November 28, 2019

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.

The San Pedro Sun

Letter to the Editor: Letter to the editor: A plea to the police and customs officers
In just a few more weeks, the season of war games begins on Ambergris Caye. What I mean by that is the period from mid-November to mid-January when roving bands of children and teenagers take over the island and turn it into a simulated war zone. By war zone, I mean the constant sound of illegal fireworks filling the air from sunup to sometimes midnight, minute after minute, hour after hour, day after day. This has been going unchecked for years, no matter how many complaints the -police department receives. Let us make one thing perfectly clear; fireworks are illegal in Belize – period. They may be legal in the country claiming us, Guatemala, but in independent Belize, they are illegal.

San Pedro Pirates lose first semi-finals game against Belmopan Bandits
The opening leg in the playoffs of the Premier League of Belize saw San Pedro Pirates falling short against Belmopan Bandits on Saturday, November 23rd, at the Ambergris Stadium. The island team found a very complicated opponent in the Bandits, who at the end of the long whistle, took home a 2-1 victory, leaving the Pirates in a compromising journey to PLB’s championship. San Pedro Pirates will head to the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in the Capital City of Belmopan on Saturday, November 30th, where they will need to win if the defending champions want to make it to the finals.

Belizean children honored at National Children’s Award Gala
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of Belize signing on to the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of a Child (CRC), for the first time ever a National Children’s Award Gala was held at Caribbean Motors Hall in Belize City on Saturday, November 23rd. The aim of the gala was to recognize the outstanding work that children do in our society in different areas as well as to highlight the importance role they play. Organization leading the change were also honored, and San Pedro’s Hope Haven received an award.

Ambergris Today

16 Days Of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
Annually, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is launched on November 25th, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and runs until December 10th, International Human Rights Day. For the month of October 2019, Belize imported goods valuing $185.2 million. This represented a 4 percent or $7.8 million decrease from the same month in 2018, when imports totalled just over $193 million. Total domestic exports for October 2019 amounted to $26.1 million, down 24.8 percent or $8.6 million when compared to exports for October 2018, which were valued at $34.7 million.

Various Belizean Sources

October 2019 Trade, GDP & CPI, Labour Force Survey
For the month of October 2019, the Statistical Institute of Belize reported that there was very little change, overall, in the cost of goods and services which are regularly purchased by Belizean households, when compared to October 2018. Preliminary results from the September 2019 Labour Force Survey (LFS) show that the national unemployment rate grew from 7.7 percent in April 20191 to 10.4 percent in September 2019, despite an increase of over 5,600 new jobs over this five-month period (see Figure 1). This suggests that the country’s labour force grew at a faster rate than the rate at which jobs were being created during this period.

Olympic Champion Simone Biles to visit San Pedro
World-renowned Olympic Champion and Gold Medalist, Simone Biles, will receive the symbolic keys to San Pedro Ambergris Caye from Mayor Daniel Guerrero during a brief ceremony to be held at the Pineapple Restaurant at Ramon’s Village Resort at 7:00 pm, today Wednesday, 27 November, 2019. Also present at the event will be Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism & Civil Aviation.

Happy San Pedro 35th Township Anniversary Day!
Happy 35th Township Anniversary as we celebrate 35 years of its transcendence from a quaint fishing village.

Godoy cops top honour . . . Belizean is 2020 Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Scholar
Congratulations to Belizean Abbie Godoy on being named the 2020 Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Scholar! “I am honestly in shock. I wasn’t expecting my name to be called, because all of the contestants were really amazing and I felt a little intimidated coming from my University [of Belize], which is 3 000 students compared to some of the contestants who are from Harvard and the University of the West Indies (UWI),” Godoy told the media shortly after she was announced winner this afternoon.

Belize Participates in UNCTAD’s Regional Seminar on Facilitating Investment in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) held the Regional Seminar for the Caribbean on ‘Facilitating Investment in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) projects: Spotlight on Small Island Developing States (SIDS)’ on November 26 to 28, 2019. ent Promotion Agencies (CAIPA).

Cayo Baymen Rugby National Champions
Congratulations, Cayo Baymen! They are the 2019 national champions in Rugby 7's. The British High Commission has many great pictures from the event, which was held at Broaster Stadium on Saturday. A friendly Inernational match followed between Belize and Honduras which saw the visitors run out victorious with a score of 50 -10.

Somos Dive is looking for
Boat captains, Snorkel Guides, Dive Masters, Instructors. *All with up to date tour guide licence

Yuumstilo'ob
Between the Yucatec Maya (Máasewal) of Belize few ancient Yuumstilo'ob are still worship today like Chaak ,Yuum Kaax , Itzamna (Hahal Ku ) and others . This Yuumstilo'ob are not idols but rather they are energies ,ethereal ,imperceptible materialities that were presented to humans in different representations .

Changes in Pump Price of Fuel Products
The Ministry of Finance announces that effective Thursday, November 28th, 2019, the pump price of three fuel products will change. The price for premium gasoline, regular gasoline and kerosene will register decreases as follows: Premium gasoline will decrease by 4 cents from $10.78 to $10.74 per gallon; Regular gasoline will decrease by 2 cents from $10.07 to $10.05 per gallon; Kerosene will decrease by 18 cents from $ 7.53 to $ 7.35 per gallon. The price for diesel will remain unchanged at $9.90 per gallon.

St. Francis Xavier Parish Fair
Saturday, November 30th at 4:00 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier School Grounds. Lots of games and prizes. Food and drinks. It is a family affair.

SNAKES AND MAYA SPIRITUALITY
Between the ancient Maya and even the contemporary Maya still exist a huge respect towards Snakes . Snakes are represented in different forms as a symbolism or spiritual identities . This article is about the ancient and contemporary view .

Channel 7

Four Belizeans And Two Tourists Die In Catastrophic Accident
Tonight we start the news with one of the worst traffic fatalities we have ever reported on: 6 dead after a head on collision on the George Price Highway. It happened about three and a half hours ago - and Cherisse Halsall just returned form the scene. Here's her story: This was the smoke filled scene of panic and terror at mile 19 right after the major head on collision this afternoon at 3:00. It was between a Dodge Ram Tourist Van and a Chevy Captiva mini SUV. The van was flipped upside down - and the passengers - apparently tourists coming from a swim lay in a critically injured state on the highway, after they were pulled out of the wreckage. The passengers in the Captiva were trapped inside and at least one of them - hanging out the wreckage.

Alleged Suicide In Jail Cell
Tonight, there is another death to report inside the Queen street police station cell block - and this time it appears to be a suicide. 7news has received reliable reports that a 39 year old man hung himself in the cell block this evening. We don't usually presort on suicides, but this one happened in police custody - so it will likely be the subject of a criminal investigation. It is the second death in the cell block since June of this year.

Family Of Missing Minor Says They Warned Him Not To Go To Sea
Tonight, three men are still missing: 22 year old Sheldon Gibson and 21 year old Elijah Usher, and 14 year old Kevin Roches. Tonight their families are fearing the worst because it has been more than five days since they set off in Gibson's skiff-The LORRAINE for Mapp Caye. Since then neither they nor the skiff have been seen. Today we spoke to Sheree Clark, Kevin Roches's sister. She told us that they warned her teenaged brother not to go to sea, but he was headstrong. She spoke to us off camera:

Coast Guard Says Missing Men Case Is No Longer A Rescue Mission
The Belize Coast Guard is currently leading the search for these missing men, but are also starting to accept the likelihood that they are likely not going to find them alive. Today, at another event, the media got an opportunity to speak with Captain Elton Bennett, who is now the new commandant of the Coast Guard, and he told us that too much time has passed for this to be a rescue mission: Reporter: "Can you provide us with any update on the search for the 3 missing Belize City fishermen?" Capt. Elton Bennett, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard: "Nothing new to report, we continue to search units concentrating in the same search area that we were searching in for the past 48 hours and the reason being the possibility of them being submerged over the past two days..."

Finding Evan Neal Boat At Mapp Caye Re-energizes Investigation Into Disappearance
We also asked the Coast Guard Commandant to discuss the discovery of a boat in the same Mapp Caye area that appeared be to one of the vessels which was stolen from the lobster fisherman, Evan Neal. As we told you, back in January of year, Neal has and 2 of his workers disappeared while they were on a fishing trip on the same caye. The Commandant told us that the discovery of this vessel has caused the Coast Guard to renew their efforts to try and locate Neal: Reporter: "The boat for Mr. Evan Neal was found, I believe yesterday, are you guys continuing that search along those lines in that area, maybe?"

Man Taken From City, Shot In Boom, Critical at KHMH
A Belize City man is critical after he was shot last night. Police say Richard O'Neal was forced into a car in Belize City and then taken to Burrell Boom where he was shot multiple times. Police say he was found on a wooden bench outside a house with a gunshot injury.

Another Fatal Accident
And we continue the news now - with the story of another fatal accident - this one outside Corozal. Preliminary reports say there was a hit and run accident on the Philip Godson Highway in Carolina village, outside Corozal. One Hispanic male adult died on the scene.

New Admiral At Sea! Coast Guard Change of Command
Earlier in the news, we showed you our interview with Captain Elton Bennett who was discussing the ongoing search for all those Belizean fishermen who have gone missing near Mapp Caye. That interview opportunity happened at a major event at their headquarters in Belize City. The Coast Guard graduated 87 recruits from their latest intake, #10. The organization also celebrated its 14th anniversary today, and finally, Admiral John Borland has stepped down as the Head of the Coast Guard.

Coast Guard, Building Critical Operational Mass
All 87 recruits will join the Coast Guard fleet immediately. They will spend an entire year as a seaman's apprentice. The Commandant says that because the recruit training is only 3 months long, they couldn't focus on enough seamanship. This new intake of recruits is part of the Coast Guard's strategy to grow its numbers up to 700 officers in total. The commandant says that they are a bit behind on that plan, but it's still an important goal for the organization:

Admiral Borland Segues Over to Chief of Defense Staff, But When?
So, Admiral John Borland's time as the head of the Coast Guard is done, but that doesn't mean that he goes into retirement from the security forces. On the contrary, he's being given a big promotion. The Ministry of National Security has created a new post known as the Chief of Defense Staff, and he will be the first military professional to hold that office. If you're familiar with the US military, you'll know that each major arm of their security forces is lead by a chief of staff. Together, the joint chiefs all advise the US president on important Military decisions. Borland, as Belize's first Chief Defense Staff, will play a similar role, and he will have some authority over both the Coast Guard and the Belize Defense Force. He'll be responsible to coordinate these 2 elements of the country's defense apparatus.

Sports Council Sends Yellowman Home
We reported it weeks ago, but tonight we can confirm that Brian "Yellowman" Audinett has officially been terminated by the National Sports Council. A letter from the Director of the Sports Council Ian Jones says that he has not been doing his job as Facility Night Auditor since June first of 2019. And, because of that, he's being terminated for desertion of his post. Jones advises him that he was warned, but, quote, "the National Sports Council can no longer tolerate such neglect of work duties." End quote.

Four Years Later, Got Off Canadian Klinck's Killing
Back in January of 2016, the Cayo murder of 37-year-old Matthew Klinck, a Canadian filmmaker who resided in Belize, made major headlines. Well, after being on remand for almost 4 years, 22-year-old Brandon Anderson, and another male who was only 16-year-old at the time are free tonight. They were acquitted in the Belmopan courtroom of Justice Antoinette Moore. Klinck, the murder victim, became well known in Belize for the 2012 movie, "Curse of the Xtabai", which was a full-length Kriol language movie. It is believed that Klinck was killed sometime between January 2nd and January 4th of 2016. His decomposing body was found at his residence, which is located in Selena Village, which is just outside of Spanish Lookout in the Cayo District.

Scratch And Win Employee Charged For Theft
Two days ago, we told you about Cristian Novelo, a 25 year old sales agent for the Scratch and Win game who said årmed thieves stole $29,000 dollars and his pickup. But, police found inconsistencies in his story and more so when they spoke to his boss who said that money should have already been deposited.

Unemployment Figures Back To Double Digits
In June, we told you about unemployment figures which dropped to an all time low - 7.6%. That was for the labour force survey conducted in April. Well, the news tonight is that the September survey has now been completed, and unemployment is back to double digits. The findings of the September survey - where unemployment is always higher because it's the tourist off season were released this morning by the Statistical Institute of Belize:

Despite Drought, GDP Growth Stable
And while the unemployment spiked to double figures, GDP growth in the third quarter of the year remained unimpressive, but stable, which is not bad considering the effect of the drought. Jacqueline Sabal, Statistician II, S.I.B.: For the 3rd quarter of September 2019, Belize produced goods and services totalling $663.1 million dollars. This represents an increase of $11.5 million dollars or 1.8% from the same period pf last year." One of the major figures that stood out was the decline in tourism - the first quarterly downturn in many, many years.

Negative Inflation In Belize
And while tourism had a worrying decline, the SIB says that inflation was negative in the third quarter. Here's what that meant for you:

Belize's Ballooning Imports
But while inflation is among the lowest in the region, Belize's external trade profile is not encouraging. Imports have been trending up with a 46% increase in the last decade, while exports have been trending down. Here's the breakdown Tiffany Vasquez, Statistician II: "If we look at imports over the past years for the period January to October imports have been trending up we have had a downturn for the years 2016 and 2017 but since then imports have been on the rise again. If we compare imports of 2010 which were valued at 1.1 billion dollars to imports of this year which stands at 1.6 billion dollars it is a 46% increase."

The Seaweed Solution
Earlier this month we told you about the team of conservationists and other private sector reps. who visited a seaweed farm in Placencia. They went to see how seaweed is cultivated and how they can create a flourishing seaweed industry in Belize and internationally. Well today at the Roberts Grove Resort in Placencia, The Nature Conservancy, Beltriade and Compete Caribbean launched a seaweed mariculture project that will focus on making this macroalgea a export-ready commodity. Courtney Weatherburne has more.

Diego and The Dollar Store
29 year old Glenford Diego is in jail tonight for his alleged role in the robbery of Dollar store on Water Lane. On November 14th two men robbed store owner Mijan Ahmad at gunpoint. The items reported stolen included two cell phones and a video camera valued at $3,600.

The Deadliest Accident In Years
And, before we close tonight we have an update on the terrible accident that killed 6 persons today. As we told you, it happened at mile 18 on the George Price Highway when an SUV with a family and a van with tourists collided. So far, we know that four Belizeans and two tourists died.

Channel 5

Six Persons Perish in Massive Road Traffic Accident on GP Highway
A celebration of a son being recruited into the Belize Coast Guard has ended in tragedy for one Belmopan family and several others are mourning the loss of their loved [...]

Richard O’Neil is Kidnapped and Shot; Remains Critical at Hospital
A construction worker of Ordonez Street is tonight in a critical condition at the K.H.M.H. after an attempt was made on his life overnight. Richard O’Neil was reportedly kidnapped from [...]

An Elderly Woman is Assaulted in a Home Invasion in Belama
There were several burglaries reported in the Belama area over the past twenty-four hours, but on Tuesday afternoon around 1:15, an elderly woman was assaulted during a home invasion on [...]

No Signs of Missing Fishermen Presumed Killed at Sea
The search for three Belize City youths who set out to sea last Friday has since become a recovery operation as personnel from the Belize Coast Guard are now focused [...]

Efrain Martinez is Committed to Stand Trial for Murder
Turning to the courts…Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser committed Salvadoran national Efrain Martinez to stand trial for the January 2019 murder of Guatemalan national Elmer Salazar. The fifty-four-year-old former employee of [...]

Glenford Diego is Remanded for Robbery
Glenford Diego is spending his first night on remand at the Belize Central Prison after he appeared before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford for a robbery charge. He is accused of [...]

A New Leader Takes the Reins of the Belize Coast Guard
This morning at the Coast Guard Headquarters in Belize City, eighty-seven new recruits were officially welcomed into the maritime law enforcement agency.  While these men and women were formally inducted [...]

85 New Coast Guard Officers, More Resources Needed
The largest intake of coast guard recruits to date passed out this morning and will be deployed to active duty forthwith.  It is part of an organizational strategy to grow [...]

S.I.B. Releases Latest Stats on Consumer Prices and External Trade
The Statistical Institute of Belize says that the Gross Domestic Product for the last quarter grew by one point eight percent. Some of the factors that affected production levels for [...]

Unemployment is Up to 10.4 Percent in September 2019
Belize’s population as of September of this year is four hundred and ten thousand, six hundred and ninety-five persons. Of that number, two hundred and seventy-one thousand, six hundred and [...]

Increased Number of Women in the Labour Force
According to the S.I.B., while the labor force grew at a faster rate than which jobs were being created, there was an increase of women in the labour force.  Benavides [...]

Concerned Parents Speak Out on the Pine Street Preschool Closure
Officials from the Ministry of Education convened a meeting this afternoon at the Gateway Youth Centre in Belize City. Present were the parents of some thirty-plus students from the Pine [...]

Belize Seaweed Mariculture Project Launched
The Belize Seaweed Mariculture Project was launched today in Placencia.  The project is a joint venture between the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service, BELTRAIDE, and the Nature Conservancy Belize, [...]

Love and Rage is Launched during the 16 Days of Activism
Earlier this week, the Women’s Department in collaboration with its partner agencies launched the 2019 Sixteen Days of Activism to highlight the issue of gender-based violence. A number of activities [...]

The Reporter

Traffic Accident On The George Price Hwy. – Several Fatalities
There are reports of a traffic accident involving two vehicles just outside Hattieville on the George Price Highway. We are receiving news that several persons have been badly injured, but have not received official confirmation at this time. We’ll keep following this story and will provide details as we get them.

New Chief At Belize Coast Guard
The Belize Coast Guard Service today changed command from Rear Admiral John Borland to Captain Elton Bennett. The handing over ceremony happened earlier today at the Coast Guard’s headquarters near mile 4 off the George Price Highway in Belize City and in tandem with the Coast Guard’s 14th anniversary.

Man Abducted – Taken To Boom & Shot
The Reporter has confirmed that a man is in critical condition at the KHMH after he was shot multiple times last night.

Two Men Invade Home With Babysitter & Toddler
Belize City Police are looking for two men who invaded a home in the Belama Phase 1 area yesterday. A babysitter told Police that two men entered through the back door of the home around midday, tied her up and ransacked the home.

LOVE FM

SIMONE BILES IN BELIZE
American artistic gymnast, Simone Biles is in Belize for the Thanksgiving Weekend. She is resting as she gears up for Tokyo 2020. 22- year-old Biles is the country with her Belizean family members and arrived on Wednesday. While on Ambergris Caye she was greeted by Belize’s Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Honorable Manuel Heredia Jr. As part of her visit to the island, she was presented to Keys to Municipality of San Pedro by Mayor Daniel Guererro. Biles was also greeted by local athletes from San Pedro Town. It is uncertain how many days Biles will be in Belize but she is being accompanied by some members of the US press who is covering Biles journey to Tokyo.

Breaking Belize News

One person reportedly dead in Corozal hit and run accident
Our newsroom has learned of a fatal hit and run traffic accident which took place […]

Two Belizean women and several other people lose their lives in traffic accident
Confirmed reports are that two Belizean women and several others including tourists lost their lives […]

Salvadoran accused of killing Guatemalan to be tried
Salvadoran national Efrain Beltran Martinez, 55, charged with the murder of Guatemalan national Elmer Salazar, 43, […]

Men accused in murder of Matthew Klink not guilty, court rules
Twenty-year-old Brandon Anderson and a minor, 16 at the time, who were charged with the […]

Slight decrease coming to gas pumps at midnight
At midnight tonight prices at the pump will see a decrease for all but Diesel. […]

Multiple fatalities reported in road traffic accident
A fatal road traffic accident this afternoon claimed the life of several tourists and a couple […]

Ministry of Natural Resources mobile outreach comes to San Ignacio
Today, the Mobile Team of the Ministry of Natural Resources is at the San Ignacio/ […]

Pine Street Preschool: Parents meet with Ministry to decide way forward
Today, the Ministry of Education held a closed-door emergency meeting with parents who had children […]

Mopan Technical student reported missing
A San Ignacio student that attends Mopan Technical high school in Benque Viejo has been […]

Several injured in road traffic accident
There are unconfirmed reports of multiple fatalities and several injured in a road traffic accident […]

Adrian Morris charged for shooting Ramon Bernardez
Dangriga police have charged Adrian Morris, 28, with attempted murder, wounding and use of deadly […]

Woman alive after aggravated burglary
A woman is lucky to be alive after two armed men entered her home, tied […]

New Coast Guard commandant sworn in
This morning a new Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard was sworn in at the […]

SIB measures rise in unemployment rate
Unemployment is up once more, but the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), attributed the rise […]

Fun activities in San Ignacio and Santa Elena this week
Looking for fun activities to participate in or attend this week in the Twin Towns […]

Danny Conorquie foundation to host toy drive
The Danny Conorquie Foundation is currently accepting toys to spread the Christmas cheer to needy […]

Greenhouse gas concentrations in atmosphere reach record-breaking heights
Despite global commitments to combat climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gasses (GHG)’s, a […]

US fugitive busted in San Ignacio
This past weekend, Belize’s Special Branch in collaboration with US authorities captured an American fugitive […]

Late-night accident leaves one man injured
A resident of Bullet Tree, Cayo District sustained severe injury following an accident reported on […]

Blogs

Things That Make You Go Hmmm and Sargasso Report
Whether you are living in San Pedro Belize or are just visiting, chances are you will see a few things that make you go hmmm. Most of my friends would agree there are many, I have chosen a few interesting ones to share with you. Over the past few years, sargasso seemed to be a never-ending plague and has definitely affected the Ambergris Caye economy. I am pleased to show you, the San Pedro beaches are looking very inviting these days.

Pre-Thanksgiving Frazzled on Ambergris Caye
I’ll share the pictures of my week so far. I’m heading to the camp (Cayo Frances Farm & Fly) for the very American holiday of Thanksgiving. It is being celebrated all over the island for a few reasons: This is the first big tourism week of the “high season” and many visitors like to celebrate Thanksgiving. Belizeans LOVE a good turkey dinner like everyone else. It’s a good chance to make some money AND enjoy delicious overeating. Buying up the imported sweet potatoes at the Greenhouse. The local ones are delicicous too – but a bit too starchy for my needs. I also found these SUPER CUTE local pumpkins. Hard as rocks but perfect for my Thanksgiving table.

Consider Belize as your Next Family Vacation Destination in 2020
Thinking of booking a family vacation?…why not Belize! If you are a family who likes to hop in a car and explore, Belize is the place for you. Belize, being only 8,867 square miles in size, its a small destination packed with amazing adventures, with everything relatively close to one another. From Corozal in the North to Punta Gorda in the South, from the two border points its less than three hundred miles. In Belize, you don’t have to travel far distances to reach your destination. In the morning you can be on the beach in Placencia and by evening you can be birding and hiking a nature trail amongst Belize’s lush jungle in the Cayo District.

How to avoid crowds in Belize?
If you were to ask me, when is the best time to visit Belize? I would tell you absolutely any time of the year! All year round the weather is pretty much the same – sunny, humid, hot, and some rain here and there (depending on the season). What this means is that you can visit the beach whenever you choose or if you prefer hiking and being near the jungle, then you can spend time at a jungle resort of your choice, and whenever you choose. The possibilities at any time of the year are endless. However, with all the things you can experience, we know that there are people who aren’t big fans of crowded places. Lucky for you Belize has a low season in which there aren’t many visitors so resorts, restaurants, and beaches are less crowded so you can definitely enjoy some alone time if that’s what you like.

Thanksgiving in Belize
When you hear Thanksgiving, most people associate it as an American and Canadian holiday; and though it is not considered as a holiday in Belize, Belize does celebrate Thanksgiving! It is very similar to the US and is also celebrated in November. Thanksgiving is a special time for family and friends who come together to give thanks to the blessings bestowed upon them and also to share an elegant, tasty meal. Likewise, the Americans and Canadians, Belizeans cook up a storm on this day. The most iconic part of the traditional Thanksgiving feast is the turkey and ham which is why you’d often hear a Belizean say “Turkey Dinner” and not Thanksgiving Dinner.

Videos

November 27, 2019

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.

Ambergris Today

Oceana Belize Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Oceana came to Belize 10 years ago determined to support Belizeans in their advocacy for the national policies necessary to enhance and increase our collective protection of the Caribbean Sea. Since then Oceana has helped Belize make significant strides in ocean conservation, accomplishing two momentous laws to safeguard its marine resources. Belize’s commitment to ocean stewardship was solidified with a ban on all forms of trawling and also the indefinite moratorium on offshore oil activities.

BELTRAIDE Hosts 5th Annual National Entrepreneurship Convention
On Friday, November 29th, 2019, the Belize Trade & Investment Development Services (BELTRAIDE) through its Small Business Development Center, Belize (SBDCBelize) unit will host its 5th Annual National Entrepreneurship Convention (EntreCon) under the team "Engage, Exchange, Empower". Since its inception, EntreCon which was designed to bring key stakeholders and experts from our international, national and local Entrepreneurial ecosystem, has welcomed over 1,000 participants to share knowledge, best practices, and expertise. The event promotes an entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports engagement, exchange and empowerment in the ever-changing globalized market place.

