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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7 and Channel 5
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

SAGA July Cook-Off a big success
It was a full house with standing room only at Wet Willy’s on Wednesday July 17th, for the monthly SAGA Humane Society cook-off. This month’s theme featured summer salads and there were tasty entrees that combined watermelon and cheese, to veggie, chicken, pasta and even bacon. A total of eight different salads were entered in this month’s cook-off. The demand for tickets to accommodate the huge turnout sold well over 65 servings. In a span of about 15 minutes all tickets were sold out as everyone hoped to feed their taste buds on a variety of summer salads. Each person that purchased a ticket also had the opportunity to vote for their choice of best entree for the evening. After all the votes were in and counted, Alexis Gonzalez captured first place with his orange chicken pasta salad. Second place was awarded to Lone Star Grill with their entrée of watermelon, feta cheese and mint salad. Third place went to the host of the evening, Wet Willy’s with their bacon, lettuce and tomato salad.

Targeted residents upset after police launch anti-loitering operation on La Isla Bonita
At least four male residents of Ambergris Caye are speaking up against The San Pedro Police Department, claiming that their constitutional rights have been violated. According to the men, they are just four of many more that have become a target by police. They are claiming that the police have detained them several times in less than a week,then released without charges,in an attempt to “frustrate” them until they leave the island.The police however,are standing their grounds stating that the operation is as a result of mounting complaints that tourists are being accosted (by the individuals) and that the beach is being used for peddling drugs.

Ambergris Today

Costa Maya Festival Announces Miss El Salvador Contestant
Lovely Fatima Yolanda Mauricio Mangandi has been confirmed to represent her country as Miss El Salvador Costa Maya at the Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant that will be taking place at the International Costa Maya Festival in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. Twenty-one year old Fatima Mangandi has been Miss Teenager 2007 and 2010 and Miss Tourism International 2011 and represented her country at the Miss Tourism Queen International Pageant in Xi’am China in 2011. Fatima stands 5’ 7” tall, is a communications student at La Universidad Jose Matias Delgado and has dark brown eyes and black hair. She enjoys enjoys swimming and is fluent in both English and spanish. Miss El Salvador now joins Destinee Arnold - Belize, Andrea Rojas - Costa Rica, Monica Elwing Gough – Honduras, Cleirys Velásquez - Panama, Ariadna Melendez - Nicaragua and Artemisa Martinez – Mexico. All other Mundo Maya countries and Central American region have confirmed their participation at the pageant and the two remaining contestants will be announced shortly.

San Pedro Police Commits to Decrease Burglary on the Island
Assistant Superintendent of Police at the San Pedro Police Department, ASP Luis Castellanos admits that burglary is the most pressing issue in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, having the highest recorded incidents compared to all other major crimes on the island. This week ASP Castellanos presented June statistics from his department that show an increase in burglary on the island in the past couple of months, even compared to June 2012. There were 14 burglaries reported in the month of June 2013, 58 over all since the beginning of the year. There were 38 reported burglaries from January to June in 2012. All other major crimes reported to the department have gone down or stayed the same, including murder, rape, robbery, theft, and carnal knowledge.

Misc Belizean Sources

Belize vs. Cuba Pictures
The Belize Jaguars did their best at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. They got some great pictures from Tuesday's match against Cuba. Great job, Jaguars! Get ready for next year.

CNWA Distributes Cameras
The Cayo Neighborhood Watch Association met Wednesday, and they distributed cameras and flashlights to all the neighborhood watches that were present. They usually meet on the middle Wednesday of each month. If you'd like to join your local neighborhood watch, they'd love to have you help keep Cayo crime free. "All registered Neighborhood Watch Committees present at our monthly meetting received a few flashlights and a camera purchased form the Grant received from the US Embassy"

BRAND DEVELOPMENT AND PACKAGING WORKSHOP/WEBINAR
The Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) in collaboration with Caribbean Export, participated in an interactive Brand Development and Packaging Workshop/Webinar on July 17th and 18th, 2013. During this event, participants of Agro-processing and Light manufacturing sectors were invited with the main purpose of establishing, developing, and strengthening their company’s understanding of Branding. This workshop/webinar will cover a broad range of topics including but not limited to:

Expression of Interest EXPO-CIBAO 2013
EXPO-CIBAO 2013, Santiago, Dominican Republic, September 10-15th, 2013 Background EXPO-CIBAO is a general trade show event with a special focus on agroindustry. This event is organized by the Santiago Chamber of Commerce and Production in the Dominican Republic, and this year it is celebrating its 26th consecutive edition. The theme for this year is “For the Integration and development of the Region”, and on this basis a week full of activities, including business conferences, seminars, exhibitions, trade in goods, cultural and educational activities has been planned. The show will take place in Santiago, Dominican Republic from September 10-15th, 2013.

Channel 7

Talk Of Rosewood Tiring Hon. Alamilla
The Rosewood amnesty was back in April – and it caused the Barrow Administration to take a major political hit because of the central involvement of the Deputy Prime Minister’s brother, German Vega. Time has passed, the uproar has subsided and the ship, both figuratively and literally, has sailed. We say literally because today we found out form the Ministry of Forestry that the Rosewood transactions have been completed and the half of the proceeds that Government was to get has already been calculated and paid. The news is that it’s only 15 thousand dollars per container of nine thousand board feet. Exasperated, the Minister explained:… The Rosewood amnesty was back in April – and it caused the Barrow Administration to take a major political hit because of the central involvement of the Deputy Prime Minister’s brother, German Vega. Time has passed, the uproar has subsided and the ship, both figuratively and literally, has sailed. We say literally because today we found out form the Ministry of Forestry that the Rosewood transactions have been completed and the half of the proceeds that Government was to get has already been calculated and paid. The news is that it’s only 15 thousand dollars per container of nine thousand board feet. Exasperated, the Minister explained.

Sewell Case Almost Gets Dashed
Since February 2007, Mark Sewell, has been on remand fighting his extradition to the US, where he is wanted for narcotics trafficking dating back to December 1994 to August 1997. The Former Chief Magistrate Margaret-Gabb McKenzie, after an in-depth look at the documents presented by the US Government, ruled on September 30, 2011 that a prima facie case was well-established against Sewell. She ordered that he be extradited to the US, but Sewell’s lead attorney, the late Elston Kaseke, filed an application for Habeas Corpus in the Supreme Court, which was the proper means to appeal the Chief Magistrate’s extradition order. The problem is that after Kaseke’s death, his cases were left unattended, one of them being Mark Sewell’s application to the Supreme Court. That was done October 2011, and almost 2 years have passed without a hearing. The matter was called up once again by Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin for a final adjournment because since then, none of Sewell’s 3 attorneys: Arthur Saldivar, Dickey Bradley, or Bryan Neal, seemed able to move forward with it.

“Dipped” and Then Detained
Tonight, there are 10 deportees from the US who are in the custody of the Gang Suppression Unit. They arrived at the PGIA this evening on a charter Flight which came and brought them back to Belize after making a stop in El Salvador to drop off deportees for that country. The GSU reports that 10 of these men will be charged with felony offences, and one of the men will be charged with failure to report and failure to notify police of a change of address because this is his second deportation. One of the 10 is Owen Parham, who will be charged with non-appearance at court for charges of handling stolen goods. And if the name sounds familiar it should. That’s because police issued a warrant for his arrest in Corozal and Orange Walk for burglary since December of last year. He’s been wanted ever since police lifted finger prints which matched to his in their AFIS System at the crime scenes in both of those districts. The GSU were expecting 2 more deportees this evening, but there was a last-minute change of plans, so only 10 arrived.

Alleged Banak Killer Caught
Tonight, 21 year-old University Student Jedden Burgess, a resident of Tibruce Street is at prison after he was taken to court for the murder of 21 year-old Jamal Anthony Neal. Viewers may remember that on last week Monday, Neal was out on an errand for his mother. He was returning back to his house on Banak Street just before news time when he was ambushed by 2 men on a motorcycle. One of them pulled out a gun and fired several shots at Neal, injuring him in the chest. He was rushed to the KHMH, but he died while undergoing treatment. Police since have investigating, and today, they charged Burgess with murder. He was arraigned today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer who remanded him into custody. He will be brought back to court on September 13, his next court date.

Can Belize’s Highways Be Safer?
According to the Ministry of Health, Belize recorded a fatality rate of 19 traffic deaths per 100 thousand inhabitants last year. That was the highest fatality rate of all the member countries of the Caribbean Development Bank, and as a result the CDB is trying the help the Government of Belize to lower that number. It is a big task, and they’ve come up with an intervention strategy called the Belize Road Safety Project. It is a multi-departmental approach which has ambitious goals for the next 3 years, and for the past 2 days, the facilitators have been meeting with the different representatives for a training workshop. To examine the importance of this project, our Daniel Ortiz took a look at its context in this report. Daniel Ortiz reporting In March of this year, the Government of Belize, by way of the Minister with responsibility for Economic Development, announced the launch of the Belize Road Safety Project. It is being funded by the Caribbean Development Bank, with a loan to GOB of 14.5 million dollars. [File: March 14, 2013] Hon. Santino Castillo - Minister of State with Responsibility for Economic Development "I recognize the importance of that stretch of highway, the Western Highway which is the one most utilized by cyclist. I know how important it is to improve the highway, having been brushed many times by vehicles. The high death rate on our highway is a serious health concern, given the resulting lost in productivity, and increase venerability to poverty has significant social and economic repercussions. The launching of the road safety project is therefore with very good timing. The project represents the first phase of what is expected to be a long-term initiative, of the Government of Belize to improve road safety in Belize. Its overall objective is to reduce deaths and serious injuries associated with road traffic accidents."

Hon. Alamilla Fears Anti-Gay Hate Protests Could Escalate Into Violence
Last week, Forestry Minister Lisel Alamilla started a Facebook uproar when she made a strong comment against an image which came out of the Punta Gorda Constitutional March, It was an effigy of a UNIBAM figure, clearly suggesting violence. Today she explained why she had to speak out. Hon. Lisel Alamilla "We live in a democracy and people have a right to protest and to hold marches. But I think everyone has a responsibility to ensure that these marches or protests don't lead into violence. I posted something on my personal page on Facebook because I saw an effigy that was being carried in the Punta Gorda march and that was very concerning to me because it brings to question whether in fact this will result in hate crimes against the Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual Transgender community."

Chiquibul, What’s the Way Forward?
Chiquibul Forest – it’s almost half a million acres, four times the size of Barbados and it’s been on the news many times. That’s because the vast area is under sustained population pressure from Guatemala, where there are over 63 communities and over 52,700 people are bordering Chiquibul. That leads to all kinds of pressures on the protected area, and today that galaxy of problems was all brought into focus at the first Chiquibul Symposium. 7news was at the standing room only event:.. Jules Vasquez reporting It was a very full room at the Radisson today and it wasn’t just folks from the conservation community. The room was full of business people, influencers, an just regular folks with an interest in Chiquibul and it’s obviously a lot of people, it was standing room only and the amazing part is - they kept standing for more than four hours. And that’s because after years of news stories and public education - Chiquibul is in the national spotlight and now it’s time to harness that awareness into action and the galvanizing calls is as simple as water like this one that runs through the Chiquibul cave system: Hon. Lisel Alamilla - Ministry of Forestry "In fact for the people in Belize City - your water originates from the Chiquibul and it makes and meanders all the way down into Belize City. If we don't protect the Chiquibul - Belize City you are going to be in problems and maybe you'll want to move to Punta Gorda."

Brig Gen Visits BDF Camp
And while Brigadier General David Jones was at the Rosewood Symposium today, he also made time to visit the Volunteer Battalion of the Belize Defense Force who are currently holding their Annual Battle Camp. This event is being held at the Camp Belizario at Central Farm in Cayo, and it focuses on operations conducted in the BDF’s Western Tactics Area of Responsibility. These officers are receiving training on issues of internal security such as assisting the Customs Department, the Immigration Department, BAHA, NICH, and police. They are also learning how to conduct inland and border patrols, and manning the observation and conservation posts. The Guest Speaker was Minister of National Security John Saldivar

A Football Camp to Learn “Left Foot”
The National Sports Council summer camps continue around the city. Today we stopped in at the Berger Field to check out 30 football campers learning some new skills. Camp Coordinator Joel Wade spoke to us about the importance of developing the skills necessary for these up and coming athletes. Joel Wade - Camp Coordinator "We have had up to as many as 27 kids - it's open and this is our third week. One of the problems we have encountered is the weather so we'd have like four days that we had to send the kids back home because of the rain. We're trying to develop some of the basic basketball skills with the kids. Some of them are green and some of them have the skills already so we're trying to green one the skills and develop the skills of the others. One of the main focus that we're working on is what we call the weaker foot. Most football players use basically one foot - for most people it's the right foot and then they don't have the confidence to use the left foot so that is one of the main things we're trying to work on with this camp. It's the foundation - you cannot wait until an athlete is grown to try and teach him some of the basic things and skills - it's something that you need to grow into, so with this we hope to achieve that."

Started From the Bottom
And while they’re starting from the bottom, no doubt those young ballers look up to the Jaguars, Belize’s national football selection who recently returned home from the Gold Cup. They didn’t return in glory, but it’s still history. They went further than any Belize team ever has from Portland to Salt Lake City, to Hartford Connecticut, and back home – over seven thousand miles in pursuit of football excellence. That they didn’t achieve it isn’t the story – that they made it there is. Tonight, we take one last look at their historic fun trip where this national team got to see and experience what no other had before as they were treated like football royalty.

Channel 5

The Chiquibul symposium speaks of wonders and threats
And from rosewood to the symposium on the Chiquibul National Park held in Belize City by the Friends for Conservation and Development…it signifies the launch of an intensive campaign to [...]

Deportees fly home to Belize
A team of ten men returning from the United States was received at the Phillip Goldson International Airport this afternoon.  The group was not the remaining members of the Belize [...]

Parents take body home for burial
Thirty year old Elvira Ack and her husband thirty year old Lawrence Bol are both mourning the loss of their first child. Forty-eight hours after giving birth on Friday, July [...]

Why is Seawell wanted by the USA?
The habeas corpus application hearing of drug suspect Mark Seawell was adjourned for the umpteenth time this morning in the courtroom of the Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin. In his previous [...]

UB student taken to court for murder
The last murder in the city occurred eleven days ago when twenty-one year old Jamal Anthony Neal was gunned down on July eighth.  Today, a University of Belize student, Jedd [...]

Man charged for inappropriately touching 8 year old
Another man is on remand for an alleged indecent assault upon a minor. Edilmiro Oliver appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court to answer to a single charge of aggravated [...]

Prison officers fired for breaking the rules, not for whistleblowing
The recent termination of a pair of prison officers from the Kolbe Foundation has once again brought into sharp focus security concerns at the Belize Central Prison.  While the unofficial [...]

Unsanitary environment at Kolbe
The issue of public health at the Belize Central Prison is also raising serious concerns tonight, following a recent visit by officials from the Office of the Ombudsman.  In the [...]

Minister gives opinion on gender policy
The pro-constitution anti-gender policy crusaders who have gone on countrywide tour have stated publicly that they hate the sin and not the sinner where homosexuality is concerned. But during the [...]

IMF warns about paying compensation for nationalized companies
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article four consultation with Belize and the results were released earlier this week. The IMF says the restructuring of [...]

Will there be MOU’s for mega tourism development projects?
Government has been tight lipped lately about the cruise tourism megaprojects which have gone before Cabinet for consideration. Included in that multimillion dollar package are the Stake Bank project, the [...]

E.U. donates 7 million to climate change efforts in Belize.
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre is stationed in Belize, and the 5C’s hosted a technical meeting of the Intra-African Caribbean Pacific Global Climate Change Alliance Programme. Experts from all [...]

Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage’s Summer Camp
The Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage recently unveiled its new logo. The umbrella organization and its fight to preserve the natural wonders of Belize has taken on a [...]

“Some days” A new music video on the scene
If you don’t have the feet for nature as the coalition hopes, then perhaps you have the ears for music. A young artist hopes that you will be inspired by [...]

LOVE FM

Symposium Brings Awareness on the Chiquibul Forest Reserve in Belize
The Chiquibul National Park has been in the news countless times because its resources have come under undeterred plundering by our neighbors from across the border. Reporter Hipolito Novelo brings you this in depth report on another effort to create awareness on the illegal activity within...

Young Man Charged For Recent Murder in Belize City
21-year-old University student Jedd Burgess has been charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of 21-year-old Jamal Anthony Neal. Neal was shot and killed on July 8 on Banak Street in Belize City. Burgess appeared unrepresented before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer. No plea...

Minister of Forestry Updates Media on Rosewood Harvesting
The last we told you about Rosewood was back in May when the Ministry of Forestry released its figures for the total of rosewood accumulated during the nineteen day amnesty period which ended on April twenty sixth. Since then, the topic of rosewood has been out of the headlines, that is, until to...

Robbery, Drugs and Theft
**Belize City police have detained four persons and recovered a number of stolen items. A 56-year-old woman reported to Police that she went to the US on June 1st and upon her return she discovered that her jewelries were missing, a total value of nine thousand two hundred and ninety dollar...

Belize Jaguars Continues to Receive Recognition for Playing The Gold Cup
The Jaguars football team returned home earlier this week and the recognition for what the team managed to accomplish is still being acknowledged. The Vision Inspired by the People issued a release yesterday congratulating the team for its performance at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The VIP...

Seven Years for His 8th Conviction
Forty-five year old Winfield Mortis, who had five convictions for dishonesty, got three more today when his trial concluded and he was found guilty of burglary, damage to property and assault. Senior magistrate Sharon Fraser sentenced him to seven years for burglary, one year for damage to ...

Summer Camp Teaches Children About Oil Exploration and Water Conservation
With no shortage of summer camps, the Belize Coalition to save our Natural Heritage has teamed up with the Belize Institute for Environmental Law and Policy to hold a three-day oil and water summer camp. Education Outreach Officer at the Belize Coalition to save our Natural Heritage, Judy W...

PlusTV

Home invasion in Santa Elena
We call them home invasions but the legal terminology is “Aggravated burglary”. Whatever the name, it is a frightening experience for those families that have had to endure one; and a Santa Elena family just had the horrific experience last night, Thursday July 18. According to police reports, the...

UB student arrested for Belize City’s last known murder
The last murder in Belize City occurred 11 days ago when 21-year-old Jamal Anthony Neal was gunned down in the late evening of Monday, July 8, 2013. Today, almost two weeks later, police say their trigger man has been identified as 21-year-old A UB student, Jedd Burgess. Mr...

Post mortem examination result for Jose Mario Umana has been released
The post mortem examination result for Belmopan taxi man 45 year old Jose Mario Umana has been released. The examiner certified the cause of death to be Traumatic shock, due to Head Trauma with a Blunt instrument. Whoever hit Umana in the head and killed him also dumped his...

Man on remand for alleged indecent assault upon a minor
Another man is on remand for another alleged indecent assault upon a minor. He is Edelmiro Oliver, a Belize City man who appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court to answer to a single charge of aggravated assault of an indecent nature upon an 8-year-old girl. The incident...

American boy attacked by wild cat at Belize Zoo
This Morning a US news article spoke of a ten year old American boy who was attacked by a wild cat while on vacation in Belize. According to the article, the young boy, along with his parents, visited the Belize Zoo, which is where...

Counterfeit Belizean currency in Belize City
Counterfeit Belizean currency has turned up at a local grocery store. Police say they are looking for a Belize City man who went to a grocery store on Jane Usher Blvd on Wednesday night. The man paid the cashier with two fifty dollar bills bearing the same serial number...

Armed robbery in San Pedro
An armed robbery was reported on the island of Ambergris Caye. On Thursday afternoon, a 13year old student of San Pedro Town along with three of his friends, were in front of Patio’s Pier which is located on Beach-front, when they were approached by a Hispanic male person riding...

Belizean Michael Silva on INTERPOL’s wanted list
Belizean Michael Silva is on INTERPOL’s wanted list. The International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL, is an intergovernmental organization facilitating international police cooperation. In 2011, Silva’s girlfriend was found murdered in his home in San Ignacio, having died from a massive blow to the head. According to police, Silva was...

Constitutional March in Corozal
Tomorrow the 6th in a series of Constitutional marches will be held in Corozal town. Every other district in the country has held one where Christians and non Christians alike who are opposed to the Gender Policy 2013, have taken to marches and Rallies. Hundreds and in some districts,...

Amandala

IMF TELLS GOB TO MODERATE WAGE INCREASES AND BROADEN GENERAL SALES TAX BASE
It recommends “protecting spending” on infrastructure, internal security, and social programs. Amid calls from the trade unions for wage adjustments for public officers, the International Monetary Fund has issued a statement following the conclusion of its annual Article IV Consultation with Belize on June 21, 2013, in which it calls on the Government of Belize to moderate wage increases and broaden the general sales tax base. Furthermore, it recommends “protecting spending in such priority areas as infrastructure, internal security, and social programs.” “[IMF Directors] stressed that raising the primary surplus to levels consistent with debt sustainability would require strong adjustment efforts, including moderating wage increases and broadening the base for the general sales tax. Over the medium term, it will be important to strengthen public financial management and implement a tax reform that promotes growth and fairness,” the report said. The IMF executive directors, said the report, congratulated Belize authorities on the strong economic performance last year, as well as the successful completion of the external debt exchange.

KOLBE PRISON HEALTH SITUATION “HORRIBLE”
Amandala has received reliable information that Belize Public Health Authorities have filed a damning report declaring that the female holding cell facilities, as well as the kitchen facilities at the Belize Central Prison, run by Kolbe Foundation, are largely unsanitary for inmates. Health authorities have called on the management of the prison to undertake swift corrective action, and we understand that they have given their commitment to make improvements. Health authorities found that the kitchen and recreational facilities at the prison are grossly infested with houseflies; and even worse, flies were allowed to “pitch” on food, such as freshly baked bread, which were not properly covered at the time of the inspection that was carried out in June. Health inspectors note that houseflies can be carriers of infectious diseases such as typhoid, cholera, salmonella, tuberculosis and anthrax. It calls on prison authorities to immediately take measures such as screening, proper garbage disposal, and sealing sewage cracks in order to improve sanitation.

PRISON CEO FIRES 2 MORE STAFF
Allegations are that they were fired for revealing information about the attempted rape of a female officer by a senior officer. Amandala’s calls to Kolbe Chief Executive Officer Earl Jones, to ask him about two more staff terminations this week, have gone unanswered; however, we were able to confirm that the Office of the Ombudsman has been informed of the two additional firings, which come on the heels of a series of terminations reported by the Belize Central Prison Coalition. Labour Minister Godwin Hulse had commissioned Labour Commissioner Ivan Williams to investigate allegations of arbitrary and unusually high numbers of terminations at the prison; however, our newspaper has not been informed of the outcome of those investigations. Two cases were reported to our newspaper this week – and whereas terminations, generally speaking, are not illegal, the circumstances under which the July 16 terminations reportedly occurred are being questioned by the Coalition. Gaspar Camara, who was a basic grade officer employed at Kolbe since 2008, and who had worked in the records section for the past two years, told us that by letter dated July 16, 2013, and signed by CEO Earl Jones, he was terminated with immediate effect.

PM “HARDHEADED”: BISHOP DORICK WRIGHT
“I wish the Prime Minister wouldn’t be so hardheaded …” “… homosexual, gay – I am opposed to it.” “… if the people are telling him this thing is not right … I think he should look at it.” – Roman Catholic Bishop Dorick Wright. Patrick Menzies of Belize Can to Obama: “…keep your trash in the White House!”. New US Ambassador supports LGBT agenda. Belize Census released in 2010 said that Roman Catholicism remained the single largest religion with 40% of the total population saying that they belong to that Christian denomination. “Why go into the school to teach the children that the anus is a sexual organ? Why is UNICEF financing UB $100,000 to put up a gender department?” – Lascelle Arnold This morning, the fifth in the series of demonstrations being led nationwide by Christians, but which have also garnered support from non-Christian Belizeans who are likewise opposed to the Gender Policy 2013, took to the streets of Belize City. What was most significant about this episode of the demonstrations, dubbed Constitutional Marches, is that the head of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Belize, Bishop Dorick Wright, was at the frontline of the parade, sending a message to the Barrow administration that he does not support the policy which Cabinet had approved back in March. In an exclusive interview with Amandala after the parade and rally at Memorial Park, Belize City, Bishop Wright, who heads the most populous religious denomination in Belize, told us categorically that he cannot support the new gender policy. “Anything that is homosexual, anything that is gay – I am opposed to it. Not for myself, but for the future. I am closer to the cemetery than I am to this life, and I am concerned about our children. I don’t want this sort of thing to be imposed on our children, so I cannot support this in any way,” Wright said, who, we understand, made the sacrifice to demonstrate despite battling health issues.

STEVEN BUCKLEY FACES KHMH $6,561 BILL DUE FRIDAY
After being mistakenly shot in the head by police, Buckley cannot work. After being mistakenly shot in the head by police, Buckley cannot work Steven Buckley, a former construction worker who had to be hospitalized after he was shot in the head by police, told Amandala today that police have not yet given him any compensation to help pay off a $6,561 bill he told us he has received for expenses incurred while he was hospitalized at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH). In fact, the “final notice” Buckley received this month from Credit Masters Systems says the bill is due tomorrow, Friday, July 19. It goes on to say that failure to pay will result in a public notice and court action. Buckley said that he has gotten his second letter demanding payment. Minister of National Security John Saldivar told journalists this morning when asked what police will do to help Mr. Buckley that he will look into the matter. “The Commissioner [of Police] is currently out of the country, but as soon as he returns, I will have a sit-down with him and see how we can work out something amicable. I do believe that, if it was the case that he was mistakenly shot, that something needs to be done to work out a solution. I will sit with the Commissioner and work something out. I don’t believe that this needs to drag out much longer,” the Minister said.

BARTENDER SHOT IN SAN PEDRO
Miguel Dominguez, 31, a bartender of Sea Grape Drive of San Pedro, was shot in the arm and the side of his torso and is presently receiving medical treatment at the San Pedro Polyclinic. The incident occurred about 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 13, in front of the football field in San Pedro. According to the man responsible for shooting Dominguez, the shooting was an act of self-defense. He said that at about 3:00 on Saturday evening he was approached by Dominguez in front of the football field as he was walking on Angel Coral Street in San Pedro. He said that Dominguez pulled out a knife and attempted to stab him, and, fearing for his life, he responded by pulling out his licensed .9mm pistol and firing a single shot at Dominguez. Police have said that charges will not be brought against Dominguez’s shooter , but as soon as Dominguez is well, he will be arrested and charged with aggravated assault..

GABRIEL SALAZAR, 23, ACQUITTED OF MURDER
Justice Hanomansingh ruled that excessive force was used to get oral confession. Salazar and three other men were just recently acquitted of the double murders of James Swan and Edward Gutierrez. Gabriel Salazar, 23, walked away from the Dangriga Supreme Court a free man on Monday after he was acquitted of killing Francis Johnson. The murder occurred during a robbery on September 9, 2009, in Johnson’s Store in Big Falls, Toledo, in which the store’s owner, Johnson, was shot and killed in the process. Three other persons were alleged to have committed the crime with Salazar, but all four men had fled the country in an attempt to reach Honduras. It was while there that the men allegedly attempted to commit another robbery and Salazar was shot by Honduran police who had responded to a report of the ongoing crime, while it is believed that the other three were shot and killed by Honduran police. Salazar was returned to Belize, where the charges had been brought against him. Last week, the trial began before Justice Denis Hanomansingh in Dangriga, with attorney Simeon Sampson representing Salazar.

ROMOLO GARCIA, 55, FOUND GUILTY FOR CHOPPING ALBERTO HERRERA ON BOTH HIS HANDS
Garcia’s defense to the court was that Herrera chopped himself while in a drunken state. Romolo Garcia, 55, a cane farmer of Hattieville, was today convicted of use of deadly means with intent to cause grievous harm after a jury returned with an eight-to-one ratio of guilty. In April of 2011, Garcia was entertaining his friend, Alberto Herrera, 64, at his home when an argument ensued, which quickly turned violent and ended with Herrera suffering chop wounds to his left forearm near his elbow, and to his right hand. The chop to his right hand severed all five of his fingers on that hand. In the trial, testimonies of two of the witnesses — Herrera and the police officer who recorded his statement, Cpl. Victor Lima, had to be read to the court after it was proven that they both were dead. Herrera died as a result of septic shock after his fingers had been severed and he was diagnosed with diabetes. The stumps which had remained after his fingers had been severed had become infected. Cpl. Lima was shot in his chest while responding to a burglary in progress in Hattieville, and died several days later.

MISSING BELMOPAN TAXI DRIVER FOUND DECOMPOSED
Vultures were feeding on the body. A taxi driver of Belmopan, Jose Martin Umana, 45, who was missing since Saturday, July 13, was found by his brother-in-law, Marin Aleman, on the ground in a state of decomposition behind a cohune tree in an area between George Price Boulevard and the Western Highway at about 4:30 yesterday evening. A postmortem exam was conducted onsite to certify the cause of his death, but the autopsy was inconclusive due to the advanced state of decomposition of the body. Umana was buried immediately after the autopsy. Aleman told reporters that yesterday evening he was driving his car on the George Price Boulevard searching for Umana when some John Crows (vultures) attracted his attention. He stopped, got out of the car and went to see what was attracting the birds, and behind a cohune tree, he found his brother-in-law lying on the ground face down. He was in shorts, and had no shoes. Aleman said that on Saturday when he was told that Umana was missing, he began to search for him immediately. He was in Ontario searching for him when police found his taxi car, with its stereo missing, but Umana was nowhere to be found.

NATION BUILDERS’ STATEMENT:
GOB must get serious about Sports/Youth Development. The Nation Builders national youth movement commends the Belize Jaguars National Football Team for their participation in the 2013 Gold Cup. The journey, although short-lived, proved that despite the struggles and tremendous challenges facing our country, we are a resilient people and have the capacity to compete with sports giants on the world stage. We commend every member of the national team – from player to staffer – for their efforts to uplift our country. We consider the Belize Jaguars Team, which was one of only five national teams that advanced from the UNCAF tournament in March, as heroes, and recommend that each member be properly recognized and respected, principally by the Government of Belize. We also call on the Government to get serious about sports development as a key area of youth development. The current policy on sports development is an oppressive, lazy and poorly thought-out strategy that needs immediate revision. We recommend meaningful investment in Sports, including adequate neighborhood parks and proper sporting facilities, assisting with the creation of community sports clubs, sponsorship of community sports events, the implementation of strategic sports programmes in primary school and high school that encourage academic and sports development instead of the current isolated tournaments that have low-impact, and the adequate sponsorship of our national sports teams.

HOOP DREAMS BELIZE ARE U16 COPA CANCUN CHAMPS
Hoop Dreams Belize’s performance was outstanding in the U16 Copa Cancun Basketball Tournament. The team traveled to Cancun, Mexico on July 10 and returned on July 15. The U16 male category comprised of 13 teams divided into 3 divisions – A, B and C. Hoop Dreams Belize dominated the A division, winning all four games, imposing their defensive and offensive excellence throughout the entire tournament. The fans packed the stadium, appreciating the high energy and classy display of unselfish basketball performed by our young basketball ambassadors. Game 1 – Manatees 37, Hoop Dreams Belize 64 Game 2 – Hoop Dreams Belize 71, Club Roscos 21 Game 3 – Hoop Dreams Belize 74, Mapaches 38 Game 4 – Hoop Dreams Belize 62, YBOA 23 Advancing to the semi-finals and eventually to the finals was a great accomplishment, being that the teams we faced were bigger, representing structured clubs supported by huge fan bases from as far away as Mexico City and cities near the US border. 109 teams participated in the tournament.

BELIZE JAGUARS RETURN, A TIME FOR REFLECTION
Our Belize National “A” Team, the Jaguars, returned to Belize this morning to a warm but modest reception from fans and family members at the Philip Goldson International Airport, after losing their third Group Stage game yesterday at the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2013 in the USA. It was Belize’s first time participating in the prestigious Gold Cup, which features the 12 best national teams in the North Central American and Caribbean Football Association, the regional football body known by its acronym, CONCACAF. There were many hurdles facing the team before even boarding the flight out of Belize on Friday, July 5, and the sheer demands of their travelling and playing schedule, the much higher level of opponents than they are accustomed to, the strain of the high altitude encounter in game 2 against Costa Rica, along with their eagerness to accommodate the throngs of excited Belizean fans in the U.S., all took their toll on the Jaguars, who appeared lethargic in game 3 yesterday against Cuba, falling 4-0, the last goal coming in injury time. It was a devastating loss, but one from which the team must learn many lessons for the future about playing at this level of competition. Gold Cup 2013 is history for the Belize Jaguars, who will now have the luxury of looking at the rest of the competition at home on T.V., and start planning in earnest to qualify for the next Gold Cup in 2015.

