March 9, 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

Doctor Love: Out Cold
"As tough as this may be to accept, she doesn’t seem that into you. Whether it’s regret, disenchantment or she has moved along, if she wanted you, she’d be texting or bumping into you all over town. She sounds pretty popular, so shyness isn’t likely to be a factor for her sudden lack of communication."

Wolfe’s Woofer: Fisherman’s Secret
“Happy birthday Don Carlos. Happy birthday to you!” The crowd at Señor Garza’s 103rd birthday party clapped and cheered. The old fisherman was one of the first people I met on Ambergris Caye many years ago and I was there to help show how much we loved and respected him. His oldest daughter, Carlita said, […]

Various Belizean Sources

Influential Women on Caye Caulker: Mrs. Ilna Alamina Auxillou
Mrs. Ilna Alamina Auxillou is a legend for the island of caye caulker. Recounting her contribution to society, she has played a big roll in the education system by being a teacher for the past 46 years of her life. Not only here on the island, but also in the main land. She was the first principal at the Caye Caulker RC school and a teacher at a number of other educational institutions such as First local Ladyville RC School, Holy Redeemer school, Math tutor to pupil teachers in training , English teacher at St. John's College Extension adult education classes , Edward P Yorke high school and vice principal at Gwen Lizarraga high school. Mrs. Ilna has served the Community by being the president of the Caye Caulker community development committee and until recently, maintained the children's park.

Influential Women on Caye Caulker: Miss Seleny Villanueva-Pott
We end off our recognition of Caye Caulker super star women with Miss Seleny Villanueva-Pott, current chair person of the Caye Caulker Village Council and proud Owner of Prescription Value Pharmacy. Miss Seleny is no stranger to the community and is always willing and ready to lend a helping hand. She enjoys organizing fundraisers for individuals who are in need of medical attention. She obtained her diploma in Pharmacy in 2008, and has been serving the island for the past three years when she opened her establishment in 2017. She also won the title of Miss Lobsterfest in 2002 and served as the vice chair in the previous village council. Miss seleny is indeed a well respected woman in the eyes of our people.

Juan Carnaval throughout the town of San Ignacio and Santa Elena
Pictures from the Juan Carnaval parade yesterday evening through Cayo. Juan carnaval was practiced by the Mestizo Culture in 1950, 1960 and lastly in 1970, here in Cayo ,by Migrants who came from Chetumal Qroo(Maria ,Amorna,Roguel Martinez and Carmita Reyes), whom happened to be family to my Grandparents (Santiago Arguelles who migrated from Ixcalac Mexico).The above mentioned were seamstresses, so they created all the clothing for the carnaval at that time.My mother Isabel Concepcion Arguelles Moreno, was only 11 years old when she participated, together with her sisters Vitalia and Maricela Arguelles.Their Carnaval was comically musical.My mother sung us to sleep every night as kids with the carnival songs(La molina,Pichetito,El toro,La Negra Tomasa,el Pitorial,la Culebra y la cancion del Carnaval ),which represented the mestizo Culture, their clothing and Dance.This Mestizo cultural practice was lost in the 1970's.

FCD Environmental Youth Group Kids Mentorship Program
FCD Environmental Youth Group conducted its first day of the Kids Mentorship Program being held at Sams’s Community Park which will be carried out in a series of session. Today kids had the opportunity to have fun learning about Planet Earth and how humans used to live back then and their evolution as humans. Through this session kids had the opportunity of envisioning earth as we see it today and how they would like to see it y painting their imaginations. They role-played environmental scenarios using materials around them, they also had presentations on best practices and received further information through informative videos on the protection of our environment.

Breaking Belize News

CARICOM chair calls for lawful completion of the electoral process in Guyana
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has issued a statement calling on the electoral officials in Guyana […]

Today is International Women’s Day
Today, March 8, 2020, is international women’s day. The event is being celebrated around the […]

Cold front sustains cool and windy conditions
The National Meteorological Service of Belize says that weather conditions today will continue to be cool and windy […]

Coronavirus deaths spike in Italy, virus now in over 100 countries
The latest situational report on the novel coronavirus strain (COVID-19) issued by the World Health […]

Blogs

6 Cool Treats in Belize
Beat Belize heat with some yummy treats to quench that dry palette. Check out these 6 cool, fresh, frozen and refreshing goodies that are unique to our sizzling country. On a hot and humid Belizean day, the sound of the ice cream truck jingles has us desiring like a child a yummy and cool treat. Just the thought of the frozen and fresh snow cone melting on your tongue sounds heavenly and brings our body temperature a few degrees down. These goodies are a win with the whole family. Here are a few of the cool treats Belize has available: Paletas or Belizean popsicles, Chocobananos, Ice or Snowcone, Coconut Water, Ideal, Frozen Custard.

Inaugural Football Parade of the NSC and FFB Tournament 2020 was held on Sunday March 8TH, 202
The "INAUGURAL FOOTBALL PARADE of the NSC & FFB Youth Tournament 2020" parade was held on Sunday, March 8TH, 2020. It began at 10AM in Infront of the Corozal Central Park and concluded at the Ricalde Stadium. Today, The Inaguaral of NSC and FFB Youth Tournament held its closing season of 2019-2020 (Corozal FA). The Public was invited to attend the game after the parade at the Ricalde Stadium. The first game began at 10:40AM.

A Saturday morning View from Corozal March 7TH, 2020
Across the International Rio Hondo Bridge, you will find Belize’s, Free Zone. Commerce was established in 1994 by Belize in the district of Corozal, in order to attract foreign investment seeing as to how the businessmen are allowed to function without having to pay taxes. Although in the beginning, the inhabitants of Chetumal would go just to fill their gas tanks, which was far cheaper, rather than to visit the 20 stores. However these days there are more than 300 businesses and they continue to expand in this commercial zone and attract thousands of buyers from all over Mexico.

Honoring Belize’s Female Heroes
With March 8th being International Women’s Day, we thought it would be fitting to highlight two of the women who marked Belize and left a legacy. We honour Gwen Lizarraga and Cleopatra White. Have a safe and fun weekend in Belize everyone. Born to Sidney Smith and Guadalupe Baeza on July 11, 1901 in Maskall Village, Gwendolyn Lizarraga was a successful business owner, outspoken politician, and women’s rights activist. Madam Liz – as she is known to Belizeans – was the first woman to serve as a government minister in Belize (then British Honduras). She operated a chicle and mahogany farm, eschewing convention by driving a land rover, wearing pants, carrying a gun and smoking cigarettes. Can you imagine what a sight that must have been? Talk about a trailblazer! By contrast, we have a hero in Nurse Cleopatra White, who was born in June 1898 in British Honduras. Following the death of her mother, she would be raised by her father until she entered school for nursing. A dedicated community helper all her life, White became inspired by Nurse Vivian Seay’s work, and the two were instrumental in forming the Belizean branch of the Black Cross Nurses. White’s system for village councils in the management of hurricane preparations have been a model for villages across Belize. Her leadership and nursing skills, as well as her social work made her a leader in her country, and deserving of the honor of being a Belizean Hero.

Snorkeling in Caye Caulker, Belize – Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Hol Chan Marine Reserve is one of the top snorkeling destinations in Caye Caulker Belize, and once you take a dip in the water, you’ll understand why. Home to turtles, manatees, nurse sharks and vibrant coral the water is warm and crystal clear. When visiting Belize, no trip is complete without a visit to the Belize Barrier reef – the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere. Here’s what you need to know about snorkeling in Caye Caulker.

Back to the Island!
After spending an extended period of time in the states visiting kids and grandkids, I returned to Ambergris Caye this week. Anyone who has traveled to Belize is well aware there may be a few of your favorite things you cannot find here on the island. Knowing I will stay for at least a few months before returning to the states, I checked the additional bags, filled to the brim with my favorite things. By the time I arrived, I was second guessing this decision. My first sign should have been the need to sit on the suitcases to zip them, as I desperately wanted to bring my favorite bamboo pillow.

The First Humans in Belize
Since the first stone arrowheads were discovered in Clovis, New Mexico in the 1920s, archeologists have been working to understand how early humans first came to the Americas. A new DNA study that compared modern genomic information to that recovered in several ancient sites across the Americas has now revealed that human beings entered Belize in several separate migrations. Scientists have long known that ancient humans crossed a land bridge from what is now Siberia into northwestern Canada some 16,000 years ago. But by comparing ancient DNA with different modern population groups, scientists have learned that there were actually two different groups which reached America from Asia.

Discover Billy Barquedier National Park in Southern Belize
Originally declared a national park in 2001, Bill Barquedier National Park is as well known for gorgeous waterfalls located in the watershed that provides several communities with drinking water as it is for huge community of animals, many of which are listed on vulnerable or endangered species lists. You may not spot them, but within park boundaries live jaguars, tapirs, ocelots and everyone’s favorite Belize characters: howler monkeys.

International Sources

NY Times Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Belize?
Belize is a Central American country located between the southeastern tip of Mexico and Guatemala. It has a population of about 375,000 and its capital is Belmopan.

Videos

March 8, 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

UDP set to hold second leadership convention in April
The United Democratic Party (UDP) has set April 5th for their national convention to elect a new party leader. The announcement was made following a National Party Council meeting on Saturday, February 29th in Belize City.

San Pedro female police constables welcome women’s month 2020 with a church service
As part of women’s month 2020, the female constables of the San Pedro Police Formation began the month in their honour by attending the church services at the island’s Catholic Church on Sunday, March 1st.

Colleen’s Kitchen at San Pedro Food Bank distributes recycled bags
Every day, Colleen’s Kitchen at the San Pedro Food Bank at Hope Haven provides meals to underprivileged children and adults. This program is made possible thanks to local restaurateurs who keep the initiative alive. To further engage the local community and even visitors in contributing to the worthy cause, recycled cotton bags are being distributed at different convenience stores. In exchange, patrons (visitors) are asked to kindly donate any grocery items upon departure that can be used by the food bank at Hope Haven, San Pedro’s Children’s Home and Community outreach Center located on Lion Street, across from the Maya Island Air.

Fisheries Ministry signs Memorandum of Understanding with the Coalition for Sustainable Fisheries
On Thursday, March 3rd, the Belize Government Press Office issued an official release declaring the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, and Sustainable Development and the Coalition for Sustainable Fisheries.

Ministry of Health Advisory No. 7 – Update on COVID-19
The Ministry of Health is aware of the upgraded risk of COVID-19 to ‘very high’ for the Caribbean as published by the Caribbean Public Health Agency. The Ministry assures that its preparation process continues in this regard. The upgrade was determined based on the increasing number of confirmed cases expanding worldwide to approximately 84 countries to date. The threat for a case to be confirmed in Belize is now more imminent with cases now in the Caribbean, confirmed imported cases in Mexico, and Costa Rica confirming their first case today, March 6th.

Various Belizean Sources

South Ambergris Caye Neighbourhood Watch Meeting
Hello Friends and Neighbors! Join us this month for our monthly general meeting of the members. It will be held at: Someplace South CafeBar, 7:00 pm, Wednesday March 11, 2020. Come early and enjoy dinner and a drink - a portion of the evening's proceeds are generously donated to SACNW.

NSSSA Softball Regionals Championship
Mayor Daniel Guerrero, the San Pedro Town Council would like to congratulate the San Pedro High School Male and Female Softball teams on winning the NSSSA Softball Regionals Championship! Great job everyone!

Low Fare Alert San Pedro (SPR) - Corozal (CZH), One way
Up to 30% off. March 9th, 2020 Departure only. Book on http://tropicair.com (Getaway Fares) or at ticket counter. Very limited seats so act fast. When they are gone they are gone.

REEF WEEK 2020 - CAYE CAULKER
Activity # 2 phase 1 - selecting mangroves propagules (sprouts)

Caye Caulker Beach Cleanup on Saturday
To everyone who organized this fun environmental friendly event today..great job..reef week..

Sarteneja Reef Fair 2020
Come one, come all! On Friday, 13th March, Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development - SACD will be hosting the first annual Sarteneja Reef Fair as part of the national celebrations for Reef Week. There'll be food, music, football and more. Don't miss out, we hope to see you all there.

Annual Kidney Walk
BEL and employees support the Kidney Association of Belize and today participated in the annual Kidney Walk to spread awareness on Kidney Disease.

Timothy Budd had his birthday concert last night at The Bluffs
Skinny's birthday was last night, and it turned into a concert at @thebluffsbz .

Installation Ceremony Bio-Barrier Mopan River
2nd Bio-barrier is being installed tomorrow morning

Horoch
Horoch is one of the delicacies of the traditional Yucatec Maya food in Belize . This Horoch is from the village of San Pablo (Orange walk) .

Amandala

Alden Laura, 20, remanded for murder of Michael Barrera, 52
Lara was remanded to the Belize Central Prison, after he was arraigned on the murder charge today, before Magistrate Khadeem Palmer. The court set Lara’s adjournment date to June 2, when he will be brought back to court.

Devon Arnold was killed on Friday night ref. double shooting
We reported that two men were shot on Central American Boulevard last night. They have been identified as Devon Arnold, 24, and Wayne Pratt, 42. Both men suffered gunshot injuries when a pair of gunmen opened fire on them.

Breaking Belize News

Shots ring out on the south side of Belize City
Upon making checks BBN was able to confirm that someone was injured on Courtney Crescent. […]

Chinese coronavirus quarantine hotel collapses
According to CNN, a hotel used in China as a coronavirus quarantine location collapsed today […]

Taiwan funds relocation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters
Taiwan provided support to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Belize with its preparatory […]

Opponents demand verification as incumbent claims victory in Guyana elections
Guyanese President David Granger has claimed victory in Guyana’s general election held last week Monday, […]

Port, Stevedores, and Ministry of Labour agree to temporary compromise to end dispute
Work is back underway, sort of, at the Port of Belize this holiday weekend. On […]

Health agency upgrade to ‘Very High’ risk of coronavirus for the Caribbean
The Ministry of Health says that it is aware of the upgraded risk of COVID-19 […]

Blogs

Why YOU Should Visit Belize in April and May
April and May can be some pretty great months to visit Belize. The Spring Break rush has started to thin out. The peak airline prices of December and US Presidents’ Week are starting to come down a bit (I won’t be discussing other reasons they might be lower right now…) And the wetter season hasn’t started yet so the average day is rain-free and warm. On the mainland it can be very warm…but let me tell you some of the reasons that the trip will be well worth it.

Mahogany Chocolate Company
Mahogany Chocolate Company 5 star gourmet kitchen is located in Mahogany Bay Village, a Hilton Curio Collection branded resort hotel on Ambergris Caye. Chocolatier Luis Armando Choco divides his time between Ambergris Caye and the Toledo District in Southern Belize. This is where the Farms are. He speaks to farmers who are key to the quality of the cacao bean. Mr. Choco speaks to farmers, carefully selects the best beans and monitors the process from harvesting to fermentation and drying. This ensures that every batch will result in only a premium quality chocolate product. One hundred and fifty participating farmers harvest ripe pods from the Cacao trees and carefully extract the beans from the pod. Within six hours of harvesting, the beans are picked up by Mahogany’s bean buying Central Processing plant team in Crique Jute Village. Of course, there are strict protocols and responsible farming practices that must be adhered to.

Spearfishing In Belize: All You Need To Know, Tours And Places
No trip to a country along the Caribbean Sea is complete without some water-based activity. While some are content with swimming or boating, others are interested in catching some of the many species of fish that swim off the coast of Belize. While some of these anglers are content to break out a fishing rod, spearfishing is also a viable approach. Whether you fancy yourself an experienced fisher or you are looking for something novel, why not try spearfishing around the 450+ cayes in Belize? The sheer number of venues for spearfishing means that there are dozens of charters you can take. Ambergris Caye will let you check out what swims in the heart of the Caribbean. Skip the beaches of San Pedro to tackle cobia, grouper, jack, and snapper. The waters near Dangriga, Hopkins, and Placencia, are overrun with tasty catches, including mackerel.

International Sources

Coronavirus puts NY college students’ spring break trips on hold
The coronavirus has college kids bracing for Spring brake. NYU, Columbia and Cornell universities are urging students not to take off for foreign destinations this month. Cancun, the Bahamas, and Cabo are popular student destinations. NYU freshman Cervelle Vidal, 17, said she was disappointed that her school-sponsored trip to Belize to study sustainable living got canceled.

Videos

March 7, 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

Air conditioning and refrigeration technicians undergo training in San Pedro Town
In order to facilitate heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians who need to be licensed for 2020, the Association of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technicians (ARACT) of Belize hosted a four-day training workshop in San Pedro Town. The training was held at the Sunbreeze Hotel conference room, where a large number of HVAC technicians attended the sessions from Monday, March 2nd to Thursday, March 5th.

Long-time Island Visitor William McQueen makes donation in honor of Nurse Natalie
US retiree and long-time island visitor William McQueen presented a BZ$7,500 donation in honor of Nurse Natalie Palen to Ambergris Hopes Medical Clinic, located in San Pedro Town on Friday, February 28th. McQueen said that after reading about Nurse Natalie’s life, he felt that, “she was always there for people” and recounted that in the aftermath of Hurricane Keith, which ravaged Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker when it made landfall in October 2000 Nurse Natalie was on the ground immediately, assisting with relief efforts. “She worked very hard to get people patched up and on their way without thinking about the expense,” he said. “She paid for a lot of things out of pocket.

Ambergris Today

Hol Chan Marine Reserve Position On Cayo Rosario Situation
The Cayo Rosario Island is located within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve (HCMR) conservation area of Zone E. This island was privately owned prior to the 2015 expansion of the reserve. In May 2018, an Environmental Compliance Plan (ECP) was granted to the Cayo Rosario Development Limited by the Department of Environment (DOE). This was an environmental clearance to proceed with development, provide that they obtain the necessary permits from the relevant government departments. While we do recognize that a developer has a right to develop within his property limits, HCMR’s jurisdiction begins outside the property limits.

MOH budgets $900,000 to fight COVID-19, but No Travel Ban
The worldwide travel industry has been hard hit by COVID-19, a new type of coronavirus first identified from a pneumonia strain by Chinese authorities in Wuhan City in Hubei province China on January 7th. Since then the virus has spread to 74 countries, including our neighbor Mexico. In Belize, our Ministry of Health (MOH) admits it’s just a matter of time before we confirm our first case of this new and deadly disease. With the reduction in demand for fuel for transportation and other services offered by the hospitality sector, COVID-19 has also hit the petroleum industry hard, with oil-producing countries being forced to curtail production or accept a steep drop in oil prices from a supply glut.

In Memoriam: Natalie Palen
A gentle soul with a soft voice and an innate kindness that enveloped and drew you to her, no matter the circumstances, Natalie Palen was the embodiment of love. She bore the title of a beloved daughter, wife, Mummy, Granny, Tia Nats, and most of all, Nurse Natalie. Ah yes, Nurse Natalie was a much-beloved member of the San Pedro community. Her passing is felt by many on this island, who witnessed her tireless, giving nature as the community nurse who lovingly delivered and cared for hundreds of babies – some would say a couple of generations of babies!

San Pedro Fishermen Protest At Cayo Rosario
Development activities at Cayo Rosario, a small island within the Local fishermen, stakeholders, island residents and even tourists were out on boats at Cayo Rosario to voice their concerns and hold a peaceful demonstration against the development taking place in hopes to bring awareness to local authorities on the negative impact that this development is creating.

Various Belizean Sources

Mr. Carlos Edward Herrera Rubio Passes Away
The voice of Caye Caulker extends our sympathies to the family of Mr. Carlos Edward Herrera Rubio A wake will be held in the village of Hopkins on Wednesday March 11th. Funeral services will be held on Thursday March 12th at 1:30pm. There will be no transportation from Caye Caulker to Hopkins, but should you wish to attend and need accomodation, you can contact Mr. Charles Rubio.

Influential Women on Caye Caulker: Kimberly Cuthkelvin Rodriguez
Miss Neidi Marin is amongst the women who have made a difference in our community. She genuinely cares about the good fortune of our people. In November of 2004, she opened the first official pharmacy on the island now known as Emars Pharmacy. Her work has been vital for the health of the islanders, in providing for their pharmaceutical needs. She is very fond of serving the people, and does so with the utmost grace and satisfaction. Miss Neidi doesn't view her work as a business, but rather her own contribution to making a positive change for Caye Caulker.

Amiri Prince Gentle Recognized at the Annual Children’s Advisory Body Meeting
Amiri Prince Gentle, National Song Competition winner from Punta Gorda was recognized at the Annual Children’s Advisory Body (CAB) President meeting in San Ignacio/Santa Elena Towns. It goes to show that Belize has talent and we must support our children to develop their talent to their fullest.

COROZAL INAUGURAL FOOTBALL PARADE ON SUNDAY - NSC & FFB Youth Tournament 2020
We invite all football fans, parents and the entire Corozal community to our Clubs' Inaugural Football Parade. Come join us this Sunday, March 8, 2020. Please ensure your club reaches at the Central Park by the Town Hall by 9:15 a.m. Mayor Rigo Vellos, CTV3 News, and the Amandala News will be invited guests leading the parade.

Church makes directives to limit the spread of COVID-19
DIOCESE OF BELIZE CITY AND BELMOPAN: To take precautions to limit the potential spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize City and Belmopan City issues temporary directives to take effect immediately. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to reach out to love God and Neighbor especially those who are sick and the elderly. In this spirit, I find it prudent to share these directives/ precautionary measures with you for the celebration of Mass in our Church during this time.

Ministry of Health Advisory No. 7 – Update on COVID-19
The Ministry of Health is aware of the upgraded risk of COVID-19 to 'very high' for the Caribbean as published by the Caribbean Public Health Agency. The Ministry assures that its preparation process continues in this regard. The upgrade was determined based on the increasing number of confirmed cases expanding worldwide to approximately 84 countries to date. The threat for a case to be confirmed in Belize is now more imminent with cases now in the Caribbean, confirmed imported cases in Mexico, and Costa Rica confirming their first case today, March 6th.

Port of Belize Operations Returned to Normal
The Ministry of Labour hereby informs that the industrial action has come to an end. The stevedores began to protest on Monday, March 2, 2020, and continued with a strike by the staff of Port of Belize on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. On March 4th, Minister of State for Labour, Dr. Hon. Carla Barnett met with representatives of the Christian Workers Union (CWU) and the Port of Belize Limited (PBL) as a result of industrial action being undertaken by the two bargaining units represented by the CWU at the Port.

Taiwan Funds the Relocation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarters
Today, March 6th, the Republic of China (Taiwan) provided support to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Belize with its preparatory efforts to begin the relocation of the MFA office from the NEMO Building to the newly constructed MFA Headquarters. This support will ensure minimal disruption of provision of services to the public during the Ministry’s relocation. This support emanates from the “Strengthening of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Central American Countries” provided through the XVII Meeting of the Mixed Commission of the Allied Countries of the Isthmus of Central America and the Republic of China (Taiwan).

Change in the Pump Price of Fuel Effective March 7, 2020
The Ministry of Finance announces that on March 7, 2020, the pump price for regular gasoline will increase by 50 cents from $9.73 to $ 10.23 per gallon. The prices for premium gasoline, kerosene and diesel will remain unchanged at $10.40, $6.62 and $9.84 per gallon, respectively.

Mutilated Manatee Carcass found in Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary
A carcass of an Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) was found and reported on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 by the Friends of Swallow Caye. An assessment of the carcass was conducted by researchers from ClearWater Marine Aquarium Research Institute which revealed visible signs of cut marks, presumably from a knife, indicative of some level of hands-on human interaction. The Antillean manatee is listed as endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature, making it vulnerable to extinction.

Children cleanup on Caye Caulker
TODAY (Saturday) at 10 AM a group of children, along with Frontier volunteers, are doing beach clean up. They are starting at Tropical Paradise cemetery and working their way North along beach front/Front Street. TOMORROW (Sunday) also at 10 AM, the same group is planting baby mangroves. Thought maybe your kids would be interested in joining.

BTIA Reef Week Beach Cleaunp on Caye Caulker
Reef Week 2020 Activity #1 Beach Clean Up

Ms. Anselma Yam passes away
On behalf of the Northern Maya Association of Belize, we send our sincere condolences to the Yam family for the passing of Ms. Anselma Yam from Patchakan Village. She was 104 years old. She was a maya woman who passed on heaps of knowledge to her family generations. We stand with you Mr. Faustino Yam in this time of grief.