Various Belizean Sources

San Pedro Mayor Daniel Guerrero meets the Mayor of Clear Lakes Shores, Texas
Mayor Daniel Guerrero had the pleasure of meeting with the Mayor of Clear Lakes Shores, Texas, USA, Mayor Kurt Otten, as he made a courtesy visit and spoke about opportunities that Clear Lakes Shores and San Pedro Town could share; such as, cultural exchanges, student exchanges and even the possibility for research in marine biology. Thank you for the visit Mayor Otten, we look forward for your next visit!

Belize Tourism Board’s guest registration books have been updated
To all Hoteliers : - Please note that the Belize Tourism Board’s guest registration books have been updated. Please bring in whatever unused books you have to be exchanged for new.

BELIZE FISHING REPORT: NOVEMBER 17, 2019 THROUGH NOVEMBER 24, 2019
Sight fishing was tough with clouds and a few rain days, making it hard to see fish. That did not stop one angler from a Grand Slam, and a few others almost achieved it as well. Bones were receptive and available regardless. Anglers had no trouble getting into them. Those seeking Permit had their work cut out for them, but three landed. Tarpon available on the flats, and the back lagoon enticed and rewarded anglers. A good number landed, and more jumped as always the case. Lots of smiles during the dock walk at the end of the day.

BELIZEAN PATRIOT: Eva Middleton
Eva Middleton, who was born in Punta Gorda, was a career teacher, a Girl-Guide leader, and one of the founders of the NGO, Breast is Best. She was active in the church, and in her community in Lake Independence, Belize City. In her later life she impacted lives throughout the country, through her efforts at BAPDA, an organization that is governed by the Constitution of Belize and also by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She was a driving force in the effort to get assistance for people with disabilities, and she was very passionate and bold in the endeavor. She formed national and international collaborations to secure help for people with disabilities.

Chan Pine Ridge Government School Cultural Day
The Institute of Archaeology was honored to have been invited to the Chan Pine Ridge Government School Cultural Day on Friday November 22 2019. This day was filled with presentations on the various cultures in our country. The IA had an artifact display that was a hit among the students from all classes. Even the little ones were intrigued by the ancient culture.

5% discount on Trade License Fees for 2020 in San Pedro today
Don’t forget today we are having the 5% discount on Trade License Fees for 2020. In honor of San Pedro’s 36th Township Anniversary!

MEXICAN DANCERS TO PERFORM AT THE DANCE X BELIZE 2019
Belmopan, November 25th 2019; The Embassy of Mexico in Belize, has the pleasure to announce that the original contemporary dance project ORIGEN created by Laura Garcia and Alexandra Pereda will be presented at Dance X Belize 2019, cultural event that will take place from 27th to the 30th of November in Belize. ORIGEN is an unpublished scenic work integrated by dance and costume design, that represents the Mexican clothing grand Bosque Bonita´s essence, through dance movement and garments created specifically for this piece. Sound design will consist of nature sounds and atmospheres. Choreography will be staged by Alexandra Pereda and costume will be designed by Laura García.

Mark your calendars for Ocean Academy High School's Annual Christmas Gala, Friday December 6. Don't miss this as we showcase our many talented students. CALL 226-0321 OR MESSAGE HERE TO BECOME A SPONSOR

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
Annually, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is launched on November 25th, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and runs until December 10th, International Human Rights Day. This year's theme is "From Awareness to Accountability; Unmasking the Many Faces of Violence." At the event, Special Envoy for Women and Children, Mrs. Kim Simplis Barrow reminded us that while these 16 days focus on eliminating gender-based violence, the need to be vigilant never ends. Powerful testimonials gave responsibility to the public to believe victims and support survivors.

Speaker of the House Attends Sessions of the African Caribbean Pacific Group of States (ACP) Parliamentary Assembly and ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Laura Tucker Longsworth represented Belize at the 54th Session of the African Caribbean Pacific Group of States (ACP) Parliamentary Assembly and the 38th Session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly held in Kigali, Rwanda from the 14-21 November 2019. The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly was created to bring together the elected representatives of the European Union and those of the ACP States that have signed the Cotonou Partnership Agreement. On 15 November, in her capacity as Chair, the Honourable Madam Speaker participated in the ACP meeting of the Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment. The Honourable Speaker additionally co-Chaired the Joint ACP-EU Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment on 18 November 2019.

Indian Creek Maya Arts Women’s Group
The sisters of the Coc family are proud Q’eqchi’ Maya women that provide transformative experiences to visitors in southern Belize through their micro-enterprise the Indian Creek Maya Arts Women’s Group. In addition, the business-minded, indigenous Q’eqchi’ Maya women are important forest keepers and are contributing to community development in collaboration with Ya’axché and EcoTourism Belize in the Maya Golden Landscape. The women are continuously finding ways to build internal capacity, improve operations and inspire community members of Indian Creek.

Channel 7

Man Charged For Murder Says He Didn't Pull Trigger
A 24 year old Neal's Pen Road man has been charged for Zheng Liu's murder. He is Joseph Vacarro. But Vacarro says he did not kill Zheng. In court today, Vacarro admitted that he was at the scene of the crime but says he did not pull the trigger. He says that the two other men lied on him which landed him with the murder charge. As Vacarro was being escorted out of court he made a statement to defend his innocence. The media also spoke to Vacarro's mother who shared similar sentiments and demanded that the police properly investigate the other two suspects. Joseph Vacarro, Claims Innocense: "They are chancing me, but at the end of the day I will leave it to the courts."

Another Girl Shot In Her Bed
Another girl has been shot in her bed. Yesterday, we told you about the shooting of a 16 year old - who is still critical - and a one year old infant - who was only shot in the hand, thankfully. Well, last night it was a 14 year old - making it the third female minor to be shot in their Southside home in 24 hours. This one happened on Boots Crescent at around 11:00 - when shots were fired at the home where the 14 year old and her 7 year old sister were sleeping. The victim is Trishell Tillett and she was shot in the arm. Today, the second form student underwent surgery on that arm.

Shot 7 Times, Chanteuse Martinez Remains Critical
Last night we told you about the Sunday night shooting on Antelope street where two females were hit: a one year old was shot to the hand as she slept, and a 16 year old was shot 7 times. Tonight, the teenager, Chanteuse Martinez remains critical but her family says that she is showing slight improvements. As for baby Melanie, she remains in a stable condition but she yet to be released from the KHMH.

Still No Clue On Missing Men
The families of two fishermen and one teenaged boy remain gravely concerned for their loved ones who went fishing off Mapp Caye Friday morning and have disappeared. They should have come back in on Friday evening, and the fishermen 22 year old Sheldon Gibson and 21 year old Elijah Usher, and 14 year old Kevin Roches are the subject of an active search by police and Coast Guard. They were aboard Gibson's skiff-The LORRAINE, which has also not been found. Up to this evening, there is no new information, and the families remain frantic and desperate tonight.

The Curse of Mapp Caye?
And, a large part of that is because they know very well that so far this year alone 8 men have gone missing from Mapp Caye - 5 were found murdered, while three are still missing. Mark Neal knows their pain and terror all too well. In January of this year, his brother, lobster fisherman Evan Neal and two of his workers disappeared on that very same Caye. Almost a year later, they still don't have closure. But the search for these latest missing men has given the Neal family one sliver of hope - and that's because the bullet-riddled boat police found on Sunday appears to be one of the two stolen from Evan Neal all those months ago.

American Fugitive Caught In Cayo
An American fugitive was caught in Belize over the weekend. He is 37 year old Aaron Deon Seymour- a fugitive wanted for multiple counts of second degree robbery in Los Angeles. Special Branch - working with US authorities - found him hiding out at a home on Stanton Street in San Ignacio. We are told he was with a Belizean woman who had also lived in the US.

What Can BDF Do About the Barrio?
For the past 2 weeks, we've been closely following the plight of the Belizean Jorge Emiliano Espat. He's the landowner who inherited several parcels of land from his father and grandfather, located at the Western edge of Benque Viejo Town, in the area known as the Barrio El Juda. Espat says that he has a recurrent problem that whenever there are elections in Melchor de Mencos, the Guatemalan politicians try to use land leverage the support of the Guatemalan voters. These politicians, he says, encourage the Campesinos in need of land to seek parcels of it near the border. He has clearly outlined that these Guatemalans inch more and more into Belizean territory until the authorities of both nations have to step in.

A Security Strategy For Cyberspace
And from protecting Belize's territorial integrity, we turn now cybersecurity, and the emerging problems come with being connected to the rest of the world. Over the past few years, as high speed internet and data have become more affordable, we're almost all online, but few of us stop to consider cyber threats. The reality is that owning a computer, tablet or smartphone is like creating a front door into your personal lives. There are many predators and hackers on the internet who would seek to kick down that door and exploit your personal information for illicit reasons. So, to help protect Belizeans against internet crimes such as identity theft and phishing scams, the Ministry of National Security has begun to explore ways in which they can increase the country's cybersecurity.

Men's & Domestic Violence: Are They the Hurt People Who Hurt People?
There was another important event happening at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel. Today, the Spouses of the CARICOM Leaders Action Network, of which Special Envoy Kim Simplis-Barrow is a member, teamed up with the British High Commission, the National Women's Commission, and the United Nations Gender Theme Group to host the first-ever Men's Barbershop Forum. The purpose of the forum is to discuss gender-based violence, and today, in a first, men from all parts of society were leading this discussion, instead of the women advocates who are pushing to end this social ill in Belize. The event is a part of the 16 Days of Activism, and so, since men are often the perpetrators of gender-based violence against women and girls, we wondered what these male participants had to say on the topic.

Aggravated Burglars In Belama Came Across River
There is another home invasion to report tonight - and again, the target is a woman who was at home alone. But, this one happened this afternoon in broad daylight in Belama Phase One. A 66 year old babysitter told police she was inside a house on Samuel Haynes Street when two men who appeared to have just come out of the river behind the house, stormed in through the back door. One of them carried a firearm, and forced her inside the bedroom where he tied her up, demanding to know where the money is.

A Holdup On Hydro Road
And, another older woman was targeted for a home invasion - but this time it was deep inside the Mountain Pine Ridge, at mile ten and a half on the Hydro Road. It's an area called the Better Belize Community, where criminals held up a 75 year old American naturalist.

Caught With a Glock At The Border
A man from Ranchito village in the Corozal district is in jail tonight after he allegedly tried to pass through the border with a gun. Yesterday at 2:30, 46 year old taxi driver Jorge Sanchez was attempting to cross the Northern Border in his taxi van. A routine vehicle check by customs resulted in the discovery of a Glock pistol loaded with 13 rounds. Customs handed him over to police where he was charged for possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition .

Dangerous Shooting Dangriga
A man was shot in Dangriga yesterday morning at 11:10. The report is that 25 year old Ramon Bernardez was standing at an area when he saw a man he knew riding a bike. That man approached Bernardez and an argument ensued which resulted in the man shooting Bermudez to the neck. Police have a suspect form Belize City and are investigating.

Taking Persistent Organic Pollutants Out of Circulation
There are chemicals in almost every product we use on a daily basis but there are some acutely toxic ones that affect the environment and your health, those chemicals are called persistent organic pollutants or POPs. They can be found in pesticides, oils, sprays and household cleaning products among other items. The Department of the Environment along with the Basel Convention Regional Center for Training and Technology in the Caribbean are working on finalizing fresh communication strategies that will be used to educate the public about these harmful chemicals.

Local Bio-Degradable Products For After The Plastic Ban
And one major move to eliminating those pollutants is the long delayed ban on single use plastics. When it does come into effect in 2020, all those plastic straws, styrofoam containers and single use plastics will have to be removed from the consumer market. However, the eco alternatives that could replace those plastics are more expensive than their industry standard counterparts. Could the stark juxtaposition between the costs of disposable containers before and after the ban drive up the price of fried chicken and a plate from your rice and beans lady?

New River Returning To Its Old Ways
As we told you earlier this month, the New River is regaining its health again as the conditions have improved significantly. But the Department of the Environment isn't stepping back and rejoicing just yet, they plan on meeting with their partners in December to discuss the development of the New River Watershed Management Plan. Here's more from the deputy chief environmental officer.

Channel 5

1 Man is Charge for Murder of Zheng Liu
The execution style murder of prominent businessman Zheng Liu continues to rock the Chinese community and the thousands who knew and liked one of the owners of the Eighty Eight [...]

All Indications Are Missing Trio of Fishermen May Be Victims of Foul Play
Three fisher folks have not been located and their families are coming to terms with the notion that they may not be alive.  The trio embarked on a fishing trip [...]

Coast Guard Says Murders at Sea are Fisheries-related
While coast guard personnel were out combing the area of Drowned Caye, several miles away from where Gibson and two other fishermen went missing, they happened upon a vessel that [...]

Pine Street Preschool Closes Its Doors after 35 Years of Service
In a developing story, after thirty-five years of service in the Collet Division of Belize City, the Pine Street Preschool off Vernon Street has closed its doors. Today, police officers [...]

Former Teachers Lawyer Up; Ministry to Meet with Parents/Guardians
The duo says that they were soon to become pensionable and would have retired in 2021. They have met with the Chief Education Officer, Doctor Carol Babb, and an emergency [...]

Accused Rapist Godman Nithyananda Could be Hiding in Belize
A developing scandal in India is being linked to Belize. In the centre of the storm is Godman Nithyananda, a spiritual leader, who fled India, even though his passport had [...]

2 Guatemalan Families Have Settled Illegally on Belize’s Side of the Border
Commander of the Belize Defense Force, Brigadier General Steven Ortega confirmed that two Guatemalan families have illegally settled on Belize’s side of the border in Benque.  The Barrio el Juda [...]

B.D.F. Patrols Barrio el Juda Area Daily
The B.D.F. Commander says that since the Barrio el Juda situation has re-emerged, B.D.F. soldiers are daily patrolling the area with the hopes that other Guatemalans will desist from squatting [...]

Another Minor Injured in Shooting
A one-year-old girl Melanie Martin was shot as she slept with her grandmother on Sunday night. Sixteen-year-old Chantuse Martinez was also shot in the same incident and remains in critical [...]

Man Shot in Dangriga
A Dangriga resident was shot on Monday morning in that southern municipality which has been plagued by a rash of violence. Police say that twenty-five-year-old Ramon Bernardez was standing when [...]

Weapon and Ammunition Discovered in the South and West
Police took a firearm and some ammunition off the streets during searches in the west and south.  On Monday morning around eleven-thirty, police conducted a search in an abandoned lot [...]

Taxi Driver Detained for Unlicensed Firearm
Today, forty-six-year-old taxi driver Jorge Sanchez of Ranchito Village was formally arrested and charged for firearm offences. Sanchez appeared before the Corozal Magistrate Court where he was arraigned for possession [...]

‘Engaging Men and Boys to Help Combat Gender Based Violence’
A forum encouraging men and boys to end violence against women was held today as events take place within the launch of Sixteen Days of Activism.  Participants were encouraged to [...]

“Protect to Connect”
With the critical assistance from the Organization of American States, Belize is getting closer in finalizing its Cyber Security Strategy.  A draft strategy was presented to stakeholders today at an [...]

Julian Cho: Still No Principal at the Toledo High School
There are new developments at Julian Cho Technical High School in Toledo District where the board of directors met this evening at four o’clock to determine who will be the [...]

Cho, Racism in the Hiring Process at Julian Cho?
Is there racism and employment discrimination playing out in the hiring of Kent Arzu at Julian Cho?  He says that his predecessors are both of Maya descent and that the [...]

UB Students Host Benefit Event
A group of U.B. students is hosting a benefit fashion show later this week and they would like your support. The six students are undertaking their undergraduate studies and as [...]

Belize’s Jalyssa Arthurs is Miss Centro America 2019
Belize captured the title of the fifth annual Miss Centro America 2019 pageant held in Nicaragua on Monday night.  Belize’s contestant, nineteen-year-old Jalyssa Arthurs, won the crown after a several [...]

Amandala

Chinese businessman executed on George Price Highway
Last Saturday night, gunshots blasted away the quiet in the area of Old Belize, between Miles 4 and 5 on the George Price Highway. By the time police were dispatched to the area, they had a homicide on their hands which had all the hallmarks of an execution. The body of Zheng Liu, 28, one of the principals of the 88 chain of stores, was dumped on the side of the highway, and his shooters had disappeared in his vehicle. The narrative leading to the execution of the Chinese businessman who has been living in Belize since he was four years old, was that on Saturday night, he was at one of the four 88 chain of stores on Central American Boulevard when he got a call from an associate.

Infant injured in Antelope Street Extension shooting
A family living on Antelope Street Extension came under gunfire last night that resulted in injuries to a woman and her infant child. Marvin Martin, 23, was at his Antelope Street Extension home last night. He was sitting outside, along with his girlfriend, Chantuse Martinez, 16, when a man who was passing by opened fire on the family. The couple’s one-year-old daughter was inside the house and was grazed by one of the bullets fired by the shooter. In a press briefing today, police told the media that they received information about a shooting on Antelope Street Extension sometime after 8:00 p.m.

Three fishermen missing at sea
Last Friday morning, November 22, three young men went fishing in the Mapp Caye area, and by Saturday, a relative of one of the men filed a missing person report with the police and was seeking the assistance of the authorities to search the general area where the three young men had gone fishing. Around midday today, Monday, a search party came upon a boat which was said to be riddled with bullets. Initially, it was believed that the boat, found in the area of Drowned Caye, was that of the missing fishermen. The missing men’s family members, however, confirmed to 7News that the boat found today was not that of the missing fishermen. The fishermen left in a relatively new white skiff with the name “Lorraine” boldly displayed.

Colin Francis, 29, remanded for the murder of Nestor Vasquez, 60
This morning, Colin Nathaniel Francis, Jr., arrived at the Belize City Magistrate’s Court from the Queen Street Police Station, where he has been held since Friday after police had put out an All-Points Bulletin (APB) following his release on an $8,000 bail for attempted murder of a nurse. The bail was offered to Francis by Senior Magistrate Tricia Pitts-Anderson after Francis had spent the requisite 90 days on remand for the attempted murder charge.

24% decrease in net revenue for BTL
This year, Belize Telemedia Limited celebrated its thirtieth anniversary as a private institution. Over the past three decades there have been a myriad changes — from the name of the company in 2007 to a total rebranding to DiGi in 2018. Recently, the company has been the subject of intense public scrutiny, given the appointment of a new CEO following a General Sales Tax (GST) tax scandal earlier this year. On Thursday night, the company held its 13th AGM (Annual General Meeting) at the Best Western Biltmore Plaza, and the findings could be considered bittersweet for their shareholders.

Paslow Building now named Belize Heritage Plaza
Paslow Building, named after a documented slaveowner, Thomas Paslow, who resided in Belize and committed many acts of atrocities on his unpaid laborers in his time, was destroyed by fire in 2002. The building, located at the northern foot of the Swing Bridge, at the corner of North Front Street and Queen Street, housed a number of government departments, including the magistrate courts and the Post Office. A new building is planned to be erected in its place, to be constructed under the House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project funded by the Government of Belize and the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF).

Jury finds Anthony Crawford guilty of shooting minor in 2016
A jury of 9 women and 3 men deliberated for a little over three hours in the Supreme Court of Justice Colin Williams today before they returned to the courtroom to say that they had arrived at a unanimous guilty verdict in respect of the indictment of “use of deadly means of harm with intent to cause grievous harm” against Anthony Crawford. Justice Williams has set Friday, November 29, as the sentencing date, and it is expected that the court will hear mitigation pleas on behalf of Crawford, who was out on bail and taken into custody after the jury’s guilty verdict.

Belize is not on the “Safe Third Country” List
Recently, an international news article gained the attention of Belize government officials, as it alleged that Belize is now a “Safe Third Country”. Countries that are listed as such are reserved as an asylum for immigrants seeking refuge in the United States. In order to reduce the number of undocumented immigrants in the US, the Donald Trump administration has convinced Latin American countries neighboring Belize, such as El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, to sign “Safe Third Country” agreements, and is still pressuring Mexico to join the list. Under this agreement, migrants on their way to the US must apply for protection by a safe third country first.

Carlos Gibson, 28, fined $25,000 for cocaine possession
In August 2010, Carlos Jonathan Gibson, 28, a businessman of Alta Mira, Corozal, was busted with 45 pounds of cocaine in Santa Elena, Cayo District. He was traveling from the western border to Corozal Town when he was intercepted. His vehicle was searched and the cocaine was found concealed in a manufactured compartment under the vehicle. Gibson was charged with drug trafficking and today, at his Supreme Court trial, he pleaded guilty to the offense.

Body found floating in Haulover Creek identified as that of Omar Gomez, 37
At about 8:00 yesterday morning, the corpse of an unknown man was seen floating in the Haulover Creek, behind the Belize Flour Mill Ltd. at Mile 1 on the Philip Goldson Highway. The corpse was recovered and taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital’s morgue, so that an autopsy could be conducted to certify the cause of the man’s death. Police took photos of the tattoos on the unidentified man’s arm and broadcast them on Facebook and local television stations, in an effort to identify him.

Two women face charges for 15 pounds of weed
Two Belize City women appeared in the number 1 court of Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser to answer to two counts of drug trafficking this morning. Rivree Dawn Flores, 28 a call center agent of number 2 Dunn Street and Tavor Santos, 18, a student of the same address, both pleaded not guilty to possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply to another for the purpose of drug trafficking. The two accused women are being represented by attorney Anthony Sylvestre. In addition to the two counts of drug trafficking, police also reportedly found an empty magazine.

Maskall farmer remanded on two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with girl, 14
Vicente Adan Cerraras, a farmer of Maskall Village, was remanded to the Belize Central Prison this afternoon after he was arraigned on two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl. Cerraras appeared before Senior Magistrate Tricia Pitts-Anderson, who arraigned him on the two counts of the indictable offence. The Senior Magistrate explained to Carraras that the court would not take a plea from him, because after a preliminary inquiry is held, if there is sufficient evidence against him, his case will be submitted to the Supreme Court, where he can enter a plea.

The UDP could get their wrists spanked
On Wednesday last week a lawsuit lodged by the PUP against the UDP government on March 5, 2019, was heard by the Chief Justice, Hon. Kenneth Benjamin, in the Supreme Court. The lawsuit contends that the government has repeatedly violated the Finance and Audit Reform Act and the Constitution, and the stated aim of the claimants is to have the Supreme Court stop the Minister of Finance and the Financial Secretary from spending any more money from the Consolidated Revenue Fund without proper authorization. The Chief Justice has reserved judgment until early next year. The PUP doesn’t appear to be asking the court to look at the spending as criminal wrongdoing, as they did in a case they brought before the court in 2014.

From the Publisher
In last Friday’s column, out of the blue, so to speak, I started writing about Creole leadership during my lifetime, and for whatever the reason(s), I focused on a man unknown to Belize’s post-independence generations – Hon. Albert Cattouse, Sr. Strictly speaking, if you are going to talk about Creole leadership in the twentieth century, you probably have to begin with Sir Woldrich Harrison “W. H.” Courtenay, who established his prestigious, still-going-strong, law firm in 1937. Can you imagine that, two years before Hitler invaded Poland? What this means to me is that he sailed (steam ship) from British Honduras to England to study law in the early/middle 1930s, because there was no University of the West Indies until 1948 or so.

Team Belize wins Silver at U-18 Central American Female Volleyball Championship
The Belize Volleyball Association is pleased to announce that Team Belize came home yesterday with Silver medals after ranking second in the XIII U-18 Central American Female Volleyball Championship held in Ciudad Quesada, San Carlos, Costa Rica from November 19 – 23. Belize also claimed 7 of the 12 Individual Awards: Gareth Bruce – Best Scorer and Best Attacker; Sofia Solano – Best Libero and Best Defensive Player; Iman Safa – Best Setter; Olivia McKenzie – Best Blocker 2; Jayda Smith – Best Receiver. The undefeated Costa Rica team placed first; Belize, second; and Honduras, third.

Future FC U-10 & U-13 Football Tournament 1st round ends; playoffs on Saturday
The Future Football Club U-10 & U-13 Little League Football Tournament, which kicked off on Saturday, October 5, with six U-10 and seven U-13 teams, at the ITVET (Old Technical) Football Field in Belize City, has completed its regular season round-robin competition with 4 games played today, two U-10 and two U-13. In the opener, (U-10) Reality Youths dropped Poor & Famous, 4-0, with 2 goals from Shakeem King and 1 each from Dennis Nunez and Gilyjon Nunez. Game 2 (U-10) saw Belize United with the 2-0 win over Future FC, courtesy of a goal each from Antwan Latchman and Barrack Morey.

Corozal F.A. Opening Season Week 10 report
Another successful week of our ongoing Corozal Football Association (CFA) Opening Season Youth Tournament 2019-2020. This week marks the 10th week of the tournament. As we are coming to a closure, the tension in the games is rising, as everyone is giving their utmost best in wanting to be part of the move to the semifinals. We are grateful to the Almighty Father for His continued blessings upon our office and participating teams.