PARTIES, CHURCHES, UNIONS AND THE STREETS Editorial
At the macro level, the leaders of Belize’s two major political parties are cynical people. That is to say, they do not really care what you think or what you have to say unless you have a lot of money or unless you can put people in the streets. The leaders of the two political parties usually represent constituencies which are considered “safe” for their respective parties. At the micro level, or the level of the individual area representatives and standard bearers, there is usually more skittishness. The area reps and standard bearers keep a very close eye on their constituencies, and they are immediately interested once any organized movement of people, no matter how small the group, begins stirring around in their divisions. After all, over the years several constituency elections in Belize have been decided by fewer than twenty votes, so any movement of people, no matter how small, can decide an individual Belizean politician’s electoral fate. If you start any kind of group in any political constituency in Belize, whether it is a sewing group or a sailing group or a sports group, you can end up deciding an individual politician’s electoral fate. The individual politician has to find out, as quickly as he can, in what political direction your group is likely to head. If you are likely to head in his opponent’s direction, the politician will seek to sabotage and intimidate your group, no matter how small, in any way he can. If you are likely to be favorable to him, then the politician will nurture you and your group. If you insist on being independent, both parties will become suspicious of you. You will then be attacked from both sides of the political spectrum.

FROM THE PUBLISHER
A May 2013 paper produced by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) essentially says that the Government of Belize has been investing more money in the education system over the last ten years and getting out less where positive results are concerned. This is a research paper put together by three impressive scholars, and the work is scientifically done. The most important thing to note is that the research period basically covers five PUP years and five UDP years, so you have to throw the party politics out and look at the financial inefficiencies of Belize’s education system. For many Belizeans, especially older ones, it’s quite difficult to throw out the party politics, a big reason being because spokesmen for the two political parties are the loudest voices we hear every day, and they are not only loud: they are aggressive and they are abusive. This IDB paper is so scientific that at one point there is a mathematical formula introduced which must really be like something at the level of the complicated banking derivatives. This is big time academic stuff, and it is corroborating what domestic observers like Assad Shoman and the late Leroy Taegar have been saying for many years. Personally, I have seen the same things Shoman and Taegar were seeing, but I do not consider myself in the intellectual category of these two gentlemen. I came home to Belize in 1968 after a first degree, and what I have done over the years is try to translate some of the graduate ideas into a language which the masses of the Belizean people can understand. In the first few years of that process, I felt isolated because of the intellectual programs through which my mind had been run: in other words, it took a while to come off the university high. As all these 45 years have passed, however, I have fallen quite a bit behind where pure academics are concerned, and the result is that I am not so sure of myself in the intellectual sense.

MAYOR’S ADVISERS “DON’T KNOW SQUAT!” Letters
by Thomas Charlesworth Dear Editor, After a drive through downtown Belize City I was astonished to see that our Mayor has gone ahead with his plan to block the street between the bank and Mule Park. This last Wednesday I listened in to him praising his work and his Council saying that the “Master Plan” was made public three years ago and is on the City Council web site. Well, let me say, since the streets start getting cemented was the first time that I had heard of it; second thing, how many Belizeans have a computer, let alone have Internet? On the WUB 2 cents Cam, a participant made a comment about the Master Plan: he said he doesn’t know and he doesn’t think the Mayor knows, and I tend to agree with him. The Mayor also said that all indications to him were that the temporary blockage of the street there at the Mule Park and the bank was working; apparently, his advisers don’t know squat, because that blockage has caused more of a traffic jam than ever.

“THE ECONOMIC HISTORY OF BELIZE FROM THE 17TH CENTURY TO POST-INDEPENDENCE”
by review by Alan Slusher Barbara Bulmer-Thomas and Victor Bulmer-Thomas Cubola Productions, Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize, 2012 Paperback; 214pp; US$24.00 ISBN 978-976-8161-39-0 Barbara and Victor Bulmer-Thomas have done us an enormous service in producing a very readable, concise text that traces the modern macro-economic history of Belize from the days of the earliest settlement by the British adventurers in the 17th century through to present times, and that analyses the factors that influenced that history. It is written in a way that makes what it says easy to understand and fully accessible to practically everyone in Belize. I stress “macro-economic history” because it is not a general history, and it is not detailed; it covers political and social developments only insofar as these are directly linked, through cause or effect, to economic developments, and it covers only the broad trends and strands of Belize’s economic history. It is worth noting that a detailed history, even if limited to the economics-related aspects of Belize’s evolution, would not be easily accessible to the general reader. Perhaps in compensation, the authors have included an extensive bibliography that will facilitate exploration of all aspects of the country’s history by the interested reader. The book is published by Cubola Productions, of Benque Viejo del Carmen in Cayo. Cubola’s director, Montse Casademunt, has maintained her strong ongoing effort to bring to Belizeans the works of authors and editors (Joseph Palacio, Nigel Bolland, Jaime Awe, and Karla Heusner among them) critical to an understanding of who we are and where we have come from.

WIN-BELIZE “FULLY ACCEPTS” GENDER POLICY 2013
UNIBAM is listed among its 14 active members. The Women’s Issues Network of Belize (WIN-Belize)—an alliance of nationally prominent NGOs—has issued a press release saying that it has contacted its member organizations and they have “reached consensus on the full acceptance of the Revised National Gender Policy 2013,” which some opponents say is in line with a foreign agenda to eventually legalize same-sex marriages in Belize and to furthermore set up a legislative framework for special and protective rights to LGBT persons. The WIN-Belize network is made up of a range of organizations, including private sector, environmental and activist organizations. The United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM), which has highly praised the new gender policy, is listed among its 14 active members. At least one of those organizations—the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA)—has told us, though, that while YWCA officials had agreed to support the WIN-Belize position on the Gender Policy, the board of the organization has yet to say where it really stands in regard to the new policy. Sonia Linares, YWCA’s Executive Secretary, told our newspaper today that she had indicated to WIN-Belize that they would like more information and clarity on the policy in question.

THE BOAT WORLD IN OLD BELIZE
by Arthur Belisle My two grandfathers were both boat builders – James Osling and Joseph Belisle. James Osling had his own dockyard. These yards used a large structure called the “ways,” and a smaller structure called the “cradle,” to haul up the boats, along with a block-and-tackle and a winch. There was a Public Works Department (PWD) boatyard at the Barracks which took care of the ferry at Haulover. In the old days there was a ferry where the Haulover Bridge is presently. We also had two dredges, one operating in the Haulover Creek and one at sea. Other dockyards along the Haulover Creek were owned and operated by Dickie Jones, Philip Rowland, John Arnold, Bill Sebastian, and Clifford Betson. Where the bus station is on West Collet Canal not far from the Pound Yard Bridge is where the slaughterhouse used to be. They used to bring cows from Honduras. There was a portion of land they used to call “grassy piece” where they kept the cows from Honduras. There was a boatyard at Fisher Waterside. There were two kinds of boats: one kind for shallow water and another kind to operate at sea. My grandfather, James Osling, and Clifford Betson were said to be the best when it came to building tunnel boats.

IDEAS AND OPINIONS- GENDER DIVERSITY
Is there such a thing? Yes, if you can make words mean what you want. All you have to do is listen to the Master, according to the Humpty Dumpty principle. No, if what you refer to is an absurdity. What it refers to is that gender is determinable by group sexual preference. Let’s examine the relationships of human sexual relationships. The reality is, first of all, that sex and gender are synonymous. If your sex is male, you are of the male gender and, if your sex is female, you are of the female gender. There are only three different kinds of sexual relationships, which is called copulation. The three relationships are between a male and a female, two females or two males. When a man and a woman copulate, they remain male and female of different sex and gender. When two women copulate, they remain female of the same sex and gender and, when two men copulate, they remain male of the same sex and gender. What is this Gender Diversity all about? As far as I know there are two genders, male and female, the same as sexes in the animal kingdom. Inanimate objects are said to be neuter, which means having no gender. It has been so from the beginning. The idea of Gender Diversity, which means more than two genders, seems to be an absurdity. Do we have to accept it? Yes, if according to the Humpty Dumpty principle, all that is needed is for the Master to say a thing and it becomes a reality. In this case, the Masters of the World have decided that there shall be Gender Diversity. Which world? The world under their control. But, that can’t include Belize, a sovereign, democratic country, in which the will of the people forms the basis of government. We are a democratic country but, the power of the people is in the hands of the Executive. The Rulers of the World have the power to “persuade” a government, during its term of office, to carry out policies which the people, if consulted, would reject.

A CAMPAIGN FOR A RAINFOREST ACADEMY
The Columbia River Cooperative has announced the launch of fundraising efforts to open a Rainforest Academy in 2014 in San Pedro Columbia, Toledo – a village with an estimated population of 2,000. Lisa Kile, a Belizean-American who has lived in the village for decades, and who teaches at the Toledo Community College in Punta Gorda, told Amandala that she donated land for the new school on her premises (for a token consideration of $1.00) so that the project can be implemented. Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Education David Leacock confirmed to our newspaper that the group has submitted its application. Leacock said that the normal procedure is for the District Council to conduct an inspection and make a recommendation to the Chief Education Officer, Chris Aird. Leacock said that he could not yet provide any details on the status of this particular application. Gilroy Usher and Lisa White Kile, who share a son, told us more about the project: Usher, a former employee of the National 4H Club in Belmopan, said that he and Kile had an idea to set up an academy with an agricultural emphasis.

REMEMBERING NORRIS E. WADE AND HHL
Few people in this world tried harder to make life’s road easier for me to walk, so this corner cannot allow Mr. Norris Edgar Wade (N. E. Wade, Mr. Wade, My/The Boss, Norris) to go into the hereafter without a public salutation. He was a hero in Belize Agriculture when Central Farm was under the stewardship of the first wave of university-trained local scientists – pioneers named Norris E. Wade, John E. Link, Elias Juan, Godsman Ellis, and Balmore Silva. Ah, it was the age of the Green Revolution and they were the first ones charged to lead Belizean farmers into the brand new world. Oh! what an exciting age. That story, their stories, and the stories of those who followed shortly after, are the stuff of legends. N. E. Wade was my boss on my first real job. I was about twenty or so when I went to work at Hummingbird Hershey Ltd. (HHL), an experimental cacao farm owned by Hershey’s (Hershey Foods Corporation of Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA) at about Mile 35 on the Hummingbird Highway. It was envisioned by Hershey’s that HHL would become the single largest cacao farm in the world. I was not the only young fellow hired to work in second tier management on the farm. There were colleagues of mine from the Belize School of Agriculture – Anthony Castillo, Charles Garbutt, and Gaspar Martinez – and Simon Willacey, a young junior college graduate, working there too. Norris E. Wade, the farm manager at HHL, and my uncle, James V. Hyde, were very close friends. They were both university-trained. In a country where many did not have such opportunities, I guess that gave them a special camaraderie. From the day I met Norris, he was in my corner.

CORRUPTED SMS PROBLEM SHOULD BE FIXED BY WEEKEND: SMART
SMART customers have been complaining that since last week, they have been receiving text messages which they cannot read, because they are being transmitted with junk characters, instead of legible characters; and likewise, people they have been texting have been receiving their messages in illegible form. SMART’s PR Manager Ian Courtenay told Amandala today that the problem—which was triggered by an upgrade in their SMART Message Service Center—should be cleared up by this weekend. According to Courtenay, when the system was upgraded, the problem was reported by customers using particular types of phone devices, and the problem, he said, is handset-specific. SMART has had to communicate the information to Tango, its overseas service provider. Courtenay told us that, “those [bad texts] should be cleared up by this weekend.”

GUATEMALAN AND HONDURAN NATIONALS TO BE DEPORTED FOR ILLEGAL ENTRY INTO BELIZE
Olvin Lopez, 24, and Marcelino Juarez, 18, appeared in Belize City Magistrate’s Court today, Tuesday, where they were both found guilty of illegal entry into Belize and deemed to be prohibited immigrants. Juarez, a Guatemalan, was a construction worker residing at a Mahogany Street address in Belize City. He pleaded guilty to the charge read against him and agreed to the facts of the charge read in court. A removal order was issued for his deportation to Guatemala at a time to be determined by the Director of Immigration. Juarez was handed over to immigration officers today from the Queen Street Police Station. The immigration officers escorted him to the Immigration office for questioning. The officers requested from Juarez his passport or any other form of travel documents, which he was unable to produce. He was therefore deemed to be a prohibited immigrant. Juarez has been in Belize since December 2010, when he entered Belize via the banks of the Mopan River in Benque Viejo del Carmen. Lopez is a Honduran who was also working in construction and resided at a Belize City address. He pleaded guilty to his charge and agreed with the facts read to him in court. Lopez was fined $1,000, plus $5 cost of court, which were to be paid forthwith, or he would serve six months in prison. A removal order was issued for him to be deported to Honduras and would take effect after he pays the fine or serves the six-month sentence.

Blogs

A great Belize resource
One of the places I recommend most to people is the Ambergris Caye Belize message board. Lately it has been to people for it’s classified section, you can always score good deals there. Recently I posted AmbergrisCaye.com classifieds because I wanted to get a land-line telephone. Within 24h I had a phone call from Guest Supply House, and my number was not even listed in post, within 48h I had an email from the Kumars who have a spare cordless phone. Now that is what I call fast action A few other classifieds that are always worth checking are San Pedro Sun, Ambergris Today, and San Pedro Daily. I have been recommending all 3 lately to people who are apartment hunting from afar. Recently Dick placed a few ads in San Pedro Sun newspaper one apartment for rent and one marine gas tank for sale for sale. He got calls right away in regards to the 2 bedroom apartment he is renting. Today the two of us are heading north, I decided to bring Dick to my fishing meeting so he can meet Rudy. I figured it is time my 2 wing-men meet in person since they both love boats and fishing.

Belize International Film Festival a Cinematic and Cultural Success
The lights have gone up on the 8th annual Belize International Film Festival, bringing to a close four days of independent film industry networking and the showing of films from around the world, further cementing Belize’s reputation as something more than just a pretty face – the little country is maturing into a cultural and artistic powerhouse in the region and the world. This year’s festival kicked off on July 12 and had close to 50 entries from all over the globe, with winners spanning the globe from Canada and Holland to Australia, which took best Feature Length Narrative with Ivan Sen’s “Toomelah”. “Maroons: Africans on the Move,” won the Most Notable Belizean Film category and CEBU, from Cuba, won Best Short Film. All, in all, it’s safe to say that the BIFF was truly an international affair, and congratulations must go out to the organisers for putting together such a successful cultural coup.

Why I want to become an Eco-kid
I would like to become an Eco – kid because I have become aware that the flora and fauna are very valuable for the survival of our planet and the human race. I notice in the international news that the world resources are under constant stress. In our country, there is illegal fishing, hunting, cutting down of pristine forest. Our resources are being invaded by our neighbour, our own people are engaging in illegal activities to harm our environment and that is very sad. Since I like hiking, I think a good way to contribute in the preservation of our forest, birds and marine life is to become a Park Ranger. Being a Park Ranger will give me the opportunity to help avoid activities like what happened at Nohmul and help to stop the distraction of endangered species of birds and other animals. I will help save the green parrot, the scarlet macaw, the toucan, rose wood, mahogany tree and many more.

“At Last” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.
In recent weeks I have displayed a sloppiness in some editions when describing the time at which I have done something. A pm used when it should have been am. So from today abelizehomeforus will be using the twenty-four hour clock. Not much of note as far as yesterday’s day-to-day stuff is concerned to inform (bore) you of (with). I did go to FC Aluminium (managing to get caught in the heavy downpour of rain in the process) to get a new holder for the fold-down windscreen (windshield for non UK readers) of our golf cart fitted. One of the two holders for the upper section of the windscreen (windshield) had either fallen off (unlikely in my opinion) or had been ‘helped’ off. They didn’t sell them in ‘singles’ so I had to buy a pair and then had it and the remaining one riveted to the roof/body frame. While they were at it I also got them to put a rivet in to the plate that holds the lower section of the windscreen (windshield) to the frame. They are not going to ‘fall off’ now! When I got home (well to the condo that Rose and I have been renting during our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize) it was time for lunch and then after that I helped (there may be a contrary view to this) Rose prepare our dinner of salmon fish cakes.

International Sources

Gay Marriage and Other Wins for LGBT People Here Are Making Life Worse for Gays and Lesbians in Developing Countries
The last six months have seen a run of victories for LGBT people in Europe and America. This week, the British government voted to approve same-sex marriage, only just pipped to the post by the French, who celebrated their first same-sex weddings in May. The hated Defence of Marriage Act was struck down in the US by the Supreme Court last month and California's Prop 8, a similar piece of anti-gay legislation, has been dealt a deathblow. But the successes achieved in Europe and America are adding to the challenges facing LGBT people in the global South. The achievement of equal marriage, parenting and adoption rights and full legal protection can actually impede the struggles in other parts of the world where the battles for LGBT people are about the most fundamental of human rights. 76 countries continue to criminalise 'homosexual conduct', punishable with prison sentences and hard labour. In five countries the death penalty still applies Because they are losing ground in the West, our opponents are increasingly moving their resources (and their rhetoric and their hate) to more fertile grounds in developing countries. American Evangelical Churches are abandoning the fight against equality at home, in favour of supporting homophobic laws abroad. Why fight a losing battle against social liberalism in America or Europe, where you are increasingly ignored and ridiculed, when in Uganda, Belize or Nigeria you are welcomed with open arms. In this perverse way the successes of the LGBT movement in the North, and in particular in the United States, have acted to worsen conditions in the South.

Downers Grove resident treats patients in Belize
On his recent trip to volunteer in Belize, Mark Sleeper visited one hut across a swing bridge and surrounded by a trench to keep the endless rain at bay. Inside was a 15-year-old girl who had never left the hut because of cerebral palsy. “The only way I can express it is tragic,” said Sleeper, a Downers Grove resident and physical therapist. “The family either couldn’t get her out of the hut [because of the bridge], or they were embarrassed. The father believed that she was possessed by an evil spirit. He was waiting until the evil spirit left her and she could walk again.”

O.C. Boy Attacked by Ocelot on Vacation in Belize
A young boy was recovering at a local hospital on Friday after he was attacked by an Ocelot while on vacation in Central America. Ronald Altender, 10, was on vacation with his family in Belize when they stopped to visit a zoo. Ronald reached out to pet the wild cat behind a fence, and that’s when his mother said she heard screaming. “I just lightly touched the fur that was over the fence and it bit my thumb and pulled on it,” Ronald said. “I heard, ‘Mommy! Mommy! Help me!’” Holly Altender said. “The cat just pulled the arm through the fence and got ahold of his finger, and it would not release,” she said. Ronald was rushed to a hospital, and is now receiving additional treatment at Children’s Hospital Orange County. Despite the incident, he said he is not afraid of cats, and he even wants to raise money to make the zoo safer for other kids. Anyone who wants to donate to the animal sanctuary can visit: www.belizezoo.org.

The '4 Cs' Of Choosing Your Overseas Retirement Destination
If you've been thinking about retiring overseas, but haven't quite decided where you want to live, you're in luck. It's a big world and you have many wonderful options, from laidback beaches to pristine mountain environments and from bustling culture-rich cities to small, peaceful villages. Of course, there are pros and cons to all these... so let's see if we can help you narrow down your choices. We use a formula we call the "4 Cs" when we're analyzing a destination. They are: Comfort, Convenience, Cost and Culture. We want to make sure the destination ticks all those boxes. Just briefly, here's what we consider: 1. Comfort: This includes climate, terrain and safety. For us, that means no snow, a flat walk able urban area, and of course, we want it to be safe. We'd never consider any location that we don't feel is generally safe -- although no society is completely crime-free. Just as at home, you'll find rough neighborhoods in every big city. And while you'll probably never find your way to any of them, it's important to be selective about where you choose to live. 2. Convenience: For us, this means being close to an international airport, a good hospital, shopping and the entertainment amenities important to us. 3. Cost: We want the place we live to be affordable. Just makes sense. 4. Culture: You'll be moving to a foreign community so make sure you enjoy the local culture. And be sure that there are plenty of opportunities to keep yourself engaged... whether it's water sports or outdoor activities or music and theater and so on. Be sure your interests will be satisfied. And then we add a fifth "C" -- calling. This is more intuitive than anything, but does the place call to us, and is it a place we want to live? Now that we've laid the groundwork, which countries (and places within) should top your list and why? If you've rarely traveled before, you don't speak a foreign language, and you'd like to stick close to home, we'd suggest Belize or Mexico.

Feds to Spend $500K for Job Creation – in Belize
The State Department through the U.S. Mission to Belize is planning to spend $500,000 to create jobs for youth in Belize. “Marginalized youth are empowered when given a voice and opportunities. Equipping marginalized youth and their communities with economic opportunities and/or business training can help them reach their true potential as entrepreneurs and improve citizen security,” the grant announcement said. The grant proposal seeks to “confront the root causes of violence and crime” in Belize “in a creative and effective way” and “to create positive cultural and social conditions, which are the foundations of a peaceful and orderly society.” “Root causes in Belize include, but are not limited to, the lack of economic development, the lack of skills and/or tradecraft, the lack of conflict resolution skills, and/or the lack of opportunity for youth,” the grant said.

The Forbidden Island
Ever heard of North Sentinel Island? Probably not …even thought's one of the most unusual places on Earth. What makes it so odd? The people -they've been there a long time, completely cut off from the rest of the world. MAROONED Late on the night of August 2, 1981, a Hong Kong freighter navigating the choppy waters of the Bay of Bengal ran aground on a submerged coral reef. The ship, called the Primrose, was hopelessly stuck. But there was no danger of it sinking, so after radioing for assistance, the captain and crew settled in for a few days' wait until help arrived. The following morning, as it became light, the sailors saw an island a few hundred yards beyond the reef. It was uninhabited, as far as anyone could tell: There were no buildings, roads, or other signs of civilization there -just a pristine, sandy beach and behind it, dense jungle. The beach must have seemed like an ideal spot to wait for a rescue, but the captain ordered the crew to remain aboard the Primrose. It was monsoon season, and he may have concerned about lowering the men into the rough sea in tiny lifeboats. Or perhaps he'd figured out just which tiny island lay beyond the reef: It was North Sentinel -the deadliest of the 200 islands in the Andaman Island chain.

8 Tips You Should Know Before Buying Your Next Digital Camera
Regardless of what you have been told, there is no such thing as a “do-it-all” camera. If there was a “do-it-all” camera, competition in the industry would suffer, seedy patents would be made, one company would monopolize everything, prices would skyrocket, their profits would fail, and eventually, we would no longer have cameras at all. At least that’s how I see it. It would suck. With that said, this is precisely why different cameras exist, so from now on, I would recommend thinking of cameras as different tools. While all screwdrivers are tools, not all tools are screwdrivers. Make sense? We at MakeUseOf know that purchasing a camera is a big deal, so we want to help. Below are just a few things to take into consideration before dropping loads of cash on something you will be using for quite a while.

July 19, 2013

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7 and Channel 5
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Caribbean sports leaders visit Canberra
Caribbean government ministers and senior officials with responsibility for sport were welcomed to Canberra, the national capital of Australia, on 5 July. The group enjoyed meeting with the Australian Capital Territory’s (ACT) minister for sport, players from the University of Canberra Brumbies Super Rugby team and visiting the Australian Institute of Sport. The 19 officials in the delegation were visiting as recipients of an Australia Awards Fellowship, funded by Australian Government agency AusAID, for a 21-day Australian study tour. They were hosted on the tour by University of Canberra sport studies staff member Chris Nunn, of Chris Nunn Consulting. Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Nevis, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname and St. Lucia were all represented on the group. During the trip to Canberra, the group had the chance to hear from University of Canberra Brumbies Chief Executive Officer Andrew Fagan, meet with some Brumbies players and ACT Minister for Sport the Hon. Andrew Barr MLA, who shared some insights into his role. St. Christopher and Nevis Senior Sports Officer from the Department of Sports, Vernon Springer, said the visit to Canberra was “great”.

Tanya Carter set for the International Costa Maya Festival®
The International Costa Maya Festival® is less than two weeks away and plans are in full gear. Another exciting young artist is set to bring entertainment to the stage. Belizean singer Tanya Carter will be performing on Saturday, July 3rd. Tanya has been singing since the early age of four. At 18 she recorded and released her first song “I Wanna Get to Know You Better”, which soon became a hit. The three-time Belizean Female Vocalist of the Year brings with her a Dancehall/Reggae fusion that is sure to have the crowd dancing and enjoying the vibes. With songs like “Low” and “Ex-Boyfriend”, Tanya’s performance is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

IDB Technical note paints the harsh reality of Belize’s Education system
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has issued a Technical note on the Belize Education system after examining the years of 1999 through 2011, which were broken down into individual time periods within 10-year segments. The report is alarming and paints the reality of the country’s education in a 43-page document. Essentially the report details that over the past decade Belize is paying far too much for education but getting little from it. The report goes on to point out that despite high levels of public spending on education, glaring inequalities in access and quality persist at all levels. “Many of those enrolled in the schools will repeat or drop out before graduating. Many children are still not achieving satisfactory levels of performance on exams. There is a serious shortage of trained and qualified teachers at all levels of the system, and there is limited enforcement of accountability. Spending in the sector is inefficient.”

Ambergris Today

Tanya Carter to Perform at International Costa Maya Festival
The International Costa Maya Festival is proud to announce that Belize’s Tanya Carter will be performing at this year’s festival. The lovely talented Tanya is set to perform on Saturday, August 3, 2013. Tanya Carter will be the opening act for international super stars Los Yonics. Be sure to get your tickets and make it this year’s International Costa Maya Festival. About Tanya Carter: Coming from a musical family, where her great-grandmother, grand-mother, mother and father were involved with music in some way, Tanya’s love for music came almost naturally. At the tender age of four, Tanya joined the Grace Primary School Choir as the youngest choir member. The songstress went on to the Edward P. High School where she joined the choir and was introduced to classic and operatic singing. Despite, these influences Tanya was determined that she would become a Reggae singer.

Costa Maya Festival Announces Miss Mexico Contestant
Nuestra Belleza Zacatecas 2012, Thalia Artemisa Rivera Martiñez has been confirmed to represent her country as Miss Mexico Costa Maya at the Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant that will be taking place at the International Costa Maya Festival in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. Artemisa stands 5’ 7” tall, has brown eyes and brown hair. Miss Mexico now joins Destinee Arnold - Belize, Andrea Rojas - Costa Rica, Monica Elwing Gough – Honduras, Cleirys Velásquez – Panama and Ariadna Melendez - Nicaragua. All other Mundo Maya countries and Central American region have confirmed their participation at the pageant and the two remaining contestants will be announced shortly.

Misc Belizean Sources

Maya Flats Airstrip Reopens
Maya Flats has been paved, and Tropic Air has commenced using it again. They'll be adding all the new flights starting on November 15th. "San Ignacio Airstrip Reopens Today After Resurfacing. After a series of weather related delays, Tropic Air is pleased to announce that the upgrade to an all weather surface (pavement) of the runway at the San Ignacio (Maya Flats) airstrip is complete, and that flight operations have resumed from that location. We thank the people and resorts of the Cayo District for their support and patience while we completed this important improvement. We can now look forward to providing the people of San Ignacio and Benque Viejo improved air service and a growing list of destinations. Thank you!"

Bad Rabbit at Benque Fiesta
If you missed the Metal Haven concert at the Benque Fiesta, here's Bad Rabbit performing the Eurythmics' hit Sweet Dreams. Daniel Velazquez shot the video. Rick Galvez performs regularly at the Soul Project, and Bad Rabbit will be performing there soon. "Music video made from live performance from Metal Haven gig, artistic video, direct cinema style/Dogme, experimental film. Original song by Eurythmics"

Aguada Adventure
The Aguada just had a great web article written about it. It describes the Aguada perfectly, and explains why they continually stay there. Spoiler alert: It's because the Butcher's are doing it right. "As the sun set and the aguada (watering hole) we had been watching disappeared into darkness outside lights were turned on, illuminating the courtyard and the swimming pool adjacent to the palapa. Tall nameless trees strangely visible in the darkness of night stretched far upwards. A slight breeze riffled through the palm trees, their large leaves fanning the night air. And then came the exhilaration that travellers feel when they resume the adventure they had been forced by mundane circumstances to abandon. Then we stumbled and tumbled into bed, sleeping the sleep of the dead till song birds and crazy cackling grackles awoke us in the morning."

Strawberry Snow Cone Syrup

“Never Gonna Give You Up” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.
Wanting to make sure that we get the tiles how we want them in our bathrooms I sent an email yesterday to Daniel Camal, our building contractor, asking if it was possible to meet him at our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. It wasn’t too long before he replied and we had the meeting set up for 11.30 am at our house (no better place to describe what we want). With the meeting organised I headed off for breakfast, yes long time readers, at Estel’s. With breakfast completed I then went to Atlantic International Bank‘s branch in Pescador Drive to withdraw some money (don’t you just hate having to do this) and then headed home to prepare for our meeting. With a stop off at Gekko Graphics to get a print out showing which tiles we had chosen for which room we got to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize shortly after 11.30 am where Daniel was waiting for us and we proceeded to “tour” the house specifying in what room we want which tile. And the direction we want the tiles to ‘run’ in.

Kolbe Officer abuse coverup
Two prison guards have been terminated from Kolbe Institute, a prison centre in Belize because they tried to help a female co-worker after she experienced a sexual advancement and possible harassment by a superior. The female officer was approached by Kolbe’s Head of Security during an employee event in a public bathroom on Sunday. The female co-worker immediately fought off the advances and left the bathroom, she then proceeded to inform fellow guards at the event. Two (Gaspar Camara and Mr. Camara’s supervisor, Filipe Gongora) of which advised her to report the incident to her superiors and to the police which she did. When both Camara and Gongora reported to work on Monday, their personal cell phones were confiscated and searched by prison management. On Camara’s phone was a text message timed approximately 45 minutes prior to his shift start time, encouraging the his co-worker to pursue charges of her superior. Camara also noted that Kolbe also illegally taps employees phones. Both personal phones remain confiscated.

Channel 7

Slain Taxi Man May Have Been Robbed of 5k
Tonight, the family, friends and associates of 45 year-old taxi driver Jose Marin Umana Aguilar continue to grieve his loss after he was found dead in an area between the George Price Boulevard and the Western Highway yesterday. His death comes as a shock to his family because according to them, he was very hard-working and quiet family man. More than that, his wife says he strictly avoids alcohol, drugs and bad company. She explained to us today how she realized that something was wrong when he didn’t answer his phone. Lucia Aleman - Wife of Deceased "I called him and he didn't answer the phone but it was ringing then I insisted an entire hour calling him and I didn't know why he didn't answer the phone. That night he went missing I was looking for him like crazy because he's a person that never turns off his phone on me, it doesn't matter if he's mad he still answers the phone. Seven years we're married and he has never stayed out at night and that night he did and I couldn't believe it."

Police Minister Says Buckley Situation Should Be Resolved
For the past few weeks, we’ve been reporting on the plight of Stephen Buckley. He was wrongfully shot in the head by police in 2010; and after a five week investigation, Inspector Dennis Lopez was charged for his attempted murder. But now the KHMH is running Buckley down for six thousand dollars that they say he owes for his long hospitalization when they recoved 12 shotgun pellets form his head. The hospital is just trying to get paid – but the outrage is that the police department has completely lapsed in its obligation to a man who was shot for no reason – actually Buckley was returning from work when he was shot, a sad irony since he can’t even work anymore due to the after effects of the gun shot. Today, we asked police Minister John Saldivar for comment. Hon. John Saldivar - Minister of National Security "I have promised to look into the matter, the commissioner is currently out of the country but as soon as he returns - I will have a sit down with him and see how we can work something amicable. I do believe - if it is the case that he was mistakenly shot, then something needs to be done to work out a solution."

Police and DPP Back and Forth With Rasheed Eligio File While Family Waits For Justice
We also got Saldivar to comment on the case with Rasheed Eligio. Eligio is the 18 year old who was shot and killed by Punta Gorda police in mid-May of this year. Since then, none of the pursuing officers have disclosed who fired the fatal shot, and an in depth investigation has been conducted backed up by ballistics testing to see which gun the bullet came from. But charges have still not been brought – and we’ve learned this week that the case file has been sent from police to the DPP, and now its back at the police, directed to the Commissioner. The problem is that while investigators know which gun killed Eligio, they don’t know who was handling the gun; in fact, there is conflicting evidence as to which pursuing police officer was in possession of the firearm when the fatal shot was fired. The DPP has concerns over the way the investigation is being handled and concerns over the account given by the police officers so she has sent the file back to the Commissioner. While this back and forth goes on, Eligio’s family wants long delayed justice. We asked Minister Saldivar about it today. Hon. John Saldivar - Minister of National Security "I imagine that all that needs to be done now is for the police to complete the investigation - so whatever it is that the DPP has said is deficient in the files, the investigators will have to return to do that work."