Rest in Peace to Mamita Anselma Yam
It is with deepest sadness that we have to say good byes to our beautiful and powerful matriarch of Patchakan village, Corozal District, Belize. Chichi Anselma Yam passed away on March 6th 2020 at the age of 104 years old. She has left a wonderful example of a life well lived in the service of her community and family. She will forever be missed. RIP abuelita Anselma Yam.

Channel 7

Port and Stevedores Reach A Tenuous Compromise
The industrial action is over and operations at the Port of Belize are expected to return to normal. This is according to the Ministry of Labor. On Wednesday, Minister of Labour Carla Barnett met with representatives of the Christians Workers Union and The Port of Belize Ltd., during the meeting the two groups came to a number of agreements. Those agreements were summarized today morning and signed by both groups as well as the Minister. And yesterday the CWU served PBL a 21-day notice to return to industrial action if the negotiations do not proceed as expected.

Remembering Radford, A Major Extraordinaire
This evening, the nation paid its respects to Major Radford Baizar, the last of the 4 BDF soldiers who died last week in that helicopter crash. It had been an entire 8 days of sadness and mourning, and a week of funerals, but, nontheless, at today's ceremony, funeral goers found it no easier to say goodbye to Major Baizar.

20 Year Old Charged for Killing Grandfather
52 year old grandfather Micheal Barrera was murdered on Tuesday, just because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Today, police have charged his alleged killer. He is 20 year old Alden Lara, a construction worker from Antelope Street Extension - which is very near to the murder scene on Central American Boulevard.

Lake I Rep Speaks On Murdered Neighbour and Peer
Yesterday in the House of Representatives - Lake Independence Area Representative Cordel Hyde spoke on the Tuesday evening murders and shooting. Two of the events happened in his division and he lamented the attacks on three older men in less than two hours:

Capital and Labour Come Out Swinging Against GOB
Capital and Labour have come together to make a decisive statement on the government's state of affairs. A strongly worded release is coming out of a joint meeting today and it outlines what is called a resolution for action. The release says, quote, "As a result of the appalling circumstances facing our nation, coupled with the Government's flagrant disregard for the Rule of Law, representatives of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Belize Network of NGOs, and the National Trade Union Congress of Belize held the first of a series of joint meetings to develop strategic actions to address pertinent issues.

KHMH Union Says National Referral Hospital Not Ready For COVID-19
Tonight there are worrying signals about COVID 19 coming from the country's biggest hospital, the KHMH. A release from the KHMH Workers Union warns, quote, "The general consensus from the KHMHA's staff is that the safety and wellbeing of those on the forefront were never taken into consideration when implementing theplan of action." End quote. The release says that the Healthcare Providers which includes all Auxiliary and Support staff have expressed their genuine concerns in the following areas; i. Some areas in the hospital are under less than favourable working conditions; we are understaffed, over worked and lack the necessary resources/equipment to work with.The staff morale is at an all-time low.

Redistricting Lawsuit Waits for Ashcroft
After a 2-and-a-half week adjournment, the redistricting lawsuit resumed today in the Supreme Court before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin. That's the Supreme Court claim that members of the Belize Peace Movement and other allied Belizeans have brought against the Government and the Elections and Boundaries Commission. They're trying to trigger a redistricting exercise before the next general election is called. As we've told you, the 31 electoral divisions countrywide are currently disproportional, and they have been that way for years. Some constituencies, like the Fort George Division, are too small, while others, such as Belmopan or Stann Creek West are just too big.

The Two Sides of the Re-Districting Argument
Today's case management conference gave us an opportunity to talk with Bobby Lopez, the Chairman of the Belize Peace Movement, about a few of concerns that the Doug Singh, the Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission, has raised about their lawsuit. 2 weeks ago, Chairman Singh granted us an extended interview, discussing why he thinks the claimants have unfairly criticized the Commission for the fact a redistricting exercise still hasn't been done. Tonight, we have the point and counterpoints that both men have made about Chairman Singh's assertion that the Claimants are partly to blame for the delay in carrying out a redistricting. Here's what they had to say on that topic, as well as their disagreement about the length of time it would take to actually carry out the exercise:

No Confidence Vote Soundly Defeated, Yields Marathon Debate
Last night we had extensive coverage of the Budget Presentation and the other business at yesterday's House Meeting. But what we couldn't wait around for was the marathon debate on the no-confidence motion. That went for just about 7 hours! As we told you the PUP brought the motion - with very little prospect of success since they would need support form across the floor - and they had none. So, it was kind of a stunt, but a very use one - because the PUP members got to expound at great, great length on all the reason why they felt the Barrow administration has to go. So, it was kind of like therapy for the opposition, and here are a few excerpts:..

John Saldivar Says Dermen's Was An Innocent Donation
And, while Julius Espat was the longest on the mic, the most interesting intervention came from John Saldivar. He's gone to the back bench but that hasn't quieted him. He came out and made a robust rebuttal of the no confidence motion, but had to spend a good deal of time defending himself and that tranche of funds he got from Lev Dermen:

Manatee Butchered For Its Meat
Yesterday when an endangered Antillean manatee was found dead in the Swallow Caye wildlife sanctuary, she became the fourth member of her species to be found dead this quarter. And it looks like someone was hunting manatee meat! The nine-foot adult female's flippers and a large part of her shoulder area had been removed. The carcass also displayed cut marks presumably from a knife, indicating some level of hands-on human interaction.

Les/Bi Women Discuss Ageism, Sexism, And Diverse Abilities
Sunday is world International Women's day and this morning P.E.T.A.L held its annual women's forum. The NGO's mission is to promote empowerment through Awareness and it brings lesbian and bisexual women, and other allies together to discuss topics of national interest. This year that meant a discussion about ageism, sexism, and diverse abilities. And Petal's co-founder says that this discussion forum is essential because women are often most heavily impacted by the issues of the day.

Speaking Solutions Into Existence
And in another event ahead of international women's day, conflict resolution trainer Priscilla Danes has brought her domestic violence Summit to Belize. The event titled "Wings on Women" focuses on best practices and challenges in battling issues surrounding domestic violence and invites participants to learn from each other's experiences while building each other up.

Catholics Announce Mass Changes
COVID-19 is a a major international health scare - and, even though it hasn't been detected Belize yet, tonight, the Catholic Diocese of Belize and Belmopan has announced heavy precautions to limit the potential spread of COVID 19. A facebook post with the letterhead of the Roman Catholic Chancery Office and bearing the signature of Lawrence Sydney Nicasio outlines some quite austere temporary directives to take place immediately.

PUC Announces Major BEL Decision
The PUC has announced its Initial Decision on the 2020 Full Tariff Review Proceeding for BEL. Basically, BEL made a submission for an Annual Review Proceeding in January, in which it recommended to increase the current rate of 41.5¢ cents per kilowatt-hour to an average 45.33¢ cents per kilowatt-hour for the Full Tariff Period, which runs from July first, 2020, to June 30th, 2024.

Regular Gas Going Up
50 cents: that is how much the pump price of a gallon of regular gasoline will increase by at midnight. So, effective tomorrow, you will be paying $10.23 instead of $9.73.

Nat'l Heroes & Benefactors
And, as we end the news for this March 6th, we look to Monday's Holiday for National Heroes and Benefactors day by reprising last year's wreath laying at the Baron Bliss grave in Belize City. Wreaths were also laid for National heroes George Price and Phillip Goldson. This year's ceremony will be held at the grave - slash - lighthouse on Monday.

Channel 5

PM Barrow’s Final Budget Speech
Prime Minister Dean Barrow proceeded to deliver his final budget estimates on Thursday, but the Opposition side of the aisle was empty, as the area representatives had vacated the chambers [...]

Stevedores Back at Work: C.W.U. and P.B.L Sign M.O.U.
Operations have normalized at the Port of Belize Limited with stevedores resuming work. Both parties came to an agreement after days of industrial action on the part of the stevedores [...]

Strike Action by Port’s Staff Called Off
The staff of the Port of Belize Limited also had issues with P.B.L.’s management and joined the stevedores.  For the staff, the most serious issue is the lack of progress [...]

P.B.L.’s C.E.O. Says There is No Dispute
Chief Executive Officer for the Port of Belize Limited, Arturo ‘Tux’ Vasquez says that the Port, which is in receivership, has suffered financially and the decision by B.S.I. to use [...]

Major Radford Baizar is Laid to Rest
The last Belize Defense Force soldier who died in the helicopter crash was buried today. Major Radford Baizar, a highly trained and accomplished pilot and instructor of the B.D.F. Air [...]

“It is perfectly permissible” – PM Barrow on Supplementaries
The debate on the motion of no confidence tabled by the Opposition was the final agenda item during Thursday’s Special Sitting of the House of Representatives.  Debate lasted until ten [...]

Julius and Johnny Blame Government for South Side Poverty
Cayo South Area Representative Julius Espat, who also chairs the Public Accounts Committee, slammed the Barrow administration for failing the people of Belize after twelve years in office.  That point [...]

John Saldivar’s Turn at No Confidence Motion
Sitting way to back after leaving Cabinet, Belmopan Area Representative John Saldivar also weighed in on the no confidence motion by drawing comparisons between the present government and the P.U.P. [...]

“You failed the south side of Belize City” – Cordel to Barrow Administration
Deputy Party Leader Cordel Hyde also took the opportunity during the debate on the no-confidence motion to chide the south side area representatives of Belize City for the conditions being [...]

Regular Gas Goes Up at the Pumps
At midnight, the pump prices for regular gasoline will go up by fifty cents per gallon, which means that it will now sell at ten dollars and twenty-three cents per [...]

Abel Lara Junior is Arraigned for the Murder of Michael Barrera
Today, police escorted Abel Lara Junior before Magistrate Kadeem Palmer to face a charge of murder.  Lara is accused of Tuesday evening’s shooting that claimed the life of Michael Barrera. The [...]

Redistricting Case Adjourned
Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin today adjourned the redistricting case until next Friday to allow Senior Counsel Andrew Marshalleck, on behalf of Interested Party in the case, Lord Michael Ashcroft, to [...]

Bobby Lopez Responds to Elections & Boundaries Chairman
When he appeared last on the media, Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission, Doug Singh explained that it would be too time-consuming to conduct a redistricting exercise before the [...]

Edgar Orellana, Charged With Sexual Assault of Minor, Gets Bail
Supreme Court Justice Francis Cumberbatch today granted bail to twenty-eight year-old Edgar Orellana. Orellana is charged with sexual assault upon a minor.  The incident allegedly happened in the month of [...]

Mauricio Lemus Charged With Aggravated Assault upon His Mother
A Belize City man was taken before Magistrate Aretha Ford this afternoon to face a charge of Aggravated Assault upon his mother, after he allegedly raised a pickaxe with which [...]

The Evolution of the La Ruta Maya River Challenge; Day One Complete
Sixty teams registered and competed in the first leg of the Belikin La Ruta Maya River Challenge. At seven a.m. sharp, the canoes paddled down the winding Macal River for [...]

Santa Cruz Villagers Picket House Meeting
Residents from the community of Santa Cruz in Stann Creek District journeyed to Belmopan on Thursday morning where they picketed government over a land dispute in their village.  At the [...]

Exploring the Economic Benefits of the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem
A four-year project to spur greater benefits from the ocean was launched in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility and the Food and Agricultural Organization. The initiative is called the [...]

K.H.M.H.A. Workers Union says Hospital Not Prepared to Deal with COVID-19
The worldwide death toll of COVID-19 continues on the rise and health officials at the K.H.M.H. have a plan of action to be activated immediately when a case is confirmed [...]

Wash And Sanitation Hygiene Stakeholders Meet
The Ministry of Health, along with UNICEF, Ministry of Education, SIF, Belize Red Cross and other partners, has held a national consultation for the Wash And Sanitation Hygiene initiative, for [...]

UNICEF Champions WASH in Belize
UNICEF has been championing the WASH initiative, as clean water, basic toilets and good hygiene practices are needed for survival and development of children. The WASH team works in over [...]

The Importance of Defensive Driving
As part of the Second Road Safety Project, the “Building Capacity in Drivers through the Defensive Driving Training” course ended today in Belize City. Led by Dennis Molina of the [...]

Catholic Teaches Discuss Equal Opportunities Bill at Bi-Annual Conference
More than five hundred teachers from eleven Catholic high schools countrywide today gathered at the Saint Catherine Auditorium for a Catholic Educators Conference. The conference is the culmination of Catholic [...]

National Primary School Basketball Championship 2020
Today, the national primary school basketball championship 2020 was held at the Mexico Sports Center in Belize City. Six schools, one from Corozal, one from Orange Walk, two from Stann [...]

Amandala

PM Barrow presents $1.3 billion budget
The House of Representatives met this morning in the National Assembly Chamber, and during the first hour of the meeting, when Prime Minister Barrow was about to deliver his budget speech, the Opposition People’s United Party walked out. So, in essence, PM Barrow’s last swan song, “Make Every Dollar Count” — the budget that the PM prepared for this parliamentary session — was played to only his supporters. Barrow devoted the first few minutes of his budget presentation to lamenting the ills of the then People’s United Party government that his United Democratic Party government replaced in 2008, in a massive landslide victory on the promise of transparency and zero tolerance for corruption.

Opposition Motion of No Confidence fails
One of the highlights of today’s House of Representatives meeting was a Motion of No Confidence in the United Democratic Party Government of Prime Minister Dean Barrow. The motion was sponsored by Opposition Leader, Hon. John Briceño (Orange Walk Central) and Hon. Julius Espat, (Cayo South). Before the No Confidence Motion was debated, however, the government introduced and passed its Contract Validation Bill 2020, through all of its stages at today’s sitting. The Opposition wasted no time and immediately tore into the Bill, which Hon. Kareem Musa (Caribbean Shores) said was an admission of guilt on the part of the Prime Minister.

Christian Workers Union declares strike in 21 days
The Christian Workers Union (CWU), through a press release issued today on behalf of the stevedores and staff of the Port of Belize (PBL), stated that they would be making a shift from their current actions of protest to an official strike against the Port of Belize (PBL), and to set the stage for that, it declared a “twenty-one days’ notice of intent to strike.” The release said that the notice of intent to strike was being made under Section 11(1) of the Settlement of Disputes in Essential Services Act, Chapter 298 of the Laws of Belize.

Keith Courtenay, 46, executed in front of his grandchild
The never-ending gun violence in the city claimed the life of a hardworking man, who is not known to be violent or to be involved in gangs, at about 5:15 yesterday evening at a basketball court in front of the Ebony Street Long Barracks. Keith Courtenay, 46, an employee of the Belize City Council and a father of 6 children (1 adopted) and grandfather of 4, was shot 8 times in the back while protecting his 5-year-old grandson from gunfire.

After 3 days of stevedores’ protest, is there a light at the end of the tunnel?
Tension increased today at the Port of Belize Limited (PBL) between stevedores and the management of PBL, but by the end of the day, both sides made it to the negotiating table to begin talks on working their way out of their impasse. The morning began with the PBL management taking steps to start the off-loading of a ship that was at the pier head. The stevedores of the port, who began their protest under the umbrella of their union, the Christian Workers Union (CWU), were not having it.

Government outlines coronavirus plans for Belize
As the COVID-19 (coronavirus) continues to spread across regions of the world and has become a major public health concern for many countries, the Government of Belize rolled out its plan to combat the virus if or when it arrives in Belize. The Belize Ministry of Health’s coronavirus plan was presented yesterday afternoon at a press conference in Belmopan. There, Minister of Health, Pablo Marin (Corozal North), announced that Prime Minister Dean Barrow had approved a budget of almost one million dollars for Belize to combat the coronavirus.

Michael Barrera, 52, murdered on Central American Boulevard
Michael Barrera, 52, a former counselor and youth activist at the CYDP (Conscious Youth Development Program) who was a father of 7 children, stopped at a Chinese fast-food restaurant at the corner of Central American Boulevard and Iguana Street at about 4:30 Tuesday evening and ended up losing his life. Barrera was riding his bicycle on his way to his home on Raccoon Street Extension when he stopped at the restaurant. While Barrera was standing outside the restaurant, a gunman who had failed in his attempt to kill a man he had been pursuing, turned toward Barrera and shot him in the head.

Barber escapes death in his shop on Zericote Street
A barber of Zericote Street, John Crawford, 52, is in a stable condition at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) after he was shot in the cheek. Luckily, the slug exited the side of his neck. The shooting occurred at about 5:15 p.m. yesterday at a barbershop on Zericote Street. An eyewitness said that while he was in the shop awaiting his turn to get his haircut, a man came to the door, pulled out a gun and fired into the shop.

7 traffic accidents over the weekend
On Friday morning, a Ford Escape, being driven on the Old Northern Highway, from Maskall to Sandhill, Belize District, slammed into a lamppost. As a result, the front portion of the SUV, in which Julie Zerimar and her son were traveling, was extensively damaged. Zerimar suffered a broken rib and received abrasions to her body, while her son suffered minor injuries and was said to be okay. According to Zerimar, her son was not driving fast or carelessly, but the curve where the collision occurred is dangerous.

Nephew found guilty of uncle’s murder
In a verdict she delivered today, Madam Justice Marilyn Williams found Sydney Bucknor, Jr., 26, guilty of the murder of his uncle, Michael Bucknor, 61, who was shot and killed at about 8:35 p.m. on June 27, 2013. Sydney Bucknor, Jr., will be sentenced on June 29. Michael Bucknor was walking on Fabers Road when, as he reached near Tony’s Shop, Sydney allegedly shot him in the back of the head.

Editorial: Workers should get shares/ownership of PBL
In a week when Belize is still reeling from the loss of four soldiers in circumstances that are not yet clear, a week of unabated violence in the streets and other tragedies, a week when Belize worries about what kind of budget the government will present in these very difficult times and frets about Covid-19, Belize’s workers must keep their focus so that opportunities don’t pass them by. Labor had been losing ground in Belize for years, but in the 1980’s Belize’s different governments threw off any cover of being cozy with the working class.

BCCI gets serious about governance and integrity in government
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), at a Special General Meeting on March 3, 2020, overwhelmingly passed three resolutions with amendments that will have direct impact on governance and the conduct of elected representatives. The BCCI insists that a Campaign Finance Bill be urgently introduced to the Senate, that a thorough investigation be done to follow up on evidence presented in the United States v Dermen case in Utah, and that the implementation of e-government is expedited so that the performance of essential government departments improves.

Boxing icon Leopold “Poly” Smart passes
Amidst the tension and drama grabbing the news with waterfront workers demonstrating at the port today, we belatedly received the sad news at this sports desk of the passing last week of an icon in the Belize boxing community, brother Leopold “Poly” Smart, whose Smart Boxing Gym has groomed many a young boxer over the past couple decades and more. Himself a long serving waterfront worker, Poly dedicated most of his off-work time to the sport of boxing, conducting daily training sessions for all comers, male and female, at his gym on the third floor of the ITVET building at the corner of St. Thomas and St. Joseph streets in Belize City.

2019’s fourth quarter earnings down 2.8%
Data compiled by the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) for October to December 2019, show that “the total value of goods and services produced within Belize were valued at $669.9 million, down $19 million from $689 million during the fourth quarter of 2018.” The SIB says this is the first fourth quarter decline since 2011, and the institute put most of the blame on the extraordinary dry weather last year. In the primary sector, there was a decline in sales of the three major crops —sugarcane, banana, and citrus —during the period, leading to the primary sector contracting by 6.6% compared to the previous year.

January 2020 imports down 0.6% compared to January imports for 2018
Data from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) shows that Belize imported goods valuing $160.8 million in January 2019, $1 million less than the $161.8 million worth of goods that was imported in January 2018. An increase in world market prices saw imports in the ‘Mineral Fuels and Lubricants’ category go up by $4.2 million during the month, from $18 million in January 2019 to $22.2 million in January 2020; larger imports of handbags, cigarettes, and clothing saw imports for the ‘Commercial Free Zones’ go from $24.8 million in January 2019 to $26.9 million in January 2020; and more purchases of gold jewelry, steel structures, electric lamps and lighting fixtures saw the value of imports in the ‘Other Manufactures’ category increase by $1.6 million.

$2.5 million to throw away gillnets
Local conservation groups in Belize have appeared on the news several times over the past years as part of their rigorous campaign for the immediate and total ban of gillnet fishing in the country. The main participants in this initiative include Oceana and The Coalition of Sustainable Fisheries, an organization of multiple NGO’s who have tasked themselves with educating the public on, and promoting the use of, environmentally safer fishing methods. In December, the Government of Belize did acknowledge the harmful effects of gillnet fishing; however, they argued that the livelihoods of the fishermen would be jeopardized by an abrupt restriction on the use of this equipment.

From The Publisher
To a certain extent, the late Odinga Lumumba, Rufus X, and I “made” the new United Democratic Party (UDP) Leader, Manuel Esquivel, in the streets of Southside Belize City in 1983 and 1984, enabling his ascension to the Prime Ministership in December of 1984. We really had no idea how deeply Esquivel was committed to the major merchant forces in Belize, especially Santiago Castillo, Ltd., and how much he believed in free market capitalism, foreign direct investment, and all the other aspects of what people now call neoliberalism.

Baron Bliss Harbour Regatta on Sunday, March 8
The Baron Bliss Harbour Regatta Committee (BBHRC) announces the 92nd Regatta to be held in the Belize City Harbour seaward of the BTL Park on New Town Barracks on Sunday 8th March 2020. This regatta qualifies for national ranking as approved by the National Authority.

Cricket Corner – Some strong muscles getting weak
Under the auspices of the Belize National Cricket Association, the Bowen and Bowen/Harrison Parks 2020 Cricket Competition is kicking up dust. For an acknowledgement of the past weekend matches, here we go. Bandits gobbled up Easy Does It, 52 to 199. For Bandits, Glenford Banner scored 113, and Orlando Banner took 5 wickets. For Easy Does It, J. Banner scored 28, while Garrett Banner and Kenroy Reynolds took 3 wickets each.

San Antonio Gov’t girls and Wesley Upper boys are Northern Zone primary schools basketball champions
Last Friday, February 28, the Northern Zone primary schools basketball championships were held at the Andres Campos Civic Center in Corozal Town, under the auspices of the National Sports Council. The Belize District champions and sub-champions in both female and male joined the top two primary schools from Corozal in a simple knockout format.

Four fallen heroes
An entire nation has been in mourning at the confirmation that four soldiers of the Belize Defence Force died in a helicopter “crash” on the 27th of February, 2020. Maj. Adran Ramirez; Maj. Radford Baizar; Cpl. Reynaldo Choco; and Cpl. Yassir Mendez met their tragic deaths in the shallow, cold waters of Western Lagoon off the Coastal Road, in the Belize District. The saga of what resulted in the announcement of their untimely death, more than twenty-four hours after their passing, is one for which the final script is yet to be written.

Dean Barrow mek Troy Gabb luk smart
It is clear to anyone who doesn’t have blinders on that Mr. Troy Gabb is an unabashed Ashcrofite. Brother Rufus X said, many years ago, that Dean Barrow was also an Ashcrofite. If Barrow is an Ashcrofite, and Gabb is an Ashcrofite, it follows that Gabb should not be throwing barbs Barrow’s way. Hmm, let’s see, the friend of my hero should be my, hmm, hmm … there’s a string and a handler somewhere in this story, but let’s confine ourselves to the currents on the surface and stay out of trouble.

Belize and the world in early March 2020
Wow!! Today is very interesting to be alive. In Belize, our economy has tanked: it’s in a recession – agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism are all in retreat. The ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) is in a mess. No leader to replace outgoing PM Barrow, with about 7 of 19 members of the House of Representatives threating to resign if Hon. Patrick Faber is made the new Leader of the UDP. The UDP, the only political party in Belize’s history, to win 3 general elections back-to back-to back since Independence, is now looking to disintegrate before our very eyes. Meanwhile, the Opposition party, the People’s United Party (PUP) recently held a massive demonstration of over 10,000 against the UDP government. The last time the PUP had this much support in the streets was in 1995.

Belizean Legends Shining Stars! Brown Man! Belizean Transport Made Simple!
The click-clack sound of the mule’s hooves fills the fresh early morning air on the sunny city streets of Belize City during the hustle and bustle of the 1960s and 70s Belizean daily life. From Monday to Saturday of the week, the Belizean mules and carts driven by hard working Belizean men like the legendary “Brown Man”, Mr. Ramsey, and others, hold their lanes in the crowded Albert Street traffic, delivering goods and services to the merchants of Belize City, the nation’s commercial center and once its capital before the coming of Hurricane Hattie.

