January 19, 2020

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

Various Belizean Sources

Wildtracks on the Declaration of the North-eastern Biological Corridor
30th Anniversary Update: Twenty-three years ago we had a dream of maintaining forest connectivity in North East Belize, and partnered with the Fireburn Community to take the first step towards making that dream a reality. Yesterday, the ntr f grultur, Fhr, Frtr, th nvrnmnt, utnbl Dvlmnt nd mmgrtn gnd nt lw n rdr t dlr th Nrth-trn lgl rrdr. h rttion of the almost 28,000 hectares of mrtnt frt and wetlands secures not only th blgl nntvt f rttd r, but also fgurds th tm rv, nludng wtrhd protection nd rn frmtn.

"Pack with a Purpose"
Are you planning a visit to beautiful little Caye Caulker? If so, Ocean Academy High School challenges you to "Pack with a Purpose". Many visitors have asked how they can give something back to the community of Caye Caulker. One way to do that is to donate supplies to the local schools. Unfortunately, Amazon does not deliver to Belize. (I miss Amazon) There are shipping companies that do deliver here, but the problem is the customs & duties that are charged to ship anything into Belize. (Up to 50% of the value of the item!) That's where YOU come in. You can "Pack with a Purpose" and bring in an item or 2 or 3 without being charged a fee. AND you can help to enhance the education of Caye Caulker students.

Know more about single-use plastics being phased-out and how it will be done

CAWS Neuters 230 Animals
The Cayo Animal Welfare Society ended up spaying or neutering over 230 animals during their 4 days of clinics. Thank you, CAWS, and a huge thanks to all the vets and volunteers that came together to make this happen. "Our first ever mass spay and neuter clinic has concluded. We will have final numbers later, but over 40 animals were done today, bringing our 4 day total to over 230! We are so proud of what we have accomplished and are eternally grateful to our dedicated FAVI veterinary team and our amazing volunteers."

ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES
6:00AM SUNDAY 19 JANUARY 2020. THE NOHOCH CHEEN AND ATM RESERVES REMAINS CLOSED. BARTON CREEK RESERVE IS OPEN. THE XUNANTUNICH IS OPEN BUT THE RIVER CROSSING IS BEING MONITORED ALL OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES ARE OPEN.

The Reporter

DIRTY DIRTY DIANNE-NAH!
On January 9, 2019 the media was alerted to a long line of people at the political office of the UDP’s Lake Independence standard bearer Dianne Finnegan. The optics suggested that there was some kind of immigration related activity going on.

Shyne Settles ‘Dalla’ Debt
It might not have otherwise made the news since people sue people every day, but a lawsuit that was in the process of being filed by one UDP personality against another made it to media circles on Wednesday and that prompted the litigants to settle the matter before the papers were even completely drawn up...

Editorial: January 19th. 2020
Editorial: This week the Reporter, which has always tried to be a leader in innovation (first offset press, first web press, first computer-to-plate press system) carried live the press conference of Prime Minister Dean Barrow to its growing legion of readers at home and abroad on its Facebook Page, which at latest count numbered 62,000 followers.

Police Find Fake US Money, Weed & Ammo
A Police operation in Corozal Town on Friday evening yielded a parcel weighing over two pounds of suspected cannabis, 40 rounds of 9 millimeter ammunition, and five counterfeit US $100 notes.

PM Barrow Says Former Minister of State Has To Explain Diversion of Funds To Him
Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams says he thinks there can be criminal charges brought against some well-placed people in public office following a critical Audit Report for the financial year April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016.

LOVE FM

Equal Opportunities Bill consultations
Consultations on the Equal Opportunities Bill have been taking place countrywide. It was held on Wednesday night at the Toledo District where over twenty-five denominations expressed their views on the proposed bill. The vast majority of the estimated 2,000 toledo inhabitants who publicly opposed the bill President of Southern Region Pastors Association, Pastor Vic Hernandez had major concerns.

Julius Espat criticizes Minister of National Security
Area Representative for Cayo South rose this afternoon at the House Meeting where he came out swinging at the Minister of National Security, John Saldivar. Julius Espat, Area Representative, Cayo South: “My grandmother used to say “dime con quien andas y te dire qien eres.” and that comes to mind when I reflect on the Honorable Member from Belmopan who is the Minister of National Security. It roughly translates “tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are.” There is another phrase Mr.Speak

New Contractor General has been selected
After having been without a Contractor General since February 2018, the Government has named its new Contractor General for a 3-year-term. Prime Minister Dean Barrow presented the name of Omar Mitchell as the successor for Godwin Arzu, whose contract was not renewed due to failure to submit reports in a timely manner.

Breaking Belize News

What’s the deal with Belize? Why are people retiring there?
If you’re starting to hear a lot of buzz about Belize, you might be wondering […]

DPM Faber denies receiving money from Mason
Following yesterday’s sitting of the House of Representatives, Deputy Prime Minister and UDP leadership aspirant, […]

Belize named among best snorkeling destinations
Vents Magazine, an online publication covering entertainment, music, and travel since 2009, has recently listed […]

Corozal police find weed, ammunition and fake US money
Corozal police conducted operations in Corozal town yesterday evening and found forty .9mm live rounds […]

Belize Youth Movement “Outraged” by Julian Cho audit report
The Belize Youth Movement (BYM), the youth arm of the People’s United Party (PUP), is […]

Regional agriculture organization with branch in Belize supports research aimed at producing food on Mars
Food on Mars? The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), which has a branch […]

Blogs

Must-Have Items to Acquire In Belize
Taking unique, sentimental, or fun gifts or souvenirs from a place you visited always serves as a great reminder of a special experience. If you give it to someone, it may motivate them to visit the destination. It might also make you want to go back, and maybe bring your friends. Travelers Mini Rum Kit, Flavors of Belize Cookbook, Marie Sharp’s Mini Sauces, Belikin Beer Souvenirs.

North Park Hotel in Belize City
This gem of a hotel is in a prime location in what is perhaps one of the most beautiful, not to mention, iconic sections of Belize City. As its name implies, it is on the Northside of historic Memorial Park with spectacular views of sea and sky, housed in a building hailing back to colonial times. I found this place to be a real gem for many reasons. It is a small boutique hotel—only 13 rooms and everything about it is entirely Belizean. To begin with, the rooms, which come in various sizes, all have names of villages in Belize with quaint names such as Banana Bank, Never Delay, Isabella Bank and the master suite which is the largest, with a great view of the park and the sea, is called Belize City.

International Sources

Snorkel Up! The Best Places to Go Snorkeling in the U.S.A and Across the World
The year has just begun, but it’s never to soon to start researching your next vacation. Researchers suggest that spending time on the beach is one of the best ways to improve your mental health and bring calmness back into your stressful life. Dedicated divers and snorkelers hope that the Belize Barrier Reef will fare better than its Australian counterpart. This reef is the second largest in the world and seems to be less susceptible to warming waters.

Aggressor co-founder Wayne Hasson dies
One of the best-known names in the international scuba world, US diver and liveaboard operator Wayne Hasson, has died of cancer at the age of 70. Hasson started scuba diving in 1967 and became an instructor in 1971 and a boat captain the following year. During eight years spent as a US marine, serving in Vietnam, Japan and North Carolina, he taught some 500 fellow-marines to dive. In 1984 he teamed up with diver Paul Haines, who wanted to convert his oil-industry crew-boat into a dive yacht, and so became first captain of the Cayman Aggressor. In 1988 the two re-purposed another oil-crew boat as the Belize Aggressor and started a franchise operation that would grow into the world’s biggest dive-liveaboard fleet. As co-founder, Hasson has been described as the “father of liveaboard diving”.

Family travel five: Lodges that blend activity, relaxation
Family-friendly lodges provide an ideal venue for your personal blend of active pursuits and relaxation. Here are five places you’ll want to visit time and again: Tucked within a 365-acre private rainforest paradise in the picturesque foothills of the Maya Mountains, Chaa Creek provides the ideal home base for your family’s exploration of the Cayo District, a region where cave tubing, archeological sites, horseback riding and zip lining will lure you from the comfort of your palm-thatched cottage or tree-top suite. While at the riverside eco-lodge, don’t miss early morning bird-watching tours, the hill-top spa, the Blue Morpho Butterfly Farm and the medicine trail where you’ll learn about native plants that provide globally significant remedies.

Videos

January 18, 2020

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Ambergris Caye Lacks Adequate Solid Sewage Waste Management
One islander trying to help mitigate the issue by providing his services is Chuck Rice. He owns a company that designs and installs septic tanks and provides drain services. Rice believes the island situation is close to critical if the necessary measures are not set in place to treat sewage solid waste. He also believes this is the factor leading to illegal dumping as there is nowhere to dispose of solid waste. Belize Water Services Limited (BWSL) counts with sewage ponds in southern Ambergris Caye; however, they do not accept solids. “They do not have the capacity to accept the solids because their ponds are not designed to break it down,” Rice said. The only solids they can accept are from the houses and businesses connected to their sewage system running from downtown to their ponds.

ComPol says police will not pay entire six-figure San Pedro hotel bill; “others might have to help”
The Belize Police Department has a six-figure debt with Pedro’s Inn in San Pedro Town for the accommodation of additional police officers assigned to the island. On Monday, January 13th, Commissioner of Police (ComPol) Chester Williams addressed the hefty hotel tab, indicating that police will not pay the bill in its entirety and that it must be a shared responsibility. According to him, the police officers were to vacate immediately, however, up to the time this article was written, and after checking with the hotel, the officers are still staying at the Inn.

Belize Sets New Record for Overnight Tourism Arrivals
It is with great pleasure that the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) announces that 2019 was a year of milestone achievement for overnight tourism arrivals. For the first time in the history of our Tourism development, Belize has surpassed the half-million mark in overnight arrivals. In 2019, a total of 503,177 overnight visitors were welcomed to Belize, an increase of 2.8 percent from 489,261 in 2018. The National Sustainable Tourism Master Plan (NSTMP) endorsed in 2012, has a goal of achieving overnight arrivals of 556,000 by 2030.

Ambergris Today

Hon. Patrick Faber Attends The Inauguration Of The New President Of Guatemala
The Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Patrick Faber attended the inauguration of the Republic of Guatemala’s new President Alejandro Giammattei. During his visit, Hon. Faber also met with heads of state and dignitaries of other countries and international organizations to promote better international relations.

Various Belizean Sources

Marine-themed bins in Placencia
We are more than halfway from reaching our goal. If you're loving the marine-themed bins and want to see more in the community, please support us. Mr. Goby and Thelo the Turtle really want their other friends to visit Placencia. Help them get here. https://www.gofundme.com/f/amms39-goby.

Taiwan ICDF Scholarship Program 2020
The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is pleased to announce that the application program of the 2020 Taiwan ICDF (International Cooperation and Development Fund) Scholarship Program at undergraduate or graduate level for qualified Belizeans is now officially launched. These scholarships are for enrollment at universities in Taiwan, commencing in September 2020.

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
Addams Family, Terminator, 1917, Richard Jewell. On Saturday: Jankunu Productionz Presents "Saving Alligator High"

San Pedro: Parallel Parking Only on Pescador Drive Starting Feb. 1
*This notice is for ALL VEHICLES* The San Pedro Town Council and the San Pedro Traffic Department hereby inform the general public and all drivers that effective February 1st, 2020, drivers needing to park on Pescador Drive will only be allowed to park in Parallel form. This new regulation is being implemented to ensure the safety of all pedestrians: residents, visitors and children. The San Pedro Town Council and the San Pedro Traffic Department appreciates your cooperation and understanding in this matter and encourages all drivers to drive safely and avoid speeding.

Police Officers visit Caye Caulker
On Wednesday, January 15th,2020, Police Officers attached to the Caye Caulker Police Sub -Station, conducted their ,weekly Meet and Greet on Hattie and Avenida Hicaco Street . During the visit the residence commended the police and also positively commended the initiative being carried out.

Dive Bar Music Festival this Weekend in San Pedro
Don't miss this weekend jam-packed with great music and fishing fun at the SeaStar Belize, this annual event is always a blast!

Legal Declaration of the North-eastern Biological Corridor through Statutory Instrument
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration signed into law an order to declare the North-eastern Biological Corridor which comes into effect on January 22, 2020. The enactment of this order carries out Cabinet’s decision to protect important forests situated in the sugar cane belt in order to protect the biological connectivity of protected areas and safeguard the ecosystem services provided by these forests, including watershed preservation and rain formation. The declaration of the North-eastern Biological Corridor marks the beginning of a new era and culture of conservation for Belize.

COROZAL BEACH CLEANUP
Saturday, January 19th, 2020 - Meeting Place: Round House , Miami Beach at 8:00 a.m.

Escuela Secundaria Tècnica Mèxico (ESTM) 37th Anniversary
Today, Escuela Secundaria Tècnica Mèxico (ESTM), our learning institution, in San Roman Corozal celebrated its 37th Anniversay under the theme "Renewing our goals and celebrating our Accomplishment". Here is a photo snippet shared by ESTM. We extend our hearfelt congratulations to this wonderful scholastic institution.

CONSEJO CHILI COOK OFF
9th Annual Chili Cook Off Sunday, January 26th, 2020 1:00 PM at the New Millennium Restaurant – Consejo Cost is $10.00 Belize which allows you to sample all the chili you want. Chili providers have free admission. Fundraising will be held by having the 50/50 draw and Silent Raffle. Mr. Jorge will be on hand to sell beer and other beverages. Chili providers should bring their Chili to the Millennium at 12:30. Each participant will receive a number for voting. Voting will end at 2:30 p.m. Winners will be announced at 3:00 p.m. Please make sure to bring a spoon or ladle with your chili.

Corozal Animal Program - CAP Art Auction Fund Raiser
On Friday, February 14th, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m at Serenity Sands. CAP will be holding an art auction along with a silent auction to help raise money for CAP's initiatives. DIRECTIONS - Follow Consejo Road for 5 KM (3 miles) - Turn right at the Serenity Sands sign onto Serenity Road - Follow this road 1.2 KM (0.75 miles) - Turn right onto Paradise Lane - Follow this road turning left onto Coconut Grove Road, then right onto Serenity Lane until you reach Serenity Sands.

Corozal Graffiti 2020
Happening One Week from Sunday.

EXPO FERIA CASA MISION
Held at the Guadalupe Primary School Auditorium, Alta Mira on February 1st, 2020 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Music - Games - Food - Drinks - Used Clothing for Sale

BELIZE TOURISM BOARD ASSISTS STAKEHOLDERS WITH BRANDING AT FORT GEORGE TOURISM ZONE
Cruise ship visitors desirous of undertaking a city tour or enjoying the myriad attractions of Belize will now be able to easily identify personnel offering the respective services within the Fort George Tourism Zone (FGTZ) This week the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) issued brand new color-coded uniform shirts to over a hundred tourism related service providers. Categories included: A total of 60 tour guides, 18 tour operators, 27 vendors and 9 hair braiders each received two sets of uniform shirts. This initiative by the BTB is aimed at improving the image and professionalism of front-line personnel within the FGTZ.

CLOSINGS 6:00AM SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020
THE NOHOCH CHEEN, ATM, BARTON CREEK ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES REMAINS CLOSED. THE XUNANTUNICH RIVER CROSSING IS BEING MONITORED. ALL OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES ARE OPEN.

REEF WEEK 2020 SET FOR MARCH 7-15
The Reef Week Planning Committee met today to discuss activities to commemorate Reef Week 2020, to be held from 7th-15th March. At the end of today’s session, members , who come from several conservation organizations and supporters, unanimously selected Placencia as the venue for this year’s Reef Fair, to be held on Friday 13th March. The group also chose as this year’s theme: “True-True Reef Love Means Yuh Stay Involve”. This theme is expected to guide activities that will be held throughout the week.

Books of Chilam Balam
The Books of Chilam Balam are handwritten, chiefly 17th and 18th-centuries Maya miscellanies, named after the small Maya Yucatec towns where they were originally kept, and preserving important traditional knowledge in which indigenous Maya. The manuscripts are attributed to a legendary author called Chilam Balam.

Channel 7

PM: Compol and DPP Need To Act On Audit Report
There was a House Meeting in Belmopan today, but while there was important legislative business to deal with, news of various UDP scandals dominated the day's debates. The Prime Minister started off by tabling two reports from the Auditor General: the one we told you about last night for the National Sports Council, and another for Julian Cho Technical High School. As we told you, the one for the National Sports Council shows the diversion of hundreds of thousands of dollars of public funds by a Senior Pay Clerk, and the transfer of funds to political and personal accounts by the former Minister of State for Sports.

COMPOL Looking At Audit For Criminal Wrongdoing
So, will the police act on it? In the last case of explosive reports on the Immigration Department from the Auditor General, the previous Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie said he was waiting for the auditor general to send the reports to him before commencing a criminal investigation - clearly a recipe for inaction. Today, Commissioner Chester Williams said he has the reports and sees quote, "some degree of criminal implication" end quote. Here's what he told us this evening:

Faber Says He Never Got 5k Cash From Sports Director
And these reports fall squarely on the shoulders of Minister of Education and Sports, Patrick Faber. He's held the Sports portfolio since 2012, and Education since 2008. Both audit reports show significant, possibly criminal, and certainly costly, infractions at the National Sports Council and the Julian Cho Technical High. We asked him about a claim in the report that former Sports Director Patrick Henry gave Faber - who was his minister at the time - a cash donation of five thousand dollars - for a Collet Back to School Program - IN NOVEMBER! The donation was given on November 3rd, 2015- when everyone was already back in school. November third also happened to be the day before the November fourth, 2015 General elections.

Faber Says Not A Shilling Or A Smile From Lev
Deputy Prime Minister Faber also commented on Lev Dermen - the Armenian who is in a US jail for defrauding the federal government out of half a billion dollars in tax credits. Dermen's associate Jacob Kingston has turned on him - and testified that Dermen was sending 25 thousand US dollars monthly for a senior government official in Belize. Kingston has sent he also sent one himself by electronic transfer. There are very many theories about which UDP minister may have been receiving that big money - since quite a few of them are known to have associated with the man known in Belize as Levon.

Faber Denies Getting Mason Money
Faber also today again publicly denied receiving any campaign contribution from Danny Mason. As was reported earlier this week, Danny Mason told a US Federal Agent that he gave donations to UDP's John Saldivar, Frank Pawpa Mena and Patrick Faber. This was contained in a statement that a US federal agent gave as evidence in the Mason trial. Most of the details of the statement were not introduced into evidence - and were redacted. But, slowly, details of all that Mason told that agent are coming out - and today we asked Faber about it:..

BRICENO ON CORRUPTION...
And, while we caught Faber as he was leaving the house, we couldn't catch Saldivar. As is his now his trademark, he slipped out early, during a break - and left the house before any media was aware of it. But, his name was much in the house today, because he was the most visible ministerial associate of both Danny Mason and Lev Dermen. The opposition leader said that at some point, consequences have to be issued against wheeling and dealing ministers:...

Hon. Julius Says Belize's Caesar Stands Exposed
So, Prime Minister Barrow has twice publicly committed to act against whichever minister is implicated, and to stay on as long as is necessary to maintain the stability and integrity of government. And those positions drew criticism and unlikely support from two PUP reps today. First was Cayo South Rep Julius Espat. He spoke on the adjournment, saying that Barrow's sound and fury against corruption is just rhetoric: Hon. Julius Espat, Area Representative, Cayo South: "All we'll get is the rhetoric and the ridiculous downright shameful defense and justifications coming from him, but no proper action..."

Hon. Kareem Asks Barrow To Stay
And, speaking of smiles, that's what the PUP's Kareem Musa was sporting when he asked the Prime Minister to stay on, as long as is necessary to keep his successors away from the throne:

Belize Gets Radar Ready For Drug Planes
Suspected drug planes landing in Belize over the course of the 2018 and 2019, they were a frequent item in the evening news. In 9 months, the Department of Civil Aviation is going to acquire a 12 million-dollar radar, which will strengthen the ability of local authorities to not only track legal, but also illegal planes traveling into Belize's airspace. This morning at the PGIA, the civil aviation authorities signed an agreement for the acquisition of a primary radar. They invited the press to observe the ceremony, and our news team attended. Daniel Ortiz reports:

Shilling Water and Chips Bags Choking The Seas
The Phase-out of Single Use-Plastics was signed into law two days ago. And, while your lunch today was likely still packaged in a styrofoam shell, the transition to bio-degradable products has begun. That's right, by the end of 2020 you could be fined for carrying an excess of 10 plastic bags. That's a revelation that might come as quite a shock, and leave many Belizeans wondering how to go about living in this new greener world.

COMPOL Says Cops Will Leave Pedro's Inn, Eventually
On Tuesday night, we told you that the police had racked up a 6 figure bill at Pedro's Inn in San Pedro. That's because the cops had added deployments of officers staying at the hotel since the middle of last year, when crime spiked to a dangerous high on the island. Since the, the added police presence has brought down the crime - but at a cost. And, the question tonight is, who will pay the hundred thousand dollar tab? Word to us is that despite the Commissioner's claims to the contrary, the police officers are still saying at Pedro's Inn and the bill continues to climb. Today when the press asked the commissioner about it, he says he expects to order to be complied with and the cops will be moving:

PAC Men Spar
And, going back now to today's house meeting, at the top of the news we told you about the two audit reports from the Auditor General's office - one on the National Sports Council, and the other on Julian Cho Technical high school. These reports have now been tabled in the House of Representatives, and will be sent to the Public Accounts Committee for consideration and review. But, the committee is non-functional. That's because the Chairman is an opposition member, but the majority membership is from the ruling party. And, they can never agree on anything.

COMPOL Cares
Earlier this week we brought you Joel "Dara" Robinson's appeal for funds to keep his Feeding Program going. And on Wednesday, we took you back to Dara's yard to witness his receipt of the first of 5 checks, given through a commitment from Lee Mark Chang, to support the feeding program for the rest of the school year. Well, Dara managed to touch yet another heart with his kindness and his message that we can all make each other's lives a little easier by just lending a hand.

Youth Certificates Better Late Than Never
On December 11th, 60 young men and women graduated from the Youth Apprenticeship Program in Belize City. And while the program is coordinated by Dianne Finnegan it was really the brainchild of Minister of Education Patrick Faber. But Faber couldn't or didn't attend the December graduation.

High Irregularities At Julian Cho High
Last night, we told you in passing about the report that the Auditor General has compiled detailing financial irregularities at the Julian Cho Technical High School. That's the government school, with over a thousand students in the Toledo District, that made the news in November because it was operating without a principal. The Auditor-General has reviewed their finances and expenditures, and she is concerned about the use of public funds at the school for the period between May 2014, and October 2016.

Hon. Requena Rails About Julian Cho High
As we told you, the report has just been laid before the House of Representatives in today's House Meeting. But, PUP's Toledo West Representative, Oscar Requeña, was determined to discuss the state of affairs at the government school during today's debate. Here's what he had to say on the topic:

DPM Faber Disagrees With Audit
Again, this falls to Deputy PM Patrick Faber who is the Minister Of Education and a close ally of the principal named in the report, Simeon Coc - who is the UDP standard bearer for Toledo West. Today, Faber told us that what he has seen in the report does not square with the facts as he knows them:

Channel 5

P.U.P. Goes in on Lev Dermen Scandal
The inaugural sitting of the House of Representatives for the New Year 2020 got underway this morning in Belmopan, amid a number of scandals wracking the Barrow administration.  While several [...]

PM Holds Position on Unnamed Bribe Recipients
In attempting to defend his position, PM Barrow reiterated what was said at his press conference on Wednesday, that essentially he is hamstrung until and unless names and credible evidence [...]

Many Questionable Characters Granted Belizean Nationality in 2013
The issue of Belizean nationalities being hurriedly granted to questionable characters was also a hallmark in the opposition leader’s statements on adjournment.  Quite a number of Canadian and American nationals [...]

$2.2 Million in Questionable Spending at Julian Cho Technical School
An audit of the National Sports Council for a one-year period showed the blatant disregard for government financial regulations and suspected fraud of huge sums of money. That audit was [...]

Toledo West Area Rep Calls Out Dr. Simon Coc
Area Representative for Toledo West Oscar Requeña spoke on the audit’s findings on the adjournment of the House. As a matter of national importance, Requeña called for action and highlighted [...]

Were the Release of the Auditor General’s Report Timely?
Was the timing of the Auditor General’s reports on the National Sports Council and Julian Cho Technical High School designed to undermine the Deputy Prime Minister whose portfolios as Minister [...]

National Sports Council Contacts F.I.U. on Fraud at Council
In respect of the damning audit of the National Sports Council, in a memorandum dated February twenty-eighth, 2019, Director Ian Jones reacted with an eighty-five pages memorandum. The majority of [...]

DPM Faber Speaks on Damning NSC Audit
Deputy Prime Minister Faber says he was the one who commissioned an audit of the National Sports Council when both previous junior ministers demitted office.  Those ministers of state also [...]

Make the Names Public!!
This afternoon on adjournment in the House, Caribbean Shores Area Rep Kareem Musa also weighed in on the Lev Dermen scandal, stating that because it is a federal case before [...]

Faber Says No to Receiving Mason’s Money
And while he may not have been close to Lev Dermen, Deputy Prime Minister was asked once again about his involvement with convicted murderer William “Danny” Mason.  You will recall [...]

Julius Goes In on John Saldivar
Minister of National Security John Saldivar was not present in the house this afternoon when Cayo South Area Rep Julius Espat took square aim at him for his open affiliation [...]

Finally, BCCI Gets Contract Documents for the Coastal Highway Upgrading Project
Late this afternoon, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry acknowledged that at three-twenty-five p.m., it received two packages addressed to the president containing the Procurement and Contract documents for [...]

Mark Tuyul Jr. is Laid to Rest
It was an emotional day today for the family of Mark Tuyul Junior, who was laid to rest this afternoon at the Eternal Garden Cemetery at mile thirteen on the [...]

Belize Youth Movement Expresses Outrage About the National Sports Council Audit
Back to the issue of the audit of the National Sports Council, the Belize Youth Movement is expressing outrage at the fleecing of public funds at the National Sports Council [...]

Guatemalan Prez Wants to Meet with G.O.B.
As you know, a new government took over in Guatemala this week. The president is conservative Alejandro Giammattei, and while not much was heard from him in respect of the [...]

Civil Aviation to Get $12 Million Radar
The illegal airplane landings have increased in recent years and civil aviation and security authorities believe that a new radar system will help to crack down, or at lease track [...]

Equal Opportunities Bill Consultation is Held in Belize City
On Thursday night, the Ministry of Human Development and National AIDS Commission held a public consultation in Belize City as a part of its community outreach to get feedback on [...]

Support for the Equal Opportunities Bill
So, following those three presentations, as well as remarks from Enrique Romero Executive Director of the National AIDS Commission, the public had the opportunity to make comments and give feedback [...]

Candid Comments from Non-Supporters of the Bill
And while there was support for the bill – there was a group of independent persons who wanted clarity on some of the points.  But there were many who didn’t [...]

Santa Cruz Land Woes Continue
Battle for control over the Santa Cruz Village Expansion project continues in the south. We first reported the issue in January 2019 when a public meeting was held to clarify certain [...]

Santa Cruz Farmers Fear Losing Farm Lands
The Santa Cruz Village Council is also facing another threat. According to Chairman Vincent Scott, more than thirty farmers have been cultivating land at the rear of the village for [...]

Apprenticeship Programme, Inspiring the Youth
Last year we were there when a group of Belize City youths completed an apprenticeship programme. Today, we were at Youth for the Future Drive, when they happily received their [...]

“What Yuh Know” in Belize
The popular YouTube show “What Yuh Know” will feature Belize in one of its upcoming episodes as the twenty-year-old founder embarks on a tour to promote education through an entertainment [...]

Agricultural Production is Not Meeting the Demands of the Tourism Sector
Earlier this week, a meeting was held to present the findings of an Agri-Tourism study of Ambergris Caye. The twelve-month study looked at agricultural produce that is consumed by the [...]

Amandala

Belizean Gov’t official took US$25,000 monthly bribe
the subject of national scrutiny, because of allegations contained in a United States federal court document. The document is alleging that “a Government official from Belize” was receiving US$25,000 per month from a US businessman who is facing a life- in-prison sentence if he is convicted for his role in a fraud scheme that diverted $511 million from the U.S. government. The document did not specifically refer to that official as “a Government minister,” but at a press conference held by Prime Minister Dean Barrow yesterday, he told the media that he asked his Cabinet ministers if any one of them had taken the bribe, and they said no.

