May 30, 2016

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Letter to the Editor: The Catholic Church needs a reform
Dear Editor: For years the only option there was in San Pedro was the Catholic Church. Many people go there for a sense of community and to listen to the priest’s homily for some food for though. It is not that simple, they also use what is considered horrible tactics. They tell you about this amazing creator who created the world and is responsible for everything. From a very young age your parents do not take the time to tell you why the skis is blue or why is water wet, yes why is water wet. It may sound like a kid thing to say but do you know why water is wet? Parents gave their kids a lazy and unintelligent answer, “God made it that way”. When they grow up they will be un-empathetic because when they see a poor family they will say “God made that that way”. The Bible says poor people are blessed in spirit. It won’t tell you what happens to such a family when the oldest brother beats up the middle brother because he is emotionally stressed. The youngest brother is grown scared of the world because their mom listened to the words of the priest and neglected her kids. She believed him. A him – what advice can a man give a woman on how to be a good mother. The clear answer is NONE. That is right there are no female priests because the church is misogynistic.

Wolfe’s Woofer: How to Bargain
“Can you watch your grandkids for awhile this afternoon?” Melody asked. “If I get back in time,” I told her. “I have something I’m trying to do.” “What do you have to do?” “If I get back in time,” I said. “I’m trying to buy a golf cart. If this guy drops the price by $1,500 I’ll have enough cash to buy it today.” At the golf cart shop the owner said, “I can’t drop the price from $8,000.” “I’ll give you cash right now,” I said. “$6,500.” “No. Price is firm,” he said.

Island teachers graduate from Galen University
The San Pedro Sun joins the community in applauding all of the teachers that graduated from Galen University on Sunday, May 22nd. Of the 99 graduates from Galen this year, 75 students earned their degrees in primary education. A special congratulation goes out to Principal Roxani Kay from the San Pedro Roman Catholic School (SPRCS) for graduating Summa Cum Laude. Also graduating from SPRCS was Roberto Gongora (Magna Cum Laude), Diana Uh and Yvonne Gonzalez (Cum Laude). Jamira Tillet from the Holy Cross Anglican School, Elizabeth Sansores and Miguel Angel Hernandez from the New Horizon Seventh-day Adventist School were also among the many graduates of Galen’s 13th Commencement Exercises.

Doctor Love: Not Sure and Ex-wife
Dear Doctor Love, My boyfriend and I split up after three years together. At the time we were going through some really tough times. He was in the middle of changing jobs he had a lot of family problems with health and with visitation with his son. I waited to tell him about our financial troubles until things got so bad that I had to let him know. He split telling everyone that I lied about our money situation even though I was only trying to keep him from feeling bad. I am still paying off debts. Now he is back with me but he still has not told his friends about us. He does not help with the back bills. I think he is too embarrassed or something. He does swear he loves me. What should I do when the man I love keeps me as a secret? /s/ Not Sure

Misc Belizean Sources

The Expo Tattoo Belize activities continue today at the SPHS Auditorium
Yesterday was wild...today is more of the same!

Job Vacancies at BEL
2 vacancies exist at the San Pedro and Dangriga Branches of Belize Electricity Limited for the post of Customer Care Representative II in the Customer Care Department.

Walk for a Green Belize 2016 Statistics
The DoE has released the stats from the Walk for a Green Belize that was carried out last week. Thanks to all the great supporters and volunteers that cleaned up an amazing 785 bags of trash from the highways. Almost 5 tons was collected. If everyone could show their appreciation by never littering again, more important volunteer initiatives could be undertaken. "An estimated 785 (33 to 55 gallon-sized) bags of garbage were collected yielding a weight of approximately 9,806.56 pounds of garbage! The Walk For A Green Belize clean-up activity was conducted by several organizations, students, activists, both government and non-government agencies, and the general public. The Secretariat for the 'Walk for a Green Belize' initiative extends heartfelt gratitude to all the participants and sponsors of the event and we look forward to your support and participation in the 'Walk for a Green Belize' 2017."

Galen University 2016 Graduation
Congratulations, Galen graduates! They had 99 new graduates at this year's graduation. This was the first time they had Elementary Education, and Criminal Justice majors. In related news, Galen has a great promo video about their university. "Galen celebrated with 99 graduates from the Faculty of Arts & Science, Faculty of Business & Entrepreneurship, and the Faculty of Education. Our first ever Elementary Education and Criminal Justice graduates graced us on Sunday. Congratulations Galen Eagles! Continue to soooooooooooooooar and make us proud."

Five baby parrots found themselves at BBR this week. Sad stories as always.
They are all white-fronts which is good for us and for them as they can grow up together. Two of the chicks were in a felled tree - a sibling did not survive the impact but thankfully the two survivors were discovered and taken to the Wildlife Clinic for a check-up and a watchful eye for a few days while their bruises healed. The other three were removed from their nest by the Forest Department. A concerned resident contacted the officers and explained that the nest was always poached. Thankfully they are all in good health and will have intact wing feathers once they fledge.

Turtle nesting season has started in Ambergris Caye 2016
Total of 3 Loggerhead turtle nests; 2 in Basil Jones and 1 in Rocky point Beach.

Channel 5

Patrick Faber is the new First Deputy Leader of the United Democratic Party
After counting concluded just after 3:00pm today, Faber had received 336 votes. His opponent, John Saldivar, received 248 votes. We'll have highlights of the Convention in Monday's newscast.

The Reporter

Faber wins UDP deputy leadership comfortably over Saldivar
Patrick Faber, the Minister of Education has won the deputy leadership of the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) comfortably over John Saldivar, the Minister of National Security and only other contender in the race. Faber won by 88 votes with a final tally of 336 to 248 with one spoilt ballot. Some 585 delegates voted during a party convention at the IT-Vet building on Freetown Road in Belize City. Voting started at 9:00 a.m., and ended at 2:30 p.m., Sunday. Faber held a dinner and reception for his supporters at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel on Saturday night to thank his supporters.

Taiwan to hand over first disbursement of renal failure prevention initiative to Belize
Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Benjamin Ho, will hand over his government’s first disbursement to the Ministry of Health for the Renal Failure Prevention Project and the Medical Skills Cooperation Agreement on Monday. This is a three-year initiative with a budget of around US $ 2.2 million, for which Taiwan will provide health education training and education for general practitioners, dialysis nurses, and other health personnel. It also includes the training of two nurses in Taiwan, the purchase of a vehicle to be used for the program, and the establishment of a tracking and management system for chronic disease cases treated in public medical facilities. During the handing-over ceremony, the chief of Taiwan delegation, Fang-Yue Lin, who is the President of Far Eastern Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, will donate 100 dialyzers of hemodialysis to the Ministry of Health.

Breaking Belize News

Faber sworn in as new UDP First Deputy
The official numbers from yesterday’s United Democratic Party (UDP) First Deputy Leader convention held at the ITVET campus in Belize City are in. According to UDP Chairman Alberto August, of the possible 589 delegates on the voting list, 585 ballots were cast. Of those cast, […]

Patrick Faber is new UDP Deputy Leader
Initial reports from the United Democratic Party (UDP) Deputy Leadership convention held this afternoon at the ITVET campus in Belize City indicates that Patrick Faber has beaten John Saldivar for the party’s number two spot. Faber reportedly beat Saldivar by 88 votes. The total numbers haven’t […]

Have diplomatic relations failed Belize?
As the tension between Belize and Guatemala has ramped over the last year-and-half, and as it climaxed with the death of 13-year-old Julio Alvarado, Belize’s government has sought diplomatic means of easing that tension but Guatemala seems resolved to continue creating friction. This has been […]

Guatemalans protest at the Western Border
Credible information reaching Breaking Belize News is that Guatemalans in the neighboring town, Melchor de Mencos, organized a peaceful demonstration this morning at the Western Border. Information is sketchy but BBN personnel is currently on the ground gathering more information as to why the peaceful demonstration […]

UDP to elect first deputy leader today
Just over 700 delegates are to decide today by secret ballot which of National Security Minister John Saldivar and Education Minister Patrick Faber succeed Gaspar Vega as first deputy leader of the United Democratic Party. The two powerful Ministers have been fighting tooth and nail […]

Blogs

Living an Affordable Beach Lifestyle in Placencia, Belize
With 17 miles of continuous golden-sand beaches, a low key, laidback Caribbean lifestyle, a small population, and plenty of top notch restaurants and funky beach bars, it’s not surprising that expats are pulling up stakes to move to Belize’s Placencia peninsula… In February of 2014 Laura and Dave Diffendal left Cleveland, Ohio, for Placencia Village. They now live an entirely different lifestyle, as Laura explains, “Exactly two years ago, I was sitting on my couch in snowy Cleveland. Now we’re having weekly adventures, spending days on the beach, afternoons in farmers’ markets, and living a life we would only have tried out on vacation once a year if we had stayed back home.” Although quite comfortable in Cleveland, the Diffendals were ready for a change. “We both had the itch,” Laura says. “We wanted to push ourselves…experience new cultures…and get out of the north-east winters!” They traveled around Belize, seeking a new home. “We searched all over the country for something that felt like the right fit. The second we started driving down the Placencia peninsula, we looked at each other and said—‘This is it!’ It felt like home. The sparkling Caribbean on one side, Maya mountains and lagoon on the other, real estate right on the beach. Perfect!”

Belize Lobster Fest 2016 is here
With the month of June fast approaching, Belizeans across the country are making plans to attend this year’s Lobster Fest events in either San Pedro, Placencia or Caye Caulker, as visitors from across the globe make their way to the country to partake as well. The world renowned Lobster Fests are scheduled this year for June 15-26 in San Pedro Town, June 24-26 in Placencia and July 1-3 in Caye Caulker, when thousands of people will flock those destinations for delicious grilled lobsters and endless activities. These events give locals and foreigners a chance to taste an array of lobster dishes while mingling with fishermen and learning the methods used to catch the tasty crustacean. Some of the most popular attractions to our Lobster Fests, promise to be even more exciting this year, such as water sports, the beach parties, Miss Lobster Festival Queen Competition, lobster eating competitions, biggest lobster catch competition and live cultural music.

Ways working Moms can maintain a healthy lifestyle
When I became a mother, I grappled with creating balance in my life. How was I supposed to maintain a healthy lifestyle? How was I supposed to go to work, take care of a baby, be a wife and cook dinner all in the same day? On top of that, when I looked in the mirror, I still looked like I was 3 months pregnant. Apparently, the baby weight hurdle is an issue that affects many women and their goals to a healthy lifestyle. I realized this when I would complain to my friends, family and co-workers who relayed their own horror stories of their inability to lose the weight after having their babies. “After you have a baby, you end up putting everyone before yourself,” my friend Jenna explained as she chased behind her 3 year old son who decided that he did not want to wear pants on that particular day. “You make sure the baby is ok, that your other kids have eaten dinner and that you’re a good employee at work. By the time you put the kids to sleep at night, you barely have energy to take a shower much less jump on an exercise machine. You go to sleep disgusted with yourself dreaming that the baby weight would magically melt off. And it doesn’t.” But there are several things that you can do to make today healthier than yesterday and pave the way to a healthy lifestyle.

Belize Food Tours…A Must-Do Tour on Every San Pedro Visitors’ List
After you take the Belize Food Tours…with a walk around town, interesting historical tidbits, stories of growing up in San Pedro and a TON of food and drink….you’ll feel like you know this town. But first, the secret is out of the bag, the creators of this new business are Felipe Paz and Dora Paz Guerra, a brother-sister team who grew up on the island. Guess who are the siblings here. All invitees met at 11:30am in Central Park. They will be doing both lunch and dinner tours and will keep the groups more manageable in this busy town. 8 people maximum. But for the press tour, we were a bit more. Meet Felipe, the guide… And equally lovely but a bit more behind-the-scenes, Dora. The umbrellas are a great idea under the mid-day sun. I met Don, a Belize City native and very enthusiastic eater and drinker, who won the chance to join the tour on Facebook. Super cool guy. And we are off! Our first stop, one of the oldest restaurants in San Pedro, Elvi’s Kitchen. Started by Miss Elvi as a burger shack under a flamboyant tree that she planted for the birth of her first grandson, it has grown into a wildy popular restaurant.

International Sources

Belize’s Ambassador to the United States: Who Is Pat Andrews?
Patrick Andrews was appointed in May 2015 to be Belize’s ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States. It’s the first such posting for Andrews, who spent his career as a banker. Andrews attended Kansas State University, graduating in 1973 with a B.S. in economics. He went to work shortly thereafter for the Bank of Nova Scotia, which later become known as Scotiabank. Andrews worked in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Grenada, Costa Rica, Canada and El Salvador for the bank before being named country manager for Belize in 2002. While running Scotiabank’s operations in Belize, Andrews was involved in several charities benefiting the country’s children. Andrews does have some experience with the diplomatic service; in 2007, he was named Canada’s honorary consul in Belize. In 2014, Andrews was honored by Queen Elizabeth II as a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to community and banking. Andrews’ brother Joseph was a long-time party official in the ruling United Democratic Party. His nephew, Patrick Jason Andrews, is also involved in the country’s politics but as a senator in the rival Peoples United Party, and was a television host. Andrews and his wife, Chita, have a son and a daughter. Andrews speaks English and Spanish.

Caribbean expanding share in multi-billion dollar global seafood market
Caribbean economies are poised to benefit from a region-wide initiative to expand seafood market share through the implementation of food safety measures to enable countries to get a bigger piece of the global pie, worth an estimated US$130 billion annually. Caribbean countries, including The Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, are now capitalising on a co-ordinated approach to broaden the gateway to the growing market. CARIFORUM, which comprises the 15-member Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the Dominican Republic, now exports about US$400-million worth of fish and seafood annually. Belize and Jamaica are two Caribbean seafood exporters already tapping into markets controlled by the European Union (EU), a tough market to access because of stringent standards which require that countries have systems in place to ensure that their exports are not only safe for consumption, but also free from harmful pests and pathogens.

Common plant could help fight Zika virus
erouen Paul Lumabao, 17, discovered that an extract of the garden croton, or Codiaeum variegatum, kills larvae of the mosquitoes that can carry dengue, Zika and more. Substances in a common plant can kill larvae of the mosquito that helps spread the viruses that cause Zika, chikungunya and dengue fever. That's the discovery of a teen from the Philippines. His research may help public health officials develop a way to slow the spread of those deadly diseases. It also may give homeowners hints about how to home-brew their own mosquito-killing cocktail. Dengue (DEN-gay) virus is a leading cause of illness and death throughout the tropics and subtropics. The disease is spread by the Aedes aegypti (AY-dees Eh-JIP-tye) mosquito. Dengue causes high fevers, severe headaches and joint pain, among other symptoms. With no vaccine to prevent it, up to 400 million people contract dengue each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than one-third of all people on the planet live in areas at risk of this infection.

Videos

May 29, 2016

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Traffic issues on Northern Ambergris Caye Road to be addressed
With the upgrade of the Northern Ambergris Caye road, several issues have arisen, the most prominent being speeding. This past year saw the pavement of three miles of road from the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge to Belizean Shores Resort, as well as the widening of four miles of road from Belizean Shores to Blue Reef Resort. The improved accessibility for vehicular traffic is resulting in speeding and at time, reckless driving which can result in serious accidents. Most recently, The San Pedro Sun was made aware of a damaged utility pole in the Grand Belize Estates Area, which was allegedly broken by a reckless dump truck. This is only one of many reported incidents.

MOE seeks to motivate unqualified teachers
In February 2016, the Ministry of Education (MOE) implemented new standards that has affected a large sector of both primary, and secondary school teachers’ countrywide. MOE’s announcement was geared at teachers who did not have the necessary qualifications to teach in Belize, with hopes to strengthen the education system by pressuring teachers to become better qualified to educate the country’s youth. As the following academic year approaches, up to a thousand teachers are at risk of losing their job if they do not meet the requisites to obtain a full teaching license. Minister of Education, Honorable Patrick Faber states that only about 40% of primary school teachers and 31% of secondary school teachers are actually qualified to be educators. The Education Act Chapter 36 of the Laws of Belize Revised Edition 2000, states that primary school teachers should be trained to at least an Associate level, while secondary school teachers would need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree in a specific subject/field with background in pedagogical skills. Faber explained that once a teacher’s provisional license expires, they will be in violation of section 29 (9) of the Education and Training Act 2010, and cannot be legally employed by the ministry. This policy will apply to both public and private schools.

Growing concerns over illegal garbage dumping
Residents of Northern Ambergris Caye are concerned over the illegal dumping of garbage on vacant lots near residential areas. The neighbourhood affected this time is a small sub-division that sits near a newly re-opened resort located seven miles north of Sir Barry Bowen Bridge. The issue has been noted by the local residents for over a week. Residents claim that some other properties in that area are also engaged in illegal dumping. They are frustrated, as there is no official dump site or drop off area for the residents living on the north of the island. The garbage is not only an eyesore, but serves as a breeding ground for rodents and other pests which is unhealthy for all the residents of the area, including guests at the nearby resort. Deputy Mayor Gary Greif indicated they were recently made aware of the situation and are working to solve it. He admitted that the illegal dumping is a continuous issue that affects the entire island, and they need everyone to cooperate with The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) in order punish the culprits. “We have teamed up with the Ministry of Health in order to target this issue,” said Greif.

‘Top Million Dollar Agent’ TV show seeks homes on Ambergris Caye
Sandy Point Real Estate is putting the island’s name in the international spotlight. The well- known Real Estate Company is now making a call to island residents that have property/houses on the island valued at no less than $US1 million dollars to apply for a feature in an international reality TV show. Director of Investments at Sandy Point, Daniel Hartin says that this is another effort in the international marketing of Ambergris Caye and Belize. According to him, “Top Million Dollar Agent,” a reality TV show that showcases the best in luxury real estate, would like to film one of their episodes on Ambergris Caye. “They are looking for potential homes to feature on their show, and the only requirement is that the estate be valued at $1 million or more. These homes will receive international exposure to tens of millions of people, which may result in a sale,” said Hartin. The show airs in North America and Asia, featuring knockout properties from around the world.

Miss SPHS Faith Noel seeks to improve her school
Recently crowned Miss San Pedro High School (SPHS) 2016-2017, Faith Noel, has taken on two projects to better her educational institution. Faith believes that there is more to being a beauty ambassador of the school, and as such wants to give back to the community. Her projects involve providing new backpacks for SPHS’s less fortunate, as well as the installation of new lunch seating areas for the school’s growing population. The first project involves collecting new school bags for those who may not be able to afford one. Once she collects the desired amount of bags, Faith intends to give them to the school’s counselor, who will then decide on the students to benefit from them. These backpacks will be given to the student under complete privacy. So far, Faith has collected 30 backpacks, and is hoping to at least triple that amount by July 2016. The other part of her project seeks to install five new lunch palapas on the school’s campus. Currently the school has two lunch palapas, which along with a sitting area, are not enough to comfortably accommodate all students during lunch time. Many students either have to eat their lunch in the bleachers of the Angel Nuñez Auditorium or in their classroom, which is not ideal. These five new palapas will provide added seating space for students. Construction of each lunch palapa is estimated to cost $900, and so far Sandy Point Real Estate has donated one palapa.

Misc Belizean Sources

BELIZEAN GARIFUNA SCHOLAR EGBERT HIGINIO!
Belizean Garifuna professor of Philosophy at San Jose State University in Oakland, California, Egbert Higinio, appeared in full force at the Garifuna International Film Festival on Saturday, May 28, 2016 in Venice, California to moderate the International Discussion Symposium on Human Right Violations Against Indigenous Cultures. A Belizean brother whom has been a great friend of yours truly for some years now, was most impressive in terms of the justice he gave to such a humanistic topic whereby allowing the voices of all the messengers of the indigenous and oppressed peoples represented by a panel of a wide cross cross-section of cultures to speak. We appreciate you brother Egbert, and for your not forgetting to champion and standing up for Belize against the Guatemalan military aggression of Belize. Respect soldier!