First — increase, multiply
Christian preachers who make commentary on serious, timely secular issues should be very circumspect and do so only after careful study of relevant facts and documents. If legislation is involved, even legal consultation should be sought, for when a preacher speaks, he is understood to be doing so with the authority of centuries of a respected moral tradition. Furthermore, a clergyman should seek to avoid seeming sentimental and to be promoting false mercy and compassion, because law is about what is right and just.

BEL could do with a little heart
Dear Editor, I am one that is glad that our government had the courage to reacquire our essential services: water, electricity, and telephone. We might have paid a wee bit but the end result is that they are all owned and managed by Belizeans, and I dare say competently so. Now, my main point for penning this article is that we, in Belize, practice a raw type of capitalism that is practiced by some countries, and I am hoping it will get to the conscience of the CEO and Board of Directors of BEL, all of whom are enjoying “the good life”, that we need to have a little more heart in our business practices.

“No evidence of fraud” in Morales poll victory, say US researchers
A row over the legitimacy of Bolivia’s longest-serving leader, Evo Morales, has been reignited after researchers in the US questioned allegations that fraud was used to help the country’s leader of 14 years win the last election. Writing in the Washington Post, the researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s election data and science lab have entered what has become a fraught debate about Morales’s legacy and whether he was forced to step down due to an attempt to manipulate the vote or, rather, pushed out as part of a military coup.

Two men shot in Belize City
There are reports that two men were shot tonight on Central American Boulevard. One of the victims is hospitalized and the other reportedly succumbed, however that has not yet been confirmed.

LOVE FM

English football coach in Belize
A football coach from England is in Belize hosting a football clinic for youths in Western Belize. Our Cayo correspondent Fem Cruz has that story.

Women and men speak about methods to tackle domestic violence in Belize
Wingspan Seminar along with No More Breaking hearts held a domestic violence seminar with men and women in Belize. The purpose is to bring together representatives from No More Broken Hearts and other local organizations to discuss best practices and common challenges they face as it relates to domestic violence.

Opposition leaders says no to rushing the Validation Bill
The Validation Bill went through its three readings yesterday in the Sitting of the House which concluded at around ten o’clock last night. As a correction to our story yesterday, the Validation Bill has only to do with the six contracts that were not tabled in the House of Representatives within the 30 days as is required by Section 19 Subsection 6 of the Substantive Laws of Belize.

PUP’s No confidence motion fails in the House of Representatives
The Budget Reading at the House of Representatives concluded last night at around ten o’clock. The Parliamentarians looked at not only the proposed budget but also at several Bills and Papers taken before the House.

Prime Minister says no new taxes proposed in the new fiscal year
Belize’s new fiscal year starts on April 1. For this year the Barrow administration has estimated that there will be a total expenditure in the country of one point three-six-two billion dollars. For revenues and grants, the Government estimates that for the new fiscal year it would amount to one point two-three-nine billion dollars.

Major Radford Baizar receives full military send off
Major Radford Baizar was laid to rest this afternoon with full military honors. Baizar is one of the four men who were killed in a helicopter crash on Thursday, February 27.

At what cost ?
Since the strike began with the stevedores, there have been trickling effects on other parties including the Port of Belize and other shipping companies. Love News spoke to Arturo Vasquez and he explained the domino effect that the strike has caused leaving the companies crippled.

MOU signed by the PBL
Though progress has been had between Port of Belize Limited (PBL) and the Christian Workers Union(CWU) following a five-day strike, members of the Belize National Teacher’s Union and of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Belize Peace movement showed up in full support for the CWU at the Port.

Are Santa Cruz villagers residing or squatting?
Yesterday, we showed you a group of villagers gathered outside the National Assembly to protest the leasing of land in Santa Cruz Village, Stann Creek District. The leases were reportedly granted by the Ministry of Natural Resources to Belize Wind Energy Limited.

Catholic Church puts a halt on mass practices as precautions of COVID-19
The Catholic Churches in Belize are implementing a plan that seeks to lessen the potential spread of COVID-19. A release from the Roman Catholic Chancery Office went into circulation on Wednesday cautioning church members to stay at home if they are experiencing symptoms of illness.

Gasoline Increases By 50 Cents
The Ministry of Finance announced that as of midnight, the pump price for regular gasoline will increase by 50 cents from $9.73 to $ 10.23 per gallon.

KHMH Union Activates With Demands And A Threat Of Possible Strike Action
Just as one union has managed to calm the plight of the stevedores, there is another fire ignited, this time with the KHMHA Workers’ Union. A release was sent out today by the union, expressing...

Manatee Carcass Found With Cut Wounds
Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI) stated yesterday that the carcass of an Antillean manatee was reportedly found dead on Tuesday by Friend of Swallow Caye.

Airwing Pilot Laid To Rest
One week after a BDF helicopter crashed into the Gales Point Lagoon in the Stann Creek District, three of the four soldiers who perished have been laid to rest. Major Adran Ramirez’s funeral service took...

Day Three And The Stevedores Continue To Protest
It has been 57 hours and counting since the Stevedores at the Port of Belize began protesting. Today, they were joined by truckers and other union members. The truckers reportedly joined in when they arrived...

No Confirmed Cases Of COVID-19 In Belize
Amid the many rumors circulating in the country on the coronavirus, the Ministry of Health has issued a release. The Ministry of Health notes that there are no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Belize

Breaking Belize News

Friday night murder in Belize City
Reports reaching BBN is that two (2) persons were shot earlier tonight on Central American […]

Sister unions, chamber meet to develop strategic actions to address issues relating to governance in Belize
The Belize Chamber of Commerce (BCCI) says that as a result of the appalling circumstances […]

Galen Eagles participate in La Ruta Maya Belize River challenge
The Galen Eagles team took off this morning in the annual La Ruta Maya Belize […]

Teen victim in Bullet Tree hit-and-run crash dies
Earlier this week, BBN reported of a victim of a hit and run accident in […]

Regular gas goes up by 50 cents
The Ministry of Finance today announced that on March 7th, 2020, the pump price for […]

The coronavirus (COVID-19) in perspective
Belize has begun to see cancellations for hotels associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) despite not […]

Last of “Airwing Four” to be laid to rest today
Today Belize Defence Force Major Radford Baizar, the last of those killed in a helicopter […]

Blogs

Happiness is a day sailing with Xsite Belize
From sunset sails to half-day and full-day adventures to over-night trips for several days of island hopping, there are a variety of options. On Ambergris Caye, Xsite Belize offers them all, served with the warm hospitality and charm of a small, family-owned and operated business. Our day on the Miss Faith catamaran begins at their dock in downtown San Pedro. Here we are greeted by Captain (and co-owner) Nef, first-mate and guide Caesar, Caesar Jr. and Joshua. As we get situated on the boat, Caesar, a super friendly real deal fisherman from the village of Sarteneja, gives us a briefing on what the day entails before we launch.

5 Must Eat Foods in Belize
Traveling to a new and foreign country might entail trying and eating foods that are different from what you are used to. But, take a chance and open your eyes and taste buds to a whole new range of authentic flavor profiles and foods. Here are the 5 Belizean food favorites that are a must eat when visiting Belize: Rice and Beans, Chimole or ‘Black Dinna,’ Escabeche, Tamales, & Cochinita Pibil.

A Growing Demand For Coconut Products In Belize
With the ever-growing demand for Coconut and all its by-products on the global market, Coconut farming in Belize is growing steadily, and it can only get better. It could be said that coconuts are ‘trending’: coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut water, dried, in candy, as a beauty booster, in cooking and in cocktails. In Belize, the production has been developing and continues to grow. The very mention of the Caribbean immediately conjures images of swaying palms.

Belize: A Solo Travel Destination
Wondering if Belize is a great destination for traveling solo? The answer is yes! In this small country, you will find countless amazing adventures and friendly welcomes. There are endless opportunities to create lifelong memories. Whether you are looking to relax, meet new people, go on amazing adventures Belize has it all.

What to Do in Hopkins, Belize
Over the years, this charming and cultural beachside village of Hopkins has been a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. It is not a surprise since it has so much to offer: culture, delicious food, friendly locals, some of the best resorts, and extremely fun tours. So, if you’re planning a trip to Belize make sure to include Hopkins as one of your places to visit (even if it’s just for one day). Here is a list of things you can do at Hopkins.

Corozal vs. Orange Walk: Which Belize Destination Is Right For You?
Are you looking for a Belize destination that’s not on an island or a beach? You may have heard about Corozal and Orange Walk as good alternatives if you want to spend your time inland. Which one is a better choice for you? With a location just over the Mexican border, Belize’s most northern district has a strong Mexican influence. You’re likely to hear Spanish spoken as often as you hear English in the city. Orange Walk is rich in history and culture. Many Belizeans consider it the best place to eat street tacos in the whole country. The district is home to important Maya ruins such as La Milpa and Lamanai.

International Sources

Powerful earthquake strikes between Cuba and Jamaica, felt in Miami
A large earthquake struck in the Caribbean Sea between Cuba and Jamaica on Tuesday — and prompted buildings as far-off as Miami to shake, prompting a number of evacuations. The 7.7 magnitude quake hit 86 miles northwest of Montego Bay, Jamaica, and 87 miles southwest of Niquera, Cuba at 2:10 p.m., the US Geological Survey stated. There was no quick phrase on casualties or main harm. Tremors had been felt greater than 500 miles in Aventura, north of Miami. Movies taken inside a high-rise in Aventura confirmed blinds swaying.

Videos

March 6, 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

Activities at Cayo Rosario paused after irregularities in building permit are discovered
Development activities at Cayo Rosario, a small island within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve Zone IV on the northwest coast of Ambergris Caye once again has islanders concerned. A live feed on social media on Wednesday, March 4th showed what appeared to be a barge transporting heavy machinery to the small island. A large pile of rock material could also be observed on the barge, which is allegedly being used for construction. Information provided to The San Pedro Sun is that the developer has a permit to build a temporary bulkhead, and that material for its development is being barged, rather than extracted from the seabed.

Caye Caulker’s Julian Singh wins 26th Annual Coca Cola Spelling Bee Zone Eliminations
Julian Singh from La Isla Cariñosa Academy in Caye Caulker won first place at the 26th annual Coca-Cola Spelling Bee Zone Eliminations on Monday, March 2nd. The event was held at the San Pedro Lion’s Den and started shortly after 9 AM. It saw the participation of six primary schools from Ambergris Caye (Holy Cross Anglican School, Isla Bonita Elementary School, New Horizon SDA, San Pedro Roman Catholic School, The Island Academy, and Ambergris Caye Elementary School) and two from Caye Caulker (La Isla Carinosa Academy and Caye Caulker Elementary).

Projects Abroad Belize holds health fair and mobile clinics
On February 28th, Projects Abroad Belize volunteers, in collaboration with other agencies, hosted a community health fair at the Central Park in San Pedro Town. Projects Abroad is an organization based in England that has been in operation since 1992. Their focus is on connecting international volunteers with projects based on their field of interest. Their projects range from childcare, conservation, youth development, women’s empowerment, international development, and more. The current Belize group is focused on healthcare.

Air Tragedy: Belize loses four BDF airmen; investigation ongoing
An investigation is underway to find answers as to what brought down a U1-H1 helicopter attached to the Belize Defence Force’s (BDF) Air Wing sometime on Thursday, February 27th. The helicopter crashed in the Western Lagoon, near Gales Point, Manatee, Belize District, killing its crew of four highly decorated BDF officers. Pilots, Commanding Officer of the Air Wing, Major Adran Ramirez, Deputy Air Wing Commanding Officer, Major Radford Baizar and Corporals Yassir Mendez and Reinaldo Choco reportedly left base near Belize City around 4AM to provide air support to ground forces (BDF and Police) in the interception of a drug plane that landed in the area of Gales Point, Manatee on a makeshift airstrip.

Child Stimulation Month opens with a grand parade
A festive parade through the main streets of San Pedro Town signaled the start of Child Stimulation Month on Monday, March 2nd. Under the theme: “Hug me, Listen to me, Read with me, Help me Grow!” the island’s preschoolers, along with their teachers and parent(s)/guardian(s), commemorated the significance of early childhood education. Accompanying the preschoolers were the San Pedro Roman Catholic School’s marching band, New Horizon SDA’s newly formed marching band, La Isla Bonita’s marching band, representatives from Rickilee Rapid Response, the Traffic department, and the Police department.

Ambergris Today

Belize Receives Presidency Of CODICADER
The National Sports Council, Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture, hosted the first annual meeting of the CODICADER Executive Committee where Costa Rica handed over the Presidency of CODICADER to Belize on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. Minister of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture, Hon. Patrick Faber was present to receive this honor. Representatives from Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador were present at the ceremony.

Various Belizean Sources

Influential Women on Caye Caulker: Kimberly Cuthkelvin Rodriguez
Today we feature a rock star in the health area, someone very well known to the island. Nurse Kimberly Cuthkelvin Rodriguez is a rural health and midwife nurse living on Caye Caulker, serving so many island women with utmost grace, love, professionalism and passion. She is also an entrepreneur, who owns her own home nurse job in Belize City (ABC Enterprise). Although she works full time running the Caye Caulker Health Clinic, she still finds time to volunteer in the community and with NEMO! She is a strong woman, a certified Search and Rescue member through Red Cross training and an inspiration to all.

CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL AND PROCESSION IN COROZAL
An expression of love and care was shown Wednesday evening by a small group of residents from Corozal, as they led a CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL AND PROCESSION in honour of our befallen Corozal brother and military ex-serviceman, Major Adran "RAM" Ramirez. Our country and particularly, Corozal has lost a great human being and soul. Funeral services were Thursday at St. Paul's by the Sea Anglican Church at 10:00 a.m. Rest in Peace Lion - Rest in Peace Adran "RAM" Ramirez - We continue to pray for his family.

Census of Scarlet Macaws
A census to document the population of scarlet macaws was conducted on the eastern Maya Mountains with Red Bank, Lagarto, San Pablo and Roseville being the targeted communities. FCD thanks the volunteers from Red Bank that made this effort possible. Macaws also face several challenges there for their survival, primarily the removal of their feeding habitat.

COVID 19 UPDATE by the Office of Director of Health Services
We can confirm that we currently don't have ANY suspect COVID-19 cases in Belize. We also have to underscore that we are following the development of 4 confirmed cases of measles in Mexico City in patients that were apparently not vaccinated.

Celebration of the life of Major Adran Ramirez
Major Adran Ramirez was one of our country's best. His dedication, contribution & service to the Belize Defence Force & his country, was amazingly outstanding. The out pour of support and love from our Corozal community was quite visible today, as school children and residents lined up our streets to pay their last respect to our befallen brother. Today, our Corozal community joined the Belize Defence Force, Belize Police Department, COMPOL Chester Williams, all relative and friends to bid farewell to Major Adran "RAM" Ramirez, as he was laid to rest in everlasting peace.

Chunox St. Viator High School adopts decorated trash bin project
Art work by Chuy Carillo from Sarteneja, Village. Keep Corozal Safe & Clean.

Caye Rosario Protest
As of 4.49pm the fly guides of Ambergris Caye, are protesting the construction that has begun on Rosary Caye!!!!! Fisherfolk, stake holders, conservationists, environmentalists and those advocating for responsible, sustainable development gathered at Cayo Rosario to protest it's pending development with in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve.

The Pre-Kickoff party for La Ruta Maya is all set up
Thursday night prebash of La Ruta Maya on the banks of the Macal River inviting everyone to come out and enjoy music food and drinks.

2020 Belize International Jazz Festival
The dates for the 2020 Belize International Jazz Festival are set. June 18th through the 21st.

FCD Environmental Youth Group Kids Mentorship Program
FCD Environmental Youth Group will be having its kids Mentorship Program which will be taking place at Sam’s Community park starting this Saturday March 7, 2020. A total of 12 boys and 12 girls will be participating in the FCD EYG Kids Mentorship Program where with the aim for the to become Environmental Agents of Change by learning about Nature, Wildlife, our watersheds, Planet Earth and how we can make a change in our communities. These are just a few of the topics they will be learning about throughout a series of six sessions. This is possible through the support of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, FCD and FCD Environmental Youth Group.

2020 La Ruta Maya
This morning at 7:00am is the start of the 2020 La Ruta Maya.

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
Little Women, Jumanji, Spenser Confidential, Spies in Disguise.

Maya: Hidden World's Revealed opens at the Connecticut Science Center!
Curated by the Science Museum of Minnesota the exhibit features over 100 objects from Belize. National Institute of Culture and History staff are present for the installation and the soft opening!

Inviting all tour guides, tour operators, hotel owners, divemasters, fishermen and the general public to a worskshop on reef health and the stony coral tissue loss disease. Venue: San Pedro High School Laguna Drive San Pedro Ambergris Caye, Belize Date: March 18, 2020 Time: 6:30 PM - 8 PM

2020 Benefactors and National Heroes Ceremony
The 2020 ceremony will be held at the Baron Bliss Lighthouse at 7:40 AM on Monday 9th March. The Ceremony is to honor and give thanks for the life and contributions of Belize’s National Heroes: George Cadle Price and Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson and Benefactor Baron Victor Bliss. Wreaths will be placed at the tomb of Baron Bliss as well as for Price and Goldson. Members of the uniformed elements of Miltary will be in attendance, including girl guides, boy scouts, and brownies. The ceremony starts at 7:40 a.m. sharp and will include tributes to Price, Goldson, and Bliss. The general public is invited to attend.

Channel 7

PUP Walk Out On Budget Presentation
Today was budget day in Belmopan, the most important date on the parliamentary calendar.  That's when the revenue and appropriations bill for the coming fiscal year is tabled to authorise all government spending.  And while the house business is serious - the PUP wasn't playing one bit.  The opposition had a spring in its step after a massive protest 11 days ago.  Sensing the Barrow Administration was on the ropes, they seemed to have come into the house, fixing for a fight, or a knockout punch.  Right off the bat, the leader of the opposition tried to stop the PM form even reading the budget. 

Briceno Explains Walkout
So, the opposition walked out on the budget - but they didn't walk out for the day - after all, they had a no confidence motion tabled for the afternoon session.   So, the party went into the members room and then decided to come out to the front to speak to a handful of protestors from Santa Cruz village in Stann Creek West.   We asked the Opposition Leader about the walkout: Hon. John Briceno - Leader of the Opposition: "Well we only walked away from the presentation of the budget because we believe that one; the Prime Minister is no longer the leader of the UDP and by virtue of that, he should no longer be the Prime Minister..." Jules Vasquez

PM's Last Budget: "Making Every Dollar Count"
But, of course, even without the presence of the opposition the budget was presented.  And, for the first time in years, the Prime Minister had a full roster of representatives on his side of the house - including the long absent Gaspar Vega.  More on the political version of musical chairs later, but first to the main business of the day, the Budget Presentation.  Jules Vasquez has the story: Stingily titled, "Making Every dollar count", the Prime Minister made it clear though that - because of an expected drought and the arrival of the corona virus, circumstances have forced him to break every commitment he made on the debt to GDP ratio and budgetary constraints:

Hon. Julius Throws A Fit
The Budget will be debated open March 25 and 26th.   And while that was the main business of the day, today's meeting was full of business.  Government had to bring a Contracts Validation Bill, basically to retroactively approve major works contracts that weren't taken to the house before singing.  The Leader of the Opposition wrote to the funders in the UK and the Caribbean Development bank saying the loans for the mega projects had not gotten house approval.  So today a bill was brought to seek retroactive approval, which threw the member for Cayo South into a fit - and he went off.  Here's what happened:

PM Says Et Tu Johnny?
And out went on like that for a while, with no less than 7 members of the opposition weighing in forcefully on the Government Contract Validation Bill.  The Prime Minister gave a 25 minute response - and here are some clips: Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister: "Your side never ever laid any contract before the national assembly? Madam Speaker I'm not saying that in fact that excuses any omission on our part but what it does is to expose the hypocrisy. You come here and you bewail and you bemoan the fact that there was an omission without ever conceding that it was an omission of which you are guilty, if that's the word you want to use, of which you are guilty from time in memorial..."

Funeral For A Major
This afternoon in Corozal Town, a full military funeral was held for BDF Major Adran Ramirez.  He's one of the 2 pilots manning the helicopter that was providing air support for the BDF and police teams which intercepted that fully-loaded narco-jet that was intercepted last Thursday morning. The BDF's U1H1 Helicopter that Ramirez and his crew members were in went down in the Western Lagoon - but no one realised they were gone until 16 hours later, and the helicopter with the four bodies were found the following day.  Major Adran Ramirez was the third soldier laid to rest this week, and 7News was there for the ceremony.

Airwing Four Remembered At House
And, today's House Meeting started with a moment of silence and a remembrance for the Airwing 4.  Here's the Prime Minister and the Leader Of The Opposition: Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister: "They in fact are to be lauded and hymned and praised because truly it is said that there can be no greater sacrifice than that a man or woman should lay down his or her life for the sake of their country. We shall continue to mourn them; we shall cherish and treasure their memory always. For, Madam Speaker, we are most conscious of the fact that these are our heroes, not just for today, not just for tomorrow but for always."

No Solution At Port: CWU Gives Port Notice
The Christian Worker's Union is giving the Port of Belize 21 days notice.  A press release this evening said quote: "Stevedores will be moving from their protest to declaring the twenty-one-day' notice of intent to strike."  This would have meant their return to work in the interim but the CWU President Mose Hyde says not so fast.  When we spoke to him at 3:30 this afternoon, he accused the Port of negotiating in bad faith:

PBL's Response
And this afternoon at about 4:00, after the CWU's impromptu press conference, there was a response from the Port of Belize. Union President Mose Hyde read it aloud for media personnel to hear.  Hyde says he deems the response condescending, and disrespectful.  Due to time constraints we were unable to get a comment from the Port this evening, but will seek one tomorrow.

COVID-19 Surely Coming, But Not Here Yet
You may be anxious about the ever-looming threat of COVID 19. But tonight, you can rest a little ways for the time being; we can tell you that the virus has not been confirmed in Belize.  And the Ministry of Health says that while persons have been placed in precautionary isolation they've shown no signs or symptoms.

The Importance OF Handwashing
Of course, as you surely know by now, washing your hands is a major means of  stopping the spread of COVID-19.   A multi-sectoral meeting was held at the Radisson this morning, its purpose, to establish standard operating procedures for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Initiatives for Belize.  And as members of the task force came together to sign a commitment mural promoting good hygiene in schools throughout the country we got to find out a bit more about all the moving parts on the frontlines of this latest public health crisis:

Homeless in San Joaquin
A fire in Corozal's San Joaquin village yesterday afternoon has left one woman homeless. That's after her wooden house burned to the ground. 

A Recap of City Shootings
Last night we showed you Commissioner of Police Chester William's response to the spate of violence that took place in Belize City on Tuesday evening.

Michael Barrera Murder Not Retaliation
As we've told you It was only an hour and a half later that 52-year-old Micheal Barrera, a youth counselor and gang mediator, met an untimely death on Central American boulevard.

The Killing Of Keith Came Suddenly to Cops
And 15 minutes later, the evening's final shooting this one claimed the life of 46-year-old Keith Courtenay. Courtenay was by all accounts a hardworking family man and he proved it in his last moments shielding his 6-year-old grandson from the bullets that ultimately took his life. Superintendent Cowo says that police were called directly from Barrera's murder scene to what would become Courtenay's deathbed: 

The Santa Cruz Land Dispute
Earlier on in the news, we showed you all the commotion inside the House of Representatives at today's budget presentation. Well, while the representatives were feuding about official House business, a small number of residents from the Stann Creek West Villages of Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Roman was protesting outside against the Government. Their issue is a lease approval that the Ministry of Natural Resources has granted to the company, Belize Wind Energy Limited. That 2019 lease allows the private company to develop almost 2000 acres of land which is near to the Santa Cruz Village.

Ivan Says They Are Squatters
We also got an opportunity to speak with Ferguson's political opponent in Stann Creek West about the dispute. Ivan Williams is the UDP standard bearer for that division, and he told us that after studying this issue himself, he has come to learn that the Santa Cruz villagers are actually squatting. Here's how he explained why: Ivan Williams - UDP Standard Bearer, Stann Creek West: "What I learnt from the Ministry of Lands they are addressing it in terms of identifying those people who were squatting on it or had farming on it and the whole idea was to make some adjustments..."