US fraud trial fingers Belizean officials
Just weeks ahead of the governing United Democratic Party (UDP) national convention at which delegates will choose the party’s new Leader and select members of the party to fill key executive posts, all eyes in Belize will be focused on Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s reaction when the names of two of his “Government officials” are expected to appear in an unsealed federal indictment in the US, in a massive fraud case that started in the state of Utah in March 2018. Officially, the case is listed as United States v Kingston, because almost all of the accused are from the polygamous group known as “The Order” in Utah. Only one of the accused is not classified as part of the”Kingston” clan, and interestingly, was the recipient of Belize nationality papers.

$400,000 missing from National Sports Council – audit report
An audit report of the National Sports Council which covers the period April 2015 to March 2016 that will be tabled during tomorrow’s House of Representatives meeting, was leaked to the media this week. The report, done by the Auditor General, paints a dismal picture of mismanagement, negligence and possible corruption in the management of monies that were allocated to the National Sports Council, but which remain unaccounted for, according to the report.

The first House meeting of 2020
Parliament will be meeting for the first time in 2020 on Friday, January 17. At the meeting there will be an introduction of one new bill — The Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters Amendment Bill, which is set to increase international tax transparency and improve access of the Belize Tax Services to information regarding global allocation of the income taxes paid and certain indicators of the location of economic activity among tax jurisdictions in which multinational enterprise groups operate.

Belize says “goodbye” to styrofoam
On Tuesday, the Minister of the Environment, Hon. Godwin Hulse, signed off on the Environment Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations, which include a ban on styrofoam that had been announced to the public over a year ago. Cabinet had approved the regulations in March of 2018 with the intent to put an end to pollution caused by the disposal of non-degradable articles such as single-use plastic bags, and styrofoam and plastic food utensils.

Kenrick Longsworth arraigned for 3-year-old stepson’s brutal murder
Today, while several hecklers were on the street waiting to see and berate him, two members of the GSU practically dragged Kenrick Longsworth, 27, from the holding cell into the Magistrate’s Court for him to be arraigned by the Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser for the murder of his 3-year-old stepson. Apart from murder, Longsworth was charged with 2 counts of grievous harm for injuries he inflicted on his two other stepsons, ages 2 and 4. Chief Magistrate Fraser explained to Longsworth that she would not take a plea from him because the offence of murder is indictable.

Compol Williams said police alone will not pay hotel bill in San Pedro
A bill amounting to about $100,000 that was issued by the San Pedro Inn for the accommodation of additional police officers in the island town to ensure safety at that tourist destination, was issued to Chester Williams, the Commissioner of Police, on Monday. Compol Williams said that the costs incurred to increase policing on the island is a shared responsibility, and the police, alone, will not foot the bill. Williams said that the nature of the tourism industry in San Pedro is fragile, so the policemen will not be withdrawn, because the residents and tourists in San Pedro must be made to feel safe.

David Cruz, 25, remanded for Roaring Creek execution of Timroy Neal
On Thursday night, January 9, Timroy Neal, a resident of Roaring Creek, was outside Lucky Entertainment, a business place that is located across the street from the Roaring Creek police station, when a gunman coldly executed him at about 10:30 p.m. The execution was captured on surveillance video, which showed Neal’s killer escaping into the night after he had made sure Neal was dead.

Shadron Gillett, 19, has murder case committed to trial at the Supreme Court
Shadron Gillett, 19, charged with the murder of Kevin Thomas, was committed to go on trial in the April session of the Supreme Court after a preliminary inquiry was held today by the Chief Magistrate, Sharon Fraser. The prosecutor, Corporal Chris Smith, submitted several pieces of documentary evidence and 19 witness statements that the Crown intends to use at the trial.

Roberto Pott raises alarm that Belize Sailing Association is “taking on water.”
The Belize Sea Scouts has been in existence in Belize since 2004 and functions as a unit within the Scout Association of Belize. In 2010, the Sea Scouts leadership helped to birth the Belize Sailing Association (BzSA), the national body for sailing in Belize. As the flagship program, one of Belize Sea Scouts’ founding fathers, John Oliver (deceased) promoted and fund-raised for the Optimist Program that would see as many as 70 boats brought into Belize. One of the aims was to help expand youth sailing, nationally. There was enthusiasm and community spirit; but, as sailing grew over the past 10 years, fractures appeared, and basic good governance and business practices were overlooked.

The road to equal opportunity
The National AIDS Commission (NAC) has collaborated with the Caribbean Partnership against HIV & AIDS (PANCAP), the Human Dignity Trust and the Special Envoy for Women and Children to create a bill that will seek to legally protect minority groups against discrimination in the country. The Equal Opportunities Bill, as it is called, highlights nineteen variations of discrimination that have affected a multitude of Belizeans on a daily basis. The drafters of the bill have been researching these matters for over a year and have embarked on a countrywide tour since Saturday, January 11, to conduct consultations and shed light on the specifics of the bill.

Pat Andrews, CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, resigns
Pat Andrews, a former banker who left the banking business to take up a government appointment as Belize Ambassador to Washington, following which he took on another government contract as Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has resigned. Prime Minister Dean Barrow told the media yesterday, following his press conference that Andrews is retiring.

Old Road Football Classic at Lucky Strike Field
Here are the results from games played so far in the Dickie Hernandez Old Road Football Classic, which will be holding Week 5 games this coming weekend. All games of the tournament, which kicked off in December, 2019, are being played at the Lucky Strike football field.

Immigrants overwhelm Swift Hall, seeking answers
Hundreds of Central American immigrants who have been living in Belize, but have not yet obtained their residency or citizenship documents, descended on Swift Hall, on the St. Martin De Porres compound on Tuesday evening in search of answers from Immigration Department officials about their status in Belize. Minister of State with responsibility for immigration, Hon. Beverly Williams, who was expected to be at this evening’s event, did not attend. Instead, the Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Immigration, Harold Zuniga, and the Immigration Director, Debra Baptist Estrada, were on hand to answer immigrants’ questions.

Pilots of cocaine plane and others remanded further to March 18
Eight foreigners, from Ecuador, Honduras and Mexico, who were jointly charged with drug trafficking for the importation of over 3,000 pounds of cocaine, appeared today before the Chief Magistrate, Sharon Fraser. They were brought to court under heavy security that was provided by the police’s GSU (Gang Suppression Unit). The accused men are Carlos Humberto Gomez Henriquez, David Noe Orellana Discua, Jacobo Yovanz Mejia Garcia, Juan Pablo Lorrea Cruz, Miguel Cruz Meseguer, Nolan Jose Carrasco Lopez, Terrencio Cruz and Allan Yovanni Mejia Chirnos.

From the Publisher
The news that broke early this week that Dara Robinson’s feeding program for hungry children is on life support was just one more heartbreaker for our old capital roots community, coming just days after a stepfather had apparently gone berserk in the Lovely Lane/Pink Jungle area of the Northside and murdered one of the boy children in his care. You may note that I referred to our old capital “roots” community, instead of the traditional “black” community, because this is how it is today: Belize City is no longer black the way our generation remembers it. This is real.

Editorial: More rot in government for the PM to cover
News broke around midday on Monday of yet another scandal in the government, this one involving foreign parties who acquired status in Belize during a period when high-ups in the United Democratic Party (UDP) government were running amok, trampling on all the regulations set in place to ensure that persons who acquired permanent residency or citizenship status in Belize, were worthy. The Love FM news desk said they had in their possession a document in which a party who had pleaded guilty to fraudulent activities in the USA had named a Cabinet minister in the UDP government and a government official as facilitators in the scheme.

Corozal F.A. Opening Season 2019-2020 Week 14 report
First of all, we take this opportunity to thank our fans and clubs for being patient, and trust they had great moments during the Christmas holidays. As we resume the closure of the Corozal Football Association (CFA) Opening Season Youth Tournament 2019-2020, we thank them. This past weekend, we played the first leg of the Finals for the U-13 and U-20 Male at the Carolina Football Field. A total success! Also, the First Division played its knockout Semifinal games.

C-Ray D. Banner Thursday Race results – January 16
This morning at 6:30 a.m. when the darkness turned to light, the C-Ray D. Banner Thursday Race started in front of Data Pro on the Boom Hattieville Road, headed towards the roundabout in Hattieville and returned, for a total of 23.8 miles, averaging 25.1 m.p.h. in a time of 56:26. There were two station prizes: Brandon Cattouse of C-Ray D. Banner Cycling Team picked up the first one at the Hattieville Prison, and Joshua Fuller of Team Santino’s picked up the second on the return at Fresh Pond Village.

Dangriga sports stats
Stann Creek First Division PLB 2019 Champions, Conquerors, as they prepare for the upcoming 2020 Dangriga Mayor’s Cup Tournament, will be hosting a friendly practice match this Friday, January 17, at the Carl Ramos Stadium at 7:00 p.m. against Stann Creek Untied from the Maya CENTRE, Sittee River area from the southern village. Entrance fee is FREE, FREE.

People from Hollywood, like Miss Markle, messing up the world
This Hollywood girl, Miss Meghan Markle, we have every right to castigate her for taking a job that she must have known her cloth wasn’t cut for. American girls have never been queen/princess material. They are a very rich people, but too daam absorbed with rudeness to measure up. I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard little phrases thrown that Miss Markle felt that some racism was going her way. Really! Of course race issues must have made some situations not all that comfortable. Stories abound that the Duke of Edinburgh has suspicions about people who aren’t white. The man has got some morsels, but I tend to see him as unenlightened. Check these out:

Your choice: Gaydom or Christendom?
A decade or so ago, Bishop Dorick Wright, with apostolic zeal and foresight, created a Commission, an ecumenical one, but with the input of only Evangelicals. Not everyone on the Catholic side fully recognized the true intentions and the goals of the UNIBAM agenda. UNIBAM’s goal was not only to decriminalize homosexual behaviour, but to use court judgements to achieve the same level of acceptance that is given to heterosexual expression.

US blockade ends with only direct flight between El Salvador and Cuba
The suspension of direct flights between El Salvador and Cuba confirms that the US blockade against Cuba also affects third countries, diplomatic sources confirmed today. Avianca, a Colombian airline, was the only one that flew directly between San Salvador and Havana, but recently announced that as of January 15, it would suspend the route to avoid conflicts with the United States government. “This decision already negatively affects Salvadoran tourism, but also the Cuban community in El Salvador and their families,” diplomat Abel Bárzaga, from the island’s embassy in this country, told Prensa Latina. Bárzaga, in charge of Political and Diplomatic Affairs of the legation, said the measure taken by Avianca also spoils the version that the blockade is a bilateral issue between the US. and Cuba:

The tragedy of Gilroy, Carla, and “Little One”
In early September of 1967, a short time after her nineteenth birthday, which she had spent at home with her family, Jewel had come to my work area asking if I could spare the time to help with a problem she was facing. She being very resourceful and self-reliant, I had felt it must have been about something critical, so I had invited her to go ahead and speak; and she had related how the Agriculture Department was threatening to take away her father’s twenty-five acre plot, as he had developed only a small portion of it, and turn it over to another villager. One of the conditions under which the lease had been granted in the first place had been that the land should be developed or purchased outright.

Immigrants overwhelm Swift Hall, seeking answers
Hundreds of Central American immigrants who have been living in Belize, but have not yet obtained their residency or citizenship documents, descended on Swift Hall, on the St. Martin De Porres compound on Tuesday evening in search of answers from Immigration Department officials about their status in Belize. Minister of State with responsibility for immigration, Hon. Beverly Williams, who was expected to be at this evening’s event, did not attend. Instead, the Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Immigration, Harold Zuniga, and the Immigration Director, Debra Baptist Estrada, were on hand to answer immigrants’ questions.

11-year-old boy kills teacher, wounds 6 others in Mexico before shooting himself, officials say
An 11-year-old boy told his friends “Today’s the day,” then opened fire in a school in northern Mexico, killing a teacher and wounding six other people before fatally shooting himself, officials said Friday. The school shooting was highly unusual in Mexico, where weapons are difficult to acquire legally. “It appears the boy was influenced by a video game,” the governor of Coahuila state, Miguel Riquelme, said in a news conference.

The Reporter

Caye Caulker Village Council Removes Traffic Obstruction
Chair lady of Caye Caulker Village, Seleny Pott has denied allegations that the Caye Caulker is disingenuously and wantonly removing business signs from in front of businesses in the village. Pott said that the Village Council found that several business were obstructing the free flow of traffic, including pedestrian traffic, and they were given oral and written warnings.

San Pedro Resident Finds Portion of Old Soviet Spacecraft
David Campos, a maintenance worker at a resort several miles north of San Pedro Town stumbled upon a piece of history as he went about his work last week Saturday.

NICH Closes Archaeological Site Due to Flooding
The National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) advises tour operators, hoteliers and the public that its archaeological site, Actun Tunichil Muknal cave in the Cayo District and off the George Price Highway is closed today because of rapidly rising water levels in the river since early this morning.

LOVE FM

Faber responds to all the scandals
At the top of our newscast, we told you how the discussion went in today’s house sitting as it relates to the Auditor General’s reports. The media met Minister Patrick Faber outside the National Assembly where he granted us an interview on several issues including the reports.

Strange Arrest
A Belize City man was caught smoking cannabis on Conch shell Bay yesterday. 37-year-old Lionel Ritchie Tillett was arraigned this morning before Magistrate, Stephanie Gillett in Court on a single charge.

Repeat offender, repeats his mistakes
27-year-old Ronald Hernandez , a repeat offender was out on bail, but he violated his parole conditions. He was arrested and charged for aggravated burglary and escape during his parole. Allegations are that on November 28, he trespassed in a home in Orange Walk while he was armed with a silver in color 9 mm gun.

Taiwan scholarship opportunities
The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is pleased to announce that they are now accepting applications for the Taiwan Scholarship Program 2020. This scholarship will allow Belizeans to attend undergraduate or graduate programs of their choice at universities in Taiwan, starting from the academic year 2020 (commencing in September 2020).

Commissioner donates to Dara feeding program
The Belize Police Department intends to spread positivity for the New Year. The Commissioner of Police (COMPOL) personally contributed several cooking items to Dara’s Feeding Program today

Recently installed Guatemalan President wants to do business in Belize
Recently elected President of Guatemala, Alejandro Gaimmattei has proposed a meeting with Belize’s Prime Minister and other officials for Sunday, January 26, 2020. Giammettei met yesterday with Luis Almagro, the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS) requesting his presence at the meeting as a facilitator and mediator.

Auditor General reports stir attacks in the House of Representatives
The two reports from the Auditor General that have made headlines in the last two days were tabled this morning at the House of Representatives meeting in Belmopan. The reports include findings and interviews conducted with relevant persons at the National Sports Council and the Julian Cho Technical High School.

John Briceno calls out Barrow Administration
Prime Minister Dean Barrow stood up to give his counterargument. Before he spoke on this though, he made sure to criticize Briceno’s argument by calling him, quote, “a shameless excuse for a leader of the opposition.”

Brian Harris paralyzed
A mother of eight is struggling to make ends meet since one of her sons was left paralyzed following a brutal attack on his life. As you may recall, 35-year-old Brian Harris was walking through a pecado road in Hattieville Village when he was shot five times on December 15.

Chinese business murderer charged
This morning, a trial by judge without jury kicked off before Madam Justice Marilyn Williams in the Supreme Court against Ladyville resident, Dillon Clarke . Clarke, along with John Chessman Jr., were jointly charged with the murder of Chinese businessman, Jiantao Yang.

Breaking Belize News

Belize Youth Movement “Outraged” by Julian Cho audit report
The Belize Youth Movement (BYM), the youth arm of the People’s United Party (PUP), is […]

Dining in Placencia Belize? Check out the Breezeway
Local and international travelers have three major concerns: where to go, what to do and where […]

GOB makes designation to protect forests in sugar cane belt
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration today signed into […]

Special Envoy for Women, National Aids Commission issue clarifications regarding Equal Opportunities Bill
The consultations for the Equal Opportunities Bill continue throughout Belize. The bill has been rejected […]

Belize, stakeholders sign contract for acquisition of $12 million radar
Today, representatives from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Indra systems and COCESNA (the organization tasked […]

Julian Cho Highs chool audit shows big money missing: Who will be charged?
The results of the Auditor General report of Julian Cho High School (JCHS) shows that […]

Wildlife Conservation Society congratulates Government for historical fisheries bill
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) issued a statement today congratulating the Government and people of […]

Corozal police find weed and ammunition
Corozal police conducted operations yesterday morning and found a parcel that had 937 grams of […]

Forbes features Gladden private island in Belize among most romantic private islands for Valentine’s day
Renowned American magazine, Forbes featured Gladden private island in Belize among the most romantic private […]

Regional agriculture organization with branch in Belize supports research aimed at producing food on Mars
Food on Mars? The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), which has a branch […]

An exemplary act by a father…Between these lines
The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Breaking Belize […]

NICH closes ATM cave as river levels rise
The National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) has closed the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM […]

First House meeting of 2020 considers Fisheries Bill, Caracol Road, Contractor General
The House of Representatives meets for the first time in this election year this morning […]

Belize Peace Movement demands good governance
Following Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s press conference addressing the allegations that government officials received payments […]

CARICOM Secretariat headquarters going solar
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) informed that its secretariat is moving towards 100 percent renewable energy […]

Several accidents reported this morning, drive with caution
Breaking Belize News (BBN) appeals to drivers to exercise caution as reports of traffic accidents […]

Accident on the George Price Highway
There was a road traffic accident on the George Price Highway this morning near Mile 3. […]

Blogs

Heavenly Hiking in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
One perfect area for hiking is the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve in the Cayo District of southern central Belize. Established in 1944 to protect and manage native Belizean pine forests, it covers an estimated area of 106,352 acres, with much of it under private lease. The reserve is primarily pine and broadleaf forest with some grass and wetland areas. The Macal River forms the boundaries of the reserve to the west and south and is fed by tributaries including Rio Frio, Rio On, Privassion Creek and Pinol Creek. To the north-east some small streams feed into Barton Creek. Replete with expansive cave systems and countless waterfalls, the area offers hiking opportunities for every level of fitness and adventure. Where to start? Hidden Valley Inn & Reserve, located within the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, boasts close to 90 miles of well-marked and maintained roads and hiking trails. In the past, access to these trails was only available to their guests, but they now permit day hikers to explore the area once they register at the lodge.

Getting around Belize by Road
Getting around the country of Belize is quite easy; you can travel by road using buses, rent a car, take a flight or go by boat. But wouldn’t you rather take the scenic route? Belize boasts the most beautiful, picturesque mountains and jungle, from North to South. There are many off the map locations, small villages, orchards, and local vendors so you can stop along the way if you choose to. You’ll either need to take a local bus service to your destination or use a car rental. Here is how you can travel by road, and what you can experience on your way.

Life In Cave Systems
The largest cave system in Belize is the Chiquibul Forest, located near Guatemala, west of the Maya Mountains. This has many miles of tunnels. Other striking formations such as sheet flowstone, where the water spreads out in a flat sheet, create formations that resemble folds of cloth or other exotic shapes. Such formations can be found in the Rio Frio and Barton Creek Caves. There are also cenotes or sinkholes, providing evidence of underground, and even undersea cave systems. Two types of cave life exist. One type consists of organisms adapted completely to cave systems, including food, reproduction, and all aspects of life history. There are no plants capable of living in a lightless environment, except fungi.

International Sources

Improper raw sewage disposal in Belize threatens the Mesoamerican Reef
Ambergris Caye off the northeastern coast of Belize is the largest and most populous island in the country and is considered a prime tourism destination that supports the livelihoods of thousands of islanders. Its urban center, San Pedro Town, is the fastest-growing municipality in Belize, which day by day continues to expand both in population and size. While the Mesoamerican Reef, which runs from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico down to the Bay Islands in Honduras, flanks the island’s east coast, playing an important role in the local tourism economy. Continued growth, however, has put heavy pressure on the local marine ecosystem and its natural resources, with the improper disposal of sewage waste being one of the biggest problems.

The 10 Most Romantic Private Islands For Valentine’s Day
Gladden Private Island ($3,000 + per night) 2 bedrooms, 2 baths. This single luxury villa is perfect for one couple (there is a second master suite if you have friends). Housing for staff is on a smaller island hidden from sight, with staff available at a moment’s notice. The chef, manager and concierge are a two-minute boat ride away when signaled. This is the most romantic of all the island options, and truly private.

Why CARICOM had no national for OAS top job
Readers of Barbados newspapers were exposed recently to the views of John Beale, one of the country’s former Ambassadors to the Organisation of American States (OAS), on the forthcoming election for the post of Secretary-General. Because Beale served at the OAS and did sterling work, his views on the Secretary-Generalship of the OAS deserves attention.

Videos

January 17, 2020

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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

Belizeans shocked over child abuse case that left a toddler dead
A tragic case of child abuse that led to the death of a toddler and injury of his two siblings has rattled the country of Belize. On Friday, January 10th in Belize City, Kenrick Longsworth brutally assaulted his three stepsons leaving one dead and two hospitalized. The details of the incident were so gruesome and the fact that it could have potentially been avoided, has left many questions as to how safe are children in Belize? The report on the incident indicated that on Friday night, Zelma Castillo arrived at her home on Lovely Lane, Belize City to find her three-year-old son Mark Tuyul Junior murder and her two other children, a two-year-old and a four-year-old, badly beaten.

Belize Supports Mexico as CELAC PPT 2020-2021
The inauguration of Mexico’s Presidency Pro Tempore (PPT) of the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños; CELAC) for the period 2020-2021 took place in Mexico City on 8th January with the participation of 29 Latin American and Caribbean states.During the ceremony, Mexico´s Foreign Secretary, Marcelo Ebrard, presented Mexico’s work plan which is designed to strengthen the region in several key technical cooperation areas. These include space and aeronautical cooperation, science & technology, tertiary-level education, bulk purchase of supplies, microbial resistance monitoring, and anti-corruption measures, among others.

Belizean Government Official named in another Fraud Case
An unidentified Belizean official has been named in a United States of America (USA) fraud court case. The case involves a Salt Lake City, Utah, USA biodiesel company called Washakie Renewable Energy (WRE) that allegedly illegally schemed to obtain $511 million in tax credits. Involved are the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jacob Kingston, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Isaiah Kingston, along with a California businessman Lev Aslan Dermen.

Belize in 2020: New UDP Party Leader, ICJ court case begins, General Elections
Belize will see three major events in 2020 that will impact Belizeans in many ways. On the list is the possible change in government with the election of a new party leader in the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) and General Elections. Then there is the hearing of Guatemala’s submissions regarding rights to Belize at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The election of UDP’s party leader and the ICJ court hearings are expected to take place within the first five months of this year. The General Elections date has yet to be announced by the Government of Belize.

Ambergris Today

Impersonation Of Staff At The Elections And Boundaries Department
It has once again come to the attention of the Elections and Boundaries Department that there are individuals who are visiting residents to obtain their personal information and claiming to be Elections and Boundaries Department staff. The public is advised that all staff of the Elections and Boundaries Department is issued with Valid Staff Identification Card. The public is therefore advised to request such identification card prior to providing any information.

Alaia Foundation To Host Ambergris Caye’s 2nd Half Marathon & 5K Charity Run
The Alaia Foundation has announced that plans are underway for Ambergris Caye’s 2nd Half Marathon & 5K charity run which is scheduled to take place on April 5th, 2020. The foundation seeks to provide financial, educational, medical and environmental support with the events net-proceeds, to disenfranchised families/communities across Belize.

Various Belizean Sources

Vessels entering Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Please be reminded that all vessels entering Hol Chan Marine Reserve must be registered with Hol Chan and the registration sticker must be visibly displayed as we will commence checking.

Ya’axché Vacancy Announcement
Vacancy Announcement: Ya’axché is looking for an Enforcement and Compliance Ranger for the daily implementation of enforcement and compliance activities within Ya’axché managed protected areas. Deadline to submit application is Saturday, 15th of February 2020.

2020 Street Art Festival
One of Belize's premier, annual art festivals is fast approaching! This year's Street Art Festival takes place on Saturday, February 29th in Downtown, Belize City! This event is suitable for the entire family and we hope to see you there!

Impersonation of Staff at the Elections and Boundaries Department
It has once again come to the attention of the Elections and Boundaries Department that there are individuals who are visiting residents to obtain their personal information and claiming to be Elections and Boundaries Department staff. The public is advised that all staff of the Elections and Boundaries Department is issued with Valid Staff Identification Card. The public is therefore advised to request such identification card prior to providing any information.

First Aid and CPR training today on Caye Caulker
Payment can be made at the door.

Caye Caulker: Make our island safer and reduce fire damage
If you are interested in a portable hose and pump for your hotel or residence, please contact Mr. John Newhouse to get specification. Thank you Mr. Newhouse for this initiative.

Corozal ArT In ThE ParK 2020
Saturday, January 18th, 2020. Come out and Enjoy.

El Chile Cantina & Grill in San Ignacio
The El Chile Cantina is having their grand opening this weekend. They'll open today, and will have the UFC fight on Saturday night on their huge screen. "The new El Chile Cantina is gearing up for their grand opening next Friday and Saturday. They've done a complete refurbishment to the Kenny Gibbs steakhouse, adding one of the biggest palapas in Cayo for the cantina. Ornate painting abounds, Mr. Humes painted everything, down to the tiny cracks in the bricks. The lion and Maya are amazing. The garden area already feels jungly, and they're adding more plants this week.

U.S. Embassy Belize is seeking a Public Engagement Assistant
The U.S. Embassy is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the following position: Public Engagement Assistant Closing date: January 29, 2020

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
Jankunu Productionz Presents "Saving Alligator High"

Ya’axché is looking for a Project Management Consultant
Tto manage a 3-year project focusing on climate-smart agriculture targeting cacao farmers and beekeepers of the indigenous forest communities in the Toledo District. The deadline to submit application is Friday, 7th of February 2020. Visit our website, follow the link to learn more about this opportunity.

The International Costa Maya Festival committee announces its official dates for 2020!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS and SAVE THE DATE! The International Costa Maya Festival committee announces its official dates for 2020! JULY 31 to AUGUST 1. Noche San Pedrana - July 25th More details to come...

Ma'alob aak'ab
The future of our Maya culture will only survive if we teach it to our future generations . A member of To'one Masehualo'on NGO leading Maya children from Xaibe(Corozal) in a song . The children group name is Jats'uts Óok'ot singing in the Yucatec Maya language .

ALMAHT’AN
One of the first prophetic series given by the Most Holy was the Proclamation of Juan de la Cruz also known as Juan de La Cruz Puc, known among the macehuales (Maasewal) as Santo Almaht'an (The Holy Commandments), perhaps the only document that is preserved of such proclamations and that is had as a book sacred in the communities attached to the cacicazgo of Xcacal Guardia . It was written in 1850, when after the appearance of the Cross, the rebellious Maya were in the process of reorganizing the armed movement; that is why the text is written with a belligerent spirit, which seeks to create awareness of the need to continue the war in which God is already taking part with the macehuales.

Burning Down of Maya Villages, 1867
Early January 1867, more than 300 British troops marched into the Yalbac Hills, destroying the Yucatec Maya (Máasewal) villages, their provision stores, milpas, houses and granaries, in an attempt to drive them away. The British troops burnt down San Pedro Siris, Chunbal Che, Santa Teresa, San Jose Yalba, Naranjal, Cerro, Santa Cruz and others. The Maya Máasewal had under their control North Western Belize and were asking rent payments for the use of their Maya lands. The British didn't want to pay, so the Maya Máasewal collected their money through raids.

Channel 7

The Fleecing Of The Nat'l Sports Council
If you ever wonder why sports programs for kids are so under-funded and under-resourced, or why public sports facilities are in such a dreadful condition - tonight, we have a part of the answer. It's because the National Sports Council has been systematically fleeced, raided like a broken piggy bank. And the evidence comes from a report of the auditor general who provides a small snapshot into the Council's inner workings.  The audit covers one year of operations, April 2015, to March 2016, a single fiscal year, but a multitude of infractions, hustles and lawless behavior.  And, all of it went un-reported, swept under the UDP's red rug.  That is until now.  

PM Says Proceed With Criminal Charges
Yesterday at the end of the press conference, we asked the Prime Minister about the audit which will be tabled in the House of Representatives tomorrow.  He said that he expects that if charges need to be filed, they should: Reporter: "In a case like this where the auditor general is questioning certain transactions, where there is like over 400,000 dollars that they can't account for, what do you in a situation like that? Yes you take it to the house...."