RECEIVING THE VISIONARY AWARD AT THE GARIFUNA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL!
It has been an exciting and thrilling moment for me at the Garifuna International Film Festival (GIIF). An awaken three days of breathtaking scenes and events in film, touching stories, and meeting passionate people who were able to present the stories of their lives, and their peoples lives through this very dynamic film festival organized by two outstanding people and their team, the culturally conscious Garifuna woman, Freda Sideroff, and her most supportive partner and husband, Dr. Stephen Sideroff. This photo essay here expresses one of the most thrilling and gratifying moments in my life in being awarded the Garifuna International Film Festival's Visionary Award for my work as a documentary filmmaker, and one who has dedicated a great part of my life in championing the cause and the struggles of the Belizean people at home and abroad. It was an honor for me to accept such token of appreciation from a film festival that was built from the bottom up by a visionary Belizean woman, Freda Sideroff, who is also a passionate diaspora Belizean that takes her Garifuna culture and country Belize in a very serious way.

"Taliban Birder" :>
Police are looking for this individual known in the streets as the "Taliban Birder". He was last seen terrorizing tourists at the entrance to Hopkins while they were en route to MangoFest2016. He is armed with a long range 60X Swarovski Scope and a semi-automatic 8x42 XC Steiner Binos, and highly skilled with them. Do not try to stop him or get between him and a "life bird", the consequences could be brutal. If seen, please call your nearest Police Station.

Hopkins Mango Festival 2016
Lots of photos!

Amandala

Cost of botched 2002 airport deal – US$4.3 mil, plus interest
The Government of Belize has lost its legal battle in the US Court of Appeal, District Court of Columbia, against Newco, a company which had sued the Government to enforce a US$4.26 million arbitration award handed down in June 2008 in Miami over the termination of a 30-year contract to run the Philip Goldson International Airport – the country’s only international airport. The award was issued with 8% interest compounded, which means that the Government could be on the hook for at least US$3 million more. To date, we have been unable to get an official figure from the Ministry of Finance. The group of US-based investors who had established Newco in Belize in 2002, had originally threatened to sue for US$33 million, challenging a decision by the then administration of Said Musa to instead offer the concession deal (via a management agreement) to a consortium known as the Belize Airport Concession Company (BACC).

Istanbul UN meeting produces “nothing definite” on Sarstoon
As we go to press tonight, there is still no formal accord between Belize and Guatemala coming out of bilateral talks recently held between Belize and Guatemala in Istanbul, Turkey, on the occasion of a United Nations meeting. However, in a joint statement released on Tuesday, May 24, at the conclusion of those talks, the parties indicated that Foreign Affairs ministers from both sides “recognized the urgent need for and committed to working on the design and development of a mechanism for cooperation in the Sarstoon River…” The joint statement added that the mechanism “should include the participation of relevant institutions of both parties and be coordinated by both Foreign Ministries with the participation of the Organization of American States.”

Guat car thief captured in Melchor
Esdras Chaneck, 21, a taxi driver of Benque Viejo Del Carmen, was held up and robbed by two bandits, believed to be Guatemalans, at about 1:30 yesterday afternoon in Calla Creek, Cayo District. The thieves robbed Chaneck of his wallet, which contained $200, his Social Security card, his driver’s license, his S4 Digicell phone with chip # 626-6977, and a memory chip valued at $700. The car the bandits stole is a Toyota Corolla valued at $10,000. Benque Viejo police were quickly alerted, and they notified their counterparts in Guatemala, the Melchor De Mencos police, who began an investigation and looked for the stolen vehicle in that town.

“El Diablo” shot dead in Paraiso
The peace and tranquility of Paraiso was shattered this afternoon as a pair of gunmen who were lay-waiting a man came out of hiding and opened fire on him as he was just getting out of his van at about 4:30 this afternoon in front of a house in the village. One of the two gunmen fired about 10 shots at Delmar Guerra, 37, who is also referred to as Delmar Tun, and is known as “El Diablo,” of San Joaquin, Corozal District. Guerra suffered multiple gunshot wounds, and his assailants left the scene on a motorcycle. Guerra was rushed to the Corozal Town Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. His body has been deposited at the morgue where it will undergo a mandatory postmortem exam. Police said that Guerra had been shot in the abdomen, chest, arm pit and arm. A firearm was found on the scene, but it cannot yet be ascertained if it belongs to Guerra or to the killers. Police said that the motive for the execution is not yet known.

Evergreen hauls Belize Bank and others before US Federal Court
On the 13th of May, the legal dispute in which Belize Bank International and Evergreen E-Pay Solutions Inc. have been embroiled, flared up again. In 2015, the legal wrangling between the two entities took place in the Supreme Court of Belize, where Evergreen was successful in getting the court to order Belize Bank to issue a payout to the company; then on the 3rd of February 2016, Belize Bank presented an appeal. Now, the battle will play out in the United States’ Federal courts. On Friday, May 13, in Miami, Florida, Evergreen (an e-commerce business) filed a federal law suit alleging that Visa International had permitted three banks in Belize to process international transactions despite not having proper licensing. The case, assigned to US District Judge Donald Graham, includes serious allegations such as fraud, breach of contract, negligence, and business defamation. Evergreen’s current complaint against Visa and Belize’s “Defendant Banks” includes 21 counts. It also makes claims against specific persons, and makes allegations of constant lies and threats of violence by some of these individuals.

Some Belizeans feel more threatened by violent crime than Guatemala’s aggression towards Belize
The majority of Belizeans are more concerned about crime at home than the Guatemalan threat at the border, a recent informal poll conducted by Amandala revealed. Amandala questioned approximately 50 people to get a sense of what people were thinking — which of the situations pose a greater threat to them: the threat to our territorial integrity by Guatemala with the incidents that have been taking place at the Sarstoon and the Chiquibul reserve, near our border, or the crime in the country, which has escalated alarmingly, with an ongoing sequence of murders that shows no signs of ceasing. The small poll revealed that twenty-eight persons felt that a greater threat was posed by crime within the country, while only thirteen felt that the greater threat was from the border with Guatemala. Eight people felt it was both – the Guatemala threat, and crime.

Rural Female Softball Tournament in full swing
The Belize Rural Female Softball Tournament 2016 is in full swing, with 4 games being played each Sunday, 2 games each at two different venues. The 8 participating teams are separated into two divisions, Division A and Division B. Division A, teams are Lords Bank Sunrise (Lords Bank), UB Jaguars (Belmopan), Exotic Girls (Hattieville) and Orchid Girls (Burrell Boom); and Division B teams are Double Head Cabbage (Double Head), Easy Does It (Flowers Bank), Beverly Hill Flams (Lords Bank) and Arrows (Bermudian Landing). In game 1 on Sunday, May 22, at Double Head Cabbage, Orchid Girls won, 14-3, over Exotic Girls, behind winning pitcher, Therese Baptist; while Iceany Baptist got the loss. And in game 2, it was UB Jaguars, 11-4, over Lords Bank Sunrise. Karlene Williams was the winning pitcher for UB, while Karen Hilton suffered the loss.

Dangriga sports stats
U-15 football: Here are the results from the Dangriga Boys & Girls, Griga Yaad Cleaning and Mr. Mar U-15 finals on Monday at the Ecumenical football field. Third place went to 3G by default due to no show by Umadagu. In the championship finals, Wagiya won over Hopkins, 2 goals to nil. Max Mackin, Jr. and Brian Guzman got 1 apiece for Wagiya. Congratulations to Wagiya U-15 team! U-18 football: The U-18 tournament is coming up, and there is a meeting for all captains, coaches and managers of U-18 teams in the Stann Creek District today, Thursday, at Princess Royal BTL Park. Primary school football: The Stann Creek District Primary School Football District Finals is all set and ready for today, Thursday, at the Ecumenical football field, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Football update from Orange Walk
5-A-Side football: Here are some results from the 5-A-Side Football Tournament being played at the People’s Stadium every Tuesday and Thursday night in two divisions, Interoffice and Open. On Thursday, May 19, in game 1, (Open) Stadium Strikers clipped San Fran, 1-0, on a goal by Zacarias Gonzalez. In game 2, (Interoffice) Cuello’s dropped Odett’s, 3-2. Cuello’s goals were by Antonio Sabido (2) and Robi Cuello, while both Odett’s goals were by Mauricio Estrada. And in game 3, (Open) Landy’s won, 1-0, over Minions, with a goal from Gabriel Perez. In game 1 on Monday, May 24, (Open) Aquarius and Heart N Soul drew, 3-3, in regulation, but Aquarius won, 5-4, in penalty shootout. Goals in regulation were by Luis Carrillo (2) and Rafael Suarez for Aquarius, and by Mauricio Estrada (2) and Hugo Estrada for Heart N Soul. In game 2, Landy’s got the 3-0 win over San Fran, with goals from Gabriel Perez and Enrique Castillo (2). And game 3 saw Stadium Strikers edge Okay Bye, 1-nil, on a goal by Carlos Diaz.

Primary school football finals in San Jose Succotz
Zone primary school football finals were held in San Jose Succotz on Thursday, May 19, for male teams only. Participating primary schools were Howard Smith Nazarene, Victorious Nazarene, Succotz RC, Mt. Carmel RC, La Inmaculada RC (Arenal), Holy Cross RC (Calla Creek), and Hills of Promise SDA. Emerging in 1st place was Howard Smith Nazarene (Benque), while 2nd place went to La Inmaculada RC (Arenal). The District Finals are set for Friday, June 3, at the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

5868
In 2005, Rosalio Reta was at summer camp, like all the other American teenagers his age – a short Texan fifteen-year-old with spiky hair, nicknamed “Bart” because he looked like a less yellow Bart Simpson and loved to skateboard. He was also into the Power Rangers, alternative pop, and Nintendo 64, especially The Legend of Zelda and Donkey Kong. At camp in that particular year, he was learning useful skills, ones he would remember for the rest of his life. Except at this camp, you don’t learn how to canoe, or sing in a chorus, or make a log fire. He remembered the techniques he learned there well. Take beheading, for example. “There’s times I’ve seen it they’ve done it with a saw,” he told me through the prison glass. “Blood everywhere. When they start going they hit the jugular and –” he snaps his fingers – “(it’s) everywhere … They put the head right there. The head still moves, makes faces and everything. I think the nerves, you can see inside, the bone, everything’s moving. It’s like they’ve got worms. I’ve seen it move, when it’s on the ground. If he’s making a screaming face, it stays like that sometimes. Sometimes it slacks off.”

From the Publisher
On Friday morning, May 20, the leaders of the major Christian churches in Belize decided to call a press conference to express their views on critical matters in Belize having to do with the Guatemalan claim, Guatemalan aggression, the Belizean response, and so on. For me, the most important thing you should know about the men who sat at that head table on Friday morning is that they are very powerful. They are very powerful because they control the education system of Belize. They decide what is taught and what is not taught to the children of Belize. The major Christian churches here have held that power for generations and generations and generations, and the reason they hold that power is that, at the end of the day, they represent the Western European power structure. Incidentally, the military expression of the Western European power structure is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The masses of the Belizean people have always wished to educate their children, because the masses of the Belizean people traditionally had to do hard, manual labor in order to make a living, and most parents wished for a less crushing, more comfortable existence for their children. Hence, they sent us to school.

Parliamentary leaders of Central America ink historic agreement on Belize-Guatemala situation
Leaders of Parliaments of Central America, with the exception only of Panama, inked a new peace accord, saying that they will encourage the Congress of Guatemala to promptly consider the ratification of a protocol which the Foreign Ministers of Belize and Guatemala signed a year ago, on May 25, 2015, agreeing to changes to the special agreement between the parties to have their territorial differendum submitted for a binding resolution to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), pending popular votes by citizens of both countries to support the move. The amendment to the ICJ compromis was signed before Jimmy Morales was elected to presidential office in Guatemala. Plans to hold a Congressional vote on the ICJ protocol—which Guatemala had said would have been necessary for the country to hold a referendum on the ICJ simultaneously with its presidential election in 2015 but ahead of Belize—never materialized due to instability in Guatemala. An entire year later, the Guatemalan Congress has still not been asked to vote on the matter, although it did move recently to pass a declaration calling on Guatemalans to boycott Belize.

Be alert, Belizeans!
Guatemala is so poor and has perpetrated genocide on its own people, so how can they still continue with their unfounded, null and void claim over Belize? Guatemala’s history of genocide against its own people cannot be ignored or forgotten, much less swept under the rug, and the current poverty situation in that country is alarming and disheartening. Don’t think that the acts of genocide in Guatemala are confined to the past — the Guatemalan military and oligarchy are still present and active. The police and the military run the government and the country. Guatemala is a state dominated by organized crime, an unrepresentative and unresponsive political party system and a fragmented civil society in which the marginalized indigenous population struggles relentlessly to make its voice heard. The vast majority of the leadership is comprised of the ruling class and high ranking ex-military personnel.

Guatemala’s criminal organizations
Guatemala’s criminal organizations are among the most sophisticated and dangerous in Central America. Some of them have been in operation for decades. They include former members of the military, intelligence agencies and active members of the police. Transporting illegal drugs north comprises the bulk of their activity, but organized crime in Guatemala is also involved in marijuana and poppy cultivation, as well as human trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, money laundering, arms smuggling, adoption rings, eco trafficking and other illegal enterprises. They often work with groups from Mexico, Colombia and other Central American nations and they have the potential to expand and command other Central American nations’ underworlds. Guatemala has 400 km of coastline, most of it on the Pacific Ocean, from which it receives and dispatches much of the contraband entering and departing the country. The mountainous interior, combined with the vast, sparsely populated stretches of jungle in the north make the country an ideal storage and transit nation. Guatemala shares a border with Honduras, El Salvador, México and Belize.

IMF says Belize’s economic outlook has worsened since 2015
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced today that it had just concluded its two-week mission to Belize which began on Wednesday, May 11. Jacques Bouhga-Hagbe, who led the IMF team, has issued a statement conveying the preliminary findings. Bouhga-Hagbe said that, “The economic outlook has worsened further since the 2015 Article IV Consultation and is subject to significant downside risks.” Bouhga-Hagbe added that while the banking system continued to strengthen, “the challenges posed by loss of correspondent banking relationships with international banks have increased since the 2015 Article IV Consultation.” He noted that the Belize economy is slowing and fiscal and external vulnerabilities are rising. Falling oil production and multiple shocks in the primary sector reduced the growth of the country’s gross domestic product to only 1% in 2015, the IMF rep said, pointing to a worsening forecast as, “GDP growth is projected to decline further to 0.5 percent in 2016 and average less than 2 percent in the medium term.”

Sugar surplus expected for 2016 – but market prices pose serious challenge
This year’s sugar crop is estimated at 1.7 million tons, well above the 1.3 million tons which the Belize Sugar Industries (BSI) expected to handle this season. Jessamyn Ramos, Information Officer at the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI), pointed to the production of a surplus this year, in her presentation at the 6th Annual Belize Esri User Conference, held at the Biltmore Plaza in Belize City. While that surplus is good news, the bad news is that prices on the world market have plummeted, from $75 a ton last year to $45 a ton this year, Ramos said. This represents a fall of about 40%. Furthermore, she said that the industry was notified in 2013 that in 2017, Belize will no longer have access to preferential markets which yield the best price for the export commodity. As a result, the industry has launched the Sugar Industry Management Information Systems (SIMIS), which aims to track production with the aim of maximizing outputs from the sector.

The Reporter

Hundreds take part in cancer walk, many are youths
Several hundred people, many of whom were youths, took part in Saturday’s annual cancer walk, planned by the Belize Cancer Society. The event started from in front of Celina’s in Ladyville and finished in front of the Society’s compound on Mercy Lane in Belize City. The participants, affected either personally or related to someone who has survived or succumbed to cancer, dressed in t-shirts with symbolic messages against the disease. President of the Society, Laura Longsworth said earlier this year that the scientific and technological advancements have helped to double cancer survival, but we still need to detect cancer earlier so we can improve on that success.

Breaking Belize News

San Ignacio police brutalize man and dog
A very controversial video has gone viral on social media, where police officers not only brutalize a San Ignacio resident but also a dog. The incident played out on Burns Avenue in San Ignacio Town last night around 8. In the video, the officers can […]

Man recovers at the KHMH after road accident
A Belmopan resident is today recuperating from injuries received after his pickup truck suffered a blow out causing him to run off the road. Ricardo Cambeiro Nunez, 41, a Belizean project manager was travelling from the direction of Dangriga to Belmopan City and upon reaching […]

Belize: The Foreign Affairs of The Nation in Shambles
Belize is currently facing its greatest foreign affairs challenge in its 35-year history as an independent nation. Its neighbor, Guatemala, continued to claim part, half or all of Belize, depending on what period and who was in power. During the recent elections held last November […]

International Sources

Caribbean leadership project aims at strengthening the capacity of future leaders
An initiative known as the Caribbean Leadership Project (CLP) will be implemented in St. Kitts and Nevis to “strengthen the capacity of future leaders in the Caribbean so that they are equipped to contribute more effectively to regional integration and economic growth and support gender-sensitive public sector reform.” To achieve this goal, the CLP is following a modular programme which includes Leadership Development Programme, Enabling Environment, Research, Continuous Learning and Development Network, Communities of Practice and Caribbean Centre of Leadership Excellence. Each module will be held in a different participating country. “In between modules, we will use a blended learning approach,” said Dr. Lois Parkes, Regional Project Manager of CLP. “The participants will be involved in virtual learning, executive coaching as well as working in groups and individually on what we call learning stretch projects.”

Videos

May 28, 2016

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Miss Chiquitita 2016-17 is set
The “Miss Chiquitita 2016-2017” pageant, which is San Pedro Preschool’s biggest fundraiser, has been scheduled for Saturday, June 4th at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium. Five primary school beauties will compete in the pageant, in hopes of being crowned by outgoing Miss Chiquitita 2015-2016 Killainie Sosa. This year’s participants are 9 year-old Carolina Salinas (sponsored by Touch Management), 10 year-old Sandi Flores (sponsored by Gaby’s Construction), 10 year-old Monique Garcia (sponsored by Suya Tours), 10 year-old Lindsey Williams (sponsored by Saga Humane Society), and 10 year-old Evelin Pichola (sponsored by Wild Mango’s). Event organizer, Ilna Nuñez, is more than delightful to participate in this year’s pageant once again, and encourages the community to support the cause. The pageant will start at 7PM sharp and the show will be divided into five segments: a dance presentation, swimsuit, career, talent, and evening wear.

Funds raised to assist Nurse Natalie
There is no shortage of helping hands on La Isla Bonita and they were at it again during a coin drive and telethon held to assist Nurse Natalie Hancock Palen on Friday, May 20th. Nurse Palen recently broke her neck and had to have critical surgery in Belize City. Unfortunately, Palen does not have health insurance and her medical bills are extensive. Known throughout Ambergris Caye for delivering over 1,000 babies, Palen has spent countless days and nights assisting townspeople in need. It was time for residents of La Isla Bonita to give back. Palen and her family are very grateful for the community’s support. A barbecue and raffle are being planned in the coming weeks, to be held at the Lions Den. If you would like make a contribution to Nurse Palen, you can contact Diana Snyder 635-0270.

San Pedro Town Library hosts fun Movie Night
On Saturday, May 21st, the San Pedro Town Library (SPTL) hosted a fun, outdoor ‘Movie Night’ at the Esmeralda Park next to the library building. The feature movie of the night was “Epic”, an animated adventure comedy film that brought together families. The movie showed on the SPTL’s large inflatable screen, and a canvas was placed in front so children who brought their blankets could lie down and really enjoy the experience. The event served as a fundraiser, with snacks and drinks being sold to help raise funds for the upgrade of the library’s equipment. “We are in need of two new computers for our circulation desk, and we are also looking to purchase an external hard drive to back up the library’s information,” said Library Assistant Marlene Coral. On a long-term basis, the library is looking to secure land and building to establish another library to accommodate a larger audience. Since the current library is small, space is needed to appeal and hold more varieties of literature. “Some people come in and think the library is only for children. In reality, we do have an area for adults, but they don’t have where to sit because the library is small, so we are looking to expand,” said Coral. The SPTL is looking forward to hosting many other movie nights throughout the year.