Belize Brings Global Experts To Discuss Climate Change
Last week Monday, 7news showed you the international consultation that the Ministry of Energy was participating in which discussed ways to make the country more energy efficient. The country’s Energy Director explained that Belize is one of the most wasteful countries in terms of energy when compared one the per-capita basis – which basically means the country’s carbon footprint exceeds its needs. And, talk of carbon emissions leads inevitably to climate change and that’s what was discussed today at summit of climate experts held in Cayo. It was planned by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center and we attended the first day of that meeting: Daniel Ortiz reporting Today, climate experts from all over the world were in Cayo for Belize’s hosting of the first ever Intra-African Caribbean Pacific Global Climate Change Alliance Programme. If the lengthy name seems daunting, it shouldn’t because the climate change issue has been around for years now, and the effects of it are clear as day to see with erratic weather patterns, the rise in sea level and the increase in average global temperature. It is a matter which these experts are taking very seriously, but today the EU Delegation Representative used a little humor to break the ice, and open up the discussion:

Man Accused Of Molesting Pre-Teen Girl
50 year-old Charles Bucknor, a carpenter from Vernon Street is in jail tonight after he was arraigned for inappropriately touching a 12 year-old girl. According to police, the minor, in the presence her parent reported that on Tuesday, Bucknor performed oral sex on her on Tuesday, and as a result, police arrested and charged him with aggravated assault of an indecent nature. He was arraigned today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer who remanded him to prison on the strength of the objections from the prosecutor. He will be brought back to court on August 29, his next court date.

IMF Congratulates Belize, Says Large Financing May Be Needed For Compensation Settlement
On Tuesday, the IMF issued a press release on its Article IV consultation in Belize. This is after concluding its article four consultation with Belize on June 21st. The Fund’s Executive Directors congratulated the authorities on the strong economic performance last year and the successful launching of Superbond 2.0. It warns that “the government may face large financing needs over the medium term largely associated with compensation to the former shareholders of nationalized companies,” pending legal rulings. They urge government to moderate wage increases and broadening the base for the general sales tax – meaning fewer zero rated and exempt items. For context, we note that the Barrow Administration has a consistent record of paying little attention to IMF recommendations.

Expanding Awareness Of Chiquibul
The Chiquibul Forest – is the largest protected area in Belize and being along the western border, it’s under constant pressure from populations on the Guatemalan side. The residents on that side are looking for green land where they can farm, or virgin forests from which they can extract huge logs, or Xate – and that’s because their forests have been stripped and they’ve run out of arable land….Which leads them to the Chiquibul’s vast expanse of protected areas. That un-relenting pressure is the subject of a high level Symposium that’s being held tomorrow. It’s called “Alarming Threats To Peace Conservation National Stability.” That’s pretty dramatic and Valerie Woods who is a Member of the Friends For Conservation and Development which co-manages Chiquibul, explains the urgency and the need for a national reaction:

Man Alleges Police Brutality
We get complaints about police brutality on a regular basis – and while some cases are being dealt with, many go unheard. But tonight one man says enough is enough and he is speaking out for the rights of all victims. Andy Cruz had an encounter with 3 police officers on Tuesday night – after he was chased and then pulled over. According to Cruz, he was chasing down a Benque Bus for a friend to board but did not notice that he was being pursued by a police mobile. Police allegedly fired a shot police towards Cruz’s vehicle that caused him to pull over. With his head bandaged and his newborn in hand, he told us about the madness that then unfolded. Andy Cruz - Claims Police Brutality "I stopped my vehicle and when I stopped the police told me to step out of the vehicle backwards." Monica Bodden "You didn't have any idea that the police were behind your vehicle while traveling? You didn't know they were chasing you?" Andy Cruz "No because I was rushing - when I stepped out of the vehicle they actually handcuffed me backwards and when this happened the two officers just continuously kept hitting me in my head with their gun that they had in their hands. As you notice this hit on the side of my face right now - the only part of my nose that I can feel is over here - everything else is numb. My eyes are really irritating me right now, I can't even take the pain in my head and this that is happening and the way the shooting happened - if you had any problem with me then you could have handcuffed me and take me to the police precinct. But the way the shooting happened, now if you shot inside my door and my vehicle was straight and you happened to have caught my baby..."

Man Remanded After He Was Found Handling
29 year-old John Burke, a fisherman from Sarstoon Street is behind bars tonight. According to police, Reginald Welch’s house on Jones Street was robbed on May 28, 2013, and $11,590 worth of personal items was stolen. Police investigated and they arrested and charged Burke with burglary and handling stolen goods because some of the items were allegedly discovered in his possession. He was arraigned today before Senior Magistrate Frazer who remanded him because he was deemed a flight risk. He will be brought back to court on August 30, his next court date.

Inmate Sentenced For Weed Possession
20 year-old prison inmate Trevor Jones will spend 6 years in prison after he was busted with 8 ounces of weed in jail. A prison officer searched his tennis shoes this morning and found a total of 8.25 ounces of marijuana in 2 separate parcels. As a result he was charged with 2 counts of drug trafficking, which he pleaded guilty to when he was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Frazer. She sentenced him to pay fines to a total of 6 years in prison, and he must pay $20,000 by October 31, or he will serve an additional 6 years which will run concurrently.

Jamaica Enacts Smoking Ban
Jamaica has enacted a smoking ban which prohibits smoking in enclosed, public, and work places – even bars! With that Jamaica becomes the fourth country in the Caribbean community to become 100% smoke-free. It has implications for Belize where a convention has been signed and draft legislation is in the works. Our colleague at CEEN News, Kalilah Enriquez took an in depth look at the smoking ban in that country. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFlytiC5_M0 In Belize, the Frame work Convention on tobacco Control was launched in 2010 and Cabinet approved Article Eight (Protection from Exposure to tobacco smoke) with the following measures. • the prohibition of smoking within Government Buildings • the prohibition of smoking in private business where the public accesses services, for example: Lobbies of Banks, hotels. Restaurants must indicate ‘Smoking’ and ‘No Smoking’ areas

Belize Won Basketball
Last night, we told you about the Hoops Dreams Basketball club which competed in the Copa Cancun Basketball Tournament. We told how the team dominated the tournament and advanced to the finals. We reported that they were defeated, but that was an error; the team actually won the finals, and they are the champions of the Copa Cancun Tournament.

Channel 5

Mexican fighter jets given permission to fly over Belize
Earlier this month, News Five reported on the presence of Mexican military planes in Belizean airspace. At the time there were persistent reports that on June thirtieth at least three [...]

Interpol looks for Michael Silva, murder suspect
A Belizean, who has been missing following the murder of his girlfriend, is currently on INTERPOL’s wanted list. The International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL, is an intergovernmental organization facilitating international [...]

F.F.B. Vice President taken to New York to Face Narcotics Conspiracy
During the Jaguars time in the Gold Cup Games played in three U.S. cities, the Football Federation of Belize suffered a slight embarrassment when one of its players was denied [...]

Families of men shot by police officers want justice
Aggrieved families believe that there is a pattern of excessive use of force by the Police. There is the well-known case of Stephen Buckley, who survived two shots to the [...]

Minister of National Security says proper investigations will be done
The third case occurred on May tenth when Punta Gorda resident, Rasheed Elijio was shot and killed by Police as he allegedly attempted to escape custody. That officer-involved shooting and [...]

Cab Driver was murdered
The police department has confirmed that a cab driver who went missing on the job has been murdered. Forty Five year old Jose Maria Aguilar Umana disappeared on July seventeenth. [...]

55 year old incarcerated for sexual crime upon a girl
Fifty-year-old Charles Bucknor, a carpenter of a Belize City address, remains tonight on lockdown at the Belize Central Prison after being denied bail for committing the crime of aggravated assault [...]

What’s that smell? Marijuana in inmate’s tennis, of course
Twenty-year-old Trevor Jones, an inmate at the Belize Central Prison, will have to spend a longer prison term and pay a hefty fine. Jones has been sentenced to an additional [...]

Palmar Villager charged with carnal knowledge in dump site
A thirty-one-year-old resident of Palmar Village in the Orange Walk District is tonight in police custody following a report made by a minor that the two engaged in sexual intercourse [...]

Challenges and opportunities in education sector
This week, we have been focusing on a recent report commissioned by the Inter-American Development Bank which shows that despite the high level of spending from the public purse, the [...]

Belizean students offered Mexican scholarships
Belizean students interested in pursuing tertiary level studies in Mexico are being given an opportunity to apply for all-expense-paid scholarships in a number of graduate and post-graduate programs.  A total [...]

The Chiquibul Symposium represents a fight for nationhood
There will be an important symposium in Belize City on Friday, and it’s all about the Chiquibul National Park. Friends of Conservation and Development, the N.G.O. charged with the monitoring [...]

GCCA’s Intra- African, Caribbean and Pacific countries climate change conference
A major climate change meeting opened today in San Ignacio. Experts participating are from African, Caribbean and Pacific countries considered to be the most vulnerable to climate change. The highly [...]

Climate change is a serious issue for Belize
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre popularly known by insiders as the Five C’s is housed in Belmopan.  Belize has a National Climate Change Coordinating Committee that was established by [...]

Can Belize host an international 3X3 basketball event?
Sport Development Manager for FIBA Americas, Nestor Rodriguez, recently concluded a successful visit to Belize. The purpose of the visit was to assess whether Belize is a viable location to [...]

The next Superstar is here!
By all accounts Group B in Be the Next Superstar brought their A act to the Bliss stage on Wednesday night. The spotlight was on eight performers; three who battled [...]

Healthy Living drinks to prevent urinary tract infection
There is a very common infection that affects men, women and children who don’t drink enough water. Persons who use the bathroom frequently are also at risk. The infection, Urinary [...]

LOVE FM

Family in Southern Belize Mourns Drowning of Loved One
A drowning incident has been reported in the Toledo District. Correspondent Paul Mahung reports. PAUL MAHUNG “Police reports here confirm that a fisherman of Barranco Village, 24-year-old, Jose Antonio Medina left home at about 4am on Wednesday, July 17 in his dory to ha...

International Bank Assesses Education in Belize; MOE Says Their on Top of Their Game
A little over two months ago, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) released a report on the, ‘challenges and opportunities in the education sector in Belize.’ In that report, several factors were listed as an issue in Belize’s education system. Love News spoke w...

Accused Burglar Gets Remanded
Twenty-eight year old John Burke, an unemployed who allegedly broke into the house of Reginald Welch and stole household items amounting to $11,590.00 was charged with burglary and handling stolen goods when he appeared in court today. Burke pled not guilty to the charges. The prosecutor ob...

Six Years for Attempting to Smuggle Cannabis In Prison
Twenty year old Trevor Jones, an inmate at Belize Central Prison, was sentenced to 12 years today by Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser after he pled guilty to two counts of drug trafficking. Jones was sentenced to three years and was fined $10,000 for each count. He was given until October 31 to pa...

Youth Movement Calls on Government to Invest in Sports in Belize
The Nation Builders national youth arm has commended the Belize Jaguars National Football Team on their participation in the 2013 Gold Cup. In a press release, the group states that although the journey was short-lived, it proves that we are a resilient people and have the capacity to compe...

Global Climate Change Summit In Belize
Belize is hosting a Global Climate Change Summit. The event is taking place in San Ignacio. Reporter Hipolito Novelo has the story. HIPOLITO NOVELO REPORTING “The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, the CCCCC is hosting the first ever ACP Global Climate Change All...

Post Mortem Conducted on Taxi Driver From Belmopan
A post mortem conducted on the body of 45-year-old taxi driver Jose Maria Umana Aguilar certified the cause of death as traumatic shock due to head trauma as a consequence of a blunt instrument. As we reported Umana had been reported missing by his common law wife after she could not get in...

IMF Says Belize Economic Performance Is Strong But Advises on Further Strengthening
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded its 2013 Article 4 Consultation with Belize and released its findings on Tuesday, July 16. In the report, the IMF’s Executive Board congratulated the authorities on Belize’s strong economic performance last y...

Ground Breaks for Tilapia Hatchery in Western Belize
On Wednesday ground was broken for the building of a Tilapia Hatchery Center in Central Farm. Correspondent Elaine Berry was there and has the story. ELAINE BERRY “A ground breaking ceremony for the construction of a modern Tilapia Hatchery Centre Aquaculture Project was held ...

Man Remanded For His Own Safety After Allegedly Assaulting Minor
Fifty year old Charles Bucknor, a carpenter of Vernon Street who allegedly committed a sexual assault on a 12 year old girl, was denied bail when he was charged with aggravated assault today. Bucknor pled not guilty to the charge. The prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds that additional...

CTV3

BSI Contract Workers Vote In Favour Of Forming Part of BWU
In its peak years, the Belize Worker’s Union, formerly known as the General Workers Union, had approximately 400 members but over the years the numbers have shrunk. That is because, according to the President of the BWU, Ramiro Gongora, the Belize Sugar Industries Limited as the employer has either fired or changed the terms of employment of some workers who were part of the union. In efforts of...

Thirty One Year Old Accused of Having Sex With Minor At Dump Site
A 31 year old Orange Walk man is in trouble with the police after a teenage girl accused him of having sexual intercourse with her. The 15 year old student reported to police that on January 31 of this year, she and her boyfriend went to a dump site located on the San Lorenzo Road in Orange Walk where they engaged in sexual intercourse. A medical examination has certified that the 15 year old is carnally known. The man, who is a resident of Palmar village is in police custody pending a charge of Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.

Jaguars Dissatisfied With Coach Mork's Performance
While team Belize was in the U.S taking part in the Gold Cup, playing their hearts out, Belizeans here at home and abroad cheered them on. Everything seemed to be fine and dandy, but that was far from the truth because, behind the scenes there was trouble as not all of the players were satisfied with the way Coach Ian Mork led the team during the three games played in the Gold Cup. Yesterday, as we brought to you some of the player’s reactions toward Coach Mork and his style of leading the football team, it was obvious that there were mix emotions, emotions which some of the Jaguars did not care to conceal. Tonight we bring to you the sentiments of some of the team’s best players including Harrison Roches and Lennox Castillo who were benched by Coach Mork for two and three of the games respectively. Harrison Roches "I don't really feel contented with the coaching staff because I believe it was a big abstract that they did on my part. I don't know what kind of personal thing he had with me, to not even include 'Criminal' because he's my family and he took that part with me and not get a chance to play just because he was around me - I don't know what kind of personal thing that was; that's the part I feel frustrated with."

PlusTV

Police report progress after missing taxi driver’s body is found
The body of taxi man Jose Marin Umana was found late yesterday evening on a dirt road just off the George Price Blvd near to the Belmopan municipal airstrip. The family had been searching for the 43 year old taxi man who had gone missing since Saturday July 13th. ...

Minister updates on Mediterranean Fruit Flies
On Monday we told you about a 24-hour quarantine checkpoint which was placed on the southern highway after Mediterranean fruit flies were detected at various points in the Toledo District, Mango Creek and along the Placencia Peninsula. The Mediterranean Fruit Fly, also known as Ceratitis Capitata, is considered as...

Inmate gets six years for drug trafficking in prison
A Prison inmate was today sentenced to six years imprisonment and slapped with two huge $10,000 fines after he pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking inside the Belize Kolbe Foundation. He is 20-year-old Trevor Jones, an inmate at Kolbe Foundation. This evening, Jones appeared before the Senior...

Tilapia Hatchery Center to be built in Central Farm
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture in collaboration with the Taiwan Technical Mission hosted a ground breaking ceremony for the building of a Tilapia Hatchery Center in Central Farm yesterday. It is a part of the Aquaculture Project that is being implemented in the development of the tilapia...

Citco and BWC reach initial debt settlement agreement
The Belize City Council and Belize Waste Control have reached initial agreement of a settlement of a debt exceeding 2.3 million dollars which was the subject of a court judgment last April. Attorney for Belize Waste Control Fred Lumor gives details. Fred Lumor – Attorney for Belize Waste Control:...

Alleged gang members appear in court
26 year-old Kareem “Robbery” Lopez, a reputed member of the George Street Gang, was deported from the US for illegal entry. Once in Belize, Lopez needed to report to police as a deportee. On Tuesday, the GSU detained Lopez after he repeatedly failed to report...

Under 13 football team seek financial assistance for tour
Youth With A Mission’s Under 16 football team recently returned from games in Merida, Mexico. The team is coached by Pastor Santi Valencia who, along with his Under Fifteen National Football team returned from Santo Domingo last November with the countries first gold medal in...

The Guardian

Another Gay Challenge
The Government of Belize is once again preparing itself to defend a local law which is being challenged by a homosexual man. On Wednesday, July 17th, the Caribbean Court of Justice was empanelled to do case management following a legal action by a homosexual man and lawyer from Jamaica, Maurice Arnold Tomlinson, who is seeking Special Leave to invoke the original jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice. The case management has set November 12th as the date for the application to be heard. Tomlinson is seeking to invoke the original jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice which in essence is to interpret the Treaty of Chaguaramas*. Under the Treaty of Chaguaramas, however, only member countries can invoke the original jurisdiction, hence, Tomlinson's request for Special Leave. There must be a differentiation made between the original jurisdiction of the CCJ since a revision to the Treaty of Chaguaramas has given the court the authority to act as an appellate court replacing the Privy Council as the final appellate court for Belize, Barbados and Guayana. If Tomlinson, who is also an LGBT activist, is successful in his leave application, he will be seeking that the court rule against Section 5 of the Immigration Act of Belize. That section reads: “Subject to section 2(3) the following persons are prohibited immigrants-

IMF impressed with Belize’s Economic Performance
Belize continues to receive praises for its debt restructuring exercise and impressive economic performance in 2012. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says the completion of the exchange of the Super Bond for new United States denominated bonds has brought “substantial cash-flow relief” to Belize, according to the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. The IMF says that the new bond has resulted in a cash flow relief of US$130 million over the next five years. In 2011, Belize’s economy was severely injured by weather related damages in commodity exports but 2012 saw a strong rebound as the output growth for Belize was estimated at 5.3 per cent in 2012. The IMF is optimistic about the health of the economy because the “international reserve coverage is estimated at 3.4 months of imports up from three months in 2011, thanks in part to strong foreign direct investment inflows in the sugar sector”. Another reason for optimism is the public debt is expected to decline to about 75 per cent of GDP at end-2013 which is due to the net face value haircut of three per cent from the recent debt restructure exercise.

Medfly Alarm down South
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) has implemented a quarantine for the southern part of the country south of Silk Grass Village. According to Hernan Zetina, Medfly coordinator with BAHA, the quarantine for fruits and vegetables became necessary after an unusually high number of Medflies were detected in Mango Creek, Placencia and Punta Gorda. On a yearly basis, Zetina says that every year between 5 and 12 Medflies are detected in the country but these are quickly placed under control. The Mediterranean Fruitfly (Medfly) is and economically devastating agricultural pest that attacks over 300 tropical fruits. This year, BAHA's surveillance program detected 51 flies which is an unusual amount. The most recent detection was on Monday, July 15th on the Placencia Peninsula. Last week alone 18 flies were detected. According to Zetina, since the flies were detected, preventative measures have been put in place to ensure that the fly does not propagate. These measures include the spraying of fruit trees as well as stripping them and destroying the fruits. The Medfly is a plague that is well established in neighboring Guatemala and Honduras and Zetina says the introduction of the fly into Belize most likely came as a result of persons bringing in fresh fruits and vegetables from these neighboring countries.

Imagine
Several years ago the women of Iceland, fed up with being taken for granted and having their hopes and fears trivialised, decided to illustrate their importance to their families and communities by going on a one-day strike. On October 24, 1975, 90% of Icelandic women refused to cook, clean, look after children, go to work and have sex. (They made their point but even now, thirty years later, Icelandic women’s pay still stands at only 65% that of men, so the work is not completed.) What if the LGBT community in Belize and Worldwide, reacting against the hate speech currently filling the media and the churches, just decided to disappear? Obviously, that will not happen since many of the LGBT community do not make their identity public because of fear of stigma and discrimination and still others are so conflicted and in denial that they are amongst the most vicious of the haters. However, the effects of such an event can be imagined. But first, a true story. An elderly woman, Rose, answers the door to Julie, her friend of 60 years. Rose helps Julie, who is in tears and too distraught to speak, into the house and, after offering a glass of water anxiously asks what is wrong. Julie wails that it is her grandson, Paul. “Oh no!,” exclaims Rose, assuming that he must be ill or injured. “How bad is it?” Julie takes a sip of water and declares, “It’s terrible. I can’t believe it. Paul has admitted that he is gay.” She looks to her friend for sympathy and comfort but instead Rose is exasperated and scolds Julie for being so melodramatic. She reminds Julie that Paul is the most caring and loving of all her grandchildren and that being gay is an integral part of who he is. Whether because of these stern words from her friend or just upon more sober reflection Julie comes to terms with Paul’s announcement. Two years later Paul was at her bedside when she passed away and he delivered the eulogy at her funeral.

What's Hot What's Not - BAN ITTT?!!!!!!! NO MORE DAGGERING!!
?When the lover come down on yuh?…? get ready for the daggering?… ?bend over, bend over back way ?..?make yuh body jump jump? Yes, in my neighborhood instead of being cheered by children singing “building up the temple” or singing the famous Barney “I love you ” song, I instead hear the voices of the three to five-year-olds singing to the top of their lungs dirty, vulgar songs on a Tuesday night after the news. “Cute? Look how they look dancing! Bubbling, doing 6:30, jiggle it, kotch gyal , pum pum tun up, daggering, wuk a gyal.” Ask them to spell their names! Or ask them to say their multiplication tables. They then become shy, then and only then has the cat gotten their tongues. OPEN YOUR EYES !!!!!! MUSIC LYRICS HAVE CHANGED! I think we have forgotten what music is now and how much power it has in making or breaking us. Most people listen to music to relax, as a form recreational activity to get out of there reality. To many, music describes the emotional state they are in. Music in all is not bad. Christian music and good lyrical music does exist. Do not get me wrong.

Before a Fall
Before I say anything, let me state for the record that I hold deep respect for every individual’s constitutional right to belong to any organization they please, including any political party. I also believe that the Opposition has an inherent responsibility to be very effective in presenting the best candidates and for being the check and balance of the Government in office. I hold this view since the party I sympathize with has been the opposing party in the past and will do so again sometime in the future. I do not wish for that to happen, but it’s really not only up to me now, is it? That said, let us talk politics by introducing the latest development. The announcement by Andrews from Rise and Shine that he is going to offer himself as a PUP candidate in the upcoming PUP convention for Belmopan came as no surprise to me. Probably, there is a plus for his decision since on the said talk show, Andrews was becoming more and more emotional and disrespectful with each passing day, and he would have ended up facing many more lawsuits because of his bravado. So he will, in the end, save some money and time since he will have less court appearances.

US upgrades Belize’s Capacity to Track Migration
Belize launched its Personal Identification and Registration System during a ceremony at the Phillip Goldson International Airport on Friday, July 12th. Hon. Godwin Hulse, Minister of Immigration, immigration officials and representatives of the United States Government were present to witness Belize’s move towards 21st Century border management. Hon. Godwin Hulse said, “When I walked in to see the hardware that we have established - lovely booths, etc. - I felt like I was entering Miami.”

A Small Idea with Huge Potential
Summer is here and school is out. This is a time when schools carry out beautification exercises as kids are out of the way so to speak. Some schools can do more than others depending on their resources and this is why UDP Fort George Caretaker, Roger Espejo tries to match small employment opportunities for at risk youth in the area.

Baby Bol died from Congenital Heart Defect
Lawrence Bol and Elvira Ack were due to have their first child on August 18th of this year. Unfortunately, the couple from San Antonio, Toledo had to rush to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where on Friday, July 12th, Ack gave birth to a baby girl. The baby was born five weeks premature but the couple was happy because she was born alive. However, on Sunday the couple received the devastating news that their baby had passed away. They were traumatized by the news and struggled to make sense of it. A very emotional Bol said, “My baby was healthy; she was good. I come home and when I gone back on Sunday I find she dead.” A post-mortem examination was conducted by Pathologist, Dr. Hugh Sanchez, on Tuesday, July 16th, which revealed that the premature infant had a “latent congenital abnormality of the heart which was incompatible with sustaining life”. The family is asking for support from the public to cover funeral and hospital expenses. Bol’s number is 626-0806.

Intra-ACP Climate Change Talks in Belize
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) will host the first ever Intra-ACP Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) Programme (1) Regional Technical Meeting (RTM) and the Second Programme Steering Committee meeting this week (July 18 to 19) at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel, San Ignacio, Cayo District in Belize. The objective is to raise interest in this global programme; establish thematic working groups in order to enhance networking and communication and facilitate exchange of information and expertise within the GCCA Intra-ACP Programme. The outcomes of the RTM will benefit the discussions in the Second Programme Steering Committee meeting on 18 – 19 July 2013. The Second Programme Steering Committee meeting will focus on programme implementation in the ACP regions among other issues.

Central American Summit on Free Software held in Cayo
A Central American Summit on Free Software, the fifth of its kind in Central America, ended on July 14, 2013 at Sacred Heart Junior College in San Ignacio Town. The summit started last Friday and for three days there were discussions on a variety of computer software topics, centered mostly on how to get and use free software and yet remain competitive and productive.

Santa Elena Public Library refurbished
A Summer Camp at the Santa Elena Public Library in the Cayo District ended last Friday with a sports day for participants. The Santa Elena Library in the Cayo District opened its Summer Camp last Monday with a PowerPoint on endangered animals.

New Tilapia Hatchery Center in Central Farm
Hon. Gaspar Vega and H. E. David Wu at ground breaking ceremony On Wednesday, July 17th, His Excellency David Wu, Ambassador of Taiwan to Belize, joined Hon. Gaspar Vega, Minister of Natural Resources and Agriculture, in Central Farm to break ground on a project for the construction of a Tilapia Hatchery Center. The center is part of a US$2.5 million Aquaculture Project that is being financed by the Taiwan Technical Mission in an effort develop the tilapia industry of Belize.

WIN supports the National Gender Policy
The National Gender Policy is founded on principles outlined in the Belize Constitution and in International Conventions and Agreements signed and ratified by the Government of Belize. This National Gender Policy is a progressive development policy promoting human rights, gender equality and gender equity.

Extradition cases
On Friday, July 12th, Mark Sewell, a Belizean national of the Ladyville area appeared in the Supreme Court before Chief Justice, Kenneth Benjamin to have an extradition hearing against him commence. The matter had to be adjourned; however, as Sewell's attorney, Arthur Saldivar was a no show in court. Present in court, was attorney Magali Perdomo, representing the Attorney General's Ministry. According to Saldivar's letter to the court, he had a medical emergency that hindered him from being present. In his absence though, the Chief Justice had this to say, “If no attorney comes to court next week on behalf of Sewell, the case will be struck out.” The CJ also noted that the case is a matter of habeas corpus and should take precedence. He noted that he was not seeing urgency regarding the case coming from Sewell's attorneys, especially since Saldivar's client has been on remand for more than two years since an order for his extradition. The case was then adjourned for August 1, 2013.

Illegally trying to obtain Birth Papers
On Monday, July 15th, Guatemalan national, Bianca Yesenia Villatoro-Magana, 22, was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court in Belize City where she was read a single charge of using a document she is not entitled to. She pleaded guilty to the charge when she appeared before Magistrate Clive Lino and was imposed a $1,000 fine, of which she was to pay $500 forthwith and the balance by September 15th. In default, she is to spend one year in prison. Magana was detained after Social Security authorities became suspicious of a birth certificate she was using in an attempt to get a Social Security card. It turns out that she was never issued one by the Vital Statistics Unit since she is not a Belizean. According to Immigration personnel, on Friday, July 12, 2013 at approximately 2:00 p.m., Immigration officer, Carlos Amaya acting upon information received, visited the Social Security Board office in Belize City where he was handed over a Hispanic woman identified as Bianca Yesenia Magana-Villatoro, a Guatemala national who was detained by Social Security officials on suspicions of a false birth certificate.

Failed to report to Police
On Wednesday, July 17th, 26-year-old Kareem Lopez, appeared in Magistrate's Court to answer to charges of failure to report to police as a deportee and changing his residence without prior notification to the Commissioner of Police. Lopez, who was deported from the United States of America in early January, appeared before Magistrate Clive Lino where he was read the two charges. Allegations are that between the periods of January 7, 2013 and July 12, 2013, Lopez having been deported from California, USA on January 7, 2013, was issued with a compliance letter which requires that he shall not change residence without prior notification to the Commissioner of Police and he failed to do so when he changed his address to the West Lake area. In court, Lopez who was unrepresented pleaded not guilty to both charges. Magistrate Lino offered him bail in the sum of $3,000 plus one surety of the same amount. He is to reappear in court on August 15th.

Guilty of chopping Man’s Fingers off
On Tuesday, July 16th, a jury of six men and three women found 55-year-old Hattieville Farmer, Romonio Garcia guilty of the use of deadly means of harm with intent to cause grievous harm for chopping off another man’s fingers. Back in 2011, Garcia had been originally charged with maim upon Alfredo Herrera but was later indicted for use of deadly means of harm. The chopping incident occurred on April 1, 2011 between Miles 12 and 13 on the George Price Highway. During the trial prosecutor, Kaysha Grant told the court on April 1, 2011, Herrera had gone to visit Garcia at his home. The two began to drink and at around 3:30p.m., Herrera made a comment about Garcia’s wife. As a result of this, Garcia grabbed a machete and attacked Herrera, chopping him and severing four of his fingers on his left hand and partially severing the fifth.

Acquitted of Murder
26-year-old Gabriel Salazar, a San Pedro resident, is a free man since Monday July 15th after he was acquitted of murder by Justice Denis S. Hanomansingh in the Dangriga Supreme Court. Salazar had been accused of the September 12th, 2009 murder of Francis Johnson at Johnson’s Store in Big Falls, Toledo District. Johnson was killed after being shot multiple times during an allege robbery that turned into murder. Three men were believed to have committed the robbery/murder but they were also believed to have fled the Belize Jurisdiction and ended up in Honduras. They were later allegedly involved in an armed robbery in Honduras and two of the three men were fatally shot and killed. Surviving incident was Salazar who would later return to Belize where he was charged for murder.

Judge to decide on Attempted Murder Case
Shawn Edwards will learn his fate on August 9th when Justice Troadio Gonzalez will rule on his case of attempted murder. In October of 2010, a bar in Belize City was held up in an attempted robbery and the bar owner was shot and injured. Also shot was one of two robbers, Shawn Edwards, who was later arrested by police. Edwards’ trial, which was conducted without a jury, began last week in the Supreme Court before Justice Troadio Gonzalez. At the beginning of the trial, Edwards indicated that he wanted to plead guilty to the charge of attempted murder but after the facts of the case were read to him, he disagreed with them and opted to proceed with the full trial. That case has now concluded and Justice Troadio Gonzalez has deferred his ruling on the case until August 9th when he will give his decision.

Threatened a Bowen & Bowen Employee
On Tuesday, July 16th Bangladesh businessman, Helal Miah, appeared in Magistate’s Court before Clive Lino where he was formally charged for common assault and use of threatening words upon a Bowen & Bowen employee. Miah, the owner of a dollar store in Belize City, does not speak English very well and was provided with a translator. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was offered bail in the sum of $1,500.00 plus one surety of the same amount but his surety needed to be a Belizean. He met bail and was ordered to reappear in court at a later date. Allegations are that on July 4, 2013, he committed a common assault upon Kevin Garbutt. He was additionally charge with one count of using threatening words when he allegedly uttered obscenties to Garbutt. According to Miah, the salesman was over charging him and that led to an altercation when he spoke up for his rights.

Dara’s Fundraisers continue
Joel Dara Robinson will once again hold his annual Ride for Hunger on Saturday August 3rd and the Tribute to Lucky Dube on Sunday, August 4th. Dara visited our offices to explain that the ride, which is in its second year, is one of his main fundraising activities, which he conducts to be able to feed underprivileged children in primary schools. The ride will take off from Mile 2 1/2 on the Phillip Goldson Highway in front of the Smart building and will make its way to the Burrell Boom Road. From there, it will head to Hattieville village and return back to Belize City and end where it took off from. Dara says the ride is aimed at fundraising as well as raising awareness to the fact that there are children in primary school, who go hungry because their parents cannot afford to feed them. He is inviting everybody to attend the ride especially business houses and emphasizes that it is a ride and not a race and anyone can participate. This year, he says he will add music to accompany the ride to motivate riders to complete the course. Registration starts at 5 on Saturday, August 3rd and the ride gets off at 6:30 a.m. registration is $5.00

Summer Camp opens in Cayo
Police Officer Jason Jones explaining the ground rules at the Cayo Youth Empowerment Summer Camp 2013 The Annual Cayo Youth Empowerment Summer Camp 2013 began on Monday of this week and is ongoing at Sacred Heart College in San Ignacio Town. This camp will continue to July 26, 2013 and comes as a result of a unity of many social partners. These partners coming to the fore in assisting with the Cayo Summer Camp are the Police Department and the Ministries of Human Development, Education and Youth. Also assisting in this year’s events are the Belize Family Life Association, National Drug Abuse & Control Council, Pro-World Belize, Cornerstone Foundation and Help International. As is traditional for the Summer Camps, speakers will be coming in from the different agencies to discuss issues of importance to children. Snacks are being provided in the morning and afternoon as well as lunch at midday.