Beset By Scandal, UDP Staggers Into Last Year Of Third Term
And, really, the contents of the reports give the UDP a bunch of bruises and black eyes which - they can scarcely afford as they limp into the last year of their third term. Indeed, for a government elected on an anti-corruption platform, there have been all kinds of shameless mass-hustles.  Yesterday, the Prime Minister and party leader Dean Barrow reflected on it, but, not surprisingly, still concluded that there had been more good done than bad:..

Lev Dermen's Diplomatic Machinations
And, of course, the biggest corruption story right now involved Armenian Lev Dermen. He's in a jail in Utah for a tax fraud scheme in the states.  But all his former criminal collaborators have turned against him.  They say he used to pay a Belizean government minister 25 thousand US dollars a month.   But, what would he pay all that for? We know that he wanted to be a diplomat in Belize - allegedly to facilitate large movements of cash.

The Trial Will Tell
While we are not too sure about that type of thing happening on a regular basis without a ministerial recommendation, time will tell. The case is set to start in Utah on January 27th, when, hopefully, all will be known: Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister: "Clearly the evidence in this trail, will be forthcoming. What I am here to also tell you is this, if it turns out, that indeed there is evidence to show that a members, or two members of my cabinet received funds from Mr. Lev, there will be hell to pay."

Resort Owner Charged For Rape
He's the Owner of a fabulous Waterfoot Caye Island resort. But while he may be used to lounging on a beach tonight he's lounging in a cell block at the Dangriga police station. And that's because 53-year-old Wilfred Pascasio allegedly raped an 18-year-old girl who is reportedly employed as a housekeeper at his Yok Ha resort. Sr. Superintendent and deputy head of national crime investigations Hilberto Romero told us more: 

Timroy's Alleged Killer Charged
In December we told you about the merciless execution of Timroy Neal who was shot at point-blank range in front of a Chinese store in Roaring Creek Village. And tonight we can report that 26-year old David Cruz has been arrested and charged for the crime of murder.  Police say that while he alluded capture for almost three weeks he has remained the main suspect in the case. 

Chamber Still Waiting For Imer Contracts
In our first segment, we told you about an Auditor General's report showing corruption at the National Sports Council.   Well many have alleged that the awarding of so many civil works contract to Imer Hernandez Development Company is also suspicious.  But, many of the projects have been awarded by multilaterals like the IDB.  Recently, the leader of the opposition went to talk to the IDB to say something has to be wrong if all these contracts have been awarded to a contractor whose road works are consistently sub-standard. 

Kareem Says Dalla and Shyne Settling; Shyne Says No
On Tuesday we told you that DJ Dalla was suing Shyne - unbelievable because they are both leadings lights of the UDP.  It's the hard-pay scandal that has rocked the burgeoning Belizean entertainment industry this week. That's because Dalla claims that, not only did Shyne fail to pay him his MC fee, but the Music Ambassador "south-ed" him on the event's bar with a consignment for 30 grand in Dalla's name. On Tuesday Shyne told us that when it comes to payments made for Music Week he has all his receipts. But this morning DJ Dalla's Attorney Kareem Musa gave us an update on the case and a settlement that, according to him, was on the table:

PUP Still Sore Over Dianne's Immigration Invite
Musa also commented on last week's swarm of immigration activity around political hopeful Dianne Finnegan's divisional office in Lake Independence.   As we showed you, hundreds of immigrants form all over went to her office seeking help with their immigration issues after she offered to help a few in the division.   Musa says it points to a real failure in the work of the Immigration Department:

Police Charge Teen For Shooting
Last night we told you that 30-year-old Kurtis James Campbell had been shot to the back by someone he knows.  Tonight police have arrested and charged 19-year-old Allister Reyes with one count of attempted murder and one count of grievous harm.  Superintendent Alejandro Cowo told us what police believe motivated the shooting.  Alejandro Cowo - Supt. OC, CIB: "On Tuesday just about 8:30 pm Mr Kurtis James Campbell 30 years of age was riding his bicycle on South Creek and whilst approaching the corner of South Creek and Seoul street he was approached from behind by a person on a motorcycle..."

Security Guard Tied Up And Robbed
A Security Guard was robbed at gunpoint on the outskirts of Belize City last night. It happened at the Waste Control  Transfer station which has been targeted by armed criminals a number of times before.   Here's more on this latest robbery from the cops:  Alejandro Cowo - Supt. OC, CIB: "Last night at about 7:30 Mr Dane Grinage, 27 years, a security guard for the waste control transfer station located on 3 ½ miles on the George Price Highway..."

Sound Man Shyne and The Sea Scouts
And before we continue we have a small correction to make. The robbery of Security Guard Dane Grinage that we told you about in our last segment, did not happen at the Waste Control compound but at the adjoining National Solid Waste Transfer station.   Now, to continue with the news Last week we told you about the Coast Guard's Sea Cadet Mentorship Programme where you got to see Johathan "Windcuttaz" Coleman have his first day trying out the different programs available to the Cadets. One mainstay of Sea Cadet extracurriculars is music and that's for good reason. Studies show that musical experiences in childhood can actually accelerate brain development.

CEMO Gets An Early Start On Hurricane Season
Last year's hurricane season ended almost 2 months ago, and this year's season won't begin until June 1st. But, the Belize City Council's City Emergency Management Organization and the Belize Red Cross are already getting a head-start on disaster management. They want to ensure that if any natural disasters hit the seaside City, residents are prepared and protected with mechanisms at the community level for rapid evacuation.  The Council and Red Cross hosted a workshop today on early warning systems and the city's means of detecting imminent natural disasters before they actually hit the country. We stopped by this morning to learn more from the facilitators about the inclusion of the community in the city's disaster preparedness. Here's what they told us:

Bitter Reality Of World Sugar Prices
Yesterday, we took you BSI/ASR's Towerhill Factory in Orange Walk for the beginning of this year's cane crop season. 
The sugar cane farmers, are attempting to recover from major losses in investment due to last year's extended drought. For the thousands of cane farmers, their livelihoods have been under duress for a number of years.  First, they have been challenged by low prices on the global market for sugar. All the other sugar-producing nations of the world have FLOODED the global market, driving prices down.   The effect of this was demonstrated at the end of the 2017/2018 crop when farmers delivered a near record of 1.274 million tonnes of cane. Yet, due to the low market prices, their hard-work didn't yield them anywhere near a record payout.

CSME Ready for Belize Sugar?
But, as viewers are aware, there is the collective push from industry stakeholders for Belize's sugar to enter the CARICOM market.  All of last year, the Ministries of Trade and Agriculture had been working with the industry's private sector partners to collaborate with the other sugar-producing nations of the Caribbean. They want to ensure that regionally produced sugar can be sold within the CARICOM market. The sugar-producing nations assert that currently, sugar produced from outside of the region is flooding the marketplace, undermining the CSME.  And so, they have been lobbying the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) to institute the necessary protections to stop this. The Caribbean sugar producers say that the Caribbean market needs to make space for sugar produced by Caribbean countries.

Drought Relief Ready For Next Year
And keeping it on the sugar industry, we asked Agriculture Minister Godwin Hulse if the sugar cane farmers will benefit from the drought relief measures that the Government announced several months ago. You'll remember that in September of last year, the Barrow Government declared a partial state of emergency to address approximately 50 million dollars in collective losses that the nation's farmers suffered in the drought. All farmers were supposed to get access to relief funding arranged by the Government, and so we asked about cane farmers and their share. Hulse told us that the relief will be applied to next year's crop when the cane farmers are trying to replant. He explained why:

The Other Side of Osorio's Termination
And finally, from the sugar industry, our colleagues from CTV 3 News got an opportunity to speak with the Chairman of the Sugar Industries Control Board about the termination of Marcos Osorio. Up until last month, he was the long-time director of the Sugar Industries Research and Development Institute, better known as SIRDI for short. SIRDI researches ways that the cane farmers can improve their crops while farming as efficiently and economically as possible. But, last month, Osorio was abruptly terminated. He spoke out about it, and publicly questioned the motives of the members of the Sugar Industries Control Board and the Chairman, suggesting that there were no solid grounds for his dismissal.

Channel 5

Audit Reveals Half a Million Dollars Embezzlement at Sports Council!
Still reeling from the Lev Derman scandal, the government is hit by yet another black eye. An audit of the finances of the National Sports Council by the Auditor General [...]

PM Says Audit Will be Handed Over to Police
Prime Minister Dean Barrow received the report months ago in October 2019. On Wednesday, he told the media that the report will be tabled on Friday at the Sitting of [...]

Migrant Caravan Spotted from Cadenas Outpost
There is a developing story tonight on a caravan of Central American migrants heading north in search of a better life. Thousands of men, women and children left Honduras a [...]

Integrity Commission and Campaign Financing in Light of Dermen Scandal
The Lev Dermen debacle, the recent political scandal to plague the Barrow administration, brings to light the importance of the Integrity Commission, as well as a need for campaign finance [...]

Campaign Finance Reform, is it a Possibility?
The issue of campaign financing, as well as the absence of laws to regulate donations to political parties and their candidates, has resurfaced in light of the Lev Dermen scandal.  [...]

How Dermen’s Application for Honorary Consul was Rejected
There is more to report on Lev Dermen’s ties to Belize, including an application through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for him to be appointed Honorary Consul to Las Vegas.  [...]

PM Barrow Comments on Long Line of Immigrants at Diane Finnegan’s Office
U.D.P. Standard Bearer for Lake Independence Dianne Finnegan made headlines last week after lines of immigrants were seen at her constituency office. Finnegan maintains that she is only assisting individuals [...]

Kareem Slams Dianne Finnegan’s Immigration Assistance
The use of Dianne Finnegan’s Lake Independence constituency office to facilitate preparatory immigration transactions has raised the ire of many in the opposition People’s United Party.  The move which is [...]

Guatemalans’ Nationality Applications to be Converted to Permanent Residency
Hundreds of persons flooded Swift Hall on Monday hoping to get citizenship, including scores of nationals from Guatemala. But government has decided that because of the territorial dispute, there will [...]

PM Barrow Responds to Allegations made by Leader of the Opposition
In his New Year’s Day address, the Leader of the Opposition, John Briceño made bold allegations that cabinet ministers were complicit in the landing of drug planes which in 2019 [...]

Equal Opportunity Bill Consultation Heads South
A public consultation led by the National AIDS Commission and the Ministry of Human Development is underway at the SJC Auditorium tonight where the topic of discussion continues to be [...]

Choice Bank Limited Gets a New Liquidator
Julian Murillo is the new liquidator for Choice Bank Limited. On Wednesday the Central Bank of Belize announced Murillo’s appointment and if the name sounds familiar, that’s because Murillo is [...]

Dalla Vs Shyne and the Unpaid Consignment
Troy “DJ Dalla” Flowers versus Shyne Barrow….it’s a pending legal drama involving two well-known entertainers and stalwarts of the United Democratic Party.  One committed to taking out a twenty-six thousand [...]

Dalla Hits Shyne with $10k for Talent Fee and Logistics
Aside from the hefty thirty thousand dollar judgment which DJ Dalla is trying to recoup from Shyne, he is also charging ten thousand dollars for his services.  Those services include [...]

Shadron Gillett is Committed to Stand Trial for Murder
In the court room of Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser, Shadron Gillett was committed to stand trial during the April Session of the Supreme Court for the murder of Kevin Thomas.  [...]

Charges for Timroy Neal’s Killer!
A Roaring Creek resident has been charged for the murder of Timroy Neal that happened back in December of last year. Police say that the man they were looking for, [...]

Resort Owner Charged with Rape
The fifty-three-year-old owner of a popular resort off the coast of Dangriga has been hit with a rape charge. Police say that Wilfred Pascascio, the proprietor of Yok Ha resort [...]

Man to be Charged for Chopping a Cop
A man is expected to be charged for the chopping of a police officer in Stann Creek. Police say that twenty-six-year-old Byron Ramos of Cow Pen village chopped a police [...]

Single-Use Plastic and Styrofoam Ban to Be
On Wednesday, Belize enacted the phase-out of single-use plastics and styrofoam through the Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulation 2020.  The Minister of Environment signed that regulation into law which [...]

Belize Network of N.G.O.s Lauds Single Use Plastic Ban!
Senator for the N.G.O.s, Osmany Salas lauds G.O.B.’s efforts to initiate a ban on single-use plastics and styrofoam.  Salas says that while he hasn’t reviewed the final document with the [...]

Setting in Place Early Warning Systems for Belize City Residents
The Belize Red Cross in leading the charge in formalizing an Early Warning System for the Old Capital to better prepare in case of disasters. The organization is working along [...]

Belize’s Sugar to Enter CARICOM Market?
For some time there have been continuous efforts to get Belizean produced sugar in CARICOM and now finally there has been a breakthrough. Agriculture Minister Godwin Hulse, on Wednesday, said [...]

G.O.B. to Finalize Sugar Exportation to Taiwan
There is also a strong possibility that locally produced sugar will be sold in the Taiwan market. Minister Hulse says there have been ongoing discussions for B.S.I. to export sugar [...]

Allister Reyes Charged for City Shooting
Shifting to crime, on Wednesday, we reported on the shooting that left Kurtis Campbell with injuries to his back. Campbell was riding his bike when he was shot on Tuesday [...]

Security Guard Robbed of Cell-Phone
A Belize City Security Guard was robbed of his cell phone on Wednesday night in Belize City. Police say the guard was at his place of work when two men [...]

The Reporter

Wilfred Pascascio Faces Alleged Rape Charge
A Belizean businessman Wilfred Pascascio, 53, has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison on a charge of rape which he is alleged to have committed against a woman, 18. The victim visited the Police Station on Monday and reported that Pascascio had allegedly raped her at his resort located in Dangriga.

UN’s Anti-Corruption Anniversary: Underscores Recent Bribe Scandal
December of 2019 marked three years since Belize signed on to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), and after that time, we have still not implemented the Convention. But Belize is in good standing with the UN at present, indicated Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte, who asked Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington to deliver his speech at Monday’s Supreme Court opening.

LOVE FM

Minister of Immigration weighs in on Immigration scandal
Non-Belizeans must go through a process in order to acquire their Belizean Nationality and no step can be omitted in the process to get their paperwork done; that is what the substantive Minister of Immigration, Godwin Hulse, had to say to us following the lines at Dianne Finnegan’s constituency office last week. As we reported, a crowd was at UDP Standard Bearer, Dianne Finnegan’s office last week Friday to see how they can get their documents expedited.

Will Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin’s contract be extended?
The renewal of the contract for Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin remains a burning issue particularly for members of the judiciary and the Bar Association. As we have reported in previous newscasts, there are several judgments pending from the Chief Justice and the Bar is looking to challenge him in the courts to get them done.

Belizeans participate in anti-money laundering seminar
Today the National Bank of Belize (NBB) hosted a first-of-its-kind anti-money laundering compliance workshop and seminar. The seminar was an all-day event and featured a guest speaker; the president of the Florida International Bankers Association (FIBA).

Imer Hernandez gets the nod from the IDB on his road contracts
Following yesterday’s press conference Prime Minister Dean Barrow addressed the comments made by the Leader of the opposition in his New Year’s message where he made allegations against the United Democratic Party as they relate to corruption.

Minister of National Security clears his name from Lev Dermen Scandal
Minister John Saldivar has issued a public statement saying that he was not involved in any case of fraud or bribery with Lev Dermen. The Dermen Saga began unfolding on Monday as the media got access to court documents that indicate that at least one Government Minister was receiving a bribe of twenty-five thousand US dollars on a monthly basis for an unspecified period. Saldivar used Facebook as his platform to issue a statement which we quote, in part, stating, “For the record, I met American businessman Lev Dermen in 2013 and last saw him sometime in early 2015.

PM says recent scandals are small compared to previous administrations
There is no doubt that the Barrow administration will have to come good in the next few months to counter the clouds of allegations being brought against some of its members. The Prime Minister has conceded that he is concerned about the issues but in defense of his party, he told the media yesterday that what stands now is small compared to the previous administration.

Shyne and Dj Dalla come to terms after treats of lawsuit
Bowen and Bowen Company is suing Troy “DJ Dalla” Flowers for a sum of approximately twenty-nine thousand dollars based on a consignment between the company and Flowers. As a result, Flowers is now pursuing a lawsuit against Belize’s Music Ambassador Shyne Barrow, saying that Barrow is the one responsible for payment.

Getting rid of Single-use plastics in Belize
The Ban of single-use plastics in Belize is in full swing after the Environment Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations 2020 was signed on Tuesday. As we reported, the legislation will not see immediate enforcement by authorities but there will be a phase-out period of about 1 year.

Half-million dollars are being questioned by the Auditor General
Transactions amounting to over half-million dollars are being questioned by the Auditor General, Dorothy Bradley. Bradley submitted an audit report in late October to the Prime Minister where she highlighted several questionable transactions and where she has recommended that further investigations be conducted into them.

More government scandals continue to unravel
The popular adage, ‘when it rains it pours’ can be applied for the Barrow administration as there is yet another investigation to be carried out involving the questionable transactions amounting to over two point five million dollars. Tomorrow’s House Meeting will see two reports from the Auditor General tabled for review. The first has to do with the Julian Cho Technical High School.

Alleged shooter charged with attempted murder
Police have arrested and charged 19-year-old Allister Reyes of a Rasta Street address in Belize City for the shooting of 30-year-old Curtis Campbell. Campbell was shot on Tuesday night just before nine o’clock at the...

Making Campaign Financing for politicians transparent
Amidst the recent government scandal involving various Ministers and Lev Dermen, there are talks of creating new legislation to make campaign financing and support for politicians, more transparent.

Breaking Belize News

More than politics, Taiwan votes for democracy in recent election
The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Breaking Belize […]

Condé Nast Traveller is calling all adventurers to Belize
Last year Condé Nast Traveller, a luxury travel magazine based in England, published several travel […]

Man charged for Belize City shooting
Allison Reyes, 19, a laborer of 73 Rasta Street, was charged with attempted murder when he […]

Equal Opportunities Bill consultations come to Belize City
St. John’s College Gymnasium hosts tonight’s consultation on the Equal Opportunities Bill. The panel consists of […]

Guatemala asks OAS to facilitate meeting with Government of Belize
Guatemalan media, Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias reported that Guatemalan President, Alejandro Giammetti has asked the […]

Belizean-born author publishes textbook in Social Work Higher Education
Belizean Born Dr. Kendra Flores-Carter’s book entitled Medical Social Work Practice: A Christian Approach was […]

Sports Council lost more than a million dollars in 2015, 2016
The Audit Institution’s performance audit has found that the National Sports Council (NSC), between April 2015 […]

Shyne Barrow: I have no claim with DJ Dalla
Shyne Barrow contacted Breaking Belize News this evening to personally refute our report that a […]

Allister Reyes charged with attempted murder
Police have arrested and charged Allister Reyes, 19, in connection with the shooting of Curtis […]

Security guard’s life spared during Waste Control robbery
An on-duty security guard was spared his life after he was confronted by an armed […]

Shyne to settle with DJ Dalla over Music Week dispute
A dispute between two scions of the United Democratic Party is in court, but it […]

Men’s Journal names Belize one of 15 winter getaways
With the number of travel writing pieces telling people to visit Belize that has been […]

Honduran migrant caravan arrives in Guatemala
Prensa Libre Guatemala reported today that a Honduran migrant caravan arrived in Guatemala today. The […]

Elections and Boundaries warns of impersonators
The Elections and Boundaries department issued a statement warning residents that they have been made […]

PM Barrow: Imer Hernandez cleared from all allegations
Prime Minister Dean Barrow told the media yesterday that despite consistent criticism the Inter-American Development […]

US President Trump declares today Religious Freedom Day 2020; issues new rule ensuring prayers in school are protected
United States President Donald Trump has declared today as Religious Freedom Day 2020. “On this […]

Toledo residents reject Equal Opportunities Bill
The public consultations for the Equal Opportunities Bill was held last night in the Toledo […]

Dara Feeding Program back from the dead; Lee Mark Chang makes committed donation
It may be the fastest recovery ever. An interview with media houses on Tuesday afternoon by […]

U.D.P. leadership contestants deny involvement with Lev Dermen
In certain internet forums, one name has already been picked out as being conclusively the first […]

Blogs

When Are The Best Months for Caribbean Travel?
It's not that you should not travel here under any circumstances, but you should be mindful of what to expect. The narrow weeks that span Spring Break can prompt a higher percentage of people who are on spring break and want to tear things up. Now it's never an annoying issue since there is typically enough space for everyone, but like all Caribbean countries, there is a surge of college partyers. It gets to be a bit hot in the summer if you live in the southern US. Here in the Caribbean, with the trade winds blowing, it's nice all summer long. It will likely be 15-30 degrees cooler here than in Phoenix or Houston or Dallas, or New Orleans.

Beginner Scuba Diving Tips and Tricks
We love Scuba Diving and try to do it as many times during a week as possible. We think it is a tranquil and peaceful, yet exhilarating, experience. We encourage everyone to try it. Many people out there are scared or concerned about scuba diving. While I'm not saying that reading this blog will clear up all your concerns about scuba, it will help introduce you to the fundamentals that you will experience in a diving class.

Belize Lobster Fest 2020
For 2020, the lobster season officially opens on June 15th, 2020. As the lobster season opens, Belizeans celebrate by having this annual lobster fest in three locations, San Pedro, Caye Caulker and Placencia. The lobster fest is one of Belize’s most popular food festivals celebrated annually in San Pedro, Caye Caulker and Placencia. Not only a key attraction for tourists, but many Belizeans also head out to the islands to partake in the different lobster themed events, pageants, and parties.

Exodus Water Taxi from San Pedro to Corozal and Sarteneja
My editor Shirlee decided to try the newish water taxi and wanted to share her experience for travelers wanting to go between San Pedro to Corozal or make a stop at Sarteneja. Personally I would rather fly however, there are some people who are scared of smaller planes and opt to travel by boat when in Belize. Some people just want a fun boat ride because flying is not an easy option where they live. Exodus Water taxi began operations on October 22, 2019. It runs opposite of the Thunderbolt schedule, meaning it leaves San Pedro at 7:00 am and returns from Corozal at 3:00 pm, stopping in Sarteneja both ways. Below is the Exodus boat, Sabrina docked in Corozal.

Rice and Beans or Beans with Rice? Salbutes or Garnaches? Decisions in Belize
Belize food is delicious – and often surprises visitors who know little about Belizean cuisine. Many Belizean dishes are also relatively simple. Often a limited number of basic ingredients. Simple but not easy – or at least not to me. I was reminded of that the other day when I took a second to look at the menu at Briana’s Deli on Back Street. (My favorite rice and beans in the country of Belize AND #6 in my Guide To 50 Big Experiences on Ambergris Caye) I always order the same thing. Rice and Beans with Leg Meat (Stew Chicken). But I took a closer look at the menu.

3 Popular Events for early 2020 on Ambergris Caye
2020 has started and there are plenty of fun activities taking place on the vibrant island of Ambergris Caye! Here are some events you should definitely mark on your agenda to attend during your vacation To kick start 2020, anglers are invited to join the 2020 Wahoo Challenge. The wahoo challenge a tournament is a tournament that has been taking place for many years now on Ambergris Caye. Ambergris Caye, already a vibrant and happening caye, comes alive for El Gran Carnaval de San Pedro. Celebrated yearly one week before lent, visitors and locals are all invited to join in various cultural celebrations. In celebration of lobster season opening June 15, an annual celebration of events is held on the island of San Pedro. Lobster Fest is held around that time to honor the opening of the season.

International Sources

Where to Find Belize's Adventurous Side, From Snorkeling to Hiking
Check out this article from Condé Nast Traveler on where to find Belize's Adventurous Side! I first visited Belize on my honeymoon in 2016. We filled our schedule with all types of activities, from snorkeling with sharks at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and diving in the Blue Hole to climbing ancient Mayan ruins. These are are all essential Belize experiences—but some dozen trips later, I’ve come to learn this Central American country’s greatest hits are a mere fraction of what it has to offer. Even on a first visit, it’s not hard to figure out where to go in Belize to get beyond the basics. Whether your schedule is weeks-long or you only have a few days on your hands, getting off of Belize’s tourist track is easy and rewarding. And, given the relatively small size of the country, you can cover a lot of ground quickly. Here’s where to go in Belize—and how to scratch beneath the surface.

A busy year in the Caribbean: Elections
The Caribbean has a challenging year ahead as voters are set to head to the polls in Belize, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Elections will be hard-fought throughout the region, and with the economic outlook for the Caribbean being relatively positive—the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts a pick-up in growth from 3.3 percent in 2019 to 3.7 percent in 2020—the electorate of each country will keep a close eye on how candidates look to divide the economic pie.

US Armenian fraudster on Belize press headlines: Political scandal erupted
A political scandal erupted in Belize over the case of Levon Termendzhyan, who is accused in the US of participating in a fraudulent scheme. Levon Termendzhyan, known as Lev Aslan Dermen, is being investigated for fraud and accused of a fraudulent adventure that brought him more than $ 500 million. During the investigation, one of the accused, former partner of Derman, Jacob Kingston, testified that from 2012 to 2016, Leo sent 25 thousand dollars a month to an unnamed Minister of Government of Belize.

Videos

January 16, 2020

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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

Hon. Patrick Faber Attends the Inauguration of the New President of Guatemala
The Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Patrick Faber returns to Belize today, January 15th, having attended the inauguration of the Republic of Guatemala’s new President Alejandro Giammattei. President Giammattei won the presidential elections in a second round of elections held on August 11, 2019 for a term of four years. The inauguration ceremonies in Guatemala included the installation of a new Congress. Minister Faber took the opportunity to greet and have a few exchanges with the new Guatemalan President and members of his new government. Both sides renewed the wishes of both governments to continue building relations of friendship and good neighborliness, including the promotion of tourism, trade and investment.

Copa San Pedro Football Tournament begins
On Thursday, January 9th, Copa San Pedro 2020 began at the Ambergris Stadium, with 11 teams competing for the coveted top prize of the football tournament. This year’s teams include Hell Fighters F.C., Intruders F.C., Conquerors F.C., San Mateo F.C., G Strikers F.C., San Pedro High School, Alaia F.C., San Pedrito F.C., Jokers F.C., Ambergris Hopes F.C., and Vince Assassins F.C. The current Copa San Pedro standings have Hell Fighters F.C., Intruders F.C., Conquerors F.C., San Mateo F.C., and G Strikers leading with three points each. Games continue this weekend, and football fans are encouraged to come out and support their favorite teams.

Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations signed into Law
The importation and manufacture of single-use plastic and Styrofoam products have now been banned following the signing into law of the Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations. The new regulation is geared at reducing the amount of plastic and Styrofoam that ends up in our landfills was officially signed on Tuesday, January 14th by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration, Honorable Godwin Hulse.

Equal Opportunities Bill discussed at public consultation in San Pedro Town
The first round of consultations regarding the drafting of a new piece of legislation seeking to address the issue of discrimination in and around the workplace took place in San Pedro Town on Saturday, January 11th. The project, championed by the National AIDS Commission, includes discussions about an Equal Opportunities Bill in which the Belizean population is consulted and informed of the benefits, should the proposed idea become law.

Ambergris Today

Belize’s Single-Use Plastic Ban Starts Today!
On Tuesday, January 14, 2019, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration, Hon. Godwin Hulse, signed into law the Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations, 2020, which comes into force on January 15th, 2020. The purpose of these regulations is to carry out Cabinet’s decision to reduce plastic and Styrofoam pollution through the phasing out of single-use plastics, including shopping bags and Styrofoam and plastic food utensils.

Belize Reaches Half Million In Overnight Tourism Arrivals
For the first time in the history of our Tourism development, Belize has surpassed the half-million mark in overnight arrivals. In 2019, a total of 503,177 overnight visitors were welcomed to Belize, an increase of 2.8 percent from 489,261 in 2018. The National Sustainable Tourism Master Plan (NSTMP) endorsed in 2012, has a goal of achieving overnight arrivals of 556,000 by 2030. However, with 10 years remaining, the 2019 figure is representative of already attaining more than 90% of this 2030 vision.

Belize’s Single-Use Plastic Ban Starts Today!
On Tuesday, January 14, 2019, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration, Hon. Godwin Hulse, signed into law the Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations, 2020, which comes into force on January 15th, 2020.