Decoding The UDP's Political Musical Chairs
And, while that was outside the house, back inside, Jules Vasquez was keeping a close eye on the musical chairs being played on the UDP side.  Here's what he saw: It was a rare showing for all 19 UDP representatives, but there were some shuffling in the line-up. Edmond Castro is now in the front row, while John Saldivar and Gaspar Vega are behind the Prime Minister in the back bench.

Finnegan Is With Stevedores
And, back outside the house, UDP Party Whip Michael Finnegan wanted to talk about the striking stevedores - many of whom are his constituents.:

Channel 5

Changes in Seating Arrangement on Government Side in the House
The House was convened this morning for the budget presentation for the new fiscal year that starts on April first, 2020. It was the Prime Minister’s final budget presentation, but [...]

Opposition Calls for Debate on No-Confidence Motion
A motion for a vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Dean Barrow and his government prompted a rowdy start to this morning’s Special Sitting of the House of Representatives. The [...]

PM Barrow Objects to Debate Prior to Budget Presentation
Today’s sitting was set aside to present the budget for the new financial year 2020. And, as the Prime Minister would say, it was his swan song as Minister of [...]

“Tek Yoh Simple Pill” – Barrow to Briceño
The Opposition was quick and nimble on its feet today. Leader of the Opposition, John Briceño pointed out that because of the recent leadership election in the U.D.P., Prime Minister [...]

Opposition Walks Out Before Budget Presentation
Amid the back and forth over whether the no-confidence motion should have been debated prior to the presentation of the 2020 Budget, the Opposition decided that it would walk out [...]

Johnny B Calls Budget Presentation a Mockery
We caught up with Opposition Leader John Briceño outside of the Assembly Building following the walkout.  While he remained steadfast that the motion of no-confidence should have been debated as [...]

“I would have been ashamed to show my face…” – Johnny B on Gapi Vega
The issue of the one point five billion dollars in government expenditure that has been deemed to be illegal by the Supreme Court is also a sticking point for the [...]

B.D.F. Pilot Laid to Rest in his Hometown
We take a break from the House and head to Corozal Town where the third military funeral took place for this week. Hundreds of students and residents lined the streets [...]

Government Gets Past First Reading of Controversial Validation Bill
Of the three bills that were introduced in the House today, the Government Contracts (Validation) Bill 2020 was the most controversial.  The Barrow administration sought and successfully tabled the first [...]

Debate on Motion of No-Confidence Runs Long and Loud
Late this afternoon, the People’s United Party proceeded to table its vote of no-confidence which was succeeded by a spirited debate from both sides of the floor.  While Opposition Leader [...]

Motion of No-Confidence Batted Down by Parliament
This last item from the House in tonight’s newscast….From a legal perspective, former Attorney General and Pickstock Area Representative Wilfred Elrington weighed in on the conventional process of moving a [...]

Several Persons Detained for Michael Barrera’s Murder
Police say that they have several persons detained in connection with the fatal shooting of Michael Barrera. The social worker was shot dead on Tuesday evening as he waited to [...]

Was Keith Courtenay’s Murder Gang-Related?
Keith Courtenay was shot multiple times just a few feet from his mother’s door on Tuesday evening. Courtenay reportedly shielded his grandson with his body and took as many as [...]

Was Gregory Martinez’s Murder a Retaliation?
On Monday afternoon, Gregory Martinez tried to get away from his killer, but he was shot dead inside a dollar van.  The shots also resulted in injuries to a couple [...]

A Target on the Barber’s Back?
Police say that John Crawford was shot a few weeks ago and a second attempt was made on his life on Tuesday afternoon sometime around four. The barber was inside [...]

Fire Destroys Home in San Joaquin, Corozal
There was a fire on Wednesday afternoon in San Joaquin Village, Corozal. The fire destroyed a wooden house occupied by Maria Aban. Today, cops said that no one was at [...]

Belize Still Free of COVID-19
As COVID-19 makes its way across borders and into countries, here in Belize, the Ministry of Health continues to monitor the situation. There are no confirmed cases of the virus [...]

CWU Meets; Commitments Made
All this week we’ve been reporting on the stevedores’ industrial action. On Wednesday night, it appeared that some progress was made.  That’s because the C.W.U. met with the Port of [...]

CWU Says They Made Good on Commitments, but P.B.L. Didn’t
As a part of the commitments, the C.W.U. decided to go back to work on Wednesday night, with the expectation that today the P.B.L. should have sent them a letter [...]

Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Still Affecting the Caribbean
Climate change, ocean acidification, marine pollution and irresponsible fishing are considered very real threats affecting the region. Recently, G.O.B. declared gillnets a destructive fishing gear even though OCEANA, among other [...]

Teacher Andrea Cal of Midway Government Preschool Wins National Storytelling Competition
The month of March is being celebrated as Child Stimulation Month under the theme, “Hug Me, Listen to Me, Read with Me, Help Me Grow.” Across the country, there are [...]

Healthy Living: Testing for COVID-19 Done in Belize
The number of coronavirus cases has tripled as the virus grows rapidly across the world. There are no confirmed cases in Belize, but the Ministry of Health has been adopting [...]

The Reporter

Sparks Fly At Today’s House Of Representative Sitting
In light of the recent scandals that have befell the U.D.P, many Belizeans had a hunch that today’s sitting at the House Of Representatives in Belmopan would be more than interesting, and the P.U.P came out swinging and in some instances made accusations that caused some members to loose their cool.

Ministry Of Health Deny More Unfounded Rumors
The ntr f lth went on record to deny a rumr f a  f vd-19 n n gn but did confirm that there is a person who is in lf ltn.

Corona-Virus May Spread On Money, The Item We All Exchange The Most
The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised people to wash their hands and stop using cash if possible as the paper bills may help spread CoronaVirus.

LOVE FM

Heated exchanges in the House of Representatives
The Sitting of the House got underway this morning at ten o’clock. The meeting opened with the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House and the Leader of the Opposition expressing condolences to the families of the four fallen soldiers followed by a moment of silence for the men.

80 hour protest by the Stevedores
It has now been 80 hours and counting since the Stevedores at the Port of Belize (PBL) began protesting. While there has been a verbal agreement between the Christian Workers Union(CWU) and the Port of Belize, no written agreement has been put into play to solidify the queries.

Prime Minister reads his final national budget
Parliamentarians are currently in Belmopan where the Budget Reading for the fiscal year 2020/2021 is underway. Prime Minister Dean Barrow has presented a one point three-six billion dollar budget with the commitment of new taxes.

Southern villagers protest outside of National Assembly
A Protest is ongoing at the steps of the National Assembly by villagers of Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Roman in the south. We rejoin our Cayo Correspondent, Fem Cruz for the details.

Illegally parked
A taxi driver has gone on record trying to right his wrongs and accusing the Belize City Council of interfering with his livelihood. 59-year-old Gerald Lewis and two of his sons have taken up a portion of North Front Street near Spoonaz Café as their taxi base.

Sanjay Lino remanded to prison
26-year-old Sanjay Lino, was arraigned in court today on a single charge of keeping unlicensed ammunition and was remanded to the Belize Central Prison.

WASH Initiative
A draft for the standard operating procedure to obtain clean water, namely the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiative has been formulated.

Haldwin Castillo remanded to prison
19-year-old Haldwin Castillo appeared in court today for keeping unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Castillo changed his not guilty plea to guilty after he reviewed the overwhelming evidence the crown had against him.

Teenager involved in road traffic incident
A teenager is hospitalized after a hit and run incident last night in Belmopan. Our Cayo Correspondent Fem Cruz has that story.

March 5 is the deadline says NTUCB
The Budget Reading is set for tomorrow in Belmopan. Tomorrow also marks the first deadline from the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) as it relates to the six demands they made in February. NTUCB’s President Marvin Mora spoke briefly to the media on this deadline.

Minister of National Security says a preliminary report due today
A preliminary report on the investigation into the deaths of the four BDF soldiers is due today. It is yet to be confirmed if the report was presented to the high ranking officials in the Ministry of National Security. Love News did speak to the Minister of National Security, Michael Peyrefitte, this morning who spoke of the report.

Police Commissioner says suspected drug plane did not land in Belize
Last night there were reports of a suspected narco plane flying low over the area of Gardenia Village, Belize District. According to the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams did receive the report and the department was ready to intercept it.

Breaking Belize News

Government survives no confidence vote 18-11 after all day debate
The Government of Belize has, for now, retained the confidence of the House of Representatives […]

Gaspar Vega breaks appearance duck in House of Representatives
Area Representative of Orange Walk North, Gaspar Vega, appeared at the House of Representatives today, […]

Mesopotamia’s Finnegan comes out for stevedores
Long-standing United Democratic Party (UDP) area representative for Mesopotamia, Michael Finnegan, today added his voice […]

Belmopan CitCo denies approving gas station near school
The Belmopan City Council said it never offered its approval of a gas station to […]

BMDC hosts beekeeping harvest season
The Belize Marketing and Development Corporation (BMDC) hosted its annual beekeeping harvest season meeting with […]

Opposition excoriates Government Contracts (Validation) Bill
In terms of occasionally skirting the Standing Orders, members of the Opposition have roundly condemned […]

Ministry of Health says no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Belize
The Ministry of Health issued a statement confirming that there are no confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) […]

Corporal Reynaldo Choco laid to rest
Belize Defense Force (BDF) Corporal Reynaldo Choco, one of four officers that lost their lives […]

NTUCB told to ‘wait’ on resource allocation for Integrity Commission
Prime Minister Dean Barrow in moving the first reading of the amended Prevention of Corruption […]

World Health Organization warns that handling money may help spread the coronavirus
The World Health Organization (WHO) told US media on Tuesday that cash may help spread […]

Opposition walks out of house protesting PM’s statement that Briceno did not take his ‘simple pills’
The members of the Opposition People’s United Party have left the National Assembly after leader […]

House remembers fallen servicemen
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Laura Longsworth, solemnly opened today’s meeting with a remembrance […]

Grand Spanish Lookout expo happening this weekend
The annual Spanish Lookout expo is being held this weekend in Spanish Lookout. The expo […]

Opposition seeks sacking of Government for unlawful spending and corruption
The Opposition’s motion of no confidence in the Government, to be presented by its leader […]

Government lays Coastal, Caracol Road contracts before House; asks to re-appoint Ombudsman
As part of the papers to be laid on the table of the House of […]

Three Cayo cops charged for extortion; out on bail
Three officers attached to the San Ignacio police formation were charged on Friday for extortion. […]

National Evangelical Association supports NTUCB’s points of good governance
The National Evangelical Association of Belize (NEAB) issued a statement saying that it stands in […]

House meets today for the 2020/2021 Budget Presentation
Prime Minister Dean Barrow, who also acts as Minister of Finance, is expected to present […]

Blogs

SAN PEDRO, BELIZE TRAVEL GUIDE – MAHOGANY BAY RESORT
Hope you are doing well! Today I am sharing my full travel guide to San Pedro, Belize. It was one of our favorite family trips and exceeded our expectations. We had the opportunity to stay at Mahogany Bay Resort one of the most beautiful resorts on the island. We also got to snorkel the amazing Belize Barrier Reef. It was one of the most amazing experiences with my family. We stayed at the Mahogany Bay Resort which is a beautiful new resort is located on the stunning Caribbean island of Ambergris Caye, Belize, and is just minutes away from the world’s best diving and snorkeling along the Belize Barrier Reef.

International Sources

New GEF US-dollarfunded initiative gets underway in Caribbean
A new US$46 million initiative to promote blue economic priorities, in support of the sustainable use and conservation of the region's vast and diverse marine ecosystems and resources, gets underway in the Caribbean. The project which is an initiative of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in partnership with the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) is a four-year project funded by the GEF with a grant of US$6.2 million and co-financing of US$40.1 million.

COVID 19 Will Pass – The Economic Impact Could Be Longer Lasting On The Caribbean
The growing threat of a COVID-19 global pandemic will be disruptive for citizens and visitors alike, but as with all similar events it will pass. Despite this, misinformation continues to swirl. There are now fours cases of the Corona Virus (COVID-19) reported in the Caribbean. But amplified by social media and the willingness of some to ignore the facts provided by public health experts and medical professionals, the immediate danger is that unwarranted concern is being spread within the region and externally.

Cruise ships divert as Caribbean countries implement coronavirus travel bans
Two Carnival Cruise Line ships are steering clear of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands this week as the countries tighten travel restrictions in an attempt to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The Miami-based cruise company is sending the Carnival Horizon and Carnival Freedom ships elsewhere because the company’s CEO Arnold Donald did not receive assurances in time that the ships would be able to dock, a spokesperson for the company said via email. Carnival said no one on board the ships has COVID-19.

Videos

March 5, 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 Tiger Sharks defeat win over Belmopan Bandits
On Friday, February 28th, the San Pedro Tiger Sharks travelled to the Capital City of Belmopan, where they faced the local team, Belmopan Bandits. The island team played without Martevious Adams, who is recovering from an injury. Despite this disadvantage, the Tiger Sharks put up a fight and maintained a lead, after a rough start, winning 86-69. The upcoming games for week eight will mark the mid-way point of this year’s basketball season. The San Pedro Tiger Sharks will take a break this weekend, and their next game is on March 14th against the Orange Walk Running Rebels.

San Pedro Pirates score another home victory
The Ambergris Stadium was the venue for another home victory in favour of the San Pedro Pirates, when they hosted Wagiya Sporting Club on Saturday, February 29th. The island team fiercely defended their turf, playing well and defeated the visiting team 2-0 via Pirate’s top scorer Jesse Smith. With this win, the island team was in second place in the Premier League of Belize’s standings. Following Belmopan Bandits’ 3-0 victory over Placencia Assassins on Sunday, February 1st, San Pedro Pirates slid down to third place due to goal differential.

Ambergris Today

Belize’s President Of The Senate At FORPEL Meeting In Mexico City
The President of the Senate, Honourable Darrell Bradley, recently attended the 38th Ordinary Meeting of Presiding Officers of National Parliaments of Central America and the Caribbean Basin (FOPREL) that was held in the Chamber of the Mexican Senate in Mexico City.

MOU On Gillnet Ban Signed Between MFFESD And The Coalition For Sustainable Fisheries
This MoU reiterates the conditions and timelines for a successful phase-out and livelihoods transition that would conclude in a ban to be instituted throughout Belize’s maritime waters by March 31, 2022, at the latest or earlier when the livelihoods transition of fishers is successfully attained. It also sets the framework to determine the eligibility of gill net fishers for the livelihoods transition programme, which includes those gill net fishers licensed in 2018 who presently meet the legal requirements as stated in Statutory Instrument 81 of 2019.

Various Belizean Sources

Miss Claudia Gallego
Day Three of recognition for International Women's day. Today we feature a woman who is also respected by the island due to her undying commitment to the church and the people of Caye Caulker. Miss Claudia Gallego is a well known Christian woman who came to live on the island in 1968. As a catholic, the first thing she did was seek out the Catholic Church where she was accepted right away! Miss Claudia became so involved within the church that over time, she began to host sunday school for the children whom of which are all grown up today.

Community Action for Public Safety II Project Community Consultation
The Government of Belize through the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation, and in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank, proposes to embark on a project entitled Community Action for Public Safety II. The main objective of this project is to increase the capacity of the Ministry to coordinate and deliver violence prevention services in Belize City.

By-Elections Notice

San Pedro Power Outage Thursday Morning
Power outage 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 5 to affect entire San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. BEL to replace equipment and conduct maintenance at the San Pedro Substation.

Drum Lessons at the Benque House of Culture
Explore another amazing percussion instrument, master this discipline every Monday from 3:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. with drum master Javier Martinez at your Benque House of Culture. Lessons start March 16th, 2020, sign up and learn more.

BELIZE FISHING REPORT: FEBRUARY 23, 2020 THROUGH MARCH 1, 2020
Last week was a tale of two halves. In the first part of the week, we had perfect weather, and our anglers caught good numbers of fish. It then degenerated as the frontal system arrived. Barometric pressure fell, and fishing became quite tough. Anglers who worked hard were still rewarded with several good bonefish.

Dzulúm
Is a creature which roams in the Maya world . The Dzulúm is discribe as a white jaguar with long peace of hair which runs from the head to his back . A mysterious creature which makes the Indigenous women to have a desirable attracted to follow the Dzulúm . Those who follow it are not seen again .

Activity in Honour of International Women's Week on Caye Caulker
Today was the first activity in Honour of international women's week where the female police officers held their meet and greet with different members of the community and they also conducted an inspection of carts, making sure that everything was in order and in place. The female police officers are working hand-in-hand in organising activities for the rest of this week and the voice of Caye Caulker will be following up and updating on all these other activities.

4th Annual Festival of The Sun & Moon
The Festival of the Sun & Moon is an annual music festival held in Belize. The organizers have committed to donating partial proceeds from the festival to Hope Haven Children’s Hope and Community Center, a non-profit organization working to provide shelter and empower children and families of Belize to have a brighter future. What a fun way to spend 4 days in one of the most beautiful tropical paradises in the world, enjoying the sun, music and having fun while supporting a great cause! Apr 22 at 6 PM – Apr 27.

A Night with the Stars Musical Concert
The Benque HoC is having a concert to celebrate Women's month. A Night with the Stars, celebrating the many contributions of our Women in the society especially those that foster and promote our cultural heritage, customs and traditions in unique ways, making it the Benque of today and tomorrow! Join us in giving merit to our contributors Saturday March 14th, 2020 at our Centennial Memorial Park.

Belize - Virtuoso Luxury Fam Tour

Channel 7

Airwing Corporal Buried in Big Falls
Corporal Reynaldo Choco was buried in his home village of Big Falls, Toledo today. Just like yesterday in Douglas when the funeral was held for Yassir Mendez - the attention of the nation descended on a small village church heaving with grief. Cherisse Halsall has the story of today's full military funeral:

Officialdom Supported Family At Funeral
Security Minister Michael Peyrefitte and PUP Area Representative Oscar Requena commented on today's sad proceedings:

The Failure to Inform
And while the families got full respect and honours from officialdom today, Choco's mother has already told the media she learned of her son's death on Facebook. But, what about his wife, Jasmine Choco? She lived in Ladyville to be with her husband and they shared a residence at Price Barracks. She teaches nearby in Ladyville, but reports from family members say she too learned of her husband's demise ion facebook. Today, the Minister of National Security commented on these critical communication lapses:

COMPOL Addresses Conspiracy Theories
And while the immediate families, and the larger BDF family prepare for two more funerals - in the public mind, there's still so much uncertainty about the mysterious circumstances under which the BDF chopper went down. The ballistics report should be in tomorrow and we are reliably informed that it concludes that the chopper was NOT shot down. So, for unknown reasons, in the pre-dawn darkness of Wednesday, it crashed, headfirst into the Western Lagoon - at a point where the lagoon was just five feet deep. It was a massive impact crash, shattering the aircraft and its crew.

Did Drug Plane Circle Belize District Last Night
And speaking of drug planes, We also asked Wiliiams about a plane circling last night over the Belize district. Reporter: "Plane circling last night, Belize District, did that reach your desk?" Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: "Yes, it circled and we were out waiting. I didn't land. It went over to Guatemala side." Reporter: "Sir, it was a narco plane that was seen around 8-9p.m, in the Belize District, Hattieville, Gardenia, those areas?"

Two Grandfathers Killed in 15 Minutes
Yesterday we told you that a barber had been shot to the cheek after dodging what was meant to be a headshot. That shooting happened at 4:15 but it was just the beginning of a spasm of violence that would grip the city's twilight hour. By 5:35 there was another shooting, this one fatal. 52-Year old Micheal Barrera was picking up food from Bravo's shop on Central American Boulevard and chatting with someone. That, someone, was being targeted by a gunman. He spotted the threat and immediately ran away but Barrera wasn't so lucky. The target escaped reportedly by jumping on to a city bus. That's when the gunman in anger reportedly turned to point the gun at Barrera, firing a fatal shot. Here is that story.

He Died Shielding Grandchild
But the violence didn't stop there, 15 minutes later, at 5:50, there was another shooting. This one saw 52-year-old Keith Courtenay killed while shielding his grandson from a bullet. It happened in front of a long Barracks on the corner of Ebony Street, in the shadow of a police camera. This morning his family and friends gathered to share in bewildered grief for the father and grandfather gone too soon. Cherisse Halsall reports.

COMPOL Says Shootings Retaliatory
And Commissioner of Chester Williams says that police believe yesterday's succession of shootings were retaliatory. This morning he told us that several suspects are detained. Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: "There are several persons we are looking at and we know that there is a group of young men who are behind these shootings and we have some of them in custody at this time. The investigation is ongoing and we have collected a number of valuable information that we are using to guide the investigation and we are hoping that we will be able to make an arrest in at least one of them by the end of this week."

Stevedores Shut It Down!
And changing gears now to labour issues at the Port of Belize, the stevedores entered their third day of strike this morning. Minister of state for Labour Dr. Carla Barnett had already intervened and set up a meeting to hear both sides out this afternoon. And while they waited on that, the stevedores kept up their day and night vigil at the Port of Belize. But, this morning, the tone of their industrial action changed when they noted that a cargo ship had docked at the Pierhead, and they concluded that the Port Management was trying to go behind their back to offload the ship. And that's when they moved to shut the port entrance down. Jules Vasquez was there:

Some Progress As Stevedores and Port Meet
All that commotion subsided just before 1:00 - just in time for their union's negotiating team to have a face to face meeting with the Port's management overseen by the Labour Minister at the Belize City Labour Office. That was a marathon 4-and-a-half-hour session, and when the leaders for the two sides exited, we tried to get a few details out of them about how these talks went. Here are their very brief comments: Evan Mose Hyde - President, CWU: "We have to make sure that we need to reach our members to explain to them what we have discussed in this meeting with PBL and the Minister of Labour..."

Clarifying The Millions For Gillnets
Last night, we told you about the upgraded offer that the conservation community has presented to the Government to institute a full ban on the use of gillnets in Belize. Oceana is offering 1 million dollars to fund the transition from gillnets to a more sustainable form of fishing. The Coalition for Sustainable Fisheries, an organization created in August 2018, has also presented the Government with an offer of an additional 1.5 million dollars to fund the transition away from this destructive fishing gear.

NTUCB Expects GOB Movement on Demands Tomorrow At Budget Presentation
Yesterday we told you about the NTUCB's refined list of demands to the government. They have gotten overwhelming and emphatic support from a wide cross section of unions and civil society groups, including today the PSU, the National Evangelical Association of Belize and the Belize Network of NGO's.

Will Compol Suspend Extortion Cops
Last night we told you about 3 police officers who were arraigned in the San Ignacio Magistrate's Court for extortion. They are as Special Constable Albert Reynolds, Special Constable Eusterio Coc, and Corporal Maximiliano Lanza. The details of the accusation have not been shared with us, but we are told that the complainant said that the incident happened on the Branch Mouth Road.

COVID In Quintana Roo
In last night's news, we took you to Belmopan for the Ministry of Health's press conference on the latest information on the coronavirus, or COVID-19, as it is better known. The head table was careful to stress that the Ministry has a plan to deal with this potential public health threat and that citizens need to keep up-to-date with the information. The Ministry made it clear that there is no way to fully insulate the Belizean population from the virus, and that sooner or later, it will be detected in Belize.

No Gas Station For South Ring Road
Parents of Belmopan's Our Lady Of Guadalupe R.C. schools are were celebrating last night because the DOE responded to their concerns over plans to build a gas station in front of the school. Those plans were widely criticized last week with residents fearing that a gas station adjacent to the school had the potential to cause frequent car accidents and become a hazard to the children.

Channel 5

Corporal Reynaldo Choco is Laid to Rest in Big Falls
A solemn ceremony was held in the village of Big Falls, Toledo, for fallen soldier Corporal Reynaldo Choco. His flag-draped casket was carried from his house in the village, to [...]

Grieving Wife Not Satisfied with BDF Silent Treatment
The Belize Defense Force has come under fire for the manner in which it handled the notification of the families of the deceased airmen.  As with Jean Baizar, who lost [...]

“You can never be informed quickly enough” – Mike Peyrefitte
While the B.D.F. effected its internal protocols to confirm that all four men had indeed perished in the crash before notifying their respective next of kin of the tragedy, it [...]

Preliminary Report into Helicopter Crash Completed
A preliminary report following an investigation into the deadly helicopter crash has been submitted to Rear Admiral John Borland, who is coordinating a probe into the incident that claimed four [...]

Families of Deceased Airmen are Expected to be Compensated
The issue of compensation for the families of the four deceased airmen has been raised in light of the fact that B.D.F. personnel do not qualify for social security benefits.  [...]