People’s Coalition Committee formed on Ambergris Caye
On Tuesday, May 24th, San Pedro Town joined the other communities around the country as they formed respective People’s Coalition Committee (PCC) for their areas. The committee is made up of police, citizens, and members of the different business sector who are committed to come together regularly in order to discuss and solve local issues affecting their area. The PCC also takes on the responsibility to develop better police and community relations, and find ways to work in partnership. The committee comprises of six key members and six additional members who will render support to the organization and its main members. The members of the organization which are to serve for the following two years here in San Pedro are: Chairman- Carol McCann from Sotheby’s International Realty, Vice Chairman- Yolanda Parham from The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC), Public Relations- Jorge Aldana SPTCl, Treasurer- Ana Ico from The Palms, Secretary- Dion Vansen from The San Pedro Sun, and Vice Secretary -Sandy Betz-Einsberg from The Belize Red Cross, San Pedro Branch. Also present at the meeting were Mayor Daniel Guerrero and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Honourable Manuel Heredia Jr, Officer in Charge of the San Pedro Police Sub-formation Superintendent Sandra Bowden, and Deputy of the Coastal Executive Unit Henry Jemmott, who all form part of the committee as ex-officio members. Members of the PCC will not be doing actual police work. The duties of a member of the committee are to primarily identify, prevent and respond to crime issues. They are to advise the police through recommendations. Members can be helpful through designing and implementing strategies for safer streets, neighborhoods, and communities when dealing with acts of violence. “We recognize that the police cannot do it alone. Arresting people, with nothing more, will not solve these issues; thus we need groups like this in order to work together,” said Phillips.

Belize and Guatemala sign declaration of peace
On Thursday, May 19th, Presidents of the Legislative Bodies of Central America and the Caribbean Basin (FOPREL) held an urgent meeting in Managua, Nicaragua. The meeting was to discuss the ongoing Belize-Guatemala territorial dispute, and served to find a diplomatic solution for both countries. Nicaragua’s President of the National Assembly, Rene Nunez Tellez, hosted the discussion and witnessed the agreement made when Speaker of the Belize House of Representatives, Michael Peyrefitte, and President of the Congress of Guatemala, Mario Taracena, signed a declaration of peace. Representatives from other countries such as El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua attended the meeting and were mediators between Peyrefitte and Taracena. The declaration itself indicated six points, which both countries agreed to comply to. The first point is a reaffirmation by FOPREL to deepen and unite its desire for peace, freedom, democracy, development, justice and political participation of its people. The second point is a request for both countries to promote and facilitate the solution to all disagreements via dialogue and parliamentary diplomacy in accordance with due process and international agreements.

Ambergris Today

Congratulations to the graduating class of Island Academy 2016
Cody Romsa, Ethan Ancona, Lucy Verralls, Mariano Calderon, Mia Gonzalez and Natalie Winger who all received their diplomas today for completing their primary school studies at the MIA. Best wishes to the GRADS!

Blackadore Caye is Dying
According to the development and environmental teams of Blackadore Caye, the island is suffering immensely from erosion, land resource exploitation, local species degradation and deforestation and if no action is taken to stop, reverse and restore the island back to its pristine state, it will eventually disappear. The research team at Blackadore Caye has indicated all these variables affecting the island, which has already it has lost almost seven acres of land over the past couple years. The rich vegetation of the island is dying fast, along with the rich diversity of fauna that once inhabited the island. Coconut trees are suffering/dying from Lethal Yellowing disease and high levels of salinity in the soil content is preventing any other vegetation from flourishing other than high grass. Local hunting on the island has also completely rid the island of wild boars, coatimundi and deer. Before any construction of the eco-resort takes place, developers have stressed on the importance of restoring the island back to its pristine state, or at least kick start the process to ensure the island does not erode and die. This is why the project at Blackadore is being called “A Restorative Island”; developers, investors, architects and contractor are all conscious of the sensitivity of the island’s eco systems and are willing to work under practices that will ensure the protection and enhancement of Blackadore’s natural resources.

Belize Tattoo Expo
The artists are here and already making their mark. The very first International Tattoo Expo in San Pedro Belize is scheduled for (10AM-10PM) May 28th and 29th, 2016. The two day event will feature international tattoo artists from Mexico, Costa Rica, USA and of course also local artists. The artists will display their portfolios and be available for walk-in customers throughout the event and participate in a tattoo contest from 8-10PM on Sunday. Don’t Miss the Extreme Show by Victer Max at 6pm on Saturday and 5:30PM on Sunday! You can purchase your tickets at Belizean Ink or at the entrance of the Expo at Angel Nuñez Auditorium. Various DJ’s and live bands including Caribbean Kings, Almost 7 and Verge of Umbra will provide musical entertainment. Food and drinks will be sold all day on both days of the event.

Misc Belizean Sources

Sweet potato pone
1. Peel and grate sweet potatoes. Boil the coconut milk, evaporated milk and cinnamon, the ginger, butter and light brown sugar (azúcar crema). 2. To this mixture, first add the grated mass of sweet potatoes and then the lime zest. Move the mass around and stir so that it is not too sticky nor too dry. 3. Bake it in the oven in a pre-greased baking mold of your preference for 1 hour at 350°F. Notes: Remember that the azúcar crema will give it a more rustic flavor. Milk can be regular or evaporated. Be careful with the ginger because too much ginger can make it bitter. In addition to cinnamon, you can also use ground cloves (optional).

Corozal District power interruption postponed
Power interruption previously scheduled for Sunday May 29th for the entire Corozal District has been postponed until further notice.

Emergency power interruption 9:00am to 2:00pm, Friday, May 27, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Portion of North San Pedro between Journey’s End & Tranquillity Bay Resort. BEL to replace broken utility pole carrying high voltage lines, caused by traffic accident in the area.

Belize Fishing Report May 17th - May 23rd
Orvis’ Spring Bonefish Bonanza finished up early this week with some great weather and some big bonefish totals. A big thanks goes out to Jody and Jake from Orvis for hosting this event. They will be returning in June for another Bonanza ~ so call Orvis travel if you would like to join the fun.

Help Heal the Osprey's wing
We have a very special patient at BBR right now. So special that he deserved his own video and fundraising campaign! Perhaps on his first attempted flight, the fledgling dropped to the ground hitting a tree branch with his right wing, breaking it. He was rescued by a Caye Caulker local who called Belize Bird Rescue. Had she not done so, cats, possums, coatimundi would have killed him in no time. He has been X-rayed and his wing is now wrappped. But he needs to be in our care for approximately three months before release when he can be reunited his family. Note: June 15th is also double-up day for Global Giving: all contributions will be equally matched by the GG Rewards programme.

Belizeans Detained in Guatemala
The Embassy of Belize in Guatemala City received a report regarding the detention, by the Guatemalan Navy, of eight (8) persons confirmed to be Belizean nationals. The report from the Guatemalan Navy states that the persons were detained when they were found disembarking from their vessel at the Punta Manabique Beach, Dept. of Izabal, Guatemala. According to the Guatemalan Navy, seven of the eight individuals had in their possession Belizean fishing licenses, but no boat registration nor zarpe (a Guatemalan port authorization document). The Guatemalan Navy has handed the individuals to Guatemalan Immigration officials and they were transported to Guatemala City for processing.

World No Tobacco Day 2016
This year the World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing the public for plain packaging. The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2016 is “Get ready for plain packaging of tobacco products”. WHO is encouraging countries to draft legislation focused on plain packaging of tobacco products - to restrict the use of logos, colors and brand images- and use graphic health images to discourage the sale of tobacco products, limit misleading packaging, and increase the effectiveness of health warnings. World No Tobacco Day is an opportunity to focus on tobacco products and its harmful effects. The Ministry of Health invites the public to join us on Tuesday, May 31st for official ceremonies at the National Drug Abuse Control Council (NDACC) office on Amara Avenue, Belize City starting at 9:30a.m.

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS in San Pedro!
San Pedrito streets are holding pretty well after the white mall was graded and rolled. Tropical Wave Street getting its fix of white mall.

Belize Progressive Party: Concern over assertion regarding ratification of Belize-Guatemala Compromis
The Belize Progressive Party (BPP), in keeping with its commitment to remain both vigilant and current with all matters involving the most pressing threat to the nation of Belize (that being Guatemala’s existential and ever-increasing threat to our territorial integrity) takes issue with a statement made by Ambassador Stuart Leslie of the International Boundaries Commission (IBC), during the BNTU’s Educational Forum on the matter of whether Belize should go to the ICJ, held in Orange Walk Town on 24th May 2016. During the session Ambassador Leslie expressed that “the Special Agreement / Compromis has already been ratified by the Senate…” Needless to say, this came as a shock because to our knowledge no such ratification has occurred. We asked for a date of reference and he advised that we check with the National Assembly. In keeping with our commitment to ensuring that due diligence is carried out to the fullest, we contacted the National Assembly and were informed that no such effort toward ratification is on record.

Cayo Maya Sites Prevail in TA Awards
5 Belize Maya Archaeological Sites made Trip Advisor Travelers' Choice Awards for 2016, and 3 of those are in Cayo. Caracol, the most impressive Maya site around, was ranked 4th place, Xunantunich was ranked 7th, and Cahal Pech took 14th. Might be why Cayo was ranked as 7th for places to visit in Central America. Lamanai came in 8th, and Altun Ha was ranked 20th.

National Festival of Arts today
National Festival of Arts continues this morning @10am with the Preschool Showcase and @7pm with Precision & Style Dance Group's first show - 'A New Beginning'

Social Media for the Travel Industry Training held in Hopkins, 26th May 2016.
The BTIA Secretariat extends its gratitude to the BTB, Mynor Larreieu, BTIA members from Dangriga and Hopkins for attending the training session.

Channel 7

Eight Belizeans Held By Guatemalan Navy
Eight Belizean fishermen are being held by the Guatemalan Navy tonight. The Belizean Embassy in Guatemala has learned that they were arrested when they were found getting out of their vessel at the Punta Manabique Beach in Izabal, Guatemala. This is believed to have happened sometime in the last 24 hours. Now as these maps show, that is the northernmost tip of Guatemalan territory jutting out into the Amatique Bay - which is in the Gulf of Honduras. It's diagonally across from Punta Gorda and juts out north of the Sarstoon boundary. The Guatemalan Navy reports that seven of the eight had Belizean fishing licenses, but no boat registration nor "zarpe" which is a Guatemalan port authorization document. All eight are now in the hands of Guatemalan Immigration and they have been transported to Guatemala City for processing.

Who Hunted Down el Diablo In Paraiso?
Delmar Guerra, they called him "El Diablo" - "the devil" in English, and yesterday in the village of Paraiso, he was executed with uncommon precision. It was a hit, pulled off by two men on a motorbike - that's the kind of narco killing we've only heard of in Mexico, Columbia and other crime capitals. But, now, it's come to Belize and today we went north to find out more about this execution in the early evening: Jules Vasquez reporting: Delmar Guerra was shot and killed here on the main road in Paraiso village, at the home of a relative who does his laundry. It's just around the corner from his home in Chula Vista, and so he was most likely relaxed - not expecting to confront threats. That's when two men on a dirt bike pulled up and opened fire - the multiple bullet holes in the windows of the van show the intensity of the attack. A neighbour who asked to appear off camera told us what she saw:

Is UDP Deputy Race Like Way Over The Top?
Finally, on Sunday, the UDP will hold its convention to select a new first deputy leader. Now, we stress it's only first deputy - but from the way they've been campaigning you'd think that the winner would automatically become the Prime Minister, or something. And he won't - but he will probably become Deputy Prime Minister, and then party leader, and somewhere down the road, if the political fortunes align, he could be Prime Minister. But we're not there yet. Not even close. So why are John Saldivar and Patrick Faber campaigning with such unbridled intensity? And for the votes of about 300 delegates!? Yes, 300 - that's all the winner will need to become first deputy leader. All these ads to get the votes of 300 UDP's!? Today we asked aspirant Faber if they are going over the top:.. Daniel Ortiz: "Are you ready for what supposed to come?" Hon. Patrick Faber, Aspirant - UDP 1st Deputy: "Ready. I've done all that I can do. I will continue working of course right up until the last ballot is put in that box on Sunday. But I am very confident of a win and that is because I have done the ground work that is necessary. I have been in the homes of the delegates, I have met with the groups, I have communicated my message as I vie for this position of first deputy leader of the party. I tell people that for me, while it is that the position of deputy prime minister may come, the people already know my record of working as a government minister. They know my work in that regard, but I also have a serious passion for the organization of the party."

Chester's Alleged Shooter To Court
For over two weeks now we have been reporting on the status of 19 year old Zachary Knox. He's the one being accused of opening fire on ACP Chester Williams during a high-speed chase. And he's also the one who appeared in the hospital right after that, the victim of a mysterious and merciless beatdown. Well today he was well enough to go to court, and his charges were made official when he appeared before Magistrate Carlon Mendoza, and read one count of aggravated assault, for shooting at ACP Williams, and one count of deadly means of harm. The second charge was in relation to the shooting on Euphrates Avenue, which led to the chase. Three others were charged for that same incident a couple weeks ago: they are Larry Wright, Devon Sankey and Justin Hyde. Knox now joins them on remand.

Driver Falls Out Of Truck, Crushed To Death Under His Own Wheels
A man was crushed under his own truck in a freak accident. It happened this morning after 5:00 between Miles 13 and 14 on the Phillip Goldson Highway. 31 year old Ernest Garcia was northbound to Orange Walk when he lost control of his pickup, tumbled out the door and was raked along on the highway as the vehicle rolled along. Today at a press conference, police explained what led to Garcia's death. Ernest Garcia was well known for selling the freshest roadside coconut water. Almost every day, he would park his truck filled with coconuts along the Phillip Goldson Highway near Belama. But today instead of being parked at that favorite spot. It's in the Ladyvillle Police Station's parking lot under inspection. That's after Garcia fell out of his truck while driving on the highway and got pinned and dragged under it. It's a bizarre accident and one police believe was caused by drunk driving and a damaged door.

Flipping Them Wheels And Living To Tell About it, Eventually
While police look into those samples, they also have to review the statements from another accident victim. Around 1:00 this morning, BDF officer Victor Aldana was driving a GEO Tracker to Cayo when he fell asleep near Mile 19 1/2 on the George Price Highway. The vehicle veered off the road and flipped. Luckily, Aldana survived. But instead of immediately calling the police, he ran off and left it there. It's only until later this morning that Aldana showed up at the Hattieville police station to report the accident. Here's what police had to say this morning just as Aldana arrived at the station. ACP Edward Broaster - OC, Easter Division Rural "We had a second accident on the George Price Highway where a dark grey Prizm flipped several times and landed on the shoulder of the road. The driver and occupants of that vehicle abandoned the scene. But we just learnt that he is at the Hattieville Police Station making a report as regard to that accident."

Texting, Also A Driver Safety Issue
So, all told, there have been at least 7 traffic accidents this week on the Phillip Goldson and George Price Highways within the Belize District. Police say they have been doing their part to set up patrols and check points along the highway but there's only so much they can do. Today Assistant Commissioner Broaster explained that apart from drinking and driving, a lot of the accidents now are caused by texting and driving. ACP Edward Broaster - OC, Easter Division Rural: "Our drivers tend to be distracted whilst driving on our roadways and one of the main factor for that is the use of cell phones whilst driving and we have to put some legislation in place to ban the use of cell phones whilst operating a vehicle. We have put highway patrol in place and we haven't have accident for a long while until after we had a meeting when Mr. Cocom mentioned that we haven't had an accident for a long time and the next day we had 7 in a row. Information is a demanding things, is an interesting thing and apparently some people just can't wait until they reach their destination to learn what that information is about. Hence the reason they take risk and look at their cell phones or read text what have you and put themselves in danger and other people lives in danger that are using our roadways."

Weed Smoke Wafts Above O'Walk
Back in the late 90's and early two - thousands when there were huge drug busts - like tonnes of cocaine - destroying all that would take a whole day at the furnace - in fact, (true story), one time the police just took a few hundred pounds of cocaine bricks, cut them open and dumped it all in the sea! But, those mega busts just don't come along anymore - and who knows why...but we do know that the cops have to wait a few years before accumulating enough drugs for a good day at the furnace. Today was one of those days when the national exhibit keeper at the Queen Street station got a few hundred pounds of weed ready for the fire. 7News was there in Orange Walk when it al went up in smoke:... Jules Vasquez reporting: This morning, a thick plume of marijuana smoke streamed out across the skies over Orange Walk Town. At this height, probably only birds could get a high from the second hand smoke, but at the furnace, we were feeling the heat first hand.

Two Horses Perish In Bush Fire
And while that was a controlled fire, another that killed two horses, was not; in fact, it was a wildfire. Hattieville police report that a bush fire spread to a barn where it killed two horses. The area had been experiencing wildfires - and while the fire department did respond it was too late for the horses. Police say they do not know who owned the barn or the horses, and will go back into the neighborhood to get more information. Police were initially investigating the incident as a possible arson and cruelty to animals, but now they believe that it was all caused by a nearby forest fire, that due to all the dried grass in the area, traveled quickly and smothered the small barn.

Rasberry Pi Brigade
Back in August, we showed you the ambitious undertaking from the Public Utilities Commission. They spent just over a half a million dollars to acquire Raspberry Pi computers, which they distributed for free to high schools all across the country. These miniature computers are the perfect teaching tools to enable students to improvise, innovate, and invent. They can easily dismantle the entire device, and freely reconfigure them. So, the PUC handed the computers out to the IT teachers in the 6 districts, and trained them on how they work. The kids ran with it from there and today, the PUC hosted its first Raspberry Pi Jam, to see what the schools had come up with. Daniel Ortiz got a chance to see the creations for himself. Here's his report:

US Conservationists Make Case Against Conch
A legal battle in the US is threatening the foreign exchange earnings of Caribbean nations, including Belize. That's because a group of conservationists from the United States are suing their government for its 2014 decision to not list the queen conch as threatened or endangered. Last week the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) attended the 7th Annual Meeting of the CARICOM-US Trade and Investment Council, where one of the key topics was this threat of litigation. The Executive Director for the CRFM Secretariat, whose offices are located in Belize, attended that meeting. Today we spoke to him regarding this situation. He explained to us why this is of such major concern for the Caribbean region. Milton O. Huaghton, Exec. Dir., CRFM Secretariat: "Our countries together, we are currently exporting queen conch to the United States, that's the main export market. We and some of our countries also export to the European Union. It is a very important market - United States market for us and we really would not like to have this market opportunity closed and the trade in queen conch disrupted. For that to happen, there would be repercussions down the line.

Friday Festival
And that's the news on this Friday night - we leave you with more highlites of the Primary School Festival of the Arts Districts Showcase. Tonight's clips are from Orange Walk and Belize City youth performers.

Channel 5

GAF Stops Local Media from Traversing the Sarstoon River
Tonight, the uncertainty surrounding that volatile zone known as the Sarstoon is alive and well after Guatemalan Armed Forces denied a News Five team passage down the river this morning, [...]

PM Responds to Guatemala’s Restriction of Access to the Sarstoon
Even as our team headed back to Belize City, deterred from entering the Sarstoon but having made the point that Guatemala isn’t playing on the same checkerboard, Prime Minister Dean [...]