Gulisi Community Primary School holds summer camp
On July 12th, Gulisi Community Primary School, which is located in Dangriga, concluded a four-day summer workshop which was done in collaboration with JICA - the Japan International Cooperation Agency. JICA has provided NGC, which manages the school, with a volunteer for two years to assist with the teaching of math and science. At least 75 youths from Std. 1-6 came from all over Dangriga, Belize and the Diaspora to attend in the workshop. Over the four-day period, the youths participated in various activities in the areas of music, sports, science, drumming, Japanese dance and they also tie-died the T-shirts that they are wearing in these pictures! The General Manager of Gulisi Community Primary School, Mrs. Phyllis Cayetano, says that the collaboration with JICA worked beautifully since the school's curriculum follows an Intercultural Bilingual Education model. Hence, an appreciation for Garifuna and Japanese culture was prevalent during the entire four days of the workshop. NGC and Gulisi Primary School Management, staff and students want to express their deep appreciation to JICA for their collaboration and look forward to more activities like this in the future.

Belize failed to make it to the next round of Gold Cup play
The final day of the group C play in the on-going Gold Cup 2013 tournament took place on Tuesday, July 16, out at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA, where both Belize and Cuba needed a 4 goals win margin to move onto the next round of play. Unfortunately for Team Belize, at the end of the game, it was not able to muster the much needed win against Cuba to advance to the next round of play. The Cuban team was hungry for the win and in the end it scored 4 goals against Belize to move onto the next round of play. Cuba’s Ariel Martinez completed a hat trick against Team Belize when he scored three of Cuba’s four goals to give them the win and the eighth and final place into the quarter final round of Gold Cup 2013.

Athletic Association to hold General Meeting
The Interim Committee of the Belize Athletic Association informs all of its members and prospective members that the General Assembly of the Association is scheduled for Wednesday, July 31, 2013, at the Edward P. Yorke High School commencing at 5:30 pm. Registration forms can be received from any of the National Sports Council offices throughout the country. The payment for registration must be done with the Sports Council in the respective district towns and in Belize City. In order to participate in the General Meeting and to vote for officers of the association, members must be 18 years an older and must have paid their membership dues in full.

Belize District Basketball Association Firms Competition to open
The Belize District Basketball Association 2013 Firms Competition is scheduled to commence on Friday, July 19 at the Bird’s Isle in Belize City. This year’s competition will attract some 13 teams in the regular season. The teams are divided into two divisions. The teams that will participate in this year’s competition are Ready Call Centre, Belize Bank Ltd/Broadway, Port of Belize Ltd., Bowen & Bowen Ltd., Belize Water Service Ltd., Heritage Bank/Ministry of Transport, Public Utilities Commission/Central Building Authority/Belize Fisheries Dept., BTL., Belize City Council/Belize Post Office, Courts, Central Health Region and Customs & Excise Department. There are three games on the schedule for this Friday night at Bird’s Isle. In the first game at 7:00 pm, Ready Call Centre will go up against Belize Bank Ltd, followed by Port of Belize against Bowen & Bowen and in the final game of the evening, Belize Water Services will do battle with Atlantic Bank. The competition will then continue on Friday, July 26 with three more games on the schedule.

Tyson Gay admits to Positive Test
American 100-meter record holder Tyson Gay, who had promoted himself as a clean athlete, tested positive for a banned substance and said he will pull out of the world championships next month in Moscow. Gay wouldn’t reveal the substance in a phone conversation from Amsterdam on Sunday, but he said he was notified by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency late last week that a sample came back positive from a May 16 out-of-competition test. He said he will have his “B” sample tested soon, possibly as early as this week. “I don’t have a sabotage story. I don’t have any lies. I don’t have anything to say to make this seem like it was a mistake or it was on USADA’s hands, someone playing games,” said Gay, who fought back sobs as he spoke. “I don’t have any of those stories. I basically put my trust in someone and I was let down.” Asked who that person was, Gay replied: “I can’t really say it. Sometimes a human being naturally, generally trusts somebody. That’s what people do.”

Asafa Powell among Jamaicans tested Positive
Reports stated that former world record holder Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson are among the five athletes, who returned the adverse findings following tests conducted at the Jamaica National Track and Field Championships. The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) has confirmed that five Jamaican athletes have tested positive for banned substances. JADCO’s Chairman, Dr. Herb Elliott said that he has received reports of adverse analytical findings from “A” samples for the athletes but declined to disclose further information. “The process of the result management has commenced in accordance with the JADCO Anti-doping rules” Dr. Elliott told RJR Sports. “We cannot disclose any further information until the athletes have responded to notification of the ‘A’ sample”, he added.

Vega’s Cup Tournament opens July 28
The organisers of the Vega’s Cup Tournament is pleased to inform the public that the 2013 competition is scheduled to commence on Sunday, July 28 with its marathon at the Trial Farm Football field. According to the organisers, all interested teams must register by Friday, July 26, 2013 as only teams that are registered will be allowed to play in the marathon and the tournament. The 2013 Vega’s Cup Tournament champions will receive $3,000.00 in cash, team trophy and individual awards. The tournament is sponsored by the Deputy Prime Minister of Belize Hon. Gaspar Vega.

Moen Stars lead in Belize City volleyball Competition
The Belize City Volleyball Competition continued at the Belize Elementary School Auditorium on Saturday, July 13 and on Sunday July 14 with a number of games on the schedule. On Sunday, July 14, 2013, in the first of two female games played, Moen Stars defeated Lady Jaguars by the score of 25-21, 21-25, 25-21 and 25-18. In the second game it was Lady Warriors winning over U16 Females in three sets by the score of 25-16, 25-23 and 25-13. On Saturday, July 13, in the first female game played, Lady Jaguars defeated Lady Warriors by the score of 25-15, 25-9 and 25-20. In game two, Moen Stars won handily over U16 Females by the score of 25-16, 25-2 and 25-16. In the firms competition game, Belize Bank defeated Scotia Bank in three sets by the score of 25-11, 22-25 and 15-11.

Caye Caulker Chronicles

Summer Karate Program
Kids ages 3 and up. Mon - Tues - Wed 3:00-4:00, Community Center, 6021772. Female Self Defense Class, Mon - Tues- Wed , 5:00-6:00, 6:00-7:00, Community Center

Blogs

Bittersweet BIG moving sale
Some people start off in Mexico and end up moving to Belize, I know others that have started in Belize and move to Mexico which is what the Kumar’s are doing and why they are having a Bittersweet Big moving sale. The title of Carolyn’s email was Bittersweet and I totally agree with that, Surendra, Carolyn and Nina will be missed by many on the island. On a positive note, we can now pop over to Tulum and visit the Kumars on our way to visiting all friends in Paya Del Carmen. If you have it on your mind to move to Belize and you are not a second hand shopper, you might want to reconsider. Moving and yard sales are 2 great ways to shop, we have scored some good stuff over the years that other people were letting go of for what ever reason. Since their new condo is completely furnished,they are selling off what they acquired while here, all the new condition furniture, appliances, drapes, housewares, and the Polaris. I have been to their house and not only to thet have great taste, they take very good care of their things. If you are interested in anything on the list below, contact Surendra or Carolyn by phone is 631-2272 or by email fabkumars[at]gmail.com

Tickets Sell Out in Record Time at July’s SAGA Summer Salad “Cook” Off!
There was a fantastic turnout last night for the SAGA Humane Society’s monthly fundraising cook-off. All 65 $10bzd tickets for the tastings sold out in under 15 minutes but those a bit late were more than happy to donate in others ways. Cute t-shirts were for sale (all proceeds goes to the Humane Society)… It’s HIP TO SNIP! (Ellie and her husband…a pretty handsome couple…) A raffle of donated prizes was well underway…(did you know that just one ticket will buy a cat or dog food for the day?) Here are Faith and Julie selling tickets. Hard to say no… (Thanks SO much to the generous sponsor restaurants who donated gift cards: MELT, Waraguma and El Divino.) …and the our generous host, Wet Willy’s Smokehouse, was jumping.

Why I want to be an Eco-Kid
I want to be an eco-kid because I want to save the environment and our earth. The earth is dying, people are dying and animals are dying. One day there is not going to be no gibnuts, toucans and tapirs if we don’t help. Wouldn’t you want your sons and daughters to one day see the national animal of Belize? The earth is being destroyed and you know who destroys it, man. We destroy all things, we are responsible for global warming, for poaching and for many others because man is selfish. I will quote a passage from a famous Sioux Indian poem, “how can you buy or sell the sky, every part of this land is sacred to my people every shining pine needle is sacred every sandy shore every mist in the dark woods every clearing and humming insect is holy to me…” Chief Seattle. This is trying to say God gives the earth to us; it should be treasured and protected. Just imagine a world, a barren wasteland imagine a place where a forest used to be, gone forever all you see is desolation. Man with pesticides is destroying the soil the water and the wonderful forest God gave us.

Three Thoughts on Project Belize
1. The people of PwC really are helping the people of Belize. I know that should be obvious, but it’s not always the case with opportunities like this (service trips, mission trips, NGO partnerships, etc). Irma Vernon, a Belizean teacher, and my co-facilitator during the week, was inspired with the curriculum noting “with these materials we can develop ourselves as individuals, and our country as a nation." I was skeptical heading down to Belize. Are we going to ‘save’ people with financial literacy? Will we be artificially injecting time and money into the country, messing up the established order? Keep in mind — we take over Belize City’s largest hotel for two weeks, employ private security, rent private buses to transport us all over, and order several hundred lunches each day to be delivered all over the city. One can only imagine ‘winning’ the PwC contract is like realizing you’re the only person in town with a working generator when the electricity is shut off. But I found a firm that was very aware of its surroundings. Mindful of its own presence. And perhaps most importantly — understanding of Belizean people and culture. The teachers and principals that I interacted with this week crave the lessons in budgeting, savings, and paying it forward that we offer. Implementation was always in their own lives first, then their families, then their students, and finally with friends, neighbors, and in the greater community. The community stands to benefit greatly from the financial literacy curriculum and PwC’s presence in Belize City. The private security, transportation, and food provided to us each day was all local. I would guess there is a safer, faster, and healthier way to protect, move, and feed hundreds of people every day, using US based companies and staff. I don’t know all the ins and outs of our sourcing process, but it’s clear we shopped local. And I believe we as a firm are more authentic and on mission because of it. I’m saying this not just as a proud PwC employee but also through the toxic stench of Gen Y manufactured distrust towards giant entities like PwC. Full disclosure: I’m Gen Y.

International Sources

MELISSA BOLONA WAS A BIKINI MODEL SEARCH WINNER; HERE’S WHY
Remember Melissa Bolona? The Beach Bunny Swimwear model search winner? Well, here she is, getting to work on the beaches of Sanctuary Belize. You will notice as you watch that not only is Melissa Bolona a really good selection for the Beach Bunny Swimwear model search, but also that she is Belize with a couple of other Beach Bunny models. Namely, Nina Agdal and Irina Shayk (that’s them together below). Now I knew that Xenia Deli, Valerie van der Graaf, and Chrissy Teigen were Beach Bunny models, but I was not aware that Nina Agdal was as well. See? This video is not only sexy, it’s informative!!

Nicaragua, Honduras and Belize confirm participation at ILTM Americas
New resorts, ecotourism projects and historical properties from the Latin Riviera are significant new names on the guest list for this year’s ILTM Americas in Riviera Maya, Mayakoba, Mexico, September 30 – October 3, 2013 [ www.iltm.net/americas ]. Trailblazing properties from Nicaragua, Honduras and Belize are among those who have confirmed their participation in their first ILTM event; to meet with buyers from across the Americas and be part of next year’s travel plans for their high-net worth clients. Simon Mayle, ILTM Head of Marketing added: “Never before have such incredible new products from the latest hot destination of the Latin Riviera elected to gather in one place to show the world of luxury travel their defining offering. Their very ‘sense of place’ will enthrall those invited to attend ILTM Americas: diverse cultures, captivating indigenous markets, spectacular wildlife, smoking volcanoes, serene lakes, steamy jungles, and idyllic white sand beaches. Standing alongside the many global brands also taking part, ILTM Americas is proving to be un-missable for discerning new luxury travel buyers from the Americas to be able to plan their client’s itineraries for 2014 and beyond.”

RSO CATHALAC develops forest cover map of Belize
UN-SPIDER's Regional Support Office CATHALAC (Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean) has just developed the first version of a 2012 forest cover map of Belize. This research was carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries, and Sustainable Development of the Government of Belize, Lancaster University of the UK and the Environmental Research Institute of the University of Belize.

July 18, 2013

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7 and Channel 5
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Costa Maya Festival® presents Miss Mexico!
Representing Mexico is Artemisa Rivera Montañés. Artemisa is a stunning 22-year-old who stands at 5’7”, and she hails from Zacatecas. She was the NuestraBelleza Zacatecas representative in 2012 who is gunning for the title of Reina de La Costa Maya®. Artemisa will be joining Destinee Arnold (Belize), Andrea Rojas (Costa Rica), Monica Elwing Gough (Honduras), AriadnaMelendez (Nicaragua)and Cleirys Velasquez (Panama)on stage, Thursday August 1st. Who will be 2013’s Reina de la Costa Maya? Be sure to get your tickets and be there in person to find out! Three-day Season Passes are available at $60 for children and $140 for adults.

Belize succumbs to Cuba and ends her Gold Cup debut
Belize faced off with Cuba in her final game of Division C at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. A 4-0 win for either team would result in advancing to the next level, the “knock out stage”. The game took place at 3:30PM local time (Belize) in the Rentschler Field in Hartford, Connecticut, USA on Tuesday, July 16th. The game ended in a 4-0 score with Cuba advancing to the next stage of the Gold Cup. Belize started the game off strongly, and held its ground with a strong defense from goal keeper Woodrow West. Belize received three free kicks in the first half but none managed to lead to a goal. Belize had a golden opportunity to score while Cuba’s goalkeeper was down and no defense was around but the attempt fell short. Cuba’s Ariel Martinez delivered the first goal in the 38th minute of the game putting them in a 1-0 lead. Cuba continued to play on the offensive for the rest of the first half but failed at all goal attempts.

Ole Miss M-Powered Magazine receives award for article on Belize
The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) M-Powered Magazine received a RFK Journalism Award for their spring 2012 issue detailing the students’ service experience in Belize. The university’s entry was amongst 11 winners:eight professional and three student categories submitted from all over the United States of America. The award winners were announced on July 15th by The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights as part of its annual RFK Book and Journalism Awards. M-Powered’s Spring 2012 issue featured the Ole Miss students learning through service in Belize. It details the university’s work as well as the students’ contribution to the improvement made in the San Mateo Area of San Pedro Town. The articles in the magazine document the San Mateo Empowerment Project, a brain child of former Ole Miss professor Kim Shackelford. While there are several stories, the main article is entitled “The Road to Belize” and Cain Madden, the writer of the main story, explains that by empowering a community to rise out of poverty through a Study Abroad Project, it transforms students’ lives. It also detailed the reality and level of poverty in Belize’s main tourism destination, Ambergris Caye.

Not guilty verdict for five locals caught in Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Five residents of San Pedro Town were found not guilty on Thursday July 11th before Magistrate Sherigne Rodriguez after they were charged on the suspicion that they were fishing within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. The charges arose from an incident on the 28th of July, 2012 when the Michael Kuhn – boat captain, Roan Gonzalez – licensed tour guide, Guillermo Valdez – licensed tour guide, Melvin Montesino – fishermen and a 13 year old minor, all of San Pedro Town, were caught sometime around 11PM inside the reserve on a boat named ‘Natural Mystic.’ At the time, The Belize Fisheries Department on behalf of the Government of Belize charged the five for illegally fishing within a marine reserve (which went against the Belize Marine Reserve and Protected Areas Act of the Laws of Belize.) Around the time of the incident, Hol Chan Marine Reserve Ranger had set up a sting operation after receiving information of illegal activities within the reserve. That night, the rangers sighted lights in the reserve and found the vessel with the five males within the park.

Ambergris Today

Belmopan Youth Summer Camp Kicks Off
A Youth Summer Camp for a total of over 350 students was officially opened this morning in Belmopan. The Summer Camp is co-sponsored by Minister of National Security and Belmopan Area Representative Hon. John Saldivar; Mayor Simeon Lopez and the Belmopan City Council; and the Belmopan Sports Council. Official ceremonies to open the summer camp were held this morning at the Hilltop Basketball and Tennis Court in Belmopan. Speakers included Hon. John Saldivar, Mayor Simeon Lopez and Belmopan Sports Coordinator Angelica Reyes. Master of Ceremonies was Deputy Mayor Joel Westby and the Vote of Thanks was delivered by City Councilor with responsibility for events Victor Perdomo. The Summer Camp involves sports in six disciplines: Tennis, Football and Softball are running for the first two weeks, from July 15 to July 26; Basketball, Volleyball and Chess will run for the next two weeks, from July 29 to August 9.

Caye Caulker Student Wins International and National Scholarships
Yvon Noralez, graduate of Caye Caulker Ocean Academy, wins National and International Scholarships recognizing Creativity and Youth Leadership - Yvon Noralez is one of 25 students from 13 countries to be awarded an Adobe Creativity Scholarship administered by the Institute of International Education. The Creativity Scholarship program provides financial support to students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, a strong creative portfolio and commitment to pursuing a career in a creative field. Yvon is interested in developing his talents in photography and graphic design. Funded by the Creativity Scholarship, he will start sixth-form Fine Arts studies in the fall at St. John’s Junior College. Yvon was eligible for this full scholarship opportunity because of his participation in the Adobe Youth Voices Program (AYV) classes at Caye Caulker Ocean Academy. AYV follows a creativity curriculum and provides the digital tools, training and professional mentorship students need to develop essential skills such as self-expression, collaboration, flexibility and persistence. All AYV students produce original projects in video, photography, animation and other digital media categories spotlighting issues important to them.

Accountability and Alignment in Education
Following last month’s release of very low proficiency scores for primary school students who took the 2013 PSE examinations, “Education” suddenly became a heated topic in Belize. Prior to the release of the PSE outcomes, the topic of Education was discussed mostly by educators and perhaps a few concerned parents. Now, it continues to make news, and draws gut-wrenching reactions and strongly-voiced negative opinions (“that’s not how it’s done”) from parents, businessmen, politicians, and almost everyone in Belize. However, what seems ironic (even hypocritical) is that a large portion of our community now suddenly knows what’s wrong with our Education systems. In my May 30, 2013 Blog, only days before the PSE scores bombshell exploded in Belize, I specifically reminded readers that the only way to make sure that our children get an Education that includes genuine “learning” is to eradicate from our vocabulary the phrase “their job” (schools and teachers) and replace it with “our job” (everyone who now is screaming). Common Misconceptions of Education Nonetheless, as all things political go, we will eventually exhaust our energies in this ongoing crossfire of how best to educate young students. However, after we have pointed fingers, accused, politicized and belittled people whom we choose to blame (other than ourselves) for the PSE low scores, then what do we do?

Ambar Ayala Graduates From International University of Monaco
Ambar Ayala graduated with a Bachelor's Degree majoring in Business Administration and International Business from the International University of Monaco on Friday, July 5, 2013. Ambar, a graduate of San Pedro High School and of Corozal Junior College will continue to reside in Monaco while pursuing a Master's of Science Degree in International Marketing.

Misc Belizean Sources

Education in Belize: New Models of Success
The policymakers of Education in Belize consist of Government and Church leaders; and they are responsible for schooling/educating all students in Primary and Secondary schools. Yet, despite the fact that Belize is now an Independent nation in the 21st Century, our Education policymakers continue to confuse students even more than they already may be confused, by insisting that students focus on old Colonial versions of success, rather than on the students’ 21st Century visions of success. Examples: Upon completing high school students must pass Colonial Era based O’ level exams. Originally, these exams were British GCE or General Certificate of Education that were used from back in the early 1950’s (long before Belize was Independent); but now the O’ level exams are administered by CXC, or Caribbean Examination Council. Students who earn high school diplomas without passing O’ level CXC passes are not admitted into institutions of higher learning (university), nor do they qualify for good-paying jobs. In examinations, students try to think and write exactly how they were taught in class, for fear of failing tests/exams. In other words, students are encouraged to memorize answers, instead of using critical thinking skills that are very much required today.

Full Moon Concert Saturday July 20th
The Corozal House of Culture is pleased to be presenting another Full Moon Concert Saturday July 20th, beginning at 7:30 pm in front of the House of Culture. Please join us for a night of reggae sounds, showcasing original and popular reggae music by Melodyman Escobar and friends.

Vacancies at San Pedro High
Vacancies exist for the following posts at San Pedro High School for the present school year 2013=2014

Chiquibul Symposium 2013
The Chiquibul Symposium will be taking place this Friday, July 19. The agenda for the event has been posted. "Join us at the first national symposium on the amazing but threatened Chiquibul Forest where Valerie Woods will gather some of the brightest minds from conservation, business, government and national security agencies to share critical information about this biodiversity hotspot and discuss strategies to reduce threats to it."

WIN-Belize supports Revised National Gender Policy
The Women’s Issues Network (WIN-Belize) says it has contacted its member organizations and reached consensus on fully accepting the Revised National Gender Policy, 2013. A statement put out by WIN-Belize says that the Revised National Gender Policy “is founded on principles outlined in the Belize Constitution and in International Conventions and Agreements signed and ratified by the Government of Belize.” Calling it a “progressive development policy promoting human rights, gender equality and gender equity,” WIN-Belize claims that its members work with the government “to ensure that persons are able to access the services provided and receive relevant information” in the areas of health, education & skills training, wealth and employment generation, violence producing conditions, and power and decision making.

Facilitating Entrepreneurship in Belize
In Belize entrepreneurial ventures are the key to keeping our economy afloat. Small businesses account for well over 50% of all employment, thus it becomes vital to facilitate and nurture an entrepreneurial culture throughout our country. Entrepreneurs tend to be innovative, proactive, risk-takers who reach for change, respond to it and exploit opportunities, and in turn convert a source into a resource. Keeping in-line with this, the Small Business Development Centre Belize, BELTRAIDE, with its mandate to provide advisory and training services to entrepreneurs and groups has been working tirelessly to strengthen Belize’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Sector.

July 7, 2013 - July 13, 2013 Fishing Report
Off and on weather throughout the week put a damper on several days this week. Bonefish were very cooperative; permit had a holiday from our anglers since the lodge was dominated by tarpon folks. The tagging expedition has included seminars about tarpon like leader design, fighting techniques and included some fascinating tagging results from Florida presented by Bruce Unger of the University of Miami, Tarpon are amazing creatures with a secret life that we are just starting to see. Please join Bonefish tarpon Trust to keep this research going! http://www.bonefishtarpontrust.org/

What It’s Really Like To Dive The Great Blue Hole
Thousands of Scuba Divers flock to Belize annually, and most of them only have the Great Blue Hole to check off their list. It is perhaps the most famous dive site in Belize, definitely one of the most advertised by domestic tourism investors, yet it disappoints many divers. Imagine, after weeks or months of anticipation and after all the hyped up articles and Ads with cliché captions, you complete a dive and realize you would be just fine if you never did it again? This is the reaction I have mostly seen over the hundreds of trips I have supervised at the Blue Hole, and I feel obligated to mention, before I go any further, that this dive site is a tad over rated, and could be very disappointing if you are the type of diver who enjoys colorful coral reef diving. It saddens me to say that the Blue Hole of Belize has become known only as a “bucket list dive”, because for most, it’s the type you absolutely must get off your list but really don’t care if you ever visit again. There’s hope however, for I think false assumptions and expectations are one of the main causes of disappointment. This dive site is different, it is the sort of novelty dive that, given the right conditions, can be enjoyed if approached with the right mind-set and expectations.

Channel 7

A Tainted Return For Gold Cup Team
Less then 24 hours after finishing last in the Gold Cup, Belize’s National Football Selection returned home today with a good many hard lessons learned and a fair amount of division about the way forward under American coach Ian Mork. 7news was at the airport and we got many perspectives on what went wrong and what worked for us at the Gold Cup. Jules Vasquez reports:… Jules Vasquez reporting The team returned today not to a motorcade or a hero’s welcome but a warm and grateful welcome, autographs were still being sought and there were plenty hugs and heartfelt handshakes to go around. There was also enough blame to go around for yesterday’s epic loss - much of it directed at Coach Ian Mork. Travis 'Burger' Lennan - Frustrated With Coaching Decisions "I think the coach held me down too much - he held a lot of us down, the seniors were put on the bench and I think we could helped them in those situations but he had his own reasons why he did that."

Belmopan Taxi-Man Found Dead, Police Say Homicide
Tonight, Belmopan police are working on a homicide case after a missing taxi-man’s body was found this afternoon on the outskirts of the capital. 45 year old Jose Marin Umana was last seen by his wife on Saturday morning when he left her store on Nicaragua Street in Belmopan. He left with a man in his car, but never came back home. She reported him missing on Saturday the 15th July and this afternoon at 4:30 police found his body in an area between George Price Boulevard and the Western Highway. The body was found in his taxi and was in an advanced state of decomposition. A post mortem will have to be conduced on site, but so far police believe he may have suffered an injury to the head. We’ll have more on this tomorrow.

KHMH Says Baby Elbira Had A Heart Defect
On Monday, 7News showed you the family from San Antonio Toledo who lost their premature baby at the KHMH. Lawrence Bol told us that his baby girl, Lorena, was in great health when he left her and a few hours later, when he and his wife returned their child was dead. He told us that he was shocked by it, and found the explanation from the doctor inadequate. Well, a post-mortem was conducted by Dr. Hugh Sanchez on Lorena – who they have listed as Elbira Ack. Dr. Sanchez certified that she died as a result of a latent congenital abnormality of the heart – which basically means that she was born with a bad heart. According to the KHMH, this abnormality was too severe, and it claimed her life. Their position is that they couldn’t do anything further for her.

Mayor Dodges Contempt Proceedings, Again
7News has been closely following a case filed by the Belize Waste Control, where they were pressing for Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley for contempt in relation to an unpaid arbitration award of 2.3 million dollars. As we’ve reported, this is a debt owed for several years, and Waste Control became tired of the City Council not making any attempt to pay the money, so they initiated proceedings before Justice Michelle Arana for Bradley to be cited for contempt to force his hand. The mayor was risking, seizure of his or City Hall’s assets, a fine, or being sent to jail. At every adjournment of the case, Waste Control’s attorney, Fred Lumor, exited telling the media that all the proposals by City Hall to pay the debt was unacceptable, and that they were forcing him closer and closer to start the contempt proceedings, which he was very reluctant to do. Today was the very last chance that he was giving the Mayor to come with a decent proposal, and apparently Bradley delivered. For the first time since this matter came before the court, Lumor exited and told the media that BWC and City Council came to an amicable resolution. Here’s how he explained it: Fred Lumor - Attorney for Belize Waste Control "We just signed points of agreement before the judge so we have resolved the matter so there is no need to proceed any further. The only outstanding issue is that we are going to sign a formal agreement containing the points of agreement. Once that is done we will return to court sometime in the year and withdraw the application that we have filed to site the Mayor for contempt. The settlement involves Belize Waste Control taking a reduced payment than the $2.3 million dollars awarded as the damages and in return the City Council is going to put in place some enforcement measures to stop the illegal garbage collection in the city, especially commercial collection and then address some other aspects of their contratual obligations - so in a nutshell that is what we have done."

GSU Arrests Major Gang Names
Tonight, 26 year-old Kareem “Robbery” Lopez is out on bail after he was taken to Magistrate’s Court for failure to report to police as a deportee. According to the Gang Suppression Unit, they detained him yesterday morning after he repeatedly failed to report to police after being deported from the US for illegal entry. As a result, he was charged with failure to report to police, and failing to notify the Commissioner of Police of a change of residence. He was arraigned today before Magistrate Clive Lino, who granted him bail of $3,000. He was able to meet it, and he must return to court on August 15. According to the GSU, Lopez is a reputed member of the George Street Gang. Another deportee who the GSU arrested yesterday was 27 year-old Brandon “BT” Tillett. They detained him at an apartment complex at #100 George Street.

Jamaican Gay Man Takes Belize, Trinidad to Court Over Discriminatory Immig Laws
The country is waiting patiently for Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin to rule on the UNIBAM challenge to Belize’s Sodomy Laws. Well, before that decision is handed down, another of Belize's sexually discriminatory laws is being challenged at the highest court in the land, the Caribbean Court of Justice. Viewers may remember, Maurice Tomlinson, the Jamaican Gay Activist who turned down UNIBAM’s invitation to conduct sensitization sessions. He did that because he discovered that under Section 5 of Belize’s Immigration Act, he would be breaking the laws to enter the country to conduct this workshop. This section states that prohibited immigrants include, quote "Any prostitute or homosexual who may have been living off or receiving proceeds of prostitution or homosexual behavior," end quote. Tomlinson, who is married to a Canadian man, says that this law violates his right to freedom of movement within the Caribbean Community. Trinidad and Tobago is the only other member of CARICOM which shares immigration laws similar to this one, and as a result, he has taken a challenge to the CCJ – in Trinidad - forcing both countries to respond.

Men Fired From Prison Claim Wrongful Dismissal
7News has been closely following the termination of employees of the Kolbe Foundation Prison. It has sparked a libel suit in the Supreme Court between the Administration and a group of employees calling themselves the Belize Central Prison Employees Correlation. Well, tonight, we note that there are 2 more employees who say that they were wrongfully terminated, because of what they call frivolous reasons. We can’t actually get into a discussion of the why they say they were terminated because it involves allegation of criminal behavior, but no police report has been made. However, these two former employees spoke to us this evening, to explain the circumstances: Felipe Gongora - Former Prison Officer "Sometime around 2:00 I was called at the Human Resources office by the Deputy Chief officer Cocom and I was informed that my services were no longer required at the prison. There was no indication - the letter does not clear why but we have an idea more or less. Basically we are upset by the way we were treated by the management by the Colby Foundation and therefore we just want the public our dissatisfaction with the foundation itself because of the way we were treated. I'm a veteran prison officer for 19 years now, I served as the Chairperson for the officers welfare committee or Employees Welfare Committee and I had been vocal with management when it came to injustices of our officers so I had expected that at some time they would get me - but not like this. They have no reason whatsoever to terminate me just like that so I was unjustly treated."

Kids Learn About Cash Creation and Management
And so, while these employees must figure out how they will budget their termination earnings until they find work, primary school children around the city have been practicing financial prudence. It’s part of a dedicated and longstanding program by Price Waterhouse Coopers, Peacework, and the Ministry of Education, to teach the next generation about how to be entrepreneurs. Today, after 2 weeks of training the children, they held a business fair to see how well the students could translate the concepts of financial literacy into actual realistic businesses. 7News dropped by the displays to see how well they’ve learned spend money responsibly: Tanisha Myers - Teacher, St. John's Anglican School "It's geared at teaching about financial literacy - we know that in today's day and age and in Belizean families on a whole - they don't know a lot about budgeting. When we think about budgeting, we think about having our pay check last from this month to the next without anything saved in between. So this camp is geared at making our children be more business savvy and to be more conscious and aware of how to budget their monies."

Problem Croc Gets Moved From San Pedro
Today, a crocodile came to Belize City in A chicken boat! Sounds like a strange story, but really, it’s quite straightforward. The eight foot American Crocodile, known as Mr. Chet was removed from San Pedro after it killed two dogs in the last three months; one of the dogs weighed almost 60 pounds! Removing it from the island was the last option; first it was relocated 30 miles north after it killed one dog – but the croc returned to the same area and killed another. It was brought to the city this afternoon AT 3:00 and handed over to Vince Rose from the American Crocodile Education Sanctuary who will take it to their facility in Ladyville where it will be kept for educational displays only.

Learning B-Ball From The Eagles
This morning the Bird’s Isle Basketball Court was buzzing as the Ministry of Sports continued their second week of summer camps. The camp we visited caters for 40 children per day focusing mainly on basketball techniques for youngsters. And who better to help strengthen those techniques than the Galen Eagles Basketball Squad? It’s all a part of the players performing their community service for their education while assisting these youths. We found out more. Bernie Tarr - Technical Officer, Basketball "This is a basketball camp put together by Minister Longsworth with the National's Sports Council - what we've done was taken the Galen Basketball team to come here a few days during the week and assist with the camp. Basically it really teaches the players, as their role models, not just basketball players and it gives them a chance to interact with the kids. They are having a good time, enjoying it and developing some relationships with some of the younger guys, learning some fundamentals of basketball."