Who Will Now Lead BDF Air Wing?
The untimely demise of the head of the B.D.F. Air Wing, as well as his second-in-command, has left a vacuum in the leadership of that military unit and in the [...]

ComPol speaks on narco jet!
Earlier today, the press caught up with Commissioner of Police Chester Williams outside the gate of the Port of Belize. The Commissioner was there to mediate a matter related to [...]

Suspected drug plane circling over Belize?
And while Belize is still reeling from the deadly crash involved in the last interception of the drug plane off the Coastal Road, there was another aircraft circling over the [...]

Social worker killed in the city!
A well-known social worker, a counselor in Belize City, was shot and killed on Tuesday evening. He was the first murder victim in a shooting spree on Tuesday evening. From [...]

Who killed Keith Courtenay and why?
The second murder on Tuesday evening happened about ten minutes after Michael Barrera was killed and this time it took place on the corner of Ebony and Sarstoon Streets in [...]

Barber shot inside his shop is recovering.
In Tuesday’s newscast we reported on the shooting of fifty-two-year-old barber John Crawford. He was inside his business around four-twenty that evening when a man entered the shop and fired [...]

ComPol speaks on violence in the City!
As you heard in our reports tonight, two men were killed and another narrowly escaped an attempt on his life. Today the media asked Commissioner of Police about the eruption [...]

An update on jet plane drug cargo!
Less than twenty-four hours after Belize Police Department intercepted one of the biggest drug cargos on record, the deaths of the four Belize Defence Soldiers were reported and that tragedy [...]

Belizean Man Sentenced to 18 Years in US Federal Prison
Fifty-three-year-old Belizean Moses Anthon Francisco has been sentenced to eighteen years behind bars in the United States. According to news outlets in Iowa, Francisco led law enforcement on a high-speed [...]

Tensions Rise at Stevedores’ Protest
Tensions built up at the Port of Belize today and police had to be called in to cool down the situation. The protesting stevedores grew agitated and blocked heavy equipment [...]

A suspected case of Corona Virus in Quintana Roo
As new cases of the corona virus are showing up around the world, there are still no confirmed cases in Belize. Health authorities, however, warn that it is a matter [...]

Oceana Offers More to Fishers for Transition Phase
Oceana Belize has upped its proposed transitional support to Belizean fishers to two point five million dollars. The N.G.O. has been calling for the absolute ban of the use of [...]

CWU Meets with Ministry of Labor and Port C.E.O.
The meeting between the Christian Workers Union, official representatives for the Port of Belize and the Labour Minister and Labour Commissioner met for more than five hours. C.W.U. President Evan [...]

Port CEO says Meeting was “Good”
At the conclusion of this afternoon’s meeting, the C.E.O. for the Port of Belize Limited, Arturo “Tux” Vasquez, addressed the media. Vasquez says that several agreements have been reached and [...]

Unions Will Act if Government Does Not Comply with Demands
The Public Service Union is echoing the call by the National Trade Union Congress of Belize to stamp out corruption as P.M. Dean Barrow had promised years ago when he [...]

An afternoon fire wipes out a structure up north
Fire erupted at a small structure in the village of San Joaquin, Corozal District this afternoon around two o’clock. Fire fighters responded to the call of the fire, but the [...]

D.O.E. Halts Construction of Gas Station in Belmopan
In February, the People’s United Party condemned the decision of Belmopan Mayor Khalid Belisle and his City Council to approve the construction of a gas station immediately in front of [...]

3 cops to be placed on interdiction for extortion charge
Three cops attached to the San Ignacio Police Station are to be placed on interdiction following a charge of extortion. There are concerns that the cops were not placed on [...]

Amandala

Two dead and one injured in separate city shootings
Guns were blazing on the south side of Belize City yesterday evening. In a span of two hours, between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., three persons were shot two of them fatally, while one other person was hospitalized in a stable condition.

The Reporter

Angry Stevedores Block Access To Port
Tensions escalated outside the Port of Belize Limited (PBL) earlier today after stevedores learnt that the company had allegedly hired substitute workers to unload a container on the pier head.

Belize Health Officials: Prepared, If The CoronaVirus Get’s Here
Cabinet has agreed to and the Ministry of Finance has approved an initial budget of $900,000 to prepare for the inevitable effects of COVID-19.

A Violent Evening In Belize City
The first murder of the evening in Belize City occurred just after 5:30pm at the corner of Iguana Street and Central American Boulevard during rush hour traffic.

Early Morning Accident Near Armenia: Truck Driver Died
The fatal road traffic accident in the village of Armenia early this morning has resulted in the death of a cargo truck driver, Jose Quinonez.

LOVE FM

Police impersonators rob the cousin of Cpl Reynaldo Choco
As if the pain of losing a family member were not enough, two men had to endure additional agony over the weekend when they were robbed on the Hummingbird Highway. 47-year-old Thomas Ack and 22-year-old Ronaldo Ack were on their way to Big Falls Village, Toledo District, to join their relatives in the mourning of Corporal Reynaldo Choco.

Counselor for youths gunned down
Within a span of three hours yesterday evening, Belize City saw two murders and another person injured in three separate incidents. The first happened at around four o’clock when a gunman barged into a barbershop on Zericote Street and fired shots at the barber, 52-year-old John Crawford.

2.5 million for the banning of gillnets
The financial contribution to the banning of gillnets has increased to 2.5 million dollars. One million was raised by Oceana Belize and 1.5 million was contributed by the Coalition for sustainable fisheries.

Man fatally shot while protecting grandson
Shortly before six o’clock yesterday evening, the second murder victim was targeted. Reporter Courtney Menzies visited the family home of the victim, 46-year-old Keith Courtenay.

Belize Network of NGOs sides with unions
The Belize Network of NGOs (BNN) has joined the unions in their fight against corruption. In a press release issued today, they called on the government to immediately re-activate the UNCAC Project Board – as per the demands stated by the National Union Trade Congress of Belize (NTUCB).

Kareem Franklyn in jail for attempted murder and aggravated assault
23-year-old Kareem Franklyn is on remand for two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm against two police officers.

BCCI sets three new resolutions
The Belize Chambers of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has committed to employing the Private Bill provision to urgently introduce a Campaign Finance Bill, as per section 76 of the Standing Orders of the Senate. This commitment is one of three resolutions passed in last night’s Special General Meeting.

BDF give Corporal Reynaldo Choco a full military funeral
A full military funeral took place this morning in Big Falls Village, Toledo District for BDF Corporal Reynaldo Choco. We join our News Director, Renee Trujillo for the story.

Jasmine alert for missing teenager
A Jasmine Alert has been issued for a 14-year-old boy. Jaiden Castro was last seen leaving his home in Unitedville, Cayo District just after seven o’clock last night en route to play basketball.

Breaking Belize News

Ministry of Health says rumor of 5 cases of Covid-19 in San Ignacio is false alarm; 1 person only is in self isolation
Ministry of Health says rumor of 5 cases of Covid-19 in San Ignacio is false alarm; 1 person […]

Police investigate shooting incident in Belize City
Authorities are investigating a shooting incident that occurred around 4:20 pm yesterday in Belize City. […]

Unitedville teen reported missing
Authorities are asking the public’s assistance in locating 14-year-old Jaiden Castro of Unitedville Village. Castro’s […]

Taiwanese Embassy staff climbs Victoria Peak
On February 29, seven staff members of the Taiwanese Embassy in Belize reached the top […]

Belizeans prepare for La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge
The annual La Ruta Maya Belize river challenge kicks off this Friday, March 6 at […]

Retire in Belize: The Benefits of Belize’s QRP Retirement Program
Belize is quickly becoming one of the top travel destinations, but did you know that […]

Michael Barrera killed in Belize City
Authorities are investigating the murder of Michael Barrera, 52, of Belize City. Around 5:40 p.m. […]

Keith Courtney Sr. murdered in Belize City
Authorities are investigating the murder of Keith Courtney Sr., 46. Around 5:50 p.m. yesterday, Courtney […]

Tensions running high at Port of Belize, stevedore protest continues
Things have escalated between the stevedores, represented by the Christian Workers Union (CWU) and the […]

GOB to embark on public consultation on a project entitled “Community Action for Public Safety II”
The Government of Belize through the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation, […]

UB and Ministry of Health to host public health forum today
The University of Belize (UB) and the Ministry of Health are hosting a public health […]

Patient in self-isolation in Cayo; Health authorities say no symptoms of coronavirus
The Office of Director of Health Services has informed that there is currently no suspected […]

Belizean sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for illegal re-entry, possession of firearm
News reports from Sioux City, Iowa in the United States say that last Friday 53-year-old […]

Blogs

La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge 2020
La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge – March 06, 2020 – March 09, 2020. La Ruta Maya is an annual event that takes over the entire country’s attention for four exhilarating days. This year it falls on March 06, 2020- March 09, 2020. It is a marathon canoe race that runs West to East along the Old Belize River. Meaning “The Maya Route” in Spanish, the race follows the very same ancient trading route the Maya, and later Baymen used to transport goods for trade. It begins at the Hawkesworth Bridge in San Igancio and ends at the river mouth of the Belize City harbor. Conceptualized by the Harrison brothers and founded in 1998, it was originally intended to be a marketing event for the launching of their family-owned purified water company.

International Sources

Mantiene Quintana Roo casos sospechosos de Covid 19
Suspected cases of COVID19 in Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Concerns remain for Caribbean as drought season continues
The Barbados-based the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) says that while some parts of the Caribbean, such as the Leeward Islands, experienced above normal rainfall in January, there are concerns over short and long term drought by the end of the dry season in May over much of the region. “Monitoring water reserves and enhancing water conservation measures are recommended,” it said, noting that long term drought is evolving in Antigua, Barbados, northwestern half of Belize, Cayman Islands, parts of coastal and interior Guyana, St Kitts, the Windward Islands – Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Videos

March 4, 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

Belize and Honduras Sign Air Transport Services Agreement
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation is pleased to inform the general public that on February 28, 2020, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation of Belize, and Ms. Nicole Marder, Secretary of State in the Office of Tourism of the Republic of Honduras, signed the Air Transport Services Agreement between the Government of Belize and the Government of the Republic of Honduras.

President of the Senate Represents Belize at FOPREL Meeting
The President of the Senate, Honourable Darrell Bradley, recently attended the 38th Ordinary Meeting of Presiding Officers of National Parliaments of Central America and the Caribbean Basin (FOPREL) that was held in the Chamber of the Mexican Senate in Mexico City.

PAHO facilitates visits to three health facilities as part of the tender process for the DFID-funded “smart hospitals” retrofitting works
On 26th – 27th February, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) facilitated visits to three (3) health facilities in Belize as part of the Smart Health Care Facilities in the Caribbean Project financed by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) in partnership with the Ministry of Health.

Ambergris Today

Belize And Honduras Sign Air Transport Services Agreement
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation is pleased to inform the general public that on Friday, February 28, 2020, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation of Belize, and Ms. Nicole Marder, Secretary of State in the Office of Tourism of the Republic of Honduras, signed the Air Transport Services Agreement Between the Government of Belize and the Government of the Republic of Honduras. This agreement comes to formalize the existing commercial and economic relationship between the two countries and is expected to boost regional air connectivity, facilitate international air travel, and gain access to other key aviation markets.

Various Belizean Sources

Ms. Elvira Villanueva
In Honor of International Women's week, we are featuring all the influential women who have made a difference on the island with their time invested within the community. Today we feature yet another well known and respected woman, Ms. Elvira Villanueva. Ms. Elivira has learned firsthand that when it comes to running a long-lasting business, the key to success is adaptation, hard work and a good team. She is The founder of the Caye Caulker Bakery and has been catering to customers for more than 27 years. She was also recognized by the US embassy of Belize for her hard work and dedication to her business keeping the community and tourists happy with all her delicious baking.

Product Sustainability Fair 2020
The Belize Bureau of Standards invites you to our "Product Sustainability Fair" in commemoration of World Consumer Rights Day 2020 being celebrated under the theme, "The Sustainable Consumer." Come learn about different environmental and sustainable initiatives being undertaken within our country.

Belize Electricity Limited commences clean-up of Caye Caulker Power Station compound
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) advises customers in Caye Caulker that the remediation of the power station compound commenced on Saturday, February 29, 2020 and will continue into next week. The remediation efforts are focused on reducing the risk of land and water contamination, and improving the appearance of the compound. Materials removed during the clean-up will be transported off the island for proper disposal.

First hand experience of Yucatec Maya gastronomy
Shortly after 1:00 p.m. on Monday 2nd March, 2020 students of CJC visited the home of Maya elder Faustino Yam to get first hand experience of Yucatec Maya gastronomy. Students interacted and learnt about the method and procedures of cooking certain types of typical dishes. It was fun while they tasted some of them, like e.g. Chokoj Sakan and Pirix P'aak. With the help one of his sister Mrs Eladia Uh students learnt about the cooking of Tok Sel which is Lima beans known as iib and ground pepita seed.

Corozal represented at the Street Art Festival
Corozal was well represented with some of our visual artists at this past Saturday's annual Street Art Festival in the City. Artists Kim Griffith, Cherie Burson, Hassan Raheem, Christie Carrillo, Alberto Lopez, Eric Vargas and Beverly Orio, were out on display and selling while CSAM artists Carlos Carrillo and Jahvier Tuisone were out creating a cultural mural on Channel 7 News wall. We thank Miss Karen Vernon of the Institute of Creative Arts for the kind invitation!

Paint N Splash
See you this week at from 2-4pm Thursday to paint “Cruiser”.

CARNAVAL DAY 2 - COMPARSAS FUN!
Lots of photos!

Hope Haven Event
Attention ladies!!! The amazing team from Believers World Outreach is back in town to host an afternoon to pamper the hard working ladies of our community! The event is set for Saturday, March 7th 2020, from 1pm to 4pm at Hope Haven - Belize. Send us a message if you would like to attend!

MoU signed between MFFESD and the Coalition for Sustainable Fisheries
In December 2019, Cabinet approved measures from the Ministry of Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development (MFFESD) to control the use of gill nets in Belize’s maritime waters. In line with Cabinet’s decision, the Ministry of Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Coalition for Sustainable Fisheries, a registered local non-government organization representing Belize’s commercial fishermen, sports fishers, game fishers and conservation organizations, and who are also funding the livelihoods transition programme.

San Pedro Tiger Sharks vs Corozal Bay Ballers Exhibition Game
You don't want to miss out on this EXHIBITION Basketball Match this Saturday! San Pedro Tiger Sharks vs Corozal Bay Ballers Saturday, March 7th at the Corozal Civic Center Gate opens at 8:00 - Game starts at 9:00 Entrance fee Adults: $5 - Children $1 Children Gate prizes and giveaways.

Corozal Police Formation weekly Cadet meeting
On Monday, March 2nd, 2020, Community Policing Officers, attached to our Corozal Police Formation, conducted their weekly Cadet meeting in Caledonia Village, Corozal. In attendance were (27) Cadets who participated in foot drills and took individual pictures for their Cadet identification card. If your child would like to join the Corozal Cadets, please contact the Corozal Community Policing Unit.

COROZAL CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL TO BE HELD IN HONOUR OF OUR BEFALLEN BROTHER & SOLDIER, "MAJOR ADRAN RAMIREZ"
Date: Wednesday, March 4th, 2020. Time: 5:00 P.M. Place: Assemble at Corozal Central Park. Procession will leave from in-front of the Xavier School/Central Park on 4th Avenue at 5:00 p.m. sharp to the Ramirez Home where the vigil will be held. ALL COROZALEÑOS, RELATIVES & FRIENDS are cordially invited to show their gratitude and respect for our fallen soldier and brother. Kindly dress in colourful clothing and bring along candle or veladora. PROCESSION ROUTE: Depart from Central Park (4th Avenue) - Turn right into 1st Street South to meet 7th Avenue - Continue on to Santa Rita Road - Turn in-front of the Noguera's residence and back down Santa Rita Road to Marage Street. Rest in Peace Brother Adran Ramirez. THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR COUNTRY WITH HONOUR.

OPEN DOOR Day at Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic - BWRC
The Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic is having their 1st Open Door Day on Saturday the 21st. You can see how the BWRC works.

Refurbishing Joseph Andrews Park
Work has begun at the Joseph Andrews Park in Santa Elena. Just the initial stage! We keep working!

OCEANA: BELIZEAN FISHERS COULD BENEFIT FROM BZ$2.5 MILLION TRANSITION PROCESS IF GILLNET BAN IS DECISIVE AND MEANINGFUL
Since 2009, Oceana has been supporting the call of Belizean fishers to have a form of fishing called gillnetting banned in Belizean waters. In December 2019, the Barrow administration took the historic step of declaring this gear inherently destructive. Since then, Oceana has been engaged with the Prime Minister, the Minister and Ministry of Fisheries to identify our role in the reasonable transition of Belizean users of this gear to alternate means of fishing. At present, the total offer of transitional support to Belizean fishers has increased to 2.5 million Belize dollars, one million Belize dollars of which has been raised by Oceana. To this end, Oceana has shared a draft agreement that repeats the same clauses contained in the 2011 contract signed between the Government of Belize and Oceana when trawling was banned.

Channel 7

Funeral For a Fallen Soldier
The first of the BDF four has been buried. He is Corporal Yassir Mendez, from Douglas village. On Thursday morning at 2:00, he flew out of Price Barracks with two Majors - the most senior pilots in the airwing - and one other corporal. They were part a successful narco plane bust, but a few hours later, all four were dead, at the bottom of the Western Lagoon - and no one knew. The Huey chopper they were in had taken a nose dive into the Lagoon, just north of Gales Point Manatee in the Belize District. Their bodies would not be found until more than 24 hours later. It is the worst mass fatality in the BDF's history, and this is a sombre week of funerals amidst so many unanswered questions. The services started this morning in Douglas, in Orange Walk North.

Military Father Learned of Son's Death on Facebook
As you saw in our story, Corporal Yassir Mendez's father is a retired Sargeant Major. He was in the BDF for 22 years and he told CTV-3 news today that - in his professional opinion - there were multiple breakdowns. First in communication because just like Corporal Reinaldo Choco's mother, he learned of his son's demise on Facebook: Reporter: "How did the family find out about this tragedy?" Sgt. Mjr. Marcello Mendez- Yassir's Father "I find it on Facebook because nobody came and told me your son dead. I find it on Facebook, I was at Caye Caulker..."

BDF and Ministry Commit to Long Term Support For Families
And while that critical breakdown in communication already happened, what can the BDF and the government do for these servicemen who died while on a dangerous mission? In our interview with the Chief of Defence Staff Admiral John Borland yesterday, he said that caring for the families in the immediate and long term has to be the highest priority:...

Military Father Asks Who Greenlighted The Mission, The Answer?
Yesterday, we also asked Borland the same question that Corporal Yassir Mendez's father asked today. As you just saw, that retired Sergeant Major asked who gave the mission the green light? It's an issue because the pilots flew into low or no visibility without night vision capability, when a strong, gusty front had blown into Belize just the night before. So, who made the call for the mission to proceed? That's what we asked Borland yesterday:

Admiral Borland Insists On Accountability
That's among the first priorities in the multi-agency, multi prong investigation which Admiral Borland commands. He says that the end objective is to determine what went wrong, and - as it may be - who is responsible:

Borland Says He Can Investigate His Own Colleagues
But is Admiral Borland independent enough to lay blame where it should be laid? After all, he works in the same Curl Thompson building with many of the Ministry and military brass who may have given the order, or consented to it being given. We asked him yesterday about his independence:.. Admiral John Borland- Chief of Defense Staff: "I'm a professional. I have an extensive background as a military man, as a leader, as a commander. My civilian leadership looks to me in times like these and this is where I prove myself. So while I am a responsible to coordinate all these investigations, I am not conducting the interviews, I am directing, I am leading, I am supporting, I share my experience, I share my knowledge."

COVID-19 Coming To Belize, Inevitably
The latest figures from the World Health Organization are that there have been over 90,000 reported cases globally of the Coronavirus or COVID-19 as it is now called. From those reported cases, there are just over 3100 confirmed deaths. So, the international community is keeping a close eye on this emerging epidemic, that is slowly making its way over to the Americas. There have been confirmed cases of the disease in neighboring countries such as Mexico, the US, Canada, Brazil, and Ecuador. There have even been confirmed cases in Caribbean nations of the Dominican Republic and Saint Barts.

GOB Budgets Money For Covid-19 Response
Also in today's press conference, the Ministry of Health Professionals also outlined what their national response to the coronavirus will look like over the next 6 to 12 months. According to the Minister of Health, the Government has approved a budget of almost a million dollars to fund their effort. Here's what he had to say on that topic: Hon. Pablo Marin- Minister of Health: "Today we had cabinet meeting and the Prime Minister agreed for a budget right now for the situation with the virus of nearly $900 thousand, nearly a million. We have already been spending money from the Ministry of Health."

Fatal Accident In Armenia Claims Cargo Truck Driver's Life
A 31-year-old truck driver was killed in a fatal traffic accident on the outskirts of Armenia village this morning when a 6 wheel cargo truck sideswiped an 18 wheeler. It happened at about 6:30 between mile 47 and 48 on the Hummingbird Highway. Jose Quinonez, a driver for Vega and Sons Co., was headed south along with two sidemen when, approaching a curve, he lost control of the loaded 6 wheel cargo truck and slammed into a green international goods truck in the other lane driven by 23-year-old Nathan Gomez.

Three City Shootings In Two Hours, One Dead, One Critical, One Stable
There were three shootings in Southside of Belize City between 4:00 and 6:00 pm, and one man is dead, while two others are injured. The first was a Belize City barber who was shot inside his shop on Zericote Street this evening. It happened around 4:15 just as 52-year-old John Crawford was finishing up with a client. He dusted that man off and then turned to ask who was next. That's when a waiting customer stood up and shouted "me" while pulling out a gun and firing at Crawford.

Lawless Gunman Shot Straight Into a Dollar Van, Killing One Injuring Four
And the senseless violence started yesterday evening in the Martin's area. Last night we told you that three people were shot and one of them killed in a dollar van that was driving along Mahogany street. Tonight we can tell you that an 8-month old baby was also injured by the shattered glass during the incident. It's a terrifying story for those that use public transport. Cherisse Halsall reports. Yesterday a dollar van was targeted and one man was killed while two other persons were shot, and an 8-month-old baby grazed by the broken glass from a shattered window.

Family Burnt Out
Tonight, a single mother from Belize City and her 3 children are spending their second night homeless. That's after their house in the Jane Usher Boulevard area burnt down completely. It happened sometime after 11:00 yesterday morning. According to Sheree Westby, she was called while she was at work, and she was informed that her home was ablaze. When she arrived, there was nothing that could be done to save her belongings and those of her children. When she spoke with us yesterday, she was still in shock that she had lost everything.

Stevedores Strike Continues
Tonight, the stevedores strike at the Port of Belize continues as CWU';s Mose Hyde says that the community needs to be engaged in waterfront workers struggle. As we told you, the 150 stevedores walked off the job yesterday, fearing that ASR/BSI is going to take its sugar loading business to the Big Creek Port. But, Port CEO Arturo Vasquez says that's not happening right and claims he has yet to receive a letter from the union. Here's an update on the strike and the CEO's response.

Major Unions Come Out Against GOB
And while the Port of Belize is in trouble with the Christian Workers Union, GOB is in trouble with ALL unions it seems. Today, a flood of release came out from the Energy Workers Union, the Communication Workers Union, the Belize Workers Union, and the Christian workers union, all in solidarity with the NTUCB. The NTUCB put out a position yesterday saying, quote, "in consideration of the recent episodes of poor governance, the NTUCB has reached the conclusion that as a country we can no longer afford inaction by our designated leaders. Inaction will come at a cost which we will not be able to bear. We have also come to the realization that a paradigm shift is very urgent for better transparency and accountability when governing the country's affairs."

Cops Charged For Extortion, No Interdiction
Police didn't send out a release on it, but 3 police officers were arraigned in the San Ignacio Magistrate's Court for the crime of extortion. They've been identified to us as Special Constable Albert Reynolds, Special Constable Eusterio Coc, and Corporal Lanza. The details of the accusation have not been shared with us, but we are told that the complainant said that the incident happened on the Branch Mouth Road where the cops shook him down.