Various Belizean Sources

Hon. Patrick Faber Attends the Inauguration of the New President of Guatemala
The Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Patrick Faber returns to Belize today, January 15th, having attended the inauguration of the Republic of Guatemala’s new President Alejandro Giammattei. President Giammattei won the presidential elections in a second round of elections held on August 11, 2019 for a term of four years. The inauguration ceremonies in Guatemala included the installation of a new Congress. Minister Faber took the opportunity to greet and have a few exchanges with the new Guatemalan President and members of his new government.

Alaia Foundation to host Ambergris Caye’s 2nd Half Marathon & 5K Charity Run!
The Alaia Foundation has announced that plans are underway for Ambergris Caye’s 2nd Half Marathon & 5K charity run which is scheduled to take place on April 5th, 2020. The foundation seeks to provide financial, educational, medical and environmental support with the events net-proceeds, to disenfranchised families/communities across Belize. Runners can take part in twenty-one or five kilometer distances, with several age range categories including; under 20, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and over 60. The 5k run will take off from Seagrape Drive at 6am (tentative) while the Half Marathon (21K) will take off at 5am (tentative).

Paint N Splash
See you this week at from 2-4pm Thursday.

Latest press release from the Caye Caulker Business Association
The Caye Caulker Business Association (CCBA) would like to inform the Belizean public and visitors to our country that all electrical and water services have been fully restored to Caye Caulker. All hotels, guest houses, restaurants and other businesses are fully operational and are once again delivering the level of services that have earned Caye Caulker the "destination of the Year" award for 2019. The residents of the island endured the inconvenience of the recent utility outages and displayed the resiliency that the island is famous for. We would like to encourage anyone considering a visit to Caye Caulker to proceed with your plans.

The COCONUT HUT in Corozal is looking for a Female Mexican Chef
The COCONUT HUT in Corozal across from A&R is looking for a Female Mexican Chef who knows how to prepare Mexican/Belizean Food, Speak Spanish, English and Creole. Live near our location, Self Starter, Friendly, Clean and prefer if she already has customers that follow her good tasting seasoned food and drinks. Contact Hassan @ 637-9298 or email WACPtv.bz@gmail.com

Verdes vs Running Rebels
The Verdes are hosting the Running Rebels in their first game of the 2020 season. Friday, January 24th, at 8:45, at the Sacred Heart College auditorium. Go Verdes! "Game 1 of our 2020 NEBL season is coming up! Mark your calendars, tell your friends & get ready for an exciting season opener!!"

Channel 7

PM Barrow Asks Ministers Who Took 25k/Monthly
Since Monday, the news and social media has been abuzz with reports of high level corruption in the UDP government. This is after court documents emerged form the US state of Utah saying that an Armenian fraudster - who allegedly conned the US government out of half a billion dollars - paid 25 thousand dollars monthly to a high ranking government official. And that another electronic transfer was made to another high official. The man who allegedly made these payments is Levon Termendzhyan, also known as Lev Dermen - and he was known to rub shoulders with many UDP ministers. So, who got the money? And for what? This is the question we've been teasing at for two nights. Well, today the Prime Minister held a press conference to squarely confront the issue. So whodunnit? That's what he asked his entire Cabinet yesterday:

Saldivar Denies Fraud, Bribery or Quid Pro Quo, but Mum on Cash
Of course there are huge political implications in that - especially with the UDP leadership convention coming up in three weeks. And here at 7News we know that at least one of those men aspiring for Leader, John Saldivar has been an associate of Lev Dermen. And we know that because Jules Vasquez went to the Gold Cup in 2013 as a journalist and learned that Dermen was a part of John Saldivar's entourage. In fact, information at the time was - Dermen was ferrying Saldivar to games in a private jet. Today we asked the Prime Minister about that connection:...

Dermen the Diplomat?
So, John Saldivar says his office was never used for fraud or bribery - because the suggestion is that Lev Dermen was tiring to buy his way into a diplomatic posting. And that's why he allegedly used cash to cozy up to UDP ministers. Today the Prime Minister said Lev Dermen did ask to be a consular representative for the city of Las Vegas - which is not a diplomatic posting, per se. Here's how he explained it: Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister: "Mr. Lev, Mr. Levon, whatever his name is, at no appoint approached the government for a diplomatic appointment..."

PM Says "All Hell Will Break Loose"� When Evidence Comes Out
So, if Dermen just went - without any special introduction to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and asked to be consul general, if that is the case, then which minister or high official got monthly money from Dermen and why? PM Barrow says we will have to wait for the trial to find out: Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister: "Nobody in Belize knows who it is to whom these statements, these allegations refer. What is clear is that at least one minister of my government and at least one official of my administration; both are on the hook, though un-named, in terms of what the material is alleging..."

The Lev Revelation And Its Effect On UDP Leadership
And, if all hell breaks loose, then what will happen with the leadership of the UDP. Barrow is about to leave office, and either one or both of the men who would succeed him could be implicated. Yes, Saldivar has - through a statement denied that he was involved in any fraud, bribery or quid pro quo. But we note that he has not denied receiving funds - which as the PM has pointed out - could be simply written off as campaign contributions - which is not a crime. For his part, Patrick Faber has told us he only met Dermen once in passing, and that was it.

Did DPM Faber Get Money From Mason? Claim Denied!
In our first segment we heard almost everything significant from the press conference, but afterward, the press spoke with the Prime Minister in another impromptu session. We asked him about an explosive allegation made yesterday by his son Shyne Barrow. Reporter: "In an interview yesterday Shyne Barrow has asserted that Danny Mason had paid Patrick Faber $200,000.00. Do you know anything about that?" Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister: "Mike, I'm not going to go there." Hon. Mike Peyrefitte: "He said it was an allegation. Shyne didn't say that."

Briceno Pre-empts The PM
This morning ahead of the PM's press conference, leader of the Opposition John Briceno called his own press conference to send a message to the PM: "Call names." Briceno said that he believes that the PM knows the identity of the Ministers referenced in the Lev Dermen case and called on him to act immediately to fire and criminally prosecute those in question.

Hugo Can't Remember Levon
Also, today before the press conference - we spoke to Corozal North Area Rep Hugo Patt in Orange Walk. He's aspiring to be the party's first Deputy. The press asked him if he knew the man named Levon:

Alleged Drug Traffickers To Court Under Heavy GSU Guard
Changing gears now from all that politics - we go to the Belize City magistrate's court where 8 foreigners who were jointly charged with drug trafficking for the importation of over 3,000 pounds of cocaine in September of last year, appeared today before the Chief Magistrate, Sharon Fraser. They were also charged with abetment to the importation of cocaine and landing an aircraft without the permission of the Minister of Aviation. The prosecutor, corporal Chris Smith, said that the case file is not ready yet and he asked for an adjournment for March 18.

Styrofoam Ban Not Immediate
The long-awaited Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations, 2020 came into force today, January 15th. And the aim of the Plastic ban is "to reduce plastic and styrofoam pollution through the phasing out of single-use plastics, including shopping bags and styrofoam and plastic food utensils."

OCEANA Endorses Ban
And the organization most concerned with plastics in our waterways is celebrating the plastic ban calling the legislation, quote, "A significant commitment to a cleaner environment and a greener future for Belize." Oceana's Communications director spoke to us about the difficulties involved in the transition away from plastics and styrofoam. She says that moves toward a plastic-free life will mean a better quality of life for all Belizeans.

Is A Migrant Caravan From Honduras Headed For Belize?
A new migrant caravan is headed from Honduras for the United States but this time, reports say they could be planning to walk through Belize on their way to the Mexican border. The caravan was expected to leave San Pedro Sula around this time, and reports say it could be passing form Guatemala through to Belize within 48 hours. From there, they are expected to be wanting to make their way to La Union and then into Mexico.

Hulse Says No Rush Of New Citizen-Voters Permissible
So, while Immigration and police try to figure out what they will do with this caravan of migrants, Godwin Hulse, the substantive Minister of Immigration, says that the politicians in his party will not be able to bypass the checks and balances for nationality applications for potential voters. You'll remember that this issue came up last week when scores of illegal immigrants started showing up to the constituency office of the UDP standard bearer, Dianne Finnegan, hoping that she would be able to aid them to get their immigration status regularized.

A Shooting In City
30 Year old Kurtis James Campbell was riding on Muhammed Ali Street last night when he heard the sound of a motorcycle engine. He turned to see a 19-year old known to him and stop at Seagull bridge. That's where the gunman pulled out a firearm from his pants and shot at Campbell.

La Zafra In A Time of Climate Change
This year's cane crop season officially began as it does annually with a grand ceremony, which was held this morning BSI/ASR's Tower Hill Factory in Orange Walk. It is observed to remind the stakeholders of the importance that the sugar industry has to the country's economy. But as viewers know, last year's extended drought has caused the nation's farmers approximately 50 million dollars in losses.

When Will Drought Support Arrive?
So, as you heard in our story, the meteorologists are forecasting that 2020 could be another dry year. Since last year's drought crisis, the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture have started lobbying the international financial institutions to fund a water management plan for the agro productive sectors.

Hon. Hugo and The Land Use Law
The Government is also contemplating legislation to regulate land use and the clearing of forests and trees to make way for farmland. They want to ensure that farmers are not contributing to the problems where the environment's natural water cycle is disrupted due to the mass clearing of vegetation.

Lee-Mark Shows Dara Love
Yesterday we brought you Joel "Dara" Robinson's appeal for funds to keep his Feeding Program going. And Dara's mission to feed the many hungry-belly school-age kids in his area has touched many hearts, including UDP Caribbean Shores Standard-bearer Lee-Mark-Chan. And, today he pledged a thousand dollars a month from now until the end of the school year to the Dara feeding program.

Will CJ Get Extension from Executive?
As we told you earlier, today, after the Prime Minister's extended press conference, the media tied him down for another session to discuss current matters. We asked him about the situation with Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin who reaches the retirement age of 65 in March.

DPM Was In Guatemala
And while Cabinet members all had to answer the Prime Minister yesterday about their involvement with Lev Dermen, one minister who didn't was Patrick Faber. And that's because the Deputy Prime Minister was in Guatemala on official business. He attended the inauguration of Guatemala's newly elected President Alejandro Giammatei.

Equal Opps Bill, the Other Side Of The Argument
And in our last story for tonight, we take you back to the Public Consultations on the Equal Opportunities Bill, which happened on Monday night in Belmopan. Last night, we brought you extensive coverage of the sales pitch from the National AIDS Commission about this draft legislation. They assert that if it is passed, the Belizean society will be more fair, and inclusive, and it will protect against 19 forms of discrimination that members of the general public face every day.

Channel 5

PM Addresses the Lev Dermen Debacle and his Administration
Accused Armenian/American fraudster Lev Dermen is sitting in a prison cell in Utah for having allegedly participated in defrauding the United States government of over half a billion dollars.  His [...]

PM Says Any Guilty Party will be Fired from Cabinet
PM Barrow went around the Cabinet Room on Tuesday asking each member in attendance whether they accepted monies from Dermen during the period in question, transactions that go as far [...]

Is PM Barrow Satisfied with Cabinet Ministers’ Responses?
We asked the PM if he was satisfied with the responses given by members of his cabinet and if he was prepared to launch an investigation ahead of the testimony [...]

How Will Dermen Scandal Affect U.D.P. Leadership Convention?
The leadership convention for the United Democratic Party is less than a month away and the Dermen scandal is a raging fire that the Barrow administration is desperately trying to [...]

Opposition Leader Demands that PM Barrow Fires Ministers Involved
Three hours prior to the Prime Minister’s conference, Leader of the Opposition John Briceño hosted his own press conference, calling on PM Barrow to take immediate and swift action against [...]

Leader of Opposition: “It is time to send a strong message”
Lev Dermen received Belizean nationality in 2013 under his past name, Levon Termendzhyan. It is not certain if he obtained a passport since none was found prior, but a Special [...]

PM Barrow to P.U.P. Leader: “Blah Blah Blah”
Prime Minister Dean Barrow also took a jab at the Leader of the Opposition for seeking disclosure on the involvement of two ministers.  Barrow read parts of the P.U.P.’s press [...]

A Solemn Promise to Resign if Leader-elect is Proven to Have Accepted Dermen Monies
Going back to the possible consequences of either of the two leadership aspirants being found to have collected bribes from Dermen, PM Barrow says that should the convention proceed before [...]

John Saldivar Issues a Release on Dermen Scandal
The minister, whose name has been swirling in this scandal, issued a statement today. John Saldivar confirms he met Lev Dermen in 2013 and last saw him sometime in early [...]

DPM Patrick Faber Issues Release on Lev Dermen
Late this evening, DPM Patrick Faber posted on his Facebook saying he has had no relationship with Levon Dermen, that he did not make any request for him to be [...]

Did Danny Mason Give Patrick Faber $250K?
Aside from the Lev Dermen sandal, there is the saga of the convicted murderer, William Danny Mason.  The Prime Minister was asked if there was evidence that Mason gave the [...]

Foreign Nationals Back in Court for Charges Connected to Drug Plane on Coastal Road
A group of foreign nationals charged in connection with the landing of a plane carrying sixty million dollars worth of cocaine in September of last year were back in court [...]

Shooting in the City!
A Belize City man was shot on Tuesday night. Around eight-twenty, thirty-year-old Kurtis James Campbell was riding his bike on South Creek and when he arrived near Muhammad Ali Street, [...]

Cop Chopped in Cow Pen
A police officer was injured while confronting an armed man in Cow Pen Village. According to police, just before eight on Tuesday morning, the cops were called out to the [...]

Godwin Hulse: Lev Dermen is Not a Belizean
As you heard earlier, Prime Minister says there is no evidence yet to tie any member of cabinet or any other government official to the alleged bribery involving Lev Dermen. [...]

Godwin Hulse: Immigration Processing is ‘Inviolable’
Last week, U.D.P. standard bearer Dianne Finnegan collected documents from hundreds of immigrants at her political office on Partridge Street in the Lake Independence division of Belize City. She claimed [...]

Will Chief Justice’s Contract be Extended?
Prime Minister Dean Barrow also took questions on a number of other issues aside from the Lev Dermen scandal at his press conference. Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin reaches retirement age [...]

PM says Bar’s Boycott was “Not a Very Successful One”
The Chief Justice is facing serious complaints lodged by the Bar Association. One of the chief complaints is the delay in the delivery of judgments as well as the exclusion [...]

Prime Minister Shocked that Chamber’s Request not Fulfilled
Prime Minister Dean Barrow says that he is surprised that the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry has not received documents it had requested.  The request was in respect to [...]

PM Barrow Says Imer Hernandez “Came Out Smelling Like a Rose”
According to the Prime Minister, an I.D.B. audit on the infrastructural works of Imer Hernandez was concluded. PM Barrow says that Hernandez received a letter from the I.D.B., telling him [...]

2020 Sugar Cane Crop Season Finally Opens
The mills were cranked up today at Tower Hill, but the customary long lines of sugar cane trucks were missing. This year, because of a late start, production is taking [...]

Belize Network of N.G.O.s Awarded 27K USD
The Belize Network of N.G.O.s received twenty-seven thousand U.S. dollars to fund an exercise that will strengthen civil society organizations to promote good governance and accountability.  The donation is made [...]

Emergent Corp & BAPDA Awarded Micro Grants
Two other local organizations also received funding through the Belize Association of Planners and Research Triangle International micro grants. The Emergent Corp and the Belize Association of Persons with Diverse [...]

C.E.O. Pat Andrews Resigns
One more issue from the Prime Minister. Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Patrick Andrews has tendered his resignation. Andrews, who was appointed in 2017 after he [...]

Dara Gets Help!
Businessman and politician Lee Mark Chang came up big for Dara’s Feeding Programme. Today, Chang presented a thousand dollar check to the grassroots initiative that feeds about fifty underprivileged school [...]

The Reporter

PUP Leader Comments On Recent Scandal
Following this morning’s press conference by Prime Minister Dean Barrow, the leader of the opposition PUP party leader John Briceno called on the Prime Minister...

David Cruz, ”Deuce” Charged For Murder Of Timroy Neal
The brazen and callus killing of Timroy Neal captured the attention of everyone who saw the news, because the crime that took places near the Roaring Creek Police Station.

Dear Compol Chester: Don’t Pay 100k+ Hotel Bill, We Support You
Today, The Commissioner of Police Chester Williams is scheduled to meet with members of the Belize Tourism Board, as well as the San Pedro Chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association to determine who will pay the $100,000 plus bill, racked up by police officers at a local hotel on the island.

LOVE FM

Liquor License meeting in the South
A group of businesspersons in Southern Belize came together in the first quarterly liquor licenses meeting. Toledo Correspondent Paul Mahung told us more about what was discussed.

What Yuh Know?
A social media icon is in Belize to find out ‘What we know?” 21-year-old Daniel Loveless is the founder and host of “What yuh know”. He is a social media icon who provides education through entertainment.

Murderer of Timroy Neal charged
A man from Roaring Creek Village, Cayo District was arraigned in Belmopan this morning. 26-year-old David Cruz is being charged with the murder of Timroy Neal.

Family still confused of why Escalante’s body was exhumed
The Escalante family is still confused as to why someone would want to exhume the body of Emil Escalante. When we spoke to the cousin of the deceased, he told us that Escalante had died due to injuries he suffered after being beaten a few months ago.

Promoting eco-friendliness in Belize
Yesterday, Belize took a giant step in promoting eco-friendliness by signing the Environment Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations 2020 into law. These regulations came into effect today and are supposed to reduce the use of plastics in the country.

No Senate Inquiry as yet
Going back to the Prime Minister’s Press conference held earlier today. As we noted the Prime Minister said that they had questioned all Cabinet Ministers if they had taken any monies from Dermen.

Race is on for the next leader of the UDP
As it relates to the Faber and Saldivar leadership race, Prime Minister says their heads would still roll if they are involved.

$4,000 unaccounted for at the National Sports Council
Tonight, there is another story of possible corruption and it’s worth over four hundred thousand dollars, involving the National Sports Council. A report from the Auditor General for the period April 2015 to March 2016 has indicated some key findings in its audit including the lack of transparency and accountability.

PUP leader calls on PM to fire several Government Ministers
The opposition party (PUP) called a press conference a few hours prior to that of the Prime Minister’s. The media was in full force at the Charter house this morning where the Opposition Leader, John Briceno called on the Prime Minister to fire the ministers who are involved.

Caravan of migrants heading towards Belize?
There are reports of a caravan with migrants that are heading to Belize from San Pedro Sula, Honduras. As it stands right now details of it are scarce but there has been confirmed.

Civil Society Organizations awarded micro-grants
Two civil society organizations were awarded micro-grants today from the Belize Association of Planners (BAP), along with Research Triangle International (RTI). These five thousand dollar grants are for 6 month projects that are designed to...

Man shot in Belize City
A man survived an attempt on his life last night in Belize City. 30-year-old Kurtis James Campbell, a mechanic, was reportedly riding his bicycle on South Creek around 8:30 when he noticed a motorcycle behind...

Cane Crop Season 2020 declared opened
Sugar cane farmers are back on the job as the first crop season for 2020 was declared open today. The Belize Sugar Industry (BSI) had the official opening at the Tower Hill factory under the...

Single-use plastics to be eventually phased out
Yesterday, Belize took a giant step in promoting eco-friendliness by signing the Environment Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations 2020 into law. These regulations came into effect today and are supposed to reduce the use of...

101 Birthday of George Cadle Price
The man instrumental in Belize’s Independence, George Cadle Price, would have turned one hundred and one today . Price was a Belizean statesman who served twice as the head of the Government of Belize in...

PM says Cabinet Ministers deny taking monies from Lev Dermen
The imminent testimony of Jacob Kingston in the US Courts against Lev Dermen has taken on a life of its own in Belize as fingers are being pointed at several Government ministers being involved in...

Breaking Belize News

Canadian Travel Website: Belize is a go-to place to visit for travelers departing Montreal
The travel site MTL Blog has listed Belize as one of 13 destinations travelers departing […]

PM Barrow: ‘Any Cabinet minister who took money from Dermen will be fired’
Prime Minister Dean Barrow in a press conference this afternoon at the Biltmore Hotel addressed […]

Former Belize City Deputy Mayor’s name came up in auditor general’s reports
Former Belize City Deputy Mayor Eric Chang made local headlines when he refused to at […]

Guatemalans demand arrest of outgoing President Jimmy Morales for corruption allegations
At the heels of the swearing in of Guatemala’s new President, Alejandro Giammetti, Guatemalans are […]

John Briceno: Too much corruption has been allowed under this UDP administration
Leader of the People’s United Party (PUP), John Briceno issued a statement today discussing the […]

Mama Belize introduces new potato chips
Belizean company, Mama Belize is releasing its new signature product, potato chips. The new local […]

King Sugar is back – industry partners urge unity and cooperation in face of challenges
The outlook is still somewhat troubled, but there were smiles all around as the trucks […]

Cowpen villager to be charged for wounding officer with a machete
Authorities are investigating an incident that occurred in Cowpen yesterday morning. Farmer Narciso Manzano,67, told […]

Kurtis Campbell shot last night in Belize City
Authorities are investigating a shooting incident that occurred last night in Belize City. About 8:20 […]

Coast Guard receives donation of instruments from Music Ambassador Shyne Barrow
H.E. Shyne Barrow continues into 2020 with distribution of instruments to various entities. Lt. Lewis […]

SIRDI to compensate terminated Marcos Osorio
Chairman of the Sugar Industry Control Board (SICB) Gabriel Martinez today said a combination of […]

Opposition Leader to host press conference this morning
Leader of the Opposition, People’s United Party (PUP), John Briceno has called a press conference […]

PM Dean Barrow to host press conference today to discuss accusations made against Government officials
International and Local media have been reporting on reports of a biofuel fraud involving over […]

Celebrating the life of the Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price
Today would have marked the 101st birthday of the Father of Belize, the Rt. Hon. […]

Deputy Prime Minister attends inauguration of new Guatemalan President
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister, Patrick Faber attended the inauguration of the Republic of Guatemala’s new […]

An unmatched experience: Tropic Air’s Blue Hole tour
For Belizeans and tourists alike looking for a memorable and adventurous activity to share with […]

Four years later: No arrests for murder of Anne Swaney
Yesterday marked the 4th anniversary since the murder of American, Anne Swaney, who was vacationing […]

Kenrick Longsworth in court on murder charges
Twenty-seven-year-old Kenrick Longsworth was feeling the heat yesterday morning as he faced charges of murder in […]

Blogs

How to travel on a budget to Ambergris Caye
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye is known as one of the more expensive destinations in Belize, but it’s an island, so as you can imagine, there’s a cost to that island life that makes things just a tad more pricey than the mainland. Here are a few tips to help guide you to save money when you’re visiting. (and for any part of Belize for that matter) Throughout Belize, there are hostels in every tourist area, so no matter where you are going, you’ll be sure to find one. Many of them in San Pedro are on the beach – imagine that, what better location could you ask for — beachfront without breaking the bank. Save your money for tours!

Belize: The biggest little country in Central America
Belize ranks as the 48th smallest country in the world and by population, Belize ranks the smallest country in Central America, with just over 350,000 people. The country ofBelizeitself isalso small— it’s not much larger in size than the U.S. state of Massachusetts and measures 8,865 square miles. Its 160 miles long and 68 miles wide with the lowest population density in the Americas. What is most fascinating about Belize, is that this tiny country packs an unbelievable number of features into a small location, which makes moving around easy and convenient for vacationers, especially if they only have a few days off. Equally surprising, all major airlines fly to Belize and most major U.S. hubs are less than 3 hours away from Belize. So easy to get to and easy to get around … what are you waiting for? It’s time to book your holiday!

International Sources

Southwest Relaunches Spring Flight Sale With Deals From $39 One-Way
Southwest Airlines' nationwide spring sale featuring one-way flights from $39 is back like it never left. This time around, travelers have until 11:59 p.m. PT on January 23 to book. Internationally, Southwest is offering nonstop roundtrip flights between Fort Lauderdale and Cancun, Mexico for under $270 and nonstop flights between Houston and Belize City, Belize for just $155 one-way.

4 Cruises Hand-Picked for Divers and Snorkelers
If you think cruising is only about what you see and experience above the waterline, you may be missing half the picture. Any scuba diver knows that where there’s saltwater, there’s usually an entire world of marine life rippling beneath its surface. Yet while many fans are known for enthusiastically plotting scuba diving trips around places where they can expect the best dives, they may be missing a vacation that does all the legwork for them: a cruise. According to Torben Lonne, a scuba diver and the editor of divein.com, the online scuba magazine, Belize has the second-largest coral reef in the world, with “incredible biodiversity and infinite diving spots along the 186 miles of reef,” he says. “It’s also home to the Blue Hole, one of the most unique diving sites in the world—and visible from space.”

Cincinnati Museum Center brings exhibit on Maya civilization to U.S. for first time
The Cincinnati Museum Center is bringing an exhibit about Maya culture to the United States for the first time. Maya: The Exhibition, which opens March 14, features more than 300 original objects that detail the daily life, religion, politics and innovations of the Maya. Among the items are preserved clay and stucco sculptures, elaborate gold and jade jewelry, stone tools and large carvings with hieroglyphs. Interactive elements allow guests to get a more intimate look at certain objects.

Tenth KISS Cruise Will Feature Queensryche, Ratt and Fozzy
The KISS Kruise turns 10 in 2020 and to celebrate the band is inviting along their friends from Queensryche, Ratt and Chris Jericho's Fozzy to join them on their next cruise, which departs October 30, 2020 from Miami. The theme cruise, which sold out in 2019, features performances by all the bands, including KISS, as well as interactive activities with each member of the band and autograph sessions. The members of KISS also bring aboard their rare memorabilia collection, the KISS Expo. The five-night cruise will be aboard Norwegian Pearl and will include stops at Harvest Caye, Belize and Roatan, Honduras. Fans can go to TheKissKruise.com for more information and to book

Videos

January 15, 2020

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Two teams currently leading San Pedro Co-Ed Softball Tournament
Team Extreme and San Pedro High School (SPHS) are currently leading in the San Pedro Co-Ed Softball Tournament, with a total of five wins each. Both teams emerged victorious during their games on Sunday, January 12th, at the Honourable Sylvestre Sporting Complex. The current standings has Extreme with five wins and two losses, follow by SPHS with five wins and three loses. Team Rusties have won four games and lost three, Team RCGO has also won four games and lost three, while Beer League remains winless with seven defeats.

The Belize Academy of the Performing Arts performs concert in San Pedro Town
On the evening of Saturday, January 11th, island residents enjoyed a rare treat; live Chamber music from Austrian and international musicians. Held at the Paradise Theatre, the Belize Academy of the Performing Arts (BAPA) ensemble performed an eclectic collection of compositions from Fiorillo, Mozart, Rossini, Kummer, Reneau and even a piece composed by Belize’s Governor-General Sir Colville Young. A piece for violin and cello from their conductor and pianist Ako Banlaky was also performed.

Ambergris Today

Caye Caulker Business Association – Thanks To Bowen & Bowen
The Caye Caulker Business Association (CCBA) would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Bowen and Bowen Company for their generous assistance to the Caye Caulker residents during the recent water crisis. The special effort to donate and deliver water went a long way in softening the blow to the residents and businesses on the island. Through thoughtful and cooperative efforts such as this we can work towards a better and sustainable future for the island.

New Outdoor Play Area For Children At Hope Haven
The children being housed at Hope Haven now have a new outdoor play area to enjoy thanks to the kind donation of Garbielle’s Wings with the help of Believers World Outreach. According to Hope Haven’s Facebook page, in the summer of 2019, with a full house of children, they realized that they were in need of an outdoor play area for the kids to run around in and play games. Gabrielle's Wings founder Michelle Hord-White and Believers World Outreach, Kari Klopfer Bichsel and Becky Kettle-Gay organized their volunteers to transform an empty and unused space in Hope Haven’s yard into a play area for the children living in the shelter.

Various Belizean Sources

Mrs. Maria Elda Aguilar de Alamilla passes away
Mayor Daniel Guerrero, the San Pedro Town Council and Staff would like to extend its sincerest condolences to the Alamilla and Aguilar family on the passing of Mrs. Maria Elda Aguilar de Alamilla, affectionately known as Tia Julie. Our heart goes out to the family and friends of Mrs. Julie. May her soul rest in peace. There will be a wake at her January 14th, 2020 in the evening for anyone that would like to attend. Funeral services will be later announced.