PM Says There’s a Clear, Unwritten Understanding Between Belize & Guatemala
A release issued by government on Tuesday, announcing the revocation of the Sarstoon Prohibition SI, stated that, “While the formal mechanism is being worked on, the two sides have informally [...]

Will Government Reinstitute Sarstoon Law?
So with Belizean civilians still not able to enter the Sarstoon, what happens next? Will government perhaps seek to reinstitute the Sarstoon Law?   On the Phone: Prime Minister Dean [...]

What About the B.D.F.; Will They Still be Chased Up the River?
It’s clear what the real protocol is at the Sarstoon where civilians are concerned. Belizeans can’t go there. But what about the B.D.F.? We all saw footage of the Guatemalan [...]

Belizeans Fishermen Arrested in Guatemala for Illegal Entry
There is another developing story. It is well-known that Guatemalan nationals illegally enter Belizean territory for illegal activities. Most recently when the Sarstoon law applied, their fishermen routinely traversed into [...]

Murder in Paradise, El Diablo is Executed in a Hail of Gunfire
The fourth murder for the Corozal District for this year took place on Thursday evening in the village of Paraiso. Thirty-seven year old Delmar Guerra was trailed and executed by [...]

Oswald Garcia Perishes in Road Traffic Accident
There was a fatal road traffic accident early this morning, involving a pickup truck traveling along the George Price Highway.  Thirty-one-year-old Oswald Garcia was violently flung from his vehicle between [...]

Sleepy B.D.F. Soldier Escapes Traffic Mishap Unscathed
A second traffic mishap also occurred in the early hours after midnight, this time involving a Geo Prism traveling along the George Price Highway.  Victor Aldana, a Belize Defense Force [...]

Patrick Faber Says His Victory is Certain
With less than seventy-two hours to go before over three hundred delegates of the United Democratic Party cast ballots to determine a new first deputy leader, campaigns on either side [...]

Faber Says He’s Laying the Groundwork for Transition in 2020
The campaign between Faber and his opponent John Saldivar has been rather intense with blows coming from both sides. Inside the Faber camp, it is believed that he will win [...]

Bob Bandfield Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering in the U.S.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that US businessman, Robert Bandfield, has pleaded guilty to helping stock manipulators launder two hundred and fifty million dollars through Belize. The seventy-one year [...]

Zachary Knox is Finally Charged for Shooting at Chester Williams
After being released from the K.H.M.H., nineteen year Zachary Knox is tonight on remand at the Belize Central Prison. “Yankee,” as he is popularly known, claims he was badly beaten [...]

Businesswoman Sandra Sol Dragged to Court for Failure to Pay GST
A businesswoman from the downtown plaza in Belize City was taken to court today by the GST Department on two charges for failing to issue receipts and failing to utilize [...]

A Training Workshop for Lawyers and Medical Practitioners on Mental Health
The bar and the judiciary, along with representatives of the Ministry of Health, gathered today at the Radisson for a training workshop on persons with mental health disorders and the [...]

Bar Association on Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System
Co-executive Director Pervais Jabbar, of the Death Penalty Project, reiterates that the knowledge generated from today’s discussions can be useful if applied to individual cases involving persons with mental health [...]

Raspberry Pi for High School Innovators
High schools from across the country converged on Belize City today where students participated in a competition geared towards young innovators.  The goal is to use a miniature computer platform [...]

The National Festival of Arts Showcase
For two weeks, the National Festival of Arts will feature creative arts performances in drama, song, music and dance from preschoolers, primary school children, secondary students and even teachers. It [...]

"You are in national waters. You need to leave now" - Guatemalan Military to News 5 team in the Sarstoon River on May 27, 2016
On Tuesday, the Government of Belize announced that the Sarstoon is once again open to Belizeans. This was one outcome of the Istanbul Talks. This morning our News 5 reporter, Mike Rudon, & cameraman, Darrel Moguel, attempted to travel into the controversial river. Within minutes of entering the river their vessel was intercepted by the Guatemalan Armed Forces.

LOVE FM

Belizeans Detained in Guatemala
Eight men confirmed to be Belizean fishermen were detained by the Guatemalan Navy and handed over to the Guatemalan Immigration officials and taken to Guatemala City for processing.Reports are that the men were detained when they were found disembarking their vessel at the Punta Manabique Beach in the Department of Izabal , Guatemala. Of the […]

Countdown for the Deputy Seat in UDP
The United Democratic Party will be holding a convention on Sunday to elect the party’s first deputy party leader. The post was left vacant after Orange Walk North area representative and Deputy Prime Minister, Gaspar Vega, resigned from the post. As has been reported, the two men vying to fill the position, are Minister of […]

Turkey Commits Funds to the OAS Peace Fund for Belize and Guatemala
The Organization of American States has been at the centre of the negotiations between Belize and Guatemala but of recent, there were serious concerns that the OAS may have to pull out as their funding was on the verge of being depleted. In an effort to keep them in office at the adjacency zone, both […]

PUC Hosts Expo of Innovations and Technology
The Raspberry PI Jam, is an exposition highlighting the innovations from more than thirty High schools across the country. The event is being hosted by the Public Utilities Commission that has invested approximately half a million dollars for students to bring their innovations to life. Minister of Education Patrick Faber and Consultant for the Public […]

Two Horses Perish in Bush Fire
Bush fires are common in the dry season which we are currently facing in Belize. Today, however was an extremely busy day for the firemen in the Belize District as there were several threats to homes and properties due to bush fires. While there was no loss of life or home, there was the loss […]

Central Bank and Union Sign Collective Agreement; Others Remain Pending
The Christian Workers Union has been busy in recent negotiations as just yesterday they signed onto two separate Collective Bargaining Agreements in Belize City. We have told you of the CBA signed onto with the Belize Port Authority whereby the union and non-union staff members of the Belize Port Authority will be getting salary increases […]

Union President Speaks on Severance and Pension
The Christian Workers Union has a mandate to fight for its union members and to ensure that their employers follow the labour laws of Belize when it comes to salaries, benefits and the likes. With the recent signing of two Collective Bargaining Agreements with Central Bank of Belize and the Belize Port Authority, CWU’s President, […]

How the Belize Port Authority Operates
The Belize Port Authority is a Statutory Body established in July 1980 and falling Under the Ministry of Works and Transport. It is overseen by a board of Directors with a Chairman that represents the Minister as well as two ex-officio members being the Financial Secretary and the Chief Executive Officers and Seven other members nominated by […]

PlusTV

Orange Walk woman perishes in traffic accident
There was a fatal traffic accident in Orange Walk on Wednesday evening. It happened sometime around 4:30 p.m. on the San Felipe and involved a KIA Sportage vehicle. According to police reports, 55 year old Elba Gongora , a saleswoman of Orange Walk Town, was driving the vehicle and along with her at...

Truck carrying cement flips near Iguana Creek Bridge
There was a second traffic accident; this one happened this morning at the Iguana Creek Bridge going to Spanish Lookout. A truck was heading towards Spanish Lookout loaded with Cement and just before the truck reached the Iguana Creek bridge, the driver lost control on the curve and flipped. Fortuna...

Vehicle skids off highway due to fresh chip seal
A third accident occurred today on the Humming Bird highway in Armenia village. We don’t have much details except that it happened around 1:30 this afternoon and involved a 4 door gray Hilux pickup which was travelling on that portion of the highway which is under rehabilitation. While traveling on...

Guatemalan Car Thieves Busted in Melchor
A Toyota Coralla car was stolen in Cayo and police suspected a Guatemalan was the culprit. Belize police contacted their Guatemalan counterparts who captured 19 year old Brayan Gabriel Hoil Rose, the person alleged to have stolen the vehicle. Rose was found with the car in Melchor at 5:20 p.m. on We...

Cenaida’s Restaurant in Cayo destroyed by fire
Cayo police are investigating a fire which occurred in San Ignacio on Wednesday night. According to reports, Cenaida’s Restaurant was completely destroyed as a result of the blaze. The restaurant was located on West Street in San Ignacio Town, The cause of the fire remains under investigation and th...

Retired BDF Colonel speaks on Guatemalan incursion in Sarstoon
Retired Colonel of the BDF, Javier Castellanos, appeared on PlusTV’s Rise and Shine morning show to share his observations on the recent Guatemalan incursions on the Sarstoon. Castellanos has served in various capacities in Belize and Guatemala as Deputy Commander of the BDF and Military Attac...

Collective Bargaining Agreement Signed by CWU and Port of Belize
It began with much back and forth over several years, strikes, and hard talk, but negotiations took a peaceful and cordial course and now a new Collective Agreement has finally been signed between the Belize Port Authority (BPA) and the Christian Workers Union (CWU). That signing took place at the...

CBB & CWU sign new Collective Agreement
Christian Workers Union had another signing today, this one with the Central Bank of Belize. CWU President Audrey Matura-Shepherd said, “Our Members at the Central Bank of Belize (CBB) are relieved that we have today signed this successor Collective Agreement (CA) between the Bank and the Christian...

Police link firearm to recent incidents; search for minor arsonist
There is news from Ladyville Police tonight. We start with a firearm found when the late Lionel Rhamdas and others ambushed a group of men at the Lozano residence on Marage Road in Ladyville two weeks ago this Saturday. Officer Commanding Eastern Division Rural, ACP Edward Broaster now says that fir...

Teenagers, 20 and 19, pleaded guilty to wounding 64 year old man
Senior citizen and fisherman 64 year old Lester Hernandez was allegedly caught taking public relief at the BTL Park on Newtown Barracks this past Sunday. He received a beating for his trouble and today two teenagers were made to pay fines for taking the law into their own hands. 20 year old Justin ...

Zachary Knox moves from police custody to critical at KHMH
19 year old Zachary Knox the young man that allegedly fired shots at Eastern Division South Commander, ACP Chester Williams on May 12, is reportedly admitted to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) in critical condition. Knox has been charged with ACP Chester William’s attempted murder but he...

Another police officer attempted suicide
Yesterday, we told you about the shocking suicide of a police officer who took his life with a loaded gun on the steps of a Belize City police precinct. However, according to reports, another police officer had attempted to take his life even before PC Edward Gonzalez did on Wednesday morning. On ...

BPP expresses concern over Ambassador’s statements
Today the Belize Progressive Party – BPP, issued a Press release regarding statements they claimed were made by one Government representative at the first Teachers ICJ Educational Forum held in Orange Walk on May 24th. The BPP, which also has a seat at the head table, say they take issue with ...

IMF Says Belize ‘economy is slowing and fiscal and external vulnerabilities are rising
The International Monetary Fund Staff has release preliminary findings after their visit to Belize from May 11-25, 2016. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) team was led by Jacques Bouhga-Hagbe , and at conclusion of the visit, Mr. Bouhga-Hagbe issued a statement in which he says in part that &...

The Reporter

Guatemalan Navy detains eight Belizeans
The Government of Belize confirmed late Friday evening that the Guatemalan Navy has detained eight Belizean fishermen. The information, disseminated by the government’s Press Office, indicates the Belizeans, seven of whom possessed Belizean fishermen’s licenses, were detained “when they were found disembarking from their vessel at the Punta Manabique Beach, Dept. of Izabal, Guatemala,” the release states. The Guatemalan Navy has indicated, the release states, that none of the men had a boat registration (a Guatemalan port authorization document). The Guatemalan Navy has handed the men to Guatemalan Immigration officials and they were transported to Guatemala City for processing, the information continues. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Belize Embassy staff in Guatemala have been in communication with the individuals to confirm they are in good health.

Coconut harvester dies in road accident
Ernest Garcia, 32, a coconut harvester died while driving his vehicle on the Philip Goldson highway. The incident happened sometime after 1:00 a.m. on Friday between miles 12 and 13, while Garcia was heading from the direction of Belize City towards Orange Walk. Police say […]

Oceana holds “Hands Across the Sand”
Oceana hosted its annual “Hands Across the Sand” protest against offshor oil drilling in Belize this past Saturday and saw participation from 13 municipalities across the country. Belizeans from around the country joined hands along the shores of water bodies and public areas on Saturday to stand against offshore oil […]

A Successful Walk for A Green Belize 2016
The Department of the Environment (DOE), in collaboration with the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority (BSWMA) and the Belize Audubon Society (BAS), hosted its annual “Walk For A Green Belize” cleanup campaign last Saturday. The event covered approximately 77 miles of the George Price highway. Both sides of the road […]

Taiwan’s new female President inaugurated – Belize celebrates
The government and people of Belize joined their friends of the Republic of China on Taiwan in celebrating the inauguration of their first woman President, Tsai Ing-wen, of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Friday, May 20. While Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega and Foreign Minster Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington represented […]

Taiwanese experts: Taiwan needs to strenghten diplomatic ties with allies, including Belize
In her inaugural speech last week, Taiwanese President, Tsai Ing-wen promised to keep peaceful dialogue with mainland China, which has intensified its threats over claims to the island. But members of the Taiwan Brain Trust, a panel of eight professors in areas of politics, economics, […]

Deforestation shrinks Jaguars’ habitat
The jaguar, iconic symbol of the Belize tourism industry, is under threat from farmers shooting them to protect livestock; as agricultural land-clearing has reduced the jaguars’ hunting grounds and pushed them closer to farms raising cattle and sheep. Yamira Novelo of the University of Belize’s Environmental Research Institute (UB-ERI) sounded […]

Venezuela tells Caribbean to watch out for surge of refugees
Authorities in Venezuela are asking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries to be prepared for a surge of refugees as the the socioeconomic situation in the country worsens. Ramón Muchacho, Mayor of of Chacao in Venezuela’s capital city, Caracas, explained that as food shortages persist, people are leaving the […]

Prevention is key to fighting chronic diseases
“A good health information system to help in the tracking and management of patients is key to the prevention of chronic diseases,” expalined Hung-Tsu “Cathy” Wang. She is Director of the Humanitarian Assistance Department of Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF). The remarks came […]

Former Minister Elijio Joe Briceño laid to rest
Former Minister of Government Elijio Joe Briceño, was laid to res at the Piemonte cemetery in Orange Walk Town following an official funeral ceremony at the la Inmaculada Church on Wednesday afternoon, May 25. Prime Minister Dean Barrow and his wife, Special Envoy for Women […]

Editorial

The late Franklin D. Roosevelt in his first inaugural address (1933) told the American people,”The only thing we have to fear - is fear itself - debilitating, unjustified terror which paralyses needed effort to convert retreat into advance.” That declaration by one of America’s greatest presidents has inspired millions of […]

Suicide and suicide attempt baffle police
The Belize Police Department has more questions than answers this week, after one officer committed suicide in front of the Queen Street Police Station and another is hospitalized recovering from a suicide attempt. The Divisional Commanders of the Eastern Division of the department, explained on […]

IMF mission predicts dark days ahead for Belize
Belize is on its way to difficult financial days involving heavier deficits and slower economic growth, according to an end¬-of-mission report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). An IMF team led by Jacques Bouhga¬Hagbe visited Belize for an economic assessment known as an Article IV […]

Belize volleyball men win Gold at 2016 Copa Cancun
The Belize National Men’s Volleyball Team on the Copa Cancun Tournament for the first time ever, eliminated Mexican favorites “Ejercito” in two sets in the championship finals at the Kuchil Baxal Gymnasium in Cancun on Sunday, 22. The Belize men won the first set 25-23 […]

Second confirmed Zika virus case in Belize is a pregnant woman
The Ministry of Health this week confirmed a second case of the Zika virus in the country, in a pregnant woman from Cotton Tree Village in the Cayo district. The Ministry said that it received confirmation of the Zika infection from the Caribbean Public Health […]

BDF soldier escapes death when vehicle careens off highway
Victor Aldana, a Belize Defence Force (BDF) soldier narrowly escaped death when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving early Friday morning on the George Price highway. Aldana told police he had just left the BDF camp at Price Barracks, Ladyville, and was […]

Breaking Belize News

Belizean fishermen held in Guatemala
The Government of Belize has confirmed the ongoing detention of eight fishermen in Guatemala City. The Guatemalan Navy states that the persons were detained when they were found disembarking from their vessel at the Punta Manabique Beach, Department of Izabal, Guatemala. According to the […]

Zachary Knox finally arraigned; Family plans to speak out about alleged police abuse
19 year old Zachary Knox, a resident of Rio Grande Crescent who allegedly fired shots at Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, was charged with aggravated assault and use of deadly means of harm when he appeared today before Magistrate Carlon Mendoza. The charge […]

Reporters stopped at Sarstoon
News 5‘s Mike Rudon and cameraman Darrell Moguel report that this morning, as they attempted to travel into the Sarstoon River, their vessel was intercepted by the Guatemalan Armed Forces. On Tuesday of this week, the Government of Belize lifted the Sarstoon Regulations Order, […]

Mainly warm conditions to prevail
The National Meteorological Service of Belize is predicting mostly sunny skies today and partly cloudy skies tonight. Showers, if any, will be isolated. Winds will be blowing from the East at 5-15 knots and the sea state will be choppy. High temperatures today are […]

Blogs

Local Female Entrepreneur Rocks San Pedro, Belize with Her Delicious Paletas
26 year old Regina Sansores, born and raised on Ambergris Caye and mother of two, came up with a fantastic idea (with the help of her husband) and is putting her heart, soul and time into it. Her home refrigerator and freezer have only paletas and paleta ingredients in them. Really. In just about a year, she has grown her unique business, Las Paletas by Regina, into a mini empire. And as another female, a business person, someone who lives across the street from Regina, lover of this island and all things delicious, I could not be prouder. I’ll back up for just one moment if you are not familiar with paletas. They are not merely popsicles but fresh fruit (Juice and chunk) and sometimes cream frozen on a stick. They are absolutely fantastically delicious and certain flavors appear during the year – like now you can eat MANGO! – when the fruits are in season. They are extremely popular throughout Mexico and Central America.

International Sources

Cayman Islands residents given assurances as GM mosquitoes set to be released
GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, Thursday May 26, 2016 – Millions of genetically engineered mosquitoes are due to be released next month in the fight against the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the Zika, Dengue Fever and Chikungunya viruses. The project is being rollout out in West Bay, where officials say up to 200,000 of the genetically engineered insects could be released three times a week to breed with regular females. “The essence of this technique is the use of effectively sterile male mosquitoes, which are released in the environment then mate with the wild female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are already out there. The progeny of those female mosquitoes then do not complete development, they all die, so they do not reach maturity,” Bill Petrie, Director of the Mosquito Research and Control Unit told residents at a meeting. British company Oxitec has sought to allay fears of health risks and damage to the environment, with its Product Development Manager Derek Nimmo stating that all traces of the bio-engineered insects disappeared within weeks after trials.

Videos

May 27, 2016

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Blackadore Caye Development updates media on development plans
Blackadore Caye, a private island located west of Ambergris Caye, is about to go through a major restoration process under the expertise of a development team. The first public consultation held on January 14th regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the development of the island did not sit well with locals. Thus, the Blackadore Caye Development team invited the local media corp for a visit to the island on Thursday, May 26th for an onsite tour and informative session on the development. The group is comprised of local and international professionals, and is in the process of completing consultations prior to completing their second EIA, which will be then presented at a public consultation on Ambergris Caye.

Team Caribeña Enterprises wins Inter-office 6-A-Side Marathon
The San Pedro Sports Committee held an Inter-office 6-A-Side football marathon from Friday, May 20th through Sunday, May 22nd at the Honourable Louis Sylvester Sporting Complex. A total of 20 teams registered with players from different businesses around the island. The games took place every night at 7PM, and after each night of tight games a number of teams were eliminated. After two days of heated matches, Team Caribeña Enterprises walked away with the victory, after defeating the Team Rain Restaurant with a final score of 3-1. The marathon was a warm up for the upcoming Inter-office 6-A-Side football tournament that will officially open on Friday, May 27th. Games start at 7PM sharp at the Honourable Louis Sylvester Sporting Complex.