Belize U-16 Team Wins
And while those students learn to play Basketball from Galen University, a team of talented young men have performed excellently at a tournament in Mexico. The Hoop Dreams Basketball Club participated in the U16 Copa Cancun Basketball Tournament this weekend along with 12 teams. Hoop Dreams defeated 4 of these teams in division A with a margin as large as 50 points, and none of their opponents got closer than 27-points to them. They advanced to the semi-finals, and then to the finals, where they were finally defeated. They didn’t leave empty handed because Glincy “Cope” Lopez was named MVP of the tournament, and the team’s coach, Brads Neal, was named Coach of the Tournament.

Channel 5

The Jaguars return home
After a heartbreaking loss to Cuba on Tuesday afternoon, which crushed their hopes in the first round of the Gold Cup, the players of Team Belize returned home early this [...]

Goalie, Woodrow West yelled stick to the plan
Coach Ian Mork did not make it back…it is not because he is leaving the team, but because he stayed in the U.S. to deal with personal matters relating to [...]

Post-Cuba game wrap up with Shane Orio
There are reliable reports coming out of Hartford, Connecticut that things got a little heated in the locker room after Cuba defeated Belize four zero because emotions were running high. [...]

Post-Cuba game wrap up with players
While the focus has been on the team captain, the coach and the goalkeepers, the other players on the team also had their post-game comments.   Deon McCaulley, Belize National [...]

FFB Exec talks about restructure
With zero points on three losses and no wins during round one, the Belize Jaguars earned the dubious distinction of being the team with the worst stats in the Gold [...]

Should athletes representing the country be on government’s payroll?
Should athletes that represent the country professionally be on government payroll? Yes No

Body of missing Belmopan resident found on road
A taxi driver from the Belmopan area disappeared over the past weekend. The father of a four year old daughter went missing after a fare hired him on Saturday morning [...]

KHMH says newborn died of heart failure
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital today issued a very brief release on the cause of death of baby Lorena Bol who was born last Friday and died two days later [...]

Belize Waste Control will get funds owed by City Hall
Earlier this year, Belize City Mayor, Darrell Bradley appeared in court—not as a legal practitioner, but for contempt in respect of a garbage debt owed to Belize Waste Control to [...]

US Grant aided WinBelize supports Gender Policy
The Revised Gender Policy 2013 has come under attack from various sectors, but today, the Women’s Issues Network better known as Win Belize came out in support of the policy. [...]

Second murder acquittal for Gabriel Salazar
A San Pedro resident has been acquitted of a murder charge by Justice Denis S. Hanomansingh in the Dangriga Supreme Court. The murder occurred on September 12, 2009 at Johnson’s [...]

Another deportee gets charged locally
Three alleged gang members who were deported from the US have been arrested and charged. Roger Anthony, who has said that he is the leader of the Ghost Town Crips, [...]

Team returns but FFB Executive still detained in USA
The Jaguars are back in Belize, but F.F.B. Vice President, Rawell Pelayo, is not. Pelayo was nabbed reportedly by the Drug Enforcement Agency as he passed through Houston on his [...]

USAID gives cash stimulus to BDARRT, a disaster management group
A U.S. thirty thousand dollar agreement was signed today in Belmopan to provide support training to the Belize Disaster and Rescue Response, BDARRT. A team of volunteers will benefit from [...]

Wow! Awesome and amazing Superstar performances
Group B in Be the Next Superstar returns to the Bliss stage tonight bringing with them the hype and energy that characterized the group when they made their debut.  Tonight, [...]

LOVE FM

Missing Taxi Driver Found Dead
Earlier this week we reported that a Belmopan taxi driver had been reported missing. We join Correspondent Fem Cruz for an update. FEM CRUZ “The search for 45-year-old, Jose Umana, a resident of Nicaragua Street Extension in the Salvapan, Belmopan came to a sad end around 4 o&...

Belize Jaguars Team Returns Home
The Jaguars Football team touched down this morning at the Philip Goldson International Airport. The team has returned after competing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup that is taking place in the United States. The team failed to qualify to the second round of competition after losing all thr...

Galen University Holds Fundraiser for National Team
Before heading to the United States to be part of the CONCACAF Gold Cup Tournament, the Belize Jaguars Football Team needed funds. The Football Federation Of Belize held a telethon and several other organizations and institutions chipped in to assist. While the Jaguars were in the US, Galen Unive...

Garifuna Film Screens In Southern Belize
The film Garifuna in Peril will be shown tonight in Punta Gorda at the Parish Hall. Love News spoke to co-producers Ali Aliyeh and Michael Reyes to find out more. ALI ALIYEH / MICHAEL REYES “Garifuna In Peril is the first film in the Garifuna language and it’s the first ...

Belizean Youth Heads To Brazil For Catholic World Youth Day
The Catholic World Youth Day 2013 will be held in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. This is a biennial event where close to a million young people from around the world gather to focus on religious faith and youth. This year the event will be held from the 23 to the 28th of July. A delega...

Disaster and Rescue Response Team Gets Grant for US Government
The Belize Disaster and Rescue Response Team, B-DARRT, today received the first half of a 60 thousand-dollar grant from the United States government for just that – disaster, rescue and response. It is funded by the US Agency for International Development’s office for Foreign Di...

Crocodile Captured After Terrorizing Residents in San Pedro
Late this evening a male crocodile arrived on the mainland from San Pedro after it was captured for terrorizing residents of the island. The crocodile, fondly name, Mr. Chet is being blamed for eating two dogs more than six weeks ago. The residents have had enough of the stubborn croc and today i...

Majority of Carnival Groups Demand Capital for Carnival 2013
Belize’s yearly September celebrations are soon upon us and with those celebrations comes the traditional carnival excitement. But reliable reports to Love News are that contentions are building up between various carnival groups and the National Institute of Culture and History. Reports ar...

Belizean Living In US Gets Prison Sentenced Reduced
A Belizean man who has been living in the United States for the past 25 years will be deported back to Belize after he serves thirty two years in prison in Hammond, Illinois, USA. 34-year-old Tyrone 'Zero' Reynolds was initially sentenced to life in prison in 2011 but was recently g...

CTV3

Team Jaguars Is Back In Belize, This Time There Is No Fanfare
For the first time in Belize’s history a national selection headed out to the U.S to participate in the Gold Cup, with high hopes. But after enduring a horrible defeat...

Music, Art And Dance At The BHOC
By now summer programs are well under way in several municipalities across the jewel and here at home, is no different. Many organizations, including the Banquitas House of Culture, have...

No Legal Action Taken Against BSCFA, As Yet
As we told you at the top of the newscast, the first round of negotiations for the new Sugar Purchasing Agreement between the Belize Cane Farmers Association and the Belize...

Belize Has One Of The Highest Percentage Of Untrained Teachers
For the past two days we have been reporting on the challenges faced by the Education Sector in Belize, with the guidance of a recent study published by the Inter-American...

BWU Wants To Reel In BSI Contract Workers
Contract of Employment and contract for employment may sound the same to you but the phrases have two different meanings. This is according to the president of the Belize Worker’s...

BSCFA And BSI Meet To Negotiate Sugar Purchasing Agreement
Representatives of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and the Belize Sugar Industries Limited, met today for the second day of negotiations of the new BSFCA/BSI Sugar Purchasing Agreement. The...

IMF Pleased With Belize's Economic Performance
The International Monetary Fund, IMF is giving the Government of Belize good marks on its report card for the country’s recent economic recovery. In a release issued late...

LOVE TV

Crocodile Placed in Jail for Misbehaving
Late this evening a male crocodile arrived on the mainland from San Pedro after it was captured for terrorizing residents of the island. The crocodile, fondly name, Mr. Chet is being blamed for eating two dogs more than six weeks ago. The residents have had enough of the stubborn croc and today it was taken in captivity in Ladyville. According to Vincent Rose, the founder of the American Crocodile Education Sanctuary, under the authority of the Belize Forest Department, ACES will keep the crocodile at its main facility located at Caribbean Shrimp Farm, Ladyville, for educational display only.

PlusTV

Jaguars return to Belize
After taking on the giant of USA and good professional teams Costa Rica and Cuba, our humble little Belize Jaguars returned home with their heads held high as they were received with a resounding applause by their family, friends and fans waiting outside the P.G.I.A. Belize...

Many in Belize City Constitution March were not affiliated with Church Organisations
Yesterday, the nationwide series of Constitutional March continued in Belize City, the turnout was impressive, with more than a thousand persons, but what caught the attention of many was the diversity of those taking a stand for the Constitution of Belize and demonstrating their grievances...

Maurice Tomlinson challenges the immigration laws of Belize
A hearing for special leave under the original jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will be heard in November as Jamaican homosexual advocate Maurice Tomlinson challenges the immigration laws of Belize and Trinidad and Tobago, which he says legally bar him from entering either country because he...

Queen signs Same-Sex Marriage Bill
It was a great day for homosexuals in Britain. This morning Queen Elizabeth II gave her approving stamp on a bill, which was first proposed by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron, to legalize same sex unions in England and Wales. This law will allow homosexuals...

Religious Leaders in Dominican Republic protest US President’s nomination for Ambassador
While first world countries are embracing the homosexual agenda, Caribbean countries are being targeted by those first world countries to also welcome that lifestyle. The pressure on Caribbean nations has come in the form of threat of financial restrictions for non compliance, lawsuits, policies, and international conventions. Caribbean Countries...

New initiative to build Belize’s capacity for disaster risk management
A new initiative to build Belize’s capacity for disaster risk management and response was signed today. The United States Agency for International Development is providing thirty grand to the Belize Disaster and Rescue Response Team. The money will go toward the training of the District Emergency Rescue Response Unit...

Two persons arrested and charged with drug trafficking
A George Town resident was busted with over two hundred grams of cannabis. The home of 40 year old Wilfred Hamilton, was searched by Police yesterday, where they discovered the weed. Also present at the time of the search was 43 year old Flora Valentine, who also resides at...

KHMH say Baby Lorena died of Heart Failure
Lawrence Bol’s grieving continues. Early Sunday Morning Bol’s recently born child passed away under the care of the KHMH. He had approached the media desperately seeking answers to this misfortune as he believes his baby was healthy. He was shocked by the turn of events. Here’s what he told...

Adventist Youths March for Godly Principles in Belmopan
The series of Constitutional marches have been drawing massive supporters throughout the country. With its success, some people have been asking, will there be a march on the Capital City and if so, when? While we do not have that information available at this time, we want to remind...

The July 14th, 2013 issue of The STAR (Cayo) is online HERE

This Week's Stories:

• The Anti - LGBT March Comes To Town:
  As they continue the protest against the Lesbian, Gay, Bi- Sexual and Transvestite (LGBT) agenda, the movement arrived in San Ignacio on Tuesday, July 9 for a protest march through principal streets in San Ignacio and Santa Elena. The march comprising mostly pastors and followers from evangelical churches between Belmopan and Benque Viejo, as well as from communities in between, was attended by several hundreds of protesters. It began at around 10:00 am at the Macal River Park in San Ignacio where it also ended at around 1:00 pm in a heavy downpour of rain. While the protest is clearly against the Lesbians Gays Bi-Sexuals And Transvestites ( LGBT) agenda, as borne out by the placards carried by participants, organizers have confusingly say that the movement hasno room
• Two Weeks - Two Bodies Fished From The Macal River:
  The body of another male person was fished out of the Macal River. Exactly fifteen days after the discovery of the decomposed body of Cyril Margarito Cal, 28, Belizean, of a Hillview address in Santa Elena Town, police are again reporting another body found floating in the Macal River this time more downstream near the wooden bridge. San Ignacio police reports the receipt of a call on the emergency line at around 9:15 am on Monday, July 8, 2013, of a body floating on the Macal River about 100 yards downstream from the wooden bridge linking the twin municipalities of San Ignacio and Santa Elena.
• Marijuana Bust On The Bus:
  manning the Anti-Lesbian, Gay, Bi- Sexual and Transvestite protest rally in San Ignacio, a young man from neighboring Guatemala is alleged to have attempted to move weed through the town. Acting upon information received, the police mounted an emergency check point on Joseph Andrews Drive at the intersection with 5th Street in San Ignacio. They conducted a search on a green passenger bus from the Belize Bus Owners Cooperative, where they came upon a young fellow sitting inside the bus with the trademark knapsack on his lap. The black bag was searched and was found to contain two parcels tightly wrapped in brown transparent tape. When opened the parcels were found to contain suspected marijuana. A further search under his seat led to the discovery of another knapsack, this time a green one, and when opened was found to contain another two parcels of suspected marijuana.
• Belize Gets Unique Support From Back Home:
  Soon after the elation over clinching a first berth in the CONCACAF Gold Cup had subsided, the work began for Belize. And it was not just on the training grounds. The Jaguars turned to fundraisers, doing a little bit of everything to get the necessary money to not only prepare for the tournament, but also head to the United States two days early to get acclimated to a different enviroment and the artificial turf at Portland’s JELD-WEN Field, foreign to the tiny Central American country. “Man, we did all kinds of things to reach where we’re at right now,” defender Ian Gaynair said following the team’s training session Thursday morning. “Thanks to our country for supporting us. We did barbeques, telethons, all kinds of things. The country is actually supporting us little by little now and I’m so thankful for that.”
• Your Words Carry Power!:
  Daily Grace Inspirations From Joseph Prince Ministries Ecclesiastes 8:4 Where the word of a king is, there is power… In Bible times, a king’s word carried tremendous power. What he decreed would come to pass. It would be done. For example, if he said, “Raise the taxes,” the taxes would be raised. Do you know that we are kings? The Bible tells us that Jesus has washed us from our sins with His blood and made us kings. (Revelation 1:5–6) And as kings in Christ, our words carry power too. When we place our hands on a sick person and say, “Be healed,” the person is healed. When we lay hands on our children and say, “Be blessed,” our children are blessed. There is power in our words because they are the words of kings!
• US Allies Mexico, Chile And Brazil Seek Spying Answers:
  US allies Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Chile have joined other Latin American nations in demanding answers from Washington over spying allegations. Brazilian media reported earlier this week that the US had seized web traffic and phone calls across the region. Spying targets included oil and energy firms, Venezuela's military purchases and information on Mexico's drug wars. The reports, based on leaks by fugitive Edward Snowden, said the US ran a "data-collection base" in Brasilia. The O Globo newspaper said the US facility in the Brazilian capital was part of a network of 16 such bases maintained by the National Security Agency (NSA) around the world to intercept transmissions from foreign satellites.
• Congratulations Are In Order:
  Congratulations are definitely in order for Jonathan Cariddi and the entire staff at Mr. Greedy’s Pizzeria located in the heart of downtown San Ignacio town for receiving the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award. “The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Only the top-performing 10 per cent of businesses world wide listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award.
• Are The Churches Promoting Hate Crimes?:
  Are The Churches Promoting Hate Crimes? The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, Senator Lisel Alamilla has gone on record expressing grave concerns about what she perceives could be the promotion of hate crimes against gay men and women in Belize. A statement below, posted on Facebook, by the Minister has sparked critisism from all walks of life; “I do not oppose persons having different views or religious beliefs but it concerns me immensely when those are being communicated by misinformation, manipulation and fear which could result in hate crime. Belize is not a melting pot, the Belize that I know is a country where persons of different cultures, ethnic groups, religious beliefs, languages and history come together under one banner and respect diversity. We are a reef people, we are a forest people, we are Belizeans.
• British Army Hands Over Trucks To BDF:
  The Belize Defense Force today received a total of Seventeen (17) Four-Ton Trucks from the British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB). The Handover took place at a short ceremony this afternoon in which the main speakers were British High Commissioner in Belize His Excellency Mr. Pat Ashworth and CEO in Belize’s Ministry of National Security Colonel (Ret.) George Lovell. Mr. Ashworth said his Government is pleased to be able to make the donation to the Belize Defense Force; and CEO Lovell said the Belize Government is very grateful for the assistance which will go a long way in enabling the BDF to transport its troops.
• How To LIVE A HAPPIER LIFE:
  HAPPIER LIFE I think everyone would agree happiness is an important part of life. What is happiness though? It is interesting that Merriam- Webster’s first definition of happiness is that of good fortune or prosperity. Although this can cause people to be happy, I do not think of happiness as good fortune. I believe the second definition is more fitting. Happiness is a state of well-being and contentment otherwise known as joy. Today I am going to share with you 10 EASY things you can do to bring more happiness or joy into your life. Envision what you want. Spend time each day thinking how you want your day to be. What do you want to accomplish? How do you want to feel?
• STAR Humor
• Your Weekly Horoscope and Lucky Numbers
• Letters to the Editor
• Public Notices

Blogs

“Communication” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.
No lengthy preamble today from me as was the case in yesterday’s edition. Got up, spent a little time on the veranda with my iPad, showered, dressed and had breakfast. Then spent a little time exchanging emails with Excess International Movers (the company we are using to ship our “stuff” from the UK) to see if they have worked out how much it will add to the cost to ship one item (a table) which they couldn’t fit in to the planned number of crates. Hopefully today I will find out. Knowing that Belize’s final group game versus Cuba in the CONCACAF Gold Cup was kicking off at 3.30 pm (our time) we set off to visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize around 1.45 pm and got there just after 2 pm. On arrival we saw that Martin was working on finishing off the steps to the Ground Floor self-contained apartment.

Mennonite Gurls A'ken Cook: Watarmelon Cake
Since summ'r is watarmelon seesen, I wantid to share thishere watarmelon cake at my sist'r, Grace, made fer air Dad’s 90th birthdee! Nairy onlee duz it look stunnyun' but it is a lite, heelthy alternatif' deessert fer a summ'r bbq er celebrashun. Accerdyun' to my sist'r here air t'simple instructyuns. 1. Cut a watarmelon n' half, the cut each half into servin sizet slices. Cut away t'rind.

International Sources

Divers Guide To Marine Life: Sharks
Divers love to see sharks, but we forget that part of what makes sharks so amazing is often in the details, not just in the toothy swim-by. Some interesting specifics of their life histories, feeding and behaviors from all over the world are good to know, too. There are still a lot of mysteries and unanswered questions about sharks but that is part of what makes them fascinating to us. Below is a list of the sharks that divers seek and see the most often and some key facts you’ll want to know about them. SPECIES GUIDE INCLUDES: Conservation status About the name/other names Physical description/size Range/habitat Maturity and reproduction What they eat Important or Fun Fact Diver interaction SPECIES: Blacktip Reef Shark Blue Shark Broadnose Sevengill Shark Bull Shark Caribbean Reef Shark Great Hammerhead Shark Great White Shark Grey Reef Shark Lemon Shark Nurse Shark Oceanic Whitetip Shark Tiger Shark Whale Shark

A Window Into The Past
This is part of the magnificent ruins protected in Tikal National Park, Guatemala. The site is located in an area of Guatemala known as the Peten, and Tikal is approximately 2 hours west of the Guatemala-Belize border. The structures in Tikal were built by the ancestors of the present-day Mayans who still live in parts of Honduras, Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. These early Mayans left other sites that are now world-famous tourist destinations, including Copan in Honduras and Chichen Itza in Mexico. Much like the case of places in the U.S.’s Southwest such as Mesa Verde and Chaco, these Mayan places were abandoned sometime in the 900s AD, probably due to several factors, including increasing pressures from enemies, exhaustion of resources, and the inability of the sites to feed their growing populations.

CHALLENGING GAY IMMIGRATION ENTRY BANS IN BELIZE AND TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Maurice Tomlinson, the Jamaican attorney and HIV activist who recently sued three Jamaican TV channels for refusing to broadcast gay positive public service announcements, will be in court again Wednesday. This time for the first hearing of his challenge to the immigration entry bans of both Belize and the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago. The case has been brought in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which is the highest court in the region. The two countries are the only ones in the Caribbean, in fact the sole countries in the Western Hemisphere, with laws banning entry of homosexuals. Section 5(1) of the Immigration Act of Belize reads: “… [T]he following persons are prohibited immigrants – … (e) any prostitute or homosexual or any person who may be living on or receiving or may have been living on or receiving the proceeds of prostitution or homosexual behaviour….”

Local family wants justice for man killed in Belize
A bizarre murder mystery across the ocean has one Florida family pulling out all the stops to get answers. Authorities say Gregory Faull, 52, was killed in his home in Belize last November. But no arrests have been made. Action News spoke with Gregory Faull's father. He lives in St. Johns County. He says he thinks the only named person of interest in the case, famous antivirus software founder John McAfee, is responsible but will never pay the price. The family fears the case has gone cold, a dead end in a death being investigated hundreds of miles away. Gregory Faull was found dead in his home in Belize last November from a single gunshot to the head. Antivirus software founder and next-door-neighbor John McAfee fled the county after being named the sole person of interest. "The family contacted me. It's an American citizen that was murdered in another county and they want justice," said Florida Senator Bill Nelson. Not knowing where to turn, Faull's family enlisted the help of Senator Nelson. Action News obtained a copy of the letter the Senator has since sent to authorities in Belize. "Today we are calling the Belize Ambassador to United States. I will be taking to him in the next couple days and I will ask for his personal intervention to get the justice apparatus wheels cranking so they can find out what happened and get to the bottom of who murdered this Floridian in Belize," the Senator told Action News.

San Carlos students return home from archeological trip
Three San Carlos students returned home Sunday, June 14 from the 2013 Programme for Belize Archaeology Project. The students were part of the program that took them to the country of Belize in Central America. Ansony King of the Bylas District, Amyrose Key of the Seven Mile District, and Tori Taylor of the Peridot District successfully completed their training in Central America.

Caribbean sports officials visit Australia
Caribbean government ministers and senior officials with responsibility for sport were welcomed to Canberra, the national capital of Australia, on 5 July. The group met with the Australian Capital Territory’s (ACT) minister for sport, players from the University of Canberra Brumbies Super Rugby team and visiting the Australian Institute of Sport. The 19 officials in the delegation were visiting as recipients of an Australia Awards Fellowship, funded by Australian government agency AusAID, for a 21-day Australian study tour. They were hosted on the tour by University of Canberra sport studies staff and Chris Nunn, of Chris Nunn Consulting. Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and St Lucia were all represented on the group. During the trip to Canberra, the group had the chance to hear from University of Canberra Brumbies chief executive officer Andrew Fagan, meet with some Brumbies players and ACT minister for sport Andrew Barr, who shared some insights into his role.

IMF concludes 2013 consultation with Belize
On June 21, 2013, the executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Belize. The Belize government’s completion of the exchange of its “super-bond” for new US dollar denominated bonds due to expire in 2038 brought substantial cash-flow relief (about US$130 million over the next 5 years). The debt restructuring took place against prolonged legal disputes over the nationalization of two utility companies, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) and Belize Electricity Limited (BEL). No agreement has been reached yet over compensation payments; and the legal dispute may take a few years in court.

July 17, 2013

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7 and Channel 5
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Hon. Saldivar and Mayor Lopez open Belmopan Youth Sumner Camp
A Youth Summer Camp for a total of over 350 students was officially opened this morning in Belmopan. The Summer Camp is co-sponsored by Minister of National Security and Belmopan Area Representative Hon. John Saldivar; Mayor Simeon Lopez and the Belmopan City Council; and the Belmopan Sports Council. Official ceremonies to open the summer camp were held this morning at the Hilltop Basketball and Tennis Court in Belmopan. Speakers included Hon. John Saldivar, Mayor Simeon Lopez and Belmopan Sports Coordinator Angelica Reyes. Master of Ceremonies was Deputy Mayor Joel Westby and the Vote of Thanks was delivered by City Councilor with responsibility for events Victor Perdomo.

Caye Caulker student wins international and national scholarships
Belize’s Yvon Noralez is one of 25 students from 13 countries to be awarded an Adobe Creativity Scholarship administered by the Institute of International Education. The Creativity Scholarship program provides financial support to students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, a strong creative portfolio and commitment to pursuing a career in a creative field. Yvon is interested in developing his talents in photography and graphic design. Funded by the Creativity Scholarship, he will start sixth-form Fine Arts studies in the fall at St. John’s Junior College. Yvon was eligible for this full scholarship opportunity because of his participation in the Adobe Youth Voices Program (AYV) classes at Caye Caulker Ocean Academy. AYV follows a creativity curriculum and provides the digital tools, training and professional mentorship students need to develop essential skills such as self-expression, collaboration, flexibility and persistence. All AYV students produce original projects in video, photography, animation and other digital media categories spotlighting issues important to them.

Michael de Feo “plants” smiles with omnipresent flower images on Ambergris Caye
A few months ago, residents on Ambergris Caye began wondering of the origin of the painted flowers that popped throughout the island. Rebecca Coutant of San Pedro Scoop took on the case, digging online in an effort to discover the elusive creator of this great mystery. Her investigative skills creamed the amateur sleuths who had tried to find out about the flowers, and The San Pedro Sun is happy to report that the flower images are the work of US artist Michael De Feo. The graffiti – with a positive message – is painted throughout international cities worldwide and has been De Feo’s work for over 20 years. In an interview with The San Pedro Sun, De Feo explained the purpose of the flowers that has garnered him international attention. “They’re part of a worldwide street art project that I started over twenty years ago in New York. It’s the only image I repeat, the other street pieces and projects I’ve done are all different. The flower image has come to be what I’m most recognized for. It’s about sharing and spreading smiles. It’s also about discovery; since people begin to notice them throughout the city they’re in or throughout their travels. I was already using the streets for my work in the early 1990’s when I came up with the flower image. I stumbled upon it, really. I was warming up for a painting session by illustrating images of butterflies, kittens and flowers. I had filled a wall with these images and this one single flower was situated in the middle of it all. It just seemed to leap off the surface with its presence. I made a silk screen out of it and soon had printed hundreds in all colors of the rainbow. The next logical thing to me was to paste them all over town and share them with others.”

The search at sea continues for a missing San Andres fisherman
Edwardo Dominguez, a fisherman from San Andres Village is missing after the vessel he and a companion was travelling in capsized at sea. The accident happened shortly around 10AM on Sunday July 14th as the two fishermen were heading to an area near Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve located on northern Ambergris Caye. According to Lieutenant Gregory Soberanis, Belize National Coast Guard Operation Officer, after the incident was reported on Sunday they immediately launched a search and rescue operation. “We got a report from the Police at Sarteneja village of a capsized vessel east of village. One Ryan Barahona reported to police that he, along with one Edwardo Dominguez, were on a white 23-foot sail boat named Elena, heading to Bacalar Chico when they capsized,” explained Soberanis. He said that Barahona reported that he managed to swim to shore safely, but unfortunately Dominguez remains unaccounted for. “The Belize National Coast Guard, assisted by local fishermen in the area, is currently conducting search efforts in the entire area to locate Dominguez. Barahona is attributing the accident to bad weather. As you know, on Sunday there was a tropical wave that moved over the country so the weather was not suitable for small craft,” said Soberanis.

Ambergris Today

Security Guard Seminar held for North Ambergris Caye
On Tuesday, July 9 the North neighborhood watch held a security guard seminar for all guards on the north side. The seminar was conducted by ASP Lewis Castellanos with the assistance of community police officer Juan Choc. The seminar began with a Power Point presentation by Mr. Castellanos and consisted of three parts: definition of a security guard, duties of the security guard and what security guards can and cannot do under the law. The power point was followed by interactive role-playing exercises on various identification techniques. This was the first time that the police department gave this presentation, and it was extremely well received by the 27 security guards in attendance. The guards agreed that by getting to know each other and working together, as well as having more information on what to watch out for, will make the north side safer for all. The next step is to implement a radio system to connect every security guard to the other guards on the north side as well as to the police department. Stephen Spiro El Pescador

San Pedro Celebrates Along with Belize International Film Festival
The Belize International Film Festival ran its eighth annual edition from July 11 to 15, 2013, and giving recognition to the top films screened at the end. Opening the festival in Belize City was the critically acclaimed feature film, Home Again, which had reached number one in the Canadian film box offices for three consecutive weeks and making box office history in Trinidad and Tobago. Over 50 other submissions, including music videos and Belizean films were screened at the Princess Hotel and Casino where a panel of judges watched, critiqued and chose the winners for each category. Sitting alongside Cuban Director, Rigoberto Lopez, the Vice President of Creative & Visual Content for Warner Brothers, Denise Williams Watts and Founder and Chair of Film London, Sandy Lieberson was American Actress, Erika Alexander.

Misc Belizean Sources

VIDEO: Where have our sharks gone?
Winner of the "Best Environmental Film" award at the 6th Belize International Film Festival, "Where have our sharks gone?" examines the plight of sharks and their important role in marine ecosystems, internationally and in Belize. Current research techniques and interviews with fisherman and tourists are presented along with suggested conservation measures. With stunning cinematography and a compelling narrative, 'Where have our sharks gone?' is a captivating tribute to this magnificent creature.

25 Years Ago: Tough Times and Good Times in San Pedro as a Village (Part 2)
Everyplace you might live in has its tough times and its good times. Every generation has its tough times and its good times. Our old San Pedro since it was founded by the Mestizos in 1848 also has had its memorable times- good or bad GOOD TIMES- KITES: Absolutely every aspect of the kite flying process was a lot of fun, so much that you will be surprised at the crazy things we did in order to have fun. It was fun just building a kite- the flat rectangle, the three dimensional box, star, circle, bird, airplane, the fife-foot tiny kite, the giant six-foot kite, to name just a few. It was fun competing for who could fly the steadiest kite, one that would go to sleep and barely move from right to left. Then there was the competition on who could raise the highest kite. What about the singing kite! We also sent tiny pieces of paper with a message up to the kite by letting it slide up the string. We got to say kudos to the guys who would tie a razor blade onto the tip of the tail and succeeded in cutting the lines of several other kites. Then we used to tie a small light object like a piece of coconut husk and release it in the sea to let the kite drag the little “boat” to the shoreline.

Flashbacks: Constructing the First Concrete Buildings and Hotels in San Pedro
We must say kudos to these men and operators of the famous lighters or flat-bottomed sailing boats used for cargo. In the late 1970’s when San Pedro Village was transitioning from wood buildings to concrete, these lighters brought all the river sand, pine ridge sand, gravel or sand and gravel from the mainland to San Pedro. They used to sail up the river and with hand shovels load up the lighter with gravel or river sand. Then they set sail for San Pedro and immediately upon arriving at the main pier, day or night, and proceeded to unload the gravel or sand as seen in this Flashback pic. This was certainly a time consuming, tedious and arduous job but it earned them one hundred dollars per lighter load of some 5 to six cubic yards of material, and on a good week they probably managed up to four trips.

Sports Commentary: Belize's national team has a long way to go
Since the Belize national team played at the Alliance Stadium in Houston Texas years ago, which I witnessed firsthand, and they lost to Mexico 2-0, I have been following up all the games they played so far. I must say that, back in my days in the 1970s, when I played football with Police Invaders, Trial Farm, Caribbean Eleven, Astros, Riverside All Orange Walk Selection, Chito’s Eleven and Ubafu in New York City, there were a lot better football players and teams in Belize. Why? Because back then the players were playing because they loved the sport, were dedicated and played to win by giving it their all. They also came from neighbourhoods in their cities and towns where there was always this youth rivalry and primary school competitions that were intense. I played with and against outstanding players such as Poppy Smith, Theo Lennon, Timmy Bedran, Speedy Henry, Arturo Azuetta, Negro Hall, Contreras, Bucko Torres, West, Marcello, Gene Guild, Mandingo Barnett, Fabian Rivero, Ricky Gongora, Enrique Carballo, Studd Hendricks, Garincha Adderly, Buck Palacio, Orin Orio, Nolbert Moss, Arthur Patur Roches, Raboo Garcia, Patrick Martinez Kalde, William Pine Sampson,

UPDATE ON PAVEMENT OF TRIGGER STREET.
ALMOST DONE!

Channel 7

Cuba Crushes Belize, Jaguars Fail To Qualify
Hopes were high when the Belize Jaguars took the field in Hartford, Connecticut today – that’s because there was a mathematical possibility that – even after losing its first two games – Belize had a chance to advance to the quarterfinals – that is if we could somehow win by four goals over Cuba. Now that’s a mighty big “if”, but when it’s eleven versus eleven on the field, hope is all you have. Like thousands of Belizeans, we were watching closely – and here’s how the first half went. Jules Vasquez reporting Belize was represented big time at today's game draping the bleachers in the Belize flag. The mass of them stood behind the Belize bench making the National Anthem audible in the vast 40,000 seat stadium and certainly producing mass cold seed during the Land of the Free. But the game would be played on the field - not on the stands which is why goalkeeper Woodrow West was probably praying for a major miracle - Belize would have to win by four goals to advance.

Coach Mork Says Belize Playing Style Needs To Diversify
It is a disappointing end after so much promise going into the tournament. And after the crushing defeat, Belize head coach Coach Ian Mork was defensive in the press conference – mostly about the changes in the lineup, where he introduced three un-tested players which caused breakdowns in the middle of the field. Here’s what he had to say in the post game press conference 50 minutes ago – we have this courtesy KREM Radio and LOVE FM. Voice of Ian Mork- Head Coach, Belize Team "I'm really disappointed that but I need to explain, it caught up with us a little bit." Reporter "You had changes just like the second game, the changes you made today, were they to give the other guys a break, what happened with the guys like Lennon and 'Cafu' that did not start?" Voice of Ian Mork "We had some changes because the way they were playing was against a lot of those players outside and so we needed to bring in some fresh legs, this is a new experience for some of them, it will make them stronger in the future so we are trying to change the game. I think there were moments that we could have scored some opportunities at a different game but that's football. As a group I feel that this game could have been either way. It wasn't that we played bad throughout the entire match, we had moments when we could have scored goals that changes the entire match but at the end of the game it's obviously changed things and we couldn't get ourselves back in the game.