Results of Taiwan Election presented to Prime Minister
This afternoon, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Belize H.E. Remus Chen visited the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow to officially deliver results of Taiwan's elections held on Saturday, January 11th. H.E. Tsai Ing-wen was re-elected for a second term. The Prime Minister extended congratulations to the people of Taiwan.

Crafters Paint & Pour
The next edition of Crafters will be a pour paint technique. It'll be at the Soul Project, on Thursday, January 23rd. Contact Victoria for more information, at 604-9237. "Thursday January 23rd at Belize Soul project, space for the arts & productions 2pm! Learn how to paint pour with drinks, including wine and snacks!"

BTB at the Paris Diving Show — in Paris, France
Belize was represented at this year's Paris Diving Show where we had good visitation from French divers expressing interest and planning trips to Belize. Additionally, we exhibited on a tour operator booth and had products and samples to show the visitors.

BHA Promoting Belize at the World of Taste & Travel Orlando
The World of Taste and Travel- “Discovering the World’s Tourism, Gastronomy, and Culture” was held on December 19, 20, and 21 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando Convention Center, Florida. The 3-day event was aimed at the US and international B2B networking; travel agencies, international tour operators, hoteliers, buyers, and global trade industries to negotiate and conduct businesses. Exhibitors from all parts of the world were there to offer and sell packages to consumers from North America and International Countries. The BHA representatives were Past-President Leisa Carr-Caceres and BHA Director Barry Snowden.

New! Mamá Belize Potato Chips
I am representing Mamá Belize - New Belizean Brand produced in Belize from local products and for Belizeans. Our debute product - Potato Chips - is now hitting the market countrywide with help and big initiative from Vega’s distributors. Me and my Corozal team created special flavors with Belizean Habanero knowing how Belizeans likes hot snacks. We hope they we made a product what we all can be proud of here in Belize and abroad in the future. We are happy to make an impact in Corozal and give the job opportunities for young and talented people.

Bowen and Bowen Beverages Hiring

Phase-Out of Single-Use Plastics
Enactment of Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulation, 2020. oday, January 14th, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration, Hon. Godwin Hulse, signed into law the Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations, 2020, which comes into force on January 15th, 2020. The purpose of these regulations is to carry out Cabinet’s decision to reduce plastic and styrofoam pollution through the phasing out of single-use plastics, including shopping bags and styrofoam and plastic food utensils. This decision was made as a necessary pollution control measure to protect the terrestrial and marine environment from harmful plastic contamination.

Sustainable micro-enterprises
Farmers and women’s groups of forest communities in the Maya Golden Landscape have developed sustainable micro-enterprises focusing on farms, crafts, and cultural experiences. The farmers, who implement climate-smart farming practices, share with guests how their farming techniques support wildlife and forest protection while enjoying delicious, in-season fruits during the eco-farm tours. The women offer guests an immersive and authentic Maya cultural experiences. Guests get to prepare and enjoy a nutritious meal over a fire-hearth. In addition, guests learn how to make traditional crafts with sustainably-sourced forest materials.

Good Governance, Transparency, and Ethics” course at Galen
U.S. Embassy Belmopan congratulates the Love Foundation and Galen University on partnering to offer the “Good Governance, Transparency, and Ethics” course as part of the University’s core curriculum. We applaud your initiative to tackle corruption and build capacity through education. In addition to developing a solid understanding of the underlaying concepts of good governance, transparency, and ethics, the course will foster principles of integrity, professionalism, and organizational culture.

Women during the Caste war (1847-1901)
During the Caste war women were also important part of the Maya Máasewal army . The Yucatec Maya women actively participated in the rebellion,some of them in the direction of their people in the religious and government sphere. In the movement women leaders like Hilaria Nauat ,Agapita Contreras,Andrea Nauat ,Maria Petrona Uicab(Wicab) and Soledad (surname unknown) are mention in history. For example Maria Petrona Uicab was a Priestess and military leader nickname "la santa patrona y Reina Uicab " . She had a great Influence into the Maya Máasewal army .

Channel 7

Toddler Goes Home to Granny After Harrowing Few Days
A two-year-old toddler is home at his grandmother's house in Belize City tonight after surviving a brutal beating allegedly at the hands of his stepfather on Friday night. To protect his identity, we won't say his name or show his picture, but the two-year-old, who was the youngest of the boys beaten, was released from the hospital sometime after 12:00 noon into the custody of his grandmother, Anne Carcamo. Of course, it's not exactly a happy homecoming because, one of his brothers, 3-year-old Mark Fransico Tuyul Jr is dead from his blunt force injuries, while another remains in the hospital. That four year old is recovering and in a stable condition.

Kenrick's Day In Court
And while Tuyul and his boys try to find some stability in the whirlwind of madness that has overtaken their lives, tonight the man accused of beating his boys and killing one of them is in jail on remand. Kenrick Longsworth was taken to court this morning - and 7News was there for what turned out to be quite a scene. Kenrick Longsworth arrived at the courthouse just after 9:00 in the prison van - briefly surveyed his surroundings - and then was grabbed around the arm by the police court orderly. Longsworth bristled at this - telling the police officer he could walk on his own, and indicated that he was in no rush because he wanted the media to take his picture.

UDP Ministers Tried To Make Fraudster Into Diplomat
Who dunnit? Which government minister collected 25 thousand US dollars from Armenian fraudster Lev Aslen Dermen every month? That's the question that probably bounced around the Cabinet room this morning after court documents emerged from the US state of Utah. That's where Armenian fraudster Lev Aslem Dermen is in prison on a half a billion dollar biofuels fraud - and his former associates have all turned on him - and they're spilling the beans. According to those court documents, one of the associates - Jacob Kingston, quote "will testify that Dermen and his associates made cash payments to foreign government officials.Kingston will also testify that a government official from Belize was routinely paid $25,000 cash a month by Dermen and that when Dermen could not make the payment himself he would ask Kingston to make the payment on his behalf." End quote.

DJ Dalla Will Sue Shyne
Troy "DJ DALLA" Flowers has consulted Attorney Kareem Musa on a lawsuit he intends to bring against Shyne Barrow. That's right, Dalla is suing Shyne, and Kareem Musa is the attorney. That's a PUDP mix-up if ever there was one, but Dalla told us today that it's no joke. 7News has learned that Dalla is himself being sued by Bowen and Bowen for twenty-six thousand dollars. And the suggestion is that Dalla owes this money to Bowen and Bowen because Shyne used his consignment to cover the bar at last year's Music Week. Dalla also claims Shyne failed to pay him after he served as MC at last year's Music week.

Styrofoam Ban Goes Into Effect
Thee styrofoam ban was announced in March of 2018, but putting into effect has proved difficult. And, now, almost two years later, it was announced that the new regulation come into effect tomorrow. A press release announced that the Minister of the Environment, Godwin Hulse, signed the Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations, 2020 into law today, and it comes into force tomorrow, January 15th.

Huge Crowd Of Immigrants Descends On Swift Hall
Last night at 6:00, about 700 immigrants crowded into Swift Hall in the Lake Independence area. They were there to hear from the the Minister of state with responsibility for Immigration Beverly Williams. But, she didn't make it. Instead she sent the Ministry and the Department's most senior technicians: CEO Harold Zuniga long with the directors of immigration and Nationality. Here's what the CEO told KREM news after the very lively meeting: Edmund Zuniga, CEO - Ministry of Immigration: "We came to talk to them and hear what their immigration issues are and to share with them some of the regulations and what the requirements..."

Chester's Six Figure Hotel Bill
Since June of last year when a tourist was murdered on San Pedro, police have dramatically increased their presence on the island. But the additional cops had no place to stay and they had to be put up at Pedro's Inn for more than 6 months. But, police have now gotten the bill for that and we are told it's one hundred thousand dollars. We asked the commissioner about it yesterday - and he seemed reluctant to discuss:

The Vexing Problem Of Judgements Not Delivered
Last night, we showed you the Ceremonial Opening of the Supreme Court. DPP Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, the president of the Bar Association, did not attend. She and other senior members of the Bar chose to boycott to send a message that they are not pleased with the status quo. They point several issues of grievance, including Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin sidelining the DPP from attending meetings of the Judicial And Legal Services Commission. The Bar has a pending lawsuit against the Chief Justice which will determine if he was justified, as the Chair of the Commission, to do this.

Belize's ICJ Lawyers Set
The press also took the opportunity to get a comment from the Foreign Minister on the current status of Belize's pending case at the International Court of Justice against Guatemala. Last year in May, Belizeans took to the polls of a national referendum and voted that the country should go to the ICJ to settle Guatemala's territorial claim. Last year the Prime Minister warned that country would incur substantial financial expense to retain legal representation. Yesterday, the Foreign Minister said that the lawyers have already been identified.

Nurse Assoc. Exec Member Not Happy With Task Force
Last week, we told you about the dispute between the nursing profession and the bosses at the Ministries of Health and Public Service. The nurses are calling on these two ministries to speed up the process of identifying the professional who will be hired for the post of Deputy Director of Health Services. As we told you, the Deputy Director is also the Chief Nursing Officer. According to those who are familiar with the profession, the Chief Nursing Officer is important to the nurses because the holder of this office becomes the advocate for their concerns.

Machete Man Targets Cop
A Police Corporal was attacked with a machete while responding to an assault in progress on a farm in Cowpen Village. This morning, just before 8:00 Police Corporal Micheal Roches responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at the home of Narciso Manzano. The 67 year old said that his son Byron Ramos who he has a protection order against was assaulting his grand daughter and his daughter. Corporal Roches said that when he arrived on the farm, he saw 26-year-old Byron Ramos running toward him with a machete. Roches ran but was chased by Ramos.

Dara's Feeding Program Losing Steam
For a number of years now, we've been showing you the work of the grassroots philanthropist, Joel "Dara" Robinson. He runs his Dara Feeding Program right out of his backyard in Belize City, and for over a decade now, he has tried to look after needy children in his community. Well, he says that after 13 years, the feeding program has become financially unsustainable, and if he doesn't get urgent help, he'll have to shut it down.

The Future of Archaeology in Belize
On Friday, we brought you an interview with archaeologist Laura Kosakowsky, who told us how archaeologists use ceramics to date Ancient sites. Tonight we bring you another sit down with an archaeologist, this time a young Belizean, Sylvia Batty. Batty is the collection's manager at NICH. She told us how ancient monuments and artefacts came to be protected in Belize and shared a bit of what's contained within Belize's national collection.

Equal Opportunities Bill Outlined
Last week, we showed you the conversation taking place about the National Aids Commission's Equal Opportunities Bill. The ambitious piece of draft legislation is the culmination of over a year of work that the Commission has carried out. They say that it encompasses 19 different forms of discrimination that Belizeans face every day. This law seeks to give equal protection under the law to these citizens who are discriminated against. From their perspective, this draft bill represents an attempt to create a fairer and more inclusive society.

Channel 5

Kenrick Longsworth is Arraigned for Murder of Baby Mark Tuyul Jr.
For two days, police looked for the man who is accused in the brutal killing of a three-year-old child. On Sunday, Kenrick Longsworth was captured in Isabella Bank in an [...]

Hundreds of Immigrants Converge on Swift Hall; Minister Bev a No-Show
Swift Hall in Belize City was overflowing on Monday night in the mad rush by immigrants to acquire Belizean nationality.  The Minister of State for Immigration Beverly Williams was not [...]

Will the Immigration Department Accept Documents Collected by Dianne Finnegan?
Immigration C.E.O. Edmond Zuniga was also quizzed about the vast amount of documents that were collected at Finnegan’s political office over the course of last week. He did not confirm [...]

Who is Lev Aslan Dermen? Which U.D.P. Minister Did He Bribe?
A storm is brewing in the ruling United Democratic Party ahead of its national convention in February. This on the heels of the release of U.S. court documents of a [...]

Resort Owner Rapes Housekeeper
A disturbing report of rape is emerging from southern Belize. The Belize Police Department confirmed today that police in Dangriga are investigating a case of rape.  Information to News Five [...]

Hattieville Shooting Victim Detained; his Family is Outraged
The victim in a shooting incident in Hattieville is in detention. On January tenth, gunmen turned up at the home of Tyrone Belisle when he was with his family, Belisle [...]

Public Consultations on Equal Opportunities Bill Underway
A series of countrywide public consultations commenced over the weekend; on Monday it was held in Belmopan where proponents of the Equal Opportunities Bill presented, to an audience of interested [...]

Religious Opponents Decry Equal Opportunities Bill
The Equal Opportunities Bill is of serious concern for the National Evangelical Association of Belize, NEAB, which has come out strongly against the proposed legislation because of the perceived same-sex [...]

“Domestic Violence is Normalized” – Jennifer Lovell
The murder of three-year-old Mark Tuyul Junior has pushed the issue of domestic violence to the front burner.  Domestic violence is pervasive and has become commonplace to a point where [...]

Pedophilia is Alive and Alarming in Belizean Society
Equally concerning is the issue of child sexual abuse resulting from pedophilia.  According to Lovell, this kind of predatory behaviour often manifests itself in situations where children are groomed by [...]

Alejandro Giammattei is the New President of Guatemala
At this time, the inauguration of the new Guatemalan president, Alejandro Giammattei, has been delayed for hours.  The event is to take place at the National Theatre in Guatemala City, [...]

Belize Tax Service Insists B.T.L. Owes Millions in Taxes
The Belize Tax Service is holding on to its position that Belize Telemedia Limited owes millions of dollars in taxes to the Government of Belize. The Department initiated an audit [...]

Accused of Extortion, Reynaldo Verde Applies for Early Retirement
Reynaldo Verde, Former Deputy Director of the Belize Tax Service, remains incarcerated in the U.S. after he was nabbed by F.B.I. officials on September seventh 2019, on a charge of [...]

Jumoke Castro to Face Public Service Commission
Jumoke Castro, son of U.D.P. Minister Edmond Castro, is yet to be charged for what is considered a threat of rape against Plus TV’s Shasta Wade.  Castro was placed on [...]

Belize Overnight Tourism Arrivals Surpass 500K Mark
The Belize Tourism Board today announced that for the first time in the history of Belize’s tourism industry, Belize surpassed the half-million mark in overnight arrivals last year. In 2019, [...]

Nurses Question Association’s Task Force
Last week the Nurses Task Force called out the Ministries of Health and Public Services for acting in bad faith. According to the Task Force, the ministries were failing to address [...]

More Issues to Discuss Beyond Succession Plans for Nurses in Belize
Now, while Baird wants answers from the association in regards to the task force and elections, he says that he believes some of the points that they have called for [...]

Dara Robinson Feeding Programme on Life Support
Is the ‘Dara Feeding Programme’ closing its doors after thirteen years?  Not just yet – that is, if Joel Dara Robinson gets his way.  The local philanthropist says that his [...]

Amandala

3-year-old toddler beaten to death
Kenrick Longsworth, 27, a laborer of Lovely Lane Hutments off Pickstock Street, who is accused of bludgeoning his three young stepsons, ages 2, 3, and 4, which resulted in the death of his 3-year-old stepson, went on the run at about 6:30 Friday evening after the children’s mother returned home that Friday evening, January 10, and saw the injured children. Police were alerted and the hunt for Longsworth, the stepfather of the three children who were left in his care, came to a successful conclusion yesterday evening, Sunday, in Isabella Bank. He had been hiding in a farm in the village when he was found and detained.

Tension between the Bench and the Bar
The traditional opening of the legal year is usually accompanied by pomp and circumstance. At today’s opening of the Supreme Court, there was the usual ecumenical service. This year’s service was at St. John’s Cathedral and the members of the Judiciary paraded from the church to the Supreme Court, where in front of the court building on Regent Street, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin inspected a Police Guard of Honor, comprised of officers from the police’s Special Patrol Unit. Following the inspection of the guard of honor, those in attendance, which included members of the diplomatic corps, made their way into Chief Justice Benjamin’s courtroom to hear his report of the legal year that just ended.

GOB evades outstanding UHS $95.6 mil bill
The Supreme Court has delivered a summary ruling in regards to the controversial matter of the UHS debt that the GOB has been facing for over a decade. On Friday, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin ruled that the Minister of Finance and Prime Minister Dean Barrow are not obliged to use public funds to pay the 95.6 million-dollar debt owed to the Ashcroft Alliance, given that Parliament voted against it in August of 2018. The issue dates back as early as 2004 when the Belize Bank entered into a legal dispute over an outstanding bill that GOB acquired for the Universal Health Services (UHS).

Deandre Guefferro, 19, remanded for cruel murder in Seine Bight
Deandre Guefferro, 19, a laborer of Independence, has been charged for the horrendous murder of Mexican National, Alejandro Guzman Cruz, 46, the caretaker of a retreat in Seine Bight, that occurred on Tuesday afternoon, in his room at the retreat. Cruz’s murderer also stole some of his belongings. Guefferro was arraigned at the Independence Magistrate’s Court on Friday and was remanded until April, when he is to return to court.

Emil Escalante’s tomb vandalized in Orange Walk Cemetery, and open coffin left on the ground
The tomb in which Emil Escalante, 27, was buried was vandalized and his coffin was removed and broken into by unknown persons sometime last night in the Orange Walk Town Cemetery. The open coffin with the corpse inside was left on the ground near his tomb. Escalante was buried at about 3:00 yesterday afternoon. This morning his family was alerted that his tomb has been broken into and that the body had been exposed.

Belize Tax Services wants to recover 25 million in GST arrears from BTL
Last July, leaked documents suggested that Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) owed millions of dollars in unpaid General Sales Tax. When the information made it into the mainstream news, BTL insisted that it did not owe the GST Department the taxes. The company said its taxes were all paid up. The GST was doing an audit of BTL at the time. The matter of BTL and the millions of dollars it owes for General Sales Tax is once more making the rounds in the news again. This time, Financial Secretary Joseph Waight has confirmed to The Reporter that the Belize Tax Services audit of BTL is complete and the indications are that BTL does owe 25 million in GST.

Franz Reimer, 7, dragged to death by horse
Franz Reimer, 7, who was having fun with a horse in their yard in Shipyard, stood behind the horse and tied the rope around his waist, and as the horse sprinted away, he was dragged on the ground, causing him to suffer massive head and body injuries. A neighbor who saw what was happening managed to stop the horse, but the boy was already dead.

Christian Neal, 25, pleads guilty to escaping from prison
Three inmates of the Belize Central Prison in Hattieville made a run for freedom at about 12:30 Wednesday, May 8, 2019, but the run was short-lived for two of them. Virjilio Murrillo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Belize Central Prison, told Amandala that the three prisoners who made a dash for freedom from behind the prison’s walls were Wilser Echeverria, 25, of Belmopan, who is on remand awaiting trial for murder; Rafael Mencias, 25, of Corozal Town, who is serving a 10-year sentence for manslaughter for the death of Philip Hall of Corozal; and Christian Neal, 25, of Toledo, who was in prison for two counts of robbery and one count of carnal knowledge.

Editorial: Battering our democracy to hold on to power
In a year or so, Belize is going to the International Court of Justice, and you can bet that the judges there will be influenced by the kind of country that we are. Judges, they are only human. Too many members of the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) brass either don’t care about this country, or they don’t understand why our image in the world is important to us. They are battering our democracy in their fight to hold on to power. What happened last week at the Lake Independence constituency office of the standard bearer of the UDP, Mrs. Diane Finnegan, does not serve Belize well.

Amandala 2019 front page review — October to December
• Mysterious jet crash-lands on Blue Creek road. The suspected drug trade executive jet is reportedly valued at US $6million. The impact of the crash landing broke the plane in two, but by the time police arrived on the scene, there was no one there and no drugs were found. • Jebran “Sucu” Wagner, 21, murdered on Coney Drive. Wagner, a member of the Caesar Ridge Road Football Club, was at a party when he was shot and killed.

Intrepid FC wins 5-A-Side Mayor’s Cup Tournament at Yabra
A dramatic second half comeback yesterday afternoon by one of the Yabra based teams, Intrepid FC, thrilled Yabra football fans, as they overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat powerhouse Honduras FC (Barrack Road FC players) by a 6-5 margin for the Bernard Wagner 5-A-Side Mayor’s Cup Football Tournament Championship. Six teams competed in the Mayor’s 5-A-Side tournament, which kicked off on October 10, 2019, with games being played on Sunday afternoons at the Yabra Field.

C-Ray D. Banner Saturday Race results – January 11, 2020
The first C-Ray Saturday Race for the year was held over the weekend. Approximately 25 cyclists lined up on the Boom Road in front of Data Pro at around 6:30 a.m. They raced to the Hattieville roundabout and returned for a total of 23.8 miles, averaged 24.2 mph in a time of 58 minutes and 26 seconds. There is a special prize given if the record (53 minutes 3 seconds) is broken. Prizes were given in seven different categories: Junior/Youth, Junior/Youth Female, Women, Elite, non-Elite in 30+, 40+ and 50+ years.

PLB on a stumbling start to 2019-2020 Closing Season
Last week, there were 8 clubs scheduled to kick off Week 1 in the Premier League of Belize (PLB) 2019-2020 Closing Season; but today, the league released its revised season schedule, as Week 1 consisted of only 3 official games this past weekend, with only 7 teams now remaining on the PLB schedule this season. There had been strong rumors of a Corozal group securing the FF Valley Pride franchise, and the Corozal squad even reportedly had a good showing against a rated 1st Division team from Chetumal in a friendly match a week ago.

The Abel/Lucille family travel from Toledo to the capital
Jewel had made good progress in her studies, maintaining no lower than a third position in class, which people like Gertrude had found surprising considering her lack of formal high schooling, which had been another reason for developing a strong rivalry against her. One day I was in charge of the Maternity Ward when the telephone had rung while I had been involved with some activity I couldn’t leave, and had asked Jewel to take the call for me.

Hodgepodge of local/world views with an eye on America
Mr. Brian E. Plummer, in his letter to the Amandala editor on Friday, sees an America in decline and says their decision to take out an Iranian general was a poor decision. It was not the right thing to do, and to be victorious a war must be seen as the right thing to do, Mr. Plummer says. I look the same way at laws. An effective law is one that the people believe in. Sometimes the lawmakers can get away with a stupid law for a while if they fool the people with propaganda and other biased information.

Something is not right
Dear Editor, Since September 2019, the Federal Reserve has been buying 80% of US Treasury debt. The US is borrowing from itself —unprecedented. The attack on the Abqaiq oil facility in Saudi Arabia in September 2019, which affected global oil supplies significantly, barely increased oil prices. The killing of the Iran general by the US on January 3, 2020, barely influenced oil prices. The markets are not being influenced by threats to Middle-East oil.

The Toledo District — so rich yet so poor
Dear Editor, My district, your district, our district is rotten rich with fertile land, sea, rivers, lagoons, and creeks. And as Belizeans, we have the right to use any or all of them for our convenience, but we seldom do. I humbly, but firmly believe that what you don’t use, you lose. Well, presently, that is exactly what is happening right here, right now. Our neighbors come into our jewel without permission from our government or people and are harvesting our goods that are coming from us and us alone.

US puts even more restrictions on air travel to Cuba – charter flights to nine Cuban airports banned
Less than three months after suspending commercial flights to airports in Cuba outside Havana, the United States Government has suspended all public charter flights as well. Charter flights will only be allowed to Havana’s José Martí International Airport, and even then there will be limitations. US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said in a statement that the flights were “suspended until further notice” by the US Department of Transportation (DOT), at his request. Nine Cuban airports currently receiving US public charter flights will be affected.

The Reporter

We Need Your HELP! Dara Makes Appeal To Feed Needy Children
Philanthropist, Joel “Dara” Robinson says that his feeding program for underprivileged primary school children is on “life support” and he is appealing to anyone and everyone to help him salvage what he says is a vert necessary social program which he has spearheaded for the last 13 years.

Resort Owner Facing Serious Rape Allegations
The Reporter has confirmed that the owner of a popular resort located on the outskirts of Dangriga Town is currently in Police custody and is being investigated for the alleged rape of an 18-year-old housekeeper.

Kenrick Longsworth Is Formally Arraigned & Charged
Kenrick Kevin Longsworth, 27, has been formally arrested, charged and arraigned for one count of Murder and two counts of Grievous Harm. He was escorted to the Belize City Magistrate’s Court earlier today to be read the charges, and then remanded to the Belize Central Prison.

Foreign Demons Corrupting Belize: Politicians Will Be Disgraced
There are allegations that two government officials, one a government Minister will be named in an upcoming trial of an Armenian man in Utah. According to documents, testimony will state that Armenian Lev Dermen, on trial for fraud, paid a government minister $25000 monthly between 2012 and 2016...

Breaking Belize News

Belize city man shot on Seagull street
Minutes ago a man was shot in Belize City. He has since been identified as […]

Former OAS ambassador says Belize’s Nestor Mendez is the right man for OAS Secretary-General
A former Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS) and a resident of the […]

Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulation signed into law
Today, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration, Godwin Hulse, signed […]

Beware of fake posts as the 2020 general elections draw near
The 2020 general elections campaign has already started in Belize and the major political parties […]

Alejandro Giammettei assumes office as Guatemalan President
Guatemalan President elect, Alejandro Giammettei assumed office as President today. Giammettei succeeded President Jimmy Morales […]

Resort owner detained in Dangriga on allegations of rape
BBN’s newsdesk has received reports that a well-known resort owner in Dangriga is currently detained […]

Briceno to Belizeans: Time to unite and save Belize!
Leader of the People’s United Party (PUP), John Briceno, has issued his weekly address and […]

Dara Feeding Program “on life support”
Joel “Dara” Robinson is at the end of his rope. The feeding program he started […]

Kenrick Longsworth charged for murder and grievous harm
The news of a man attacking three children resulting in the death of a 3-year-old […]

“None of the allegations against Belizean ministers have been confirmed,” says Foreign Affairs CEO
Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), H.E. Pat Andrews says that […]

Another scandal brewing for Belize? Belizean Minister reportedly received money linked to US bio-fuel fraud
International media organizations are reporting on an alleged bio-fuel fraud scheme in the United States, […]

Tourism Minister announces record half-million overnight visitors to Belize
With 503,177 overnight visitors to Belize in 2019, Belize has set another record, according to […]

NEW LEGAL YEAR: Ex-Attorney General makes a suggestion to help Chief Justice clear court backlog
Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte missed yesterday’s ceremonial opening of the Supreme Court, handing over to […]

Taiwan Ambassador to Belize delivers election results to PM Barrow
Yesterday, Ambassador of the Republic Taiwan to Belize H.E. Remus Chen visited the Prime Minister […]

Police investigate broken grave in Orange Walk
The family of Emil Escalante is still grieving the loss of their loved one. Escalante,27, […]

Grief stricken father: “I can’t do it”
The news of a man attacking three children resulting in the death of a 3-year-old […]

“W” designation to be removed from the ranks for female officers,’ says ComPol
Commissioner of Police (ComPol) Chester Williams announced this week that the Belize Police Department is working […]

Survivors of Kenrick Longsworth to be released today
On Friday night we reported that three boys were physically abused at the hand of their […]

Blogs

2019 Russian Space Craft Shell Washes Up On Beach Of Ambergris Caye, Belize
I mean we’ve had unorthodox things was onto the beach on Ambergris Caye before. I sent a message to David Campos, the man who pulled the shell from the water to find out when I could take a look. We drove down to Indigo and found this. So cool that the barnacles are in a square – around the ridge where there’s a hatch or panel. The first thing we noticed – it’s in SHOCKINGLY good shape if it had been in the ocean for over 30 years. The steel pieces are still basically shiny and….perfect. Fabric and foam still in good shape.

Enjoy the Sidewalk Arts and Music Festival in Placencia Belize
Belize is a wonderful mix of culture, and you can experience every wonderful part of that mix at the Sidewalk Arts and Music Festival in Placencia. This vibrant festival celebrates everything uniquely Belizean. If you want to experience the colors, taste, and music that make up the beautiful quilt of Belizean culture, you can’t miss this event. Placencia does not have a main street. It has a main sidewalk that is 4,000 feet long, and during the festival, every inch of it is covered with art and color.

Maya Cosmology and Religion
In the Maya religion, objects that we consider to be inanimate had spirit. They believed in numerous gods that were dualistic (two-sided) in nature. For example, a benevolent Chac (rain god) brought rain to nourish crops; a malevolent Chac brought hurricanes, hailstorms, and floods. Their supreme deity was known as Hunab Ku, and because he was believed to have no body or form, they never produced effigies or other graphic representations of him.