Another sailing win for SPR’s Kevin Velasquez
San Pedro Racers’ Kevin Velasquez has taken the first place title in yet another national ranking regatta in the 2016 sailing season. Velasquez earned his second big win of 2016 during the 4th Annual Placencia Sailing Regatta on Saturday, May 21st and Sunday, May 22nd. With 17 registered sailors from across the country, the Placencia Sailing Regatta was an exciting one, testing Belize’s young sailors’ skills in maneuvering her waters. With the regatta being one of five races that determines which sailors will participate in the National Champions Regatta (BIZ16) at the end of the sailing season, all top sailing clubs entered participants. Participating clubs included the Belize Sea Scouts (BSS), Corozal Bay Sailing Club (CBSC), Placencia Sailing Club (PSC), San Pedro Racers (SPR) and the San Pedro Sailing Club (SPSC).

Inspiration Center to host its biggest fundraiser yet
2The Inspiration Center (IC), an outpatient rehabilitation center in Belize City that aids children with disabilities, will be hosting its biggest fundraiser on Saturday, June 18th at Mahogany Bay Village from 7PM to 11PM. This charity event serves to help sustain the services that the IC provides. Tickets are $150 BZ and may be purchased at El Fogon, Ramon’s Village, and Rum & Bean. The dress code is (WHITE) island casual attire. A buffet dinner will be served, and Rock and Roll band The Tequilla Shooters, will perform live music. All proceeds benefit the Inspiration Center.

11th Annual Reef Week ends with a bang!
The 11th Annual Northern Reef Week culminated on Sunday, May 22nd with a series of activities that included the annual Reef Triathlon. Island athletes of all ages converged at the Boca Del Rio Park for an intense morning of swimming, and running. Organized by San Pedro Town Council Sports Coordinator Kent “Bob” Gabourel and Mariela Archer of Hol Chan Marine Reserve, the triathlon was divided into three categories: juniors, female and seniors. At the end of the competition, there was a tie and the competitors, Jordan Santos, Brandon Santos, and Eric Donis were willing to share the prize. The junior category saw boys under the age of 12 taking on the arduous competition. The young athletes swam about 20 yards in the Boca Del Rio channel, then ran all the way to Wet Willy’s Dock and back to Boca Del Rio Park. Taking first place was McLeish Lambey. In a close second was Adrian Cobo, while Kyle Jacobs finished off in third. In the female category, sisters Amy Requeña and Karina Requeña swam two laps from the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge to the mouth of Boca Del Rio. They then ran one lap from Boca Del Rio Park to Wet Willy’s Dock and back. Amy came in first place, followed by her sister Karina. There were the only participants in the female division.

Blackadore Caye Development team
On Thursday, May 26th, the Blackadore Caye Development team invited the media corp for a visit to the island. As part of the visit, a presentation was given on the current status of the development of the island, including an update on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as well as the concept for Blackadore Caye - A Restorative Island Resort.

Dr. Boumerhi and his family give back to San Pedro
During the month of April, Dr. Pierre Boumerhi from Pennsylvania, USA spearheaded a team of dentists who for one week, from Monday, April 18th through Friday, April 22nd, provided free dental services at the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II. Besides providing their valuable service, the group also donated a large quantity of dental supplies and equipment to the Polyclinic. During his time as a volunteer, Dr. Boumerhi was captivated by the charm of La Isla Bonita and on Wednesday, May, 18th he returned to Ambergris Caye for a short vacation with his family, and taking advantage of their getaway, brought boxes full of donations for the island. The donations included clothing, footwear and even sporting supplies such as footballs for the island’s young football players. Welcoming them to the island was Laurie Norton from the Belize Red Cross San Pedro Branch. She assisted them with the initial donation process during their first days in San Pedro. After getting familiar with the town, they took it upon themselves to distribute some of the items during the football games at the Louis Sylvester Sporting Complex, while the rest of the donations went to the San Pedro Food Bank.

SPHC presents the History of the Fishing Industry in San Pedro
The San Pedro House of Culture (SPHC) has launched a new exhibit showcasing the history of the fishing industry in San Pedro. The exhibition, which hallmarks the founding industry for the island, was revealed on Thursday, May 19th as part of Hol Chan Marine Reserve’s Reef Fair. Among the old photographs of local fishermen and fishing equipment artifacts, the SPHC highlighted the various types of fishing methods used, and how it benefited the community throughout the years. Some photos even date back as far as 75 years ago when Ambergris Caye was nothing more than an island inhabited by approximately two families. Reef Week House of Culture Exhibit-4One of the key purposes of the exhibit is to show the community and visitors how San Pedro fishermen went from net fishing, spear fishing, and other sustainable fishing methods used today. The SPHC invites the community to visit the exhibition and see the many generations of fisher folk in San Pedro. The House of Culture is located on Angel Coral Street and is open Mondays to Fridays from 9AM to 5PM.

Ambergris Today

Ministry of Health Confirms Second Zika Case in Pregnant Woman
A press release from Belize’s Ministry of Health states that it has received another confirmed case of Zika in the country by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). The case is being closely monitored by the Ministry of Health staff as the patient is a pregnant woman. This patient is from the Cayo District. The case was picked up through the heightened and strengthened vector borne disease and vaccine preventable disease surveillance, which now includes the monitoring of Zika, currently underway across the country.

Belize/Guatemala Ministers Commit to Peace and Good Faith on Bilateral Agenda
On the occasion of the World Humanitarian Summit held by the United Nations Secretary General, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Belize and Guatemala, Hon. Wilfred Elrington and Mr. Carlos Raúl Morales, and in the presence of Magdalena Talamas, Representative of the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), held a working meeting in the City of Istanbul, Turkey on the 23 and 24 May 2016, and discussed several issues under their bilateral agenda.

Misc Belizean Sources

Renal Failure Prevention Project
Minister of Health, Hon. Pablo Marin hosting first meeting today with Taiwanese delegation on "Renal Failure Prevention Project" at the Ministry of Health offices in Belmopan.

Walk for a Green Belize 2016
In commemoration of World Environment Day 2016, the Department of the Environment (DOE), the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority (BSWaMA) and the Belize Audubon Society (BAS) conducted the “Walk for a Green Belize” 2016. This event was held on Saturday, May 21st, 2016 and involved cleaning both sides of the George Price Highway from Belize City to Benque Viejo del Carmen. An estimated 785 (33 to 55 gallon-sized) bags of garbage were collected yielding a weight of approximately 9,806.56 pounds of garbage! The Walk For A Green Belize clean-up activity was conducted by several organizations, students, activists, both government and non-government agencies, and the general public. The Secretariat for the “Walk for a Green Belize” initiative extends heartfelt gratitude to all the participants and sponsors of the event and we look forward to your support and participation in the “Walk for a Green Belize” 2017.

EDUCATION MONTH: SCHOOL VISITS 2016
Education is definitely the key to success, and as a part of Education Month, Mayor Daniel Guerrero, Councilor Ruben Gonzalez, and members from the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) visited the San Pedro High School, Holy Cross Anglican School, Ambergris Caye Elementary School, Isla Bonita Elementary School, New Horizon Seventh-day Adventist School, and the San Pedro Roman Catholic School. The initial purpose for the Mayor’s visit was to emphasize the importance of education and to assist schools in renovating, improving, or aiding all schools visited.

Gemini Fete
THIS Saturday CAYE CAULKER: DJH6 N HARLEMYOUTHS. Get your ticket, Rent a boat, FLY* Maya Island Air/ Tropic Air. Don't swim..

Mother's Day Extravaganza 2016
The SISE Town Council had a great Mother's Day Extravaganza, and they gave away loads of prizes to many of the moms that attended. They had live music and entertainment for the special event, which was held at the Cayo Welcome Center. Thanks, SISE Town Council!

Cayo Art Collection 2016
The SISE House of Culture is calling all Cayo artisans to submit are for the 2016 Cayo Art Collection, which will launch on the 28th of July. "The Cayo Art Collection 2016 is coming up in July, giving Artists an opportunity to Exhibit/showcase their Art Work. For more information or to register, please contact SISE House of Culture (NICH)."

Documenting the flora and fauna of the Chiquibul Forest
Video/film producers contracted by the Selva Maya Programme prepare to document the flora and fauna of the Chiquibul Forest from the Tower at Las Cuevas Research Station. According to Dr. Jennie Garcia-Saqui the video will intend to capture the importance of the Maya Forest.

Rotary Orthopedic Clinic
The Rotary Club of Belmopan is doing their annual Orthopedic Clinics, and they'll be in Cayo on Monday, June 20th, at La Loma Luz in the morning, and at the Western Regional Hospital in the evening. Thanks, Rotary! "The Rotary Club of Belmopan, in collaboration with the Illinois Rotary District 6510 and WPP, announces its annual Orthopedic Clinic, for the Belize Children's Program, with Orthopedic Surgeon from St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Coles L'Hommedieu. We see children (up to age 18) who are in need of orthopedic care suffering from neck, spine, shoulder, arm, elbow, hand, hip, leg, knee, foot and other types of bone problems and abnormalities"

Cayo Honey Day 2016
The Cayo Quality Honey Producers Cooperative is having their Honey Day on Saturday at the Cayo Welcome Center. It goes from 9:00am to 3:00pm, and there will be samples, educational displays, games, and cooking demonstrations. The Beekeeping Forum is Friday, May 27th.

Belize Security Forces Commonwealth Sovereignty Parade
This Monday, the US Embassy Security Cooperation Office and the Military Liaison Office attended the Belize Security Forces Commonwealth Sovereignty Parade at the MCC park. The parade had members of the Belize Defence Force, Belize Police Officers and Agents, Belize Coast Guard, Belize Defence Force Band, ROTC, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to name a few.

Channel 7

Notorious "El Diablo" Executed in Paraiso
A man was shot and killed on the main road in Paraiso village in the Corozal district this evening. It happened around 5:00 pm, and according to unofficial reports, the victim is 44 year old Delmar Javier Guerra, better known as El Diablo, a notorious figure from San Joaquin. Reports from Paraiso say that Guerra was driving a white minivan when he pulled up at a home in the village where he regularly washes his clothes. But before he could get out of the van, two men pulled up on a motorcycle and shot him. Residents report hearing as many as 10 shots - on the scene police put down 9 markers. The shooters sped off, and when residents came out to see what was the commotion they saw the bullet riddled van - we saw 5 bullet holes in the windshield. They opened it, and Guerra was still alive inside while his revolver fell out of the van - he may have pulled that weapon to try and defend himself. Residents in the area tried to rush him to the hospital but he died on the way.

Behind The Blackadore Curtain
We first reported on Blackadore Caye in 2005. That's when reports were that Hollywood Mega star Leonardo Di Caprio had bought the 104 acre private island off the coast of Ambergris Caye. In the 11 years intervening, much has been said about Blackadore, but little done - and today the Caye remains undeveloped, like a pregnant promise that just never delivered. And why is that? Well the media was invited out to the caye today to find out why Blackadore is a beautiful and odd mystery:... Looking at Blackadore Caye from it's coast line, a fly over of its land mass, or from its malformed beaches, you might be tempted to view it as just another island paradise waiting to be developed into a pricey tourist getaway. But, the biologists hired by the intended developers of the Blackadore Caye project say that it's a location under ecological pressures, both man-made, and by nature.

Broken Tie Rod Causes Woman's Death
A traffic accident in the North yesterday claimed the life of 55 year old Elba Gongora, a resident of Orange Walk Town. It happened around 4:30 when Gongora, accompanied by two others, was driving a rented Kia Sportage on the San Felipe Road. Near the entrance to the village, Gongora lost control and flipped several times. Elba Gongora was flung out of the vehicle in the process. She sustained severe injuries and died on the spot. But just what caused the vehicle to flip in the first place? Well police believe that a broken "tie-rod" might have been the source of the problem. The deputy commander of Orange Walk Police Inspector Nicholas Palomo told us more. Insp. Nicholas Palomo, Deputy OC, Orange Walk Police: "Upon our arrival, on the left side of the road, police observed a blue KIA Sportage with an Orange Walk license plate with extensive damages. The windshield was broken and at the top of the KIA was damaged; the front bumper was off. About 3 feet from the KIA Sportage there was the lifeless body of a female who was later identified as Elda Gongora, a resident of Belize Corozal Road in Orange Walk Town. Initial investigations was that Miss Gongora was travelling from the direction of Orange Walk heading to San Felipe. Upon reaching the curve, she lost control of the vehicle and flipped several times."

Who Knocked Out Knox
Yesterday you heard Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams respond to the questions posed to him regarding the medical status of 19 year Zacharia Knox. As you may recall, he is the one being accused of attempting to shoot ACP Chester Williams during a high-speed chase that turned into a deadly stare down. Knox allegedly fired 3 shots at Williams but missed. Somehow, after that, he ended up at the Hospital in a critical condition. Yesterday when the question was brought up to ACP Williams, he simply told us he didn't know. But Knox remains at the hospital in a very bad condition. Today a close friend of his shared some pictures of his injuries and told us that Knox wanted to tell his side of the story. But just how he intends to do that we don't know, because he remains under police guard. The images that were shared with us show multiple abrasions, lacerations and bruises - clearly indicating someone who endured a punishing full body beatdown.

Alrick's Alleged Attacker Gets Bail
Two alleged Ladyville shooters got Supreme Court bail today. The first is 29-year-old Shane Bahadur. He is accused of shooting at Alrick Smith and later on he was charged with attempted murder and wounding. Well today in court, Bahadur was able to go home after he met his $10,000 bail. But he must still follow certain conditions: he has to report to the Ladyville police station twice a week, and he must not interfere with the victims. The shooting happened on Friday May 6th. Smith was outside his house with his now deceased brother in law Lionel Rhamdas when Bahadur and another man allegedly opened fire on them, hitting Smith in the leg.

Prado Remains Behind Bars, Got Bail Didn't Meet It
The other alleged shooter is 19 year old Darwin Prado. He was involved in the Lozano home shootout on May 16th. Today in court he was also granted bail, his one for $15,000 but he was unable to meet it. Since Prado could not pay the bail he was taken back to prison. Prado, along with 18 year old Egbert Baldwin were both charged with several offenses ranging from wounding to attempted murder. This is after the crazy shootout on Marage Road that left 3 men from the Lozano home injured and Lionel Rhamdas dead. Prado and Baldwin go back to court on August 15th.

Teenaged Arsonist Terrorizing LADYVILLE Residents
A wild car-burning teenager is on the loose in Ladyville. Police had caught the 13 year old boy who was behind the recent vehicle fires, but he escaped yesterday. In the past 2 weeks, two Ladyville residents have reported that they woke up to find their vehicles torched. Apparently the boy lurks around at night in Ladyville and just sets cars on fire. Today Assistant Commissioner of Police for Eastern Division Edward Broaster told us more about this mischievous boy and how they plan to recapture him. ACP Edward Broaster - OC, Easter Division Rural: "We arrested a juvenile who is no more than 13 years old, who has confessed to the burning of two vehicles for no apparent reasons. Unfortunately last night or I should say early this morning when he asked for a bathroom break, he forced his way through an opening of the window and made good his escape. So we are now searching for him and that matter we will be dealing with."

Police Connect the Dots in Recent Ladyville Murders
So while police are on the lookout for the teenaged arsonist, they still continue to investigate the links between the recent Ladyville shootings. The latest update is that police had found a gun in the Ladyville area that is believed to be the one used to kill Lionel Rhamdas during the Lozano house shootout. Well, to add to that piece of evidence, the shells found at Merkel Pitts' April Murder scene, the ones found after Lloyd Robateau was executed in the Japan area and the ones found at the Lozano home shootout, were all fired from the same gun. But while more elements are coming together, they still don't bring police that much closer to solving these cases because although they have the gun and matched shells, they still need to find the shooters. Police told us more today.

Senator Ashley Supported S.I.
The Sarstoon S.I is history; it was rescinded earlier this week. And while all anyone heard were the criticisms of it, there was a not so vocal section of the populace who supported the measure. Senator for the council of churches Ashley Rocke is one of them. Today he told the media that it was necessary:... Hon. Ashley Rocke, Church Senator: "As a senator I did not see the issue. The thing I saw was that the Prime Minister had a responsibility to make sure that he did all he could do to prevent whatever incident could have happened there with the Belizean people. I think writing the SI was one of the ways that, if you were thinking of another way, that would have been the best way to do with the understanding that that is not ultimately going to restrict Belizeans from going to the Sarstoon, but was going to quench the obvious disquiet that was there."

CWU And Port (Authority, Not, "Of Belize") Sign CBA
The Christian Workers union has taken all kinds of flak for failing to make any breakthrough in its collective bargaining negotiations with the private Port of Belize. And while that negotiation trudges on, tonight the Union is proudly proclaiming that it has signed an agreement with the Belize Port Authority - which is a statutory body. 48 CWU Members employed at the Port will get a 12% increase in salaries. The CWU also signed a collective agreement with the Central Bank of Belize. According to a press release, 106 CWU Members at the Central Bank will get a 5% salary increase, retroactive to January 1, 2015.

The Mentally Ill And The Law
How to deal "legally" with mentally ill persons who break the law? The situation is not uncommon to Belize and recently we have seen major crimes perpetrated by mental health patients. The Death Penalty Project, a London-based NGO, is here in Belize to host a three day workshop in an attempt to at the very least, create a baseline protocol for dealing with the mentally ill within existing laws. We spoke to the event organizer this morning and he told us about the importance of hosting such an event in Belize. Parvais Jabbar, Co Exec. Dir., The death Penalty Proj.: "We've been working in Belize now for over 20 years on individual cases representing prisoners who had been sentenced to death. Over that period of time, we got to know the country very well, we have very good relationships with lawyers and other organizations here and one area that we wanted to explore was the criminal justice system. A couple years ago, together with other stakeholders in Belize, we launched a report 'Behind the Prison Gates' which looked at issues that were important not only in relation to death row prisoners, but other vulnerable prisoners such as juveniles, mentally disordered, and so on. As a result of this report and some of the findings and recommendations that were agreed and considered by a number of important stakeholders in Belize, together with the Chief Justice and with the Belize Bar Association, we agreed to hold a number of training workshops and seminars looking at mental health and the law."

More Police Promotion Needed For "Eat and Greet"
Today the police department held its first "Lunch with a Cop" session. The idea behind this initiative is to give residents a chance to sit down with officers in their area to voice concerns or even make suggestions on how the police can better protect the community. So officers from both South and Northside gathered at the Sea View Restaurant at the Princess Hotel for lunch. But the cops pretty much enjoyed their meal amongst themselves because…Yah! Nobody showed up. Luckily there were a few willing lunch-goers who sat down and spoke to the officers. Assistant Commissioner of Police for Rural Eastern Division Edward Broaster told us that the lack of proper publicity played a role in this case. And we also spoke to a youth advocate who gladly joined in the session, she told us how it went. The next Lunch with a Cop session will be held next month. The police will also be rolling out another initiative called Shop with a Cop.

Top Cop Honoured
Yesterday we told you about Police Constable Edward Gonzalez. He shot himself in the head yesterday morning in front of the Queen Street Police Station. The suicide stunned everyone because Gonzalez was known for his good police work. And maybe it would have been him who would have received an award sometime this year for officer of the month. But now it is left up to other officers to keep his memory alive through their hard work and dedication. And his colleagues PC Gregory Witty and Harris Gabourel are doing just that. Today they received their award for officers of the month for April and May. Today we found out why they stood out among the rest. PC Witty has been a police officer for 20 years while PC Gabourel has been for 2 years. Zitro Western Union sponsored the monetary gifts.

Festival Finish
And tonight we close with highlights of the Primary School Festival of the Arts Districts Showcase. That brings the best youth performers from all over the country to the Bliss Stage. We leave you with the Belize City and Orange Walk Showcase. Enjoy and join us back here tomorrow...