The economy and independence
In late 19th century, two countries, Germany and Japan, turned to the United States for help in establishing the American System. E. Peshine Smith went to Japan and Fredrick List went to Germany. By the year 1905 both countries had become major industrial world powers. In the 1950’s and 1960’s South Korea and Taiwan used the American System to develop their countries into major industrial countries. And today, the Chinese are using the American System to turn China from one of the poorest and backward nations into the second largest industrial nation-state in just 40 years.

Children, no; pikni, no; YOUTH, yes!
It is amazing that the same people who would debunk Tata Duhende, Xtabai, and Santa Claus, become like the emperor’s tailors (who deceived him into thinking they were weaving magical clothes for him out of nothing) when they describe certain technically underage persons (teenagers) who are capable of providing for their food, clothing, and shelter, and continuing our species too. Of course people who live in the modern world have to change, adapt some to the times, but what’s with pinning make-believe names to make a truth that anyone can see through?

Pauline and Eric become engaged: his mother disapproves!
It was inevitable that Pauline Atkins and Eric Coburn, now both the same age, would meet. Pauline, outgoing, lively and energetic was in her element organizing work-related, as well as extra-curricular, activities in her home community. Eric, on the other hand, was studious and introverted, although just as enthusiastic. All he needed was someone to pull him out of his shell, and who better than Pauline! It was only natural that they formed an effective alliance to bring new life into their quiet little town and only natural, too, that their association eventually developed into a love relationship.

Florida: 145 graves of an African-American cemetery found under school
The graves of 145 people have been discovered under a high school in Tampa, in the US state of Florida. They are part of Ridgewood Cemetery, a mid-20th Century cemetery for the poor. The coffins – buried 3-5ft (1-1.5m) deep – were discovered using ground-penetrating radar after the school was alerted about the possible location of the cemetery. Records indicate more than 250 people were buried there, most of them African Americans, the school district said.

The Reporter

Investigative Reporting Pays Off – Boat Is For Evan Neal
Yesterday a photo of a boat was presented to the REPORTER with the caveat (suggesting) that it was the boat of the 3 males, (2 fishermen and 1 minor) that was reported missing on Saturday, November 23rd. We consulted with several seamen who all commented that the boat in the photo was under water much longer than 4 days.

Chaos At Pine Street Pre-School – M.O.E Intervention
This was the scene at Pine Street Pre School this morning. Police officers dispatched to keep the peace while Ministry of Education-appointed teachers removed teaching supplies after a dispute between the Ministry and the owners of the property – the original teachers of the pre-school led to classes being interrupted there and the children sent to other pre-schools.

IDB Study Finds Greater Opportunity In Latin American and Caribbean Economies
Latin America and the Caribbean region saw faster economic and wage growth thanks to a lowering of trade barriers, a new report by the Inter-American Development Bank shows. The study also provides policy recommendations to ensure the region is better positioned to take advantage of trade liberalization and make its benefits more tangible to citizens.

Revero Street Shooting – 14yr. Old Injured
A 14-year-old female minor from Rivero Street in Belize City was shot on Monday night at her home, while sleeping in her bed.

LOVE FM

Yoga festival set to take place on Sunday
The Yoga Festival takes place on Sunday, December 1, 2019 in Belize City. It is the fourth annual event of its kind.

16 days of activism
Yesterday marked the launch of 16 days of activism at the Institute for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ITVET). The goal of the sixteen days of activism is to highlight the importance of eliminating all forms of gender-based violence.

Boat belonging to missing Evan Neal found
Three men remain missing after they had left home on Friday, November 22 enroute to Mapp Caye. Investigators and the Belize Coast Guard have been combing the area and today they encountered a vessel bearing bullet holes.

Toledo District Police Officers working hard
Punta Gorda officers made a discovery of a number of live ammunition. Toledo Correspondent Paul Mahung has the story.

Chief Justice lags in supplying judgements
Over two years ago Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin was in the hot seat when the Belize Bar Association called him out on the delayed delivery of judgements. The matter was a serious one as over thirty cases were left undone due to pending judgements.

Chief Justice speaks on Transparency in the Judicial Commission
The complaint of delayed judgements is not the only issue facing the Chief Justice. In the latter part of October, an application was filed in the courts opposing the removal of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl Lyn Vidal from the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.

Minor Shot while sleeping in her home
teenage girl is hospitalized after she was shot just before eleven o'clock last night. The 14-year-old resident of Rivero Street, Belize City was asleep in her bedroom when shots fired from the street side penetrated the walls of her home and injured her.

Teachers and Students locked out of school
Teachers and students from the Pine Street Preschool were restricted from entering the campus yesterday. We understand that the teachers were locked out by the proprietors, Felicia Anthony and Sherlette Slusher.

Breaking Belize News

Belize City Council gets more time to deal with Candice Miller’s crowfoot attempt
Justice Courtney Abel has granted the Belize City Council a stay of execution with regard […]

Ramon Bernardez shot in Dangriga
Twenty-five-year-old Ramon Bernardez was shot yesterday morning in Dangriga. Police investigations revealed that Bernardez was […]

Joseph Vaccaro charged with Zheng Liu murder; says he didn’t do it
Police have charged one of the men detained over the weekend in connection with the […]

Driver Jose Rodriguez avoids jail in traffic mishap
Honduran Jose Rodriguez, 58, must only pay a fine after pleading guilty last week to […]

Family receives $31,000 for fatal accident in Cayo
“If you drink, don’t drive.” Despite the truism, so many defy it, with varying degrees […]

Fourteen year old shot while sleeping at home
A fourteen-year-old minor was shot while sleeping on her bed last night. It happened shortly […]

Police find revolver in Roaring Creek
Just before midday, yesterday police conducted a search of an abandoned lot in the Hattieville […]

Ministry of Education hosting a meeting with parents to discuss Pine Street preschool situation
The Ministry of Education (MOE), today, issued a call for parents and guardians to attend an […]

Miss Belize wins Miss Central America
Belizean beauty ambassador, Jalyssa Arthurs, has won the title of Miss Central America. The 19-year-old […]

“Dengue numbers declining, not time to relax,” says Ministry of Health
The latest epidemiological report on the current dengue outbreak, produced by the Ministry of Health […]

Robbers steal car and almost $30,000 from Scratch and Win employee
An employee of the hottest game in town, Scratch and Win, reported that he was […]

Atlantic Bank to host Christmas Loan fair
Christmas is only 29 days away and Atlantic Bank San Ignacio Branch is brining you […]

Police makes arrest in murder of Zheng Liu
Belize City police have made an arrest in the murder of Zheng Liu. The accused […]

Whitehouse lockdown lifted after ‘unresponsive aircraft’ violated restricted airspace in Washington D.C.
Whitehouse lockdown lifted after ‘unresponsive aircraft’ violated restricted airspace in Washington D.C. This morning, the White House and […]

Frank Young beats murder charge
Supreme Court Justice Colin Williams acquitted Frank Young, 23, of all charges against him on […]

Family of Nestor Vasquez Jr. expresses “relief” at Colin Francis remand
It is good riddance to 29-year-old Colin Francis, at least for now, from the family […]

Blogs

Caribeville introduces Executive Chef Samuel Gonzalez
There are many great restaurants across Belize, each with its own unique flavors and cooking styles. If you ask many restaurateurs, the success of their kitchen strongly depends on a good leader who has a passion for the culinary arts. That is the case at Caribeville’s two restaurants, Rain Restaurant and Rooftop Terrace and Aqua Seafood/Sushi Restaurant and Steakhouse, whose aim is to offer the best of Belize with a proudly Belizean team. Leading their culinary team is born and raised San Pedrano, Samuel Gonzalez Jr. If you ask him, he never once thought he would one day run a kitchen, much less in two restaurants at one of the top resorts of his island home!

Easy Vegan in Belize
It’s no surprise that the number of people turning vegan, especially young adults in their early or late twenties, is on the up. While some reasons for individuals making the switch are because it makes them feel better, it helps their skin, they feel healthier, or they’re on the movement to environmental sustainability claims, or animal conservation, it’s quite astonishing how becoming vegan is the new trend. Veganism is one of the fastest-growing lifestyle choices of the moment, yet there’s still an idea that vegan food can be bland and tasteless. Well, that’s certainly not true. In fact, it’s all about how you cook your food – all about the flavors!

Caracol Maya Ruins in Belize
The Maya ruins of Caracol are the largest in Belize, and visiting them gives insight into the lives of the people that once populated this thriving ancient city. Caracol is about 25 miles south of San Ignacio in the Cayo District. In the midst of dense, tropical forest, Caracol sits at the foot of the Maya Mountains. The surrounding area is part of the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. The Maya named the city Oxwitzá, meaning “water and three hills.” Archaeologists who excavated in the 1950s named it Caracol which means “snail,” because of the many snail shells they found at the site. The original city was huge, spreading over 75 thousand acres and housing more than 200,000 people. People began living in Caracol around 700 BC. Historians estimate that the Maya built the first temple there, the Temple of the Wooden Lintel, in 70 AD.

Belizean Johnny Cakes
Johnny cake is to Belize what a croissant is to France. It is a delicious and relatively easy to make breakfast bread roll prepared and served hot every morning. Belizeans sometimes also have johnny cakes for tea. It wouldn’t be a complete surprise to know that 80% of the Belizean population was having johnny cakes for breakfast on a daily. One can enjoy these small cakes with butter, jelly, cheese whiz, and cream cheese, but a Belizean favorite is with egg, ham, and cheese (what you would call your Egg McMuffin). You can sometimes add a twist to it and put beans or stew chicken – however you use bread! Johhny cakes originated in North American, with Native Americans making them with cornmeal instead of flour.

International Sources

CARIBBEAN TRAVEL NEWS ROUNDUP- NOV. 27, 2019
Here are the top stories making news on the Caribbean travel scene for Nov. 27, 2019: On the heels of the murder of two French nationals in Haiti, Canada is again warning its nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to the Caribbean nation as violent protests continue there. Jamaica is seeing more airlift to the island from the U.S. From New York (JFK), American Airlines will reintroduce service to Montego Bay while From Newark, United Airlines has increased frequency to Montego Bay. and from Philadelphia, American Airlines has increased service to Montego Bay.

Videos

November 26, 2019

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.

The San Pedro Sun

Manuel Heredia Jr. endorsed as UDP Standard Bearer for Belize Rural South
On Saturday, November 23rd, the Belize Rural South (BRS) United Democratic Party (UDP) endorsed current Area Representative Honourable Manuel Heredia Jr., as their standard-bearer during an endorsement convention held at the Honourable Louis Sylvestre Sporting Complex in San Pedro Town. The event, which was almost thwarted by inclement weather, saw supporters from San Pedro and Caye Caulker Village joining the UDP family in support of Heredia. Present at the convention was Deputy Prime Minister, Honourable Patrick Faber, UDP Freetown Standard Bearer O.J. Elrington among the staff of The San Pedro Town Council and other invited guests.

San Pedro BTIA elects new board at Annual General Meeting
The San Pedro chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association San Pedro (BTIA) elected new officers to its Board of Directors during their annual general meeting at El Divino Restaurant on the evening of Thursday, November 21st. BTIA Chairwoman Tamara Sniffin chaired the meeting along with, BTIA Executive Director John Burgos, and BTIA President Melanie Paz. The group discussed chapter business and projects that the organization has in store for the island tourism stakeholders. Guest Speaker of the evening was Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Coastal Executive Unit Superintendent Christopher Noble. Tamara Sniffin was re-elected as Chairwoman and Karen Brodie as Vice-Chairwoman. Joining the board were Pete Davis as Treasurer, Janet Brown as Secretary along with Melisa Ayala, who will assist in secretarial duties in the absence of Brown.

Ambergris Today

San Pedro’s Hope Haven Wins Award At National Children's Award Ceremony
Belize’s Children Honored at Special Awards Ceremony Several children were recognized for their outstanding work in several areas at the first ever National Children’s Awards ceremony held on Friday, Novemebr 22, 2019. The event was the culmination of several activities held as part of Belize joining the international community in the commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of the signing of the Convention on the Rights of Children.

Letter To The Editor: Crocodile Tears
Good morning Mr. Nunez and all, Woke up yesterday morning to see this beautiful creature with styrofoam containers on her back. People pick up your garbage! Remember when San Pedro was a simple fishing village and people took pride in their surroundings. Truly Las Lagrimas del Cocodrilo (tears of the crocodile) Terry and I went in the water and cleaned up the whole area behind our house to the boundaries of La Sirene.

Various Belizean Sources

Credentials Presented to Governor General
November 25th, three ambassadors presented their credentials to the Governor General H.E. Sir Colville Young at the Belize House in Belmopan. Presenting their letters of credence to the Governor General were H.E. Mr. Boris Svetogorsky Marino, Ambassador of Uruguay; H.E. Mr. Zdenk Kubánek, Ambassador of the Czech Republic; and H.E. Mr. Abdelfattah Lebbar, Ambassador of Morocco to Belize. The Governor General graciously welcomed the ambassadors and offered his best regards to them during their tenure in Belize.

Captain Rob's Rumpopo Aivalable
Get ur delicious Home-made Rumpopo made by my dad, Captain Rob! Orders are open now!! Quart is $25, Liter $35 and Elephant foot $50!! Place ur orders now and start ur Christmas season with a bang!!

Kinich Kakmó
Kinich Kakmo means the sun face fire Macaw .The name decomposes in Maya as follows: Kin , which means sun ; Ich , that means face ; Kaak , fire ; Moo , macaw . That is, fire macaw with a solar face . Kinich Kakmó was seen as a manifestation of Kinich Ahau , the sun god. It was also linked to Itzamna. In the early colonial sources Kinich Ahua is identify as Itzamna . "Katun 8 Ahua is the ninth katun. At Izamal he established the katun,Kinich-Kakmo. There shall descend the shield,there shall descend the arrow,with the rulers of the land. " Books of Chilam Balam (Sacred books of the Yucatec Maya)

San Pedro Christmas Tree Lighting
It's that time of year again! Mayor Daniel Guerrero and the San Pedro Town Council invites everyone to come out on Sunday, December 1st at the Central Park for the Annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree, starting at 7:00 p.m. Come share the joy of Christmas with the schools of San Pedro as they will be performing for all to enjoy. We will also have our friends from Belize City, Pandemonium Steel Band delighting everyone with their Christmas carols. The San Pedro Dance Academy will also be entertaining us with their graceful dances.

Ocean Academy Raspberry Pi team
Congratulations to the Ocean Academy Raspberry Pi team for their 3rd place win in Belize City!!!

BELIZE’S CHILDREN HONORED AT SPECIAL AWARDS CEREMONY
Several children were recognized for their outstanding work in several areas at the first-ever National Children’s awards ceremony held on Friday, November 22, 2019. The event was the culmination of several activities held as a part of Belize joining the international community in the commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of the signing of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The winners in the various categories were: · Sonia Garcia from Trial Farm Village, Orange Walk District for Business · Dayana Marroquin from Belize City for Science and Technology · Steve Martinez from San Joaquin Village, Corozal District for Agriculture · Kenly Martinez from San Ignacio for Community Service · Zaira Rodriguez from Belmopan for Arts and Culture · Hope Haven Children’s Home from San Pedro for Non-Governmental Organization

Training Workshop on Coconut Production
Through the Mexican National Institute of Forestry, Agriculture and Fisheries (INIFAP), and in collaboration with their Mexican counterpart SAGARP, the Ministry of Agriculture concluded its three-day training workshop on Friday, November 22nd. The workshop was held at the Central Farm Station and focused on capacity building for the improvement of coconut production, as well as its uses. The workshop covered a wide range of technical training materials. Coconut producers, Extension Officers, representatives from the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute, and technical personnel from the Central Farm Station attended the workshop.

Corozal Football Action continues. Weekend Schedule. Week 3 (1st Division)
Games happening at the Carolina Football Field on Sunday, December 1, 2019

Lisaniga Libertad Garífuna Group in Chetumal
Lisaniga Libertad Garífuna Group from Libertad Village, Corozal, Belize participated this weekend at the Festival de Cultura del Caribe #FECUCA 2019 in Chetumal, Mexico. Congratulations to our cultural representatives from Libertad.

Iguana Sanctuary in San Pedro
In the heart of San Pedro Town, an Iguana sanctuary is blossoming. With over 200 of it’s kind, the Green Iguana, an endangered reptile species in Belize, have found a haven amongst the mangroves in the western part of the town. Mr. Calvin has been kind and caring for these beautiful creatures and has registered the area to be a reserve called The Iguana Eco Corner. He has created a trail in between the Mangroves where you can see the Iguanas resting in the trees. You can see different types of birds and if you get lucky, maybe even the two resident crocs that live in the area. There is even an osprey nest in which BEL kindly provided the pole and lumber to recreate a nest box after they brought down the tower that the Ospreys used for nesting.

Channel 7

Chinese Businessman Lured to His Death
Another Chinese businessman was targeted. 28 year old Central American Boulevard's Plaza Store manager Zheng Liu was executed on Saturday night around 9:00 near Old Belize. He was lured to his death by someone he knew. Fortunately police were able to track down the suspects - but there are still questions about the crime which targeted an employee of the well known 88 Shopping group of businesses. Courtney Weatherburne has more. Zheng Liu should have been standing here behind the counter tending to customers as he usually does. But the black bow at the entrance of the Boulevard Plaza is a clear sign of a permanent emptiness that will fill the store without him.

Cops Have 3 Suspects For Businessman's Murder
We also spoke to police today at the press briefing in Belmopan about Liu's murder and they told us three persons are detained: ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB: "On Saturday, shortly after 9:30 p.m., police responded to an information of a body on the George Price Highway, between miles 4 and 5. Upon arrival, they discovered the body one Zheng Liu, a 28-year-old businessman of a Central American Boulevard address..."

One Year Old Shot In Her Bed, 16 Year Old Critical
A young woman is fighting for her life tonight after the frightening Sunday night shooting which also saw her boyfriend and his infant niece shot. But this family is no stranger to violence. In September the very same young couple were victims of a home invasion. On that occasion the boyfriend was fired upon and engaged in a struggle with his assailant who later fled, and no one was hurt. This time around, though, luck was not on the couple's side. And, last night when the family yard was attacked by a gunman, 16 year old Chanteuse Martinez sustained multiple shots; her boyfriend 23 year old Mervin Martin was shot to the elbow, and Martin's one year old baby niece was shot to the hand, becoming collateral damage in a war between adults.

Fears For Fishers Lost At Sea
Tonight 2 men and a minor are missing and there are grave concerns for their safety. 22 year old Sheldon Gibson, Elijah Usher, and Kevin Roches, a minor, left Belize City on Friday Morning in a white skiff called the Lorraine to go fishing off Mapp Caye. They have yet to return. Family members of Gibson and Usher reported them missing on Saturday morning but, as yet ,have received no new information as to their whereabouts or the whereabouts of the vessel. We spoke to one of Gibson's family members today and she told us how hurt they are at the prospect of his lifeless body floating among mangroves.

Cops and Coast Guard Searching For Missing Boat
Here's what police told the media about the missing men today: ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch: "Family members have tried contacting them since Friday and have been unable to do so. As a result of the report being received police and coastguard visited the Mapp Caye area where searches have been going on since the report was made. However, so far they have not been found, so the searches continue." Reporter: "Is there any sort of evidence indicating that they arrived at their destination?" ACP Joseph Myvett: "Yes, we do believe so. What we do know is that the coast guard effected regular patrols in that area as a consequence of what had transpired earlier in June."

Nestor Vasquez Jr's Alleged Killer Charged
Collin Francis, the 28-year-old man accused of putting a fatal beatdown on Nestor Vasquez Jr while they were both in police custody, is back at the Central Prison tonight. He was today arraigned for the murder of Nestor Vasquez. As you saw last week, the Vasquez family believes that he ought to have been charged months ago, and the state dropped the ball when he was released on bail for an attempted murder charge last week Thursday. At today's press briefing in Belmopan, we asked Assistant Police Commissioner Joseph Myvette about that criticism: ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB: "On Saturday last, police have since arrested and charged Colin Francis, 29 years-old of Belize City address, for the crime of murder."

Police Woman Witness Doesn't Help Prosecution
We often report on murder cases falling apart when witnesses don't show up, or rent their statements. But, today, the prosecution in a murder case had an excellent eyewitness, in the form of a woman police constable. She said she saw when Frank Young shot and killed 19 year old David Andrews on Raccoon Street on December 23rd, 2016. And she appeared in court to back up that statement. But, Justice Colin Williams found that there were procedural improprieties which undermined her identification of the suspect.

Home Invader Tied Up Three Adults
Tonight, 43 year old Doretha Vernon, a resident of Raccoon Street Extension in Belize City, is recovering from a terrifying home invasion. An armed burglar broke into her house last night around 9:00 and tied her and a female friend up. He also tied up and gagged a man who arrived home during the aggravated burglary. The burglar then ransacked the home for whatever valuables he could find. After digging through all the rooms, he escaped with several of her personal belongings.

Shooting Of Security Guard Still a Mystery
Assistant Commissioner Myvette also had a few comments to share about last week Thursday's shooting of 25-year-old Justin Stephen Teck. As we told you, Teck, who is a security guard from Hunter's Lane, was standing in front of a car wash on New Road at around 6 p.m. Even though that's not too far from the Queen Street Police Station - and a series of fixed checkpoints, a gunman darted out of a nearby alley and fired several shots at him: one hit him in the head, the other in the back. Here's what police had to say about the second time that Teck has been shot in the head:

Family ID's Man Found in River
Police are also reporting that they have identified the body of a man which was found in the Belize River last Friday morning. As we told you, at around 8:00, a body was seen floating in the waters just behind the Belize Mills Flour Factory, at mile 1 on the Philip Goldson Highway. When police retrieved the person, they saw a man of Hispanic descent with no signs of injury. All they had to go on was a tattoo on his arm, but after police circulated pictures of that, his sister came forward and identified him. Here's what Assistant Commissioner Myvette had to say about the case today:

Man Dies A Week After Accident
The cops are also finishing up their investigation on a fatal traffic accident that occurred on the Iguana Creek Road in the Cayo District. On Saturday, November 16th, 45-year-old Adan Diaz was driving his motorcycle when he was hit from behind by a motorist who has been identified by police as Pedro Bahadur. After being hospitalized at the KHMH for a week, Diaz succumbed to his injuries yesterday. Police told us today they are trying to decide how they will proceed against Bahadur for this now-fatal accident:

Gaming Company Employee May Have Tried To Win Without Scratching
Police suspect that a man who works for the Scratch and Win game - may have tried to win, without even scratching! Orange Walk Police are investigating the Trial Farm resident who claims thieves took $29,000 dollars and his pickup. The 25 year old sales agent for the gaming company says that this morning at around 11:00 two men held him up. One hit him in the head with weapon and the other grabbed the money, and then stole his pickup - which was parked in front of his house.

Snatched The Magistrate's Chain On Market Saturday
He allegedly snatched a gold chain from a magistrate - and tonight 21 year old Tyrell Robinson is in jail. It happened on Saturday morning around 9:00 when MagistrateTanisha Smith was walking on West Collet Canal Street near the Michael Finnegan Market. That's when a man ripped her $2,000 gold chain from her neck. The culprit only managed to get away with the medal, valued at $200. But the chain broke and was left behind as the snatcher darted. The police apprehended Robinson shortly afterwards but they did not recover the medal.

Two Women For Wholesale Quantities of Weed
Tonight, 28-year-old Rivree Dawn Flores, and 18-year-old Tavor Santos are facing drug trafficking charges. That's after police conducted a search of their home on St. Jude Street in Belize City, and allegedly found a large amount of marijuana stashed in their yard. The cops say that at around 8:30 on Friday night, they found 352 grams of suspected marijuana in one part of the yard.

Ace Reporter Recognized For Child Friendly Reporting
The National Committee for Families and Children along with its partners hosted the first ever National Children's Awards on Friday night. The award ceremony was one of several events commemorating the 30th anniversary of the signing of the convention on the rights of the child. There were seven categories including a media category for excellence in child friendly reporting and our very own Courtney Weatherburne did it again and came in first with her story on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. The Information, Education and Communication officer for NCFC Ava Diaz Sosa told us more about the significance of this award ceremony.

U-18 Girls Bring Home The Silver
The Belize Female Volleyball U18 Team finished with silver in the thirteenth Central American championships. The games were played in Costa Rica from November 17 - 24 - and at the end of it, once again, the home team emerged victorious. Belize finished second, and our girls captured 7 of the 12 individual awards. 7News was at the airport when the girls came home, proud but not satisfied with silver:

16 says of Activism Says Unmask the Violence
16 Days Of Activism To End Gender Based Violence started this evening with a ceremony and a candlelight vigil. This year the theme is "From Awareness to Accountability Unmasking the Many Faces of Violence" aimed at raising awareness and creating a call of action towards eliminating all forms of gender-based violence.

Channel 5

Chinese Businessman Murdered on George Price Highway; 4 Persons Detained
The Chinese community is trying to make sense of the murder of well-known businessman, Zheng Liu.  Liu, who is one of the principals of the Eighty-Eight chain of stores was [...]

Trio of Belize City Fishermen Missing at Sea; Families Fear the Worst
Three fishermen, who went fishing on Friday at Mapp Caye, are believed to be dead.  That’s the latest word from family members just before news time. It follows the discovery [...]