Man Pleads Guilty To Grievous Harm Of Ex
Conroy Roches is out on bail after pleading guilty to grievous harm committed against his estranged common-law wife, 35-year-old Sherema Graham. Justice Marilyn Williams will sentence Roches on March 20. Graham was viciously attacked by Roches sometime between 8:30 and 9:00 on April 24, 2015. The couple had been separated for three months when Roches gained access to the home under the pretense of bringing an item for their son. Once inside he allegedly began to verbally harass Graham about being seen with another man. Graham then asked him to leave, but he refused. She went to her room to get her cellphone intending to call the police but had only placed her hand on the device and turned around when Roches knocked her unconscious.

BDF Senior Command Divided?
Going back now to our headline story and all that has been report about the Airwing four - who went down in a BDF helicopter on Thursday morning - it has created a lot of infighting in the ranks of BDF, and a lot of it has gone public. It seems messages have been taken out of the Commander's internal BDF chat and sent all over the place via Whatsapp. IT's a major breakdown in discipline and respect, and we asked the Defence Chief of Staff about its implications and consequences yesterday:...

CEO Enriquez Didn't Resign
We also asked Borland about the rumour that Ministry of National Security Felix Enriquez had abruptly resigned or been forced to do so. He said it was baseless:

2.5 Million For Gillnet Transition
Oceana has sweetened the pot on gillnets raising the benefit payment that would be given to Belizean fishers during the transition process of a decisive and meaningful ban on gillnets from $1 Million to 2.5 Million. This comes after the Barrow Administration's December 2019 declaration against gillnets as inherently destructive. Oceana's 2.5 million in transitional support would be used to buy gillnetting licenses from Belizean fishers via in cash, monthly payments made directly to fishers through the Belize Credit Union League, which would complement the supplemental income training opportunities program.

Channel 5

Corporal Yassir Mendez is buried with military honours
Corporal Yassir Mendez joined the Belize Defence Force as a member of Intake fifty-three in 2010. He was posted to the air wing in 2011. He served there up to [...]

Ret’d Capt. Comments on Tragic Helicopter Crash
The families of the fallen officers have made public their disappointment that they learnt of the demise of their loved ones on social media and not from the B.D.F. command. [...]

What Caused the Helicopter to Crash?
According to the Ministry of National Security, Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard Captain Elton Bennett is the lead investigator, under command of Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral John Borland, [...]

Families of Deceased Soldiers Learn of Crash on Social Media
As you have heard, the families of the deceased soldiers have complained that the Belize Defence Force failed to notify them that the men had gone missing even though there [...]

Murder on Iguana Street
There was mayhem in the City this afternoon as a number of shootings took place in the south side. At news time, it is known that one person was killed [...]

Cargo Truck Overturns Near Armenia, One Fatality is Reported
There was traffic fatality early this morning on the Hummingbird Highway. It happened when a delivery truck transporting dry goods and food items, collided with a pickup truck and overturned [...]

Julian Cho remains without a principal; an inspection reveals a list of deficiencies
An investigation is ongoing at the Julian Cho High School in Punta Gorda where more than two million dollars were awarded in contracts to teachers by the then Principal Simeon [...]

Unions press for independent investigation into BDF helicopter crash
The calls for an independent investigation into the demise of four officers from the B.D.F. continue to mount. The Belize Energy Workers Union has issued a statement expressing support for [...]

The Belize Progressive Party presses GOB for a thorough investigation
Earlier today, the Belize Progressive Party extended condolences to the families of Defense Force Airmen Adran Ramirez, Radford Baizer, Yassir Mendez, and Reinaldo Choc. B.P.P. is appealing to the Prime [...]

Guatemalan Robbers Target Tourists at El Pilar
There was a robbery of tourists at El Pilar Site over the weekend. The visitors were along with their tour guides when they were targeted. They report that four men, [...]

A Fourth Shooting in the City
And this news, police are currently at the scene of a fourth shooting today. A few minutes ago, gunfire exploded on Ebony Street.  

Stevedores Standing Strong Against P.B.L.
Stevedores entered a second day of protest today. Since Monday they have been outside the Port of Belize on Ceasar Ridge Road protesting the likelihood that locally produced raw sugar [...]

Port of Belize says it will Hold CWU Accountable
Chief Executive officer for the Port of Belize Limited Arturo Vasquez wrote to C.W.U. President, Evan Mose Hyde. In the letter, Vasquez tells Hyde that Gang Number Two has refused [...]

Philip Willoughby Supports Stevedores
As the stevedores continued their strike, making a presence today was Philip Willoughby. Willoughby is the U.D.P.’s Standard Bearer for Port Loyola and he says he went there to gather [...]

MOH Rolls Out Plan for COVID-19 Eventuality
As the corona virus continues to spread across the globe, the Ministry of Health held another press conference this afternoon in Belmopan where it introduced a plan of action to [...]

Screening Travelers at Points of Entry is a Waste of Resources – DHS Manzanero
Director of Health Services, Doctor Marvin Manzanero, also outlined collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Health and other government agencies, including the Belize Airports Authority and the Ministry of Tourism.  [...]

Is KHMH Prepared for COVID-19?
So how is the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital preparing for the possibility of an outbreak?  According to Chief Epidemiologist, Doctor Russell Manzanero, who met with K.H.M.H. personnel earlier today, referrals [...]

Will Upcoming UDP Leadership Convention be Contested?
The U.D.P. had called on its supporters to come out on Thursday when the House meets in Belmopan. That event has now been called off as funerals take place for [...]

Patrick Faber’s Leadership Candidacy Still Up in the Air
Collet Area Representative and former deputy party leader Patrick Faber is still a force to be reckoned with, despite falling to John Saldivar at the previous convention on February ninth. [...]

Amandala

4 BDF soldiers die in helicopter crash
In the aftermath of the deaths of four soldiers from the fledgling BDF Air Wing, which occurred when the Belize Defence Force (BDF) U1-H1 helicopter in which they were traveling crashed in the waters of Western Lagoon, near Gales Point, Manatee, the Ministry of National Security is facing more questions than it can answer. In fact, this helicopter crash is mysterious from several angles. Adding to the mystery of the downed helicopter, which was said to have been dispatched to provide air assistance during the interception of a drug plane that landed in the area of Gales Point Manatee in the pre-dawn hours of Thursday, is the fact that it apparently went down, without the knowledge of those who had coordinated the interception of a drug jet plane, from which 70 bales, or 2 tons, of cocaine were removed.

Stevedores face “dread times”
This morning, the stevedore members of the Christian Workers Union (CWU), in a bid to get the attention of the receivership of the Port of Belize Limited, (PBL), embarked on a peaceful protest at the Port of Belize Ltd. compound on Caesar Ridge Road. The CWU issued a press release this morning under the caption: “CWU draws the line with PBL”. The release said, “Today Christian Workers Union (CWU) Members are protesting to indicate the complete failure of the receivership at the Port of Belize Ltd. (PBL), failure compounded by gross discourtesy, and disrespect.”

Man murdered in “dalla van”
Gregory Martinez, 26, of Police Street, was working in a garage on Police Street along with his uncle and nephew when a gunman came up and fired at them. Martinez’s uncle was struck, but his nephew escaped unhurt. Martinez sprinted for safety through the yard of his grandmother and across an open lot and jumped into a “dollar van” that was heading from La Croix Boulevard out towards Central American Boulevard. The determined shooter, however, rode his bicycle through a side street and intercepted the van, in front of the Ministry of Education building and fired again at Martinez, wounding him in the head and body. The killer then rode away.

3 shot, 2 dead in San Ignacio shooting
Three persons were shot in San Ignacio last night, and two are dead. Shawn Kevin Vasquez, 32, a security guard, was shot in the center of the chest, under the left arm, and in his jaw. He died almost immediately. Marva Rivera, 32, a cashier, was shot in the right breast, right shoulder, the center of the throat, and the right side of the jaw. She died shortly after her arrival at the San Ignacio Community Hospital.

Unwanted visitor fell out of ceiling at the KHMH
An unwelcome guest came to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, but made his entrance by falling into the Emergency Ward through the ceiling. Luckily, the raccoon was in good spirits and did not bite anyone. He was chased out of the ward and captured by the attendants and taken elsewhere. The raccoon made his visit to the hospital at about 11:00 Friday morning. Andre Miguel told the media that he was in the ward taking care of his mother, who was sleeping, when he heard sounds coming from the ceiling.

Luis Carter, 37, gets 30 years for murder
Luis Carter, 37, aka “Wiz”, who was convicted last Friday of the murder of Dwayne Hyde, 30, was sentenced to 30 years in prison today by Justice Colin Williams. The sentence, stipulated Justice Williams, is to take effect from July, 2016, when Carter was incarcerated. Before he decided on the sentence, Justice Williams heard a plea for mitigation from one character witness. Hyde was shot at his home in San Pedro Town on July 13, 2016. Carter accosted him just outside his house and shot him in the abdomen.

Guatemala cattle rancher busted in Chiquibul
A joint patrol consisting of police and soldiers of the Belize Defence Force and rangers from the FCD that was conducting their operation in the Chiquibul forest from their base in the Cebada Conservation Post, has captured a Guatemala farmer, Jose Ruben Vega Suchite, 36, who came over to the Belize side of the border with his cattle. Suchite has been charged with illegal entry into Belize, pending arraignment in the San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court.

Youth, 18, detained on allegation of assaulting a girl, 10
An 18-year-old has been detained pending the conclusion of an investigation of indecent assault of a female minor after the mother of a 10-year-old girl found him coming out of her daughter’s room and saw her daughter sleeping, with her blanket drawn away, her nightgown lifted and her underpants drawn down. The young man told the mother that he went into the room to look for marijuana, and then escaped, but police found him and arrested him.

Carl Reneau, 30, not guilty of the murder of Jaheem Mahler, 15
Carl Reneau, 30, charged with the murder of Jaheem Mahler, 15, was acquitted of the charge today by Justice Colin Williams in a trial that was without a jury. Mahler, a resident of Iguana Street Extension, was shot and killed about 8:30 p.m. on January 17, 2017. He was walking on Iguana Street Extension when his assailant shot him multiple times in the body. The Crown, represented by Senior Crown Counsel Shanice Lovell, had relied on the testimony of its main witness, Leonette Neal.

Fire destroys house in Gungulung; arson not suspected
A house and its contents were completely destroyed by fire in the Gungulung area of Lake Independence, last night, Thursday, leaving Edgar Richards, 54, and his wife homeless. Luckily, no one was injured, and no other houses in the area were damaged. Anthony Mortis, Station Supervisor at the Belize National Fire Service, said that they found that the fire was caused by an electrical overload due to an illegal connection to a lamppost. He said that the fire began in the living room and that there was no evidence of arson. Mortis, warns members of the public not to steal electrical power from the lampposts, because of the great danger it poses.

Editorial: The price Belize pays in this war on drugs —getting steeper
The news on Friday that four top soldiers of the Belize Defence Force (BDF) (Belize’s Air Force, essentially) had been found dead in a lagoon north of Gales Point Manatee, has Belize reeling. In the wee hours of Thursday the soldiers had gone on a mission with others to intercept a plane that was suspected of transporting cocaine from South America, and the next day the wreckage of their helicopter and their lifeless bodies were found. Two pilots and two corporals perished in the ill-fated operation. BDF Commander, Brig. General Steven Ortega, told the media that the deceased were Major Adran Ramirez, the commanding officer of the BDF Air-Wing, who had been flying for about fifteen years...

From The Publisher
The people at KREM Radio do not take lightly the continued support for their food fund raisers which come from the Belizean people. We are very grateful. KREM Radio has been struggling to survive for a long time. We need to examine the media landscape in Belize closely, because I think it is a sensational landscape, sensational because of its proliferation of institutions over the last three decades, and because the players include such gigantic personalities as Lord Michael Ashcroft, the Prime Minister and the ruling party, the leaders of the Evangelical faiths in Belize, the national radio monopoly, and others who are fronting for just whom we can’t be sure of.

UDP sets April 5 as new leadership convention date
The United Democratic Party (UDP) held a National Party Council (NPC) meeting at its Youth for the Future Drive headquarters this morning to chart the way forward for the selection of a new party leader to replace the retiring, longtime leader Prime Minister Dean Barrow (Queen’s Square). From all accounts, the NPC meeting lasted only a few minutes before it was decided that April 5 will be the date for the party’s next national convention. Following the NPC meeting, the UDP candidates remained in a lengthy discussion about the state of their party. No one, however, would shed any light for the media on what was discussed at the meeting, which continued until the early afternoon, before hostilities broke out and the meeting ended.

Child Stimulation Month kicks off with kindergarten parade
The month of March has been designated as Child Stimulation Month, and this morning, pre-school children from all across Belize City took part in an annual parade that went through the streets and ended at the Memorial Park. The theme for this year’s Child Stimulation Month is “Hug Me, Listen to Me, Read with Me, Help Me Grow.” For the rest of this month a number of activities have been planned. The activities include a story- telling competition, and the Children’s Festival of the Arts, which takes place at the Belize Elementary Auditorium from March 16 to March 19.

“Fool di talk, but da no fool di listen!”
Senator Salazar, who chaired the public hearings of the Senate Select Committee on the Immigration and Nationality Department, has been very tardy in producing his report on the findings that were garnered from those hearings. Today, Senators Mark Lizarraga and Senator Elena Smith spoke to reporters about a draft report that Senator Salazar emailed to them yesterday, Thursday.

Saldivar questions Central Bank on Duncan
When the Lev Dermen scandal erupted and brought down John Saldivar as the newly elected United Democratic Party leader, Senator Steven Duncan, who has been a sitting senator since 2015, suddenly resigned from the Senate on February 11, 2020. There are questions about whether Duncan should have been appointed a senator in the first place, considering that at the time of his appointment, he held the position of managing director of Heritage Bank. Attorney Arthur Saldivar wrote to Central Bank governor, Joy Grant, on February 25, 2020, about the matter.

NEBL season one week shy of mid-way point
his coming weekend will be the mid-way point of this year’s NEBL season. At the halfway mark fans will be able to better decipher the quality of the teams, as everyone will be fixing their eyes on one of the four playoff spots. The deadline for teams to add players to their roster will be Tuesday, March 3, after which final rosters cannot be changed. Belmopan Bandits hosted the defending champs, San Pedro Tiger Sharks on Friday night at the Hilltop basketball court in Belmopan.

Goals scarce; 3 shutouts in Week 8 of PLB Closing Season
We are 1 game into the second round of the double round-robin tournament of the Premier League of Belize (PLB) 2019-2020 Closing Season, and the race to the 4-team semifinal playoffs is heating up, as 6 teams are still realistically still in the race. Only a miracle can help BDF FC, who have only 1 point from their 6 games played so far; so it seems that Belize District fans will be joining fans of the Orange Walk, Corozal and Toledo districts, who have no hopes of seeing PLB playoff action this year in their home stadiums.

Weekend Warriors Series Race #5 results & Overall Standings
Here are the winners from yesterday’s last race of the 5-race Series. “A&B” went from Rockville Junction to Caves Branch Bridge then back to Armenia Village, for 40 miles; whilst the “C” riders rode the same route but started from Democracia Junction, for 30 miles. The race started at 9:00 a.m.

D. Bradley hasn’t crossed his apology bridge
My younger brother, Ron, a physician who has lived in the USA for the last 40 plus years, remarked on one of his quarterly visits several years ago, that Darrell Bradley, then the mayor of Belize City, was the best mayor Belize City had ever had. The same day he said that, he accompanied me on a trip through the city and my old truck bounced in a bad hole in a street and we had a mechanical problem. Ah, Mr. Bradley hadn’t gotten around to cementing that street yet. One street that Bradley did cement was Seashore Drive in Buttonwood Bay, the street where my brother has his big American-money-built home, the street which the PM’s wife and her friends decorate like it’s Fifth Avenue in New York at Krismos time.

Musings by the Curious Nonconformist
Recently, it was announced that a brilliant Belizean young woman, Abbie Godoy, was granted a Rhodes scholarship to attend Oxford University. She hopes to pursue an MPhil in Development Studies. Abbie is a fiery Belizean youth, a lady riot, whom I first met as an Informed Teen Reporter of the National Committee For Families and Children as she and her team reported on the World Youth Conference that happened in Belize some years ago. I also know of two protests that Ms. Godoy has led — the first being successive climate change protests in front of the National Assembly building in Belmopan and the second, more recent protest being a walkout from classes at the University of Belize...

The Valentine’s Day fundraiser dance
Jewel, reflecting a continued radiance from the night before, when she had received many compliments about her appearance in Gertrude’s creation, had attended the Communion service at nine the following morning along with Sonia, Safira and Emerson, as had Jerome, Nigel, Lloyd and I. Although we had sat in different places, after the service we had all met together under the wide front porch of the church, Jewel next to me, when Jerome had come over to greet us and had mentioned that he had intended to spend the afternoon at our house but had changed his plan on receiving a request...

“The proof, the proof!”
The following is a very special and pleasant memory of a speech that was presented by Clinton Uh Luna at the first WAMI Conference that took place on 9th September, 2011. Some years after the so-called discovery of this place we call America by Christopher Columbus, he was followed by several Europeans from different kingdoms. Our native tribes were slaughtered; many were extinguished.

Ernesto Cardenal, Nicaraguan poet and priest, dies at 95
Ernesto Cardenal, the renowned poet and Roman Catholic cleric who became a symbol of revolutionary verse in Nicaragua and around Latin America, and whose suspension from the priesthood by St. John Paul II lasted over three decades, died Sunday. He was 95. Known for his trademark black beret and loose white peasant shirts, the author of works such as “Epigrams” and “Zero Hour” was one of the most important and honored poets in Nicaraguan history. Cardenal penned verse that went around the globe, and lived until his last days with a lucidity that inspired amazement and admiration in the literary world.

Fatal traffic accident this morning on the Hummingbird Highway
A driver for German Vega’s Imports was killed this morning when the truck he was driving collided with another truck and overturned near Armenia on the Hummingbird Highway. He was identified as Jose Quiñonez. His passengers sustained minor injuries in the collision.

The Reporter

Huge Investigation: Multiple Agencies Looking At BDF Helicopter Downing
Today the Prime Minister ordered that all the Belize flags on government and other public buildings be flown at half-staff, in honor of the 4 BDF soldiers who died from the downing of their helicopter just off the shore-line near the village of Gales-Point.

LOVE FM

Tourists robbed at El Pilar
On Friday afternoon just after one o’clock, tourists were robbed at the El Pilar archaeological site in Cayo District. Two Belizean tour guides along with two tourists were site seeing when they were approached by four Hispanic males.

Medication for HIV patients are free of cost
Patients with HIV/AIDS in Belize have one less thing to worry about, since the government funds their anti-retroviral medication. This is an issue we asked for clarity on from Director of Health Services, Doctor Marvin Manzanero.

DOE retracts approval for gas station
The Department of Environment (DOE) has retracted the permit given for the construction of a gas station on South Ring Road in Belmopan. The gas station set to be constructed in front of Our Lady of Guadalupe Primary School.

NSUB, BEWU, and BWU stand in solidarity with NTUCB
The National Student Union of Belize (NSUB) also stated in their press release that they stand in solidarity with the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) in regards to their list of demands to the Government.

Choco family not properly informed of the passing of Corporal Reynaldo Choco
While the Mendez family has laid Corporal Yassir Mendez to rest today, the family of Corporal Reynaldo Choco is preparing for his funeral tomorrow. Yesterday one family member expressed dissatisfaction at how the Belize Defence Force has handled the situation, particularly the notification of his ordeal.

Stevedores continue to protest
Stevedores out at the Port of Belize continue to protest on Caesar Ridge Road. The protest began yesterday morning, carried through last night and continues up to news time tonight. President of the Christian Workers Union, Evan Mose Hyde says that despite their protest they are yet to hear from BSI/ASR or from Santander Group.

PSU AND NSUB send their condolences to the fallen BDF soldiers
The Public Service Union (PSU) and the National Student Union of Belize (NSUB) have sent out their condolences to the families of the four fallen Belize Defence Force (BDF) soldiers. The PSU states that they are, quote, “not satisfied with the narrative surrounding the operation nor the untimely and fragmented report of the crash landing issued by the Minister and Ministry of National Security.”

Darrell Bradley attends FOPREL
The President of the Senate, Darrell Bradley, attended the 38th Ordinary Meeting of Presiding Officers of National Parliaments of Central America and the Caribbean Basin (FOPREL) that was held in the Chamber of the Mexican Senate in Mexico City.

Millions of dollars of owed to KHMH
A raccoon inside of Belize’s national hospital is not something residents see every day, and the incident last week definitely left many of them alarmed. Like many other animals, raccoons can carry diseases.

Preliminary report of the helicopter crash is due Thursday March 5th
The investigation continues into the circumstances leading to the deaths of the four BDF soldiers on Thursday, February 27. While a preliminary report is due Thursday, March 5, Admiral Borland says one of the key questions being asked is who gave the men the order to fly.

Ministry Of National Security Is Looking At Several Options In Assisting The Bereaved Families
The deaths of the four BDF soldiers have not only left a vacuum in their homes which they once led but it has stripped their wives and children of a portion of their income.

Parliamentarians To Meet On Thursday For The Budget Reading
Parliamentarians will be meeting in Belmopan on Thursday morning for the budget reading. There was a big rally in the making where the UDP Standard Bearers were gathering supporters to rally in solidarity with the...

Director Of Health Says The Corona-Virus Will Come Just Like Dengue, Influenza And Other Viruses
The threat of COVID-19 has become more real for Belize as Mexico has reported multiple cases and over 50 countries around the globe have reported several cases. In recent weeks several fake news has been...

Four persons injured in car accident
Four people were injured in a road traffic accident near the FFB Stadium in Belmopan yesterday around 5:30pm. Cayo Correspondent Fem Cruz was on the scene and filed this report.

Belize Peace Movement demands a full independent investigation into BDF tragedy
The Belize Peace Movement (BPM) is making demands to the Government for a full independent investigation into Thursday’s incident that claimed the lives of the four BDF soldiers.

Mayor of San Ignacio prepares for La Ruta Maya
Paddlers and fans of the annual La Ruta Maya River Challenge are gearing up for the weekend. The start of the race begins under the historic Hawksworth Bridge in San Ignacio Town, Cayo District.

Stevedores strike against Port of Belie Limited
A group of stevedores was in front of the Port of Belize Limited (PBL) protesting this morning. The protest revolves around reports that the Belize Sugar Industries (BSI) is collaborating with Santander Group and moving away from exporting sugar through PBL and will be exporting through Big Creek Port in Stann Creek District.

Double murder in San Ignacio
Residents of San Ignacio Town, Cayo District received a shock when two people were killed on Saturday night. The incident occurred at Tai Kong Supermarket as the employees were closing up shop.

SSB says pay up!
The Social Security Board has called out dozens of employers who have failed to pay in their contributions for their workers. A list was made public on social media earlier today showing the names of the companies owing money to SSB along with the amount owed.

PUP wants answers
Certain sectors of the public are not the only ones who have taken issue with the late orders from the Prime Minister for flags to be flown at half-mast or at the absence of an address to the nation. In a release from the People’s United Party, they are demanding that the men be buried with full military honors.

Breaking Belize News

Cpl. Yassir Mendez laid to rest
Cpl. Yassir Mendez was today laid to rest in his home town of Douglas, Orange […]

Oceana says Belizean fishers could benefit from $2.5 million transition process if gillnet ban is decisive
Since 2009, Oceana has been supporting the call of Belizean fishers to have a form […]

Belize City crime spike sees three shot in matter of hours, fatalities reported
Belize City has experienced a wave of violence with three shootings this evening, two of […]

Transparent BPO hires industry leader as President to support growth
Transparent BPO, a nearshore contact center and business process outsourcer, today announced the hiring of […]

Ministry of Health plans national defense against coronavirus
The Government has approved a budget of $900,000 to prepare for the potential arrival of […]

Tropic Air’s cave tubing tour finds the right balance between adventure and relaxation
Tropic Air, the company that brought you the adrenaline pumping Black Hole Drop and the […]

BPP calls on Government for full investigation into deaths of 4 soldiers and calls for state funeral
The Belize Progressive Party (BPP) issued a statement extending condolences to families and friends of […]

Enrique Martinez & Sons your #1 dealer for Air conditioners, AC Refrigeration and supplies
Enrique Martinez & Sons Limited is a household name in Belize for their wide selection […]

Gregory Martinez shot and killed in Belize City
Gregory Martinez, 23, was shot and killed yesterday afternoon in Belize City. Police reports indicate […]

Child Stimulation month kicks off with beautiful parades
The month of March is child stimulation month and around the country, educators and education […]

One dead; two injured in traffic accident on Hummingbird highway
This morning, a road traffic accident claimed the life of truck driver, Jose Quinonez. Quinonez […]

Kidney Association to hold annual kidney walk
The Kidney Association of Belize (KAB) is inviting al Belizeans to support kidney patients around […]

Belizean delegation completes working visit on municipal and urban development in Merida
An article posted this week in the Yucatan Times notes that a delegation from Belize […]

One dead in road traffic accident on the Humming Bird Highway this morning
One man, identified as Jose Quinonez, has been confirmed dead in a road traffic accident […]

KHMH makes proactive preparations for coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Over the weekend, there were two reported cases of the novel coronavirus strain (COVID-19) in […]

Delivery truck reportedly flips on Hummingbird Highway
BBN has received reports of an accident on the Hummingbird Highway in an area between […]

Blogs

San Pedro Should Have a Parade EVERY Monday
Yesterday, Monday morning, I headed into town with a long list of errands. ... I walked up to the next street and BAM…I ran RIGHT into a parade. What a fantastic way to start your week. SUPER cute kids – celebrating “Child Stimulation Month”. Tough name but good cause. And the kids, though HOT (this was about 1 mile into their trek) were so super cute. SO I took a bunch of pictures.