Channel 5

Delmar Guerra is Ambushed and Killed in Paraiso Village
Late this evening, San Joaquin resident, Delmar Guerra was shot multiple times as he drove a van through the village of Paraiso, Corozal. Guerra was ambushed by a pair of [...]

P.U.P. Senator Eamon Courtenay Discusses Istanbul Talks
The much anticipated Istanbul talks are over and done with, but there is no definitive resolution and certainly no protocols coming out of those very high-level discussions. A release sent [...]

Is Guatemala Willing to Fast Track Sarstoon Protocol?
The fact is that if Guatemala agrees to any protocols with equitable use of the Sarstoon as an end point, it would represent a significant back-tracking. In past months the [...]

A Timeline to Continue Negotiating Sarstoon Protocol is Pretty Much Set
Both positions are polar opposites, so the next step is actually to the point where concrete protocols enter the equation. We’ve actually been there. On April eighth Belize presented eleven [...]

Ambassador Courtenay Says O.A.S. Has Critical Role in Discussions
The incident in Chiquibul in which a Guatemalan minor was shot also made it to the negotiating table in Istanbul. Following that incident, Guatemalan officials including President Jimmy Gonzalez, Foreign [...]

Is There Any Update from O.A.S. in Chiquibul Shooting?
And finally, in our coverage of the Istanbul talks, we asked Courtenay about the ongoing investigation into that Chiquibul incident. The OAS launched one at the request of Guatemalan authorities, [...]

IMF Preliminary Report on Belize Doesn’t Inspire Economic Confidence
The International Monetary Fund (I.M.F.) has issued a report at the end of its most recent visit to Belize which concluded this Wednesday. The team was led by Jacques Bouhga-Hagbe [...]

A Single Firearm is Used in Ladyville Murders/Shootings
Since March of this year, Ladyville has been experiencing an upward trend in violent crimes. It started with the murder of Rene “Fat Cat” Chavarria and since then, three other [...]

Suspected Arsonist Escapes from Police Custody in Ladyville
Police also believe they have the person responsible for setting two vehicles on fire in Ladyville over the extended weekend. But while quick police work led to the apprehension of [...]

Shane Bahadur is Granted Bail Following an Attempt on Alrick Smith’s Life
While Ladyville police connect the string of violent crimes in the jurisdiction, the suspect in the shooting of thirty-old year Alrick Smith was granted bail by the Supreme Court today. [...]

Darwin Prado Remains in Police Custody After Being Unable to Post Bail
The court also granted bail to Darwin Prado, another Ladyville resident, but he remains in police custody since he was unable to post the required fifteen thousand dollars to be [...]

Port Authority and Christian Workers Union Sign CB
Two collective bargaining agreements were signed today to benefit members of the Christian Workers Union. The Belize Port Authority and the CWU, after five weeks of negotiations, reached agreement in [...]

Port Authority Chair Says Signing New Agreement is Historic
According to Chairlady of the Belize Port Authority, Ruth Staine Dawson, the signing is a historic experience because the agreement was concluded in a relative short time and there is [...]

Central Bank Signs CBA with CWU
As we said, there was a second CBA signed earlier today, but at the Central Bank. While the media was not invited to that signing, a total of one hundred [...]

Ashcroft Attorney Says Speculation on Arbitration Award is Pointless
The official figure tallied in what will very likely be a whopping arbitration award is due in soon. We’ve all heard the numbers being thrown around – anywhere from a [...]

Government Loses Another Multimillion Dollar Litigation to BCB Holdings
That arbitration award is hefty, but government will spend much more. Recently, G.O.B. lost another multimillion dollar litigation brought by BCB Holdings in a U.S. Court. Courtenay says that the [...]

Blackadore Caye Development is Back on Track
Blackadore Caye Resort is back in the news tonight. The multimillion-dollar, eco-friendly, luxury resort project restructured, following a round of consultations in San Pedro in which residents expressed serious concerns [...]

Lunch With a Cop at the Princess
The police department has embarked on a new initiative to strengthen its community policing approach. The three regional commanders of the Eastern Division came together today to Lunch with a [...]

Courts Donates Ten Thousand Dollars to Lifeline Foundation
A donation that will go a long way for children was handed over to the Lifeline Foundation today at Courts Main Store in Belize City. Unicomer Belize Limited provided the [...]

Remembering Elijio Briceño
And this news…Elijio Briceño, affectionately known as Don Joe or Boss Joe, was laid to rest in his hometown of Orange Walk on Wednesday. The former Minister of Energy and [...]

Healthy Living: Why Men Don’t Like to Go to the Doctor?
There are many reasons why men simply don’t access the healthcare system as often as women do – and no, gentlemen – it has nothing to do with being stronger [...]

CTV3

Traffic Accidents Claims One Life And Leaves Two Injured
At about 4:30 yesterday evening the road leading to the village of San Felipe in the Orange Walk District turned deadly as it claimed the life of a 55 year old Orange Walk business woman and left two others injured in a tragic traffic accident. Reports are that Elba Concepcion Gongora was driving a 1990 blue Kia Sportage heading towards San Felipe Village and upon nearing a curve she lost control of the vehicle which overturned several times until coming to a stop. Accompanying Gongora at the time of the accident along were 47 year old Luis Briceno Sr. and 36 year old Amalia Cocom, a resident of Yo Creek Village, Orange Walk. Preliminary investigations indicate that Gongora died on the spot after receiving several head and body injuries while Briceno sustained injuries to both his legs and Amalia Cocom escaped with minor injuries.

IMF Gives A Grim Prognosis For Belize's' Economy
In a recent release issued by the International Monetary Fund, it indicates that the economic outlook for Belize has worsened since last year’s Article Four Consultation. In order to shed some light with regards to this issue that is of grave concern for our country, the IMF team, spearheaded by Jacques Bougha-Hagbe visited Belize from the 11th of May to the 25th with the purpose of hosting conferences based on the country’s Article Four Consultation for this year 2016. The team met with Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, financial secretary, Joseph Waight, Central Bank Governor, Glenford Ysaguirre, private sector representatives along with other government and central bank officials for the meetings. After the entire visit concluded, it was established that Belize’s economy is slowing at this point in time while both fiscal and external vulnerabilities are increasing.

OW PC Rewarded For His Services To The Community
As part of their monthly initiative to acknowledge police officers and present them with a token of appreciation for their commitment and dedication towards serving the community, the Orange Walk Police Formation held a short ceremony today with the objective of recognizing police constable Eugenio Uk, who has been working in the department for about twenty five years, for a doing a remarkable job throughout this entire month. Eugenio Uk – Police Officer of the month: “I feel great to be recognized to be police of the month; honestly all police officers of this detachment should receive an award because all of them work very hard at this station.”

Rotarians Donate Computers To Assemblies Of God Primary School
Access to reliable, up-to-date computer technology has become increasingly important in classrooms across our country yet not all of our primary schools have the finance to provide computer access for their students. Seeing the need for more computers in classrooms across the Corozal District, the Corozal Rotary Club and the Virginia U.S.A Rotary Club, are currently donating computers to various schools. One of the lucky recipients was Santa Rita Assemblies of God Primary School, and according to Principal Jesus Catzim, the donation will make a substantial difference for the learning environment. Jesus Catzim Principal Assemblies of God Primary School: “I am very happy for the Rotarians to bring the computers for our school and definitely we are going to have our students use them, we will probably include some lessons so that we can have a group of them come and give them lessons so now we have these other computers, definitely they will use them more on doing their research after classes they use them but since we only had three of them it took them longer but now we have five more it will definitely be more beneficial to them.”

Orange Walk Resident Missing For Three Weeks
The family and friends of twenty four year old Pedro Alfonso Caliz remain in despair at this point in time, for yesterday marked three weeks since he mysteriously disappeared from his neighborhood in the Louisiana area, Orange Walk. Caliz reportedly left his residence at about 11:00 on the morning of May 4th to shop for groceries at a local store but never made it back home. CTV3 News spoke to Caliz’s aunt, Dolores Sanchez, who informed us that the family has been doing everything in their power to locate him but so far, have been unsuccessful. Dolores Sanchez – Aunt: “Les Preguntamos a los amigos, a los que lo conocen nadie lo ve que hasta ahorita no hemos sabido nada de él, a su familia como tiene hermanas en Camalote haya les hemos avisado a ellos y que no saben nada de él.”

LOVE FM

IMF Says Belize Needs to ‘Put Public Debt on the Downward Path’
Following a two week working visit in Belize, the findings documented by the staff of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are alarming when it comes to the economy and the country’s vulnerabilities. While the document is not a final report from the IMF’s Executive Board, it is a preliminary report put together by the team […]

Crooked Tree Causeway Gets Overdue Attention
Crooked Tree Village is the home to about a thousand people and is an area that seems to only get attention during election time or when the rains come and the causeway gets flooded. There is, however, some good news this evening as funding of just under one million dollars has been approved for a […]

The Talks in Istanbul, Turkey
Earlier this week, a delegation led by Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington met with his Guatemalan counterpart in Istanbul, Turkey. Earlier this week Cabinet announced the statutory instrument limiting movement on the Sarstoon River would be revoked since the talks proved successful. Yesterday Prime Minister Barrow was asked about the meeting. DEAN BARROW “There’s an agreement […]

Belize’s Ombudsman Takes Over as Head of the Human Rights Defenders
Ombudsman Lionel Arzu, has been installed as the President of The Council of Human Rights Defenders. He assumes presidency for the year 2016-2017. The baton was handed over by the former president, the Ombudsman of Honduras, Doctor Roberto Herrera in a ceremony that took place in Belize for the first time. Arzu spoke to Love […]

Ombudsman Cites Displaced Migration as a Crucial Regional Issue
The New President of The Council of Human Rights Defenders, the Ombudsman of Belize, Lionel Arzu, spoke with Love News about the current issues affecting the region, especially the issue of displaced migration. LIONEL ARZU “—the guy who is the outgoing president had some issues that were started by him as the president and it […]

Consultations Continue for Blackadore Caye
A multi-million dollar eco-friendly hotel to be built on Blackadore Caye has begun its second process of consultations. A number of amendments were made to the Environment Impact Assessment, based on consultations with those who will be affected by the development of the project. For the eco-friendly hotel to become successful, they need a healthy […]

Traffic Accident Claims Woman’s Life and Injures Two
A woman is dead and two others injured as a result of road traffic accident that occurred on Wednesday in Orange Walk Town. According to Police, sometime after four o’clock yesterday evening, 55-year-old Elba Concepcion Gongora was driving a four door KIA Sportage from August Pine Ride to San Felipe Village when she lost control […]

Woman dies in traffic accident in OW
A woman is dead and two others injured as a result of road traffic accident that occurred on Wednesday in Orange Walk Town. According to Police, sometime after four o’clock yesterday evening, 55-year-old Elba Concepcion Gongora was driving a four door KIA Sportage from August Pine Ride to San Felipe Village when she lost control […]

CBA to Benefit Staff of Port of Belize
Christian Workers Union and The Port Authority have signed, a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that was negotiated for five weeks. The CBA benefits the 48 staff members of the Port of Belize union and non union members. Port Commissioner Merlene Bailey Martinez commented on the main benefits the employees will gain. MERLENE BAILEY MARTINEZ “The […]

Costa Rica Seeks Investment Opportunities in Belize
A Costa Rican company is looking for investments in Belize. This morning Procomer Costa Rica exports, along with the Embassy of Costa Rica held a breakfast at the Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina to discuss investment opportunities for Costa Rica in Belize. Director of Trade Promotion Office Itzamn Huelat spoke with Love News about […]

The Guardian

Istanbul Talks successful - Sarstoon Protocol coming soon
A delegation from both Belize and Guatemala has held extensive bilateral meetings in Istanbul, Turkey, and satisfied by the outcome of those talks, the Government of Belize has decided to revoke the 30-day ban on the Sarstoon a few days early. Those meetings happened on Monday, May 23, and Tuesday, May 24, but it was the Monday working session which went on for 4 hours. That meeting happened at the Hilton Bomonti Hotel in Istanbul, and Belize was represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington; Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala, Alexis Rosado; and the Representative for the Opposition Leader, Eamon Courtenay. The Guatemalan delegation was represented by that country’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Carlos Raul Morales, Guatemala’s Ambassador to Belize Manuel Barrillas and other officials. Magdalena Talamás, the Representative for Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) was the mediator in these bilateral talks.

Two cops: one attempts suicide, one succeeds
One police officer is dead and another is receiving medical treatment after a suicide and an attempted suicide this week. The first took place on Monday May 23 when police constable Melvin Nah drank herbicide, apparently because he had sentimental problems. Our information suggests that he was intimately involved with another police officer, a woman, who decided to sever relations with him and he opted to take his life. He was unsuccessful and ended up being treated at the KHMH after he ingested Gramaxone, a herbicide, to take his life. He remains hospitalized receiving treatment. In the second attempt, which was successful, Police constable 34 year old Edward Gonzalez went to work at the Queen Street Police station at 7 a.m. on Wednesday May 25, he was his usual self being what appeared to be a carefree individual. Reports are that, as he usually does, he was hugging women police constables who were his friends when shortly thereafter he sat on the front steps of the Queen Street Police Station, he drew his service pistol, placed it to his head and pulled the trigger.

Who will it be?
On Sunday May 29, 589 delegates of the United Democratic Party will have to make perhaps one of the most difficult political decisions they have ever been asked to make in selecting either Hon. John Saldivar or Hon. Patrick Faber to be the First Deputy Party leader of the UDP. Both men are exceptional and charismatic leaders within the UDP and as such the decision is no small task. Added to that pressure is that of a well animated campaign which is seeing both candidates campaigning across the country. Hon. Faber is carrying his message under the banner - Path to the Future, while Hon. Saldivar has his under the theme Unity, Maturity, Integrity. Both men have mounted aggressive campaigns visiting constituencies to speak to candidates as groups as well as campaining to delegates on a one on one basis. All the work that they are putting in will yield their results on Sunday at the ITVET compound on Freetown road where the delegates will cast their votes from 9 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon. According to the convention rules, any delegate who has not cast their vote by 2 pm will have that vote replaced by an alternate.

Sarstoon SI repealed - PUP fail to rile up Sarstoon issue
After weeks of hyping this supposed trip to the Sarstoon River, on Saturday, the PUP failed to deliver on their promise. In addition to that, the Government has since revoked the 30-day Sarstoon Ban. This means they have also missed their window to try to make a political spectacle of the Government trying to ensure that were not bamboozled by persons trying to politicize an important issue. The reasons they have given to explain the cancelation of the Sarstoon trip is that the Government supposedly leaned on their hired boat captains and intimidated them into backing out. As usual, instead of being straight with the Belizean public, the PUP have to paint themselves as victims to the big bad government.

Taiwan to disburse first installment for Renal Failure Prevention Project to the Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health on behalf of the Government and people of Belize will be receiving the first disbursement of US$34,500 for the capacity building project for the prevention and control of chronic renal failure in Belize at a ceremony to be held at the Best Western Biltmore Hotel on May 30th, 2016 at 9:00a.m. The “Renal Failure Prevention Project” is a three-year project with a total approved budget of US$2.2 million. It was signed on February 10, 2016 between Belize and Taiwan to treat patients at the early stages of renal failure or kidney disease, ultimately reducing the socio-economic burden to families and to the health system.

Condolences
78 year-old Eligio Joe Briceño, a two term Area Representative for Orange Walk, passed away at 11:58 p.m., on Saturday, May 21. His son, John, and the entire Briceño family, were at his bedside until the very end. The Briceño family say that “Joe” suffered a stroke some 11 years ago, and that, is believed, started the decline in his health which took its toll this weekend. Briceño has told the press that his father’s death factored into his decision to cancel the Sarstoon trip. To honor his contribution as a former Minister of Government and a former Parliamentarian, the Government held an official funeral on his behalf at La Immaculada Church, in Orange Walk Town.

California Missionaries Bring Gospel, Joy and Supplies to Belize
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” said Jesus Christ to his disciples in Mathew chapter 28 verse 19. This is the Great Commission and all believers are called to adhere. Those who do are called missionaries. They spread the gospel all over the world and their love has saved many troubled societies. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of missionaries visit Belize each year. They host summer and Easter camps, vacation bible schools, crusades and clinics. Some renovate churches, schools and homes. They come from various religious denominations and as long as they come with clean hearts they are all welcome. However, there are certain mission teams that are ever so slightly more appreciated. Those are the teams that include members with Belizean blood; like the team from Abundant Living Church from Rancho Cucamonga, California that is currently in Belize.

Benque resident drowns
A taxi driver from Benque Viejo del Carmen has drowned after consuming alcohol. Benque Viejo Police visited an area on George Street behind the bus terminal at about 4:25 pm on Saturday of this past weekend, on arrival they observed the body of a male Hispanic being escorted to the bus terminal. Initial investigation revealed that Pedro Valdez, a 51year old Belizean Taxi Driver was alone at J&G; Bar situated on George Street, Benque Viejo Town and at the time he was consuming alcohol. He then decided to go take a bath in the Mopan River at an area behind J&G; Bar. About five minutes later, he disappeared from the area. A search was conducted and approximately 100 yards away from where he was last seen going down, the body of Pedro Valdez was found and retrieved from the river.

Drugs and firearm found in Cayo
Police in Cayo have safely removed a weapon from off the streets. On Tuesday May 24th 2016 about 7:00am a joint operation by San Ignacio Police and the K-9 unit executed a search in an abandoned lot in the Hotpoint area, Santa Elena town. At that location police discovered a red bucket with white cover containing (6) black plastic bags which contained green vegetable substance suspected to be cannabis under an abandoned cement building. Further searches behind the same building, under some dry grass, led to the discovery of (1) 12 gauge pump action shotgun (Remington Brand) with serial number T356956V. Both items were taken to the San Ignacio Police Station where the drugs was weighed amounting to 2,141 grams. Both items were deposited as found property since no one was found in the area.

Nicole Flowers confesses to trafficking 7 kilos of weed
Officers of the Gang Suppression Unit were operating in the Lake Independence area on May 14, 2015, when their attention was drawn to Nicole Flowers, 23, as they entered a yard. She was behaving suspiciously and this caused police to conduct a search on her. Inside a purse she was carrying, police found five pounds of weed. They decided to take Flowers to her home on Jasmine Street to conduct a search of her residence. There the officers found another substantial amount of marijuana in a room, eleven pounds. Flowers was arrested and charged with drug trafficking. Trial commenced for Flowers in the Belize City Magistrates Court and on Friday, May 20, she decided to plead guilty to one count of drug trafficking. When Magistrate Mendoza asked her where she got so much marijuana from, Flowers told him that a man gave her the weed to hold for him. She chose not to reveal the name of the man. Magistrate Carlon Mendoza imposed a non-custodial sentence upon Flowers, who is in an advanced stage of pregnancy. She was fined $10,000, which is to be paid by December 31, 2016. In default, she will serve three years imprisonment.

Twelve years for killing Jason Pott
Twelve years imprisonment is the sentence handed down by Justice Adolph Lucas after Devaughn Goodger, 22, accepted a plea deal in trial for the murder of Jason Pott. On Wednesday, May 11, Goodger pleaded guilty to manslaughter, which is a less serious charge than murder for which he was on trial. Justice Lucas deducted 5 years and 2 months from the sentence for the period of time he has been on remand. The senseless killing of Pott occurred on Cleghorn Street near the intersection with Slaughter House Road in March of 2011. Pott and his cousin were approached by a group of three men. They got into an altercation and he was stabbed once to the chest. His cousin tried to rush him to the Karl Heusner Memorial on bicycle but they were stopped by police who allegedly knocked them off the bike for riding contrary to the flow of traffic. Pott pleaded to the officers for help and they then transported him to the hospital. Pott later died as a result of the stab wound to the chest.