Gunman Sprays Bullet at House; 3 Persons Injured Including Child
A child was also injured by gun violence over the weekend.  The one-year-old girl was fast asleep when she was hit by a gunshot on Sunday night.  She was at [...]

Collin Francis Arraigned for the Murder of Nestor Vasquez Jr.
Collin Francis, believed to be suffering from mental illness, has been charged with the murder of Nestor Vasquez Junior in June of this year. Francis spent the weekend in the [...]

Home Invasion Reported in Belize City
Police in Belize City are looking for one man believed to have broken into a home, held up three persons at knife-point, tied and robbed them. On Sunday night, forty-three-year-old [...]

John Doe is Omar Gomez of Ladyville
Police say Omar Gomez is the name of the man who was found floating in the Haulover Creek on Friday morning. Gomez’s body was discovered at around eight o’clock that [...]

Man Dies a Week after RTA in the West
A man was knocked off his motorcycle on November sixteenth and a week later he succumbs to his injuries. Police say that Adan Diaz was hospitalized ever since the road [...]

Police Share Details of Justin Teck’s Shooting
Today, police also gave the official report on the shooting of Justin Stephens, also known as Justin Teck. As we reported on Friday, Teck was shot and seriously injured. He [...]

Frank Young is Acquitted of Murder
There is another murder acquittal in the courts.  Twenty-three-year-old Frank Alexander Young of Lords Bank village, who was charged with the murder of nineteen-year-old David Andrews, is tonight a free [...]

Jose Rodriguez is Spared Jail Time
Jose Rodriguez luckily spared jail time when he appeared before Justice Colin Williams this morning for sentencing.  Last Wednesday, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to “Causing Death by Careless Conduct” in the [...]

Relief for Cowo Family after Accident Claims the Lives of 2 Sisters
There is relief for the family of two sisters who perished in an accident. The court has ordered fifty-four-old Carlos Martinez to pay in excess of thirty-one thousand dollars to [...]

Celebrating the Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
The anniversary of the historic ascension to the Convention on the Rights of the Child was celebrated on Friday night in Belize City. To mark the occasion a number of [...]

16 Days of Activism: Unmasking the Many Faces of Violence
The Sixteen Days of Activism kicked off today at the ITVET in Belize City. The National Women’s Commission and Special Envoy for Women are Children launched the event under the [...]

Learning from the Jamaica Stock Exchange
Founded in 1968, the booming Jamaican Stock Exchange has been named the world’s best-performing stock market, twice.  According to online articles, Jamaica’s success in its stock exchange is greatly due [...]

AHRMED Concludes after Twenty-four Months of Training at the Y
The Young Women’s Christian Academy, YWCA, held a closing ceremony this afternoon for a two-year program funded by the European Union.  Addressing Human Rights for More Equitable Development, AHRMED, saw [...]

Longtime Gillnet User Supports Ban of ‘Deadly’ Fishing Tool
The debate on whether to ban the use of gillnets in Belizeans waters continues tonight. Recently, a group of fishermen against the ban staged a protest in Dangriga by members [...]

U-18 National Female Volleyball Team Wins Silver in Regional Championship
The national female volleyball team wins silver at the 2019 under-eighteen female volleyball championships held over the weekend. Team Belize lost only to Costa Rica, which landed them in second [...]

James Adderley Has a Full Report of the Sporting Activities
Good evening, I’m James Adderly and this is Sports Monday.   [Highlights of the weekend sporting activities…]

The Reporter

Port Authority Institute New Rules – After Review Of Boat Tragedy
Commercial boat operators must now follow a series of measures introduced by the Belize Port Authority for greater passenger safety on board their vessels. Among the new stipulations is the need for third party and passenger insurance to cover for death or injury to any person or damage to any property that occurs on board a water taxi.

Alarm & Concern For Missing Fishermen
Concerns are mounting for Belize City residents Sheldon Gibson 22, Elijah Usher and another unidentified individual after they went fishing in the vicinity of Mapp Caye on Friday and have not returned or contacted family members since.

3 People Report Home Invasion & Robbery To Police
Three persons have reporter to police that they were tied, gagged and robbed last night, (Sun. Nov 24th.) A woman claims she was at home with a friend and sometime after 9pm. a dark male entered her home through the front door with a knife.

Diplomatic Incompetence !
Agreement on a Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures between Belize and Guatemala, 2005. It has to be clear by now that the Barrow administration has been wholly incompetent in its handling of our diplomatic affairs; particularly as it relates to the bully Guatemala.

Antelope Street Shootings Have Neighbors On Edge
The home of Marvin Martin came under fire last night, leaving his girfriend and their daughter injured in the process. Reporter understands that Chantuse Martinez and Marvin were sitting near their gate on Antelope Street, when a man passed by and shot at them.

LOVE FM

24-weeks of human rights seminar
The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) held a closing ceremony on the project, Addressing Human Rights for a More Equitable Development (AHRMED). A proposal was sent to the European Union (EU) with the basis of advocating for the human rights of women and children along with the improvement of gender equality.

Belize U18 Female Volleyball team brings home second place in Central American Championship
The Belize’s Under-18 Female Volleyball team came home yesterday bearing silver from Costa Rica. The team placed second in the championship and had quite the welcome at the airport.

Julian Cho Technical High School operating without a Principal
There are concerns brewing at the Julian Cho Technical High School as they are operating without a principal and vice principal. Toledo Correspondent, Paul Mahung has the story

Three people shot in Belize City
A young lady, a man and an infant were shot just after seven o’clock last night on Antelope Street Extension, Belize City. 23-year-old, Mervin Martin, 16-year-old Chantuse Martinez and a 1-year-old were at the house of Cecil Martin when a male person approached the house and fired several shots.

Retired police officer involved in car accident
There was a road traffic accident on Friday night in Camalote village, Cayo District. The incident involved a retired police officer. Correspondent Fem Cruz was on the scene and file this report.

Trio missing at Mapp caye
Three persons are missing after failing to return home this weekend. The trio had left home en route to Mapp Caye. The men have been identified as 22-year-old Sheldon Gibson, Elijah Usher, and Kevin Roaches.

Three people tied and robbed in Belize City
Two women were gagged and bound last night inside their home when a man entered their house on Raccoon Street, Belize City. ACP Joseph Myvett gave preliminary information on this incident.

Teachers learn how to mitigate corruption
The Belize National Teachers Union in the Toledo district participated in a training workshop on corruption in Belize. Correspondent Paul Mahung has the details.

Well-known businessman murdered
There was a murder this weekend that shocked the residents of the south side, Belize City, as the victim was a well-known and well-liked businessman. Zheng Liu of the Boulevard Plaza on the Central American Boulevard was shot to death on Saturday night.

Body found on Friday is identified
The body of the man found in the Haulover on Friday has since been identified as 37-year-old Omar Maximiliano Gomez. Gomez’ body was fished out of the water and investigators were forced to seek the public’s assistance in identifying him.

Coconut Workshop Held Last Week
A three-day training workshop for the improvement of coconut production concluded this past Friday. The workshop was through the Mexican Institute of Forest, Agriculture and Fisheries, in collaboration with their Mexican counterpart SAGARP.

Colin Francis, No Plea
29-year-old Colin Francis Jr., who is accused of causing the death of Nestor Vasquez Junior was arraigned today before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford. Francis was sharing a cell block with Vasquez on June 8, 2019. Senior Magistrate Ford, in reading the murder charge to Francis did not take a plea from him since the matter is indictable.

Alexander Young; A Free Man
After being on remand for almost three years, 23-year-old Frank Alexander Young of Lords Bank village, who was charged with the murder of 19-year-old David Andrews, is now a free man. The trial was heard before Justice Colin Williams. Young was represented by Oscar Selgado while Portia Staine-Ferguson represented the crown.

Building Diplomatic Relations
Three ambassadors from Uruguay, Czech Republic, and Morocco presented their credentials to the Governor-General Sir Colville Young at the Belize House in Belmopan today.

Belize Telemedia Limited suffered a loss of just over five million
Belize Telemedia Limited suffered a loss of just over five million dollars. During last night’s annual general meeting, officials spoke of competition and the current market landscape.

Innovation and Creative Students
Innovative minds came together today as the raspberry pi was front and centre stage again. Reporter Naim Borges has the story.

BDF First Battalion team wins Best Warrior Title
The final day of the Best Warrior Competition came to a close today at the Belize Coast Guard headquarters. Reporter Naim Borges has the story.

BDF commander comments on Barrio El Juda
Barrio el Juda has been a controversial area for over two decades. Recently, the area was back in the news when businessman, Jorge Espat sought the authorities’ assistance in removing Guatemalan squatters off his property that is in the Belize territory.

Breaking Belize News

The strongest have been decided: Belize Strong Man/Woman competition held in Ladyville
The results are in for the 2019 Belize Strong Man/Woman Competition hosted by the Belize […]

Police detain two for Antelope Street Extension shooting
Four people are lucky to be alive after a shooting in Belize City last night. They […]

Police identify body floating in Haulover Creek
On Friday morning a body was seen floating behind Dream Like City in the Haulover […]

Police confirm missing men arrived at Mapp Caye but no trace of them
Three men remain missing since a trip to Mapp Caye on Friday. They are Elijah Usher, […]

Report that missing fishermen’s boat was found is incorrect
Reports that a boat believed to be the one that the three missing fishermen left […]

Man passes away days after road traffic accident
On November 16th there was a road traffic accident on the Iguana Creek Road. Pedro […]

Police: Zheng Liu execution may be “random act”
According to police, the execution of businessman, Zheng Liu, may have been a random act. […]

Police identify body floating in Haulover Creek
On Friday morning a body was seen floating behind Dream Like City in the Haulover […]

Burglar ties up woman, raids home
A woman and her friend are alive after an aggravated burglary last night. Doretta Vernon […]

Dengue eradication measures continue says Ministry of Health
As the dengue outbreak continues to be a threat to Belizeans countrywide, the Ministry of […]

Belmopan receives new ambulance; San Ignacio to follow
This morning, Minister of Health, Pablo Marin officially handed over an ambulance to the regional […]

United Nations commemorates international day for the elimination of violence against women
Around the world, women and children are victims of physical and sexual forms of violence. […]

Dragon’s Cup 2019 karate tournament held in Belize City
On Saturday, three karate academies brought together a total of 51 competitors for the 24th […]

Telemundo Mexican actor ‘El Senor de los Cielos’ missing after being abducted in Mexico
Mexican authorities are investigating the disappearance of a Mexican actor and a French citizen. The […]

Home invasion reported in Belize City
Authorities are investigating a home invasion that occurred last night in Belize City. Doretta Vernon […]

Shyne hosts U-18 Basketball Tournament in Mesopotamia
The energy was electric, the intensity was high and excitement was the common feeling amongst […]

Still no word on three men missing at sea
Up to last night, authorities still had no word on the three men who reportedly […]

One-year-old toddler among those shot last night
Authorities are investigating a shooting incident last night that left a one-year-old baby girl, a […]

Blogs

Save the Date: The 2019 San Pedro Holiday Boat Parade set to illuminate the Caribbean Coast
Scheduled for Saturday, December 7th starting from 6PM, the merry journey from Wayo’s Beach Bar south to Crazy Canucks Beach Bar (and back) brings much seasonal joy to our little Caribbean island. All are welcome to this spectacular light show of decorated boats in Christmas décor. The parade ends at SandBar Beach Hostel and Restaurant with a grand award ceremony where prizes are awarded in four different categories. There will also be several viewing locations on the beach along the parade route offering special Christmas treats. But it’s not just a parade, in the true spirit of Christmas, as the San Pedro Holiday Boat Parade serves as a fundraising event for charitable organizations on the island.

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Ambergris Caye
A lot goes into my decision on where to travel. There are only so many days in a year and dollars in the bank account, so when Belize popped onto my radar, I did a lot of research to see if it would be worthy of a visit. Belize is still a relatively hidden gem. I have been hearing about more people visiting or wanting to visit, but it definitely hasn’t become as popular a travel destination like Costa Rica or Mexico. After visiting this past October, I have realized that Belize should be on everyone’s travel list, especially if you are a couple that enjoys tropical heaven with plenty of adventure opportunities.

A Walk Downtown Belize City
Albert Street or “Outta town”, these are both synonyms for what we know as the heart of the Belize district – Downtown Belize. From 9 am to 7 pm, locals and tourists alike flood the street of downtown Belize City for anything your heart desires. Whether it is delicious tacos, mouth-watering meat pies, hot jam rolls, or fresh fruit from one of the corner vendors; you name it, it will be right there for you. But not only will you find an abundance of food options, downtown Belize is also known for its historical landmarks and colonial buildings and houses. This country is a complete melting pot of cultures, so a walk around Belize City is just what you need to experience culture and soak in the ambiance. When walking down the crowd filled sidewalks of Albert Street you will see small entrepreneurs on each side of you. Some will be selling gold or silver jewelry, handmade jewelry, or paintings. On each corner you can find a food vendor – the smell of fresh peanuts and pepitos (macoby seeds) will draw you near.

Itz’ana Resort & Residences set to open December 10th, 2019!
It’zana Resort and Residences is excited to announce the opening of their 18 room hotel with availability starting from December 10th, 2019. The opening marks the launch of Mission-Driven Luxury. The offer guests authentic experiences that sustain the region’s indigenous culture and natural environment, paired with unique high-design elements and experiences from a collection of artists and designers. The property is located on a Caribbean beachfront peninsula amidst the coastal villages of Placencia, Seine Bight, and Maya Beach. It’s framed by the sea with renowned private islands on one side and a pristine lagoon beneath the Maya Mountains on the other.

Videos

November 25, 2019

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.

The San Pedro Sun

Wolfe’s Woofer: What Pa Did
You and Mario put the beer in the big cooler out back,” Yolanda said to me. “Vernon went to his boat for some smoked fish. He’s been gone an hour, so I sent Juney to find him.” The Nosenada Social Club was holding the monthly barbecue and all of the wives and children were there. Since the barbecue was at Vernon’s house even his in-laws were there. Ten-year-old Vernon Junior returned from his errand and said, “Ma, I found Pa.” “What was he doing?”

Doctor Love: Healthy Nana
Dear Doctor Love, My daughter-in-law is a lovely girl and she is a good wife and mother. She’s also overweight. She constantly diets, then binges and that is her choice, but my two granddaughters are suffering because of her poor example. Breakfast is a sugary cereal. Lunch is processed meats and snack foods and dinner is something like fried chicken and fries or another food with no nutritional value but lots of calories. The eleven-year-old is actually obese and it breaks my heart. I see this more and more with Belizean children and I hate to see it happen with my two grandbabies. How can I get my daughter-in-law to see that the junk food she gives them is a terrible substitute for fruits and vegetables? I don’t want to hurt her feelings. She and my son both work hard but she doesn’t seem to understand that she is jeopardizing their health. What should I do? /s/Healthy Nana

Various Belizean Sources

Melissa Jones graduates from Officer Candidate School
Congratulations are in order for Ensign Melissa Jones who graduated from Officer Candidate School at the United States Coast Guard Academy. Ensign Melissa Jones has been in the Belize Coast Guard for 8 years. She will now be assigned as a Platoon Commander. Welcome back.

Boat Registration and Licensing Dec 2-6 in San Pedro
The Belize Port Authority will be conducting registration and licensing of vessels for the year 2020 from 2 December to 6 December 2019.

Dance X BZ 2019
The Official Opening of Dance X BZ 2019....A panel discussion 'The future of Dance in Belize'....Thursday November 28th at 7pm at the Bliss Center

Holy Cross School Culture Day
School culture days are always one of my favourite things. Photos by Karen Brodie.

Channel 5

Murder of Zheng Cheng
On Saturday 23rd November 2019, at 9:35 pm acting upon information received CIB Precinct 2 visited an area between 4 and 5 miles on the George Price Highway where they observed the motionless body of a male person who was identified as 28 year old Zheng Cheng, Belizean businessman of Central American Boulevard. He was seen with apparent gunshot injuries to the body.

The Reporter

Chinese Businessman Murdered – Was It A Set-Up ?
One man has been detained and another is being sought for the murder of businessman Zheng Cheng Liu, 28. His body was found between miles 4 and 5 on the George Price Highway around 9:35pm Saturday.

Breaking Belize News

Quick police action reportedly results in suspects detained in Belize City shooting
Earlier tonight Breaking Belize News (BBN) reported that at least three people were allegedly shot […]

Several injured in separate shooting incidents
There are unconfirmed reports of two separate shooting incidents in Belize City tonight. A shooting […]

The Hummingbird Highway – what’s in a name and why change it?
Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s otherwise innocuous remarks on Garifuna Settlement Day in Dangriga raised eyebrows for […]

U-18 female volleyball medalists claim 7 individual awards as Belize wins Silver
Photo Courtesy: Belize Volleyball Association Belize is confirmed silver medalists in the 13th U-18 Central […]

“Belize: Third worst nationality to have in CARICOM,” says Nationality Index
According to the Kälin and Kochenov’s Quality of Nationality Index (QNI) Belize has ranked 88th […]

Businessman killed execution style
Last night we reported a murder in the old capital. Today we can confirm that […]

Blogs

Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary
In order to discuss Swallow Caye, it is necessary to know that it is a haven for the West Indian Manatee and that over the years, it was established as a sanctuary through the efforts of a group of people. The most well-known and tireless champion of these was Lionel “Chocolate” Heredia. The story of how it came about is quite interesting. A native of San Pedro, Mr. Heredia moved to Caye Caulker in the 1970’s. At first, he worked Water Taxis and later self-trained in Manatee Tour Guiding. At that time, it came about quite by chance, that Richard Foster, a well-known American photojournalist, invited Chocolate to visit an undiscovered place where manatees were abundant. This was a place where manatees could always be seen, and the idea was born for Chocolate to start bringing tours to see this rare, gentle mammal of the sea.

National Symbols of Belize
Before independence on September 21st 1981, the National Symbols of Belize were selected by the National Symbols Committee which included the two political parties at the time. They made this decision through a consensus and the committee reviewed it and therefore chose a national flower, tree, bird, and animal. When it came to the decision of the national flag, they made an advertisement for people to submit ideas for the flag and win a cash prize in return. The National Symbols of Belize are very dear to us and respected by locals and tourists alike.

Cerros Archaeological Site in Northern Belize
The Maya ruins at Cerros stand out by being on the coastline rather than deep inland in the jungle. Cerros is a small site, but it has revealed a great deal about Maya society. Cerros is about 85 miles north of Belize City in the northern district of Corozal. The ruins are located on the banks of the New River where it meets the Bay of Chetumal. Archaeologists estimate that people lived continuously in Cerros from 400 BC to 400 AD. Cerros is one of the few Maya cities that was continuously occupied for centuries. Cerros is one of the most important late pre-classic Maya sites. It is the first Maya city that attempted to establish a king as its ruler. In 50 BC, Cerros established the first of its ruling kings and began a major urban renewal. Residents buried the original buildings to construct new temples, plazas and a palace. Most of Cerros has still not been excavated.

Maya Forest Garden
A forest garden is the last vestige of the traditional Maya land management of the milpa (small farm) to garden cycle. It is the most diverse domestic cultivation system in the world. A model to be followed can be found at the El Pilar Archaeological Reserve for Maya Flora and Fauna in the Cayo district, only 12 miles from San Ignacio. In a network of 19 gardens, researchers have found 370 different species of plants cultivated by forest gardeners. These forest gardeners support diversity because of their rich traditional knowledge of plant use. When nurtured, these plants yield a bounty of food, medicine, spices, dyes, ornaments, construction and household products, toys, beverages, rituals, fodder, and more. No wonder the Maya flourished.

An Ocean Bar Offers A Life Of Fun In Caribbean Belize
We had come to Ambergris Caye—Belize’s largest island—on our honeymoon and loved it. We spent our time diving, fishing, and exploring the cays and atolls. The waters and reefs were incredibly beautiful and we instantly fell in love with the island and its friendly people. Another big plus is that English is the first language. By 2007, we were seriously considering a move and in February that year, we found a local watering hole for sale on Ambergris Caye. The next week, we flew down to take a look at it, and the rest is history. In buying the bar, we’d gone totally out on a limb. We arrived with nothing but our determination, hopes, dreams, and of course, our bartender guide book. Our goal was to find a niche and create own our little piece of paradise.

Belize Adventure Vacation: What To Do With A Week in San Ignacio Town
San Ignacio isn't the biggest destination in Belize, but it's become one of the most popular destinations for tourists, locals, and expats. Why is that? It's largely because of the diversity of things to do here. Along with its sister town of Santa Elena, San Ignacio is the heart and soul of the Cayo District. That makes it an ideal launching point for adventures out in the wilds of Belize, but it's also a town rich with culture and with all the accommodations to keep you comfortable between your journeys out into the wild. You could easily spend months in and around San Ignacio, which is why it's important to understand what all the options available to you are. If you're going to only be here for a week, here are some of the top suggestions for what you should try.

At PACT, we believe the best way to create a legacy is to sustain one!
n 1996, Belize was considered a pioneer with the passing of the PACT Act. Today, the protected areas landscape continues to take shape and expand. Currently, there are 103 protected areas that form a vast national protected areas system (NPAS), with categories that encompass forest reserves, nature reserves, national parks, marine reserves, private reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, natural monuments, bird sanctuaries, spawning aggregation reserves and archaeological reserves. In the twenty years since the Protected Areas Conservation Trust was established, PACT has been accredited national implementing entity (NIE) status for the Adaptation Fund as well as granted a fiduciary role for such agencies as the World Bank, the Meso-American Reef Fund (MAR Fund), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Belize Nature Conservation Fund (BNCF).

Winter in Belize: A Guide to Food, Festivities and Fun
Belize is a wonderfully charming and laidback location to sit out the colder months of the year. And yet, while Belizean winters bring noticeably cooler temperatures, there are tons of other ways a tropical winter is quite different from a northern one. Weather is definitely worth further mention. Belize is located in the eastern edge of Central America, bounded by the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea to the East and the densely forested Maya Mountains to the West. Belize weather during December and January is traditionally cool with low humidity. With daily average highs of 81°F and lows of around 71°F, this translates to clear, blue skies, and cool crisp air. During the early mornings, a light jacket and covered sleeves and legs would be the best wardrobe choices. For nights out, women might consider traveling with a light shawl. For additional warmth, a glass of wine and good stimulating conversation is always a good measure.

International Sources

Belize Bar president files suit against Chief Justice
The President of the Belize Bar Association (BBA), Cheryl-Lyn Vidal, has filed a claim against Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin, following her removal as a member of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC). Attorney Andrew Marshalleck, who filed the legal motion last month, said Vidal, who is also the Director of Public Prosecutions, is challenging her exclusion from the JLSC that comprises the chair of the Public Services Commission, the president of the Bar Association and the Solicitor General. He is arguing that in the absence of the bar representative, the appointments of other judicial officers have been questionable since it appears that there is an incestuous relationship between the executive and the judiciary.

Videos

November 24, 2019

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.

The San Pedro Sun

Island Wonder Kitchen + Bar bring new vibes on Coconut Drive
Formerly K’s Diner, Island Wonder Kitchen + Bar on Coconut Drive, is now under new ownership and management. The revamped eatery held a name reveal party on Wednesday, November 20th, in the presence of patrons and invited guests. Island Wonder Kitchen + Bar, open Monday to Saturday, offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a variety of local and international cuisine. Proprietor Leslie Lawrence, a native of Texas, USA, indicated that the restaurant caters to everyone. “This will be a wonderful place for everyone, with good vibes, a varied menu with great food and drinks, and interactive activities for our patrons,” said Lawrence. Island Wonder is expected to be that space where every guest can feel wonderful and have a good time. In mid-December, the restaurant is expecting to have the opening of a drive-thru, so customers can order and pick- up.

Sargassum; out of sight but not out of mind
Waves of Sargassum that washed up in large mats on the shores of many countries within the Caribbean, southern Mexico, and Belize, have significantly decreased, giving way to clear coastlines with beautiful sandy beaches. Ambergris Caye’s eastern coastline is once again showing off her sandy shoreline, making the island an ideal place to vacation once more. Sargassum season is known to be from April to August each year, but according to reports, it could start flooding the region as early as January 2020. The year 2019 has been one of the worst recorded for the seaweed invasion, and predictions for 2020 are uncertain as Mother Nature is quite unpredictable.

Nagel & Associates, LLC hosts a conference on Financial Opportunities in Belize
The 23rd Annual President's Week Asset Protection & Investment Conference was held at the Caye International Bank building in San Pedro Town from Saturday, November 9th to Wednesday, November 13th. The conference, sponsored by Nagel & Associates, LLC and highlighted current global, political, and economic situations as they relate to issues such as crushing student debt and lack of financial opportunities faced by millennials. Topics included self-directed individual retirement arrangements as well as international and irrevocable family trusts. Attendees learned how international investments could provide opportunities for exploring new markets, protecting assets for loved ones, providing capital to overseas startups, and preserving profits.