Christians Take To The City Streets
Today, the constitutional marches led by Belize’s Christian lobby came to Belize City. It is named after the constitution but really speaks about the gender policy. 7news was there today to gauge the crowd and the mood in the country’s biggest population center; Daniel Ortiz has this report:… Daniel Ortiz reporting This morning at 9, the Christian activists gathered near Berger Field on Vernon Street, to prepare themselves for quite a long trek through the city on a hot Tuesday morning. A head count we did put their numbers at around 350 participants who showed up, a decent turnout given that it was a Tuesday. 15 minutes later they moved off traveling through Vernon Street, Central American Boulevard, around the Belcan Roundabout, then unto Freetown Road. The group then moved unto Mapp Street, then North Front Street, over the Bel China Bridge, back unto Vernon Street, then into Johnson Street. From there, they moved all along Cemetery Road, Orange Street, Albert Street, Regent Street, over the Swing Bridge, back on North Front Street, where they finally ended at Memorial Park. The Council of Churches has distanced itself from the Constitutional Marches, but at the rally in the park today, Catholic Bishop Dorick Wright, who is also a member of the Council, blessed the proceedings.

Bringing Ill Repute to The House Of Rep’s? Mace Bearer Charged
Last week, 7News told you about Phillip “Fawda” Henry, who claimed that he was beaten up by Political thugs early Friday morning. Well today, police arrested and charged Brian “Yellowman” Audinett and Allan Kelly with 1 count each of harm, wounding, using threatening words against Henry and assaulting a police officer on PC#1366, Wilbert Chi. They were arraigned in Magistrate’s Court this afternoon, and they were granted bail of $3,000, which they were able to meet. As Henry told us, he was assaulted while buying food at the bus terminal on West Collet Canal. Audinett, better known as Yellowman, is the mace bearer in the House of Representatives and a senior party operator.

Post Mortem Has No Answers For Mystery Body
Police have no answers about the body found yesterday afternoon at the end of Jane Usher Boulevard. It is an unidentified male which was found at 3:35 pm face down in a swamp. Police say that due to the advanced state of decomposition, it was beyond recognition. A post mortem had to be conducted on scene, but no cause of death could be established. So, police are treating it as a sudden death – which does not imply foul play – while they continue to investigate.

Convicted By A Dead Man’s Testimony
55 year-old Guatemalan National Romonio Garcia was today found guilty in the court room of Justice Adolph Lucas of the charge of using deadly means of harm with intent to cause grievous harm. He was accused of chopping off all 5 fingers from Alfredo Herrera’s left hand in April of 2011. Crown Counsel Kayshia Grant could not call the victim to testify because he passed away due to natural causes, so she relied on his written statement that he provided to police. Herrera told police that on that particular day, he went to visit Garcia at his house between miles 12 and 13 on the Western Highway. He said that they began to drink, and he made a comment about Herrera’s common-law wife which made Herrera furious. According to Herrera, Garcia grabbed a machete and chopped him on the arm. He made a second attempt, and when Herrera try to defend himself, the machete sliced off all 5 fingers.

Belize Has Fruit Flies, How To Get Rid Of It?
Belize is under a fruit-fly quarantine after the agricultural pest was detected in southern Belize. BAHA has confirmed that fruit flies were found at various points in the Toledo District, Mango Creek, and along the Placencia Peninsula. The quarantine was implemented on Saturday July 13th and a round the clock checkpoint was set up on the Southern Highway near Silk Grass. It’s imperative that Belize suppress the fruitfly because it could meaningfully threaten exports of papayas and citrus. Today CEO in the Ministry of Agriculture Jose Alpuche explained the threat: Jose Alpuche - CEO, Ministry of Agriculture "Yes, we've detected the Mediterranean fruit fly in Southern Belize, so BAHA had to implement a quarantine from Silk Grass down South to the entire Southern part of the country." Daniel Ortiz "Can you explain to us what takes place when this fruit fly becomes a problem?"

Why Eggs Went Scarce
You may have noticed a shortage in eggs over the last 2 weeks at your local grocery store. And if you were lucky enough to find eggs, either the price was too high or you were only allowed to buy a certain amount. Well there were several reasons behind this egg shortage – President of the Belize Poultry Association, Orlando Habet, explained and told us that things are almost back to normal when it comes to the egg supply. Via Telephone: Orlando Habet - Manager, Belize Poultry Association "Currently there is a shortage, there was a significant shortage and right now the production is going up so that the supply is almost as much as it is used to be before the shortage commenced. Principally the shortage has come down - we had a few problems running where we lost some rare birds in April so the production was slightly low in the month of June and now in July. Secondly, the supply that we have, we have found that there is some from Belize because Guatemala has a shortage and so buyers come from across the border and go store to store to deplete the market and purchase them out.

Fisherman’s Body Found
This morning authorities recovered the dead body of Edwardo Dominguez – a Fisherman who had gone missing in the Bay of Sarteneja. His boat capsized on Sundya morning East of Sarteneja Village. Dominguez held unto an icebox while his partner Ryan Barahona managed to swim to shore for help. The icebox was found yesterday and his body the day after.

The “Win, Lose, Or Draw” Party
As we showed you at the top of the newscast, Belize’s hopes of advancing to the Gold Cup quarterfinals have been dashed with a 4 to nil loss to Cuba today. But, as the faithful fans’ mantra goes, “Belize: Win, Lose Or Draw!” And so, we’d guess that tonight the four or five busloads of Belizean fans who went to the game from New York, will be thronging to the Crowne Plaza Cromwell in Hartford, Connecticut for an after-party – even though their team came in last in the Gold Cup. And that’s the nature of the Belize fans, because everyone know this team had to struggle mightily to get to the Gold Cup – so, just getting there is an accomplishment – and, hopefully, the start of a journey to international excellence and renown in soccer. Hopefully. That’s the kind of spirit that went into the after-party in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jules Vasquez was there and he has this report. Right after the game, this was the scene outside the team hotel in downtown Salt Lake. Following the flag, about three dozen fans, family and well wishers crowded the hotel lobby to mug for photos, get autographs on their team paraphernalia and let their boys know, that win, lose or draw they were with them. "I still feel good because Costa Rica didn't beat us and when I go to the hotel where they are I could tell them 'you know you guys didn't win the game' because you told us you were going to give us 5 and you didn't give us none."

From Brooklyn to L.A. to Belize
And at that after-party we met another one of those Belizean Americans whose story we took an interest in. He is John Mariano Jr and though he’s lived in the States all his life, he’s proudly Belizean and terribly passionate about Belizean football. We found out why. John Mariano Jr "I drove about 8 hours, five hours with the top up and then about three hours with the tope down because I drive a convertible. I was born in Brooklyn, New York and I moved to California but really and truly i claim Belize as my home. I never say I'm a New Yorker or that I'm from the states. I always claim Belize - one love, big up Belize all the time. I was watching the game last week and I was very disappointed because I didn't really know that was a Mariano on the team and they showed the starting line up and I saw a Mariano and all the Mariano in Belize are related, just to let you know. So, I linked up with him, I came down today, I was like 'family, family, family' and he ran over and he was like 'are you a Mariano' and I said 'yes' and he said 'oh, we're family' so right away we started connecting. I go to Belize every Christmas, I try because as a Garifuna I love jonkunu so I go home and dance - wanaragua - one love. " The next step in our coverage is waiting for the team’s return, defeated, but their heads unbowed

Vendors Angry At Altun Ha
Yesterday NICH and the BTB launched the “Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites” Project on March 20, 2013. The project seeks to achieve the integration of rural communities into the tourism sector through improved infrastructure, improved health and safety standards at the archaeological sites. But as Monica found out, At Altun Ha they are saying “while di grass di grow di horse di starve”:… Monica Bodden reporting Altun Ha is one of the most popular day tours for Tourists who are just passing through Belize City - with hundreds of tourist visiting the site per week, it’s a quick income for these art vendors who are mostly villagers from the surrounding area. But for the past 2 weeks, the 18 vendors who rent these display booths on the compound are all agreeing that business has drastically decreased after the National Institute of Culture and History implemented a list of new regulations. Ann Marie Arana- Vendor

Jaguars At War
And in our last bit about the national football selection tonight – we note that there is some genuine bitterness within the team’s ranks – which, to some extent is inevitable after any crushing defeat, much less three in a row on the biggest stage Belize football has ever been on. Travis “Burger” Lennan, a perennial starter who was benched until late in the second half of the last two games told KREM and LOVE fm when he was leaving the stadium that he’s not happy with the changes. Trevor Lennon "I think I should have played from earlier, I was sitting down for too long." Reporter "why was that?" Trevor Lennon "I don't know why he didn't call me." Reporter "You were physically ready?"

Channel 5

Belize 0 and Cuba advances with 4 goals
It was as though everything came to a standstill this afternoon around the country, when the Belize Jaguars took on Cuba, to watch Belize’s last opportunity to advance to the [...]

Post game conference; Coach talks about shortfalls with Belize Jaguars
Immediately after the disappointing loss to Cuba, which dashed Team Belize’s hopes of qualifying to Round Two of the Gold Cup, Coach Ian Mork faced the media in the standard [...]

Heart failure cause of death of newborn
The postmortem examination has been completed on the newborn that died early Sunday morning at the K.H.M.H.  The infant was due on August eighteenth but the expectant mother, Elvira Ack, [...]

No to Gender Policy road show reaches Belize City
The pro-constitution anti-gender policy movement touched down in the city today, proclaiming the bold message NO TO UNIBAM…YES TO GOD. While the underlying theme has been the condemnation of homosexuality [...]

More challenges revealed by IDB report on Belize’s education system
As we reported on Monday, the results of a recent study published by the Inter-American Development Bank on challenges being faced within the education sector indicate that Belize is underperforming [...]

Roaden Junior believes father was murdered
Seventy-four year old Glen Roaden Senior was reported missing last Tuesday.  He was seen leaving his home earlier that day. But the family was clueless as to his whereabouts…that is [...]

No Justice for Stephen Buckley
Three years ago, Stephen Buckley was shot by the police paralyzing the left side of his body and unable to work. Buckley was promised assistance by the department, but that [...]

Body of fisherman retrieved
On Monday night, we told you about the search being conducted for Edwardo Dominguez, a fisherman from the village of San Andres in the Corozal District. Dominguez was missing since [...]

Though victim died, man found guilty of chopping fingers
A jury of six men and three women deliberated for hours to decide the fate of a fifty-five year old man accused of attacking another man. Romonio Garica was initially [...]

Yellow Man charged for beating up ‘Faada’ Henry
A pair of well-known U.D.P. members, thirty-one year old Brian Edward Audinett, better known as “Yellow man”, along with thirty year old Zone Inspector for the Ministry of Housing, Allan Dale [...]

Placencia Tour Guide Association says emphatic no to Norwegian Cruise Line
The ministerial sub-committee that rejected Norwegian Cruise Line’s request to develop Crawl Caye inside the Belize Barrier Reef was tasked to inspect another proposal by the cruise line company. Harvest [...]

Restore Belize restores student confidence in English and Math
Summer is here and kids are out of school, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t learn. In fact, there are organizations which utilize summer months primarily to catch youths [...]

St. Joseph Student impresses in Mexico art competition
A twelve year old Belize City student has been given the opportunity to tour parts of Mexico because of his participation in an international art exhibit. Ammon Segura, a student [...]

Fox Sports goes deep on location in Belize with the Jaguars
Belize’s journey to Gold Cup 2013 has been described as fairy tale, one in which the Jaguars, a la Cinderella, make their first public appearance to the big dance.  The [...]

LOVE FM

Belize Jaguars Speak Out On Their Performance at the Gold Cup 2013
Belizeans at home and abroad are counting down to the kickoff of Belize versus Cuba. That is the final game for the Jaguars in round one of the CONCACAF gold cup taking place in the United States. Sportscaster Ruben Morales Iglesias will be calling the game this afternoon. RUBEN M...

Constitutional March Held Against Gender Policy
A little over three hundred people marched through the streets of Belize City in what is called the Constitutional March. This is part of a series of marches that is being held across the country. At the core of the move is the 2013 Revised Gender Policy issued t by the Women’s Commis...

Coast Guard Finds Body of Missing Fisherman
A Sarteneja fisherman was reported missing at sea and today the family got the sad news. Reporter Arturo Cantun has the story. ARTURO CANTUN “The lifeless body of Sarteneja resident, 27-year-old, Edwardo Dominguez who went missing on Sunday was found this morning. Doming...

Study Done on Issues Experienced in Milpa Rice Production
A fact finding meeting to develop a base line study on issues affecting milpa rice production was held recently in Toledo. Correspondent Paul Mahung reports. PAUL MAHUNG “Toledo District Agriculture Officer, Flint Wagner spoke of the initiative.” FLINT WAGNER “Pr...

Officials Meet to Discuss Terms of Purchasing Agreement with BSI and Cane Farmers
Cane farmers representatives and factory officials are meeting to discuss a new sugar cane purchasing agreement. Arturo Cantun has the story. ARTURO CANTUN Representatives from the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and Belize Sugar Industries are met today to start negotiating a...

Women's Network Endorses Revised Gender Policy 2013
The Women’s Issues Network of Belize has weighed in on the National Gender Policy. In a press release issued today, Win Belize says that it has contacted its member organizations and has reached consensus on the full acceptance of the Revised Gender Policy 2013. It continues by ...

Small Business Entrepreneurs Up in Arms at Maya Site
Marion Ali, Reporting For the past two weeks, the vendors who rent stall from the National Institute of Culture and History at the Altun Ha Mayan Temple, have been disallowed from hanging their arts and crafts on the walls of their stalls and they say that it has affected them where it matter...

Stabbing and a Hit and Run Reported in Belize's Culture Capital
Let’s now join Correspondent Harry Arzu for police news from Dangriga. HARRY ARZU “Police here say that they do not have sufficient information to make an arrest in connection with a stabbing incident that left an individual hospitalized at the Western Regional Hospital. ...

Judge to Render Decision on Charges of Attempted Murder and Attempted Robbery
In a trial without a jury, the trial Justice John Gonzalez today reserved his decision for August 9 for Shawn Edwards, charged with two counts of attempted murder and attempted robbery. According to the case for the prosecution, Edwards and another man entered a bar on Mosul Street around 9:50 p....

Parliamentary Official and Friend Arraigned For Wounding and Harm
Since his services were terminated by the Belize City Council a few years ago, Philip “Fawda” Henry has remained in the news. This week his name comes up again and this time it follows an assault that he faced, allegedly at the hands of two persons, one of whom is a UDP operativ...

CTV3

U.S Doctors Offer Free Clinics To Residents Of Rural Communities
In today’s day and age, getting the necessary medical attention in any field, is costly. That is why when word spreads that a team of medical doctors from abroad is...

Archbishop Dorrick Wright Leads March Against Gender Policy
The pro-constitution march began here in Orange Walk Town with a little over 200 God-fearing individuals who stood out to defend the Constitution of Belize and say no to the...

Fox Sports Recognizes The Work Of The Jaguars
By now the entire nation is aware of the fact that Team Jaguars will not take part in the second round of the Gold Cup after they lost against Cuba...

More Startling Revelations Coming Out Of IDB's Education Report On Belize
Yesterday we brought to you the first part of our coverage on the Inter-American Development Bank’s report on the Education Sector in Belize. The 43 page independent report brings to...

Trouble Erupts In San Joaquin Over Land Dispute
Early in the month of April there were serious allegations of political victimization coming out of the Corozal District mainly in rural communities represented by the Hon. Florencio Marin Jr....

Team Jaguars Packs Their Bags and Head Back Home
Hopes were high for Belizeans both home and abroad as the game between Belize and Cuba was played today. Everything came at a standstill at 3:30pm, when the game was...

Fisherman's Dead Body Recovered From The Sea
Tonight the family of a 29 year old fisherman from the Village of San Andres in the Corozal District, is mourning his death after his body was recovered from the...

Archbishop Dorrick Wright Leads March Against Gender Policy
The pro-constitution march began here in Orange Walk Town with a little over 200 God-fearing individuals who stood out to defend the Constitution of Belize and say no to the Gender Policy. The March then made its way down south to Punta Gorda in the Toledo District where a remarkable display of the people’s utmost rejection of the Gender Policy was seen. More than 4,000 persons from different denominations joined...

PlusTV

Over 1,250 attend Constitutional Rally in Belize City
It was the Old Capital’s turn today to welcome Christians and concerned citizens who came out in opposition to the Revised National Gender Policy 2013 which was approved by Cabinet in March. More than 1,250 Belizeans assembled at the Berger Field at nine this morning, many carrying signs and...

Belize exits Gold Cup with defeat
The task was always uphill and Belize entered today’s game in East Hartford, Connecticut, with a slim mathematical chance of making Sunday’s quarterfinals with a heavy defeat of Cuba – four goals or more would overhaul Martinique for the final slot. The Leones del Caribe had not won a...

Body of lost fisherman fished from the sea
The community of San Andres Village is tonight mourning the loss of a fisherman after his boat capsized at sea. Eduardo Dominguez and Ryan Barahona were out on a fishing trip on Sunday, when a storm struck. Barahona was at the helm of the 23 foot skiff when he...

Body discovered in canal in Belize City
Another body was taken out of a body of water today. This time, the body was discovered in the canal in Belize City. Sometime around 3:30 this afternoon, the body was seen near the Jane Usher Boulevard Extension in an area approximately 120 feet off the end of the...

Search for missing Belmopan taxi driver continues
Authorities are still looking for a Belmopan taxi man who disappeared this past week. While the search for 45 year old Jose Marin Umana Aguilar stretched into its fourth day, his family is grasping for any lead that could aid in his discovery. His common law-wife, Lucia Aleman says...

Romonio Garcia guilty of use of deadly means of harm
55 year old Romonio Garcia was found guilty of use of deadly means of harm with intent to cause grievous harm. This is after he chopped off five of a man’s fingers after disputing over a woman while drinking together. According to reports. Alfredo Herrera went to visit Garcia...

DPP says there is conflicting evidence in shooting death of Rasheed Elijio
Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Cheryl-Lynn Vidal has told PLUS News that while a ballistic report provided by the Police Department indicates what weapon fired the shot that killed 18 year old Rasheed Elijio in May, there is “conflicting evidence as to who may have been in possession of...

Two men charged for assault on Philip Henry
Last week we showed a battered Philip Henry who says he was attacked on a trip to the old capital. Just before 6 o’clock on Friday morning, Henry says he was buying food in front of the bus terminal, when a grey pickup parked behind him. Allan Kelly and...

COLA coming out in defense of Steven Buckley
Citizens Organized for Liberty Through Action (COLA) is coming out in defense of Steven Buckley, a father of four who was shot at by police officers three years ago. Buckley and two other men were leaving their construction site when police stopped them on Kraal Road. As the driver...

Fifth annual Summer Camp program in Belmopan
The Belmopan City Council, The Belmopan Area Representative and the Belmopan Sports Council, in collaboration with the various sporting associations in Belmopan are hosting the fifth annual Summer Camp program for kids between the ages of 7-16. Over 350 students will be participating and though most are primary school...

Caye Caulker Chronicles

Caye Caulker Health Committee
The Caye Caulker Health Committee would like to invite the Caye Caulker Residents to attend a Public Peace Corps collaboration meeting on Thursday, July 18th 2013 at 7 p.m. at the Community Center. This is being organized by the Caye Caulker Health Committee along with the Ministry of Health and the Peace Corps.

Present Committees at the Village Council
Anyone wanting to join any of the newly formed committees at the village council can contact the following persons. Events and Culture Committee – Tracy Young – 602-1772 Sports Committee – Ralph Humes – 620-1433 or Julian ‘Neno’ Rosado – 610-3151 Health Committee – Raul Young – 607-1806 Environmental Committee (FAMRACC, Humane Society etc) – Ilda Marin – 607-5466

Amandala

KHMH AGAIN!!!
Couple loses firstborn; hospital has no answers for the death. It seems that even after thirteen infants died during the first 20 days of May in the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), with seven of their deaths being caused by an outbreak of an enterobacter cloacae infection in the neonatal unit, tragedy and controversy continue to stalk the nation’s premier public health institution. A grieving couple from the Toledo District, Lawrence Bol, 31, and Elvira Ak, 30, are confused as to what could have caused the death of their newborn baby girl over the weekend at the hospital. Ak said that she went to the KHMH on Friday, July 12, to have her baby. Her water bag had broken only 33 weeks into her pregnancy. Her due date was some time near the end of August. She had her baby through cesarean birth around 8:00 p.m. on Friday. Ak said that her baby weighed four pounds, three ounces at birth, but she was told by the nurses that her baby was healthy. She said that the newborn was checked and they were told that everything was functioning properly. The couple said that the baby was breastfeeding and responding to their touch. Nothing seemed wrong with the baby while they had her in their arms, so they were surprised when they were told by the nurses that the baby had to be taken to the intensive care unit to be breastfed.

MEDFLY FOUND IN SOUTHERN BELIZE
Infestation caused by smuggled fruits and vegetables; quarantine ordered. Southern Belize—and specifically the area from Silk Grass to the Sarstoon—is this year reporting an infestation of Mediterranean fruit flies (medfly for short), and the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) has announced a quarantine of part of the Stann Creek District and the entire Toledo District – where, historically, the medfly infestations have occurred, presumably due to the smuggling of fruits and vegetables. The quarantine, which came into effect on Saturday July 13, 2013, will run for at least 6 weeks and possibly up to 12 weeks, depending on the results of our surveillance program, Hernan Zetina, who is the Coordinator of the Medfly Programme in Belize, told Amandala. Zetina said that, “We’ve been having a series of detections since the last week of April.” What the quarantine means is that the fruits and vegetables on a list of prohibited items are not allowed to be transported. If they are found upon searches conducted at designated checkpoints, BAHA officials will confiscate them. A 24-hour quarantine checkpoint has been placed on the Southern Highway at the village of Silk Grass, BAHA has notified. BAHA has confiscated mostly mangoes and citrus since Saturday. Common fruits and vegetables on the quarantine list are apple, apricot, avocado, bell pepper, carambola, ripe coffee berry, dates, figs, grapes, grapefruit, guava, loquat, lychee, mango, nectarine, orange, tangerine, papaya, peach, pear, plum, pomegranate, pummel, sapote, sapodilla, tangerine, tomato, craboo, almond, coco plum, sea grape, chico sapote, malay apple, and caimito.

CHURCHES TAKE OVER THE CITY!
Massive march against GOB’s Gender Policy 2013. This morning, a militant group of Christian activists are leading a march on the old capital, Belize City – the fourth in a series of “Constitutional Marches” being held during the month of July, which Belize Can, one of the collaborating entities, has designated as Constitution Awareness Month. The Belize City Constitution March departs at 9:00 a.m. from the Constitution Park in the area of Pound Yard Bridge, and moves through the City to Memorial Park, where a rally will be held. According to Pastor Scott Stirm of Belize Action, there will be several speakers addressing the audience in both English and Spanish. Among them will be Pastor Eugene Crawford and Ms. Maria Zabaneh. “Belizeans are stirred by the UNIBAM challenge to our laws, and now the Gender Policy 2013’s inclusion of ‘sexual orientation’ and the clear inclusion of the homosexual agenda. Policy is the last step before becoming law! And the Gender Policy calls for these laws! For these things to become legitimized in law, OUR CONSTITUTION WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE!” organizers said in a statement. They assert that the marches are “a demonstration of NUMBERS and RESOLVE that we will not let our nation go this direction!! We will not allow our elected leaders to TAKE OUR NATION THIS DIRECTION!”

4 LBS WEED FOUND IN PRAYER HOUSE LATRINE
Police on anti-drug operations on Monday, July 1, confiscated over 1,800 grams of weed found in a prayer house latrine in Columbia Village, Toledo. The confiscated drugs were labeled as found property. Police said that they went to the latrine of the prayer house, located on the compound of a church in the village, and found two black plastic bags, which, when opened, were found to contain ganja. The drugs were taken to the Punta Gorda Police Station, where it was determined, after the drugs were weighed, that the ganja retrieved from the latrine totaled 1,814 grams in weight. No one was arrested. The drugs were labeled as found property and will be handed over for destruction by the Toledo police.

BODY FOUND NEAR HOME ON JANE USHER BLVD.
The body of an elderly man was found today, Monday, near his residence on Jane Usher Boulevard in Belize City. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition. The man, whose name is being withheld at this time, was said to have been living alone. The body was found in the bushes not too far away from his home by residents of the area, who contacted the police. We will have more details on this incident in our weekend issue.

FRANCISCA FLORES ACQUITTED OF HARBORING AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT
Immigration officer could not prove that the minor had entered the country illegally. On March 21, Francisca Flores, 50, a resident of Belama Phase 2, was arraigned in court for harboring an illegal immigrant; but today, she walked out of court a free woman, as the charges against her were dismissed after the Immigration Office’s case fell to pieces. On March 20, Irma Hilda Alaz Azmitia was suspected of human trafficking after she was caught with four minors who had fake Guatemalan passports stamped with fake US visas. When the children were interviewed, one of them allegedly told officials that he had been housed at a home in Belama Phase 2, which led them to arrest Flores. At her arraignment, Flores had initially pleaded guilty, but told the court that she didn’t know that the child had entered the country illegally. She was advised, on the basis of the explanation she offered, to change her plea, which she did. She was offered and met bail that same day and today her trial started before Magistrate Clive Lino.

FARMER, 60, STABBED IN HIS HOME BY FEMALE ASSAILANTS
Two women, 16 and 20, of Orange Walk have been released on separate bail in the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court today, on charges of grievous harm and threatening words. The girl, a minor, 16, was released on a bail of $3,000 and ordered to return to court on September 23 on the charge of grievous harm, and Corina Panagua, 20, was offered a bail of $1,500 on charges of threatening words and abusive language, and also ordered to return to court on Monday, September 23. Aresteo Cowo, 60, of Orange Walk Town, told police that about 6:45 on Saturday evening, he was at home when the two women, who were intoxicated, came to his house and started an altercation with him. When he tried to stop them, one of the women pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the upper chest, and then began to verbally abuse and threaten him.

CONDOLENCES TO OUR FOOTBALL BROTHERS
Our sports desk joins with the football family in sharing the grief and extending our sincere condolences to our football brothers – “Leechi,” “Cheety” and “Danny,” and all of the Jimenez family as well as the Police United football family, on the passing of our beloved mother, friend and football spirit, Mrs. Teresita Jimenez. The game is love, and may her love for the game spread far and wide across the length and breadth of the Jewel, nurturing other young men to become great football warriors like her sons, Leechi, Cheety and Danny. R.I.P., Ms. Teresita.

EXCELLENCE REIGNS SUPREME IN BELIZE CRICKET
It rained so much in Belize City on Saturday morning, all indications were, and conveniently so, that the cricket game in the Belize River valley would be rained out. (We also wanted to see Belize vs Costa Rica in the Gold Cup on Saturday afternoon.) But, surprise, surprise! Just like when we drove from bright sunshine in Belize City a few weeks ago to find the cricket game rained out in Bermudian Landing; so it was on Saturday, that while the city was soaking wet, it was sunny and dry in Double Head Cabbage for Game 2 of the best-of-3 cricket finals to be played. Defending champion, Excellence of Double Head Cabbage had taken Game 1 the previous week in Crooked Tree; so, as our story in last weekend’s Amandala said, “It could end this Saturday in Double Head;” and it did. There has been a tradition in cricket, and a couple weeks ago we were assured by cricket officials that there would be a separate “Trophy Day” on a later date, once a champion had been declared. But there was a change of plans on Saturday, and Excellence team members are likely satisfied with the departure from tradition, as they had waited all year long for their championship trophies for the 2012 season. We missed a really good game, as well as the trophy ceremony. From the reports, Brilliant made an outstanding effort, and pushed Excellence to the limit, forcing them to live up to their name. Our regrets and sincere apologies to all the players in the Finals, and congrats to the repeat champions, Excellence!

QUEEN AND CHURCHES Editorial
Two things have occurred recently which are troubling for hard-core Belizean nationalists. One was the recent visit to Great Britain by Prime Minister Dean Barrow and his family. That visit was too colonial, both in its substance and in its appearance. The second troubling development has been the mobilization of thousands in the South and the West by church elements which are more concerned with religion and morality than they are with sociology and economics. The thousands of marching Belizeans did not seem to have an issue with the Prime Minister’s sudden, strange trip to Buckingham Palace and his meetings with the Lord of Chichester. The issue the marching Belizeans had was with a government document called a “gender policy.” Some church leaders consider the document to be satanic in aspects, and it appears that they have linked the gender policy with the UNIBAM lawsuit which is seeking to have homosexuality declared legal in Belize. Except for the incredibly heroic efforts of our national football selection at the Gold Cup tournament in the United States, we Belizeans would now be in psychological shambles. The Queen and the churches have said to us, for those who wish to hear, that Belize belongs to forces which are neither indigenous or authentic. A couple weeks ago, COLA marched in Belize City against criminal negligence at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. COLA’s support was minimal. A few months ago, BGYEA marched in Belmopan for roots land rights. Their support was minimal. But thousands and thousands of Belizeans have come out for “pro-constitution” demonstrations which are targeting the gender policy.

FROM THE PUBLISHER
It is possible to look back now and believe that the Americans decided that Belize should become independent because the territory had become an area of political disturbance. In late 1980, an American official by the name of Bushnell came to Belize to tell the PUP government of then Premier George Price that Washington had decided to support Belize’s independence. Belize had become a self-governing British colony in 1964, and the only thing standing in the way of independence was the Guatemalan dispute with Great Britain over the territory. The Guatemalans were the Americans’ most important allies in this region, but Guatemala itself had become a country which was violently divided politically. At the beginning of 1959, the workers and peasants in Cuba had overthrown the business and big landowner sectors and declared a communist revolution. This was a troubling, traumatic development for both Washington and Guatemala City. The relationship between the two political capitals immediately became even closer. And this became a time when Belizeans felt most threatened by the Guatemala claim, because the then Guatemalan president, Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes, was a real fire-breather. One has to believe that he was a real fire-breather on the Belize question because he knew just how much Washington “had his back.”

NEW COASTAL ZONE PLAN HEADS TO ADVISORY COUNCIL
Stann Creek fishers say communities will be excluded from “traditional use of the very assets they depend on.” Today, July 15, marks the end of a 60-day period for public comment on a proposed coastal zone management plan for Belize—a plan which some fishermen, particularly those in the Stann Creek area—contend would put them at a disadvantage, and could possibly strip them of prized access to parts of coastal Belize. In their submission to the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI), they said that Belize faces many challenges: “Foremost among them is the issue of who can use what, when and where. The submitted plan by CZMAI attempts to address this highly contentious issue, using computer- generated modeling (InVest) scenarios to justify sweeping recommendations that promise significant intrusions & restrictions upon Stann Creek fisherfolk. This, in turn, will exclude the communities from traditional use of the very assets they depend on.” The Dangriga group—which includes Police Superintendent Robert Mariano as president of the National Garifuna Council of Belize; Rosella Zabaneh of BTIA Dangriga; Captain Norlan Lamb; and Mark Thompson, pilot/station manager of Maya Air—has put its concerns in writing, and it is hoping that the authorities take their concerns onboard before the plan comes into full effect. More details can be obtained from the Belize Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (2013), published by the CZMAI, in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries, and Sustainable Development. (It can be downloaded from www.coastalzonebelize.org. Go to “quick links”.)

PRIVATE SECTOR URGED TO PIONEER RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
The bulk of Belize’s renewable energy comes from hydropower, but the Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology and Public Utilities (MESTPU), along with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), will soon be inviting proposals from the private sector, calling on them to submit proposals for innovative renewable energy projects for Belize. Speaking with journalists at a private sector forum the ministry held in Corozal Town on Thursday, Minister Joy Grant, under whose portfolio energy falls, said that, “By the end of this month, or very shortly thereafter, the PUC – the Public Utilities Commission – with the ministry and BEL [the Belize Electricity Limited] will be asking for proposals, 50 megawatts of what we call reliable energy and then some 17-20 for renewables.” Grant said that this is a great opportunity for the private sector, with whom they were having their third such meeting, to participate. “If for nothing else, everybody wants their light bill to go down, and we are saying if we go to a larger percentage of our energy needs [being met] from renewables, we could guarantee that the rate will go down,” she said.