Littoral Forests
Coastal Littoral forest is found on high ground along the coast. In Belize, it is seen in small pockets between Shipstern Lagoon and the Pott’s Creek are the Placencia peninsula, areas near Monkey River, some patches near Port Honduras, south of the Moho River, and south of Barranco. The largest areas of littoral forest are found on the higher elevations of the developed islands of Caye Caulker and Ambergris. The major importance of littoral forests is the protection of soil during overwash events, such as hurricane surges. Because of the forest’s dense carpet of vegetation abutting fringing mangrove, on the windward side of cayes, water is slowed in its progress across islands during weather events, thereby reducing soil loss. Erosion from wind is also by the density of thickets.

Celebrate Valentine’s in Belize | Best Place To Go For Valentines 2020
Valentine’s Day is the day for couples. Whether you are aspiring to become a couple with that special someone or you are just looking to keep the passions going with your significant other, you want to do something really amazing for them. Maybe you have everything planned but the venue for your Valentine’s day activities or maybe you are drawing a complete blank. The good news is that the many picturesque vistas and tropical climate of Belize will more than suffice for enchanting couples or bolster those wonderful feelings of love and trust you and your significant other have for one another.

Enjoy the Sidewalk Arts and Music Festival in Placencia Belize
Belize is a wonderful mix of culture, and you can experience every wonderful part of that mix at the Sidewalk Arts and Music Festival in Placencia. This vibrant festival celebrates everything uniquely Belizean. If you want to experience the colors, taste, and music that make up the beautiful quilt of Belizean culture, you can’t miss this event. The festival has become a yearly tradition in Belize, turning the quaint seaside village of Placencia into a vibrant, lively center of music, color, food, dance and fun for all ages. Artists, craftspeople, musicians, chefs, jewelry makers and all types of artisans descend on this beautiful village to transform it with color, taste, and sound.

International Sources

Belize vs Costa Rica: Which Central American wonder should you visit?
Both teem with wildlife, but are you drawn to Costa Rica’s rainforest-swathed volcanoes and oceanic beaches, or Caribbean Belize, with its dive-friendly coral cayes, misty mountains and Mayan ruins?

Guatemalans demand arrest of outgoing president for corruption
Jimmy Morales' immunity will lapse for just a few hours on Tuesday before he's sworn into Central American Parliament. Guatemalan civil society groups are pressuring authorities to arrest President Jimmy Morales for corruption on Tuesday as soon as his successor takes office. For more than half of his four-year term, Morales has been plagued by allegations of illegal campaign financing. He has denied any wrongdoing. He also shut down an international commission leading investigations into high-level corruption.

Belize Has Quietly Become a Caribbean Hotspot
Long a well-kept secret for travelers in the know, Belize has quietly become a full-fledged Caribbean hotspot in recent years, buoyed by one of the region’s fastest rates of tourism growth. And now it’s borne out by the data — Belize just set a new all-time record for tourism arrivals to the destination, Caribbean Journal has learned. The buzzing destination on the Caribbean coast of Central America topped the half-million mark for stayover viistor arrivals for the first time last year.

13 Countries To Travel From Montreal Where The Canadian Dollar Is High
With hopes of no one falling into the "currency trap," MTL Blog has made a list of countries to travel to from Montreal where the Canadian dollar is high. For each country, we've included the approximate cost of a round-trip flight from Montreal, the cost of a 3-star hotel stay, and an average meal cost. Belize is known for its "chill" environment and adventure - the perfect combination! It is the escape if you are looking to flee the cold. Belize may only occupy 8,867 square miles, but this country is equipped with everything you will ever need for a dream vacation. From stunning sites to thrilling activities and a ton of spots to go swimming, Belize is truly amazing.

Belize scores half million overnight tourism arrivals ahead of plan
For the first time in the history of its tourism development, Belize has surpassed the half-million mark in overnight arrivals. A release from the Belize Tourism Authority said in 2019, a total of 503,177 overnight visitors were welcomed to Belize, an increase of 2.8 percent from 489,261 in 2018. The National Sustainable Tourism Master Plan (NSTMP) endorsed in 2012, has a goal of achieving overnight arrivals of 556,000 by 2030.

KISS Returns to the Sea with KISS Kruise X
The most popular Gold Record Award winning American group of all time and iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Famers KISS have once again partnered up with the industry leaders in music festivals at sea, Sixthman to announce the upcoming voyage of The KISS Kruise X. The KISS Navy will set sail for their tenth mission from Miami to Harvest Caye, Belize & Roatan, Honduras from October 30 – November 4, 2020 aboard Norwegian Pearl. The announcement comes on the heels of 2019’s sold-out KISS Kruise IX, from where the band announced live onboard that their final show of all time will take place in July 2021. Fans can go to TheKissKruise.com for more information on pricing and availability.

The Latest on Offshore Banking: How to Choose the Best Country
As the world changes, so is the offshore banking landscape constantly evolving. What used to be the favourite private banking locations for the wealthy several years ago, has little impact on what is happening today. Academic research shows that the demand for offshore banking is on the rise and will continue to be for some time. There are indeed many legitimate reasons for opening an offshore account although according to FACTA, for offshore banks to have customers from the USA, it has become rather expensive. In this article we take a closer look at what well-known authorities on the topic say, including Investopia, Luigi Wewege (SVP at Caye International Bank Belize) and others.

Cayo Espanto nominated for Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards
Cayo Espanto Island Resort, Ambergris Caye - We're so excited to share that #CayoEspanto is nominated for Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards in the hotels category! Show your support by voting now:

Caracol Named Wonder of World
Caracol was named one of the seven new wonders of the world by Conde Nast Traveller Magazine. They nail it in that Caracol represents adventure, eco, and sustainable tourism instead of the over-hyped mass tourism. Well deserved recognition for the best Maya Archaeological Site on Earth. "Only one of the original Seven Wonders of the World remains, so we've picked seven new wonders that you can actually visit in 2020... The ancient Mayans were a remarkable people. Without the wheel, or advanced tools of any kind, they managed to build vast stone cities in the middle of one of the densest jungles on Earth. Chichen Itza and Tulum, in Mexico, are perhaps the most famous sites, but today they are a crush of souvenir stalls and mass-market tourism. Caracol is different.

Videos

January 14, 2020

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Belizean fighters excel in first Island Fight Championships MMA tournament
The Island Fight Championships League held its first Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event on Saturday, January 11th at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium, with two island fighters claiming championship titles and two others winning their first ever matches. The event was well attended by hundreds of spectators and sanctioned by Consejo Mexicano de Arte Marcial Mixta through its representative in Belize MMA instructor Martin Dawson.

Ambergris Today

From January and under the coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belize takes over the Mesoamerica Integration and Development Project (PM) Pro Tempore Presidency corresponding to the first semester of 2020, to hold two regional high level meetings of the Executive Committee of the PM, to promote the definition of the 2020 Mesoamerican Business Agenda and the fulfillment of the following relevant ministerial meetings for Health, Environment, Energy, Transport as well as of the Commission for Promotion and Financing (CPF) work plan.

Various Belizean Sources

Tecuani and the Duende Thanks in Corozal
The members of To'one Masehualoon NGO takes the opportunity to Thank Mr Lee Mclaughlin director of animated movie Tecuani and the duende and Mrs Debra Wilkes coordinator of The Corozal House of Culture for the opportunity to support in a successful premier screening of the Tecuani and the duende in Corozal Town. It was a thrilling and beautiful event.

Wildtracks Update...and a Nugget Update
Nugget is our youngest manatee calf...but she is growing!! She has put on 4 kilograms in the last four weeks - and 2.1 kilograms this last week! The once shy and difficult to feed manatee now spends her days nuzzling and is always eager for milk. A very sincere thank you to all those who have helped her so far - especially to those who spent nights monitoring her during the 24 hour watches!

SECONDARY INVESTMENT AWARD
On January 09, 2020 PACT awarded a Secondary Investment for a total of $52,500.00 to the Belize Karst Habitat Conservation (BKHC) to implement a 6-month project entitled “Improving the Management of Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve”. This project will contribute to the development of a 5-year management plan for the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve, carry out the demarcation of the PA boundary lines and the installation of boundary signage.

Protected Areas Conservation Trust 2018-2019 Annual Report
We are pleased to present our Annual Report reflecting 2018-2019 results. Learn about PACT's investments into our People and Protected Areas, made over the past year.

Jose Luis Zapata Photography winds Award
Congratulations Jose Luis Zapata Photography - Named Winner of the 2020 WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards. We are excited to announce that for the fourth consecutive year we won the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award. We put our hearts and souls in all the weddings we photograph with one main purpose to create beautiful photographs that our clients can cherish forever. We want to thank all the beautiful couples that hired us to document their wedding day in Belize and to all the couples that took the time to give us a review.

FOOTBALL ACTION COMING TO COROZAL SUNDAY, JANUARY 19th, 2019
Save the date! Grand Finale for the Corozal Football Association Opening Season Youth Tournament 2019-2020! Yes! Finals at the Carolina Football Field for the U10, U13, U20 and First Division. Come and support your favorite team, it all starts at 9:00 am sharp. Entrance $3.00

CONGRATULATIONS. Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development
2020 has started very positive for the "Pesca Tours" ladies. Five (5) families received additional equipment as part of the final stages to prepare them in diversifying their income while promoting sustainable fishing practices in CBWS. Each family received a stove to enhance their pesca tours initiative that include a meal with the host family. The ladies are now fully capacitated with basic English skills, are fully licensed food handlers and are now fully equipped with basic equipment.

Chargé d’Affaires Keith Gilges attends opening of the Supreme Court
Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Keith Gilges was honored to attend today’s ceremonial opening of the Supreme Court. The United States and Belize have much in common as democracies, and we are proud to continue our partnership with the government and people of Belize enhancing good governance and rule of law.

The magic of Yaoling Lee's talent is coming to Benque House of Culture!
Up coming event in Benque HOC. Workshops free of cost.

Channel 7

Belize's Most Wanted Caught in Isabella Bank After Heinous Crimes
Tonight we start the news with the story that has gripped the nation. Three children brutally assaulted, and one of them killed, allegedly by their step-father. And the ripples of disgust and anger only spread throughout the weekend as the tragedy sat heavy on every shoulder and united the country in the conviction that causing such harm to children was both unforgivable and unfathomable. A lot of the energy was fueled by the Commissioner of police's desperation to capture him. And after an all out community effort, he was caught on Sunday. That search culminated on at midday in the neighborhood known as the jungle - which is home to Lovely Lane, where the crime occurred.

What Happened That Night
But, for the family of the boy who was killed and the two who were injured, no apology or explanation can satisfy them. They have lost an innocent young life to the most unthinkable and cruel crime in recent memory. Cherisse Halsall has the story of what happened on Friday night: It's an extremely wicked shockingly evil and vile crime that happened at a home off Lovely Lane on Friday night.

WHO GETS THE REWARD(UDPATE)
And while this young life is gone, there is one good thing that happened: all sectors of the community came together to find him. And that was reflected in the rich, ten thousand dollar reward. It started out at a thousand dollars on Saturday morning, and then it went up to $5,000 dollars and just kept going up until it reached ten thousand dollars on Sunday.

Reward Will Be Split Four Ways
And while the community can pat itself on the back for working with the police to capture this suspect, there's no celebration for the Lavern Longsworth, she is Kenrick's mother. If her name seems familiar it's because she was much in the news about 10 years ago. That;That's after she set her then common law husband on fire, causing injuries that led to his death.

Kenrick's Mother Stands By Her Son
Longsworth said the mother of the children, Zema Castillo and her son had been in a relationship for two years - but it was interrupted by his many trips to prison. In her words, he was a jailbird without job. Williams also questioned how he got a woman to entrust him with her three kids:

Security Guard Critical
A security guard is in critical condition at the KHMH tonight after he was shot in the Lake Independence area. 31-year-old Micheal Pook was working in the BEL Ladyville compound when a gunman came up and shot him. We heard more from the police today. Supt. Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Eastern Division: "Michael Pook, 31 years old, was working as a security guard at a compound at the corner of Poinsettia and Tibruce Streets when he was approached by someone who fired shots in his direction. He was injured and taken to the KHMH where he is presently in a critical condition at this moment."

Family's Grieving Disrupted By Broken Grave
27 year old Orange Walk resident, Emil Escalante's family buried him yesterday, but woke up this morning to the most distressing news: someone had broken into his grave and taken his body out. Cemetery workers found the cement graves broken open and his casket removed from inside the vault and left half opened. It's really an unspeakable act of cruelty, and many questions remain as to why anyone would distress the family by disturbing this young man's burial site. And today ACP Joseph Myvette told us that officers are attempting to determine a motive.

Hattieville Shooting Over Village Beef
21-year-old Tyrone Belisle was shot in Hattieville just before midnight on Friday. Belisle was at home when he heard someone call his name. He stepped outside to see two men, one of whom he recognized. That man shot at him.

Shot in Hollywood Area
There was also a shooting in Lord's bank on Saturday night. It happened when 19-year old Phillip Guzman was walking in the Hollywood area.

Police Busy Cache of Ammo in Capital
And, finally from the police tonight - the cops did a number of operations in and around Belmopan this weekend.

Armenian Fraudster Sent Money Monthly to UDP Minister?
Scandal is threatening to shake up the UDP tonight, after court documents coming out of the US tell the story of an Armenian man named Lev Aslan Dermen. In Belize he was known as Levon - a big player with deep pockets. He was known as an associate of certain UDP ministers in the early to mid 2010's. But, right now, he's in jail in the US state of Utah, accused of spearheading a large biofuel tax fraud scheme. He is described in court documents from the "suspected crime figure" and "the leader of an Armenian organized crime group".

Bar Boycotts Supreme Court Opening, Kinda
On Friday's news, we told you the executive of the Bar Association's plan to boycott this year's ceremonial opening of the Supreme Court. It was calculated to send the message that they are not satisfied with the Chief Justice's performance in the timely delivery of judgments for cases he has presided over. And, as Chair of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, he has also refused to allow DPP Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, the Bar's current President, to take her seat on the Commission.

Judiciary Trying to Keep Kids Out of Jail
Although the Chief Justice's remarks today were a brief catalog of some of the Judiciary's activities last year, he did have a few disclosures which caught our attention. During his presentation, he shared details of a Child Diversion Program that the state is trying to implement. It is designed as an outreach initiative to discourage young defendants from becoming repeat offenders later in their lives.

Code of Ethics For Judges
Here now are the Chief Justice's remarks on how the Judiciary is trying to keep judges honest, and corruption-free. He said that there has been great focus placed on international standards for judicial ethics: Hon. Kenneth Benjamin - Chief Justice: "Article 11 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), to which Belize is a signatory as of December 2016, requires each state party to a.) take measures to strengthen the integrity among members of the judiciary, and b.)..."

AG's Update on UNCAC
Here now is what Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte had to say about Belize's glowing commendation as one of the nations trying to fully implement UNCAC.

Progress With Maya Land Rights
We also took note of the comments from the AG on how the Government has been moving toward compliance with the 2015 ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice that Maya Customary land Rights exist, and should be properly protected.

"Bring Back The Prado"
"Bring back the Prado". That's what The Christian Workers Union is telling Social Security Board CEO Dr Colin Young tonight. As we reported a few nights ago, Young bought the 7 year old Prado when he left office in December of last year. The Chairman of the Board also said it had a zero value on the Board's books. The Union noted the current policy regarding disposing of SSB assets via public auction or tender.

Fire On Tamarind
In other news, there was a fire off Jane Usher Boluevard this afternoon. A white bungalow house belonging to one, Karen young, was seen engulfed in flames.

Channel 5

1 Child Dead, 2 Siblings Critical at K.H.M.H. After Stepfather Bludgeons Them
On Friday night, a young mother came home to find her three-year-old son dead inside their house on Lovely Lane, the heart of Jungle, which is the Pickstock hutment in [...]

Physical Abuse – the Writings Were on the Wall
Both sides of the families agree that signs of domestic abuse were detected in the relationship between Zema Castillo and Kenrick Longworth was releases from prison last year for a [...]

ComPol Says Mother Must Accept a Degree of Negligence
This morning, the Belize Police Department, led by Commissioner Chester Williams, held a press conference to discuss the weekend tragedy.  ComPol Williams began by giving an official police account of [...]

How Was Kenrick Longsworth Finally Caught?
The arrest of Kenrick Longsworth on Sunday afternoon brought to an end an intense manhunt that had been undertaken by police officers in Belize City since Friday evening.  While his [...]

ComPol Says No Apology for Labeling Jungle Residents as Harborers
In the pursuit of Kenrick Longsworth, Belize City police descended on Pickstock Hutment, popularly known as Jungle.  In a social media post, Commissioner Williams suggested that the fugitive stepfather was [...]

Documents Surface Alleging a Minister Received Money from a U.S. National Involved in a Huge Fraud
A throve of documents has been obtained on a complex case in the U.S. Courts  involving an alleged scheme to illegally obtain more than five hundred million U.S. dollars in [...]

Legal Year 2020-2021 Declared Open
The traditional opening of the Supreme Court took place as scheduled this morning.  Members of the Judiciary were in full force as they made their way to the courtroom following [...]

Immigrants Meet with Minister Bev Williams
At this time, a meeting is currently underway at the Swift Hall in the Lake Independence constituency of Belize City where as promised, Minister of State for Immigration, Beverly Williams, [...]

The Tomb of an Orange Walk Resident is Vandalized and His Body Exhumed
Less than twenty-four hours after the body of Emil Escalante was laid to rest over the weekend, the tomb at the cemetery in Orange Walk was broken into and his [...]

BPD Owes Six Figure Hotel Bill; Who Will Pay?
The Belize Police Department owes a San Pedro hotel over a hundred thousand dollars. The hefty hotel tab is reportedly for accommodations for officers who have been working on the [...]

Trove of Ammo Found in Belmopan Area
Belmopan Police carried out a number of operations in the Belmopan area over the weekend. One of the operations netted a trove of ammunition. Police say that the more than [...]

Guatemalan Nominates Judge for I.C.J. Territorial Dispute Case with Belize
Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington confirmed to the media today that Guatemala has nominated a judge who will sit on the bench to hear submissions on the territorial, insular and [...]

Guatemalans Remain on Belizean Land
Two Guatemalan families remain settled on Belizean territory along the western border. They are residing in an area known as Barrio el Juda and the property belongs to businessman Jorge [...]

Charges in Santa Cruz Abduction
Police say one man will be charged in connection with an abduction and beating in Santa Cruz Village. The incident happened minutes before midnight last week Wednesday. Twenty-six-year-old Stefan Kerr [...]

Shooting in Hattieville
In the crime blotter, there was a shooting in which a twenty-one-year-old man was shot in Hattieville on Friday night.  Police say that Tyrone Belisle was at home when he [...]

Lord’s Bank Villager is Targeted by Gunman
The second victim of the gun violence over the weekend was Philip Guzman, a resident of the Hollywood area in Lord’s Bank Village. Guzman was heading home from work when [...]

Belize City Man Critical with Gunshot Injuries
Michael Pook was at his worksite when he came under gunfire. Pook is hospitalized in a critical condition. Police say that they are pursuing different angle, even taking a look [...]

Fire in Jane Usher
There was fire in Belize City just before two o’clock this morning. No one was at the house when it went up in flames. The Fire Department managed to contain [...]

Gender Neutral Rank for Female Officers
The Belize Police Department says that it’s in the process of designating ranks within the force as gender-neutral. Currently, the female police constables are referred to as W.P.C.  Moving forward, [...]

Female Officers to Take Legal Action over Hairstyles
And on the topic of female police officers, today Commissioner Chester Williams told the media that two of his officers will take the department to court. The legal action is [...]

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

Amandala

Body of Emil Escalante exhumed from his tomb
Police in Orange Walk are investigating the exhumation of the body of Emil Escalante, 27. He was laid to rest yesterday, but was found today on earth with his body exposing in his coffin.

The Reporter

Belize Supreme Court Opens The New Year – 2020
Foreign Minister, Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington who sat in for Attorney General, Michael Peyrefitte at today’s opening ceremony of the 2020 Supreme Court calendar explained that the AG had other over-riding schedules and asked him to deliver his speech.

Union To SSB: That Deal Is Too Sweet, Get That Prado Back
In a scathing release issued today, the Christian Workers Union is calling on former CEO of the SSB Colin Young to ‘Bring Back the Prado.’ The former Chief Executive Officer departed with the luxury 2012 Toyota Prado, acquired for over $120,000.00 and assigned to him during his tenure.

Bizarre Grave Vandalism – Unheard-off In Belize
Orange Walk resident Emil Escalante, 27, was buried around 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 12th at the Orange Walk Cemetery following weeks of fighting for his life after being beaten outside a nightclub in Orange Walk two month ago. But early on Monday morning, family members returned to the cemetery to find out that his tomb had been vandalized.

LOVE FM

BIG initiative at Liberty Children’s home
Bowen and Bowen Limited and Bowen Imports and Goods (BIG) started an indefinite monthly initiative with Liberty Children’s home. They will be assisting them with household items such as groceries, water and detergents to sustain their daily needs.

Breaking Belize News

Four persons to share cash reward for information leading to capture of Kenrick Longsworth
Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, today commented on the capture of the accused child killer, […]

San Pedro police rack up 6 figure hotel accommodation debt
Earlier this week we learned that the San Pedro Police Department has racked up a […]

Belmopan police find huge stash of bullets and home made gun
Over the weekend, Belmopan police conducted several search operations. One operation led to the discovery […]

Belizean nurses celebrate ‘Year of Nurses and Midwife’
The Nurses Association of Belize in conjunction with the International Council of Nurses (ICN) is […]

Chester Williams: No apologies for “Jungle”
Over the weekend Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, accused the Jungle community in Belize City […]

Man stripped of clothing to prevent suicide at “piss house”
Sometime last week a photo went viral of a nude male detainee at the holding […]

Chester Williams: Kenrick Longsworth not a mental patient
Today Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, was asked about the mental health of accused child […]

Hattieville “beef” leaves one injured
Police say that the shooting of Tyrone Belisle, 21, is the result of a feud […]

Former accused murderer critical after shooting last night
Last night a man was shot in Belize City. He has since been identified as […]

Jane Usher home destroyed by fire
Shortly after 1 o’clock this morning, there was a fire in Belize City. It occurred […]

Sixty countries including Belize congratulate President Tsai of Taiwan on her re-election
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that over 60 nations have congratulated Taiwan’s re-elected President, […]

Cayo Animal Welfare Society hosting spay and neuter clinics in Santa Elena, Cayo
The Cayo Animal Welfare Society (CAWS) is hosting a low-cost spay and neuter clinic in […]

Tomb destroyed in Orange Walk
The family of Emil Escalante,27, is still mourning his loss and today they were informed […]

National Student Union in Belize calls on Government and stakeholders to put in place measures to ensure the safety of Belizean children
The National Student Union of Belize issued a statement this morning expressing its sincere empathy […]

Supreme Court reopens today
This morning marks the ceremonial opening of the legal and judicial year. Following a church […]

Mayor Bernard Wagner to donate $5,000 to medical expenses for abused boys
Belize City Mayor, Bernard Wagner, has pledged $5,000 to assist two boys that remain hospitalized […]

Man shot in Belize City
A man was shot in Belize City last night.He was at a residence near Poinsetta […]

Blogs

Sticking to your goals with the Fittest in Belize!
One fun thing about our island home is that it has a wide variety of fitness centers for you to choose from. We highlight one person, however, because we think it’s amazing to say she is the ‘Fittest in Belize’! Liliana Nuñez is a CrossFit Coach, athlete and fitness enthusiast. A fitness professional for ten years, Liliana began with her Personal Trainer certification from the National Personal Training Institute. She also has her Level 1 CrossFit Trainer and Mobility certification.

Do Not Miss the San Pedro Carnival | El Gran Carnaval de San Pedro
Located on scenic Ambergris Caye, San Pedro has a well-deserved reputation as Belize’s party town. During Carnival, you can guarantee the people here will be living up to that reputation. San Pedro is also a popular tourist destination where you’ll find plenty of great restaurants, nightlife, and luxury beach resorts and hotels. This year, it begins on February 23.

Blue Hole from Below
Giant stalactites, dripstone sheets and limestone columns (all scientific proof that the cavern formed above sea level) are now inhabited by inquisitive Caribbean Reef Sharks and Black Groupers. Descending through its thermocline is an expedition into darkness. The limestone wall is a calming reference as you slowly sink to the recreational diving limit of 130 feet. Here, an eerie hue of dusky cobalt illuminates greyscale columns carved by erosion during the last ice age. In just a few minutes of immersion, it becomes impossible not to be in awe of nature’s handiwork.

San Pedro Scoop January 2020 newsletter

Several Temporary and Fulltime Teaching positions available at Corozal Community College

International Sources

Surprising benefits of the Coconut Embryo
The mature coconuts are collected regularly for their milk. You can usually crack open a coconut for lunch and in the older, mature coconuts you'll sometimes find a soft, spongey type formation on the inside of the coconut. This happens when the coconut is ready to shoot some leaves out and is an edible, soft predecessor. This part is actually the Coconut Cotyledon which is sometimes called the 'Coconut Embryo' or 'Coconut Apple' and is suspended in germination and is generally eaten raw.

International movements of Atlantic tarpon, need for protection
The results of an 18-year study of Atlantic tarpon by scientists at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science revealed that these large silvery fish take extensive seasonal migrations -- 1,000s of kilometers in distance -- beyond U.S. borders. The new findings can help protect the fish, which is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN -- International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the main draw of a more than $6 billion catch-and-release sport fishing industry in the United States. Using electronic satellite tags, the UM research team tracked nearly 300 Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) in coastal waters of the western central Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, including as far away as Mexico, Belize and Nicaragua. The results showed that the mature tarpon make extensive seasonal migrations along a warm, seasonally moving ocean-water feature known as the 26o C isotherm where temperatures remain constant.

Videos

January 13, 2020

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Wolfe’s Woofer: Mind Reader
“Swimming naked is a pretty foolish idea,” Sherry said when I told her my story. “I didn’t plan to do anything embarrassing when I left home this morning,” I said. “Nostalgia and the sunny weather made me look for that old swimming spot up north.” I had parked the golf cart by the road and walked the trail to the beach. This isolated area of shore is protected by a sandy point that kept the seaweed away, leaving a beautiful swimming area...

Doctor Love: Smart Mom
Dear Doctor Love, I feel really bad to say this, but I have not liked any of my son’s female friends. They all seem so foolish and I think my son only wants to date them because they have nice figures. My son is a smart, handsome boy and can do better with a smart girl instead of a pretty girl with no brains. How do I teach him that he has to look for better a girlfriend? /s/Smart Mom

Various Belizean Sources

The Placencia Breeze January 2020

Kenrick Longsworth arrested
Update: commissioner of police says the person wanted in connection with the death of the toddler has been captured and is in police custody. He was found in Rural Belize District and is now on his way to Belize City.

Belize City Council Pledges Support for Child Victims
The Council Assists Child Victims Sunday, January 12, 2020, Mayor Bernard Wagner and The Belize City Council is saddened at the recent acts of violence and abuse inflicted on three of our city's minors this past Friday. We share our residents' condemnation of such acts of violence and extend our sincerest condolences to the affected families and individuals of this incident. We applaud the quick response by our law enforcement in capturing the offender. In addition, being mindful of the unanticipated expenses that the grieving family will now be required to defray, Mayor Wagner and the council hereby pledges $5000.00 to the victims to ensure that the surviving children receive all the necessary treatment and support for an effective recovery.

Corozal Animal Program
Here are some statistics from our Corozal Animal Program on the Spay and Neuter Clinic of our furry friends, that took place in San Joaquin on January 9th and 10th. We continue to ask for your generous support of this wonderful organization and program. Thank you CAP, Sue Paelotti and Marie Simard, her FAVI volunteers and other countless volunteers. God Bless you all.

Reminder | Belize Water Sports Standards Consultations ends January 17, 2020
For more detailed information, read more here: https://conta.cc/35z15ES If you would like to submit your comments, download your forms here: http://bit.ly/35SbPyp

Movie Night in Benque Tonight
clock Monday, January 13, 2020 at 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM, Doors open at 5:30 for cultural trivia game & Best Tata Duende costume contest *prizes to be won. $1 for kids and seniors & $2 for adults to see Tecuani & the Duende. For $1 more stay & watch The Bottle. We'll have snacks & drinks for sale to raise funds to keep doing events like this!