Officer accused of molestation is out on bail
Police Constable Darren Evan Martinez, 21, is out on bail after being on remand for four days for sexual assault upon a child under the age of 16. Martinez is being accused of penetrating the vagina of an 8-year-old girl with his finger on February 21, 2016. Martinez appeared before Magistrate Deborah Rogers on Monday, May 16. He is being represented by attorney Oswald Twist. Since the matter is an indictable offense, no plea was taken. Court prosecutor, Cpl. Kennard Clark, objected to bail on the grounds of the prevalence and serious nature of the offense. Twist was concerned about possible harm that could come to his client while on remand at the Belize Central Prison. However, Martinez was placed in protective custody while his attorney carried out the bail application process.

Vehicle stolen in Roaring Creek
A hard working Belizean has been deprived of his vehicle. Elias Reyes, a 23 year old Belizean of Frank’s Eddy Village Cayo District has reported that on Friday of last week at about 5:45 pm he had parked his 1990 four door car with license plate C-01957 at the Westar Compound in Roaring Creek and had gone to work at Santander. On the following day at about 7:40 am on his return from work he noticed that his Sky Blue in color Honda car was nowhere to be found. The value of the car is $4000.00 Belize. Police investigation continues in an attempt to recover the stolen vehicle.

Over 33 pounds of weed and shotgun found in Cayo
A quantity of weed has been discovered by San Ignacio Police near one of its booths. On Friday 20th May 2016 about 5:00 am, San Ignacio Police were on mobile patrol between miles 68 and 69 on the George Price Highway and upon making checks opposite Rumors Resort by the Police booth, they discovered a large black bag wrapped with transparent tape. Upon further checking its content they noticed that it was a large quantity of green leafy vegetable substance suspected to be cannabis. Further checks in the immediate area led to the discovery of another small black plastic back containing more green leafy vegetable substances. A determined search also led to the discovery of a 20 gauge sawed off shotgun with a wooden brown stock, and a brown wooden handle with a weed leaf carved and painted green on the grip. Beside the shotgun was a single yellow in color 20 gauge cartridge RIO Brand inside the barrel. All items were retrieved and taken to the San Ignacio Police Station, where the big bag was weighed amounting to 14,968.5 grams or 33 lbs. The small black plastic bag was weighed amounting to 170 grams. All items were deposited as found property.

Steven Young granted Supreme Court bail for attempted murder
Steven Young, 25, is out on Supreme Court bail after Prosecutor Sheneiza Smith had no objection to a bail application submitted to Justice Herbert Lord on Friday, May 20. Justice Lord released the accused who had been charged with attempted murder on bail of $8,000 plus one surety of the same amount or two sureties of $4,000 each. Young was arraigned on Monday, May 16, for the attempted murder of Lord’s Bank resident, Brandon Stevens, who was stabbed during an altercation inside Ruba’s Bar on Saturday, May 14, 2016. Charges against Young include attempted murder, dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm upon Stevens. On Saturday afternoon, Stevens went to Ruba’s Bar and saw his common-law-wife sitting down with four men. He approached and asked her for their house key.

First Annual Elodio Aragon Sovereign’s Day Cycling Race
The organizing committee for the 1st annual Elodio Aragon Sovereign’s Day Cycling Race is proud to report that the race which took place on Sunday 22 May was a huge success. Hon. Aragon through vision and determination has made this event possible and has pledged to make it even bigger and better as time goes by as the plan is to have it every year. Honorable Aragon who is responsible for the ministry of sports, understands that it is only through education and sports that we are going to rid ourselves of ignorance and crime. By encouraging our athletes we will ensure that they develop that physical and mental competitive spirit which will see us being propelled to the next level. He has a passion for whatever he does and there is no doubt that we are now witnessing the ushering in of a new era in the area of sports in Belize.

Belizean athletes to Central American Junior Track & Field Championship
The Belize Athletics Association had representation at the XXIV Central American Junior Track & Field championship, which as hosted by Confederación Atle?tica del Istmo Centroamerico (CADICA) from May 20-22, 2016, that was held at the National Stadium in San Jose, Costa Rica. Belize competed in the 100m event for female 15-17 years old where Faith Morris and Hilary Gladden were the competitors. Faith Morris finished 8th in the qualifying round to advance to the finals where she finished 5th in a time of 12.53. In the 200m event for female 15-17 years old, Belize’s competitors were Faith Morris who finished 3rd in the qualifying round in a time of 25.98 and Hilary Gladden who placed 9 out of 11 starters. However, Faith Morris was unable to compete in the finals of her 200m event.

Mega Business opens in Santa Elena, Cayo
Now sandwiched between Era Store and Brother’s Supermarket on the George Price Highway in Santa Elena Town, Sargent Pepper’s mega project made a soft landing last week, opening its doors to customers from all over. The new addition of Sargent Pepper’s to the Santa Elena landscape will boost the local economy; as 22 Belizeans are now employed there. Sargent Pepper’s Manager is Amir Segura Junior, who is a resident of Santa Elena Town. Sargent Pepper’s will now be opened Sunday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, with their servings such as the Sargent Pepper’s Burger, which is now available therein. There is also a selection of healthy orange and lime juices at the new business place. Sargent Pepper’s drive through was also opened last week, which provides a great convenience for those on a busy schedule.

Campbellsville University Doing Service Work at High School in Belmopan
Seven Campbellsville University (C.U.) students and two team leaders are doing teaching service work at Our Lady of Guadalupe High School O.L.O.G in Belmopan. C.U. is a private Baptist university in the state of Kentucky. The seven students are finalizing their Teacher of Students of Other Languages (T.E.S.O.L ) certification. While at the same time, the team is doing 12 days of Service Teaching at O.L.O.G. and will be in Belize for a total of 19 days. O.L.O.G. teachers say that this is beneficial for everyone where the American team gets to experience some of the Belizean culture and educational system. Likewise for Belizean teachers, it is an opportunity to work with the American teachers, who are here to do individual tutoring and to share the teaching methods they have been taught. Most importantly, O.L.O.G. students will be able to receive instructions and lessons from teachers with different perspectives, teaching methods and teaching styles.

WORDS OF LIFE
In his book, “How to Obtain Strong Faith,” Dr. Frederick K.C. Price sets out six principles. The first step is to “Know the Reality of God’s Word.” (Believe the Bible is true.) The second principle is “Know the Reality of your Redemption in Christ.” (Jesus freed us from bondage.) Now we look at principle 3: “Know the Reality of the New Creation.” Dr. Price comments, “You should not see yourself as Satan sees you. You should not see yourself as other [people] see you, but you should see yourself as God sees you. Until you learn to see yourself as God sees you, you will never be able to obtain strong faith… You must see yourself as God sees you – a new creature in Christ.

House Speaker helps with easing tensions with Guatemala
For the first time in 150 years of the Belize Guatemala territorial dispute, the parliaments of both countries have decided to get involved to try to assist their governments in peacemaking initiatives. This decision was made at the 17th ordinary meeting of the Forum of Presiding Officers of the National Parliaments of Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean Basin (FOPREL). Hon. Michael Peyrefitte, the Speaker of the Belize House of Representatives is the current vice-president of FOPREL, and Mario Taracena Diaz-Sol, who is the Speaker of the Guatemala Congress, is the President. So, that FOPREL meeting, held in Managua, Nicaragua, gave these two men an opportunity to also discuss Belize-Guatemala relations. Also present were the Speakers and Deputy Speakers of parliaments of El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica.

California Missionaries Bring Gospel, Joy and Supplies to Belize
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” said Jesus Christ to his disciples in Mathew chapter 28 verse 19. This is the Great Commission and all believers are called to adhere. Those who do are called missionaries. They spread the gospel all over the world and their love has saved many troubled societies. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of missionaries visit Belize each year. They host summer and Easter camps, vacation bible schools, crusades and clinics. Some renovate churches, schools and homes. They come from various religious denominations and as long as they come with clean hearts they are all welcome. However, there are certain mission teams that are ever so slightly more appreciated. Those are the teams that include members with Belizean blood; like the team from Abundant Living Church from Rancho Cucamonga, California that is currently in Belize.

PUPs told Johnny to paddle and bail his own canoe
Belizeans were waiting to see if the PUPs would follow through on their resolve to challenge the security forces and proceed with their planned illegal voyage to the Sarstoon River. Well like all things associated with the PUP, the voyage was a NO GO! Even at the risk of sounding repetitive we must and we say MUST repeat this statement “PUP has not been able to get anything right in the last 150 MONTHS, having not only have they lost every election held during that time, they have also not made any forward progress. For them it is like Midas touch in reverse. Everything they touch turns into EXCREMENT. We may be at the point where BWS might be charging them for creating too much raw sewage. Around 11 p.m. on Friday word started to spread that the PUP would not be going on the much talked about voyage , that had been planned for the next morning . It was not that their decision caught us by surprise because we have gotten to know the PUP as what can only be described as TALK PLENTY- DO LITTLE! They talk up a storm but just at the moment when it is time to put up or shut up they fall down. And so they left the stage without even a whimper. We can understand Wil’s and BTV’s disappointment at the PUP decision not to go. Say what we may say about Wil but he is either brave or stupid enough, to follow up on his plans to go to the Sarstoon even if it is wrong headed, he would still follow through, unless he is stopped by the security forces.

Taiwan to disburse first installment for Renal Failure Prevention Project to the Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health on behalf of the Government and people of Belize will be receiving the first disbursement of US$34,500 for the capacity building project for the prevention and control of chronic renal failure in Belize at a ceremony to be held at the Best Western Biltmore Hotel on May 30th, 2016 at 9:00a.m. The “Renal Failure Prevention Project” is a three-year project with a total approved budget of US$2.2 million. It was signed on February 10, 2016 between Belize and Taiwan to treat patients at the early stages of renal failure or kidney disease, ultimately reducing the socio-economic burden to families and to the health system. Training will be provided to general practitioners and dialysis nurses in Taiwan, while local training programs will be conducted for Case Managers and Community Health Workers in identification and management of risk factors for kidney failure. Furthermore, the project also includes the establishment and launch of a tracking and management system for chronic disease cases in medical facilities.

Walk for a Green Belize was a success!
In setting the pace for the upcoming World Environment Day, a “Walk for a Green Belize,” was coordinated by the Department of the Environment DOE on Saturday of this past weekend. The event started at 7:00 a.m. and ended at 11:00 am along the 77 mile stretch of the George Price Highway, with the participation of a number of organizations and Government bodies. The Police and Transport Department as well as City Traffic were involved to caution drivers to be more wary of all the participants, who were cleaning along the busy highway. Among the participants were the Rotaract Club of San Ignacio, San Ignacio Community Police Officers, Belmopan Police, Belmopan Cadets as well as the Belmopan City Council. In a statement from the office of the Mayor of Belmopan, Khalid Belisle, he extended a big thanks to everyone, who came out to volunteer their time on Saturday. Mayor Belisle and his team removed more than 200 bags of garbage from along the Hummingbird Highway (Guanacaste Park to almost the entrance to the City dump site).

Meshack Banner charged for stabbing his brother, a GSU Officer
Crooked Tree resident, Meshack Banner, 25, is at the Belize Central Prison on remand after he was charged with the attempted murder of his own brother, Walton Banner, an officer of the police department’s Gang Suppression Unit. Allegations are that Meshack and his brother Walton got into an altercation on Friday, May 20, and it ended with him pulling a knife and inflicting a stab wound upon his sibling. Meshack Banner was unrepresented when he appeared in court on Tuesday, May 24, before Magistrate Carlon Mendoza. He was read three indictable offenses: one count each of attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm and wounding with a deadly instrument. Due to the nature of the offenses, no plea was taken and bail could not be granted.

Two injured in Traffic accident in San Ignacio Town
There was a traffic accident in San Ignacio Town on Saturday of this past weekend, where two persons resulted with various injuries. Acting on information, San Ignacio Police visited Savannah Street in San Ignacio Town at about 4:10 am, near the Low Lying Bridge area where on arrival they saw a blue Toyota Corolla 4 door car, which had collided into the recently constructed concrete Market Wall. Trapped inside the vehicle was a male person of dark complexion, who was seated on the driver’s side in an unconscious state, and a female of clear complexion, who was seen on the passenger’s seat of the vehicle and was crying for help. Both persons inside the vehicle had injuries all over their bodies. Initial investigations reveal that at about 4:00 am, Patrick Gordon was driving his blue Toyota Corolla from an east to west direction whilst crossing the low lying bridge from Santa Elena Town to San Ignacio Town. Unfortunately, after crossing the board bridge and onto the pavement road he lost control of the vehicle, which caused the vehicle to swerve left, directly into the solid concrete wall of the San Ignacio Market Square area.

Man from Cayo drinks Paraquat

Burglar says he has “seven kids to feed and one on the way”
Zane Pott, 19, will spend the next two years at the Belize Central Prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and one count of theft on Tuesday, May 24. Pott told Magistrate Deborah Rogers that it was a moment of weakness and he was desparate to provide for his family, which include seven children and a pregnant common-law-wife. Hue Hulse, a resident of Belize City, says he went to his warehouse at about 7:15 a.m.on Tuesday, May 17, and noticed that it had been burglarized. The burglar bar from one of his windows was removed and an HP printer was stolen. Hulse then checked his surveillance system and realized that the cable wires were cut. However, the camera captured a Hispanic male with a pony tail entering the warehouse before the wires were cut. Police were called to the scene and they were able to identify Pott from the footage. He was arretsed and charged for burglary. Police additionally charged him with theft and damaged to property for an incident that occurred later that same week. Roni White, a tour guide of Captain Eiley Street, reported to police that on Friday, May 20, he went to start his bus and noticed that his batteries were missing.

Kristoff Riverol pleads guilty to theft
Kristoff Riverol is lucky to have been spared jail time after he pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from his former workplace, Fultec System. Bjana Bradley, Belize Operations/Human Resources Manager of Fultec System, reported to police that between May 16 and May 20, 2016, Riverol stole two 1-terabyte My Passport Ultra external hard drives valued at $239.95 each. Bradley viewed a surveillance monitor at 2 p.m. on May 20, 2016, and noticed Riverol taking two hard drives from off the counter and placing them into a plastic bag. According to Bradley, Riverol was employed as a sales support representative whose duties included phone and after sales support. However, he has no authority to move items from the counter. The police was called in; they reviewed the camera recording and proceeded to arrest Riverol within a four day period. Police investigation also revealed that Riverol had already sold one of the hard drives to a businesswoman from the Buttonwood Bay area.

Anthony Robinson Takes Rap for Gun Again
Leith Bermudez, 21, Deshane Mena, 29, Anthony Robinson, 29, and Richard Flores, 38, were charged with gun and ammunition offenses after they were found inside a vehicle with a firearm on Tuesday, February 26. At around 8:25 p.m. that Tuesday, police intercepted a gold Toyota Camry that was driving recklessly at the corner of Flamboyant and Mahogany Street with the four men inside. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a chrome .38 Smith and Wesson revolver with a wooden grip and five live rounds of .38 special S&B; ammunition under a seat. All four men were arrested and charged with keeping a firearm and ammunition without a gun license.

Alrick Smith Charged for Plotting to Kill 11 Persons
Alrick Smith, 31, is in trouble with the law yet again. This time the charges against him may certainly be something of a reach by police but with Smith it is now difficult to give him the benefit of the doubt. Smith is on remand at the Belize Central Prison after he was arraigned for abetment to commit murder upon 11 persons. According to Ladyville police, on May 14 he solicited to cause the death of Cynthia Lozano, Jerome Lozano, Justeen Lozano, Cassidy Lozano, Amber Lozano, Celine Lozano, Sherdon Lozano, Camryn Lozano, Athlee Lozano, and Shemera Williams. Cynthia Lozano is the mother of Casey Lozano, one of three persons shot over the weekend of Saturday, May 14, on Marage Road, Ladyville. In that exchange, Lionel Rhamdas was shot fatally. Smith is said to be an in-law of Rhamdas and the charge stems from his intended retaliation.

Ebenezer Methodist School boys continue on winning path
The Belize City Primary Schools Football competition continued over the last week with a number of games in both the girls’ and boys’ competition at the MCC Grounds. On Friday 20th May, 2016, in the first of two games played in the girls’ competition, Salvation Army School and St. John’s Primary School played to a 0-0 draw. In the second game, St. Martin de Porres shut-out St. Mary’s Primary School by the score of 3-0. The goals for St. Martin de Porres were scored by Jeanna Usher, Shantel Flowers and Hui Ling Chen. In the first game in the boys’ competition, Salvation Army School and St. John’s Primary School played to a 2-2 draw. The goals for Salvation Army School were scored by Emmeth Serrano and Jerwin Carcamo. For St. John’s Primary School, the goals were scored by Rashied Lord and Patrick Kerr.

Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy continues to lead in Cayo Softball Competition
The Raymond Garbutt Cayo Senior Female Softball Competition which is being sponsored by the Hon. John Saldivar continued on Sunday 22nd May, 2016, at the Dembeigh Fuller Softball Stadium in Camalote Village. In the first game played, Camalote defeated Esperanza Wolverines by the score of 17-2. The winning pitcher was Tiara Bradley and the losing pitcher was Shanaya Soberanis. In game two, Belmopan Bandits won over Unitedville Rebels United by the score of 6-4. The winning pitcher was Laniesha Jones and the losing pitcher was Francine Salazar. And in the final game of the day, the defending champions and the competition’s league leading team, Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy blank the Belmopan Capital City Emeralds by the score of 12-0. The winning pitcher was Leandra Guy and the losing pitcher was Dominga Tut.

Orchid Girls of Burrell Boom halt Exotic Girls from Hattieville
The Belize Rural Softball Association competition continued on Sunday 22nd May, 2016, with four games on the schedule. In the first game played in division A, Orchid Girls defeated Exotics Girls by the score of 14-3. The winning pitcher was Therese Baptist and the losing pitcher was Iceany Baptist. In game two, UB Jaguars defeated Lords Bank Sunrise by the score of 11-4. The winning pitcher was Karlene Williams and the losing pitcher was Karen Hilton. In Division B games played in game one, Easy Does It of Flowers Bank defeated Beverly Hill Flames of Lord’s Bank by the score of 14-7. The winning pitcher was Margaret Hendy and the losing pitcher was Nikita Anderson.

Softball returns to the Stann Creek District
The Stann Creek Softball Association 2016 Senior Female competition opened on Sunday 22nd May, 2016, in Independence Village with three games on the schedule. In the first game played, Independence Pals blanked Seine Bight by the score of 13-0 in four innings. The hitting gem for the Independence Pals team was Arlette Linarez who drove in 2 runs, scored 2 runs and stole 2 bases in leading her team to the win. Her teammate Ardis Linarez also drove in 2 runs, scored 1 and stole 1 base. The winning pitcher was Leona Linarez who struck out 8 batters in leading her team to the victory. In the second game of the day, Silk Grass defeated Ashley Lucas and the Hopkins team by the score of 10-7.

Belize Softball Federation to hold Umpires Training
The Belize Softball Federation has announced that it will be holding an Umpires Training for intermediate and advanced umpires from August 4-8, 2016. The Training will be conducted by the Chief Umpire of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Softball Division Robert Stanton and will include both theoretical and practical work. The federation envision that this will be the spring board for umpires who have been involved in the game at the advance level for the past five years to move towards the International Certification for Umpires.

The Belize Times

Only Bull From Istanbul
Nothing of substance was accomplished by Belize in its “ten cents” meeting with Guatemala in Istanbul, Turkey, over the weekend. Guatemala had refused to hold a direct meeting with Belize as it relates to the Sarstoon River. For months Belize was chasing after Guatemala to please allow them to sit down and talk about the serious issue of the Sarstoon River. At a summit in Turkey, attended by many countries, including Guatemala and Belize; the Guatemalans decided to meet for a few minutes over this past weekend. What was discussed? Several matters which had been discussed already. But not the serious issue of Sarstoon River which has caused such grave concerns in Belize. These are what were discussed. Belize and Guatemala Foreign Ministers said they wanted peace and good faith. That is nothing new. They said that the territorial, insular and maritime disputes should be resolved at the I.C.J once it passed the referendum in both countries. This is nothing new. They said that while this I.C.J process is going on and even after it is concluded it will still be necessary to develop good neighbourliness which helps with peace and stability and will promote economic development.