US FUNDS NEW BELIZE BORDER SYSTEM
This morning, Belize Immigration authorities unveiled a newly computerized border management system, implemented with funding from the United States government. The launch took place at 8:00 at the Philip Goldson International Airport, where Minister of Labour, Local Government, Rural Development, NEMO, and Immigration & Nationality Services, Godwin Hulse—allowing himself to be fingerprinted on the new system—demonstrated to the media how the new system works. Hulse likened the system to that used by the US at ports like Miami. Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Belize, Margaret Hawthorne, noted that Belize is a prime tourist destination and over 900,000 tourists visit from the US yearly. “With more people passing through Belize, however, security concerns inevitably arise. Minister Hulse, his ministry and many other agencies work extremely hard every day to ensure that the country remains safe. The US Embassy recognizes that if Belize remains safe, so too does the United States,” she said.

BAVIA SAYS BELIZE HAS POTENTIAL FOR BOOMING FILM PRODUCTION INDUSTRY
The Belize Audio Visual Industry (BAVIA) held its annual audio-visual industry symposium today, Friday, at the House of Culture. The symposium ran in conjunction with the 8th Belize International Film Festival which started on July 11. Brent Toombs, president of BAVIA, said the idea of the event was to bring together local stakeholders and producers, visiting filmmakers and other people who are interested in film production to discuss ways to improve the film production industry in Belize. This is the third annual symposium to be held in Belize. Toombs said that the symposium is helpful to filmmakers as it brings together a lot of people who are interested in production and develops a certain energy that motivates them and helps them to realise what they need to know or do in order to improve. Two aspects of finance for filmmaking were discussed at the symposium. One was the possibility of offering a set of incentives to attract foreign filmmakers to bring projects to Belize and the other was the prospect of Government making it easier for filmmakers to have access to filming equipment.

DEON BRUCE, 28, APPEARS IN COURT FOR EXTRADITION TO THE UNITED STATES
Bruce is wanted in the US for murder, attempted murder and other offenses. Belizean national Deon Bruce, 28, was escorted to court where he appeared for extradition proceedings to the United States. Bruce is wanted by the US for crimes including murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery and firearm possession, stemming from an incident which occurred in 2000. Today, Magali Perdomo appeared on behalf of the Attorney General’s Office, and presented the court with a warrant issued by the US for Bruce’s extradition, which was issued on March 30, 2000. The order, dated July 2, 2013, was sent for a warrant to be issued, and it was granted on that same day by the Chief Magistrate, and Bruce was eventually apprehended yesterday, Thursday. Bruce was represented by attorney Bryan Neal, who argued that although Bruce was born on July 20, 1984, the warrant that was issued was for a Deon Bruce, born July 20, 1984, but in the Cayman Islands, while his client was born in Belize.

FISHERMAN LOST AT SEA AFTER BOAT CAPSIZED
A search and rescue operation is presently being conducted by the Coast Guard and fishermen from Sarteneja Village to find a fisherman, Edwardo Dominguez, from Sarteneja, who is missing at sea after a 23-foot sailboat he and his friend were travelling in capsized at about 10:00 yesterday morning while the men were heading from Sarteneja to Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve, located on northern Ambergris Caye. Barajona (Christian name not given), Dominguez’s companion, told police that when the boat capsized, he swam to the nearby shore for safety, but he did not see Dominguez, who had begun to swim with him but went under the water. Barajona told police that the boat capsized due to the bad weather. The Belize National Coast Guard responded to a missing at sea call after they received a message from the Sarteneja policemen that one of the local fishermen was missing. Lieutenant Commander Gregory Soberanis of the Belize Coast Guard said that so far they have located the capsized boat, but there was no sign of Dominguez. He said that the Coast Guard are looking at the tide and current patterns since Sunday when they began the search.

Blogs

A Walk Around Caye Caulker – Jam Session at the Sport Bar: The End
This post is getting somewhat ridiculous. Not only is it now four long parts (the last was A Walk Around Caye Caulker: Part 3 dated April 11…APRIL 11!) but I was there many months ago. But rest assured. I was just in Caye Caulker a few days ago… and not much has changed. Just one of the reasons to love this little island. The last thing to wrap up is the very cool Friday afternoon Jam session at the Barrier Reef Sports Bar located beachside (if you are asking around, everyone just calls it the sports bar). Look for this gorgeous chalk sign. It starts at 3pm…ish.

Why I Love the Garifuna Collective
There are many things to love about Belize, and one of them is the music. Brukdown, Punta rock, Paranda, Maya marimba, Garifuna and Creole drumming; those uniquely Belizean styles are as diverse and wonderful as Belize’s stunning landscapes. So it was interesting to hear that the Garifuna Collective has been touring Canada with Ontario singer-songwriter Danny Michel, proving that you don’t need swaying palm trees and sand under your feet to enjoy those majestic sounds. Michel and the eleven member Garifuna Collective have been touring on the back of “Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me”, a 2012 collaboration between Michel and the Garifuna Collective and appeared at the Winnipeg Folk Festival July 12, 13 and 14. Released in Canada, the U.S. and Belize, “Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me” went on to earn a 2013 Juno nomination. Apparently, Mr Michel was vacationing in Belize some 15 years ago when he first heard Garifuna music and fell in love with it, as you do.

Belize's Ultimate Bartender
Traveller's Liquor is having its 60th anniversary this year, and they are looking for Belize's best bartender. They'll be choosing the 2 best from Cayo at Midas Resort on August 13th. For more info, email [email protected] If you're up to the challenge, enter their National Bartender Competition. "Bartenders are being given the chance to showcase their skills at the 60th anniversary for Traveller’s Liquor Ltd. Competition, with talent from 6 districts competing for the title of Belize Best Bartender."

Education is the Only Way Forward
The University of Belize has a special issue of their Bulletin for their graduates, highlighting their accomplishments. It's a short, feelgood issue, with plenty of great pictures in it. Congratulations to German Lopez and Leo Koop for receiving EU scholarships. "'Education is the only way forward for Belize,' declared Senator the Hon. Godwin Hulse, Minister of Labour, Local Government, Rural Development and National Emergency Management in his Keynote Address to graduates of the University of Belize at the Seventeen Commencement Exercises on June 15 and 23 respectively in Belmopan and Toledo. This graduation special focuses on the graduates and their accomplishment. Enjoy."

No Churn Chocolate Oreo Cookie Ice Cream
No ice cream tub needed. Simple and easy to make. No ice, no salt and no churning necessary.

Village Expo 2013
BTB's 2nd Annual Village Arts & Crafts Expo

Second training of entrepreneurs and P3Ventures
The second entrepreneurship training was held July 9th – 11th and had participation from 48 Business owners and eight consultants from BELTRAIDE, Sacred Heart Junior College and ITVET Toledo. The work-shop had a total of 70 participants and was the result of three weeks of intensive work by the entrepreneurs to conduct problem observations, problem interviews and solution interviews after which they had to developed a Video Pitch and PPT that reflected the results of their interviews and their immediate next steps. The persons at the work-shop were successful in their presentation. The consultants provided guidance and mentorship to the entrepreneurs leading up to the workshop and provided technical assistance throughout the work-shop. The entrepreneurs will now be required to conduct another series of interviews and observations and develop a work-plan and accompanying budget for their business over a six-month span. The businesses that are successful in this second Video Pitch will receive seed capital.

“Get Down on It” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.
Problems with the Internet persisted yesterday. On Ambergris Caye it’s always slow when compared to what we took for granted in the UK but this wasn’t just slow. It wasn’t even pedestrian at times. It was crawl speed. Made me think of the idiom “you don’t know what you’ve got until its gone”. You just don’t realise how much you use (and depend upon) the Internet until it is not readily available. Well, it was available but just so (frustratingly) ponderously slow. Becoming ever more frustrated with the speed (or, to be precise, the lack of it) yesterday morning I headed to Estel’s for breakfast. If I had to wait for a search to be completed at least I had something to do- eat! The speed did improve shortly after 11 am but still not as good as before the problem showed itself so I was glad when noon came and it was time for us to get ready and head off to Pedro’s Hotel for lunch which was generously ‘donated’ by Ian Ritchie of Captain Shark’s.

International Sources

VIDEO: Fox Sports' excellent piece on the Belize's football team

In pictures: Stunning images from The Masters of Nature Photography

100 Most influential photographers of all time
From Professional Photographer magazine we find this intriguing post, there is no doubt a list like this will generate some debate but I doubt any of your favourites will be missing Richard Avedon ...

60 Best Photoshop Tutorial Sites
Photoshop is a graphics editing program developed and published by Adobe Systems. As we all know that at presently, it is the current market leader for photo manipulation software. It is an excelle...

9 Tips From The World’s Most Influential iPhoneographers
A couple of weeks ago I set out to do the impossible. I wanted to create a blog post compiling the best tips and advice from some of the world's most

Late goal lifts Cuba into Gold Cup quarterfinals
Ariel Martinez ended Cuba's long Gold Cup drought with three goals Tuesday, and Jeniel Molina's last-second score lifted the Cubans into the quarterfinals with a 4-0 rout of overmatched Belize. It was Cuba's first victory in 14 Gold Cup games, including 12 losses. The Cubans finished the opening round 1-2 after losses to the United States and Costa Rica, but the four-goal victory allowed them to advance over Martinique as one of the top third-place teams. "For me, it was like winning the World Cup," Martinez said. "It is a great achievement for us and it made me very happy." Belize (0-3), which finished with 10 men, was eliminated. After Martinez completed his hat trick, the Cubans pressed for the fourth goal that would keep them in the tournament. They came close a handful of times, then Molina put in a short right-footed shot and his teammates stormed off the bench into the corner of the pitch to mob him. Cuba advanced one other time, in 2003.

IMF pleased with economic performance of Belize
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says the completion of the exchange of the “super bond” for new United States denominated bonds has brought “substantial cash-flow relief” to Belize. The IMF, which recently concluded a review of the country’s economy, said that the new bonds, which will expire in 2038, has resulted in a cash flow of US$130 million over the next five years. Last December, the Dean Barrow government said it had reached an agreement with its creditors on restructuring the country's US$544 million foreign debt, also known as the super bond. Prime Minister Barrow described the agreement as “comprehensive” adding “it is sustainable, and it will provide well in excess of US$150 million in relief to Belize”. Last year, bondholders had rejected an offer from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country on restructuring the debt and said they had hired lawyers after the expiry of a reprieve on legal action. Belize, which said it could not afford to meet rising interest payments on the bond, shocked investors with an earlier suggestion that they take a haircut of up to 45 per cent.

IMF - International Monetary Fund : Press Release: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2013 Article IV Consultation with Belize
On June 21, 2013, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Belize. The Belize government's completion of the exchange of its "super-bond" for new U.S. dollar denominated bonds due to expire in 2038 brought substantial cash-flow relief (about US$130 million over the next 5 years). The debt restructuring took place against prolonged legal disputes over the nationalization of two utility companies, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) and Belize Electricity Limited (BEL). No agreement has been reached yet over compensation payments; and the legal dispute may take a few years in court. Output growth is estimated at 5.3 percent in 2012, led by a recovery from the 2011 effects of weather-related damages in commodity exports. Inflation averaged 1.4 percent, as commodity price pressures abated. The external current account deficit widened to about 1.7 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to a steep drop in oil exports and higher imports of fuel and electricity. Notwithstanding this deterioration, international reserve coverage is estimated at 3.4 months of imports up from 3 months in 2011, thanks in part to strong foreign direct investment inflows in the sugar sector. Unemployment remains high at 16 percent.

Belize man gets 32 years for kidnapping Gary drug dealer
A Belize man has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for a 2006 kidnapping and armed robbery of a Gary drug dealer. A jury found Tyrone Reynolds guilty in 2011 of kidnapping Glenford Russell for ransom, conspiring to distribute marijuana and using a firearm to commit a crime of violence. In October 2006, Reynolds and seven others ransacked Russell's home looking for marijuana and money. According to court records, Reynolds duct-taped Russell to a chair, beat him and kept him bound for at least 11 hours. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated Reynolds' sentence in May, saying he did not deserve life in prison because there was no proof he demanded a ransom to a third party.

Are You the Nurse?
The day marked my fourth month in Belize. We had spent weeks and shed buckets of sweat turning a dirty, dilapidated corner of a building into a medical clinic. Since then, day after day, for long hours I attended to patients while geckos climbed the walls and termites built fresh trails on the ceiling over my exam table. Though I was a nurse, my duties had expanded beyond providing basic health care. I also disposed of the occasional dead rat on the path to the clinic, swept mounds of dead bugs from the floor and waged daily war against mosquitoes big enough to ride. Once I even armed myself with a machete and battled an opossum that wanted to make my clinic his home. But on this particular day, I was taking a much-needed break from work. I had arranged to spend the day with a young woman, Terese, who I met when I bought a small jippa jappa basket. After chatting with her for a short time, I explained that I would love to watch her weave baskets, as well as anything else she typically did as she went about her daily work. I told her I want to record a day in the life of a woman in her village.

From Belize to the Florida Keys
Kevin Spatz, a senior biology major from Conway, Ark. is spending his summer as an intern with the Mote Marine Laboratory's Marine Microbiology Program in the Florida Keys. Spatz began his internship assisting in field work and spends most of his day performing lab work with bacteria cultures. Currently, he is researching the microbial communities in the mucus of mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) and sea anemones (Anemonia viridis) to see if the microbe community composition in mustard hill coral changes during spawning. “For the sea anemones, we're looking to see if the microbial communities are different in sea anemones that are close to a volcanic vent versus other anemones that are further away,” he said. “The volcanic vent actually serves as a nice model for climate change and ocean acidification.”

July 16, 2013

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7 and Channel 5
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

The New River: A trip to an ancient world
New River Lamanai Story-7Belize has many rivers and each is important to the growth and development of its region. In the northern region of Belize, snaking through the Orange Walk and Corozal Districts is the New River. The New River is essential to both districts and the entire country in a whole; it has carved its way through the Maya era and the colonial times, and shaped the north for a bountiful future. The New River was a major trading route for the ancient Maya and before, when Belize was still known as the British Honduras. At that time the country depended heavily on the logging industry and the New River was a vital piece to the thriving economy. Loggers from the north utilized the New River as a means of transporting logwood out to the Caribbean Sea where the British ships would be waiting to carry back the lumber to Europe. Massive logs were set adrift starting from the exotic forests of Orange Walk up to their destination at the Corozal Bay. This industry flourished for several years, but soon there was a new use for the New River, and the north became the land of sugar and molasses.

Saga is offering 75 FREE spay/neuter through Operation SNIP
Saga Humane Society aims to help reduce the problems associated with community and street animals on Ambergris Caye by introducing a pet population management program, Operation SNIP (Spay Neuter Initiative Project). To reduce the breeding populations and reduce the number of street animals, 75-90% of all dogs and cats on the island will need to be sterilized in a 3-5 year time frame to be effective. Saga HS has pledged to raise money or bring visiting Veterinary teams to offer low cost or free spay/neuter, with a goal of 1,000 animals per year during this project. The primary objective of comprehensive animal management program should be to keep the population of dogs and cats on Ambergris Caye down to a level where there is no need to destroy healthy and friendly animals, but without accumulating them in the Saga HS shelter. To help us reach our goal of 1,000 animals for 2013 Saga HS is pleased to make available 75 free spay/neuters for the month of July. Dr. Baptist will be performing surgeries the second week of July. Dr. Don Tummons of Duck Hollow Animal Hospital in Uniontown, PA will return to San Pedro July 15-26. Dr. Dr. Don helped Saga HS kick off Operation SNIP on his last visit in March 2013 in which he spay/neutered 50 animals. He and his assistant Mary Maykuth are superstars to Saga HS, they use their own vacation time to come and help the animals of Ambergris Caye.

Mediterranean Fruit Flies Detected in Southern Belize
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority informs the general public, especially in southern Belize, that Mediterranean fruit flies have been detected at various points in the Toledo District, Mango Creek, and along the Placencia Peninsula. As a result of these detections, BAHA will quarantine part of the Stann Creek district and the entire Toledo District with effect from Saturday July 13th, 2013. A 24-hour quarantine checkpoint has been placed on the southern highway at the village of Silk Grass. This action is necessary to maintain Belize’s Medfly free status which is essential to maintain our export markets for papayas and citrus. BAHA is therefore requesting the cooperation of the public to cease illegal importation of fresh fruits and vegetables from infested areas such as Guatemala and Honduras, and also to stop movement of fresh fruits and vegetables from the designated quarantine area. The public is advised that violations will lead to immediate confiscation and destruction of produce regardless of quantity.

Costa Maya Festival® presents Miss Nicaragua!
Ariadna Judith Orellana Melendez is the latest contestant announced for the Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant®. Ariadna proudly represents Nicaragua, and seeks to win the title currently being held by Panama’s Karen Jordan. She is a 23-year-old working in Marketing and Public Relations. Ariadna is 5’ 5”, brunette with brown eyes, and measures 34-25-38. She enjoys cooking and traveling. Ariadna will be joining Destinee Arnold (Belize), Andrea Rojas (Costa Rica), Monica Elwing Gough (Honduras), and Cleirys Velasquez (Panama) on stage, Thursday August 1st. Who will be 2013’s Reina de la Costa Maya? Be sure to get your tickets and be there in person to find out! 3-day Season Passes are available at $60 for children and $140 for adults.

San Pedro celebrates 8th Edition of the Belize International Film Festival
It was a night of stars indeed, as the 8th Edition of the Belize International Film Festival (BIFF) came to San Pedro Town on Saturday July 13th for the screening of Cuban musical, Hopelessly Together. Since its inception in 2005, the BIFF has been growing in size and popularity and is a well-attended event throughout the country. The carpet was rolled out at Paradise Theater as many islanders and visitors alike made their way to enjoy the heart felt film directed by Jorge Sánchez. It was an exquisite take on love, racism, and double standards. The crowd enjoyed the film to the end, laughing at the comedic styles and enjoying the great musical numbers. “Irremediablemente Juntos – “Hopelessly Together,” is no doubt a film you wouldn’t afford to miss,” said Horacio Guerrero, Festival Coordinator. “It was an entertaining film that bluntly sheds light to universal taboo issues that are faced by many societies today and even more so in small countries like ours.” BIFF strives to bring together filmmakers and writers from throughout the world, not only to present the Belizean audience with fresh and new films and features but also to help promote and expose Belizean films and aspiring filmmakers here in the country to a wider audience. BIFF ended on Monday, July 15th with the award and closing ceremony at the Belize House of Culture.

The search at sea continues for a missing Sarteneja fisherman
Edwardo Dominguez, a fisherman from Sarteneja is missing after the vessel he and a companion was travelling in capsized at sea. The accident happened shortly around 10AM on Sunday July 14th as the two fishermen were heading to an area near Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve located on northern Ambergris Caye. According to Lieutenant Gregory Soberanis, Belize National Coast Guard Operation Officer, after the incident was reported on Sunday they immediately launched a search and rescue operation. “We got a report from the Police at Sarteneja village of a capsized vessel east of village. One Barajona reported to police that he, along with one Edwardo Dominguez, were on a white 23-foot sail boat named Elena, heading to Bacalar Chico when they capsized,” explained Soberanis. He said that Barajona reported that he managed to swim to shore safely, but unfortunately Dominguez remains unaccounted for. “The Belize National Coast Guard, assisted by local fishermen in the area, is currently conducting search efforts in the entire area to locate Dominguez. Barajona is attributing the accident to bad weather. As you know, on Sunday there was a tropical wave that moved over the country so the weather was not suitable for small craft,” said Soberanis.

Ambergris Today

Costa Maya Festival Announces Miss Nicaragua Contestant
Lovely Ariadna Judith Orellana Melendez has been confirmed to represent her country as Miss Nicaragua Costa Maya at the Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant that will be taking place at the International Costa Maya Festival in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. Ariadna stands 5’ 5” tall, works on Marketing and Public Relations, and has brown eyes and light brown hair. She enjoys cooking and travelling. Miss Nicaragua now joins Destinee Arnold - Belize, Andrea Rojas - Costa Rica, Monica Elwing Gough – Honduras and Cleirys Velásquez - Panama. All other Mundo Maya countries and Central American region have confirmed their participation at the pageant and the three remaining contestants will be announced shortly.

San Pedro, Belize Has New Coral Reef Experts
Our children are the future of our island and teaching them about the importance of conservation of our beautiful Barrier Reef and fragile ecosystem is essential. What better way of doing that than engaging them in a hands-on experience summer camp. The Smith College Coral Reef Ed-Ventures Summer Camp was in its 14th year of fun and educational summer youth camp here in, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. The program seeks to inspire conservation and sustainable use of coastal resources by providing children an opportunity to learn how healthy reefs function, how various organisms interact with the reef, what threats to the reef ecosystem exist, and how to protect it. Smith College’s Environmental Science & Policy Program and Center for Community Collaboration sponsored this project along with the Hol Chan Marine Reserve.

Pic of the Week: Quaint Produce Shops Around San Pedro, Belize
There is one at almost every corner of downtown San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. You can find them inside large air conditioned shops, small hole in the walls, in small quaint stalls, make-shift tables on the side of the road and even along the roads outside of town. There are plenty of produce stores or fruit shops on the island providing fresh and mostly organic produce; some even supply much imported products not readily available or common to the region. But one thing is for sure, each shop has its own charm and quaintness about it, much like this one that sits on corner on Pescador Drive (middle street). Alicy Dely provides delicious homemade local dishes but also doubles as a fruit shop. A quaint and colorful piece of paradise that screams Tropical Caribbean Cool; don't you think?

Misc Belizean Sources

Minister deplores attacks on gays in Belize
A senior government minister has written a public essay expressing grave concerns about what she perceives could be the promotion of hate crimes against gay men and women in Belize. Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development Minister Lisel Alamilla posted the short essay on her Facebook page, prefacing her missive by stating that "I do not oppose persons having different views or religious beliefs, but it concerns me immensely when those are being communicated by misinformation, manipulation and fear which could result in hate crime”. Alamilla used a couple of photographs taken during the pro-Constitution demonstration in Toledo, southern Belize last week, depicting what could be described as the hanging in effigy of the United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM).

Garifuna Collective's Gudemei
The Garifuna Collective have released their Gudemei video, and it is fantastic! Isn't it time for another Grammy win for the best band in Belize? It was shot at the Soul Project, and Daniel Velazquez captured all the magic that was going on. You can tell they had a great time doing it. It's worth the 4 minutes.

Young, Gifted, and Restless
Musical interlude with art. Rick Galvez, who plays at Soul project all the time, had an exhibit a the Bliss Centre. Check out this documentary from Daniel Velazquez, which has him playing, mixed with video of his exhibit. "A documentation of Bliss exhibit, YOUNG GIFTED AND RESTLESS, music by Rick Galvez"

Rotaract's Rave at the Grave
D!rty Jok3s is coming back to Meluchi's for the Rotaract Club of San Ignacio's Rave at the Grave fundraiser. Saturday, July 27th is the date. If you missed D!rty Jok3s dub step performance last year, now's your chance to be amazed. Mistah Geeh will also be mixing the night away. The proceeds from the event will go towards sending kids to school, so have a great time and make a difference too. Thanks to Will Moreno for the great shot! "Official fundraiser for our First Annual ADOPT A CHILD PROGRAM! DJ's will be MISTAH GEEH and DIRTY JOKES! We are raising funds to assist primary school students from Yalbac by paying for their school fees, and providing them with school bags and supplies for the new school year.

Basketball for Football Fundraiser
The Galen Eagles basketball team played the All Star Selection as a fundraiser for the National Football Team. Thanks, Eagles! "Basketball for Football Fundraiser: Galen Eagles Basketball Team vs. All Star Selection"

Channel 7

Can Team Belize Qualify?
Tonight, the Belize National Football team, the Jaguars is preparing for its final game of group play – when they face Cuba, which also lost its first two games. Both teams are looking at the slim possibility of advancing to the quarterfinals. That’s because the top two teams from each group advances as do the two bets third place teams. Belize is vying to be just that. Here’s how Belize can do it: If Trinidad and Salvador lose or draw tonight, then – if Belize can beat Cuba, it’s possible. But because of the goal differential, we’d have to be them handily. Like we said the possibility is slim, but it is there. And it is with that knowledge that the team had its first practice at Rentschler field in East Hartford, Connecticut about two hours ago. They are preparing to play the first game tomorrow at 3:30 Belize time. But before we go there, we first take a look back to Saturday for an in-depth breakdown of the game and an analysis by the former assistant coach Charlie Slusher. Daniel Ortiz studied the game in –depth:.. Daniel Ortiz reporting The Belize team established itself very early on the game, making better passes, and maintaining possession more than it did in the game against the US. Even the announcers on Fox News recognized that the Jaguars were playing with better focused strategies: But small cracks in the defence would start to show up under Costa Rican pressure, and at times goal keeper Woodrow West would have to get the situation under control.

Team Belize Reacts
And now we have the reaction to Saturday’s loss in Salt Lake City where the heartbreak at such a narrow defeat was palpable but so was the sense of redemption. Jules Vasquez got reaction from all sides. Ian Mork - Belize Head Coach "Glad that we were able to prove to ourselves most importantly and to everyone what type of football we can play so it was good to see the team show up today. Things didn't go our way completely but I'm proud of the players." Ian Gaynair - Defender, Belize "It's unfortunate that we had to get beat 6-1 for us to show the world that we can play football but at the end of the day I feel good about my team and my country." Everal Trapp - Defender. Belize "We played damn great - better than the first game after we took 6-1 we came out and we showed the world that we could play football." Elroy Smith - Defender, Team Captain Belize "These kinds of loss really hurt worse when it's 0ne-nil. Like I said the man didn't intentionally do that but these are things that happen."

Man Missing, Feared Drowned
Tonight the search continues for Edwardo Dominguez – a Fisherman who is missing in the Bay of Sarteneja. According to our information, Dominguez along with another fisherman left Sarteneja around 10am on Sunday morning and was heading to Bacalar Chico when their boat capsized about 2-4 miles East of Sarteneja Village. Dominguez kept afloat on an icebox while his partner managed to swim to shore for help. When he arrived at the police station in the village, it was already 3 o’clock in the evening and by the time police and coast guard arrived in the area, Dominguez was nowhere to be found and all the search team saw was the icebox and the vessel. At this time the Belize Coast Guard has a search unit active in the area along with joint efforts by police and a civilian search party. Lt. Greg Soberanis- Ops Officer, Belize Coast Guard "Sarteneja, he said that when he capsized it was approximately three to four miles east of Sarteneja in that general area, so that is the area we are currently searching." Reporter "And it happened when?" Lt. Greg Soberanis "He said, based on the time of the day, it was probably about ten yesterday morning, he estimated that they capsized. Reporter "So they had been on sea for how long?" Lt. Greg Soberanis "He said after they capsized at about ten yesterday morning, he did not reach police station until about three yesterday afternoon."

Belizeans “Represented” At Rio Tinto
At the top of the news we told you about the much applauded effort from team Belize in Utah at the Rio Tinto stadium. For that, it was rewarded with major love from its fans. You might have thought that with Utah being so remote and so far removed from the population centers where the Belizean Diaspora gather that only a few fans would show….but they were there plentifully. In fact, a lot of the folks we saw in Portland, also turned up in Salt Lake. Jules Vasquez spoke to them:… Jules Vasquez reporting In Salt Lake City, Belize was -as they say 'in the house', with flags, signs and an abundance of team spirit. "We're here supporting our Belizeans, win,loose or draw - we are all here for them to support them 100% - 'this da fu we Belize!' "We have to support our team and big them up, we have to follow them."

KHMH Wants Bucks From Buckley
3 weeks ago, 7News told you about the bill that Steven Buckley owes to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after he spent months in the hospital after he recovered from injures that he suffered from a police inspector. Buckley wasn’t doing anything illegal or questionable, and he didn’t get a chance to identify himself before the inspector shot him in the head. He survived that ordeal, but he had to rely on the KHMH for treatment. Now that he has recovered, the KHMH wants him to pay the hospital bill, which he says is impossible because he can’t work due to his physical condition. Today, he called us back to say that the hospital is pressing him to pay now, but he was promised by the former Commissioner of Police that they would cover the expenses. Nothing has been paid, and he is asking publicly for a meeting with the new Commissioner. Steven Buckley - Seeking Police Help With Medical Bill "Well I think that I should not pay for that, I didn't get hurt, it was the police that hurt me, so I don't think that I should pay for it, the government police should pay for it"? Daniel Oritz "Have they ever promised in the past that they would assist you?" Steven Buckley "Mr. Jeffery had said that they would clear off the bill, so I don't know what happened, but I am being harassed with a letter, so I will take the letter to the commissioner and ask them to deal with it; I want the commissioner of Police to talk to me and tell me what is happening because I cannot pay for the bill that is here for me."

Man Blames KHMH For Deaths
And while the KHMH wants its money, a family from Toledo wants them to properly explain why their baby died. The Bol family from the San Antonio Village delivered their baby at the KHMH on Friday morning, and according them, even though she was premature, she was healthy. According them, the KHMH had them scheduled to be discharge yesterday, where they could take the baby home. The father, who was still grieving, came today to tell us that they showed up, and were told that the child passed away unexpectedly. He says that no explanation was given, especially because the child was doing excellently when they left. Lawrence Bol - Father of Deceased Neonate "My baby was premature and she was in the hospital; nothing was wrong with my baby. We went to breast feed her on Saturday night and all of a sudden, I went back on Sunday morning and they told me that my baby had passed away and that really hurt me because they can't find out what happened to my baby; how my baby died, they can't give me the results, and that really shocked me. She was healthy, she was supposed to be discharged yesterday, but when I arrived she had passed away. She was healthy, my wife can explain how this happened because she was with my baby last Saturday night and that really shocked both of us and we want justice for my baby. I think they are the ones, Sir, because they are supposed to take care of my baby properly, and that really shocked me when I heard my baby had passed away because nothing was wrong with my baby, nothing was wrong with her, she was healthy, very strong Sir. I want them to give me an answer as to what really happened with my baby because I am poor man, I can't support right now, really, I am poor, I don't have no money to support this that is why I am here to make this report to have someone stand and help me because I want justice. That shocked me Sir. I want justice for my baby, please, someone to stand and help me."

Body Found Floating, No Answers Yet
A decomposed body was found this evening floating in a swamp in the Jane Usher Boulevard area. So far it has not been identified by police but we were informed by our sources that it is the body of a male person. Police were called to the area around 3:30 this afternoon when they were informed by some area residents. We were told that a group of young boys came across the decomposed body while swimming in the area. Because of the state of decomposition, a post mortem was conducted on the scene. At this time the cause of death has not been determined.

Rawell’s Ongoing Woes
Last week, 7News told you about the problems that Rawell Pelayo faced while being in the US on official visit as a part of the football delegation representing Belize. Pelayo, who serves as the Vice President of the Football Federation of Belize, and as the Chairman of the National Team Committee, was arrested in Houston. His intention was to take the connecting flight to Portland, but after he was processed by Immigration in Houston, he was picked up by DEA officers. There is no official reason presented as to why he continues to be held at the Federal Detention Center in Houston, but 7News has confirmed that they intend to move him to a facility in New York. We contacted Belize’s Ambassador to the US Nestor Mendez, and he told us that the last information he has is that the DEA plans to move him very soon to that new state. Ambassador Mendez told us this evening that the US authorities haven’t shared much information with them, and they’re only authorized to share it with the family. He told us that he cannot get into any details with the press on this issue because while Pelayo is a part of the Football delegation, he is still a private citizen.

Film Festival’s Winners
The 8th Annual Belize International Film Festival closed today with a press conference by the Institute of Creative Arts to announce the winners. There weren’t many Belizeans honored this year, and the majority of the awards went to international filmmakers. 7News attended, and was spoke to 2 of the 3 of the winners from Belize who were recognized for producing content respected by the international community. Here’s how they explained their work, as well as the Festival’s explanation why Belizeans weren’t the forefront of this Festival. Daniel Ortiz "Was it difficult in trying to produce a film with budgeting and all that stuff?" Michael Flores - Most Notable Belizean Film "The thing of money, you have to sort of have a passion for what you do so that you save every little penny that you have to invest it in your work, like I am a person, I don't necessarily drink and go to parties and stuff like that and whatever money I have that would say leisure, I would take that to shoot a scene, to do a few leg work, some research. I pay people to do different things that have to be done in order to make a film complete but it's a 'knock and go' kind of a thing because here in Belize we don't necessarily have that money but we do have time, we are able to sacrifice and we have good people who support us."

Belizeans Still Bashed
And on Saturday night in Salt Lake City, Utah, the members of Belize’s national football are the ones that looked like they were acting in a movie! Despite the narrow loss, those die-hard “win, lose, or draw fans” went to their hotel in downtown Salt Lake for a well wishing and autograph signing session. 7 news was in the middle of it and we’ll have that story tomorrow….but first, tomorrow is the big game – the final one against Cuba which starts at 3:30 right here on Channel 7. Remember, if Belize can win, and with some help from tonight’s game by Trinidad and Salvador, we could squeak into the quarterfinal. It’s a slim possibility, but a mathematical possibility nonetheless.