Amandala

Fugitive captured in Rural Belize
Kenrick Longsworth has been captured. He was wanted in connection with the death of the a child 3 and wounded two other. The ComPol thanks all for their assistance in this matter and look forward to greater collaboration with you the general public in future matter.

The Reporter

Fugitive Accused Killer Captured
This afternoon Commissioner of Police Chester Williams announced that fugitive from justice Kendrick Longsworth, on the run after the brutal murder of a child, 3, and the beating of two others, had been captured in rural Belize. The Reporter confirmed shortly after that Longsworth had been found in Isabella Bank, in an area called Hendy Bank by locals.

Breaking Belize News

Belmopan Bandits hit cricket score in Premier League return
The Premier League of Belize is back, and so are its sub-champion (from the Opening Season) […]

Statistical Institute prepares for Census 2020
The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), starting in May, will be counting all the population of […]

Commissioner of Police informs that accused child killer has been captured
Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams informed the public via his Facebook page minutes ago that […]

Police in pursuit of accused child killer
Police are currently in pursuit of accused child killer, Kenrick Longsworth. Longsworth was found moments […]

Young Belizean with high aspirations meets pilot, tours plane’s cockpit
When 14-year-old Taishaun Miguel stepped on to a SouthWest airline flight over the holidays, he […]

Man shot in Lord’s Bank last night
A man was shot last night in Lord’s Bank Village. Police say that Phillip Guzman, […]

PUP ready for early elections
As Belize waits for the announcement of the official date for the 2020 General Elections, […]

Reward now $9,000 for suspected child killer
As the manhunt continues for Kenrick Longsworth, who is wanted in connection with the brutal […]

Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology issues drought warnings for Belize and others
The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) has listed Belize among other Caribbean territories that […]

Publication in Scotland names Belize as one of its top places to visit in 2020
A publication in Scotland has highlighted Belize as one of its top places to visit for […]

Blogs

TexBel Farms
Two Texan gentlemen, Lindsey Short and Alan Arsht decided to start a whole new industry in Belize. They recognized that Belizean soil yields world-class fruits and vegetables, yet there was no export market. TexBel is a new environmentally conscious company set to reshape the tropical fruit beverage industry, offering products of the highest quality and freshness, for global markets. Their initial farm was acquired in 2013 and provided the foundation of the coconut business. In 2014 and 2015, two more farms were established. The most important next step was to recruit local management. With this in place, Local farmers are also trained in agronomic practices. They can then sell their fruit to Texbel and benefit directly from the higher prices for sustainable crops. TexBel now has over 3,000 acres of land planted with a special coconut hybrid, Persian limes, Valencia oranges, and other tropical fruits, including soursop.

Hano’s Coffee and Art Lounge
Hano’s Coffee is tucked between a Clinic on Blue Marlin Drive just before the corner of Coney Drive. The coffee he most prefers is from Guatemala, because of its constant high quality and availability. Hano trained in Taiwan as a Barista and experiments with different beans and is ready to try other coffees from the region, such as El Salvador and Costa Rica. There is an extensive menu of hot and cold coffees, as well as exotic teas and smoothies. The menu is vegetarian, very light and fresh, and the sweet treats are delicate to the palate. Besides all this, there is an atmosphere of tranquility. If you close your eyes, you could imagine you are anywhere on earth, but definitely in the 21st century.

Cayo, Belize
Cayo, in Western Belize, is a quiet, laidback, and affordable alternative to the more busy areas of Ambergris Caye or Placencia. This inland region is both the name of one of Belize’s six districts and the locals’ name for its largest metropolis, the twin cities of San Ignacio and Santa Elena. It backs up to the jungle-covered Maya Mountains, and is traversed by three rivers—the Mopan, the Macal, and the Belize River where the Mopan and Macal come together just outside the small town of Bullet Tree Falls. Other areas of Cayo, such as Spanish Lookout, resemble Ohio with palm trees, where the industrious Mennonite population has cleared the rolling hills and planted it with corn, beans, and orange groves.

Heal Belize by treating violence like a disease
Violence, anger and abuse are cancerous. If you commit an act of violence against someone because you are angry or hurt, your act is transferred to the victim. The victim will be hurt or angry and will pass it on….In cases where the victim does not survive, the society, loved ones and family will catch it and will pass it on and it will never stop until your family, community or country engage in methods to heal. There is no coincidence certain individuals, families, communities and countries are always embroiled in conflict and violence even to the point of self destruction. A country is like a body, society the organs and families are like the bloodstream and the individual is like a cell.

A Bastardized Democracy Will Never Lead to Nation Building
I recently listened to an interview where Godwin Hulse bragged to the media that Belize (assuming he meant Belize is part of the British Commonwealth) had more experience at writing laws than the United States and it was at that moment I realized that Godwin Hulse is clueless about Belize’s constitutional democracy, young existence and genuinely believes, though misguided, that the UK, Commonwealth and Belize systems are all equal. A lot of people don’t know that the UK has no constitution. They have a document called the Magna Carta that has existed for centuries that acted somewhat like the first human rights declaration.

Introducing the Destination Belize 2020 Theme
The Belize Tourism Industry Association hosted a mixer at the Colonial Garden of the Radisson Fort George Hotel on Wednesday, January 8 to celebrate the launch of the theme for the 21stedition of Destination Belize – Reef to Rainforest, people to people: Our Green Belize. Destination Belize has, over the last two decades, evolved from a print publication with only 20,000 prints to a publication which today distributes 50,000 prints and is supported by a full online platform – e-magazine, social media, blog and website.

Videos

January 12, 2020

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Launched decades ago, the remains of a Soviet Union spacecraft wash ashore on Ambergris Caye
What appears to be the remains of a Soviet Union spacecraft launched more than 38 years ago was found today, Saturday, January 11th washed up on the beach a few miles north of San Pedro Town. Images posted on social media by island resident David Campos shows several large metal pieces from the spacecraft marked with Russian lettering. Based on the identifying marks, the remnants are believed to be from the Soyuz 40, which was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on May 14, 1981.

Ian Pou and Hasiem Valerio called to train with Belize’s U-19 football selection
Today, Friday, January 10th, island footballers, Ian Pou and Hasiem Valerio travelled to the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) in the Capital City of Belmopan to be part of the U-19 male football team that is set to compete at the CONCACAF U-20 tournament at the Caribbean island of Curacao. The team will train throughout the weekend as they begin their preparation for the tournament scheduled from February 15th to the 23rd of next month.

San Pedro Tiger Sharks say they are more than ready for upcoming NEBL season
Saturday, January 18th is set to start the 2020 National Elite Basketball league (NEBL) tournament, with the first game taking place in San Pedro Town between the defending champions San Pedro Tiger Sharks and Belize City Defenders. The game is scheduled to start at 9PM inside the Angel Nuñez Auditorium in San Pedro Town.The island boys, who became champions for the third time last season are once again coached by basketball veteran Rico Black, alongside assistant coaches Darren Bovell and Travis Santos. Rico shared with The San Pedro Sun that they are ready for another fruitful season and will defend their championship with everything they have.

Ambergris Caye Emergency response authorities condemn prank calls
Over the past few weeks, several emergency calls have been made to the San Pedro Police Station and the local Fire Department, all resulting in false alarms. These prank calls are condemned by the local authorities, who warn that anyone caught committing these activities can end up penalized for ‘Mischievous Act’ by the police department.The most recent alleged prank call was made to the fire station on Saturday, January 4th, reporting a fire north of San Pedro Town. Two fire trucks rushed to the area, prepared to battle the reported blaze, but when they arrived there was no fire to extinguish.

Various Belizean Sources

Baby manatee dies in Corozal
A baby manatee was seen floating at around 7pm in Corozal town on Saturday January 11th, 2020 at rainbow beach Park. The baby manatee died at the spot, because it was in need of help. Ocean IG was then contacted to remove the baby manatee. At the moment, residents are mentioning to be alerted when the Manatees are out and about on the bay of Corozal.

1st Annual Rum & Brukdown Festival
@ Barefoot Beach Bar next Saturday January 18th Major Basement! Showcase your best

Partners for Medical Relief and Ministry of Health screening for EAR - NOSE - THROAT
Partners for Medical Relief and Ministry of Health will be conducting screening for EAR - NOSE - THROAT at the Corozal Community Hospital/Corozal Polyclinic II and Northern Regional Hospital on January 24th, 2020 starting at 6:00 a.m. You will be informed of the surgery date on the day of the screening.

NEBL 2020
The 2020 season of the NEBL is here. The first game of the season is in San Pedro, where the Tiger Sharks will host the Defenders. The first Verdes match is on Friday the 24th, where they host the Running Rebels. NEBL 2020 Schedule. "The NEBL is back. Get ready for an exciting season with brand new faces. Season tip off January 18th 2020."

The Reporter

Battlefields In IRAN !
On January 3, 2020 the United States of America assassinated one of the Republic of Iran’s top generals; Qassem Soleimani. If you believe the propaganda emanating from western news outlets Soleimani was evil personified.

POLICE HUNT FOR ACCUSED CHILD-KILLER
The Belize Police Department is offering a reward of $1000 for any information on the whereabouts of Kendrick Longsworth, the Belize City resident believed to have brutally killed a child, 3, and beat two others on Friday evening in Belize City.

EARLY ELECTIONS? PUP SAYS THEY’RE READY
The question on the minds of most Belizeans right now is whether the United Democratic Party(UDP) will be calling an early General Elections, following their Leadership Convention scheduled for early next month, and whether the People’s United Party (PUP) will be ready if that happens.

Woman Outshines Male Competitors
A Facebook post a few weeks ago, acknowledging the remarkable work of a watch-repair woman, prompted this feature article. The author said that he had initially taken his watch to a watch repairman and that when he got back his timepiece, it was no longer working and when he decided to open it, he found that a part in it was completely damaged.

Breaking Belize News

Reward for turning in accused child-killer up to $5,000
The reward to find fugitive alleged child killer Kenrick Longsworth is now up to $5,000 […]

Michael Peyrefitte is Chairman-designate of U.D.P., promises healing
With rival candidates Dr. Carla Barnett and John Castillo out of the way, Attorney General […]

Kenrick Longsworth wanted for heinous crime against children
Kenrick Longsworth is wanted for reportedly murdering a 3-year-old child in Belize City last night […]

Councilor Micah Goodin to issue reward for capture of alleged child killer
Belize City Councilor, Micah Goodin, has pledged $1,000 for anyone with information that may lead […]

Commissioner of Police: Extensive manhunt underway for suspected child killer
Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams issued a statement minutes ago saying that the Belize Police […]

Crime Stoppers Belize issues wanted poster for step-dad accused of murdering toddler
Crime Stoppers Belize has just issued a wanted poster for the Belize City stepdad accused […]

Police issue report on horrific Lovely Lane ordeal
A child is dead and his two brothers remain hospitalized after a horrific ordeal last […]

Prince Harry and Meghan step back as ‘Senior members’ of the Royal Family
The announcement made headlines on Wednesday when Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, […]

Attorney General disputes Bar assertions over judicial appointments
Displeased by the freeze-out of their president from the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC); […]

Man shot to foot in Hattieville Village
Authorities are investigating a shooting incident that occurred last night in Hattieville Village. According to […]

BTL tax dispute continues as Attorney General weighs in
Financial Secretary Joseph Waight has turned to Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte for legal advice on the recently completed audit of Belize ...

Belizeans encouraged to apply for Taiwan Scholarship
The Taiwan Embassy in Belize announced that it is now accepting applications for the Taiwan Scholarship Program 2020.

Activist Rocio Quiroz calls on business community to offer
Belmopan based activist, Rocio Quiroz, contacted Breaking Belize News today to make a plea ...

Applications open for Taiwan ICDF Scholarship Program 2020
The Taiwan Embassy in Belize announced that the application program of the 2020 Taiwan ...

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen re-elected
Taiwan’s President, Tsai Ing-Wen was re-elected on Saturday in the country’s recent general elections ...

Special Envoy speaks out about disturbing act of violence
We must ensure that our Belizean children are protected against violations of their fundamental rights by treating them with dignity and honoring their innocence.

No takers for lotteries, says Commission
With a week to go before the deadline to apply for the management of Government lotteries, there have been no takers for the contract currently held by Brads Gaming Company ...

Western Paradise man accused of stealing “man's best friend”
Jaleel Jenkins, 20, a Customs Department Guard from Western Paradise, Belize District, appeared charged with theft before Magistrate Stephanie Gillett.

Blogs

How to Connect with Nature in Belize
You must visit Belize in 2020. The biodiversity is enormous, you can spot different animals while you’re ziplining or even if you’re watching the sunset at the dock. Some hotels are named after the animals that are around the area. For example, Ray Caye Island Resort, years ago was known as Hatchet Caye, but after they started having tons of Rays visiting the island, they decided to change it to the actual name. Imagine waking up in the middle of the jungle, where you can hear howler monkeys every day, and if you are lucky enough, maybe you would be able to spot a couple. There are also hotels that offer free birding hikes every morning, so you can enjoy the natural environment, where wildlife sightings are guaranteed.

Belize, The Best Of Both Worlds
Belize is a one of a kind destination that gives you the best of both worlds – lush jungles and sandy beaches. There are many different ecosystems and species of animals found here in this small country. Wherever you visit in Belize, you are sure to find something that you enjoy. Whether you’re here for an adventure or just to relax; you can accomplish either at the beach or in the jungle. To be quite honest, there is no competition between these two. Each of them has their own unique qualities as to what they offer to an individual. But others might beg to differ as they would like one more than the next. Being in Belize gives you an opportunity to explore this amazing country; you might be surprised at the things you end up enjoying.

International Sources

Lionfish Invasion map
The latest map of the lionfish invasion updated today by Amy Benson and Dr Pam Schofield of USGS.

13 Places Where You Can See the Bluest Water in the World
Sometimes all it takes to re-center and refresh your mind and body is a good day (or week—who are we to limit you) staring off into a tranquil blue sea. To help you find your inner peace, and catch a few waves and rays while you’re at it, we’ve put together a list of some of the bluest waters in the world. These lakes, seas, beaches, and bays have vistas that range from brilliant navy blues to the lightest, clearest turquoises imaginable. Needless to say, they are the perfect places to re-connect with nature, family, and yourself. Ambergris Caye, Belize: A short boat ride from the largest barrier reef outside of Australia, Belize’s Ambergris Caye is a scuba diver’s and snorkeler’s paradise. Head to Shark Ray Alley to snorkel among nurse sharks and stingrays; visit Hol Chan Marine Reserve to get up close with eels, turtles, and colorful fish; or explore the underwater caves of Blue Hole. When you’re not in the water, admire its warm glow from a hammock on the beach.

Videos

January 11, 2020

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

San Pedro Liquor License Board discusses license regulations

Blue Water Grill donates nearly $11K to Hope Haven
Hope Haven Children’s Home was the recipient of a monetary donation from Blue Water Grill (BWG) on Wednesday, January 8th. The donation, totalling $10,989.90, was collected from July through December in 2019 via the efforts of BWG and their sister companies, Wine de Vine, Red Ginger in Belize and The Phoenix Resort, including patron contributions. These funds will go towards the operating costs of the non-profit institution.

Anthony Coleman returns to Ambergris Caye with prosthetic arms
After losing both arms in a terrible electrical accident at a construction site in 2017, 15-year-old island student Anthony Coleman received the best Christmas gift of his life almost three years later; a pair of brand-new prosthetic arms. He underwent treatment at Shriners Hospital for Children in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, where he was successfully evaluated and equipped with his new arms. Coleman returned to San Pedro Town on Saturday, January 4th just in time to start classes at San Pedro High School.

20 Water Tanks donated to Caye Caulker
On Thursday, January 8th a short ceremony was held in Caye Caulker Village for the official handing over of 20 Rotoplas Water Tanks. The donation was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Belize Rural South (BRS) People’s United Party (PUP) Standard Bearer, Andre Perez, and the business community. The short ceremony saw the attendance of members of the BRS PUP Executive Committee, members of the Caye Caulker Village Council, local representatives of the Police Department, Fire Department and Polyclinic, as well as representative of three Caye Caulker schools.

Ambergris Today

Equal Opportunities Bill In Belize - Public Consultation
The National AIDS Commission, in collaboration with the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children and with multi-sectoral collaboration through the Anti-Discrimination Steering Committee will launch a series of public consultations starting Saturday, January 11th and ending on January 18th throughout Belize to discuss the Equal Opportunities Bill.

Various Belizean Sources

Caye Caulker Building Committee Coming Soon!
Yesterday, our Area Representative, Hon. Manuel Heredia and Mr. Noel Harvey, chairman of Central Building Authority held a meeting with Caye Caulker Village Council. The meeting was to discuss the adherence and enforcement of the building codes on Caye Caulker. The meeting ended with the decision of implementation of Caye Caulker's very own building committee in the very near future. The Caye Caulker Village Council express gratitude to our area representatives for coordinating the meeting.

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
Uncut Gems, Frozen II, Countdown, Bombshell. . *Saturday night we'll be hosting a New Years Live Symphany Orchestra With compositions by over 8 Musicians playing (but not limited) Piano, Violin, Double Bass, Cello etc. The show will start at 7pm.*

Museum of Belize digitizing Artifacts
Today IA personnel, Sigourney Allen, visited the Museum of Belize (NICH) to assist MOB staff in the digitization of artifacts to create a virtual tour for the museum to allow the museum to become more accessible.

Museum of Belize working on digitizing Artifacts
There's been a lot of exciting things going on at the Museum of Belize this week! Mrs. Sara Clark-Vivier and Mrs. Raven Bishop are joining us from Washington College in Maryland. Their mission is to assist the museum staff in creating a 360 virtual tour of the Museum of Belize. They are also assisting us in digitizing our collections! We have had so much fun learning and are abundantly grateful for their assistance. Special thanks to Dr. Eleanor Harrison-Buck for making this happen!

Manhunt for man who attacked kids
Kenrick Longsworth is wanted for attacking three step children which resulted in the death of death of a 3 year old. The incident occurred on Lovely Lane in Belize City. The allegation is that Longsworth sexually assaulted as well as bludgeoned at least one child with a hammer. The two other children remain hospitalized.

Groudhog Day Boat Poker Run
Boats! Poker Run! Beach Bars! Charity Fundraiser!

A Caye Caulker Resident Needs O-negative Blood
Caye Caulker Resident, Damien Alamina needs O-negative blood to stay alive. It's very scarce in Belize. Can you help him by donating?

See Belize Channel Listing
You can enjoy 24/7 access to our thrilling programming wherever you are in Belize! The guide below shows which channel you can turn to in order to enjoy nonstop, extraordinary Belizean content!

Belize Supports Mexico as CELAC PPT 2020-2021
he inauguration of Mexico’s Presidency Pro Tempore (PPT) of the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños; CELAC) for the period 2020-2021 took place in Mexico City on 8th January with the participation of 29 Latin American and Caribbean states. During the ceremony, Mexico´s Foreign Secretary, Marcelo Ebrard, presented Mexico’s work plan which is designed to strengthen the region in several key technical cooperation areas. These include space and aeronautical cooperation, science & technology, tertiary-level education, bulk purchase of supplies, microbial resistance monitoring, and anti-corruption measures, among others.

Juice Co. Opens in Corozal
Brand New place to come visit in town. It's called the Juice Co. located on 7th Avenue e next to White's Deli. in Corozal. Today was their Grand opening, and, this morning, I got the opportunity to visit the place. Here are some pictures when I went this morning. Contact their page: https://www.facebook.com/juiceandcobze/

Corozal Foitball Association - First Division Amateur Semifinals Schedule for Sunday, January 12th, 2020
It all happens at the Carolina Football Field. Entrance fee $3.00

THE SUPREME COURT CLOCK THE FINAL REPORT
In all of these buildings and renovations, we took on another project that was not on our workplan as part of the Downtown Rejuvenation Project and that was to restore the Supreme Court Clock. Our Director, Mr. John Arana, thought that the project would not be complete if we did not get the historic Supreme Court clock working once again. It seems that when the clock ceased working many years ago, time had stopped in downtown and downtown went into a quandary, so to return downtown into the present and ready for the future and our destiny, It has become paramount that we get the clock working again, or else, we will be stucked in the past.

National Type Collection of Ancient Maya Ceramics
Today, it was also all about ceramics at the Institute of Archaeology. Dr. Laura Kosakowsky, a ceramicist with over 40 years of experience working in Belize has been revisiting the National Type Collection of Ancient Maya Ceramics. Today she sat down with Cherisse Ewens Halsall of Channel Seven Belize to share more about her work.

FCD Delivers Seedlings
Our team delivered over 350 seedlings to schools and farming families at Blue Creek, San Lucas and Otoxha! This is part of a Tree Planting Mission between Barefoot Children Ministries and the Nursery under the Ya’axché Institute for Conservation Education — the sustainable financing arm of Ya’axché. Up to date, over 1,000 seedlings — fruit and timber tree species — have been distributed to 6 communities in the Toledo District.

Yo' Sayab dance group of Yo Creek for Tecuani and the Duende movie at Orange walk town

Orange walk tecuani and the Duende movie
We had wonderful stories about the Tata Duende (Nukuch Tat) tonight . Three story tellers Mrs Carmen Carrillo , Felicita Cantun and Libertad Cal . Also Andy Chuc talking about the importance of the Nukuch Tat in the Maya Spirituality .

The prophecy of Ah Kuil Chel, the priest
When the end of the katun shall come, lord, ye shall not understand when it comes. Who shall believe it at the rolling up of the mat of the katun? The end shall come because of misery. It comes from the north, it comes from the west at that time when it shall be, lord. Who then shall be the priest, who then shall be the prophet who will declare truly the word of the book, lord, in Katun 9 Ahau? Books of Chilam Balam (Holy books of the Yucatec Maya)

Channel 7

Surprise Judgement: GOB Gets Off The Hook For UHS 95 Million
Tonight, the government is breathing a big sigh of relief after a surprise judgement from the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice today ruled that the court cannot force the Government to pay the 95 million dollars it owes the Ashcroft Alliance for Universal Health Services. We are told it was a preliminary ruling on whether Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dean Barrow is in breach of his duty to pay the UHS debt. The CJ Kenneth Benjamin today ruled that he is not, because the National Assembly did not approve payment. The CJ agreed with government that only the Parliament could appropriate monies and, without that, he could not issue an order which would have forced the Minister of Finance to pay up.

Bar Will Boycott Supreme Court Opening
In other court news, the second Monday in January is reserved for the ceremonial opening of the Supreme Court - a day of proud judicial pageantry. But, this year, it will be more like the sound of one hand clapping - because the senior members of the Bar Association will boycott the ceremonial highlite of the judicial. calendar. What's behind it? Well, plenty. First, the Bar is suing the Chief Justice because he is keeping the bar president Cheryl Vidal, from taking up her seat on the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.

CJ In an Storm Of Controversy, Will Gov't Renew Him?
So, the last few months of the Chief Justice's tenure is becoming contentious. He reaches the age of retirement in March, and both he and the Government will have to decide if his contract should be extended. Here's what the Attorney General had to say when we asked if there will be a renewal. Hon. Michael Peyrefitte - Attorney General: "We have to determine if the chief justice would even want to stay on. I can't assume that everybody is complete workaholic like myself..."

UDP Min To UDP Candidate: "Most Unfortunate"�
Switching gears now to politics and government, the Minister of State for Immigration, Beverly Williams has lashed out at yesterday's immigration excitement at UDP hopeful Dianne Finnegan's divisional office in Lake Independence. In a statement to the press today, Williams said, quote, "I want to make it categorically clear that the Departments of Nationality & Immigration Services is not embarking on an Amnesty Program.

Opposition Blasts GOB For Politics and Immigration
But, the immigration scene in Lake-I has started a firestorm of public debate, and the PUP tried to fan those flames today. A press release says, quote, "The PUP denounces the shameful exploitation of these immigrants, many of whom have lived in Belize for years and call the Jewel their homeSuddenly immigrants, who have been unable to access the system for more than ten years, are now being pushed through the system, purely for political reasons."

Dauntless Dianne
And, we'd guess, that the person probably most unfazed by all this noise is Dianne Finnegan. She's used to courting controversy with her plain spoken comments - even if they mash a few political toes. In fact, yesterday, she may have done that to her own husband, Housing Minister Michael Finnegan. She spoke about the lessons learned on the campaign trail in Lake Independence, and discussed poor living conditions and the inadequate housing stock in the area:

Teen Charged For Placencia Murder
Last night we told you that a pair of brothers, one of them minor, was about to be charged for the heinous murder of 46-year-old Mexican property Manager Alejandro Guzman Cruz. Well, 19-year-old Deandre Guiffero has indeed been charged with murder while his 16 year old brother was charged with burglary for the incident.

Nevis Gets 20 Years For Murder
Nevis Betancourt made headlines in 2017 when he killed 37-year-old Jose Nunez Castellanos. At the time there were questions about whether he acted in self - defense. Nonetheless, he was charged for murder, and convicted for it in April of 2019. Today in Belmopan Supreme Court, Justice Antionette Moore sentenced Betancourt to serve 20 years in prison. In a sentencing hearing today, 5 character witnesses spoke on his behalf, and Justice Moore said she walked into the courtroom with one impression of the defendant and left with another.

No Bail For Alleged Cop Assaulting Cal Bros.
Last week we showed you the cellphone footage of a New Year's Day neighbourhood dispute in which PC Edgar Teul was viciously chopped. Police were in the area and responded immediately; they detained the men on the spot and, two days later four men including three brothers were charged for attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm, and aggravated assault.

AG Advises GOB on GST Vs. BTL
Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte is preparing to advise the Financial Secretary on how government should proceed with BTL in a case involving 25 million dollars in taxes. The dispute surfaced in July when documents leaked indicating that the GST department had prepared an audit on BTL. The figures said that BTL owed 25 million in GST. Well, in today's edition of the Reporter Newspaper, Financial Secretary Joseph Waight is quoted as saying that the audit has been completed by the Belize Tax Service Department and, from their end, it shows that BTL does owe the money.

Mike P, Chairman Designate
And while Peyrefitte has to keep a fixed eye on the legal matters coming at the ship of state, he's got his other eye on political affairs. As we told you last night, Peyrefitte will ascend to the powerful post of UDP Party chairman unopposed. that;That's after his would be rival candidates, Dr. Carla Barnett and John Castillo both pulled out. But, is it all a hand set play, to see Peyrefitte ascend? Since he's recently emerged as a favorite of the Prime Minister. Today, he rejected that theory:

Peyrefitte Scolds John B
And keeping the conversation on politics, Briceno heaped more criticism on opposition leader John Briceno. As you heard one week ago, Briceno alleged in his New Year's message that he had credible evidence that high ranking officials in the UDP government were involved in the landing of drug planes.

Palmar Voter Vex
And, keeping it on politics, a couple in the village of San Jose Palmar says the PUP candidate for that area did them a low when he accused them of voter fraud on facebook. David and Pauline Brown went to register as Orange Walk East voters earlier this week.

Maya Ceramics Tell A Story
She's been studying Maya ceramics for four decades and in that time Dr Laura Kosakowsky has learned that the Maya could have set their famous calendar by the ceramics their civilization produced. Cherisse Halsall travelled to Belmopan today for a first-hand look at the ancient pots of the Maya. Laura Kosakowsky, Ceramicist : "This is an example of the earliest Maya pottery we find in Belize. It dates to somewhere probably between 1000 and maybe 600 B.C. and you can see it's a fairly simple bowl but It is also well made and well preserved in this case, it's been in the ground since 2000 years before it was found..."

An Unspeakable Crime
And, there is some very disturbing breaking news tonight. 7News has received initial information that a child is dead, and two others are seriously injured in the Lovely Lane area of Belize City. It appears to be a mass act of violence carried out three children within their home - possibly by the man of the house. At least two children have been rushed to the KHMH, and reports suggest their stepfather is wanted. We'll have more on this on Monday's news.

The AG and Equal Opportunity
During last night's news, we showed you what the National Aids Commission had to say about its draft piece of legislation called the Equal Opportunities Bill. The NAC has partnered with the Caribbean Partnership Against HIV & AIDS, the Human Dignity Trust, and the Special Envoy for Women and Children, to create the bill. It's an ambitious piece of draft legislation that seeks to provide protection against discrimination to minority groups with 19 different characteristics such as race, religion, and gender.

AG And The Same Sex Story
The press also asked the Attorney General for his thoughts on same-sex marriages, and the possibility that the local gay community may sue for that right.