Christmas Concert to benefit Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II
All is set for a fundraiser Christmas concert at Fido’s Restaurant and Bar on Wednesday, December 13th. The fundraiser, organized by the San Pedro Chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association (SP BTIA), will raise funds to purchase much-needed supplies for the island’s only public health center, The Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II. The Christmas concert will feature musicians Jake Hill and Russell Hulme and will run from 7PM to 11PM. Throughout the night, attendees will also have the opportunity to win amazing prizes in three different giveaway categories, entrance raffles, lucky dip, and a silent auction with items ranging from a sunset cruise for 12, dinner certificates, overnight stays at exotic resorts on Ambergris Caye, a pizza party for ten, snorkeling tours, manicures and pedicures, and round-trip flight tickets.

Ambergris Today

Farewell To Liborio "Lee" Ramiro Gomez
Obituary of Liborio "Lee" Ramiro Gomez of Atchison, Kansas/Ambergris Caye, Belize | 1941 - 2019. Dr. Liborio Ramiro “Lee” Gomez, PhD, age 78, passed away peacefully in his home in Atchison, Kansas, on November 21, 2019. Lee was born on March 11, 1941, in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize, the son of Hilberto and Hilaria Gomez. He graduated from St. John’s College in Belize City before receiving a four-year scholarship to attend St. Benedict’s College in Atchison, Kansas. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he attended St. Louis University to attain his master’s degree and his Ph. D. in Spanish. Lee became a United States citizen in February of 1993, after passing the Naturalization Test.

Various Belizean Sources

2019 San Pedro Holiday Boat Parade
Join us this year on Saturday, December 7th at 6 PM for the annual San Pedro Holiday Boat Parade. We have the best spot on land to watch the boats go by! Get here early to claim your spot. It's a fun event — you don't want to miss out if you're on the island. If you aren't planning to be in San Pedro that weekend, there's still time to buy your plane tickets and join us for this special island tradition!

CHILAM BALAM : THE RETURN OF KUKULKAN
"The earth will awake in the north and in the west ,and the itza will awake . The Quetzal will descend to the branches of the tree of Promise, that which was wounded , The Plumed Serpent(Kukulkan) ,will return . His face of sun will dispel the darkness . It is the sign of hunab ku that is manifested for the illumination of the world . " Books of the Chilam Balam(Sacred books of the Yucatec Maya)

Itzamna
Itzamna also known as Hunab Itzam Na Is the creator of the world,Humans and the universe . Also writing,science and divination . In several Legends, Itzamná gave the Maya the foundations of civilization. According to legend, he taught them how to grow corn, to write, to use calendars and to practice medicine. He also introduced a system to divide the land and established rituals for religious worship. In the Cruzo'ob Maya faith the interpretation of the message of "Hahal Ku" the true God of the Maya Máasewal is some times declared as literally Itzamna . The early colonial sources variously connect, and sometimes identify,Itzamna with Hunab Ku, Kinich Ahua and Yaxocahmut . Itzamna (Hunab Itzam Nah) is the supreme God.

Yuum Kaax
Yuum Kaax is the representation of the forest and agriculture . One of the Yuumstilo'ob which is still honored by our Yucatec Maya (Máasewal) people of Belize especially in the Primicia known as Wahil Kool done in the Maya village of Patchakan (Corozal) .

Channel 5

Three fishermen remain missing tonight at sea
Today’s search for twenty two year old Sheldon Gibson, Elijah Usher and another man was suspended. The men went missing near Mapp Caye. The men left Belize City today on a eighteen feet boat “Loriannie”.

The Reporter

Alarm & Concern For Missing Fishermen – Mapp Caye Area Again
Concerns are mounting for Belize City residents Sheldon Gibson 22, Elijah Usher and another unidentified individual after they went fishing in the vicinity of Mapp Caye on Friday and have not returned or contacted family members since.

Collin Francis- Back In Police Custody, Facing News Charges
Five months after the brutal beat-down of Nestor Jude Vasquez whilst in custody at the Queen Street Police Station, authorities have arrested and charged mental patient Collin Francis 29 for the crime of murder.

The Man In The Mirror
By: Dr. Abigail Joseph - It’s nothing new to hear a disgruntled society use the blame game. We throw blame on everything and anything we can, rarely ever ourselves. It is so unfortunate that in my line of work we are blamed for A LOT of things, including many things that are not in our control – expired medication, shortage of medication, lack of resources, short staff, death of a patient.

Taiwan Comes Up Big for the BPD
On Wednesday, (Nov. 20th.) the Government of Taiwan gifted the Belize Police Department with the money to purchase a Coaster bus which will be used to shuttle officers who work in the city, but live in the north or west.

$100 MILLION ‘SLIPPAGE’ FinSec Admits Breach of Financial Regulations
The case of John Briceño, Julius Espat and the PUP against Prime Minister Dean Barrow, Financial Secretary Joe Waight and the Attorney General over the spending and accountability of the Petrocaribe funds took centre stage before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin this week and while the government’s position has been that this is another case of much ado about nothing, Waight had a lot of questions to answer on the witness stand.

Editorial – Sunday November 24th. 2019
Sarteneja and Copper Bank are two beautiful villages which enjoy coastline status, but the two have languished because they are so hard to reach. True, there is a road which con- nects a string of these northern vil- lages, but this is a road which takes hours to cross because it is in such bad shape.

Body Found In Haulover Creek, Identified
The body found in the Haulover Creek behind the flour mill on the Phillip Goldson Highway in Belize City, has been identified as 37 year old Omar Gomez.

False Intl. Media Rumor Claims Belize Is Stay-Over Country For Asylum Seekers
It has been brought to the attention of the Government of Belize that a news article is in circulation which states that the Trump Administration has identified Belize as a “safe third country” for immigrants trying to reach the United States.

Breaking Belize News

Belize Film Commission announces launch of Belize International Film Market and Belize-based Studio Complex
The Belize Film Commission, along with the Global Commerce, Digital Entertainment and Media Divisions for […]

Asian businessman executed near mile 4 on the George Price Highway
An Asian businessman from Belize City was shot earlier tonight near mile four on the […]

First leg of playoffs results in win for Bandits and an Altitude-Verdes draw
The Premier League of Belize (PLB) set up a twin-bill for the opening leg of […]

Bunny T- a rising Belizean artist
Belizean musician, Aaron Wilson, also known as ‘Bunny T’ is a rising artist making strides […]

Belizean artist set to debut first album
Belizean artist, Izak R. Chang also known as ‘Falcon the God,’is dropping his debut album next […]

Three men feared missing at Mapp Caye
According to police reports, three Belizean men are currently missing at sea. They are Sheldon Gibson, […]

Team Belize defeats El Salvador in volleyball championship!
Belize’s U-18 has just defeated El Salvador in the Central American Female Volleyball Championship in […]

Three things Belize should be proud of this week
Picture: UNICEF Belize The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not necessarily those […]

Anthony Mahler plans free health clinic day for tomorrow
The People’s United Party (PUP) standard-bearer in Pickstock has scheduled a free health clinic day […]

Colin Francis re-arrested and charged for Vasquez murder
On Thursday, BBN reported that the man accused of stabbing a nurse and brutally beating […]

Blogs

BONUS PICTURES OF BELIZE (BORROWED FROM THE WINDY CITY BRIT AKA TORIA)
I can’t recall all the times I have been to Belize over the years. I probably have in my storage unit in Memphis over 1000+ pictures of the island over the years. I know this is going to sound somewhat calloused but I take a lot of what Belize has for granted. Obviously there is nothing better than sitting on the dock or patio smoking a cigar while the sun comes up over the reef. I can’t get that view here in Manhattan. But I notice that I put my blinders on when I am going around town and never stop to appreciate the little things.

Orchid Bay Belize: Modern Beauty Planned for An Established Community
Just recently I jumped on a short flight from Ambergris Caye to Corozal, Belize to visit a growing and changing but not totally new development project at Orchid Bay Belize. I’ve been seeing the advertisements for it….popping up on my browser and in my social media throughout the day. The proposed open-air bungalows look so modern and beautiful…I had to find a way to go visit. It was a fantastic 3 days – exploring much of the 100 acres that make up the Orchid Bay community – going on a boat trip to beautiful Sarteneja village…

International Sources

Archaeology breakthrough: Why ‘unexpected find’ helps ‘rewrite history’ of ancient Maya
The Mayans were a civilisation known for their architecture, mathematics and astronomical beliefs, who date back to as far as 2000BC, with many of their impressive constructions still standing in the jungles of southeast Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and western parts of Honduras. Archaeologists hunting for a sacred well beneath the city of Chichen Itza in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula accidentally discovered a trove of more than 150 ritual objects untouched for more than 1,000 years. The discovery of the cave system, known as Balamku or “Jaguar God,” was announced by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in a press conference held in March this year. Lead archaeologist Guillermo De Anda said in March: “This cave is going to help us to rewrite the history of this city. “We have found several offerings, all of them in a very good state of preservation, it looks like they were deposited by the ancient Maya yesterday.

Videos

November 23, 2019

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.

The San Pedro Sun

Hol Chan Marine Reserve bans motorized watercraft within Secret Beach
Motorized watercraft (small boats, motorized paddleboards) and recreational equipment of that nature are no longer allowed to operate within the Secret Beach area, which is within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve (HCMR). In the case of jet skis, these will have to be registered with the HCMR and will only be allowed to transit through the area. These regulations became necessary to guarantee safety, while protecting the natural marine habitat, from the negative impacts the unregulated activity of said motorized vessels can cause. The measure came as an enforcement to the Fisheries Regulations, 2015, which prohibits motorized watercraft within a marine reserve. An initial meeting was held in March of this year with a follow-up session later in September at Secret Beach. Issues and concerns were raised by stakeholders and others in attendance. The presence of water sport activities is allegedly affecting the fly-fishing tourism sector, and persons swimming near the beach are at risk of getting injured.

San Pedro Tiger Sharks wins basketball championship tournament in Mexico
As they prepare for the 2020 season of the National Elite Basketball League (NEBL), the San Pedro Tiger Sharks represented the country and Ambergris Caye at a tournament in Cozumel, Mexico, where they emerged victorious. The basketball tournament took place from the 15th to the 17th of November, and around 20 teams participated in various categories, ranging from male, female to even children’s divisions. The San Pedro Tiger Sharks played in the adult division, winning all games and claiming the championship at the end of the tournament.

Belize hosts first-ever National Children’s Parliament
To commemorate International Children’s Day and the 30th anniversary of Belize signing on to the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of a Child (CRC), the first-ever Children’s Parliament was held at the National Assembly Building in Belmopan City on Wednesday, November 20th. The National Children’s Parliament sought to respond to two rights, Right #12 which covers children’s right to give their opinion, be heard and for adults to listen, and Right #13, which covers the right of a child to participate, find out information on matters relating to them and share their opinions in the most productive means available to them.

San Pedro observes Garifuna Settlement Day
The festivities started on Monday evening, November 18th, when the celebration was officially declared open. Traditional dances and an all-night drumming session took place at Central Park. Belizeans and visitors alike stopped by a tent erected at the park to enjoy an evening of traditional drumming and Punta music. There were no formalities as in previous years, where the Mayor and even the Area Representative of Belize Rural South (Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, and Cayes), would take part in an official opening ceremony.

Various Belizean Sources

Belize Film Commission Announces Launch of Belize International Film Market and Belize-Based Studio Complex with Saba Industries
The Belize Film Commission, along with the Global Commerce, Digital Entertainment and Media Divisions for the Georgia Department of Economic Development and Saba Industries is pleased to report that they announced the soft launch of the Belize International Market: Film - TV - New Media - Animation at the recent Belize International Film Festival. This Market is focused on content development and acquisition, networking, professional development and training workshops. The focus of the Market is on content for the Caribbean, Central and Latin America, and Asia, as well as for the State of Georgia and Hollywood.

Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 of Banana Simulation Exercise
Please be advised that the Belize Agricultural Health authority in collaboration with the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA), the Ministry of Agriculture, Banana Growers Association and Fyffes will be having a simulation exercise from November 25-29, 2019, in order to assess Belize’s response in the event that fusarium wilt tropical race 4 of banana is detected in Belize. The activities will take place at the PGIA, BAHA plant health diagnostic laboratory, Big Creek port, and a plantain farm in Georgetown. The public is reminded that the OIRSA region including Belize and the wider Caribbenan is free of this devastating banana disease.

German Tour Operators and Journalist Familiarization Tour
BTB photos.

San Pedro Municipal Children's Fair Nov. 29
Everyone's invited to the Municipal Children's Fair on Friday, November 29th, 2019 from 9 am to 1 pm at the Central Park. There will be FREE Birth Registration for Children, FREE Diabetes Test for Children and many other fun and education booths! Also, don't miss the SPTC Quiz Competition starting at 1:30.

The Launch of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence
At the ITVET Compound on November 25th, 2019 at 3:30 pm. The Launch is expected to end at about 5:30 pm; after-which, there will be a short candlelight vigil to the roundabout on Freetown Road where Orange Awareness Flags will be raised in memory of those we've lost as a result of Gender Based Violence.

Belize Purportedly Identified as “Safe Third Country” by International Media
It has been brought to the attention of the Government of Belize that a news article is in circulation which states that the Trump Administration has identified Belize as a “safe third country” for immigrants trying to reach the United States. The article went on to state that the immigrants will remain in a “safe third country” for the duration of the processing of their asylum requests. This news article is false. The Ministry with responsibility for Immigration and Refugees and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have no knowledge of any agreement for Belize to serve as a “safe third country” for migrants seeking asylum in the United States or of ongoing or concluded conversations in this regard.

Corozal Tree Lighting Ceremony
Corozal Town Tree Lighting Ceremony. Saturday, December 7th in-front of the Town Hall at 7:00 p.m.

Christmas Decorations going up in Corozal
Look what is coming up at Central Park.

San Pedro Wins Four Awards at the CRC@30 Celebration
I am supper happy that the San Pedro Town Council and our town, through the SCFM Initiative, captured one of the four silver awards at the CRC@30 Celebration. Working to make our town child friendly is not easy. Tireless nights, long hours of work, dedication and sacrifice and working closely with children - but with the help of many organizations, we have come along way. I am supper proud of the CAB and the technical steering committee and in particular Mayor Daniel Guerrero for his unwavering support and commitment to our children on the island. Never have I seen a Mayor that engages children, like Mayor Danny. 2014 to now; Hard work pays off.

Millennium Radio Expo
Millennium Radio had their Toy Drive and Expo at the Cancha Marshalleck last week. They have some great pictures from the event.

BELIZE FISHING REPORT: NOVEMBER 10, 2019 THROUGH NOVEMBER 17, 2019
Last week, El Pescador hosted over 30 anglers for the Belize edition of the Redbone Tournament "to catch the cure for Cystic Fibrosis." During the three day event, two angler teams fanned out over the 400 square mile fishing area that El Pescador calls home base. In all, the event was a huge success from both a fishing perspective and for money raised towards finding a cure. Many thanks to the crew at Yellow Dog and the organizers at Redbone for an excellent event!

The Rising Entrepreneur Gala
Tonight at the Best Western Biltmore, 6:30pm.

BONIFACIO NOVELO
Bonifacio Novelo (19th century) was a Maya Máasewal fighter in the so-called Caste War . He was a Maya caudillo and tatich (in maya: cacique, great chief, in the east of the state of Yucatan, along with Cecilio Chi and Jacinto Pat. For some time before the war he was a merchant traveling the peninsula even reaching to what would become Belize . Bonifacio Novelo children which are known are Claudio Novelo ,Baluina Novelo and Canuto Novelo. Before the beginning of the aforementioned war, Novelo was commander of a thousand Maya who participated in the siege of Valladolid under the orders of Colonel Antonio Trujeque. When the city fell into the hands of the rebels, hundreds were attributed to the ferocious action of Bonifacio Novelo.

Channel 7

5 months Later, Colin Francis Charged For Vasquez Murder
Last night we told you about the bail for Colin Francis - the 28 year old man accused of stabbing Nurse Augustina Elijio and then brutally beating Nestor Vasquez Jr - while he was in police custody. The injuries caused by that attack led to the 60 year old's death two days later. Nestor's Vasquez Junior's younger brother, Jules held a press briefing yesterday to express dismay and alarm that Francis was out on bail - because he has not been charged for the Vasquez murder - which happened in June.

Man Shot in Head A Second Time, Survives Again
Tonight, 25-year-old Justin Stephens Teck, a security guard from Hunter's Lane in Belize City, is critical at the KHMH. That's after he was shot yesterday evening a few blocks away from his family's house. At around 6:05 p.m., Teck was standing in front of a car wash on New Road - not far from the Queen Street Police Station and a police checkpoint - when a gunman came out of a nearby alley and fired several shots at him. Teck was shot to the head and the back, and was rushed to the KHMH.

Bar Association Sues Chief Justice
The Bar Association is suing Chief Justice, Kenneth Benjamin! It's a most unusual, certainly unprecedented turn of events, and it arises from a decision the CJ took almost two years ago. He sidelined the President of the Bar, Cheryl Lynn Vidal from the General Legal Services Commission. The CJ's problem is that Vidal is also the Director of Public Prosecutions - and as a public officer - his interpretation of the law is - she cannot sit on the General Legal Services Commission. That's what the Bar is challenging. It says her seat on this constitutionally created commission is established to ensure independence in the hiring of judicial officers.

Police Trying to Identify Man Found Dead In River
Police are asking for your help in identifying a man found floating in the Belize River behind the Belize Mills Flours factory. This morning at around 8:00 he was seen floating in the river. Police found a male of hispanic dressed in a white T-shirt , with black underwear wearing a black knapsack floating face down on the river.

Grazed Child's Cheek, Found Guilty of Dangerous Harm
Tonight 36 year-old Anthony Crawford is at the Belize Central Prison awaiting a sentence from Justice Colin Williams. He was convicted today of the offense of use of deadly means of harm. The offense is in connection with an incident that occurred on the night of November 13th, 2016. 2 persons, a mother and her daughter, testified in his trial before Justice Williams that they were on Raccoon Extension that night. That's when Crawford, who they identified as their assailant, pulled a gun and fired 8 shots in their direction. One of those bullets grazed the cheek of the girl.

A Fire Trinidad Village
A house burned down last night in Trinidad Village, Orange Walk District. Neighbors did not become aware of the fire until the home was completely engulfed in flames. The owner of the home had allowed friends to live there while she moved in with her elderly father. Today she told CTV-3 that she and the occupants lost items that that were inside the house when it burned. Yolanda Torres, Victim of fire: "Everything burned, it was all lost inside." Reporter: "We understand that you weren't living there." Yolanda Torres: "No, I wasn't living there because I live here with father but I gave my house to some people who are salvadorans. And I gave the house to them so that they can live there..."

Kids, Computers, and Science Solutions
The PUC's annual Raspberry Pi Jam was held today at the Biltmore. The Jam is pretty much an innovation challenge where youth come up with technological solutions to problems affecting the country. I stopped by to see some of the creative solutions: Computer science and programming aren't the first words that come to mind when you think of raspberry pi, but that is exactly what this PUC sponsored event is all about. Sharolyn Dougal, PUC Rep.: "The Raspberry Pi Jam is an event that PUC initially started in 2015. It started as a mobile app workshop and it transitioned into the Raspberry Pi Jam in 2016..."

The Raspberry Solution
We also interviewed the teams from Eden SDA High in Cayo and Belize High School who both tackled the issue of crime and national security in their own way. Eden SDA developed an alarm system that would alert the police of a robbery in progress. Belize High School made a border security watch dog to scan and detect criminal elements attempting to cross the border. Here is more

BTL, Facing New Challenges At 30 Years Privatization
BTL is celebrating its 30th anniversary as a private company. In that time, it has gone from the Belize Telecommunications Limited, to Belize Telemedia Limited, and now to DIGI. Last night, the company had its 13th AGM under the Telemedia name and we found executives and corporate strategists positioning themselves for a date driven future, but still paying for costly, legacy technologies. Jules Vasquez found that the tension between new and old technology had a direct effect on the company's bottom line:

BTL Doesn't Expect To Pay Sales Tax 25 Mil.
And while BTL can still boast of a 17 million dollar profit - there's a lingering tax matter with the GST office that's significantly bigger than that. We found a reference to the multi million dollar dispute with the Sales tax Office. They have calculated it at 25 plus million dollars in taxes arising but not assessed to the company because it is a matter of great accounting dispute. We asked the CEO about it:

Opp Leader Meets With Disgruntled Western Landowner
On last week Thursday's newscast, we took you to the Barrio El Juda area, which is located at the western edge of Benque Viejo Town. That's where Guatemalan Campesinos have started to encroach on Belizean territory in the adjacency zone. Because of the Belize/Guatemala territorial dispute, this is a problem that the Governments of the two countries will have to resolve, but the Foreign Affairs Ministry is trying to use the diplomatic channels to get the Guatemalan Government to step in and remove their citizens.

Financial Literacy For Kids
Are you Financially Literate? That is an uncommon term in many circles, even professional ones, but when discussing money management perhaps, it's best you teach it to kids - since adults are often stuck in their ways. Well the Credit Union League certainly thinks so and to do their part for teaching financial literacy they partnered with Belize Elementary school today to host a national financial literacy competition for students from primary schools across the nation.

Coast Guard's Best Warrior
On Wednesday, we told you about the start of the Belize Coast Guard's 7th Annual Best Warrior Competition. It's a one-of-a-kind competition in Belize where the fittest soldiers from the Coast Guard and the Belize Defense Force challenge each other to complete some of the most physically taxing tasks to find out who is the toughest among them. Sure, it's about bragging rights, but the commanders of these special units get to see first hand just how ready these men are, should they be called upon for dangerous, demanding missions. Our news team stopped by today for the final portion of the competition, and we spoke to Commander Gregory Soberanis about the teams who were jostling for bragging rights. Here's what he had to say about the fierce contest among the teams:

A Future Studio For Belize Film?
Last week we told you that the films "My Father Belize" and "Tecuani and the Duende" had won first place in the category of Best Belizean short film. Well, the Belize Film Commission is more than encouraged by these successes and to prove its commitment to the continued development and production of Belizean films, Film Commissioner Nigel Miguel has gotten a major partner to sign on. He today announced the signing of a statement of intention with Asian philanthropist Malini Saba of Saba Industries to fund and operate a fully functioning, self-sustaining film studio and film production facility in Belize. Now, if it sounds too good to be true - we thought so too.

Channel 5

A Third Attempt on the Life of Justin Stephens
A Belize City man was shot and seriously injured on Thursday evening. Police say that security guard Justin Stephens was standing on New Road when someone shot him twice.  Stephens [...]

John Doe Found Floating in Haulover Creek
The Belize Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a man whose body was fished out of the Haulover Creek this morning in Belize City. John Doe’s [...]

Shots Fired in Griga Dang
Unconfirmed reports reaching our news desk this evening is that there was a shootout in Dangriga this afternoon.   Reliable sources tell News Five that five men, reportedly dressed in blue, [...]

Bar President Files Claim Against Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin
In an unprecedented move, Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl-Lyn Vidal, in her capacity as president of the Bar Association, has lodged a claim against Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin, following her [...]

Who Presides Over the Case Against the CJ?
Recent appointments, according to Marshalleck, have seen an obvious increase in the number of judicial officers from the Caribbean taking up posts in Belize.  This, he says, is deliberate.  But [...]

Anthony Crawford is Guilty of Shooting Shanaya Whylie
Back in November of 2016, a young girl shot on Racoon Street Extension, Belize City. Police soon picked up Anthony Crawford and charged him with “use of deadly means of [...]

All About Children’s Rights
On the occasion of International Children’s Day, a special sitting of the House was convened in which young students assumed the role of parliamentarians, all thirty-one members of the House. [...]

B.T.L.’s Net Revenue Decreases by 24%
The annual general meeting of B.T.L. took place on Thursday night at the Biltmore Plaza, Belize City.  The utility had a record year in terms of gross revenues, which surpassed [...]

B.T.L.’s C.E.O. on the Way Forward
Recently appointed Chief Executive Officer for B.T.L., Ivan Tesecum highlighted the point that over the past ten years B.T.L. has invested more than five hundred million dollars. Tesecum says this [...]

G.S.T. Department’s Audit of B.T.L. Financials Still Ongoing
On page thirty-four of B.T.L.’s financial statement, there is an item listed as ‘contingencies.’  It states that there is an ongoing audit by the General Sales Tax Department on the [...]

Paslow Building Renamed to Belize Heritage Plaza
Belizeans chose “Belize Heritage Plaza” to be the name of the building that will occupy the site of the Paslow Building. Earlier this year, some Belizeans protested renaming the site [...]

Belize is NOT a ‘Safe Third Country’
The government asserts tonight that it has no agreement with the United States as a safe third country. The statement from the government was prompted by an international news article [...]

Raspberry Pi Jam 2019: Solutions for Challenges in Belize
High schools from across the country gathered in Belize City today where students participated in a competition for young innovators.  The goal is to use a miniature computer platform to [...]

Belize Fades from Black to Grey List in EU Designation
With recent news of Belize being removed from the European Union’s list of non-cooperative jurisdictions, is the country doing enough to turn around its status?  And what about funds received [...]

Revenue Expected to Take a Hit Due to Drought
The Statistical Institute of Belize continues to issue quarterly releases on the country’s economic performance.  While G.D.P. estimates for the third quarter will be shared during S.I.B.’s final press conference [...]

