of different kinds of trees in the rainforest but also fragile, beautiful flowers like orchids. Did you know that the Black Orchid is the national flower of Belize?

International Sources

Western Caribbean Tropical Development Is Possible Late This Week & This Weekend
Satellite imagery indicated that there are some scattered shower and thunderstorm activity occurring across the southwestern Caribbean to the south of Jamaica. This is being caused by a trough of low pressure located over the central Caribbean that is pushing to the west. The western half of the Caribbean will need to be watched very closely for possible tropical development later this week and this weekend. Even though we already have convection occurring across the southwestern Caribbean, the environmental conditions across much of the Caribbean is unfavorable for development. Wind shear values across much of the Caribbean are between 25 and 40 knots. The exception is across the far northwestern Caribbean where wind shear values are between 10 and 20 knots. So, tropical development seems unlikely for at least the next couple of days.

From Croatia to Thailand: 5 crystal clear water beaches for a dreamy holiday
There are various definitions of heaven, but a tropical island with crystal clear water stretching over the horizon and deserted beaches with the feel of smooth sand on your feet, comes close. If you are planning a beach vacation but can't make up your mind where to head to, then we have you covered. Listed below are the five most breathtaking locations around the world that are a treat to the eyes. Ambergris Caye, Belize: Alongside one of the best diving spots in the world, the Great Blue Hole, Ambergris Cayeis is the largest island in Belize. It is known for its turquoise seascapes which compliment the Caribbean charm.

L.A. airport allowing passengers to carry marijuana
Los Angeles International Airport is allowing passengers to carry marijuana on airport property, according to a statement recently published on the LAX website. "The Los Angeles Airport Police Department will allow passengers to travel through LAX with up to 28.5 grams of marijuana and 8 grams of concentrated marijuana," the airport wrote on its website last month, according to CNN. "However, passengers should be aware that marijuana laws vary state by state and they are encouraged to check the laws of the states in which they plan to travel."

Belize continues to lament Guatemala’s territorial claim
Thirty-seven years after obtaining its independence from Britain, Belize is still lamenting Guatemala’s territorial claim to parts of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member-country. “The opportunity to have the Guatemalan claim resolved at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) eluded the British government for upward of 80 years,” Belize’s Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred P. Elrington told the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly Debate on Saturday. He said Belizeans themselves will soon decide whether the opportunity to bring to a definitive settlement a claim, “which has long sown fear in the hearts of all Belizeans and which has hamstrung our nation’s development potential, will in fact be seized.”

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October 1, 2018

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Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Wolfe’s Woofer: Insurance
“They brought Juan home from the hospital yesterday morning,” Mario said, as we drank coffee on the deck at the Holiday Hotel. “He’s paralyzed from the waist down.” “That’s terrible. We need to go visit him.” That evening I picked up Mario and drove to Juan’s house. “How are you, Juan?” I asked him. “I ain’t never been better. Getting hit by that car was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me.”

Doctor Love: Having Faith
Dear Doctor Love, Our family is devout Catholic, and we insist that our children go to Mass every week. My fifteen-year-old daughter fights against this every time and I do not understand why. It is a time to be together as a family and to connect with others of our faith, yet she does not want to go. We have asked her why, but she has no reason, just that she doesn’t want to go to Mass. Should I continue to force her, or should I let her be and hope she will come back to the faith? /s/Hail Mary

Misc Belizean Sources

SHOOTING INCIDENT
On 30.9.2018 about 12:48 a.m., Police visited Corner of Sapodilla and Zericote Street, Orange Walk Town. Upon arrival,they saw Justin Diaz 24-year-old, Belizean of San Pablo Street, Orange Walk Town with apparent gunshot wounds to his body. He was transported to the Northern Regional Hospital where he is admitted in a critical condition. Initial investigation revealed that sometime around 12:35 a.m., Diaz was on the said street when two male persons on a motorcycle approached and one of them fired several shots towards him causing his injuries. Police are investigating.

MURDER IN ORANGE WALK
On 30.9. 2018 about 12:50 a.m., Police visited Muffles Street, Orange Walk Town. Upon arrival, they found Samuel Castro 25-year-old, Belizean baker of Trial Farm Village, Orange Walk District, with what appeared to be gunshot wounds to the left upper arm and right lower back in an unconscious state. He was transported to the Northern Regional Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Initial investigation revealed that sometime around 12:30 a.m., on 30.9.2018 Castro visited a residence on Muffles Street when an unknown person on a motorcycle fired several gunshots towards Castro causing the injuries.