Stefan Somehow Survived
26-year-old Stefan Kerr suffered a brutal beatdown in Independence village Last night. Kerr says that he was hanging out at Forestero Bar when three men came up to him and started accusing him of reporting their alleged drug activity to the police. An argument ensued which lead to Kerr being beaten by the men.

Channel 5

P.U.P. Says “Election Manipulation Must End Now”
For three days this week, hundreds of immigrants from Central America, and elsewhere, turned up at the political office of U.D.P. standard bearer Dianne Finnegan with immigration documents in hand.  [...]

Supreme Court Upholds G.O.B.’s Position on U.H.S. Debt
This morning, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin handed down a summary decision in a matter involving the ever-increasing U.H.S. debt that has been before different courts for long years from the [...]

Will Government Ever Vote to Pay U.H.S. Debt?
While the matter has been voted down in the National Assembly, during a move in which the opposition walked out of the House of Representatives and abstained from the process, [...]

Bar to be Absent from Ceremonial Opening of Supreme Court
The Supreme Court opens this coming Monday. The ceremony has traditionally been one of pomp featuring a full turnout of the Judiciary as well as the Bar.  But that will [...]

AG Tapped for Legal Opinion on B.T.L. Tax Woes
An audit on whether B.T.L. owes twenty-five million dollars in taxes to the government has been raised time and again.  Last year, it came to light that the General Sales [...]

Equal Opportunity Bill Being Pushed by National AIDS Commission
The National AIDS Commission is championing the drafting of a new piece of legislation which seeks to address the issue of discrimination in and around the workplace.  Discussion around the [...]

UNIBAM Weighs in on Equal Opportunities Bill
Executive Director Caleb Orozco of United Belize Advocacy Movement, UNIBAM, also chimed in on the Equal Opportunity Bill.  He admits that while the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community will [...]

P.U.P. Supports Equal Opportunities Bill in Principle
P.U.P. Leader John Briceño also spoke briefly today on the proposed Equal Opportunities Bill for which consultations start over the weekend. While he says that a draft copy of the [...]

M.O.H. Responds to Reports of Medical Waste Dump in San Antonio
Earlier this week, you heard a resident of San Antonio Village complain about the burning of medical waste in the village. That resident told us that the matter has been [...]

HIV Meds Available in Belize
Director of Health Services Doctor Marvin Manzanero told News Five today that the final batch of anti-retroviral medicine will arrive in the country by the end of the month.  This [...]

Director of Health Services Responds to Nursing Task Force
The Nursing Task Force has given the Ministries of Health and Public Service less than a week to respond to their concerns to stop the escalation of tensions. On Thursday, [...]

M.O.H. Will Respond to Nursing Task Force
The Public Service Union has weighed in on the matter.  The union expresses solidarity with the Nursing Task Force and the Nurses Association of Belize. The P.S.U. says that the [...]

Deandre Guiffero is Charged for Murder of Mexican National in Seine Bight
Three days after the gruesome murder of a Mexican national, police have levied murder charges on nineteen-year-old Deandre Guiffero.  Gabriel Alejandro Guzman Cruz was brutally hacked and set on fire [...]

Is the P.U.P. Ready for General Elections?
General elections are to take place sometime this year so there is a guessing game as to specifically when. While we were with P.U.P. Leader John Briceño today, we asked [...]

Mike Peyrefitte to be Endorsed as U.D.P. Chairman
The chairmanship of the United Democratic Party goes to Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte after challengers Doctor Carla Barnett and John Castillo withdrew from the race ahead of the February ninth [...]

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires on Plans for 2020
In 2018, Keith Gilges assumed duties as Chargé d’Affaires for the U.S. Embassy in Belize. The career Foreign Service Officer has been working closely with government agencies and groups to [...]

The Implications of Sending Asylum Seekers to Peten, Guatemala
Gilges also spoke about the U.S. proposal to transfer rejected asylum seekers to Peten, Guatemala. This he says could have negative implications on Belize and as such has been communicated [...]

Luthiers Without Borders Assist the Pallotti School of Music
Luthiers without Borders is an international organization that began with a violin repair project run by two violin makers in schools in Havana, Cuba. It quickly expanded to other countries [...]

Museum Association of Belize Learns How to Digitize Collections
The Museum Association of Belize received four-day training to learn how to use technology to preserve and make cultural assets more accessible. The owners and curators of the museums received [...]

Amandala

One child died and two critical at KHMH
Police are looking for the children step father Kenrick Longsworth. Anyone with information or knows his whereabouts is asked to contact the nearest police. According to information received three children were assaulted and one died in a house on Lovely lane in Belize City. The other two are reportedly in a serious condition at the KHMH. More on this developing story as police investigates.

Immigration déjà vu at UDP Lake I political office
The inclement weather this morning was no deterrent for scores of Belize City immigrants. They began gathering outside the political office of United Democratic Party (UDP) Lake Independence standard bearer, Dianne Finnegan, on Partridge Street. Some of the immigrants were seen clutching manila envelopes; others were seen diving inside the nearby Ferguson Photo Studio, only to emerge and join the line which soon swelled from the sidewalk to the upstairs verandah of the house where Finnegan’s office is located. This morning, just in case anyone missed it, this was the opening curtain for Belize’s 2020 political season.

Nurses Task Force and GOB on collision course
The Nurses Task Force issued a press release today which “demands action from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Public Service.” In a telephone interview this evening, the president of the Belize Nurses Association, Darrell Spencer, told Amandala his association started discussion with the government from as far back as last September, but to date they have not made any progress. “We feel that the emphasis on resolving those issues are being ignored: nothing is being done,” Spencer stressed.

Cruel murder in Seine Bight
Thurs. Jan. 9, 2020– Two men have been arrested for the horrendous murder on Tuesday of Mexican national Alejandro Gabriel Guzman Cruz, 46, the caretaker of Hannas Retreat in Seine Bight. The murder occurred in his room at the retreat. Cruz’s murderers also stole some of his belongings. The announcement was made today by ASP Alejandro Cowo of the Police Department during the weekly police press brief, held at the Raccoon Street Police Station this morning.

Drought sends sugar production down by 30 percent; late start for season
Last year some areas of Belize were hit by a prolonged drought that has wreaked havoc on the agriculture sector of Belize’s economy. One such area that was hit hard by the drought was the Orange Walk District, where cane farmers have lost millions of dollars. This year’s sugar cane harvest has been projected to be 30 percent less than last year’s harvest. This is a loss to farmers that is in the millions of dollars, not to mention the effect it will have on the national economy. Notwithstanding the setback, this week the BSI/ASR factory at Tower Hill, Orange Walk, is scheduled to start grinding cane on January 15.

Police to target persons in public who have knife blades at night
In his address to the nation for the New Year, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams said that in 2019 criminals used firearms, knives and machetes to commit murders. He said that machetes and knives fall under the Edge Tools Legislation, which will now be enforced. People found with a blade measuring over 3 inches between 8:00 at night and 5:00 in the morning, will be immediately charged with possession of an article with a blade, under the Criminal Control Act.

Prisoner was raped due to prison authorities’ negligence, says Supreme Court
An accused man who was on remand at the Kolbe Foundation-managed Belize Central Prison in 2017 was raped twice by another inmate. That inmate was subsequently charged and convicted of two counts of an unnatural crime. The rape victim, whom we will refer to as the Claimant, in accordance with the directive of the court, filed a lawsuit alleging that it was the negligence of prison authorities that caused him to be raped. Evidence in the case was heard early in December and this morning, Supreme Court Justice, Shona Griffith, delivered her judgment.

22-year-old man found guilty of shooting at 16-year-old student
At about 11:00 Monday morning, January 6, a 16-year-old student of Gwen Lizarraga High School who was visiting his grandmother on Man of War Street in Port Loyola, carried garbage out to the nearby trash dump, and as he was going back into his grandmother’s yard, a gunman came up and fired multiple times at him. The gunman then escaped. Luckily, the student was not hit. Neighbors said that at least 9 shots were fired at the teenager.

Cab driver shot, his car stolen, in San Jose Palmar
At about 6:30 yesterday, Ricardo Uk, 46, a cab driver of Orange Walk Town, was driving his cab in San Jose Palmar accompanied by a passenger when an SUV drove past him. After continuing a short distance, the driver of the SUV parked the vehicle across the road, contrary to the flow of traffic, forcing Uk to stop. When Uk stopped, an occupant of the SUV got out of the vehicle with a firearm and fired into the car, hitting him in his chest. After Uk was shot he and his passenger jumped out of the cab and ran to safety in some bushes behind a house.

BDF officers to repay over payment of salary adjustment
Last June, a salary adjustment exercise was carried out by the Ministry of Finance for soldiers of the Belize Defence Force, to bring their salaries up to par with that of the Coast Guard and police. After the increments and adjustments were made and the soldiers paid, however, it was found that the salaries had been incorrectly calculated, which resulted in an overpayment of salaries.

Fire destroys house in Cotton Tree; 11 homeless
A house in Cotton Tree was completely destroyed by fire, leaving 11 persons homeless. An investigation into the fire concluded that the cause of the fire was an extension cord that overheated and began to burn, and the fire spread quickly and engulfed the house. In speaking to the media, Anthony Mortis, Station Supervisor at the National Fire Service, strongly discourages the public from using flimsy extension cords for appliances for extended periods. He advises members of the public to make the investment in proper electrical wiring and installations to protect their homes and investments.

Editorial: Beginning the scrutiny of two men who would lead our country
It is wise to look inside the souls of persons whom you put in positions of leadership. It is not possible to know everything about anyone, but leaders play such critical roles in our lives that we are remiss if we hand them power over our country’s resources, and to an extent our lives, without doing the due diligence to find out who they really are. In a month’s time, the highest ranking members of the United Democratic Party (UDP), which has been the party in control of government for three consecutive terms, will be deciding on a new Leader. The leadership convention date is set for February 9, 2020; a venue for the event has been selected — Belize Civic Center; and the delegates who will vote in the election have been chosen.

Second phase of Social Security increase comes into effect
Last June the Belize Social Security Board (SSB) proposed an increase of the social security contribution paid by employees. SSB’s chief executive officer, Dr. Colin Young, in his presentation of the rational for the increase from 8 to 10 percent, explained that the Social Security fund was running out of money and if contributions from employees are not increased, the fund will eventually dry up, leaving nothing for retirees in the future. This information was communicated to the Dean Barrow-led cabinet, which gave its stamp of approval for a phased increase in Social Security contributions from both employees and employers.

Murders and major crimes decreased in 2019
There were 134 recorded murders in 2019. According to police, this constitutes an 8% decrease in the number of murders in comparison to the number of murders in 2018. The murders were committed mostly with guns, and the crimes have mostly shifted to the rural areas. The announcement was made by Commissioner of Police Chester Williams yesterday. The Compol said that there was a reduction in crimes in Belize City, but in Ladyville, there was a 100% increase in crimes, resulting in a much higher crime rate for the Belize District than there otherwise would have been, since the crime rate in Belize City is lower than it has been for the last four years.

Belize will need to appoint 5 Supreme Court judges shortly
This year, at least 3 Supreme Court justices are scheduled to demit office, and this will create a serious shortage of judges for the court, unless they are replaced in a timely fashion. Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin and Justice Courtenay Abel will reach the mandatory retirement age of 65 later on this year. Additionally, Justice Shona Griffith is leaving the Belize bench to take up an appointment at the Supreme Court of Barbados. Both Justice Griffith and Justice Abel are from the Civil Division of the Supreme Court.

Eight Belizeans on the Queen’s New Year’s Honors List
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the London Gazette have released the names of 8 Belizeans who have been honored by the Queen in her New Year’s Honor List, for their outstanding contribution to the development of Belize in their respective fields. Queen Elizabeth II, acting on the advice of Belize Prime Minister, Hon. Dean Barrow, has named Ralph Gregory Feinstein, O.B.E. as Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (K.B.E.). Mr. Feinstein’s contribution to Belize is in entrepreneurial leadership.

Cricket Corner
To all cricket players, fans and supporters, Happy and Blessed New Year to you all! Please be informed that on Sunday, January 12, at 10:00 in the morning, the Belize National Cricket Association will be conducting a meeting session with captains of all interested teams. This meeting is to discuss playing conditions for this year’s season. To be discussed, among other things, are: conduct of players on or off the field of play, respecting umpires’ decisions, respect of opponents, penalties for playing against the spirit of the sport, prizes and trophies, and much more.

Pedal by Pedal report – Weekend Warriors New Year’s Race of Sunday, January 5
This past Sunday, January 5, just 4 days after the Krem Classic dust had settled, the Weekend Warriors had their New Year’s Cycling Race. In fact, many of the Weekend Warriors had taken part in the Krem Classic, including yours truly; so it was déjà vu for some of us, except, of course, in a much easier setting. The “A” Category started at the Caribbean Tire Roundabout in Orange Walk; while the “B” Category started in Carmelita, O.W.; and the “C” Category, at Mile 40. The 3 separate races rode to Belize City, turning at the NAPA Roundabout, and finished at M&M Engineering, directly across from the Buca Shell on the Northern Highway.

San Pedro Town Council Co-ed Softball Tournament continues
The San Pedro Town Council Co-ed Softball Tournament 2019-2020, which commenced on Sunday, November 10, 2019, at the Hon. Louis “Cuz” Sylvester Sports Complex in San Pedro, continued on Sunday, January 5, with 2 games played. Five (5) teams are participating in the tournament: San Pedro High School Sharks; Extreme; Rusties; RCGO; and Beer League. In the opener on Sunday, San Pedro High School Sharks defeated Extreme, 7-5. Winning pitcher was Armin Badillo, and losing pitcher was Christian Logan. In the nightcap, RCGO won, 6-2, over Beer League. Christian Orellano was the winning pitcher, and the loser was Christian Garcia.

Reform: no plantation voter
I am pretty sure that no human action is completely, absolutely bad with no aspect of good a constituent part of it. There is no purely evil act. This is perhaps the reason that immoral behaviour is so popular. Even at the beginning of time when Eve in the Garden of Eden saw this beautiful fruit that looked very good to taste, she ignored the warning that that fruit contained a poison that would kill her. She considered and wanted only the pleasure of the taste. Moralists and philosophers, the greatest of them, have concluded that the human will cannot, will not, choose what the conscience sees as bad. Human beings choose the good that they see, ignoring the wisdom that the juices of the fruit are deadly.

Waiting for Guatemala
One argument that our technocrats at the ambassadorial level offered for Guatemala wanting to go to the ICJ to settle their claim against us was that Guatemala wanted to put their ugly genocidal past further in the past. They said that Guatemala wanted to step out on the world stage as a leader in their sphere. Our top diplomats noted that Guatemala had tried to get support in the international arena from countries in the Caribbean, and they always failed because of their claim that Belize’s land was theirs. Some Guatemalan diplomats did forward that their leaders couldn’t go to their people after all these decades and decades of claiming Belize and tell them it was a mistake, so they needed a recognized body like the ICJ to help them put away their claim.

Amandala’s front page headlines in review for 2019 – July – September
- Cop gets “Woman fum-fum” aboard water taxi. Police have launched investigations, both criminal and internal, into the incident. All hell broke loose on a water taxi between a PC Ralph Gillett and a number of women onboard a boat that was about to depart for Belize City with passengers coming from the Caye Caulker Lobster Fest. - Rochus Schreiber, BTL’s CEO, resigns. Schreiber cites personal reasons for his resignation from Belize Telemedia Limited.

Lindbergh Goldson and Seditious Intent in 1951
Readers of the Belize Billboard were greeted on the morning of 14th October 1951 with the ominous headline, “All Billboard Owners on Sedition Charges: Trial Tuesday Afternoon.” The “owners” referred to were all young men in their 20s. Philip Goldson at that time was the oldest at age 28, Leigh Richardson 27, Lindbergh Goldson 23, and Armando Diaz 22. While one year earlier, only Philip Goldson and Richardson as editors of the Belize Billboard had been charged with seditious intent, and had the charges dropped after they apologized, the other two owners who had joined the paper as proprietors were now similarly charged.

Jewel with her Afro in the capital
In October of 1962 an incident had occurred which had started my friend Lucille’s daughter, Jewel, then fourteen years old, on the road which would bring her to the capital the following year to start nursing training. In September of 1960 she had entered Standard Six at age 12, completing her primary school education by June 1961, before her thirteenth birthday on August 14th that year, sharing the same birth date with my Victor. There being no secondary school in the district yet, she had gone back to primary school and spent another year, there being rumours that the Roman Catholics would soon be opening one, and Lucille and Abelino wanting to “keep her brain active” until then, as they put it.

The United States’ downward trajectory
Sir, As I look at the news and see the increased tension between the United States and Iran due to the US killing of Qassem Soleimani, an Iranian general, on 3 January, 2020 in Baghdad, it allowed me to decipher the nature of the new “Cold War.” The US struggle with Iran is part of its struggle to maintain global dominance. There are two aspects of war – propaganda and operations. Most societal changes fail because the ideology and ethics did not change. They win the operations but lost because the new values were not internalized.

Rand Paul: Trump ‘got bad advice’ on killing of Soleimani
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Monday that President Trump ”got bad advice” on his decision to kill top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in a strike last week. Paul said on CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer” that “it’s now a certainty” there will be more attacks on Americans in revenge for Soleimani’s killing, as the general’s replacement is a “hard-liner.” The Kentucky senator also mourned the loss of a chance for diplomacy with Iran.

The Reporter

Serious Rumblings In The Judiciary: How Did We Get Here ?
There are many ways that an organization can vent their feelings about a situation that they disapprove of, or in this case ‘The Bar Association’ is venting their dissatisfaction and displeasure with one of the highest legal entities in the country.

The Quality Of Leadership
Dennis A. Muilenburg led the Boeing Corporation as its CEO from 2015 to 2019 and was considered one of the most influential persons in the global aviation industry. Boeing, an aviation behemoth with over 100 years of doing business and with an estimated revenue of $101.12 billion is probably more powerful and richer than most Third World countries.

Kolbe May Appeal Court Ruling on Inmate’s Rape
The Kolbe Foundation is awaiting the advice of their attorneys regarding the Supreme Court ruling on Monday, January 6, which holds them liable in a civil suit brought by a former inmate who accused the prison of negligence, alleging he was raped twice by his cellmate, 43-year-old Kenroy Cooke, in 2017.

U.D.P Announces Nomination Of New Chairman
The United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) has announced that after both Senator Carla Barnett and John Castillo withdrew their candidacy for Chairman of the Party, Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte will be endorsed as Chairman at the U.D.P. National Convention on February 9th.

LOVE FM

Beverly Williams, Confident in her candidacy
Today we can unofficially tell you that Michael Peyrefitte will be the next Chairman of the United Democratic Party. Peyrefitte was being challenged by Dr Carla Barnett and John Castillo but the two backed out of the race, leaving Peyrefitte to be endorsed as Party Chairman

Neal recaptured and charged
28-year-old Christian Neal pleaded guilty for the charge of escape before Senior Magistrate Tricia Pitts Anderson yesterday in Court. In May Neal had escaped from the Belize Central prison with two other inmates 31-year old Rafael Mencias and 23-year-old Wilser Echeverria

Minister of Immigration claims simply an “Advisory session”
‘Silly Season’ – that is the term used when a major election is approaching, the campaign amps up and political strategies unfold. Yesterday we saw, what was perhaps the start of the season, when dozens of Central American migrants gathered at the office of UDP’s Standard Bearer, Dianne Finnegan, in the hopes of getting their nationality papers expedited.

PSU in solidarity with the nurses
The management of the Ministry of Health is once again being called into question as the Public Service Union expresses support for the nurses and their demands. The union sent out a press release earlier today referring to the situation as a shame and disgrace.

Breaking Belize News

Trio accused in attack of policeman denied bail at Supreme Court
Brothers Magdalen Cal, 23; Avellino, 21; and Irvin, 18, have been denied bail on charges in […]

Disturbing reports of abuse in Belize city
BBN has received disturbing reports of an incident on Lovely Lane in Belize city tonight […]

Belize People’s Front condemns Dianne Finnegan’s immigration efforts
Political third-party, the Belize People’s Front (BPF), has condemned United Democratic Party Standard Bearer for Lake […]

Immigration Select Committee chair reports work still ongoing on report
Chairman of the Senate Special Select Committee on Immigration, Senator Aldo Salazar, tells us he […]

The Bar to boycott the ceremonial opening of the Supreme Court
The Bar Association of Belize says via press release that it will not participate in […]

Chief Justice upholds right of Parliament to vote funds for U.H.S. debt
Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin has ruled that the Ministry of Finance is not in breach […]

Public consultation for ‘Equal Opportunities Bill’ to be held in San Ignacio Town
The National AIDS Commission (NAC), in collaboration with the Office of the Special Envoy for […]

Belize supports Mexico as Pro Tempore Presidency of CELAC
The inauguration of Mexico’s Presidency Pro Tempore (PPT) of the Community of Latin America and […]

Deandre Guiffero,19, charged for murdering Mexican national
Police have arrested and charged 19-year-old Seine Bight resident, Deandre Guiffero for the murder of […]

Police investigating armed robbery in Belmopan
Authorities are investigating an armed robbery in Belmopan. Salesperson, Ching Yu Chiu, told police that […]

Belize takes over presidency of regional development project
Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced that Belize has taken over the Pro Tempore […]

Contract term allows former SSB CEO to walk away with Prado
A term in the employment contract of Dr. Colin Young, former Chief Executive Officer of […]

Immigration Minister: Departments of Nationality& Immigration Services is not embarked on an Amnesty program
Ministry of State in the Ministry of Immigration, Beverly Williams issued a statement this morning […]

Gaspar Vega makes it official, backs John Saldivar
Former United Democratic Party deputy leader and Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega made his choice […]

UDP Lake Independence office being used to assist migrants?
The office of UDP Lake Independence Standard bearer, Dianne Finnegan was observed with long lines […]

Julius Espat comments on Christmas spending ahead of court judgment
Cayo South area representative Julius Espat is anticipating a sharp rap on the knuckles by […]

Peyrefitte to be endorsed as UDP Chairman
Current Attorney General, Michael Peyrefitte, is expected to be endorsed as the United Democratic Party’s […]

Regional organization rejects judicial activism by Belize Court of Appeal
The Caribbean Cause, a regional group consisting of individuals and groups from 14 Caribbean territories […]

Blogs

Belizean Smiles: Frank Varma
The Head Chef at Rain Restaurant and Rooftop Terrace, Frank is a young, passionate member of the Belizean Culinary World. Professionally he has worked in a kitchen for eight years, but as he says, “I’ve been playing with fire and food since I was a little kid.” Favoring cuisines that taste like home, through his culinary journey Frank has grasped the skills of fusing local and cultural flavors with international techniques to recreate dishes that reminds him of everything he grew up eating.

Admiral’s Bar – A New Bar in Town
Heidy Andrade is a gentle, soft-spoken lady who owns and manages a very special eatery and watering hole…Right on the Municipal Airstrip. Her story is a true example of what one can achieve with hard work in this country of ours. She hails from Honduras and has been in the country for 14 years, now a naturalized Belizean. As providence would have it, the airstrip underwent massive reconstruction and Heidy had to take a break. In September of 2019, the new Admiral’s was ready to re-open. All the former patrons came back. The place has the feel of a deck on a ship. The food is good, to go or to stay. It is all gleaming wood and white, with a verandah-like space to watch the planes come and go, and enjoy the beautiful sea and sky.

ITVET
Belize has always been a country with a healthy respect for Education. There are schools everywhere, in towns and villages, and accessible to all. Still, it is widely recognized that some young people may slip through the cracks. This is where the Institute of Training and Vocational Education comes in. Their primary mandate is to equip our youth with skills, knowledge, work ethic and credentials that will allow them to be gainfully employed. The focus is on High School Graduates—Primary School Leavers—Customized Training and Skilled Tradespersons seeking skills upgrade. The training they receive will arm them with skills and training that will enable them to make a living. Open House takes place once a year where the community is welcomed. Trips and Projects, as well as Sports, are also included.

Plan a Big Year birding in Belize
Clocking in at 180 miles long and 68 miles wide, challenge yourself to a Big Year birding Belize to see as many bird species as possible within a single calendar year! Dedicating an entire year to see as many of the 590 bird species recorded in Belize is an exhausting, eye-opening, and addictive chase with a big reward for those willing to go the distance. With an estimated 600 bird species and six internationally recognized Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), Belize is one of Central America’s premier birding destinations. As a friendly endeavor, a Big Year birding will introduce you to new friends, new experiences, and a new perspective on birds, conservation, and Belizean ecology.

Why YOU Should Visit Belize in January
If you are looking to get away from cold weather, Belize in January is perfect. In fact, for sun, a light breeze and slightly cooler nights (think high 70s F), the first few months in Belize are IDEAL. January through April generally promises the best weather – and it also means the most visitors. Dock North Ambergris Caye Here are few things you can expect if you visit Belize and more specifically Ambergris Caye in January.

Guanacaste National Park
A secondary broadleaf forest, Guanacaste National Park is an urban green space rich with natural and cultural features of Belize in the capital city of Belmopan. Connecting the highlands and the Caribbean coast, the Belize Old River was a major transportation route for the Maya people. Maya pottery and other artifacts were found during trail development, with a suspected chultun (underground storage chamber) within the park. The river was also used to transport logwood and mahogany to the coast for export to Europe. Prior to its designation, the actual area of the park had been cleared for cattle pasture and was used by locals as a recreation, fishing, and hunting area. Now co-managed by the Belize Audubon Society (BAS), GNP is symbolic of the balance between people and the environment – the organization’s tagline.

International Sources

25 Things to See and Do in Belize
Belize is a beautiful Central American country set on the Caribbean coast. It's location, great weather and kind locals make it a wonderful destination for all types of travelers. We've put together our top favorite things to see and do in Belize, because "Belize-it" or not, we want you to have the best trip to this tropical destination.

Belize addressing power sector’s vulnerability to climate change
Studies are scheduled to begin this year in Belize as part of a climate adaptation energy resilience project to mitigate the impact of adverse weather and climate change. To this end, Belize Electricity (BEL) is accepting expressions of interest to provide consultancy services for a 12-month contract to develop a hydrological model for the Macal River basin.

Search for Big Cats in the Jungles of Belize
Only six miles into the 28-mile, three -day out-and-back to the spiritual high point of Belize, I spot a solitary paw print. Four oval toes above a broad base nearly 5 inches wide—could it really be the sign of a jaguar, so early in the hike? I call out to Leon Seguro, my local guide and sole companion, and with a quick glance he confirms: it’s a jaguar print. My heartbeat spikes. We’re headed into the core of Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the best place in the world for spotting jaguars, and this print is a good omen. This protected forest in southeast Belize lies adjacent to Bladen Nature Reserve, which doubles the total protected area to 225,000 acres of perfect habitat for this elusive predator. Leon and I hold the season’s first permit to climb the country’s most revered mountain: 3,675-foot Victoria Peak, a limestone-capped granite promontory in the Maya Mountains.

From January and under the coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belize takes over the Mesoamerica Integration and Development Project (PM) Pro Tempore Presidency corresponding to the first semester of 2020, to hold two regional high level meetings of the Executive Committee of the PM, to promote the definition of the 2020 Mesoamerican Business Agenda and the fulfillment of the following relevant ministerial meetings for Health, Environment, Energy, Transport as well as of the Commission for Promotion and Financing (CPF) work plan. This is the second time that Belize has held the Pro Tempore Presidency of the Mesoamerica Integration and Development Project (PM) since the mechanism was established in 2008. During this first half of 2020, the country will hold two Executive Commissions to continue complying with the mandates of the XVII Tuxtla Summit of 2019.

Drought situation could impact several Caribbean countries
The Barbados-based Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology is reporting that long-term drought might possibly develop or continue in several Caribbean countries. The centre warned that areas ending up in long term drought may experience significantly reduced water levels in large reservoirs, large rivers, and groundwater during the upcoming dry season. It said that as the region continues through the rest of the 2020 dry season, concerns exist for short-term drought which can impact soil moisture, streams and small rivers, particularly in Barbados, Belize, Guadeloupe, the ABC Islands of Aruba Bonaire and Curacao as well as eastern Puerto Rico.

Sanctuary Belize Case Update – Grab a Beverage and Put Your Feet Up
The case involving Andris Pukke and Peter Baker that started with Ameridebt is still grinding on regarding Sanctuary Belize. The FTC summary of the case reads like a movie script. It involves international intrigue, deception, Orange County companies, prison jumpsuits, and back-stabery. Buckle up. This is going to be a long wild ride.

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