B.D.F. Team Defeats the Coast Guard to Win the 2019 Best Warrior Competition
After three days of gruelling competition, the Belize Defence Force proved they are a force to reckon. A group of eight soldiers broke records to take home for the first [...]

Tacos Festival Goes Down in Sugar City This Weekend
All roads lead to Sugar City on Sunday where the ninth annual Tacos Fest is set to go down at the Central Park in Orange Walk Town.  Vendors from across [...]

The Tourism Trends in Belize
In early November, the Belize Tourism Board released its mid-year insight into tourism performance for the Jewel. And while there are some ups and downs, the industry continues to boom. [...]

The Belize International Film Market is Launched
The Belize Film Commission is officially launching the Belize International Film Market and Belize-based Studio Complex with Saba Industries. The announcement was made today, via a press release where the [...]

Amandala

GOB spent $1.3 billion without parliamentary approval
On Tuesday, March 5, 2019, the Leader of the Opposition, People’s United Party (PUP), Hon. John Briceño, Orange Walk Central area representative, and Hon. Julius Espat, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and Cayo South area representative, filed a fixed date claim at the Supreme Court, naming Prime Minister Dean Barrow, Minister of Finance, as the first defendant, and Joseph Waight, Financial Secretary, as second defendant for spending $1.3 billion without parliamentary approval. The PUP leaders’ lawsuit is contending that the United Democratic Party government of Prime Minister Dean Barrow has spent $1.3 billion in violation of the Finance and Audit Reform Act and in violation of the Constitution of Belize.

Justin Teck, 24, shot on New Road
Justin Steven Teck, 24, of Kelly Street, is presently in a critical condition at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after he was shot tonight in his abdomen and grazed in the head by an unknown gunman at a distance of about 350 feet from the Queen Street Police Station while walking on New Road on the sidewalk by the NBZR car wash. Teck told police that about 7:30, he was walking towards Queen Street when he was shot. He was taken to the hospital by paramedics in a BERT ambulance.

Jahvis Wagner, 22, shot dead in Dangriga
At about 7:30 Monday night, on the eve of Garifuna Settlement Day, Jahvis Wagner, 22, a Dangriga resident, was standing in front of his house on Commerce Street in Harlem Square, Dangriga, listening to some drummers who were playing in his yard. Shortly after, the drummers and a group of persons who were listening to them began to disperse, but Wagner remained, awaiting a lifelong friend who was coming toward him from an alley. Before this friend reached him, another friend, on a motorbike, stopped in the street to talk to Wagner.

The children have spoken
In celebration of International Children’s Day and the 30th anniversary of the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, thirty-one Belizean youths assumed the roles of parliamentarians at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, November 20. While the idea of children hosting a National Assembly meeting might seem comical, these bright scholars were commended from all corners for being well-researched, well-spoken and poised as they represented the thirty-one constituencies across the country.

Raffles and giveaways in celebration of KREM’s 30th anniversary of service to the community
Amandala’s media sister, KREM FM, 96.5, a community radio station located on the KREMANDALA compound on Partridge Street, celebrated its 30th anniversary today. KREM is an outstanding and dynamic radio station, one of its kind in the nation. There were a series of activities leading up to the 30th birthday of KREM, and on Monday, a series of raffles and giveaways were conducted in commemoration of the event.

In San Pedro, BEL opens new office; gets ready for future energy needs
Over the last few decades, San Pedro has grown from a sleepy fishing village to a major tourist destination. This phenomenal growth requires a lot of adjustment in terms of the infrastructure that is necessary to sustain the level of growth that is taking place. One area in which a massive increase is taking place is the consumption of energy, so, in order to address this trend, the Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) opened a new branch office to serve the fastest-growing municipality in the country.

Denver Bevans, 18, remanded for the murder of fireman Jiovanni Lennan
The young man who arrived this morning on the police bus transporting detained persons to court attempted to hide his face from court reporters and television cameras as he was being escorted into Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser’s #1 court. When the Chief Magistrate was asking the young man to provide personal details about himself, the accused teenager spoke in a barely audible voice. The young man —Denver Bevans, 18 — was charged by police with the murder of fireman and athlete Jiovanni Lennan, 30.

Bar Association files claim against Chief Justice and members of the JLSC
The Bar Association of Belize has filed a fixed date claim at the Supreme Court naming Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC), as the first defendant. Others named in the lawsuit are the Solicitor General, the second defendant; the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, the third defendant; the Governor General of Belize, the fourth defendant; and the Attorney General as the fifth defendant. Under the Constitution of Belize, the President of the Bar Association is a member of the JLSC.

Wasani Castro, 26, a son of Minister Edmond Castro, charged with assaulting woman police officer
Wasani Castro, 26, a son of NEMO and Transport Minister Edmond Castro, who has had previous brushes with the law, is once more before the court. He is presently facing charges for assault of a police officer. Castro had previously been in the media spotlight for allegedly assaulting police officers twice in the past, but no charges were brought against him. This time, Castro was accused of assaulting a senior woman police officer, who decided to press charges against him.

Joyce Dawson, 27, missing in Cancun, Mexico
Joyce Dawson, 27, a customer representative from Santa Elena, Cayo District, has been reported missing in Cancun, Mexico. She was last heard from on Saturday, October 26. Dawson’s family said that she was working at a call center in Cancun as a customer representative. Mexican authorities have issued a missing person poster, and Dawson’s family and police are seeking public assistance to find her.

Two cops face punishment for escape of suspect in Derrick Ramirez’s murder
Two policemen who had custody of Oscar Williams, Jr., 23, the main suspect in the death of Dangriga fisherman Derrick Ramirez, 24, will face stiff punishment for Williams’ escape from them on Cross Caye, Stann Creek District. Ramirez’s body was found in an advanced state of decomposition in the Gra-Gra Lagoon in the Commerce Bight area of Dangriga on Monday, August 12, after he was reported missing at sea for about a week, and the prime suspect, Williams, was caught by the Coast Guard, who handed him over to the policemen.

Court sets date for Belize City Council stay of execution hearing
The Belize City Council was ordered to pay former City Administrator, Candice Miller, almost $400,000 in a wrongful termination lawsuit that Miller brought against the People’s United Party (PUP)-controlled Belize City Council. The City Council, however, had a 21-day period to file an appeal of the judgment that was handed down by Supreme Court Justice Courtenay Abel. This morning, attorney William Lindo, Jr., appeared in the Supreme Court of Justice Abel on behalf of the Belize City Council.

Editorial: GoB must respond to latest Guatemalan encroachment urgently
Jorge Emilio Espat, a Belizean who owns land along the border between Belize and Guatemala, has notified Belizean authorities and a representative of the Organization of American States (OAS) that Guatemalan citizens are squatting on his land and some of them are even building houses. The Amandala reported that Mr. Espat told the media that the OAS representative has been to the area with him, and that the representative “deemed that about ten lots occupied by the Guatemalans are on Belizean territory.” This is far from the first time that Guatemalan citizens have encroached on our territory, which they do to raid mineral resources, poach plants and lumber and animals from the forest, and sometimes to establish farms and even settlements.

From The Publisher
News was received here this morning of the kidnapping and shooting death of Belizean-born Gerald Cattouse in Guatemala City. Gerald Cattouse, eldest son of the late Hon. Albert Cattouse and Mrs. Kathleen Fairweather Cattouse, had lived in Guatemala for the last thirty years and owned a very lucrative tourist business – Jerry’s Tours – which catered mostly to Americans. His business reportedly had branches in many towns and Cattouse was a wealthy man. He disappeared on Friday night after work, and it was on Saturday that one of his former secretaries picked out and identified his face from among the bodies at the Guatemala City morgue awaiting burial. There were 9 bullets in his body.

City champions, Belize Elementary girls and Holy Redeemer boys are National Primary Schools Volleyball Champions
The National Primary Schools Volleyball Championship 2019-2020 was hosted today at the Belize Civic Center and Stars Gym in Belize City, and it featured the 6 female and 6 male primary school district champions. Participating female and male district champion primary schools from their respective districts were: Females – Belize Elementary (Belize); San Marcos RC (Cayo); Louisiana Gov’t (Orange Walk); Mary Hill RC (Corozal); Holy Angel’s RC (Stann Creek); and San Felipe Gov’t (Toledo).

Dangriga sports stats – T.V. Ramos Cycling Classic winners
Here are the winners of the Annual T.V. Ramos Cycling Classic held yesterday in Dangriga. In the Elite Category, the 2019-2020 T.V. Ramos Cycling Classic Champion is Richard Santiago from Team Clear the Land; second was Erwin Middleton from Team Digicell; third was Ernest Bradley from Team Clear the Land; and in fourth place was Brandon Cattouse from Team Smart.

Mike’s Cue Club 8-Ball Tournament – Pure Guard, Champs!!!
The Mike’s Cue Club 8-Ball Tournament ended in Belmopan on Sunday, November 17, with Pure Guard, sponsored by Westrac, as champs. Here are more details: The tournament started with 7 teams; and then it was down to the semi-finals with the top 4 seeded; and then the finals with the two top teams, namely Pure Guard and Palma’s Strikers.

Bye, bye, one heroine; welcome to the new girl …
… who I must say is just in time to get us prepared to defend ourselves from the horrible flu season that is now here. I guess that in this politics bizniz it is all about numbers, and the numbers who supported Ms. Dolores for what the philistines at Wave condemned her for, must not be as significant as the crowd who endorse appearances over good health. Politics in Belize has nothing to do with principle: everything is about getting elected. Did I call the Wave, “philistines”? They are that, sometimes. They are no Garifuna teachers. They are not about education; they are only about what is good for their party. As government they should realize that sick people are not as productive as healthy people, that a healthy population is best for the economy. Bah, down the drain they sent a great initiative to make our nation become more health conscious.

The economy and independence
Two words, two words we take for granted every day we live on planet earth. What do they mean? How do these words affect our daily lives? Let’s start with the economy. What does it mean when we talk about the economy of say Belize or another of the 190 nation-states of the United Nations? The economy of Belize means all the goods (rum, chicken, concrete, furniture, beer, sugar, orange juice concentrate, bananas, meats, boats, etc.) produced in Belize.

The big picture
Let’s face it. Collectively, we blew it; our youths do not respect us! When we see them acting out their distorted perception of manhood in the streets of Belize City today, we really should look at it in a bigger context, and we should be willing to accept responsibility for not providing a culture of high esteem that told these youths who they were and where they came from. The problem began in the home, or because of the absence of one. Many of these youths were deprived of a healthy, nurturing environment that every home should provide.

Matron becomes Principal Nursing Officer
The affection between Matron and Mr. Reg remained strong as time passed, and outsiders seeing them together would never know that they lived apart. He maintained the household financially, paying taxes and all other bills, which were sent directly to his office; and was available to provide any assistance she might need. Jerome, the one most affected by the situation, made only one reference to it, and to my mother, who showed him the same love that she did to her own children, taking pride in his accomplishments and correcting him gently when necessary. For a boy he was, indeed, very tidy, well-behaved and quiet, according to Mama, who held him up to my younger brothers as a good example.

What will Japan do with all of its empty “ghost” homes?
Population decline is a major issue for many countries. It’s of particular concern for Japan, which after experiencing a major boom throughout the 20th Century is now seeing steep population contraction. In 2018 the lowest number of babies were born since the country began keeping records, while deaths steadily outpaced births. And, as populations decline in countries across the globe, the demand for housing will also drop as the number of households decreases. This is already happening in Japan, where the country’s dramatically ageing population is fuelling a massive inventory of vacant homes. Known as ‘akiya’, these are homes left abandoned without heirs or new tenants.

Independence did not bring milk and honey to all
Dear Editor, As I examine the history of Belize, I notice a shift from determinate optimism to indeterminate pessimism. During the fight for independence in the 1940s and 1950s, the majority of the population was sure that if they took political control of Belize, things would be much better. This was demonstrated by the vigor and vitality of the nationalist movement. By the 1980s after independence, things had changed. Independence did not bring milk and honey to all. Life did improve somewhat, but people noticed that Belizeans replaced the British, and social stratification was similar to colonial times.

Pension complaint from Dallas, Texas
Dear Editor, Recently I received an email from the Treasury Pension Department telling me that, because the bank made an error and wrote the wrong name on my pension check, they will be sending the October pension check in November, along with the November check. The inconveniences caused by this are many. I wrote and asked if they could correct it and send the check, but the answer was substantially the same: they will send the check in November, along with the November check.

Ambergris Caye holiday “war games”
Dear Editor, In just a few more weeks, the season of “war games” begins on Ambergris Caye. What I’m referring to is the period from mid-November to mid-January, when roving bands of singles and groups of 6-15 year-olds take over the island and turn it into a simulated war zone. By “war zone,” I mean the constant sound of illegal fireworks filling the air from sun-up to sometimes midnight; minute after minute, hour after hour, day after day. This has been going on unchecked for years, no matter how many complaints the Police Department receives.

Some media advice from Hart Tillett
Dear Editor, A few years back a young journalist (I’ll call him KayJee) from a well-known network TV station in the USA was visiting Belize. News coverage of his interactions at the time with the media houses here, shows that he excoriated our news agencies for the way in which they reported stories involving acts of extreme violence. Officially, one got the impression that media heads agreed to clean up their reporting. The network rep, I understand, has Belizean roots, and was back in Belize recently.

The Reporter

American Charged For Fatal Road Traffic Accident
Steven Olivas, 40, a resident of Hopkins Village, Stann Creek was knocked down and killed late last Friday night as he was riding a bicycle about a mile out of the village.

Honoring The Rights Of Children, Kim Simplis Barrow
Belize’s Special Envoy for Women and Children Mrs. Kim Simplis Barrow has a special message for the children of Belize.

Security Guard Shot Near Police Station
A security guard from Hunter’s Lane in Belize City is in critical condition at the KHMH after he was shot Thursday evening, (Nov 21st), just down the street from the Queen Street Police Station.

LOVE FM

Body found floating in Haulover Creek
There has been no official report from the police, but reports indicate that around 8 o’clock this morning a body was fished out of the Haulover. The body was found floating in the river behind Dream Like City on the Philip Goldson Highway.

Justin Teck shot again
25-year-old Justin Stephen Teck is in a critical but stable condition after he was shot yesterday evening on New Road, Belize City. Reports are that Teck was standing in front of a car wash when the shooter emerged from a nearby alley and fired multiple shots in his direction.

BAHA to test for fungi affecting banana plantations
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) will be having a simulation exercise from November 25 to 29 in order to assess Belize’s response in the event that fusarium wilt of banana is detected in Belize. Fusarium wilt tropical race 4 is a fungus which causes the death of banana trees.

Honoring Reverend James A.C Elliott
The fourth annual Reverend Dr Claude Cadogan Lecture series hosted by Wesley Junior College took place last night. Featured in last night’s presentation was Reverend James Elliot.

Children’s Day celebrated in Belmopan
Activities in accordance with National Children’s Day are underway in Belmopan. Cayo Correspondent, Fem Cruz has the details.

Tevin Cacho charged for possession of a controlled drug
Today, 26-year-old Tevin James Cacho appeared before Senior Magistrate Trecia Pitts-Anderson where he was arraigned on a charge of “possession of controlled drug”. Cacho informed the court that he was pleading guilty with an explanation.

Anthony Crawford adjourned to November 29
This afternoon a jury comprised of five females and three males unanimously returned a guilty verdict after deliberating for three and a half hours in the trial of 36-year-old Anthony Crawford. Crawford was charged with the “use of deadly means of harm with intent to cause grievous harm” in relation to 13-year-old Shanaya Whylie.

Belize International Film Market and Based Studio Complex.
The Belize Film Commission and Saba Industries announced the launch of the Belize International Film Market and Belize’s Based Studio Complex. The Market will feature filming in Belize, with the opportunity to see Belize's diverse locations, rebates, and other private funding availability.

Day two of Belize Best Warrior Competition 2019
Today was the second day into the Best Warrior Competition between the Belize Coast Guard and the Belize Defence Force. Reporter Naim Borges is following the event and filed this report.

http://lovefm.com/crime-police-news/joyce-dawson-alive-and-well/Joyce Dawson, Alive and well
A missing person’s flyer is in circulation in Quintana Roo with the name of a Belizean woman. 27-year-old Joyce Dawson who was reportedly working at a call centre in Cancun, Mexico was reportedly last heard from by family members on October 26, 2019.

Joining forces to tackle health diseases in Belize
The Ministry of Health along with other stakeholders are combining their efforts and resources to tackle common issues. Today, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) partnered in collaboration with the Ministry of Health hosted a meeting in Belize.

Awaiting the court’s ruling
As we noted, the arguments have concluded in court and now it is up to the court to make its ruling. Senior Counsel Eamon Courtney spoke to the media following today’s proceedings.

Who will win 2019 Best Warrior Competition?
The Best Warrior Competition is an annual event where men and women of the Belize Coast Guard and the Belize Defence Force compete for the title of Best Warrior. Yesterday was the start of the 3-day event. Here are highlights of the first day as presented by Reporter Naim Borges.

Municipal leaders sign sister city relation agreement
A sister city relation agreement was signed with municipal leaders of Punta Gorda Town and La Ceiba, Honduras. Toledo Correspondent, Paul Mahung reports.

Case against the Government of Belize continues
The People’s United Party and the Government of Belize were back in court today. As we reported yesterday, the opposition is seeking the court’s intervention to stop the government from spending monies without getting approval from the House of Representatives. Each year the government goes to a budget debate where they present the Consolidated Revenue Fund, or in simpler terms, they make projections on how much they will spend for the year in the various sectors.

Financial Secretary says our financial debt is stable
While the supplementary budgets are only a percentage of the country’s finances, there is the question as to what the status of the country’s economy is. Financial Secretary didn’t go into much detail, only to say that there is the need for more investments.

Deception via facebook
72-year-old Allan Stamp of Placencia Village, Stann Creek District was deceived with the purchase of a golf cart via Facebook. Stamp made arrangements with Thomas Young, the salesman to make a deposit towards the cart.

Man Shot in Broad Daylight
There was a shooting this afternoon just after midday. Love News responded to the report but when we got there the victim, Francis Arana had already been taken to the hospital. Arana was reportedly shot on the right hand on Oleander Street in the Lake Independence area.

New name has been selected for Former Paslow Building
A name has been selected for the new structure being built at the corner of Queen and North Front Streets in Belize City. Following a competition by the Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project, the name, Belize Heritage Plaza was selected as the winning submission.

Breaking Belize News

GOB sets record straight on fake news article
The Government of Belize has issued a statement regarding a fake news article making false […]

Team Belize gets commanding victory over Guatemala in volleyball championship
Belize’s U-18 squad rebounded from a loss to Costa Rica with a victory over Guatemala […]

Body reportedly found floating behind Dream Like City
The Belize Police Department needs public assistance to identify a body. At around 8 a.m. […]

Candle light vigil organized for Jahvin and Jebran Wagner
Over the weekend, the young people of Dangriga Town will be hosting a candlelight vigil […]

EU still not done with Belize; more work to do on tax compliance
Financial Secretary Joseph Waight confirms that Belize is not entirely off the hook with regard to […]

Christmas cheer coming despite drought-cursed year
Since about 2013, at the height of the Petrocaribe bonanza, the Government of Belize has set […]

Court to decide major parties’ clash over supplementary spending in New Year; GOB makes concessions
After submissions in court on Thursday, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin is to consider the following: […]

Belize Agricultural Health Authority to host banana simulation exercise
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) and the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA) […]

Giovani Ian Lennan laid to rest on his birthday
Slain athlete and firefighter, Geovani Ian Lennan, is to be laid to rest today on […]

Police investigate shooting incident in Belize City
Police are investigating a shooting incident that occurred yesterday morning in Belize City. Around 11:45 […]

Mother charged with wounding during brawl
Nicole Lamb, 28, a mother of two, who allegedly cut Angela Bennett twice with a […]

Man hospitalized following shooting
A Belize City man is hospitalized following a shooting incident last night. Reports are that […]

Costa Rica hands out first loss to Belize in U-18 regional volleyball tournament
Hosts Costa Rica gave Belize a tough test last night in the 13th Under-18 Central […]

Blogs

Directions? Look for the Sails
Being long overdue for a picnic, my friend Cindy decided to plan one. It was not just any old picnic, she planned a Pirate Flotilla. Six Hobie Cats and a one-speed boat transported many people, three king-size coolers and all sorts of other bits. Being a smart organizer, Cindy had the Hobie’s leaving at 9:00 am. Not long after the first boatload of people and food left. The rest of us caught the 10:00 am ride with our friend Jorge. As you can see by my featured image above, the directions to get to our secluded picnic site on the west side of Ambergris Caye were easy. Head north past Cayo Espanto private island resort and look to the right for the sails.

Laughing Bird Caye…forever in my heart!
Laughing Bird Caye National Park was the first island I visited in Belize at the young age of ten. I grew up in Seine-Bight Village located in the peninsula of the Stann Creek District and Laughing Bird Caye is located right off the coast of the peninsula via a 30 minutes boat ride. Since then, Laughing Bird Caye has always had a special place in my heart. While growing up, I made several visits to it during school trips, clean-up campaigns, and even sometimes just to enjoy all that it has to offer. Laughing Bird Caye is the southernmost island in the central lagoon of the Belize Barrier Reef. This long, narrow isle stands on an elongated ridge of reef known as a faro. This angular atoll on a continental shelf is also known as a shelf atoll. Like an atoll, a faro is steep-sided and encloses a central lagoon. The Laughing Bird Faro is separated from the mainland, the barrier reef, and other cayes by deep channels on all sides.

Tamales – A Mestizo Christmas Tradition
One of the most important dishes in the Mestizo culture, especially for Christmas, is tamales. This traditional dish is unlike the Mexican tamale, whereby the tamales are not wrapped in corn husks, but are instead wrapped in banana leaves. Tamales are kind of the original to-go food with the leaves making them portable snacks. While tamales are not difficult to make, preparing the filings and masa are a lengthy process. Perhaps that is why it is considered a tradition in a Hispanic household, because of the many hands required for the assembly line, it is a great excuse for family and friends to get together – which is really the crux of the holiday spirit! – and the end results of the tamales can absolutely blow your taste buds away.

Tips to Protect the Reef
Here are some tips to take into consideration when visiting: Try your best to refrain from touching the corals- oils from your skin can disturb the corals and cause the death of an entire colony. As well, certain types of corals can cut or sting you. Do not swim too close or stand on the coral- they look strong but in fact, they are very fragile and can break easily. Don’t fish or anchor your boat near the reef- the fishing lines, nets, and hooks can cause damage to corals. As well as the anchor of your boat can cause much damage. Don’t throw garbage in the water, leave it on the boat. Do not break a piece of coral to take as a souvenir. It is a living organism and you will kill it. Avoid wearing sunscreen but if you do, use oxybenzone free. Support organizations dedicated to protecting the reef.

A Look Back At The Citrus Industry
Citrus is the oldest and most important agro-industry in the country. Old records show that citrus was being grown in British Honduras as far back as 1859. In the Stann Creek Valley, since 1913, when three gentlemen decided to become investors in a joint venture. Three pioneers, a colonial surgeon, Doctor Smith Osborne Browne, Alfred Edward Vine, manager of the British Honduras Syndicate, and then banana grower William Alfred Jex Bowman imported nine hundred budding grapefruit trees from Florida. These became the first citrus fruits ever to be exported to England. By 1954, the grapefruit industry reached the million-dollar mark.

Why Belize Must Move To Ban Gillnets
Belizean law not only sets stringent gillnet sizing laws but forbids their use within Marine Protected Areas. Dasha Shivers, Managing Director for Ray Caye and Ray Caye staffers go above and beyond when it comes to protecting marine parks and advocating on behalf of responsible fishing. Oceana and The Belize Coalition For Sustainable Fisheries have committed over two million dollars to the Belize Government to help fishermen refrain from using gillnets and there is an official ban that has been sanctioned by sustainable fisheries management that supports biodiversity and works to ensure Belize food security.

International Sources

The colonial history of British Guiana
It's not often that the British empire is considered as a significant force in the Americas. Of course, its crown colonies in the Caribbean and a string of former island possessions are well known, though the colonies of British Honduras (now Belize, which still has Elizabeth II as head of state) and British Guiana (now Guyana) are perhaps less noted. While it is true that Britain always maintained an informal empire in the western hemisphere, which took in massive interests in places like Chile and Argentina, much of that is now largely subsumed into Anglo-US interests. Britain was responsible for bringing slave labour from west Africa to carry out the one staple industry of British Guiana — sugar production.

Milt Palacio Not Dead: Retired NBA Player Still Alive
Milt Palacio, the retired American-Belizean basketball player, is alive-and-well following rumors of his passing. Megan Walsh, the public relations coordinator for the Brooklyn Nets told Heavy.com, “These reports are inaccurate – we have spoken to Milt, and he is fine.” At the time of the death hoax, Palacio is the assistant coach at the Nets’ G-League affiliate, the Long Island Nets. A fake news story circulated on the morning of November 22 that said Palacio had been knocked down by a car outside of a mall in Toronto on the night of November 21. The story said that Palacio had been rushed to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The fake story added that the cause of the crash was “failed brakes.”