Top things to know about buying property in Belize
If you’re thinking about joining the growing number of retirees and expatriates who are buying property and settling in Belize, then there are a few things you need to know before taking the plunge. One of the reasons why it’s easy to become a property-owner in Belize is that there aren’t any big restrictions on buying and owning property in Belize for foreigners. You don’t need special permissions or waivers. You can hold a property title in Belize with the name of a U.S. company, your name or a trust.

Ministry Of Health: No Coronavirus In Belize
The Office of the Director of Health Services in Belize issued a statement about the coronavirus. The statement mainly addresses the way an outbreak can become complicated if proper procedures aren’t followed. Panic and fear are the main things to be avoided. Both are triggered by false information and exaggerated news. Many rumors get spread in such situations, which can further exacerbate panic and fear.

International Sources

Late-Night Talks Appear To Falter As Carnival Threatens To Pull Vessels Over Coronavirus Protocols
Jamaica is at risk of losing at least three ship calls this week as a “stand-off” over protocols between the Ministry of Health and Wellness and Carnival Cruise Limited deepened last night, with the cruise line threatening to bypass the country if the Government failed to soften its stance on safeguards against the deadly novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. Up to last night, ministry officials were locked in discussions with senior executives of the cruise line who warned of their intention if local authorities did not relent on the stringency of protocol demands.

Belize man sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for illegal re-entry, possession of firearm
On Friday, the U.S. District Court in Sioux City sentenced a Belize man, who was found in the country illegally with a loaded handgun and false identification documents in his possession, to 18 years in federal prison. Moses Anthon Francisco, 53, from Belize, was sentenced to 216 months of prison with no parole by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. He must also serve a three-year supervise release term after his prison sentence is complete.

Videos

March 3, 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.

Ambergris Today

Child Stimulation Month Begins With Colorful Parade
Child Stimulation Month 2020 kicked off countrywide under the theme "Hug Me, Listen to Me, Read with Me – Help Me Grow". Like clockwork, Child Stimulation Month commences on the first day of March every year, with it bringing an array of activities for the pre-school children of San Pedro. Pre-Schools on the island celebrated the opening of Child Stimulation Month with a parade through the main streets of San Pedro. Children were in colorful costumes displaying National Symbols of Belize, Colors, Shapes, Community Workers and so much more.

Various Belizean Sources

March 14 Blood Drive in San Pedro
March 14: San Pedro RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE! Saturday, March 14, the San Pedro Branch of the Belize Red Cross will hold its quarterly blood drive at the Polyclinic from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. Be someone’s hero! Give the Gift of Life . Tourists and San Pedranos are welcome! Donors should be be 18-65 years of age and should eat breakfast or lunch before donating.

Justice of the Peace & Commissioners of Supreme Court Meeting in San Pedro
The monthly meeting of the Justice of the Peace and Commissioners of the Supreme Court will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 7PM, at the San Pedro High School room, 1G.

Tía Martina Passes away
It is with profound sadness that the Trejo Soliz family announces the passing of our beloved mother and grandmother, Martina Soliz Trejo. Affectionately known as Tía Martina to her countless relatives and friends. A wake will be held tonight March 2nd, 2020 at 6pm at her residence on Sandpiper Street, San Pedro Town (former location of Los Cocos Restaurant, behind Richies Supermarket). Funeral services will be tomorrow march 3rd,2020 8:00 am at the San Pedro Catholic Church. She will be fondly remembered and terribly missed.

Influential Women on Caye Caulker
In honor of International Womens Week, we are going to give credit to the influential women within this community who have made an impact with their hard work and dedication. We begin by featuring a very respected woman on the island Ms. Enelda Rosado. Ms. Enelda has had a positive impact within the education system aswell as in the lives of the Caye Caulker Children, she was a teacher for thirty years and held the position of principal for fifteen years. Her leadership skills won her the post as chairperson 2016-2019. Ms. Enelda is truly a rock star and an icon of Caye Caulker.

Office of the Prime Minister Orders National Flag to be Flown at Half Mast
The Office of the Prime Minister has ordered that Belize flags be flown at half-mast on all official buildings as of today and until the last Belize Defence Force (BDF) soldier is laid to rest. This is in honour of the memory of four members of the BDF who passed away while serving their country - Major Adran Ramirez, Major Radford Baizar, Corporal Yassir Mendez and Corporal Reinaldo Choco. The Government of Belize once again offers sincere condolences to the families of the soldiers, Commander, Officers and all men and women of the Belize Defence Force.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF FUNERAL SERVICES IN COROZAL FOR MAJOR ADRAN ".50 CAL" (RAM) RAMIREZ
ate: Thursday, March 5th, 2020 Location: St. Paul's By The Sea Anglican Church, 5th St. Corozal Town. Time: 10:00 a.m. A wake will be held in Corozal on Wednesday March 4th at the family home in Corozal starting at 7:00 p.m. & repasse will be held at the same location.

The Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of Benque had a river cleanup
They had a huge haul. Today, our club alongside the Rotaract Club of Benque Viejo and the Scouts cleaned a portion of the bank of the Mopan River in Benque Viejo. Thank you to everyone who assisted in one way or another to help us clean our river.

38th Ordinary Meeting of Presiding Officers of National Parliaments of Central America and the Caribbean Basin (FOPREL)
The President of the Senate, Honourable Darrell Bradley, recently attended the 38th Ordinary Meeting of Presiding Officers of National Parliaments of Central America and the Caribbean Basin (FOPREL) that was held in the Chamber of the Mexican Senate in Mexico City. Nine resolutions relating to institutional strengthening and budgetary issues, the 200th Anniversary of the Independence of Central America, the framework on migration, gender issues, and other economic and health issues within the region were discussed and approved by the presiding officers at the meeting which was held on Friday, 28th February 2020.

Ministry of National of Security Provides Update on Investigation into the Tragic Crash Landing of BDF Helicopter
On the evening of Friday, February 28, 2020, 25 members of the Honduran Naval Defence Rescue Team arrived in Belize by air caravan and has been assisting with the recovery of the wreckage from the Belize Defence Force helicopter accident site. On Saturday and Sunday, with the use of a Bell 412 Helicopter, the wreckage was recovered and has been taken to the BDF Air Wing. An investigative team under command of Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral John Borland was assembled over the weekend and is in the process of gathering information in order to assimilate the facts surrounding the BDF U1H1 Helicopter accident which occurred on Thursday, 27 February 2020, and claimed the lives of four officers.

Barefoots Birthday Bash ! Open Jam Session !
Barefoot Skinny is having his Birthday Bash this Friday at The Bluffs. Everyone's welcome to head out and jam.

San Ignacio Child Stimulation Month Parade
There was a parade today to celebrate Children's Month

BNRC 2020 Invitation
The National Institute of Culture and History, Galen University, The University of the West Indies Open Campus and the University of Belize are once again pleased to invite your participation in our 3rd Annual Belize National Research Conference. The Conference is scheduled for March 25 and 26, 2020 at the San Ignacio Hotel, Cayo District, Belize. This year's conference theme is: Democracy and Development in Belize. Belizean and international scholars, professors and graduate students will be presenting papers in fields such as community and democracy, environment and development, health and development, education and development, technology and development, democracy and development, and Entrepreneurship and development.

Seeds of Love Tree Planting Project
Last week, Oceana's Toledo Field Representative partnered with representatives from BTIA PG, JICA ,Ya'axché, BK Creative, PG Auto Parts and the Youth Association Developing Livelihoods in Toledo to host the “Seeds of Love Tree Planting Project. This project had participants from five different primary schools in Punta Gorda namely - St. Peter Claver, PG Methodist, St. Benedict's School, Bethel Adventist, and Forest Home Methodist Primary School.

First International Female Mesoamerican Hipball Tournament
The first ever international female mesoamerican Hipball tournament! Was an amazing experience and eye opener to have witnessed and participated in such a magnificent cultural and sporting event. The good vibes and essence of these female warriors was enormous! A heartfelt thanks to AJUPEME presidents Reyna Puc and Armando Uscanga, and all the directors and personel!

Maya Day 2020 March 22
Blue Creek Village, Toledo, March 22nd.

Channel 7

Soldier’s Mother Learned of His Death on Facebook
For many Belizeans, it has been a weekend of sadness over the death of four soldiers in a helicopter crash, and confusion over the very unclear circumstances of their demise.  And, in the middle of all that doubt, there are dozens of conspiracy theories seemingly on eternal loop in the social media echo chamber.   But, at the root of all this are the families of Major Adran Ramirez and Major Radford Baizar, Corporal Yassir Mendez and Corporal Reinaldo Choco.  They are the ones most struggling with the loss of these soldiers.   On Friday, we showed you that Major Baizar's mother in Belize city had not been informed of her son's death by the BDF.  Well, it's the same in PG for Corporal Reinaldo Choco's mother, Sylvana.  She told PGTV that she found out about her son's demise through social media.

Chief of Defence Staff Responds to Mothers
And to get a response on this major communication breakdown, this afternoon in Belmopan we spoke with Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral John Borland.

Families Feel Betrayed By The BDF
Indeed, the BDF told us on Friday that they did contact the persons who are next of kin.  But, according to reports even they feel betrayed by army that their husbands served.   A statement attributed to Jennine Thompson-Baizar, wife of Major Radford Baizar, says, quote, "These men did not have to die this way, it was not necessary for them to embark on such a deadly mission. Both Radford and Mr. Ramirez were experts, Radford especially was very much into safety, he would rather ground the aircraft and cancel the mission before risking his life and the lives of his passengers."

Helicopter’s Wreck Raised, but Are Those Bullet Holes?
And was one of those factors gunfire?  Many civilians were questioning what looks to the untrained eye like bullett holes in the helicopter's body.   The wreck of the helicopter was raised this weekend and we asked Borland what it shows:.. Admiral John Borland - Chief of Defense Staff: "The investigation started over the weekend with the recovery of the wreck from the crash site. That was done by Cisco Salvage and Wreck Removal along with the Honduran Navy who were on-board with us from Friday afternoon..." 

Airing Whistleblower Says Flight Took Off At 2:00 AM
And while we wait to see the findings of those reports, we didn't have to wait to hear form an airwing insider who was very concerned about the mysterious circumstances of the Huey helicopter's last flight. A soldier of unknown rank who works in the airing recorded a voice message which has been widely shared.  Borland responded to it: Voice of: Airwing soldier: "Guys, listen to me right, that flight for that chopper was not reported none at all. I worked the night when the plane landed. That chopper flew from the night when the plane landed. Nobody knew about it. Not even the watch keeper, not even me, not even operation Mr. Poc..."

Helicopter’s Mission Was Fraught With Danger
We also asked about the very alarming issue of night vision capability.  As we told you on Friday, the helicopter didn't have it.  But, the experienced pilots pressed on anyway, in the total darkness of pre-dawn, and into a cold front.  We asked today if all those elements were a recipe for disaster: Jules Vasquez: "Is that an area of urgent interest that in fact these gentlemen were put in a mission to fly into the night without specific night time capabilities?" Admiral John Borland - Chief of Defense Staff
"That is indeed is one of the burning issues. It is no secret to us that indeed, that is the case. Those reports have been made, not recently but in other times that there is a shortage of equipment that would allow the air wing to operate at night..."

Flags On All Official Buildings Fly At Half Mast
As we told you Admiral Borland is the Chief of Defence Staff directing a multi agency investigation.  You'll hear who all is on that later on in the news.  But, tonight, flags across Belize are flying at half mast.  The Office of the Prime Minister has ordered that this be done at all official buildings as of today and until the last Belize Defence Force (BDF) soldier is laid to rest. 

Mysterious Double Murder In San Ignacio
There was a double murder in San Ignacio Town on Saturday night that has shaken the communities of the twin towns. 
33-year-old Marva Rivera, and her co-worker, 33-year-old Shawn Vasquez, were leaving their job  site. They were right in front of the supermarket when a gunman snuck up on them and opened fire. Vasquez and Marva Rivera were fatally injured, while her husband Richard Rivera was grazed by one of the bullets in the barrage. 

One Murdered, Two Shot In Dollar Van
And there is another murder to report; this one happened in Belize City this afternoon in a known hotspot.   It came out of a broad daylight shooting in the St. Martin's area on Police Street exention.  The chaos started at around 1:25 when a gunman entered G&E mechanic shop and began firing shots at 25-year-old Gregory Martinez. Martinez ran through his backyard onto Mahogany street where, as shown in this surveillance footage, he emerges onto Mahogany street and jumps into a dollar van.

Friday Shooting At Mechanic Shop
But, was this murder foreshadowed? There was a shooting in front of the very same mechanic shop on last Friday night, which landed the well-known figure, Brandon Baptist, at the hospital. Here's what police had to say about that shooting incident: Hilberto Romero, Sr. Supt - Deputy, NCIB: "On Friday the 28th of February 2020, police visited the KHMH where they found Brandon Baptist with gunshot injuries to the body. Investigation revealed that he was on Police Street when a black in colour vehicle came to the area..."

Faber Supporters Heckle UDP Bigwigs At Their Own Headquarters
Switching gears now to politics, the UDP held its big national party council meeting this weekend. But, it was bigger than expected because Patrick Faber's camp mobilised a few hundred supporters to rally for him in front of his own party headquarters. Here's what we saw when we went out there:

UDP Will Go to Another Convention
And while that was the noise at the National Party Council meeting - the business of the meeting was actually more important.   The UDP is going to another national convention on April 5th, less than two months after its last national convention.  And, all those like Faber and Omar Figueroa who want to vie for the post have until March 26th to submit their names.   We learned more on this from the Chairman: Hon. Michael Peyrefitte - UDP Chairman: "The national party council meeting was fairly short, as I've indicated before, I didn't even see the need to have one just to set dates but we had one..."

Why Not Wilfred?
And we won't know if it will be contested.  As Faber mentioned earlier   there could be a compromise - and, conventional political wisdom would indicate that there must be because the UDP cannot afford another divisive contested convention.  But, these days, the UDP hasn't been following any kind of conventional wisdom.

Stevedores Lightning Strike At Port of Belize
There was a commotion at the Port of Belize this morning, as the stevedores, along with mechanics and engineers spontaneously walked off the job in a bold act of industrial action.  
Their union, the Christian's Workers drew the line after it was reported last week that Santander and ASR, intend to consolidate their interests and take raw sugar exporting through the Big Creek Port. 

Team Investigating Helicopter Flight Is Diverse
At the top of the news, we have you all the latest on the preliminary official discussions around the crash of the BDF's U1H1 Helicopter, which killed two pilots and two corporals who accompanied them.  They were lending air support to an anti drug operation.   Well, support for the investigating is coming from the Honduran Navy, the US Southern Command, and the manufacturers of the helicopter's engine. On Friday evening 25 members of the Honduran Naval Defence Rescue Team arrived in Belize by air caravan and they are the ones who recovered the wreckage from the western lagoon with the use of a Bell 412 Helicopter.

Street Art Fest Is Sensory Buffet
On Saturday NICH hosted its 10th annual Street Art Fest in downtown Belize City. The event featured a multitude of artists creating in real time, in a public space to offer visitors a kind of sensory buffet of all the flavours of Belize's creative cornucopia. Cherisse Halsall spent the afternoon soaking it all in and here's is her story. On Saturday "the Alberts" was alive with colour and vibrancy for the 10th annual street art Festival. There was all kinds of art as far as the eye could see, and by noon even the Channel 7 studio was getting a makeover. The festival is about art but also about creatives getting to share with the community. To create, curate, and showcase in a public space where the masses are the muse.

Tourists Robbed At Oft-Troubled El Pilar
The El Pilar Mayan Archaeological Site sits at the western edge of the Cayo District, very close to the Belize/Guatemala border.  Over the years, we've heard from tour guides who've raised concerns about the risks that cross-border bandits can pose to them and the tourists in their care. Well, last Friday afternoon, 2 tour guides from the Cayo District and their 2 American guests came face to face with that danger. That's when they were robbed by machete-wielding thieves believed to be Guatemalan nationals.

Motorcycle Cop Knocked Down On Boom Road
There was a slew of traffic accidents on Belize's highways this weekend, but fortunately, none of them resulted in any fatality. We report first on an accident that occurred on the Hattieville Boom Road, just after midnight last Friday.

RTA On Northern Highway
There was another traffic accident, this weekend. It happened on the Philip Goldson Highway between Miles 6 and 7 on Saturday evening at around 6:00. An SUV had a head-on collision with an MCI Bus. Police shared more details about the incident at today's press briefing:

Vehicle Flips In Front of FFB HQ
We turn now to an accident which happened yesterday evening in Belmopan, right in front of the FFB Headquarters.  At around 5:30 p.m., officers responded and found a beige Toyota Tacoma pick-up which was overturned with its 4 wheels in the air. The driver of the vehicle had 3 passengers: 1 in the cab with him and 2 in the pan. Somehow, he lost control of the vehicle, and flipped.

Hilux Flips, Life Spared
And finally, for tonight, we report on another non-fatal accident on the George Price Highway this weekend. This one happened near La Democracia, and here's what police know about it so far:

Channel 5

Investigation underway into fatal heli crash!
Tonight, flags are flying at half mast at public buildings as the country mourns the deaths of four B.D.F. officers. The wreckage of the helicopter was removed from the crash [...]

The Choco Family says Ministry nor B.D.F informed them of son’s death
The mother of deceased pilot Radford Baizar said on Friday that the family didn’t get an official word from the Ministry nor the B.D.F. that the pilot had perished. The [...]

Former Minister of Home Affairs Weighs in on Deadly Chopper Crash
Former Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington, upon leaving the U.D.P.’s National Party Council meeting on Saturday, was asked about his knowledge of the fatal helicopter crash that claimed [...]

Greg Martinez Murdered, Two Others Injured in Belize City Shooting
This afternoon, shots rang out on Police Street in Belize City. A gunman opened fire on Gregory Martinez, who was at his grandmother repairing a vehicle. Martinez fled into Mahogany [...]

Two Persons Murdered in San Ignacio Town
Two persons were killed and one injured on Saturday night in San Ignacio. The security officer at the Tia Kong Supermarket, thirty-two year old Shann Vasquez and cashier thirty-two year [...]

Stevedores protest outside Port of Belize
There was a protest outside of the Port of Belize Today. Stevedores, along with their Union president and other union leaders, stood outside the gates to  protest the news that [...]

What are consequences for protesters?
So, as you heard just now, the C.W.U. president Evan “Mose” Hyde says that the stevedores are prepared to go the distance to what he calls, a fight for their [...]

N.T.U.C.B. Issues Statement in Solidarity with the Stevedores
This afternoon, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize issued a statement to say it is in solidarity with the stevedores who stand to lose their jobs and those who [...]

N.T.U.C.B. Holds Special Meeting of General Council
The general council of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize met on Saturday and out of that special meeting came a number of demands from the umbrella organization. Following [...]

PUP is critical over GOB’s inaction following the deadly BDF crash
The deaths so the B.D.F. officer is evoking strong sentiments everywhere. The People’s United Party critical of the handling of the worst airs disaster that claimed the lives of Major [...]

UDP Sets Date for New Leadership Convention
The United Democratic Party is calling out its supporters to head to Belmopan for Thursday’s House Meeting which will see the budget presentation for the 2020/2021 fiscal year. The P.U.P. [...]

More than $75,000 owed in contributions to the S.S.B.
There is a list in circulation from the Social Security Board naming at least forty-three businesses that are in arrears to the S.S.B. the thousands of dollars. The list contains [...]

Fire Leaves Five Homeless, Including Three Children
Five persons, including three children are left displaced after an electrical iron was left on at their house at the Corner of Jane Usher Boulevard and Curl Thompson Street in [...]

Fire victim says she will need help to rebuild
Fire victim, Westby says the setback will affect her and her three children significantly because she was not paying any rent and while she is staying with a relative now, [...]

Belize City resident stabbed on the back
So far we have reported on two murders, there was also slew of stabbings and shootings over the weekend. Police are looking for two suspects after Ronnie Pott was stabbed [...]

Four persons injured in a hit and run
There was a hit and run traffic accident on Sunday evening on the Hummingbird Highway in Belmopan, and it left three persons injured. The driver of the vehicle fled the [...]

Child Stimulation Month 2020 Officially Underway
March is celebrated annually as Child Stimulation Month and there is an entire calendar of events that commenced today with a parade of kindergarten students, their parents and their teachers [...]

Darrell Bradley in Mexico City
The President of the Senate, Darrell Bradley, was in Mexico City for the thirty-eighth Ordinary Meeting of Presiding Officers of National Parliaments of Central America and the Caribbean Basin, known [...]

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

Amandala

Another youth lost his life to gun violence
A shooting on Police Street earlier this afternoon claimed the life of Gregory Martinez, 25.

Stevedores Protest Port Of Belize
Stevedores and some of their Christian Workers Union representatives are protesting at the entrance to the Port of Belize Compound in Belize City citing gross discourtesy and disrespect. Their issues of contention are two fold. One, they say there is now clear indication that Santander and ASR will consolidate their interests and take raw sugar exports through the Big Creek Port.

The Reporter

3 People Shot On Police Street
The Reporter has confirmed that the man who was shot in the Lake Independence area, on Police Street is Gregory Martinez.

Felix Enriquez, CEO, Min Of National Security Has Not Resigned
Since morning there have been rumors that Ministry of National Security CEO Felix Enriquez has been forced to resign in the wake of the tragedy last Thursday in which four B.D.F. soldiers were killed.

House Gutted By Late Morning Fire
A wooden home occupied by five persons – two adults and three children – located at the corner of Jane Usher Boulevard and Curl Thompson Street was completely destroyed by fire this morning.

Stevedores Getting The Boot, Because Of Multi-National Neo-Liberals “So Says Hyde”
Today stevedores, along with their Union president and other Union leaders, protested outside the Port of Belize Limited. A primary reason for the strike ...

LOVE FM

UDP holds National Party Council Meeting
On the political front tonight, we can tell you that the United Democratic Party has made progress in getting a new Party Leader Elect. It’s not a lot of progress in terms of quelling the internal ruckus that haunts the ruling party but it is a step forward as a date has been set for the next leadership convention.

RTA in Ladyville over the weekend
An employee of Grace Kennedy Belize Limited was injured during a road traffic incident that occurred at mile six on the Philip Goldson Highway Saturday night just after five o’clock.

RTA in Democracia over the weekend
There was a road traffic accident on Sunday night just after six o’clock near Democracia Village, Belize District.

Gregory Martinez; shot to death in front of his home
A mechanic’s life was cut short this afternoon just after one’clock on Police Street Extension in Belize City. 25-year-old Gregory Martinez was working in his garage along with 53-year-old Lindsford Garay and his uncle, Kirk Ramclam when a lone gunman entered the garage and fired several shots in their direction.

Flags flown at half-mast to mourn BDF soldiers
An order from the Office of the Prime Minister was issued this morning just after ten o’clock to have all Belize flags be flown at half-mast up until Friday evening when the last of the four BDF soldiers would have been laid to rest. The order is for the flags currently hoisted on official buildings around the country.

Construction worker injured on the job
Construction worker of Saint Margaret’s Village is hospitalized after he fell off a roof at his workplace. 30-year-old Mervin Morales was at his workplace in Teakettle Village just after eight o’clock this morning when the incident occurred.