Channel 5

Another newborn dies in K.H.M.H.
Thirteen babies died at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in the first three weeks of May. An independent investigation by PAHO found that the babies were injected with the enterobacter [...]

How can the Jaguars advance to the next round?
Belizeans here and abroad were tuned in this past Saturday as the Belize Jaguars took on Costa Rica in their second outing in the 2013 Gold Cup. And after losing [...]

Belize loses to auto-goal
In Sports Monday, James Adderley looks at Saturday’s game against Costa Rica blow by blow. And by now you may know that Costa Rica’s only goal was scored by Co-captain [...]

Coach Mork talks about possible advancement in football
Following Saturday’s heartbreaking defeat to Costa Rica, coaches and players of the Belize National Football Selection, discussed the painful one to nothing loss.  The winning auto-goal was a mistake that [...]

Goalkeeper Woodrow West says we need to win
Cuba is the last country that Belize will on the soccer pitch. With a loss of six to one in game one against the USA, and a one-nil loss against [...]

Jaguars give condolences to Daniel Jimenez on passing of mother
A funeral service was held this afternoon in San Ignacio for Theresita Jimenez, the mother of star forward Daniel Jimenez, who had to return from the United States on Friday [...]

Cuba Team coach says they are ready for the Jaguars
The Jaguars are ready and the Cuban team is also ready for the showdown on Tuesday at the Rentschler field in Connecticut. The Cuban Coach was confident because one of [...]

Decomposing body found along Jane Usher Boulevard
Late this afternoon, Police were called to a location at the end of Jane Usher Boulevard in Belize City after children found a body lying in the creek. Unconfirmed reports [...]

Belize at the bottom of academic ladder in Latin America and Caribbean
A new and independent report commissioned by the Inter-American Development Bank indicates that there is a crisis in the education system. In fact, Belize is at the bottom of the [...]

No to Gender Policy Road Show takes on Dangriga
There have been pro-constitution, anti-gender and homosexuality marches as well as protests in Orange Walk, Toledo and Cayo. They’ve been organized by local evangelical churches in those areas with help [...]

Why box up “Faada”?
Philip “Faada” Henry is an outspoken community activist was assaulted on Friday morning as he dropped off a female friend at the bus terminal on East Collet Canal. According to [...]

Sarteneja Fisherman missing after boat capsizes
Tonight a massive search effort is underway in the waters off Ambergris Caye after a fisherman went missing when his boat capsized. At around ten a.m. Sunday morning, Sarteneja fisherman [...]

Mediterranean Fruit Fly in the south
For the first time, the presence of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly has been detected in Belize. The Belize Agricultural Health Authority is reporting multiple sightings of the fly in south [...]

Winners announced at close of Film Festival
An award ceremony this morning brought to a close the eighth Film Festival. Close to fifty films were presented. The winner of the Best Feature Length Documentary was the Abominable [...]

James Adderly with sports and Jaguars highlights
Good evening I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.   We go immediately to the Rio Tinto Stadium inside Sandy Utah as Belize came out to face Costa Rica [...]

LOVE FM

Drowning in Southern Belize
A drowning incident was reported yesterday afternoon in Big Falls Village in the Toledo District. PAUL MAHUNG “Officer in Command, Toledo Police Formation, Superintendent, Simeon Alvarez spoke of the Sunday afternoon incident.” SIMEON ALVAREZ “Sunday, July 14 at a...

Police Investigates Shooting on San Pedro
Police are investigating a shooting incident in San Pedro. Police say on Saturday afternoon they visited the San Pedro Poly Clinic where they saw 31-year-old Miguel Dominguez with a wound to the left hand near his wrist and his left side. Initial investigations reveal that 24 -year-ol...

Belmopan Taxi Driver Gone Missing
45-year-old taxi driver Jose Umana and resident of Nicaragua Street extension Salvapan Belmopan has been reported missing since Saturday July 13 According to Lucia Aleman the last time she saw her common law husband was on Saturday morning sometime around 11 o’clock when he came to her stal...

Police Finds Decomposing Body in Belize City
The decomposing body of a man was discovered this afternoon in the Dyke area of Port Loyola, behind the Jane Usher Boulevard. The discovery was made by a group of youths who had gone to bathe in a small creek that runs several hundred yards behind the Belize Port Authority. But their aftern...

Fisherman Missing After Boat Capsizes
A fisherman of Sarteneja Village, Corozal, is missing and feared dead after a boating mishap sometime around ten on Sunday morning in the Bay of Sarteneja. The fisherman, Edwardo Dominguez, was traveling towards the Bacalar Chico Nature Reserve along with another fisherman identified only a...

Monday, Quarantine Issued on Fruits and Vegetables in Southern Belize
It’s the heart of the mango season and some fruit vendors import mangoes and other fruits into Belize for sale. But after the Belize Agricultural Health Authority detected the presence and rapid spread of the Mediterranean fruit fly, it has decided to quarantine the southern Districts...

Village Resident Remanded for Shotgun Possession
Thirty-three year old Richard Dominguez, a laborer of Biscayne Village, became an inmate of Belize Central prison today when he was charged with kept firearm and ammunition without a gun license. Dominguez pled not guilty to the charges. Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser explained to him that she c...

Guatemalan National Caught Using Belizean Passport
Twenty-two year old Guatemalan national Bianca Magana, charged with using a document not entitled to use, a Belizean passport, was fined $1,500.00 today by Magistrate Clive Lino after she pled guilty to the charge. Magistrate Lino ordered her to pay five hundred dollars forthwith and the balance ...

British High Commissioner to Belize Wraps Up Term In-Country
Scheduled to depart Belize in early August is British High Commissioner to Belize, Pat Ashworth, whose term of office has come to an end. High Commissioner Ashworth told Love News that the highlights of his visit came towards the end of his tour of duty. Pat Ashworth, British High Commi...

8th Belize International Film Festival: Top Films Awarded In Five Categories
The Eight Annual Belize International Film Festival officially closed this morning with an award ceremony recognizing the top films screened during a span of three days. Winner were chosen for the five categories including best feature documentary, best music video and best short documentary. The...

CTV3

Summer Is Here And So Is The OWC Summer Camp
During this time of the year primary school students are out for their summer vacations and usually have a lot of free time, hopefully to invest in positive activities. By...

LICU Invests In The Future Leaders Of Belize For nine years, the La Inmaculada Credit Union Limited has been offering much needed assistance to students leaving primary school and going into high school. This year was no different...

Millions Pumped Into The Education Sector Yet Students of Low Income Families Do Not Enjoy Benefits
A release issued by the Inter-American Development Bank is giving a black eye to Belize when it comes to the education sector. The 43 page document, which outlines the challenges...

16 Year Old Minor Charged For Stabbing 60 Year Old Man
There was a serious stabbing incident in Orange Walk Town over the weekend, one, which left an entire family in shock and the victim clamoring for justice. The nearly fatal...

Team Jaguars Loses Game Against Costa Rica
After recovering from a terrible defeat of 6 goals to one against U.S.A, Belize’s Jaguars were back in the field for the second round of the Gold Cup where they...

One Man Lost At Sea, His Family Expects The Worst
Tonight there is a high possibility that a fishing trip turned deadly over the weekend as a search party and personnel of the Coast Guard continue their search for a...

PlusTV

Belize loses to Costa Rica at the CONCACAF Gold Cup
They were written off as over-matched after a 6-1 crushing by the United States on Tuesday, and were reeling from a series of crises that would break lesser men – the travails of a mentor locked up in jail; a teammate facing a devastating loss at home; and the...

Family seeks answers in dissapearance of Belmopan taxi driver
Tonight, the family of a local cab driver is desperately searching for answers after their loved one went missing over the weekend. 45 year old Jose Marin Umana Aguilar, a Honduran of Salvapan, Belmopan, was last seen by his wife on Saturday morning. She says he visited her vendor’s...

Father seeks answers in baby daughter’s death
Fresh from the scandal of thirteen babies dead in a span of three weeks, seven attributed to a bacterium that invaded the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), another premature baby from Toledo District has died there and her father wants answers. We...

Police await DPP’s directive on shooting of 18 year old
Earlier this month we told you that Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Cheryl-Lynn Vidal contacted Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie concerning three cases in which she alleged there was improper conduct of police officers to the detriment of the investigations or prosecution....

BAHA quarantines portion of the south over Meditaranen Fruit Fly
A 24-hour quarantine checkpoint has been placed on the southern highway after Mediterranean fruit flies were detected at various points in the Toledo District, Mango Creek and along the Placencia Peninsula. The Mediterranean Fruit Fly, also known as Ceratitis Capitata, is considered as one of the world’s most destructive...

Costa Rica to hold referendum on same-sex marriage
The attack of the Homosexual Agenda on countries boasting a Christian majority continues. As we have reported, on Thursday, July 4th, Costa Rica’s President, Laura Chinchilla signed a bill that legalized gay civil unions. Law makers asked President Chinchilla to veto the law as it had been added “accidentally”...

GSU were not involved in arrest of Dean Bruce
On Friday we reported that the Gang Suppression Unit (GSU) had picked up Deon Bruce ahead of his appearance in court for an extradition hearing to Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. on charges of murder. Assistant Superintendent Marco Vidal, who is head of Police Special Branch which has authority over the...

Steven Buckley claims Police should pay medical bills
Police Commissioner Whylie faces a call from a citizen his men allegedly shot and injured in April of 2010 to take care of his hospital bill. We told you of the travails of Steven Buckley, who at the time of the incident was a construction worker returning home from...

San Pedro police investigate shooting
A man was shot in San Pedro on Saturday afternoon. 31 year old Miguel Dominguez, a Belizean bartender, was shot to his wrist and to the left side. According to police reports, 24 year old Daniel Maldonado, manager of San Pedrito area, San Pedro Town, was walking on Angel...

Two persons detained following stabbing of elderly man in Orange Walk
An elderly man was stabbed by a drunk woman in Orange Walk. On Saturday, 13 July 60 year old Aristeo Cowo Sr., a Belizean Laborer of Orange Walk Town, was stabbed to the upper left side of his chest. Police say that at 6:45 p.m. that day, Aristeo was...

Police investigate stabbing in Dangriga
There was another stabbing over the weekend. This time in Dangriga. On Sunday 14 July, at about 10:15pm, Dangriga Police were on mobile patrol when they visited a club located on Commerce St., Dangriga. Police say they saw 34 year old Kizzy Neal laying down on a bench inside...

Awaken Belize held in Mango Creek
Awaken Belize was held in Mango Creek last week. It is the fourth annual Awaken Belize to be held in that community and organizers pulled off a four day event the young people of that area will not soon forget. The purpose of the event...

The Reporter

Is new amendment recipee for corruption?
Public Accounts Committee members say recent changes to the law that enables the Government of Belize to engage in foreign exchange dealings without the Central Bank’s approval is a recipe for corruption, but Prime Minister Dean Barrow says that’s not the case.

Detained Pending Extradition?
The family of Dion Bruce, and his Attorney, Michael Peyrefitte, Senior Counsel, have alleged that the Gang Suppression Unit, GSU, is holding Bruce with the intention of extraditing him to the United States. They make the claim on grounds that since Bruce was picked up this afternoon, he has not [...]

Double jeopardy lands Guat xateros behind bars
Two Guatemalans caught in the Chiquibul on June 14, and charged with firearms offences and drug trafficking were freed of the charges in the San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court, but were sentenced to prison in the Belmopan Magistrate’s court.

Why Quality, starting at the Tertiary Sector, is the most important component in Education for Sustainable Development
Spending on our education system without special attention to Quality is a formula for waste and frustration, leading to diminished expectations and an exacerbation of our problems in Belize. At the heart of this matter is the need to recognize what comprises quality in education, with special focus on the [...]

Indigenous peoples take GOB to court
The Maya Leaders Association and the Toledo Alcaldes Association have filed legal action against the Government of Belize for contempt of court. The case was filed on Tuesday because the indigenous groups feel that the Government is not respecting their land rights, which were affirmed by Supreme Court judgments in [...]

Upgrade of BTL Park moves into final phase
On Monday, Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley, along with representatives from Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) and the Caribbean Local Economic Development Program (CARILED) broke ground for the final two phase of the BTL Park upgrade.

UB passes the torch of learning to Orange Walk
Hundreds of students in northern Belize will receive an improved quality of education, with the launch of the University of Belize’s Northern Outreach Programme. The programme, which was officially launched last Friday at the Louisiana Government School, took in its first cohort of 58 teachers pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in [...]

Valerie Woods, symposium coordinator, explains the importance of the Chiquibul
The Easter holidays are the times when Belizeans do the most traveling in and around the country. This past Easter, Valarie Woods and her family made a special journeyed to explore the natural wonders of the Chiquibul forest nestled deep inside the Mountain Pine Ridge range, in the Cayo District.

Accused rapist walks free! Victim, 61, unable to attend court.
A Freetown Sibun man, who has been accused of rape and aggravated burglary walked free from the Supreme Court on Tuesday, after the key prosecution witness failed to show up at thes tart of trial.

Former cyclist Conrad Vincent Smith, 56, remanded on firearm and ammunition charges
Conrad Vincent Smith, 56, a former cross country cyclist and maintenance worker of St Martin’s DePorres, was remanded to prison on firearm and ammunition charges on Tuesday, after being was arraigned in the Magistrate’s Court.

UN questions Vatican over child abuse cases
A major UN child rights protection body has asked the Vatican to disclose details of thousands of paedophilia cases involving Catholic clergy. The Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) made the request ahead of its hearing with Holy See officials, scheduled for January.

Why fruit isn’t making you fat
Sugar has been making headlines as of late, with celebrities and trainers alike singling it out as one of the key culprit in America’s obesity crisis. Trouble is, fruit–because it contains natural sugar–sometimes gets lumped in with foods like baked goods, candy, and sugary drinks. As a result, it gets [...]

Interpol investigates attempted match fixing of Belize-USA game
Interpol is investigating a reported attempt to fix the Belize – USA game in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Football Associations (CONCACAF) Gold Cup played at the Jeld-Wen Stadium in Portland, Oregon, on Tuesday, July 9. CONCACAF passed the investigation over to Interpol after Belize’s head coach, [...]

Excellence wins 1st SMART Harrison Parks cricket final
Defending champions, Excellence of Double Head Cabbage, upset Brilliant Cricket Club of Crooked Tree 84-79 in the first match of the 2013 SMART Harrison Parks National Cricket Finals in Crooked Tree on Saturday, July 6. The Crooked Tree eleven batted first, with Arturo Wade opening with four runs before he [...]

Ladyville Jaguars upset Gentle Touch 3-2 in Atlantic Bank football
The Ladyville Jaguars scored a surprise 3-2 upset over four-time national women’s champions, Gentle Touch of Esperanza Village, when the Atlantic Bank National Women’s Football Competition continued at the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio last Saturday, July 6.

Blogs

Shooting in the dark with GoPro HD Hero2
It’s no exaggeration to say that the GoPro has changed the world of adventure video making and created a niche market in sports photography. GoPro’s cameras are designed to be strapped on to helmets, bikes, boats, and it is about capturing action from the adventurer’s perspective. For those who want a high-quality fun tech toy to capture life’s adventurous moments, the GoPro HD Hero2 is the way to go. Don’t be fooled by it’s size and toy like looks. GoPro offers durability and a sealed housing that can submerge to a depth of 60m. It has a super wide lens, which is great for action shots by allowing you to record a large field of view with the fish-eye lens. Small size, variety of mounts and waterproof case make it ideal for capturing zip-lining, windsurfing, and underwater adventures. I jumped at the opportunity to sign one out from work and give it a test drive. I decided to do so without reading the manual and see what I came up with.

It’s a mystery and 2 great #Travel Tuesday tips
Ever have computer programs suddenly change on you and the change back a while later just as mysteriously as they have changed in the first place? Lately it has been happening to me a fair bit, one day my iTunes switched to a new format after I downloaded the latest update. I got used to the new way of navigating the new look when out of the blue the other day I was adding a few songs and it some how had reverted to the original screen view. Same tech issue also happened with one of my picture viewers minus the uploading latest version which makes it even weirder. A similar tech issue also happens with facebook where sometimes it will allow me to upload a new timeline pic to my tacogirl.com page and other times it will not let me do it unless I select use facebook as tacogirl option and it keeps going back and forth.

Chaa Creek’s Rainforest Pharmacy Attracts Record Visitors
People visit the little Caribbean nation of Belize for many reasons; from the excellent scuba diving to exploring Maya temples. But a new breed of traveler is looking to find better health and therapeutic remedies in the many medicinal plants of Belize, according to a naturalist guide at Chaa Creek. Miguel Choco, one of Chaa Creek’s senior licensed naturalist guides, said that the while eco resort’s Rainforest Medicine Trail attracts more visitors each year, there had been a definite surge in guests seeking natural remedies recently. “We’ve been surprised by the number of people who are specifically asking about the medicinal plant trail,” Mr Choco said, “Usually, when people come here and learn about it they become curious and want to check it out. But this year we’re getting more people asking about the medicinal plant trail as soon as they arrive. It’s keeping our guides busy,” he added. Mr Choco said that Belizeans have been using natural remedies sourced from the forest pharmacopeia for thousands of years, and that the practice continues today.

“Don’t Worry Baby” in Ambergris Caye, Belize.
It was a very grey day on Ambergris Caye On Saturday. An overcast sky. Sounds of thunder. Occasional flashes of lightning. Then the rain. And did it rain and just as I was on my way back from town too! I had the windscreen (windshield for non UK readers) up. I was wearing a rainproof jacket. But when the rain came down just as I approached Denny’s Donuts & Truck Stop in Coconut Drive I got drenched. And I mean DRENCHED. By the time I got home I felt and looked like a drowned rat (“friends”(or anyone else for that matter) in the UK please do not see this as an invitation to comment!). After I had changed my clothes Rose and I had lunch and waited for the weather to hopefully clear so that we could go visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize but by 2.45 pm it had shown no sign of abating so we decided to set off anyway. Rainwear on we stopped off first at Pedro’s Hotel to collect Dave, our friend who is a serving member BATSUB) who had come to Ambergris Caye for the weekend, so that he could see what progress had been made since his last visit.

International Sources

Ecotourism in Belize, Preserve, Conserve, and Educate
With its lush tropical sites, impressive mountains and caves, and intriguing ancient Mayan ruins, Belize is a haven for ecotourism and exploration. Belize is so well suited to ecotourism, that it has become the country’s largest industry. Unfortunately, the ecotourists have also brought with them, albeit unintentionally, environmental degradation of many of Belize’s most popular ecotourism sites. Since neither the government nor local tourism managers have the funds or the capacity to repair the damage, there has been a call for ecotourists to increase their awareness and act more sustainably as they travel. The government, local tourism managers, and the private sector, however, are dedicated to preservation of their fragile environment, and there are many options for ecotourists to ensure they are treading sustainably.

Next: Danny Michel And The Garifuna Collective
Canadian Danny Michel is a veteran songwriter with a lengthy career: The folk-rock musician, whose voice recalls that of Paul Simon, already has nine albums to his name. But his latest record, Blackbirds Are Dancing Over Me, is a little bit different. In 2012, Michel relocated to Belize in order to work with The Garifuna Collective, a group of musicians who carry on soulful traditions surrounding the history of their West African ancestors. Hear two new songs from Blackbirds Are Dancing Over Me, a collaboration which brings out some of Michel's best songwriting yet.

Climate change official defends region
The Deputy Director of the Belize-based Caribbean Community Climate Change Center, Dr Ulric Trotz, has defended regional countries from criticism for seeking financial assistance. According to Caribbean Media Corporation, Trotz said the region needed the finances to deal with issues like strengthening costal defenses, making airports and seaports less vulnerable to climate risks. Trotz said that the Caribbean has always felt there is a moral argument for the developed countries to provide financing to help deal with the impacts of climate change, a phenomena that is of a result of our developmental patterns.

The Insurance Industry in Belize, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2017
The economy of Belize is small and largely dependent on agriculture and tourism, with GDP estimated at BZD3.2 billion (US$1.6 billion) in 2012. After negative growth due to the financial crisis of 2009, GDP grew along with improvement in agriculture production (such as sugar and citrus) and increase in overnight tourist arrivals, especially from the US. The insurance industry expanded at a CAGR of 6.3% during the review period (2008-2012). The industry is regulated by the Supervisor of Insurance. The insurance industry is competitive, with twelve companies serving a population of 332,700 at the end of 2011. As with elsewhere in the Central American region, the non-life segment accounts for the largest proportion of gross written premium with 44.2% of the total in 2012. Synopsis The report provides in depth market analysis, information and insights into the insurance industry in Belize, including: - The Belizean insurance industry's growth prospects by insurance segments and categories - The competitive landscape in the Belizean insurance industry - The current trends and drivers of the Belizean insurance industry - The challenges facing the Belizean insurance industry - The regulatory framework of the Belizean insurance industry Key Topics Covered: 1 Executive Summary 2 Introduction 3 Belizean Insurance Industry Overview

Danny Michel with the Garifuna Collective
With Andy Palacio's groundbreaking Wátina, the BBC 2007 world music album of the year, the singer-songwriter-guitarist-bandleader-UNESCO Artist for Peace seemed poised to put the Garifuna Collective and Central America's Caribbean coast on the world music map. His triumphant tour of the Western Hemisphere and Western Europe culminated with the Collective's knockout appearance at WOMEX 2007 in Sevilla, where they and the Cumbancha label collected their BBC awards. Palacio's tragic January 2008 death at 47 was a body blow to his native Belize and the 300,000 Garifuna people of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and urban North America. Anyone who witnessed all that, or the massive popular outpouring at Palacio's mobbed state funeral in Belize, could be excused for thinking the best days might have passed. But they would be mistaken. Producer Ivan Duran and the Collective resolved to continue in tribute to Palacio and the music and culture he championed. This summer they are touring Canada and the U.S. before moving on to Europe in the fall, behind Ayó and their Juno-nominated collaboration with Canadian singer-songwriter Danny Michel, Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me.

The Passport Party Project
First things first: Judging the Passport to Belize contest was hard. The judges and I wanted everyone who entered to win. We're travelers, so we love the idea of giving the gift of travel to everyone. For us, it is like giving a part of ourselves. If we could put the world in a box and give it to all of the girls, we would. And yet, it wouldn't be a contest if there weren't people who won and people who lost, right? It's one of those disappointing life lessons, but definitely not the end of the world. So April, Shelley, Ana, Expedia and I would like to say a special Thank You to all of the girls that put their hearts into entering The Passport Party Project's Passport to Belize contest. We believe that your shiny new little blue travel booklet is merely the beginning of your journey to global citizenship.

Running Diary: How to Ditch a Vehicle in Belize, Part 2
To recap, my last day in Guatemala, at least on this particular tourist visa has been a disaster. While the trip itself to the Guatemala-Belize border went fine, all things considered, things had definitely taken a turn for the worse. Customs officials in Guatemala had just informed me that I’d be unable to bring the vehicle back into Guatemala for at least 90 days. Needing time to ponder my options, I headed towards Belize’s immigration building to at least check myself into the country. On with the diary: 7:05p.m.: I drive through the “fumigation” machine at the Belize border. For the honor of letting my car be sprayed with what I suspect is just water, I pay $10BZD. I park the Jeep to the side and walk towards the Customs/Immigration building, paperwork on hand. I’m always baffled as to why Belizean immigration seems so intent in keeping tourists outside the country. In my experience, they always seem to want to limit visas to the minimum requested number of days and not one more hour. I suspect it’s a way to get more money from tourists, should they want to extend their visa. At this point, I don’t want to make a scene and just want to move on to the next checkpoint.

I think I killed a chicken on a chicken bus
I loaded my pack on the back of the brightly painted bus, hopped on to the bumper, and in. I put my bag in the only spot left it would fit, on top of a few boxes and a giant tire, same as I had done all week. At this point this was our 5th or 6th bus while in Belize, it was becoming routine. We never seem to time it right to catch the express bus, so passengers are constantly loading and unloading. Mid way through the trip the bus driver helps unload another passenger that had some luggage in the back. He pulls our packs off the cardboard boxes I stacked them on.

Why the secret world of Belize business alarmed US drug agents
US documents obtained by the Guardian reveal for the first time why the drug enforcement agency and other US authorities were so concerned about millionaire Tory treasurer Michael Ashcroft’s offshore world in the 1990s. The original discovery that references to the Florida-based Tory donor existed in DEA files led to controversy two years ago. Mr Ashcroft issued a libel writ against the Times, which published a correction, and he declared there was nothing to support “allegations that I am a drug runner and money launderer.” Mr Ashcroft was correct. No evidence exists to implicate him in committing crimes. Nor was he investigated on suspicion of doing so. What worried the Americans was that the Ashcroft-inspired tax haven in Belize in central America was, as a side-effect, encouraging fraud, money laundering, drugs and bribery in a small, poverty-stricken jungle state with corruptible officials.

July 15, 2013

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7 and Channel 5
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Doctor Love: Happiness
How is it that a humble home with hardly any material items can be so full of happiness, while a house with everything in it has so much discord?

Legends FC is the 11-A-Side Football Champs!
The organizers of the Local 11-A-Side Football Tournament is pleased to congratulate the winners of the competition and thank the sponsors of this year’s tournament. The competition concluded on June 16th with the final game played between Legends FC of San Pedro Town and Caye Caulker Tsunami. Following the second game in the finals, Legend FC won by an aggregate goal score of 5 to 4 over the Caye Caulker team. The result of the tournament (San Pedro Town) is as follows: 1st – Legend’s FC – $3000, Group trophy and individual player trophies 2nd – Caye Caulker Tsunami – $1500, Group trophy and individual player medals 3rd – Lebanese (San Pedro Town) – $500 – Group trophy Other awards given out include: Most Valuable Player and Best Defense – Asaiel Requena Best Midfield – Hector Hernadez Best Coach – Abner Rivera Best Goalkeeper – Darrell Novelo

Wolfe’s Woofers: Weird People
Watching a tourist sip his drink then kiss a dog's butt is just plain weird...oh, yes, and disgusting. Why on earth....?

Misc Belizean Sources

Banana Bank Horse Camp
Banana Bank Lodge had their Summer horse camp recently. Now that's a cool idea for a camp. Are those 2 kids standing on one leg while riding their horses? In related news, Belmopan has 4 summer camps starting today, Monday the 15th. They are for tennis, football, softball, and dance. They'll be having fun and staying in shape this Summer.

Feed the Children Fashion Show
The Cornerstone Foundation had their Feed the Children Fashion Show last night at the Octavia Waight Centre's auditorium. Looks like it was a great success, as proved by D Russell Photography's great shots. Emmanuel Mangar is in, and he got by with a little help from his friends.

Friday Night in Downtown Cayo
Cayo's downtown is jumping on weekends. The Burns avenue pedestrian walkway has a little bit of everything. Food, and arts galore, and even a massage chair set up. Emmanuel Mangar tops the list at Mr. Greedy's Live Music Fridays. The new Fuego Bar and Grill is regularly packed with people enjoying their great appetizers, strong drinks, and unique entrees. "Who says it's slow season? On the 12th of July, downtown Cayo was packed, and Burns avenue was happening. Arts, crafts, massages, drumming, live music from Emmanuel Mangar. Awesome!" In related news, the San Pedro Scoop, no relation, did an article on Cayo this week, and got some decent pictures of downtown.

Team Jaguars prepares to face Cuba on Tuesday
The Jaguars of Belize will play their third game of the opening round of the Gold Cup on Tuesday in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Their opponent will be Cuba. The Belize National Football Team has been enjoying lots of support from fans at home and abroad. Go Jaguars.

Revised Gender Policy takes center stage at Dangriga cultural event
A community event was staged at the Princess Royal Park in Dangriga town on Saturday afternoon, where the Revised National Gender Policy was the main focus of a public presentation by guest speaker, Attorney at Law Mrs. Audrey Matura Shepherd. A planned march from the Drums of My Father’s roundabout into the town park did not materialize, and there are indications that area churches were not involved as the Churches had already committed to march with the Garifuna Christian diaspora in a separate simultaneous event. Reports from Dangriga say that Mrs. Matura Shepherd gave a fiery … and well received presentation on the Revised National Gender Policy. The reports from the culture capital say that Mrs. Matura Shepherd gave a well received comparison of the 2002 National Gender Policy and the recently launched 2013 edition of the Policy.

Blogs

The Final Word on the Belize Jaguars rejecting the Gold Cup Bribe
The subject has been raging online for the last week and at the risk of adding to “topic fatigue” we felt we should put our two cents in. To the Belize Jaguar players who rejected and then reported the bribe they were offered to throw the game and widen the point spread – you guys just climbed another few notches up on our already high estimation of you as players and as people. And we’re not alone. Commentators around the globe have praised the lads for their exemplary conduct in walking away from the money, and their courage in reporting the bribe. Check out this report from no less an authority than Sports Illustrated: “SALT LAKE CITY — Imagine for a second that you’re Belize soccer player Ian Gaynair. You don’t make much money in your tiny Central American country, and now a man is in front of you offering you cash to lose a game by maybe a little more than you’re already expected to. Who would notice? You’re Belize. You’re supposed to get blown out by the United States. Who cares if it’s by four goals or by six?

Starting A Business In Belize
Whether it’s large or small, starting a business in Belize is a great idea. The type and size of your business all depends on your target market. If you’re catering to local Belizeans, bear in mind that the country has a small population of around 330,000. However, the country is a major tourist destination, thus if that’s your primary interest, your target market is much larger. Belize is close to the USA, which means it’s easy to travel to, having direct flights from, New York, California, Georgia, Florida, and Texas. The main language in Belize is English/ Kriol however, most locals speak English and/or Spanish, two of the most common languages in the world. The country has links to both Central America and the Caribbean, which allows us to benefit from trade agreements within both regions. Belize has many opportunities for tapping into new industries as it’s still fairly young and is considered a developing nation. Real Estate Property is relatively inexpensive for rental or purchase. Minimum wage, although one of the highest in the region, is still low when compared to rates in developed nations.

International Sources

My trip to the Hole in the Bottom of the Sea
When I signed up to take Tropical Ecology as an undergraduate at Loyola University New Orleans, I had no idea that the final exam would be a two-week trip to Belize. Imagine my surprise on the first day of class as my professor, Dr. Bob, explained that we’d be spending time at a jaguar sanctuary, in a modern Mayan village and on an uninhabited island in the Caribbean to learn first-hand about the flora and fauna of the tropics. I packed up my dad’s old yellow hiking backpack with sunscreen and bathing suits and got ready to explore Belize. After 10 days of exploring the Cockscombe Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and living among the modern Maya in a remote village, we traded our hiking boots for flip-flops, boarded a boat in Belize City called Captain Hoho and headed out to Half Moon Caye.

Flag of Belize Samsung Galaxy S4 Cover
The Case-Mate Barely There Samsung Galaxy S4 Case is an impact resistant plastic case that protects the back and sides of your S4 without adding bulk. Printed to the edge with your custom photos, art, and text, this glossy finish case features easy access to all ports, sensors, cameras, and controls.

Belize's Character Proves They Belong on CONCACAF's Biggest Stage
Belize lost to the USA 6-1 in their first ever Gold Cup match. But they've already won in a much bigger game on the world stage, and this game isn't played on the soccer field. This has nothing to do with how Belize performed against the United States, in the country's first ever CONCACAF Gold Cup game, a 6-1 loss on Tuesday night. This has nothing to do with Belize keeper Shane Orio's solid individual effort in front of goal, despite allowing six on the evening. This has nothing to do with Ian Gaynair's unmarked header in the box in the 40th minute, Belize's first ever goal in a major competition. But this has everything to do with the actions of Gaynair and his teammates Woodrow West and Andres Makin Jr., who were approached by a gentleman offering money in exchange for fixing Belize's first group game against the United States. In an age where match-fixing scandals are rampant in the world - Italy, Nigeria and Asia just to name a few - three Belizean players on a team with only two full professionals on the roster did the only thing that came to their mind.

"Challenges and Opportunities in the Belize Education Sector
The Inter American Development Bank (IDB) has issued a released a 'technical note" on the "Challenges and Opportunities in the Belize Education Sector." A cursory look at the 43-page report shows that Belize's education system is not getting maximum returns for the millions of dollars being pumped into the sector. The report, penned by Emma Näslund-Hadley, Haydée Alonzo and Dougal Martin and dated May, 2013, points out that despite a high level of inputs to the education system in Belize, the outcomes are poor. On page 7 of the report, the authors note that Mayan children are being left behind at all levels of the education system, compared to other ethnic groups.

July 14, 2013

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7 and Channel 5
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Montreal-based students conduct Summer Camp on Ambergris Caye, Belize
A group of four students from Montreal, Canada are on Ambergris Caye hosting a summer camp for local children of San Pedro Town. The summer camp was facilitated by Matachica Resort and Spa located on northern Ambergris Caye and was the vision of 17 year old Nicholas Lighter. The summer camp, which is in its second week, will run for a total of four weeks (th