The Reporter

1am. GANG-LAND STYLE SHOOTING IN ORANGE WALK
Tensions are high in Orange Walk Town after more violence and bloodshed resulted in the death of one man and another clinging to life at the KHMH. At around 12:48 am Police were called to the intersection of Sapodilla and Zericote Streets where they found an unconscious Justin Diaz, 23, suffering from gunshot wounds to his chest and leg. According to reports Diaz was on the street when a dark colored car sped past and a gunman inside opened fire.

ANOTHER MISSING YOUNG MAN
The family of Trial Farm resident Eddie Zamora, 24, is asking for the public’s assistance in locating him. Zamora was last seen on Saturday morning near the OW Bypass on the Phillip Goldson Highway heading to Corozal. If you have any information on his whereabouts you’re asked to call #607-2650, #607-2742 or the nearest Police Station.

MAN CHARGED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AT CHURCH
On Saturday September 29th Belize City police announced the arrest of 27-year-old Bensford Bennett. He was formally charged for sexually assaulting a female minor, 12, in church. As a result of their investigation, Police believed that Bennett, an unemployed Belize City resident, is the person who allegedy assaulted the minor on September 23rd during a church service in Belize City.

Breaking Belize News

Mayor Bernard Wagner reflects on first six months in office
It has been six months since the People’s United Party (PUP) has led the Belize City Council after 12 years out in the cold. Our newsroom caught up with Mayor Bernard Wagner today to get an update of what has been happening at city hall since he took office.

Belize Red Cross and Corozal Town Council hold clean up campaign
Today the Belize Red Cross in collaboration with the Corozal Town Council held a cleanup campaign in Corozal Town. The areas of focus were the Skeleton Town Area and College Road. Project Director, Marley Brown Goodin told BBN that today’s initiative is a part of an ongoing Zika Prevention and Response Project by the Belize Red Cross.

Drunken cop crashes police vehicle?
A traffic incident unfolded in San Ignacio, Cayo, hours ago. A police corporal on duty reportedly fell into a huge ditch. Unconfirmed reports are that he was speeding and was under the influence of alcohol.

Corozal fire destroys home undergoing renovations
Police are investigating a fire that destroyed a house in Corozal. This morning around 3, police visited G Street in Corozal and saw a 20x 30 wooden and concrete house totally engulfed in flames. Tara Shah, 26, reported to authorities that the house is the property of her mother, Sharel Montero who resides in the United States.

Police investigate shooting in Orange Walk that leaves a man in critical condition
Police are investigating a shooting incident that left a man in a critical condition in Orange Walk. Around 12:48 am this morning, police went to the corner of Sapodilla and Zericote Street in Orange Walk Town and saw a man suffering from gunshot wounds.

Man, 20, is ‘threatened with a knife and robbed of his car’ by his friend
Balmore Alexander Ruiz Escobar,20, a Salvadoran of San Jose Village, Orange Walk District reported to authorities that on September 29, 2018 about 7:30 p.m., he was socializing with some friends when one of them took out a knife at him. The friend/culprit then demanded that he hand over his grey SUV to him.

14-year-old minor missing in Orange Walk
A 14-year-old minor is missing in Orange Walk District. According to police, yesterday about 8:15 AM, Sergio Chi, 50, dropped off his daughter Analeily Chi, 14, by the market in Orange Walk Town to meet up with some classmates to do a group project and up to now, she has not returned home.

Police reveal details of man murdered in Orange Walk
Police have issued more details on the murder of Samuel Castro, 25, who was killed this morning in Orange Walk. According to authorities, this morning around 12:50 AM they visited Muffles Street in Orange Walk Town, and upon arrival, they found Castro in an unconscious state and with gunshot wounds to the left upper arm and right lower back.

Statement by Belize’s Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington at UN
At the outset I wish to express the sympathies of the Government and people of Belize with the Government and people of Indonesia in view of the devastating earthquake and tsunami which killed over 400 persons. At the same, I wish to also express Belize’s solidarity with Barbados which is recovery from Tropical Storm Kirk and with countries of the Eastern Caribbean which were affected by an earthquake — all over the last few days.

Justin Diaz shot multiple times in Orange Walk
Less than 30 minutes after the murder of Samuel Castro, there was another shooting in Orange Walk Town. This time the victim has been identified as Justin Diaz, 23. https://www.facebook.com/rogerrivero16/posts/10216930969215928

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