Belize still in talks for trade with Guatemala
While chaos brews inside the UDP, there are still national issues that need attending to. One of those is the pending visit by the Guatemalan President, Alejandro Giammattei.

Admiral John Borland heads investigation team into deaths of BDF soldiers
It has just been over seventy two hours since the bodies of Major Adran Ramirez, Major Radford Baizar, Corporal Raineldo Choco and Corporal Yassir Mendez were retrieved from the Gales Point Lagoon. The military men met their demise when the U1H1 chopper went down sometime on Thursday.

Breaking Belize News

Bullet Tree man victim of hit and run
According to reports, a young man was found badly injured last night on the side […]

One dead several injured in Belize City shooting
Reports reaching our newsroom is that one man is dead and several persons, including a […]

Man detained after being busted in 10-year-old girl’s room
A man is detained after he was busted in the room of a ten-year-old girl. […]

Suspected Guatemalans rob tourists visiting El Pilar
Over the weekend there was a robbery in Cayo. It happened near the El Pillar […]

Early morning commuters concerned over unattended Baking Pot ferry
Several early morning commuters that travel to Spanish Lookout via the Baking Pot Ferry in […]

Belizeans can enter and win in McNab Visuals Instagram competition
Belizeans are also eligible to enter and win in the McNab Visuals Instagram competition, being […]

Ronnie Pott stabbed in Belize City
Ronnie Pott is alive and well after an attack over the weekend. He told police […]

Two alive after gun attack
On Friday at around 10 p.m. police visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH). There, […]

Fleeing suspects open fire at police
Two police officers attempting to conduct a search on two men almost lost their lives […]

PUP condemns Ministry of National Security’s ‘attitude’ in face of BDF tragedy
The People’s United Party (PUP) issued a statement today condemning the attitude of the Ministry […]

Caribbean Community agrees on Coronavirus (COV19) Protocol
Heads and ministers of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have agreed that a regional protocol establishing […]

Boxing community in Belize mourns the loss of beloved coach
The boxing community in Belize is mourning the loss of a local icon in the […]

Christian Workers Union leads protest outside Port of Belize
Framing their fight as one of survival, President of the Christian Workers Union (CWU) Evan […]

Prime Minister orders national flag to be flown at half-mast until last BDF soldier is laid to rest
The office of the Prime Minister this morning issued a statement ordering that Belize flags […]

UDP to host 2nd convention for party leader
The ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) announced that it will be holding a party-leader convention […]

Blogs

March in Belize
It’s March in Belize again, and it is the best time to visit! Why…you may wonder. Well, for one, the weather is ideal for the outdoors. You have warm temperatures of 80 degrees or higher and the cool breeze appropriately called “March breeze”, that refreshes you when you’re out in the sun. This month is also a popular time for locals with various public holidays coming up. This means free time to enjoy the festivities and amazing weather!

The 3rd Annual Belize Birding Festival Dates Are Out!
The Belize Birding Festival welcomes local and international birders and wildlife enthusiasts to enhance their appreciation of the spectacular beauty of the natural habitat, throughout the length and breadth of the country, that the almost 590 resident and migratory birds of Belize live in. Enjoy the day strolling through vendor booths, attending workshops, join a group for a birding tour, share photos and experiences about your birding adventures!

10 Interesting Facts About Belize
Belize is known for The Great Blue Hole – Largest Sea Hole in The World, crystal turquoise waters, and even for its mystical Maya Ruins but here are a few facts that are quite intriguing and interesting about this small and beautiful Caribbean destination. Great things come in small packages and Belize is no exception. Though our nation is small physically, don’t underestimate the wonders Belize has to offer. Many tourists who come for a short visit end up falling in love and even retiring here. Belize is a country that leaves a lasting impression. Here are a few fun and interesting facts to know about Belize.

Fly Fishing in Belize – Everything You Need To Know
Belize is one of the best places in Central America to fish. It offers a wide variety of fishing opportunities, but it stands out as a fly-fishing paradise. If you’re one of the many avid anglers who enjoy fly-fishing, then Belize is an amazing opportunity to do what you love. To fish in Belize, you’ll need to get a fishing license. The fees are mostly reasonable with weekly licenses costing BZ$50. You can apply online as well. If you only want a daily license, then you can pay a bit less at BZ$20. Some Belize fish species are catch and release only, including bonefish, tarpon, and permit.

International Sources

Forbes: Looking For Adventure, Spa, Wellness? Check Out This Central American Hot Spot
Do your kids want plenty of active adventure, hiking, or ATV riding in the jungle? Does your husband want to dive or snorkel in the second-largest barrier reef in the world? Do you want to enjoy a great spa and maybe partake in some yoga and meditation? Well, come to Belize, where you can have three different experiences all in one trip. This Caribbean country allows for three different experiences—jungle, beach, wellness—all in one vacation.

Coronavirus now confirmed in three Caribbean states
More reports of the coronavirus have emerged in the Caribbean with St. Maarten and St. Barts joining the Dominican Republic in recording cases. This has prompted Dr. Carissa Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization, to express concern about the region's capacity to deal with an outbreak of the virus. During a video conference on Sunday Dr. Etienne reported that there are three cases in the Dominican Republic, two in St. Maarten and one in St. Barts.

Why Carnival Cruise Ships Are Skipping Some Caribbean Ports
With several Caribbean islands continuing to turn away cruise ships out of fear of the coronavirus, Carnival Cruise Line is implementing changes regarding what ports they visit. In response to questions about the Carnival Horizon changing its itinerary, brand ambassador addressed the situation directly. “Here,” he said, “is the latest news as to why we have changed a few of our itineraries.” What followed was a statement reading: “We are implementing some itinerary changes on voyages scheduled to call on Grand Cayman and Jamaica this week. A number of Caribbean destinations continue to work through their policies with regards to cruise ship visits.”

Mérida City Council strengthens cooperation ties with Belize
The good planning and construction practices promoted in the City of Mérida through the Municipal Urban Development Program, position the Yucatecan capital as an example of guidance for other cities around the world that seek to improve in that area. Since the beginning of his administration, the Municipal President Renan Barrera Concha, has had the firm objective of making Mérida a world leader in planning and urban construction actions that are environmentally responsible.

Videos

March 2, 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: Maya Pottery
“Wow! Bob and Trina have a beautiful house,” I said to Sherry as we parked the golf cart. “It’s big, too.” “It has to be big,” she said. “With Maya families there are usually several generations living under one roof. So, there’s usually plenty of kids and grandkids around.” “Bob’s not Maya,” I said. “He’s […]

Doctor Love: Desperate
"Physical and emotional betrayal, disrespectful behavior and repeating harmful patterns all break down the trust that married couples need. Lies and shifting blame cause self-doubt and damage self esteem and confidence, creating a wall that is difficult to break down."

Various Belizean Sources

Firemen Training in Corozal
Since returning to Belize, Rob Riverol has hit the ground running - literally!!These pictures are just a snippet of the work being done with the support of his Lieutenant Kevin Williams. Rob shared his knowledge with both career and volunteers firefighters of the Corozal Fire Station in: Nozzle Forward Hose Management, Hose Lays and Deployment Techniques, and MVC & Extrication. These are just a few of the topics and skills being shared. HEROES TRAINING HEROES!! Strong work Rob Riverol and thank you to Lieutenant Kevin Williams and the Corozal Firefighters for all you do!!

Mass Sunday at La Senora de Asuncion Church to open Women's month
The Caye Caulker Village Council must commend Sgt. Christine Avila and the police officers of the Caye Caulker formation as they led Mass today at La Senora de Asuncion Church to open Women's month. We salute you!

Belize Closed Hunting Seasons

Belmopan Marching Band Calling Drummers and Dancers
Are you a dancer? Are you a drummer??? Meet us at Belmopan Civic Center this coming Thursday at 5pm Lets bring back the Band

2020 Camp Joy 5K Run/Walk
On February 29, BNE's Team "Green Energy" participated in the Camp Joy 5K Run/Walk in aid of people with intellectual disabilities. Thank you to all who participated to highlight this important cause.

Street Art Festival
The 10th annual Street Art Festival was another success! We want to thank all the Artists, participants, partners, sponsors, audiences, the hardworking ICA team, anyone who assisted in anyway to make this a success....Major Thanks!

Maya Cultural Experience — at Yo Creek Village
Miss Felicita Cantun and Joannie Cantun is keeping the Maya Culture alive in Belize. Not only are they sharing the cultural experience but they are also passing the culture and traditions on to the younger generations.

Channel 5

A Grieving Wife Speaks Out
"I would like to start off by saying my condolences to all the family and friends of the deceased. My heart goes out especially to Mrs. Alys Ramirez and her children. I am outraged by the events leading up to the the death of my husband Major Radford Lee Baizar and the others who tragically lost their lives on Thursday in such a horrific manner. Corruption and greed by those entrusted with the delicate task of running our beloved country is now to the point of national humiliation.

Amandala

Double murder in San Ignacio on Saturday night
Around 10:00 p.m. a gunman ambushed a man and a woman, shooting both dead, as they stood outside a business establishment in San Ignacio Town. The incident occurred shortly after Tai Kong Store, located on Joseph Andrews Drive, was closed.The security guard, Shawn Vasquez and Marva Itch were standing in front of the store conversing, when a gunman, who was wearing a hoodie to disguise himself, opened fire, killing both persons.

UDP sets April 5 as convention date, if more than 1 application for party leader is submitted
The United Democratic Party (UDP) held a National Party Council (NPC) meeting at its Youth for the Future Drive headquarters yesterday morning, to chart the way forward to install a new party leader to replace the retiring, longtime leader, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow (Queen’s Square).

The Reporter

Coronavirus Creates Cruise Ship Scare
This week two more reports surfaced on social media that two ships – one destined for Belize and one already landed – had on board two patients showing signs of the dreaded COVID-19 virus.

Man hospitalized Following Traffic Accident
A man is being hospitalized after yesterday evening’s traffic accident between miles 6 and 7 on the Philip Goldson Highway. (Northern Hwy.) Police sources indicate that sometime around 5:30 p.m., Malcolm Longsworth, 29, of Airport Road, Ladyville, was driving a car in the direction from Belize City...

A Grieving Wife Speaks Out
(The following is a statement from Jennine Thompson-Baizar, wife of Major Radford Lee Baizar, who tragically died while in service of his country) “I would like to start off by saying my condolences to all the family and friends of the deceased. My heart goes out especially to Mrs. Alys Ramirez and her children.

Political Victimization!
During his recent appearance on The Morning Show on Love FM, John Saldivar, quite shockingly and with a cornucopia of arrogance, admitted that political victimization is a Belizean reality.

Editorial: March 1st. 2020
The Belize Council of Churches, an association of all the Christian Churches of Belize, has said that it does not support the proposed Equal Opportunities Bill due to go before the House.

No CoronaVirus In Belize
The number of cases of COVID-19 (also referred to as Coronavirus) has decreased in China – its country of origin, but the virus is expected to continue to spread outside of China, making it a serious disease globally because of the way it is passed on.

Man Stabbed In Belize City
A man is in a stable condition after he was stabbed yesterday evening in Belize City. Reports are that sometime around 6:15 p.m., Thijean Usher, 19, was stabbed...

Cashier and Security Officer Shot Dead in Cayo
A cashier and a security guard were killed last night in San Ignacio, Cayo and a BDF soldier has been detained pending investigations into the incident. Reports reaching the Reporter are that the cashier, Marva Rivera, 32, and the guard, Shann Kevin Vasquez, 32, were leaving the Tia Kong Supermarket on Joseph Andrews Drive...

Breaking Belize News

Verdes consolidate PLB lead as Pirates heat up
San Pedro Pirates are aiming to cement their playoff status after a second home win […]

Police hunt cell phone robbers in Belmopan
Belmopan police are looking for two Hispanic men who held up a pair of women […]

Teen boy held in reported sexual assault
A Cayo District teenager is being held on suspicion of sexually assaulting a ten-year-old girl. […]

Cayo Town Council condemns murders
The double murder on Saturday night has rocked the twin towns of San Ignacio and […]

House meets Thursday for Barrow’s last budget presentation
The House of Representatives meets in a special session on Thursday morning, March 5, to […]

Four reportedly injured in Belmopan traffic accident
BBN has received reports of a traffic accident near the FFB Stadium in Belmopan. According […]

Office of Director of Health Services issue update on Coronavirus cases in Latin America
The Office of Director of Health Services issued an update informing that there is no […]

US Embassy’s Chargé D’affaires extends condolences on passing of Belizean soldiers
The US Embassy’s Chargé D’affaires, Keith Gilges, issued a statement extending heartfelt condolences to the […]

Defenders stay top of Elite Basketball League
Digi Belize City Defenders (7-1) have run their winning streak to six after toppling Orange […]

Fallen BDF soldier’s wife speaks out
On Thursday morning, four members of the Belize Defence Force died after their helicopter went […]

Blogs

Finding Favorites On Caye Caulker: Hang-Out Spot, Fry Jacks, Ceviche and More
I’ve spent a good deal of time finding lots of favorites on my home island of Ambergris Caye. Almost 13 years now on the island and I have a favorite coffee spot, I have my favorite rice and beans, my favorite fry jacks, my favorite breakfast taco spot and more…lots more Big Experiences on Caye Caulker. 50? I’m not sure yet. But I’ve been doing research and I have LOTS more to do. I have some favorites*. Asteriks to indicate: SO FAR. Here are a bunch of pictures that I took on my last trip over just a few weeks back AND a few new favorites I’ve found.

EMBRACING GARIFUNA CULTURE AND BEACH LIFE IN HOPKINS, BELIZE
If you head down south, away from the Caribbean vibes and backpacker hotspots of the islands, you’ll find the petite village of Hopkins. This string of local houses, beachfront cabanas and vibrant bars and restaurants is lined with a long sandy beach and crystal clear water. With access to nearby national parks, a serene river trail and an abundance of diving and snorkeling, it’s a brilliant place to visit. It also happens to be much cheaper than the islands and far less touristic.

Belize: One Week, 7 Must-Dos
Tucked just below the Yucatan Peninsula is the stunning jewel of Belize. With rainforests teaming with birds, striking ancient Mayan ruins and the world’s second-longest barrier reef, Belize boasts a dizzying array of activities and sites that could keep one busy for a year. If you are like most, however, you will only have seven vacation days. Here’s a list of must-do activities for that one week in Belize.

8 reasons Belize should be on your radar
From the verdant jungles to the I-can’t-believe-these blues of the coast, Belize is a small Central American nation that packs a punch for those looking for an affordable paradise. We’ve compiled a list of reasons why you need to drop everything right now and book a trip.

Top Canoeing Experiences in Western Belize
Water adventures are a great way for everyone to have some fun and explore the beautiful waters of Western Belize up close. Take an exhilarating journey and see some of the amazing wonders that Cayo has to offer; you might even spot a pre historic dinosaur!

International Sources

Cassie Griffin takes third mission trip to Belize
Cassie Griffin, a newcomer to the Mohican area, recently returned home from her third mission trip to the tiny Central American country of Belize. “The trips are organized by my uncle, Dave Rankin, and his church, the Lewisburg United Methodist Church, near Dayton,” said Griffin, who is married to Loudonville native Travis Griffin and moved back into his home area a year ago. “Fifteen years ago, before Trav and I were married, Uncle Dave, knowing I had a deep curiosity of the world, invited me to accompany him on a mission trip to the tiny town of San Narciso, Belize.

The Best Wine Bars in Belize
The best wine bars provide an endless array of bottle wine listings served with knowledgeable but gracious and friendly servers. It is also a place that is fair with your pocket and paired with the best charcuterie board of cheese and cured slices of meat. These bars create an ambiance of relaxation, openness, and happy emotions. They also have become the latest fad over the last couple of years all over the world and Belizeans don’t miss a thing. Here is a listing of the best wine bars in Belize.

How To Enjoy Belize On A Budget | Belize On The Cheap
Instead of a full-service, luxury resort, stay at a locally owned motel, guest house or bed-and-breakfast. You’ll pay less money and still get clean, comfortable accommodations. They often have their gardens and landscaped areas. Some provide their tours, guides, and shuttles. You can support a local business while saving money. Food in Belize can be expensive if it’s imported. If you want to eat your favorite brands, you’re going to pay the price. Why not enjoy delicious, freshly cooked local food? Locally owned diners serve chicken with rice, beans, and tortillas for about $6 a plate. Try a taco or fried conch fritters from a street vendor. Visit one of the many farmer’s markets for fresh food of all kinds. Instead of imported beers and spirits, drink locally made Belikin beer and Belizean rum.

In Fight Against Plastic Pollution, Sikkim Introduces Bamboo Water Bottles For Tourists
A quaint town of Sikkim is set to introduce bamboo water bottles for tourists in a bid to completely stop the use of plastic water bottles and littering. Lachen, arguably the first town to completely ban packaged drinking water bottles, is introducing bamboo bottles as an alternative. Lachen draws lakhs of tourists each year for its snow-capped peaks and picturesque views. As tourism in the town grows, so does plastic water bottles left behind by tourists.

Videos

March 1, 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

Letter to the Editor: The Way I See It
Further to my entry in SPS vol 30, #06 dd.07/02/20 I would like to add a couple more insults to my intelligence by this proposed Equal Opportunity Bill (EOB). h ) prescribing discretionary monetary fines in the tens of thousands of dollars and incarceration up to 20 years for accused persons found guilty by this tribunal even though the promoters of this bill have defended it as not being a criminal trial. i ) disqualifying any person who has declared bankruptcy from being eligible for a seat on this Committee which means that thousands of stable and competent and honorable citizens could not participate in this elitist panel of jurors.

Algas Organics proposes solutions for combating sargassum
Algas Organics is the Caribbean’s first indigenous agriculture biotechnology company. Based in St. Lucia, their focus is on the development of environmentally friendly agricultural inputs. The company currently exports its products within the Caribbean region and recently started exporting to Belize in 2019. The company was founded in 2014 by CEO Johanan Dujon, who led the presentation to hoteliers and business owners from the island. His proposal centered on conduction individual surveys to the affected areas and bringing their equipment to collect the sargassum and take it away for processing and conversion into fertilizer and bio-pesticides.

Sunshine Scholarship Foundation to host fundraiser musical show at El Divino
The general public is invited to support a fundraiser event on March 28, 2020, at Banana Beach Resort’s El Divino Restaurant. Set to benefit the Sunshine Scholarship Foundation, the event will start at 4PM, featuring a musical performance by Jake Hill Productions alongside Mr. Vegas McGraw. There is no entrance fee, but there will be a VIP section, 50/50 raffles, silent auctions, and even Chinese auctions. All proceeds will benefit the scholarship fund that will help island children attending Isla Bonita Elementary School.

Various Belizean Sources

Senior Fair in Corozal
Corozal Community College presents Senior Fair at the Corozal Central Park.

Pueblo Nuevo Ferry opens, Progresso road graded
Ferry is back in service and road from the ferry to junction of Copper Bank Village and Progresso Village graded.

The JPIIJC Environmental Club did a clean-up to celebrate Leap Day This morning the club headed to the Mopan River to clean up the trash and debris around the banks. A special thank you to Kyle Montero, Oceana's outreach coordinator for the Cayo district, for joining our students and contributing your time and talents!

Belmopan had a huge clean-up campaign Friday
Today, the Belmopan City Council partner with schools and community groups to show love to the City of Belmopan by participating in the I Love Belmopan Clean-up Campaign. Thank you to all 10 primary schools and 4 high schools that participated in the clean-up.

Belize City Street Art Festival 2020
20 photographs

Gateway Arches to Eco-museum
Rendering of one of two Gateway Arches to demarcate the two entrances of our soon to be established Eco-museum in downtown Belize City. A second will be installed near the Yarborough Cemetery.

Transmitting knowledge to the younger generation about the Yucatec Maya culture of Belize
As part of the mother's day program 2017 at San Pablo community School in the Orange Walk District the Yucatec Maya NGO groups To'one Masehualo'on "we are Maya" made presentations of the Maya culture,music, poetry, history, story,Maya numbers and games. The children knew alot of Maya words and were excited in learning more . The mothers enjoyed hearing the history of the foundation of San Pablo . It Was fun and awesome experience transmitting knowledge to the newer generation . Thank you once again San Pablo community school for the invitation

Amandala

Pat Andrews is new Belize Council General to New York
Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington told reporters today that his ministry has found a replacement for the former Belize Council General to New York, Herman Longsworth.

One dead, one injured in Shooting incident in Cayo
A security guard, Shawn Vasquez, was killed in a shooting incident at Tai Kong Store. A female employee was also injured.

Channel 5

Murder in San Ignacio
Reports to News Five is that a security guard has been shot dead while a woman, who was also injured, has been rushed to the hospital. Unconfirmed reports are that at least one gunman entered Tai Kong to rob the establishment. The gunman opened fire on the security and a female employee. Police and scenes of crime personnel are currently processing the scene. Update to shooting in San Ignacio. Word to News Five is that the female employee has also died.

The Reporter

U.D.P Set Date For New Leadership Convention
Sunday, April 5th has been set as the date for the UDP’s new Leadership Convention. That date was chosen during the Party’s National Party Council Meeting, consisting of its 31 Standard Bearers from across the country.

Rumors About BDF Crash, Chain Of Command & Flight Logs Emerge
The allegations are among others, that the BDF flight involving the soldiers who died in the helicopter crash near Gales Point was commissioned without the prior knowledge of BDF Commandant, Brigadier General Stephen Ortega; and that the flight logs were removed after the crash was discovered in an effort to cover up blatant errors and bad judgment by superiors at the Ministry level.

Policeman Injured in Motorcycle / Traffic Accident
A policeman is left injured following a traffic accident just past midnight this morning on the Burrell Boom/Hattieville Road near the CDS Gas Station.

Two men were reportedly shot on Friday night in Belize City
This media house has been reliably informed that sometime around 10:20 p.m., Friday night, Benjamin Hyde, 24, of a George Street address and Darren Dawson, 35, of Neal Pen Road were shot on Far West Street.

Jeweler Manuel Pacheco, Walks From Murder Charge
Manuel Pacheco, 56,a Belize City jeweler was found not guilty on Friday morning of the murder of his next-door neighbour, Jose Manuel Villanueva, 50.

Brandon Baptist Stable After Shooting
Brandon Baptist is in a stable condition after he was shot last evening on Police Street Extension.

LOVE FM

4 Military men dead after helicopter crash
The nation of Belize is in mourning as four of our military men lost their lives in the line of duty. The men were on a mission, working with other law enforcement agencies in a drug operation yesterday that yielded 69 bales of cocaine inside a Gulfstream G2 jet.

Senators talk about Integrity Commission
Senators Elena Smith and Mark Lizarraga also spoke on the matter of the Integrity Commission. According to Smith, aside from the very first year of her becoming a senator, she has been on time with filing her reports to the commission.

Senator Elena Smith discusses Senate Inquiry
After roughly two years, Senators have finally received the first draft of the Senate Inquiry into the Immigration and Nationality Department. The results of the inquiry were one of the six demands that the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) had put forth.

Belmopan CitCo explains gas station near school
Several residents of Belmopan are in opposition of a gas station being constructed in front of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Primary School (OLOG). The People’s United Party has issued a press release expressing their outrage about this situation.

Breaking Belize News

Security guard from Georgeville shot dead in armed holdup in San Ignacio
A security guard was shot dead a short while ago in San Ignacio Town. He has been identified […]

Respect and Rest in Peace Fallen soldiers
By Delroy Cuthkelvin: We join in offering our sympathies to the immediate families of the four fallen soldiers who lost their lives in that tragic helicopter incident this past Thursday, February 27, 2020, and to their extended family […]

UDP National Party Council to set deadline for Leadership candidacies
Three weeks ago the United Democratic Party met to make final preparations for the National […]

Blogs

Silk Grass Farms: Adapting Zero-Waste Methodologies In Belize
Silk Grass Farms Ltd., previously farmed for Glorious Belize coconut products, is now being expanded and rehabilitated under a unique vertically integrated structure. The social venture was recently renamed Silk Grass Farms (SGF) in celebration of the local community and its people. Less than 15% of the total 25,700 acres of SGF’s land will be farmed. The company will be leaving over 22,000 acres of Belize’s Maya Mountains as a designated wildlife preserve, to be known in the future as the Silk Grass Nature Preserve. To give context to numbers, SGF’s land area is almost 3 times the size of Belize’s entire Placencia Peninsula.

Videos