Belize: Economic Substance Legislation
Belize, like other Caribbean jurisdictions, has enacted a series of laws seeking to comply with international Economic Substance requirements. Please note that the issuance of the final Guidelines on the matter of Economic Substance in Belize is expected sometime before the end of this year. Therefore, this document may not be considered as the final interpretation as it may still vary in certain aspects.

Videos

November 22, 2019

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.

The San Pedro Sun

Carina Paz excels in Triathlon competition in Belize City
San Pedro’s very own Carina Paz competed in a Triathlon in Belize City on Saturday, November 16th, where she conquered three of the sport’s disciplines (swimming, biking, and running) in 42 minutes. The competition had categories including three-member teams, who relayed each step of the Triathlon. Paz opted to participate as an individual, which came with a triple challenge that she completed. The event is an annual fundraising activity put together by St. Catherine’s Academy. This year’s competition started after 6AM at the Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina, with swimming being the first challenge. After swimming four laps in the hotel’s pool, the athletes biked to the round-a-bout in front of St. John’s Junior College and back to Radisson Fort George Hotel.

Ambergris Caye Rotary Club teams up with Chair The Love to distribute wheelchairs to island residents
Several island residents were the recipients of a new wheelchair courtesy of the efforts of the Rotary Club of Ambergris Caye and Florida, USA based organization, Chair The Love. The handing over of the wheelchairs was held at the conference room of the Banyan Bay Suites south of San Pedro Town on Monday, November 18th, to select patients who had never owned one or needed a replacement. During a short ceremony that started shortly after 2PM, President of the Ambergris Caye Rotary Club, Andrew Ashcroft, welcomed everyone to the special event.

SPHS celebrates Cultural Day 2019
The melting pot of cultures that exist within Belize was brought to life at San Pedro High School’s (SPHS) Annual Cultural Day. Held on Friday, November 15th at the SPHS’s Angel Nunez Auditorium, the event saw families and friends enjoying a fun and educational day. Taking into consideration the various cultures that call Belize home, SPHS students were challenged to design booths that would present information and showcase food, music, dance, and cultural attire. Cultural Day began with a short ceremony, with dances and sounds from the various cultures of Belize on display. In acknowledgment of the arrival of the Garifuna People, celebrated annually in Belize on November 19th as Garifuna Settlement Day, students held a reenactment of the Garinagu arrival onshore.

Ambergris Today

Christmas Benefit Concert For The Dr Otto Rodriguez Poly Clinic II
The San Pedro BTIA Poly Clinic Committee has organized the first ever annual benefit Christmas Concert for the Dr. Otto Rodriguez Poly Clinic II. The concert with feature Jake Hill and Russell Hulme and will take place at the famous Fido’s Restaurant & Bar on Friday, December 13, 2019 from 7pm to 11pm. The Dr. Otto Rodriguez Poly Clinic tends to residents and visitors free of charge and operates 24/7. Although the Government of Belize funds the Polyclinic, Belize is a small country with other clinics to funds with a limited budget. The clinic does an amazing job with what it has, but lacks the resources it desperately needs, which is where the SP BTIA committee is stepping in.

Various Belizean Sources

Garifuna Settlement Day
At the ceremony, the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow had the following words to say "The annual celebration of Garifuna Settlement Day is of the highest importance. It is important to Garinagu and the Garifuna nation. It is important to Belize and the Belizean nation and indeed it is important to the world. That is because culture, of which Garifuna values, history and rituals are a supreme embodiment. Culture is important to all human beings. It is culture that has encompassed the greatest achievements of our planet. Culture is therefore seen as one of the greatest global goods. But different cultures in a world that is now set to be flat are becoming too alike and high authentic culture such as that of the Garinagu is being encroached on, leveled and threatened with reductions and diminution of the onslaught of artificial appetites and ways of life so called mass culture. In this context the importance of activities such as today’s reenactment assumes added significance, becomes a touch stone in the preservation fight."

Mecanico vs Chable | Trilogy
Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 6 PM – 10 PM, University of Belize. Main Fight | Mecanico vs Chable | Trilogy General $15, Floor $30, Ring Side $50 w/ 2 Drinks. Other Fights: Carlos Silvero Cayo Vs Brain Aguirre Veracruz, Clemente Heat Vs Fabian Martinez. Kids under 12 Enter Free.

Ya’axché’s Science program
Ya’axché’s Community Forum invites communities to come and learn about our Science program. The Science program conducts research and monitors trees, mammals, birds and fresh-water bugs to make decisions based on solid science for the effective management of the Maya Golden Landscape. During this session, information on bee pollinators, bird monitoring and wildlife monitoring using field cameras on farms will be shared by program director Elizabeth Dorgay and research assistant Oscar Requena. Join us on Friday, 22nd of November 2019 at San Pedro Columbia Nazarene Education Centre at 10:30 am for this session. The event starts at 8:30am and ends at 3:00 pm.

Corozal Local Tourism Committee
Today some members of the Corozal Local Tourism Committee along with a representative of the Ministry of Tourism visited the Xaibe Cultural Kitchen, the Yucatec Maya Museum in Cristo Rey and the Garifuna Museum in Libertad. The visit was carried out to evaluate the development proposals from the various organizations. The tour ended with a reglar meeting of the CLTC were the projects and their alignment with the objective to develop the Corozal tourism product were deliberated upon.

Honourable Manuel Heredia's Endorsement Convention this Saturday
Reminder to Caye Caulker Residents and anyone interested, that the Honourable Manuel Heredia's Convention is this Saturday November 23rd 2019. If you wish to attend, you may register at either of the three following locations. E-Z Boy Tours, Caye Caulker Fuels and the UDP office. Upon registration, you will be asked to leave your Name, Phone Number and Shirt Size.

BTIA 34th Annual General Meeting
We cordially extend an invite to all our members and tourism stakeholders to attend our 34th Annual General Meeting on December 5th, 2019 at 9am at the Radisson Fort Gorge Hotel.

Dance X Cayo Performance
Dance X Belize is having their Cayo performance event next Friday, November 29th, at the Octavia Waight Centre. Cayo's own Western Heat dancers will be there, as will Orquidea Negra. Tickets are available at Jem Travel and the SISE HoC.

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
Lady and the Tramp, Gemini Man, Angel Has Fallen, It Ends.

The Legend Of Ixchel And Itzamná
Legend has it that in the days when the Ancient Lords were still mortals there existed a love so deep and pure that its strength created the sun and the moon, the day and the nights and the stars that shine above. Would you like to hear the story? A long time ago, in a land far away, there lived a beautiful woman named Ixchel, whose beauty charmed many men across the lands, including our young hero Itzamná. The charming Itzamná began to dazzle the beautiful and coveted Ixchel and in both grew a mutual love whose destiny was written in the skies.

Outdoor Movie Night at Mahogany Bay Village
Every Friday night at 8pm join us under the stars at Mahogany Bay Village Park for Movie Night! FREE ADMISSION, FREE POPCORN, FREE RAFFLE WITH AWESOME PRIZES + MORE! All locals, Belizeans, expats, travelers, and visitors are always welcome at Mahogany Bay’s events and dining establishments! Food and refreshments will be served at JYOTO Japanese restaurant / Sushi bar, Taco Shack, Dirty Martini, and all of our local food shacks as well. Check out the event discussion to find out which movie is playing and also to hear of rain updates since our venue is outdoor.

Channel 7

PUP Tells Judge PM Barrow Abused 'Special Warrants' For Unapproved Spending
Last night, we brought you coverage of the lawsuit that Leader of the opposition,  John Briceno and Julius Espat, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, brought against Prime Minister Dean Barrow, and his administration. They say that Prime Minister Barrow, acting as the Minister of Finance, has engaged in the unlawful spending of 1.3 billion dollars in public funds. As we told you, they claim he failed to get prior parliamentary approval for the spending of all that money, and that he tried to legitimize those expenditures by going to parliament and passing supplementary appropriations to cover the amounts that were spent years prior to that.

Fin Sec On the Big Oops
As we told you last night, the biggest reveal of this case so far is that the Barrow Administration has failed to get any parliamentary approval, prior or after the fact, to account for close to 100 million dollars in public funds. That money has been spent, but no appropriation bills have been passed to account to parliament for it, as is required by the law. The Financial Secretary made that admission in court yesterday when he was being cross-examined by Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay. This is a significant failure that legitimizes the PUP's case that going to parliament for supplementary appropriation bills, long after public monies have been spent, is a very bad idea. 

Nestor Vasquez Jr.'s Killer Got Bail
Nestor Vasquez Jr's family is outraged tonight after the man who viciously beat him in a Queen Street Police Station Cell block 5 months ago was offered bail. That brutal beat down led to Vasquez's death two days later. Francis has not been charged for Vasquez's murder but still he was offered bail of $8,000 for attempted murder in relation to another incident where he stabbed nurse Augustina Elijio - days before he killed Vasquez. Vasquez's brother Jules gave the media his reaction to the news and discussed the inadequacies of the justice system. Jules Vasquez - Brother of the Deceased: "We have received the news that Mr. Francis has been offered bail and I am told most recent, is that he hadn't met it but my family is dismayed, alarmed and angry that Mr. Francis who killed my brother is receiving bail when he has not been charged, more than 5 months after the murder of my brother..."

Late Evening Shooting Leaves Man Critical
There has been a shooting in Belize City - and it happened just before newstime - and just a few hundred feet from the Queen Street Police station.  Reports say that two men were seen running from the area near the New Road Bridge, while their victim lay on the street in a pool of blood.  But, he survived and was rushed to the KHMH where they found that he received two headshots, one entered over his left eye and exited  above the right eye, while the other shot hit his lower back. His condition is not known at this time.  

After 6 Years On Remand, Alleged Killer Walks Free
65 year old Marciano Correa, charged for the April 2013 murder of 43 year old Sisto Victorio Osorio, was freed of the charge today when a nolle pros was entered before of Justice Herbert Lord. Crown Counsel Urbina said it was due to insufficient evidence so, after 6 years on remand, Correa was free to go.  He was represented by attorney Dickie Bradley. Osorio, a resident of Libertad, was struck on his head with a blunt instrument and he died as a result of the injury he sustained. His body was found lying face down on the pavement in the village. Osorio was reportedly killed because of a family dispute. 

Paslow Is History, Say Hello To Heritage
Belize Heritage Plaza: That is the winning entry in the competition to name the site where the Paslow building once stood at the corner of Queen and North Front Streets in Downtown Belize City. The competition was launched in July of this year and the public was invited to make submissions and then Belizeans voted for the top 6 finalists.  After the online polls were closed and the 313 votes that were cast were counted, Eddie Middleton's entry "Belize Heritage Plaza" got 94 votes and won 1st place. His prize is $800.

Howell At The Yard
Belize's top intelligence lawman is in the UK having talks with the British.  A release from the British High Commissioner says that Sr. Superintendent Howell Gillett is, quote, "in London to hold strategic discussions with officials of UK Law enforcement agencies."   He is pictured at New Scotland Yard with Belize's High Commissioner to the UK, Perla Perdomo.   As history records, Belize's Special Branch has a long and storied history with its British counterparts.

Trouble Brewing At New Consolidated Tax Department
The Tax Services Department is the recently amalgamated cluster of the Income Tax and Sales Tax Departments - and, tonight, it's running into major static from the Public Service Union.   The PSU warns that all is not well within the newly amalgamated department. And, the Union says, quote, "employees of the Belize Tax Services Department remain uneasy and not fully sensitized on the amalgamation process communication is poor and is indicative of a deficientchange management team and strategy which leads us to caution that the organizational changes are bound to fail."  End quote.

Belize Goes From Blacklist to Grey-list
The Financial Secretary also discussed the recent news that the The Economic and Financial Affairs Council of the European Union has agreed to remove Belize from the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions, which is the blacklist'.  Today, the Fin Sec said Belize is now in the grey list:

Economy Listing Due To Drought
The Financial Secretary was also asked about his perspective on the health of the country's economy. He noted that while everyone wants to see growth, they are mindful that this year's extended drought has hurt the nation's major industries. Here's are the Fin Sec's comments on that topic: Joseph Waight - Financial Secretary: "The economy, of course, we would like to see more growth. We realise that the drought has set us back..."

Scammed of 4k On FB
A 72 year old Placencia man was swindled out of $4,000 - in a bogus sale that was set up on facebook. Allan Stamp wanted to buy a golf cart from a person who goes by the name of Thomas Young on facebook. Young arranged to have someone meet Stamp in Belama and collect the money. But after that transaction, Young could not be found and Stamp never got his golf cart. Police told us more at the press briefing this morning. Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero - CIB: "Allan Stamp, 72 years naturalised Belizean of Placencia Village reported that he made contact with one Thomas Young on Facebook regarding the sale of a golf cart...".

A Conviction for Drug Trafficking
In 2010, it was big news when  San Ignacio police found 20 kilos, or 46 pounds of cocaine concealed under a vehicle driven by Corozal resident Carlos Gibson.  It was coming over from Guatemala.   Well, almost a decade later, reports say Gibson has been fined for the drugs.   He reportedly pleaded guilty at Belmopan Supreme Court and was fined $25,000 to be paid by 30th June of next year or in default face 2 yrs imprisonment.

Fort Street Tourism Village, From Grace To Grass, Cream To Crumbs
The Fort Street Tourism Village was once a vibrant disembarkation point for cruise ship visitors, a place that bustled with excited new arrivals who freely interacted with the locals, purchasing their products and services, and providing many of them with an independent means of making a living form tourism.  But according to the tour operators and vendors that remain active in the FSTV, those days are long gone. They say that their opportunities to live from cruise tourism revenue has been worsening for three years now, and according to them, the cruise and big tour companies have stifled their business ventures, even resorting to smear campaigns.

Kids Really Care About Failing Healthcare
Last nigh on the news we had extensive coverage of the children's parliament - where 31 youth leaders got to blast the government on any number of topics.    But, what was the #1 area of grievance?  Well, it was health.  11 of the 31 youth reps spoke about inadequacies in the healthcare system.

Channel 5

How Government Spends the People’s Money
Arguments wrapped up before the Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin on a case brought against the Government by John Briceño and Julius Espat of the People’s United Party. In the two-day [...]

P.U.P. Case Against G.O.B. Wraps Up, Judgment Pending
The case suit against the Minister of Finance, the Financial Secretary and the Attorney General hinges on four main points and at the conclusion of the hearing, Espat told the [...]

Johnny Says It’s About Transparency and Accountability
The outcome of the challenge, according to Opposition Leader John Briceño, should set precedence for other jurisdictions within the region insofar as the expenditure of public funds.  He also explains [...]

Union and G.O.B. Meet to Discuss Workers Concerns at Belize Tax Service
Since the Belize Tax Service was launched back in August, as an amalgamation of the General Sales Tax and Income Tax departments, there have been various concerns among members of [...]

The Vasquez family Sounds Off on Bail Offered to Nestor’s Killer
This morning twenty-eight-year-old Collin Francis was offered bail for the attempted murder of Nurse Augustina Elijio. Bail was set at eight thousand dollars plus two sureties of the same amount. [...]

Vasquez Family Wants Answers
According to Jules Vasquez, the family hasn’t heard of further development in the case. He says that he has reached out the Director of Public Prosecution. Today, he told reporters [...]

Jorge Espat Meets with Opposition Leader to Discuss Removal of Guatemalan Squatters
Guatemalan squatters who continue to illegally occupy private property belonging to businessman Jorge Espat on the Belizean side of western border, near the Adjacency Zone, continues to be an issue.  [...]

I.C.J. Bipartisan Committee Functioning Well, says John Briceño
On April tenth, 2019 Belizeans voted in favor of taking the Belize Guatemala dispute to the International Court of Justice to be settled permanently. A month later, Belize submitted its notification [...]

No Principal at Julian Cho, Toledo’s Largest High School
Julian Cho Technical High School is arguably the largest secondary school in Toledo District and tonight it is without a principal.  That is because acting principal Doctor Kent Arzu’s last [...]

Land Minister Speaks on Reports of Land Grab along Developing Airport Link Road
In May 2018 the government signed a thirty-four million dollars contract with CISCO Construction Limited for the construction of the Airport Link Road. Works are currently underway, which include the construction [...]

Land Transaction Goes Sour; Buyer Loses Tens of Thousands of Dollars
An American investor says she has been jilted out of tens of thousands of dollars after a land transaction went south. Specific details of the allegations are still forthcoming but [...]

Is Lands Department Still a Hotbed of Corruption?
In October 2013, Prime Minister Dean Barrow told the diaspora in Los Angeles that the Lands Department is another hotbed of corruption and that the administration tried to do something about [...]

Lands Department Mobilizes to Address Citizens’ Land Issues
According to Minister Patt, to enhance the Land Department’s efficiency in providing its service, a community outreach program has been designed whereby the department’s staff and officials such as the [...]

A Golf Car Deal Goes Awfully Wrong for a Placencia Resident
A man from Placencia was conned out of four thousand dollars. Police say that seventy-two-year-old naturalized Belizean Allan Stamm saw a deal for a golf cart on Facebook and contacted [...]

A Shooting in the City Leaves 1 Man Injured
A Belize City man was shot sometime around mid-day today. The shooting reportedly happened on Lavender Street. According to information we received, the victim is twenty-eight-year-old Francis Arana.  Sources say [...]

Elton Bennett to Take Over as Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard
There will be a changing of the guard at the Belize Coast Guard; the baton passes on to the current Vice Commandant Elton Bennett, who has been with the unit [...]

PM Addresses Culture Pressures at Garifuna Settlement Day
On Tuesday Belizeans all over celebrated Garifuna Settlement Day. As a part of the activities, an official programme was held in the “culture capital” Dangriga.  The re-enactment of the Garinagu [...]

Leader of the Opposition Champions the Garifuna Language
The theme for this year’s celebration, when translated, is “Garifuna Language is the foundation of Garifuna survival.” Leader of the Opposition John Briceño also spoke at the official ceremonies in [...]

B.D.F. and Coastguard Teams Neck & Neck in Best Warrior Competition
Day two of the Best Warrior Competition took the B.D.F. and Coastguard teams to Price Barracks, the home of Belize Defense Force.  The obstacles today were more gruelling and the [...]

The Reporter

Public Astonishment – Collin Francis Get Bail
The Reporter has confirmed that Collin Francis, 28, is currently in the holding cell at the Courthouse in Belize City after he was granted bail in the sum of $8000 plus two sureties this morning.

Belize City Family Launch Blanket Drive to Keep the Homeless Warm
The Christmas season is for sharing, caring and keeping warm and this year the Molina Family from Belize City is doing just that with their annual blanket drive used to gather warm, snuggly blankets for homeless persons during the extremely cold season.

Forestry Officers On Lookout for Cat Poachers Near PG
A young male Ocelot – a species of wildcat that is similar to the Jaguar – was discovered killed and beheaded on Sunday morning in the Dump Area near Punta Gorda, not far from where a decapitated Jaguar was found earlier this year.

LOVE FM

Colin Francis not yet charged for Nestor Vasquez’s murder
28-year-old Colin Francis has been given bail for the attempted murder of Nurse Augustine Elijio, who was stabbed back in July at the Port Loyal Mental Health Centre. Less than a week later, Francis was also accused of killing 60-year-old Nestor Vasquez Junior after they were both placed in the same holding cell on Queen Street.

Students participate in reading competition
A reading competition geared at promoting literacy in the Cayo District concluded today. Correspondent Fem Cruz has the story.

PSU not happy with management of Belize Tax Department
Members of the Public Service Union (PSU) and the Belize Tax Services Department held a meeting yesterday to discuss issues within the Tax Department. According to PSU, while they have been respectful to the Financial Secretary and the Director General, they have not been given the same respect.

Breaking Belize News

Time running out on Galen Scholarship text competition
Persons interested in winning a scholarship to Galen University valued at $30,000 still have just […]

Placencia Belize’s Trendiest New Destination Debuts on December 10, 2019
As the holidays approach, Itz’ana Resort and Residences intend to give Caribbean travelers an early […]

Collin Francis offered bail in attempted murder case; Vasquez family objects
Five months after attempting to kill Nurse Augustina Elijio at her office on Fabers’ Road, […]

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Keith Gilges engages with GREAT students
Today, United States Embassy in Belize Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Keith Gilges engaged with Standard […]

Pallotine Centennial Monument Committee commissions sculpture of Sister Dominica
Sr. Dominica Senn, first Pallottine Superior in Belize The views expressed in this article are those of the […]

San Ignacio and Santa Elena Town Council/businesses hosting huge blow out sale this Saturday
Businesses from San Ignacio and Santa Elena and the council of the Twin Towns are […]

Belize to be represented at Mexican culture festival
Belize will be the guest country at the 7th edition Festival of Caribbean Culture – FECUCA […]

Santa Elena primary school celebrates World Children’s Day
Today, Santa Elena Primary School in Cayo is celebrating World Children’s Day 2019 with free […]

PAHO working with health sector to develop new National HIV Strategic Plan
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said this week that it has been working closely […]

Team Belize defeats Nicaragua at volleyball
Belize’s U-18 squad continues to perform extremely well at the Central American Female Volleyball Championship […]

People’s United Party vows not to repeat financial mistakes; says cost of Petrocaribe continues to rise
For the leader of the Opposition, John Briceño, the court case he is currently fighting […]

Government challenged in court over supplementary spending
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dean Barrow; Financial Secretary Joseph Waight, and Attorney General […]

Blogs

3 Awesome Instagrammable Places in Belize
Belize is a small country with breathtaking surroundings. There are many picturesque places. Beautiful cayes, surrounded by turquoise waters, ancient Maya sites and majestic waterfalls hidden amongst Belize’s lush jungle are just a few stunning locations and sites worth visiting and worth capturing beautiful moments to remind you of your travels. As you travel across Belize, walk off the beaten path you may discover some great compositions. Here are our top 3 Instagrammable places to consider when visiting Belize.

The Ultimate Belizean Fudge Recipe
On a scale of one to ten, how much of a sugar freak are you? We would like to believe that everyone has a sweet tooth buried somewhere within them, especially when it comes to taking a bite of a Belizean fudge. Belize has some unique and interesting, yet delicious sweets that we urge you to try when you’re here. Belizean fudge, one of our all-time favorite desserts, differs from your typical fudge recipes that are chocolate-based. Belizean fudge is a sweet little treat composed mainly of condensed milk, peanuts, sugar, and often rounded with raisins or shredded coconuts if you please. It is very smooth and perfect for your sweet cravings.

Altun Ha: An Amazing Archaeological Site to Visit in Belize
Altun Ha is one of several important Maya sites that dot Belize. Although Altun Ha is still being explored, it has already given archaeologists and historians important clues about the way the Maya lived, traded and developed their economies. The site is about 30 miles from Belize City and it is open to the public every day. There is also a museum at the site. Like many Maya ruins in Belize, Altun Ha sits in a thickly forested jungle area populated by numerous animals. You’ll see dozens of bird species in addition to animals like foxes, deer, squirrels, and armadillos. Crocodiles inhabit the reservoir that was originally built by Altun Ha’s Maya residents, and the site is also home to tapirs, Belize’s national animals.

Wildlife Sanctuaries
Wildlife is one of Belize’s best-kept treasures with about 145 species of mammals, 139 species of reptiles, and over 500 species of birds; it is an absolute wonderland and such a beautiful sight for our travellers. Which means it is of key importance that the wildlife is protected from hunters and poachers, so as to keep these species from extinction and to keep the ecosystems thriving. As a result, there are a number of wildlife sanctuaries and reserves, namely: Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, The Community Baboon Sanctuary, and Green Iguana Conservation Project.

Chillaxin' on Caye Caulker
One of our favorite day trips is traveling to our nearby sister island, Caye Caulker. This quaint little Caye is known for its chill atmosphere, sunny days, lovely beaches, good food, and cold drinks! While living in San Pedro, spending a day on Caye Caulker is like having a mini vacation and, of course, if you are visiting Ambergris Caye, it certainly is a must do afternoon visit. Once you arrive to Caye Caulker, no matter how you get there it is time to get your “chill” attitude on! Basically, there is one main road on the Caye, the street is a sandy beach road bustling with restaurants, people walking or riding bikes or an occasional golf cart will scoot by. As you slowly stroll down the street taking in all the vendors, we suggest to shop at some of the local street jewelers or artists. If you prefer to do a little store shopping, we highly suggest the Toucan Gift Store, tons of fun tchotchkes.

Videos

November 21, 2019

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.

The San Pedro Sun

BEL officially inaugurates new office in San Pedro Town
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) officially inaugurated its new office building on Pescador Drive in San Pedro Town, on Friday, November 15th. BEL employees, island authorities, loyal customers, and the media witnessed the inaugural ceremony. Constructed at the cost of $700, 0000, the structure symbolizes BEL’s commitment to providing the best quality of service to its customers.

Ambergris Today

Belize & Taiwan Sign Project Agreement For The Strengthening Of Medical Imaging Services In Belize
On Monday, November 18, 2019, the Government of Belize through the Ministry of Health and the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) signed a project agreement to improve the Medical Imaging Services in Belize. The project beneficiaries are two regional public hospitals and the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. The project will increase accessibility to quality and safe imaging services as a means towards achieving universal access to health.

Ministry Of Tourism Hosts Mundo Maya European Press Trip
On November 15th and 16th, the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation hosted European press in efforts to promote the community tourism trail called Holpatin, being developed by the Ministry in the Orange Walk District. The team, which included journalists from Agencia EFE, Nattule, and Periodista Digital are visiting all five countries of the Mundo Maya region as part of a tour organized by the Mundo Maya Organization to promote the community projects that were part of the Regional Maya Community-based Tourism Program.

Don't Hang On To Mistakes Of The Past
- by Seleni Perez - Your mistakes do not define you. (Psalms 37:24). We have all had rough rides in the road of life and along the way we have had bumps and wrong turns. It’s true sometimes we may not be the wisest, and several times we have made regrettable decisions that up to this day may haunt us. But let’s not be hard on ourselves by dragging our past wherever we go, but rather take these as valuable life lessons. Many times our past mistakes are a baggage we carry around and never want to let go, as if we create an attachment to it to create self-punishment. Don’t do that!

Various Belizean Sources

BELIZE U18 VOLLEYBALL BEAT HUNDURAS 3-1!
Belize opens the U-18 Central American Female Volleyball Championship with a 3-1 (26-24, 25-22, 15-25, 25-19) win over Honduras, the previous champion.

CCBTIA Annual General Meeting
The Caye Caulker Belize Tourism Industry Association (CCBTIA) is holding its Annual General Meeting this Friday, November 22, 2019. Venue: Island Magic Conference Room Time: 6:30 - 9:30 Our Guest Speaker is Ms. Anne Marie Thompson - Labour Commissioner

Successful candidates of the Pharmacy Licensure Examination
The Pharmacy Unit conducted a small certification ceremony this afternoon for the 16 successful candidates of the Pharmacy Licensure Examination of September 2019. The Director of Health Services, Dr. Marvin Manzanero who is also the Chair of the Board of Examiners congratulated the successful candidates encouraging them to contribute and participate in the health discussions and as well to do their part ensuring that patients have a better health experience with their pharmacist.

Belizean Joyce Dawson Missing in Cancun
Help us find Belizean Joyce Dawson who went missing in Cancun, Mexico. She was last seen October 26th in Cancun. Contact your local police station for any info.

EntreCon 2019
On 20 November 2015, BELTRAIDE’s Small Business Development Centre, Belize (SBDCBelize) launched its National Entrepreneurship Strategy at its First Annual National Entrepreneurship Conference (EntreCon). EntreCon is now an annual event and this year we are celebrating out 5th annual conference designed to create a platform for bringing together key players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, with the purpose of: • sharing ideas, • creating awareness of existing and new business and investment opportunities, • promoting innovation; and • building an entrepreneurship culture. Early bird registration for EntreCon 2019 ends on November 26th 2019, as a key partner we invite you to sign up and take advantage of the early bird registration fee of $50 , registration is to be done via http://www.belizeentrecon.com/registration.html

Job opportunity - Belize Sugar Industries Limited
Belize Sugar Industries Limited invites qualified and self-motivated individuals to submit applications for the position of Boiler Operator at Tower Hill, Orange Walk. The Boiler Operator monitors and operates systems and equipment in the Power Plant in accordance with standard operating procedures. This position will operate, inspect, maintain and troubleshoot all generation plant steam and combustion turbines, generating and auxiliary equipment, fuel storage and ash handling facilities.

Corozal Week 10 Football Schedule
Support our local Football Teams. Week 10 Schedule, It all happens at the Carolina Football Field, Sunday, November 24, 2019 starting at 9:00 a.m.

German Tour Operators and Journalist Familiarization Tour
BTB photos...

Ya’axché’s Community Outreach and Livelihoods program
We invite communities to Ya’axché’s Community Forum to learn about our Community Outreach and Livelihoods program. The program focuses on improving the current agricultural practices, the economic situation of communities and the way they utilize land. Program director Gustavo Requena, Community Liaison Manager Julio Chub and Agroecology Extension Coordinator Elmer Burgos will also share information on integrated farming, beekeeping and community cacao concession. Join us at 9:00 am on Friday, 22nd of November 2019 at San Pedro Columbia Nazarene Education Centre for this session. The day event starts at 8:30am and ends at 3:00 pm.

MAYA STORY: ITZAMNA , THE MAYAB AND THE PROPHECY
Long ago, but a long time ago, Itzamná created the universe and the world. Then Itzamna decided to create a land that was so beautiful that everyone who knew it would want to live there, in love with its beauty. Then he created El Mayab, the land of the elect, and planted in it the most beautiful flowers that adorned the roads, created huge cenotes whose crystalline waters reflected the light of the sun and also deep caverns full of mystery. Later, Itzamná gave the new land to the Maya and chose three animals to live forever in El Mayab and whoever thought of them would remember it immediately. Those chosen by Itzamná were the pheasant, the deer and the rattlesnake. The Maya lived happily and were in charge of building palaces and stone cities. Meanwhile, the animals chosen by Itzamná never tired of touring the Mayab.

Channel 7

Barrow Admin's 100 Million dollar "Oops!"�
The Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition are currently in the Supreme Court due to a lawsuit that the PUP has brought against the Barrow Administration. John Briceño as leader of the PUP, and Julius Espat at the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee are the claimants in this case, and they assert the Prime Minister as the Minister of Finance of spent approximately 1.3 billion dollars in public monies without first seeking parliamentary approval. They say that this is bad governance, and poor accountability for public spending and they're trying to convince Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin of their position. They are being represented in the claim by the Senior Counsels, Eamon Courtenay and Andrew Marshalleck. And the Government has made an interesting move; they've retained the services of Justin Lockhart Simon, a Queens Counsel from the Caribbean. He had to be called to Bar in Belize in order to represent the Government in this case today.

Another Wagner Murdered
Monday night was the eve of Garifuna Settlement day but while the seaside town of Dangriga should only have been echoing with the beating of drums and voices raised in song, instead, they heard gunshots, as a bullet found its target 20 year old Jahvis Wagner - who died on the spot in the Harlem area of Dangriga Town. It's more than just another sad murder; it's now a web of familial violence: his stepfather Edwin Felix Nasario was killed in the parking lot of the Southern Regional Hospital in July.

COMPOL Calms Griga
But while police seek the public's help with this murder, there are reports of another mounting feud building in Dangriga among young men and teenage boys. Commissioner of Police Williams today assured the residents that police will maintain a strong presence in the town during the next two weeks, to contain retaliation and squash any existing beef. "We as a department, our primary function is the protection of life and property. I know that yes at times it is difficult due to the lack of information coming to us. But whenever we do have information about anything that is about to occur, we normally act on those information..."

OW Driver Charged For Cyclist's Death
The truck driver who accidentally crushed a cyclist beneath the wheels of his 10 wheeler went to court today. 31 year old Cyril Valencio, from Orange Walk Town, who knocked down and killed Rudolph Arnold on Monday afternoon, was charged with manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct and drove motor vehicle without due care and attention when he appeared today before Magistrate Khadeem Palmer.

Youths In the House!
There was a very special sitting of The House today in Belmopan. It was the Children's parliament. High school and primary school students from all over the country took over the National Assembly and assumed the roles of all the representatives in their respective areas. It is part of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of Child.

What Next For Youth Parliament?
After the almost 3 hour long session with the child parliamentarians, we also spoke to two of the organizing committee members about the purpose of the initiative, the outcome, and possible future child-centered events. Sharon Young, Organization Committee Member: "Today was one of the main activities in the calendar of activities in celebration of the 30th year anniversary of Belize signing on to the UN declaration on children's rights and today's parliament was really the combination of two training sessions held over the last 2 months with all of the children that you observed here today and what we wanted to get from them was their perspective on the issues that are affecting our Belizean children..."

Hons. Cordel and Carla, Lessons Learned
We also spoke to PUP deputy party leader Cordel Hyde who applauded the kids on their presentation and behavior in the house. Hon. Cordel Hyde, PUP Lake I: "I am glad I came. They put us to shame. They have well researched, well prepared, better behaved, rather articulate and really in touch with the issues. I think it's a wake us call for us as parliamentarians that we really need to listen to these kids, because we are legislating for them, we are providing for them, but we don't ever speak to them and so they have this kind of thing maybe once every quarter or twice a year because it is important that parliamentarians are the ones who are providing the resources, understand and appreciate what the children need and what the children want and see. So I am glad I came."

Youth Reps React
We also got feedback from the youth representatives - who were Prime Minister and Opposition Leader for a few hours. We asked them what it was like to be King and Queen for a day:

Police Will Get Transport Relief
If you travel the highways at odd hours - you'll see police on the roadside trying to catch a ride home. It's not a good look for law men and women to be begging for rides - plus it's unsafe for them to hitchhike. And that is why it was certainly with some relief that Commissioner Chester Williams today called the press to say he's coming through on a long held promise: he's getting two busses to transport the the police - with a quarter million dollar hands up from the Taiwanese. He told us about the new Coaster buses that he got after months of lobbying the Taiwanese and visiting the island nation himself:

Babylon and Big Brother Introduce Surveillance State AKA "Safe Cities"�
And while police will sleep safer with those buses, what about the residents of Belize City? It's the most high crime area of the country and now - under the Safe Cities initiative - police are hoping to blanket the city with over a hundred cameras. Williams told us more about the initiative: Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: "We have come to some agreement that the project will be piloted this December and January of next year. So, we are in the preparation stage for the implementation of the piloting project. We are constructing the camera command center which will be right behind the Raccoon Police Station..."

COMPOL Lashes Out At Liquor License Board
And a part for keeping cities safe is avoiding trouble at nightclubs. And Williams says the liquor licensing board is not doing its part - including at Club Eruption in Ladyville where he has some major issues: Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: "Over the holiday, I think it was Tuesday night, we had launched an operation at a nightclub in Ladyville, I think it is Eruption Nightclub. Upon the police's inspection, there was no license displayed as is required by law and so the proprietors were asked to produce their license and they couldn't produce one..."

The Strange Case Of Derrick Martinez
Viewers may remember the very strange case of Derrick Ramirez. He was the fisherman from Dangriga who went missing in August of this year while he was a fishing trip near Cross Caye. It was feared that he was murdered, and several days later, his family's worst fears were confirmed his body was discovered off the coast of Dangriga. But, the case took an unusual turn when the main suspect in Ramirez's killing also went missing at sea. He's Oscar Williams Jr., and shortly after police started investigating this crime, he was taken into police custody.

Knocked Down And Killed Child, Pleads To Lesser Charge
He was charged with manslaughter for knocking down and killing an 11 year old girl in 2015, but 58 year old Honduran National Jose Rodriguez pleaded guilty today to the lesser charge. In October of 2015, Terrezah Thompson was crossing the highway to get to her Mahogany Heights home when she was hit by a GMC truck driven by Jose Rodriguez. Young Terrezah was thrown across the highway by the impact and sustained injuries from which she eventually died.

PUP Says Taiwanese Will Hire Belizeans For Road Works in Sarteneja
Last week we told you about groundbreaking ceremony for the upgrade of the Corozal/Sarteneja Road, the 27 miles of road which is estimated to cost 50 million US dollars. Well the opposition has expressed some concern about the project generally. The OECC gave the opposition a presentation of the Details of the road work for the upgrading of the Corozal-Sarteneja Road, and assured the PUP that they are committed to hiring Belizeans to work on the project.

The Best Warrior Competition Returns
Several elements of Belize's security forces are currently competing the Belize Coast Guard's 7th Best Warrior Competition. It's a one-of-kind event where fittest fighting units from the BDF and the Coast Guard engage in some of the most difficult physical fitness tests to find out who among them are the best of the best.

Drums Lead The Way in Dangriga
It may have been Garifuna Settlement Day - but Belizeans of every ethnicity celebrated it yesterday. But, nowhere was it as rich as Dangriga. We have some highlites courtesy the Government Press Office:

PM's Ode To Dangriga's Delights
And, while the day started with festivities the main event was the official ceremonies - which featured the area rep Frank Mena, The Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, the Leader of the Opposition, as well as a number of Ministers, Senators, standard bearers, and diplomats. It was an A-list event, for sure, and the PM put a cap on it with a sort of ode to Dangriga:

Drummers, Take It Home!
And we leave you tonight with more from Dangriga, as those official ceremonies were followed with the customary parade through the streets of Dangriga. We leave you with that, footage courtesy the press office. Enjoy and join me back here tomorrow.

Channel 5

Nasi, Sucu and Jahv are Murdered Several Months Apart
The third member of the Wagner family was murdered in Dangriga on the eve of Garifuna Settlement Day. The southern municipality was overflowing with revelers in anticipation of the holiday [...]

Police Beef Up Presence in Dangriga
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams says that the police will maintain an increased presence in Dangriga.   The Police Department will be carrying out a number of operations in that town, [...]

Escapee is Alive; Police Actions into Officers Move Forward
Police also gave an update on another case in Dangriga involving a gruesome murder.  In early August, we reported about missing man Derrick Ramirez whose body had washed up in [...]

Police Crackdown on Establishments Licensed to Sell Liquor
The Commissioner of Police says that the police will be cracking down on establishments that sell liquor, particularly the nightclubs.  According to Chester Williams, the crackdown is to ensure that [...]

B.P.D. Concerned that Liquor Licensed Establishment May Not be Meeting Requirements
Commissioner Williams says that his concerns about the nightclub extend beyond not having the liquor license displayed.  He says that this business was granted a license, but there are requirements [...]

The Rights of a Child Takes Center Stage at Children’s Parliament
Parliament today had a much different feel and tone. The special sitting was called to mark International Children’s Day so young students from all over the country were standing in [...]

P.U.P. Legally Challenges Government Expenditure from Public Purse
Opposition Leader John Briceño and Julius Espat, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, are claimants in a suit brought against the Minister of Finance, Prime Minister Dean Barrow, Financial Secretary [...]

FinSec Says Government Regularly Exceeds Approved Limit of Public Monies
While PM Barrow and AG Peyrefitte’s names appear as defendants on the claim, neither government officials appeared in court today.  Instead, the financial secretary appeared alone and was represented by [...]

PAC Chairman Weighs in on Fin Sec’s Testimony
In court, the issue of accountability for a hundred million dollars, spent during the fiscal year 2012 and 2013, was raised before the Financial Secretary.  According to PAC Chairman, Julius [...]

P.U.P. on Sarteneja Link Road
Work for a twenty-seven-mile stretch of road linking Corozal Town to Sarteneja started last week following the inauguration of the fifty-million-U.S.-dollar project. The major infrastructure project is being funded by [...]

Jose Rodriguez, Guilty of Causing Death by Careless Conduct
In the Supreme Court, Jose Rodriguez pleaded guilty to “Causing Death by Careless Conduct” in the fatal traffic accident which claimed the life of eleven-year-old Tezzrah Thompson, four years ago. [...]

Orange Walk Resident Arraigned for Fatal Accident involving Rudolph Arnold
Also in the courts, Orange Walk resident is facing charges of manslaughter by negligence. He is Cyril Valencio, who was driving a delivery truck that knocked down and crushed Rudolph [...]

Lands Minister Hugo Comments on Guatemalan Squatters
A group of about thirty Guatemalan families continues to illegal settle on a piece of land along the western border in Benque, unwilling to relocate because they are of the [...]

B.P.D. Receives Transportation Donation from Taiwanese Government
Today, Taiwanese Ambassador Remus Li-Kuo Chen gifted the Belize Police Department a brand new coaster.  A short ceremony was held for a symbolic handing over, as the coaster bus will [...]

Safer City Initiative Project to be Piloted in Belize City
Police are embarking in a pilot project called the Safer City Initiative. The project will see the installation of a network of high-definition cameras with enhanced capabilities to help police [...]

Lands Minister Explains Extension of Land Amnesty Programme
The government’s Land Amnesty Programme has been extended by a month and three weeks. The programme was originally conceived as a six-month initiate, but a statutory instrument, which was gazetted on [...]

Hugo Patt Speaks on Campaign Progress
Hugo Patt is aspiring to be the first deputy leader for the United Democratic Party. He is part John Saldivar’s slate who vying to be party leader and with Beverly [...]

Day-One of the 2019 Best Warrior Competition
The Annual Best Warrior Competition got underway this morning and continues until Friday.  Teams of competing soldiers of the Belize Defence Force and the Belize Coastguard are pushing their limits [...]

Desmond Berry Wins KTV Latino Season Four
This season’s KTV Latino champ is a familiar face from the west. After several rounds of song competition, on Monday night Desmond Berry   went on to take home the title [...]

Miss Universe Belize Destinee Arnold on KTLA 5 News
The Miss Universe pageant will be aired live on December eighth from the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States. As that day inches closer, Belize’s delegate [...]

The Reporter

A Challenge To How Petro-Caribe $ Were Spent Goes To Court
Arguments in the Petro-Caribe case of Julius Espat versus the Government of Belize began Wednesday afternoon (Nov 20th.) before Chief Justice, Kenneth Benjamin. The case has to do with the government’s use of some $1.3 Billion of Petrocaribe monies for what Espat and the PUP feel there was inadequate accountability to Parliament.

Garifuna Settlement Day Official Ceremony 2019
In the year 1832 a group of Garinagu, also known as the Garifuna people arrived on the southern shores of Belize, which is now known as the Stann Creek and Toledo Districts. By small boats and schooner they made there way across the dangerous waves of the Caribbean sea form the island of St. Vincent.

LOVE FM

Garifuna Settlement Day 2019 a huge success
Dangriga saw thousands converge in that municipality in celebration of Garifuna Settlement Day celebration. An official opening ceremony was held at the Alejo Beni Park.

Belizean National is Concordia University 2019 Valedictorian
Corozal Resident, Carlos Zetina wears the Belizean Spirit high as he is named the 2019 Valedictorian of Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. Zetina graduated with a PhD in Industrial Engineering.

Police Department catering to its officers
The Belize Police Department received a hundred thousand dollars from the Republic of China (Taiwan). The Commissioner of Police sent a proposal to Taipei, Republic of China which amounted to over two hundred and fifty-thousand-dollars to purchase two buses.

Kids today, leader tomorrow – International Children’s Day celebrated in Belize
Earlier in the news we told you of the Children Parliament that took place today in Belmopan. We have gotten the reaction from a Senator and an Area Representative who highlighted the importance of listening to the young voices.

Children in Parliament
The National Assembly was in session today; but instead of the duly elected Area Representatives occupying the 31 seats, children from around the country took over the seats in the House. Correspondent Jorge Aldana was in attendance and filed this report.

Over one dozen new pharmacology students graduate
Over one dozen pharmacists graduated today in Belmopan. Cayo Correspondent Pauline Soberanis-Tillett has the story.

Garinagu tasked with renaming the Hummingbird Highway
Plans to rename the Hummingbird Highway are underway by the Government of Belize. The Garinagu community has been tasked with proposing a name for the Hummingbird Highway as part of this year’s celebrations.

People United Party versus the Government of Belize
While the opposition cannot undo the spending that has been done under the Barrow administration, they are hoping that they could stop them from future undertakings. This afternoon the Government of Belize and the People’s United Party went head to head once again before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin.

Jose Rodriguez pleads guilty
Jose Rodriguez pleaded guilty to causing death by careless conduct after his initial charge of manslaughter by negligence was downgraded. The charge comes from a fatal traffic accident that claimed the life of 11-year-old Tezzrah Thompson.

PUP Caucus meets with OECC
The Northern Caucus of the PUP and the Overseas Engineering and Construction Corporation (OECC) from the Republic of China (Taiwan) met to discuss the works that the OECC is currently involved in. Present for the meeting was Vice President James Hsaiao, project manager Pablo Shih, general manager assistant Jason Lin, and a representative from the Embassy of Taiwan, David Wu.

Safer City Initiative
The Commissioner of Police through the Ministry of National Security is evaluating different measures that can be implemented to have a safer Belize. They are in the preparation stage for the implementation of a pilot...

Tourist Discovers Gillnets In Marine Reserve
Last Friday, 450 feet of gillnets were found in the Gladden Split and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve. Trapped in the gillnets were a variety of species, including sharks, groupers, and snappers. Julia Oney, one of the...

Eighteenth Night Murder
Within a period of four months, two brothers and their stepfather have been killed by gun violence. 21-year-old Jahvin Wagner was shot to the head on Tuesday night in Dangriga.

Police Operation In Eruption Nightclub
The Belize Police Department continues to crack down on bars and other establishments that sell liquor. On Tuesday Night an operation was launched at the Eruption Nightclub in Ladyville.

Four Persons Busted For Drug Trafficking
A Belize City woman was arrested and charged for drug trafficking. On November 18, 2019, just after midday, police officers conducted a patrol on Waight Street, Belize City. They observed a female, identified as 20-year-old...

Patrick Faber Visits Paris With Other World Ministers
Minister of Education and Culture Patrick Faber has joined the ranks of over 140 ministers and high representatives in Paris, France. During the 40th session of the General Conference, Faber presented a National Statement to 120...

Breaking Belize News

Belize’s U-18 female volleyball team doing extremely well in regional competition
Belize’s U-18 female volleyball team continues to perform extremely well at the 13th Central American […]

PUP northern caucus meets with Taiwanese construction company
The Northern Caucus of the People’s United Party (PUP) met with the Overseas Engineering & […]

Belizean reported missing in Cancun, Mexico
A Belizean woman from Santa Elena, Cayo has been reported missing in Cancun, Mexico. Twenty-seven […]

Important Things You Must Know Before Buying Property In Belize
Are you planning to join the thousands of expatriates and retirees who have bought property […]

Legacy Global Development Anticipates Belize Tourism and Real Estate Boom Resulting from this New Development
As of November 14, 2019, the Government of Belize has officially commenced the construction of the Corozal-Sarteneja Road. […]

Driver pleads guity to child’s accidental death
Jose Rodriguez, 58, a Honduran national charged with manslaughter by negligence, pleaded guilty to the […]

Driver charged in gas truck accident
Cyril Valencio, 31, a truck driver of Orange Walk Town, who allegedly knocked down handyman […]

Sacred Heart Junior College to host open day
Sacred Heart Junior College (SHJC) is hosting an open day on Thursday, November 28, from […]

CNBC lists Belize as one of 6 best destinations for adventure travel
Just over a week since its last positive international highlight, Belize has been noted again […]

Taiwan donates funds for new bus to police
Today, the Belize Police Department received a donation of $100,000 for the purchase of a […]

Belize celebrates World Children’s Day 2019
Today oday is World Children’s Day 2019! Belize is celebrating under the theme “ Protect and secure the well-being of our children” […]

SEA Enforcement Team responds to report of gill net found by tour guides
On November 15, Rangers from the Southern Environmental Association (SEA) along with two Belize Coast […]

Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture attends UNESCO forum for Ministers of Culture
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture, Patrick Faber, joins the […]

Blogs

CHRISTMAS IS HERE! A Trip to Mirab is a MUST For the Holidays
I know I KNOW what you are thinking. No Christmas until Thanksgiving is over. But here’s the thing. Thanksgiving is a VERY American holiday. The fairy tale like story of American settlers and indigenous people coming together to feast. The calm before the storm. If you live in Belize – Mirab is A MUST for Christmas cheer. They have 1001 beautiful gift wrappings and bags. The shoes are beautiful – I love that they are everything from glitter heels to Birkenstock like sandals. Sneakers…

International Sources

Lesser known Caribbean islands make the perfect expat retirement hideaways
The Caribbean Sea’s stunning coastline extends to encompass Mexico, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Belize, all offering the same dramatically blue waters and white beaches famed in tourist publications. The lesser-known islands tend to be smaller but no less stunning than their larger neighbours, as well as far less expensive in everything from accommodation to food. Ambergris Caye lies offshore from Belize and has just one town, San Pedro, as well as the Belize barrier reef with its living corals and shoals of fish. Even less well-known is Roatan with its 50 square miles of luscious green foliage, white-sand beaches and laid-back, inexpensive lifestyle. No high rise developments and no big-name resorts spoil its ambience, and English is commonly spoken, making it a dream destination for a comfortable retirement.

Bumpers College Honors Students Publish Service Learning Research
Honors agribusiness major Sarah Beth DeLay completed her research with professorLanier Nalley. Her article, "Poultry, Protein and Profit Across Continents: A Perspective on How Poultry is Changing Lives in Belize and Mozambique," was published in Vol.8 Issue 1 of the journal. DeLay traveled to Dangriga, Belize, where she worked as part of a team to develop an instruction manual for creating a personal backyard poultry farm operation. This manual is intended to help families in a historically poverty-stricken area generate supplemental income through the raising of poultry.

Guatemalan bishops' ministry: Bad idea to send asylum-seekers to jungle
The Guatemalan bishops' migrant ministry has rejected talk of the U.S. and Guatemalan governments sending asylum-seekers to a remote and rugged jungle region rife with drug cartel activities. The bishops said conditions there are not secure for Guatemalan citizens, much less migrants. In a Nov. 18 statement, the migrant ministry raised alarm with a proposal to send planeloads of asylum-seekers from the United States to an airport in Peten department, near the border with Belize and far from the capital of what is considered a highly centralized country with a long history of ignoring its hinterlands.

Videos