PUP mourns passing of Hon. Elijio Briceño
The People’s United Party mourns the passing of the Hon. Elijio Briceño, former Minister of Energy and Communications and father of PUP Party Leader Hon. John Briceño. Don Joe, as he was popularly known, succumbed peacefully with his family by his bedside on Saturday, May 21, 2016, at 11:58 p.m. The People’s United Party assures the Briceño family that they can find comfort in knowing that they’re not alone in their grief. People from inside and outside of the Party have known the generosity and goodness of Don Joe. Deputy Party Leader Cordel Hyde recalls, “Don Joe was a source of towering strength to his family, and a giant figure in the Orange Walk community. He was always such a fantastic cheerleader and trusted advisor for our Party Leader, and though he had been ill for some time, and his feet eventually got tired, his huge heart never wavered. “He worked long and hard for his family, his community and his country. And now his work is done; his soul is at rest.”

Diplomacy, Not Lunacy!
Secretary General to the Commonwealth, Baroness Scott’s visit to Belize has been critically significant in the wake of the spate of incursions and illegal fishing by Guatemalan civilians and the asserting of military power by the Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) in the Sarstoon. The Baroness’ message was resonant with the re-affirmation by the Commonwealth Heads of Nation in support of Belize’s right to sovereignty and territorial integrity. Baroness Scott is that individual that is mandated by the Commonwealth Heads of Government to examine the needs of small and vulnerable states like Belize, including their security needs. The organisational body has been deeply concerned about the precarious situations that have overcome these vulnerable countries and have admonished that “the need to be scrupulous about security arrangements is both obvious and urgent”. However, the significance of the visit was transformed into media footnotes complemented with a passive embrace by the Rt. Honourable Dean Barrow.

Cop Commits Suicide??
Queen Street Police are investigating a suspected suicide from within their own ranks. PC Edward Gonzalez allegedly shot himself with his personal weapon in front of Precinct 3, which is the Queen Street Police Station sometime in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

THINK ABOUT IT
Graduation season is here once again. And once again there are no jobs available for our young people. None. The government of Belize has been stocking up the public service offices with cronies and unqualified people. They are also keeping their supporters in offices even after such persons reach the retirement age of 55 years. Young people whose parents sacrifice and send them to college and sixth form and in many cases to University, are forced to stay home and idle their lives away because the government couldn’t care less whether they work or not. It’s a damn shame.

Celebrate Our Forefathers
I do not share the sentiment that we have too many holidays in Belize. In fact, I believe that we could do with a few more so that the working class people can get a break. In what amounts to nothing short of modern day slavery, the aristocratic business owners can vacation whenever and for however long they choose while the regular Joe must toil away endlessly for meagre wages. But, “dah suh it set” and I’m not here to rock that boat just yet. We just came out of a long weekend and the average person on the street had no idea what we were celebrating. It didn’t matter much really, suffice only that we were able to get some time off and enjoy a long weekend. While I’m not in favour of getting rid of any holidays, we should take a look at a couple and exchange them for others more relevant and appropriate to our culture and traditions. What started out as Queen Victoria’s birthday evolved into Queen’s Day and then Commonwealth Day and most recently, Sovereign’s Day. When you think about it then, and when you think about what “sovereign” actually means; it means we have come full circle to where it all began; celebrating a day to honour the monarchy. Another ridiculous holiday is what is now known as Day of the Americas. It is said that a rose by any other name remains the same and regardless of how they dress this one up, it is a day in honour of the most vicious and barbaric son of a gun ever to walk this planet.

GOODBYE, DON JOE
A giant has passed away. The great spirit of Don Joe has left our Earth. We mourn our loss and we celebrate his life. We join with the people of Orange Walk and Belize in extending our sincere condolences to the Hon. John Briceño and family as they lay to rest a beloved father, uncle and family patriarch; Elijio “Joe” Briceño. Here was a man amongst men. A leader who helped shape Orange Walk and inspire the many who were fortunate to come in contact with him. La Inmaculada Church could not hold the thousands who turned out to pay tribute this Wednesday afternoon. The former Prime Minister and the present Prime Minister joined by the Queen’s representative, Governor General Sir Colville Young, were among the Ministers of government and elected representatives of the National Assembly; as were the leaders, executives and members of Don Joe’s beloved People’s United Party. Don Joe is remembered for a multitude of accomplishments, all and always for the benefit of the people whom he loved so much.

Belize Elementary girls lead with 8 goals
The Belize Elementary School girls posted their 3rd win against St. John Vianney RC School girls last Thursday, when Aaliyah Herbert scored the winning goal. BES girls also defeated Wesley Upper School 5-0 last Tuesday with 2 goals by Chrystal Young and Michaelen Hyde, while Niesha Garbutt and Rianna Chebat scored a goal each. BES had enjoyed their 1st win: 2-0 vs Holy Redeemer with a goal each from Michaelen Hyde and Aaliyah Herbert.

BEL Powersockets lead Interoffice Softball with 4 wins
The BEL Powersockets are leading the 2016 Belize City interoffice softball competition with 4 wins, hammering KHMH 12-5 at the Roger’s Stadium on Saturday. BEL’s pitcher Melissa Foreman struck out 3 batters to hand the medics their 4th loss, as Godsden Ferguson, Glenford “Mac-10” Flowers, Jason Bennett and Foreman score d 2 runs apiece, while Susan Lu, Mark Cassasola and Jorge Fabro scored 1 run apiece.

Camalote United defeats Wolverines in Cayo softball
The Camalote United mauled the Esperanza Wolverines 17-2 by mercy rule in 3 innings when the Cayo Softball Association’s female competition continued in Camalote Village on Sunday. Esperanza’s Shanaya Soberanis gave up 14 hits and walked 3 batters. Shanae Williams led the attack scoring 3 runs, while Shanice Williams, Samantha Casey, Taesha Lewis, Kenisha Sutherland, Isha Matute and Renisha Richards scored 2 runs apiece. Patricia Budna and Rhea Flowers scored a run each. Only Denise Gordon and Rose Vernon scored for Esperanza.

UDP Crabs in a Bucket – Saldivar vs. Faber Pt. 2
Last week we shared with our readers the nasty infighting taking place in the United Democratic Party over the race for First Deputy Leader. Only two candidates cared to vie for the post, Patrick Faber and John Saldivar. Something must be very wrong with a Party in search for the best and most qualified candidate for leadership that ends up with Faber and Saldivar. Mr. Immature Loudmouth and Mr. Petty! How pitiful. The candidates and their supporters have taken the campaign to new lows with their attacks at each other. Saldivar landed the first low blow when he posted a flyer on his own Facebook page with the message: “REAL MEN DON’T HIT WOMEN” in bold letters. It was a “did he really go there??” moment in the UDP, but not without reason. Faber’s past domestic affairs has been too messy for a senior Government official. He has come under heavy scrutiny and criticism for his not so mature behaviour many times, but more so during his separation with his wife. Among the reports is one that he attacked her by smashing her car’s windshield with a brick.

NOT GOOD ENOUGH
The Millennium Development Goals were the World’s time-bound and quantified targets for addressing extreme poverty in its many dimensions – income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter, and exclusion – while promoting gender equality, education, and environmental sustainability. The eight MDGs, as they have been called, were established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in the year 2000. One hundred and eighty-nine countries committed to work to achieve them, and the goals were all measured from the baseline year 1990 and for twenty-five years up to the year 2015. These goals were (I use the past tense because we are now in 2016) 1) Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2) Achieve universal primary education 3) Promote gender equality and empower women 4) Reduce child mortality 5) Improve maternal health 6) Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases 7) Ensure environmental sustainability and 8) Develop a global partnership for development. During the twenty-five year period progress towards these goals was uneven worldwide. Some countries achieved much, while others were not on track to achieve any. And since the beginning of this year 2016, the Sustainable Development Goals have replaced the MDGs.

Image Factory to launch “The Adventures of Rowan Garel” Children’s Book
The 32-page illustrated children’s book tells the story of Rowan’s high-adrenaline undertakings to raise funds for Belize Council for the Visually Impaired (BCVI) to provide services and support for children who are blind. To the summit of Victoria’s Peak; Across the country of Belize and Down into the Blue Hole, Rowan surpassed his personal and charitable goals each time. Written by Katie Usher and Gia Martinez and Illustrated by Marvin Vernon, Climb Walk Dive is the brainchild of Image Factory Foundation’s Yasser Musa who felt it imperative to tell Rowan’s incredible story. “This children’s book was developed because the action of Rowan Garel sparks our imagination and fills our hearts with the enduring power and fire of the human spirit. It is a story about family, tenacity and hope. It is a great Belizean narrative,” Musa said.

Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely
There’s so much happening in our little country that it’s hard to keep up. When you criticize the Government, they call you names and attack you. They accuse you of preaching doom and gloom, of behaving like the sky is falling. Well look up people because something sure is falling…and it’s not the price of fuel or anything else. Abuse of alcohol can destroy a home. It can destroy a community, and it can destroy a country. Abuse of politics and power is the absolute same thing. Look at one thing – this situation with sports in Orange Walk. The people who have always supported sporting activities for our youths, like the beloved Mad Bull and others, may support one party over another. But sports transcends politics. And still we have problems because some of the people at the Sports Council and at the Ministry of Sports are political and power junkies. They can’t see that this isn’t about demonstrating who has power, or about using that power to punish those who may support the PUP and not the UDP.

Akeem Humes, accused of 2013 murder, walks free
A young man, who walked off a murder case for lack of evidence in August 2011, walked off another murder charge this morning for lack of evidence. Akeem Humes, who has been linked to the George Street Gang, was brought to the Supreme Court this morning from the Belize Central Prison where he has been on remand for the January 2013 murder of Orlando Williams who was shot on East Canal and apparently died on the scene. Shortly after Williams was murdered, police arrested and charged Humes for the murder. Humes had only enjoyed a short stretch of freedom, since his release from prison in August 2011 after a similar murder charge against him was dismissed for lack of evidence.

Bulgarians Plead Guilty to Daring ATM Thefts
Jeorgi Petrov, 28 and Halid Aptula, 25 were visibly upset with their attorneys on Friday after Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer reserved her sentence and sent them back to the Belize Central Prison until June 8, 2016. Both men pleaded guilty to 18 counts of theft from the Belize Bank ATMs located on Albert Street and North Front Street by the Water-taxi Terminal. On May 7th Halid Aptula was caught in the act by a vigilant Belize Bank auditor as he withdrew money from the ATM on Albert Street. The Bank had been targeted on different occasions earlier in the year, so Bank officials were on the lookout for the suspected cyber-thieves. When the auditor spotted Aptula he recognized him from surveillance footage and followed him to the ATM on North Front Street. As Aptula withdrew from that ATM, a passing Policeman was summoned and briefed, after which Aptula was taken into custody.

Barrow Eats Crow after Hostile Nationalization of Telephone Company
The Prime Minister of Belize is today eating crow as he grasped to put a positive spin on what his hostile piracy of Belize Telemedia in 2009 will now cost the tax payers of Belize. While the Prime Minister was trying to explain his costly gamble, his son, whom he had appointed to run the telephone company, at a press conference, appeared to be far removed from the national implications and the cost to his father’s government and the people of Belize. The younger Barrow, while acknowledging that the national telephone company, which he was nepotistically appointed to head at his father’s behest, also seemed far removed from the judgement of tribunal, that the Barrow Administration must now pay an additional $500 million to the Ashcroft Group of companies that once owned and invested in the modernization of the telephone company that enjoyed a top-notch reputation in the region. Touting the social and economic benefits of the nationalization of the telephone company, while hastily pushing legislation through parliament with much jingoism to get his way, the Prime Minister, at the time, said that he did not estimate that the nationalization of the company would have been at a cost of more than $150 million. Real market value for the company put it at a little over $300 million.

Dolly House Crumbling
The UDP is clearly on its way out. Their leader is still braggadocios and a bully but his days are numbered, while their up and coming leaders are all major failures. But the most glaring signs of serious trouble on the horizon for the UDP are the infighting and backstabbing taking place. With the Patrick Faber-John Saldivar race heating up, so have the divisions in constituencies. Cayo South, for example, has become the battleground for internal warfare for the UDP. The division is no longer controlled by the chiney man.

Court gives GOB until June 27th to respond to PUP’s “Sarstoon Law” challenge
The Barrow Government today announced that it has revoked the now infamous Statutory Instrument number 42 of 2016, otherwise known as the Sarstoon Law, which restricted the movement of Belizeans from entering the Sarstoon River for a period of one month. The Opposition People’s United Party opposed the passing of the law and is of the view that it is seriously flawed and unconstitutional. As a result, Opposition Leader Hon. John Briceño launched a legal challenge to the legislation. Party Leader Hon. Briceno and the party’s Legal Advisor, Andrew Marshelleck, SC, appeared in the courtroom of Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin last Friday to begin the constitutional challenge to the law which the government hastily passed on April 29, 2016. “The Sarstoon Law” is a serious encroachment on the freedom of movement guaranteed by the Belize Constitution, and it is now left to the Supreme Court to declare that the law was unconstitutional, because the circumstances which the law sought to alleviate did not exist in the first place.

The Gems of Graduation Season 2016 Part II – Featuring Anglican Cathedral College, Escuela Secundaria Mexico, Independence High, Gwen Lizarraga High and Belize Rural High
Week 2 of the BELIZE TIMES’ coverage of High School Graduation Season 2016 continues with results from Anglican Cathedral College (ACC). This Southside mainstay, located on Albert Street and recognized as the only Anglican high school in Belize City, will graduate 69 students on Sunday, May 29th, 2016 at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts on Southern Foreshore, starting at 2:00 p.m. Leading this year’s class are: 17- year-old Valedictorian Mr. Winfield White (from Class 4-Wallace, with a Grade Average of 84.85%), 18-year-old Salutatorian Ms. Athaleah Rivas (from Class 4-Sylvester, with a Grade Average of 83.53%) and 3rd Place finisher, giving the Vote of Thanks, 18-year-old Mr. Joseph Young (also from Class 4-Wallace, with a Grade Average of 82.32%). The BELIZE TIMES interviewed the students on Tuesday, May 17th, at the St. John’s Cathedral, right next door to their campus, in the midst of their graduation practice.

Hard Knocks
A Policeman killed himself this morning at the Queen Street Police Station, a young dude. Who knows what was on his mind and why he felt so desperate that he got to the point there was no other option but to end it all. It’s something he will have to figure out with his Maker. But here’s the thing. So many of our men and women who serve do so in the worst of conditions. The pay is crappy, resources are practically non-existent, conditions are terribly and the work just sucks most of the time. Hell, we’ve all heard stories about officers transferring to other jurisdictions and not being able to collect their transfer allowance for years. Seriously, people, these guys are the frontline between us and the criminals. While we’re at home in bed they’re dealing with the scums in Belize. They’re the ones who have to deal with children who are molested. They’re the ones who need to deal with all the dead bodies bleeding on the ground. They’re the ones who have to deal with the most evil elements of society. So while they take care of us, who takes care of them? Certainly not the fat Minister/DJ/everybody’s buddy/sports mascot/rock star. Big deal my a@*. He’s getting his in every way that counts. He doesn’t care about anything else.

Stay the course, PUP!!
Dear Editor, Two very significant things happened this weekend. The first is the passing of an icon of our community and country, a former Minister and a longstanding soldier of the People’s United Party – a Party man for sure, but a man who gave his all to God, country and people first and always. Elijio ‘Don Joe’ Briceño was the father of our Party Leader John Briceño, but he was also a legend in his own right. I’ve seen the messages come in after his passing – messages of grief and sadness, but also remembrance of the great person he was…productive members of our community who remember Don Joe for some little thing he did for them during their childhood, some small gesture which made all the difference in their young lives. There are many such stories because this giant did so much for so many. If I could paraphrase from a message sent by Hon. Cordel Hyde – even as his feet got tired, his great heart never faltered, never wavered.

Round-About John
Dear Editor, I am amazed as to how much money John Saldivar is wasting around Belmopan on roundabouts. His pet project, the football field with an A/C and Glass Lounge for himself and his cronies to watch his bandits at work. Yet, no kind of help for Belmopanese. The reality is that some of the resources could have gone to the paving of the George Price Boulevard, a much needed traffic artery in the capital. But without vision, the people shall perish…with roundabouts. John is all about show time and feel-good projects instead of true development. Any UDP will tell you, that’s just John – a lot of glitter and no substance. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Well, after Sunday’s showdown with Patrick, we’ll see if John will continue his roundabouts or if he will just be going round and about?

Breaking Belize News

Corozal man shot and killed in his vehicle
Delmar Javier Guerra, 44, was killed in an execution style murder in Paraiso Village, Corozal. Unconfirmed reports are that Guerra, also known as “El Diablo”, of San Joaquin Village was driving his white van when, at about 5:00 p.m., he pulled up to a […]

SUV catches fire in San Ignacio Town
An SUV vehicle caught fire in front of the police station in San Ignacio Town just now. Fire fighters were immediately called to the scene to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was left completely destroyed and luckily no one was injured. Police and a crew […]

Zachary Knox, Police Brutality and Cover-ups
Zachary Knox, 19, the young man that allegedly fired shots at Eastern Division South Commander, ACP Chester Williams on May 12 is reportedly admitted to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) in critical condition. At a press event yesterday, the media pressed Williams and […]

Woman dies in traffic accident
Yesterday evening at around 4:30, Orange Walk Police visited San Felipe Road in that municipality, where officers saw an extensively damaged Kia Sportage vehicle and a woman lying motionless on the ground. That woman was later identified as the driver of the vehicle, 55-year-old […]

How Blackadore Caye can regain former glory – and make money
The 107-acre Blackadore Caye, seven miles west of Ambergris Caye and San Pedro Town, appears at first glance to be no different from the many tiny cayes dotting the Caribbean Sea off Belize’s coast. But it faces a critical […]

BoneVille Cafe gives back to Punta Gorda students
BoneVille Café, located on Front Street in Punta Gorda (PG) Town, on the third floor of the popular Sea Front Inn, is a unique eatery that in recent years, has held many programs for children during holidays, with the aim to give back to […]

How To Save and Empower Our Youths
In the early to mid-90s, gangs started becoming prominent in Belize City. In Placencia, where I was born and where I grew up, we were introduced to this world, more so than other parts of Belize, at that time, due to the ‘sea […]

IMF says Belize economy slowing
A new report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), released this morning, has given a bleak prognosis for Belize’s economy saying it is slowing while fiscal and external vulnerabilities are rising. “The economic outlook has worsened further since the 2015 Article IV Consultation and is subject […]

Zika confirmed in pregnant woman from Cayo
There is a second case of Zika confirmed by testing at the regional agency. A pregnant woman from Cayo was picked up through heightened Ministry of Health surveillance and is being monitored, while a second sample from another pregnant woman has been collected for testing. […]

Popular restaurant in San Ignacio goes up in flames
A fire ripped through Cenaida’s Restaurant in San Ignacio Town on Wednesday night, completely destroying the building. The restaurant which is located on West Street served a variety of Belizean foods and was rated one of the top places to eat in San Ignacio by […]

Blogs

Belize’s Phenomenal Inspiration Center, How You Can Help & A Grand Event On Ambergris Caye
The Inspiration Center (their motto is, aptly, Where Hope Lives) was founded in 2014 by our Prime Minister’s wife, The First Lady of Belize, Kim Simplis-Barrow to help some of the most vulnerable children in Belize. The facilities are located just outside of Belize City. SO…they are having a benefit here in San Pedro. And I hope that everyone who is able can help in some way. Dress code is Evening Casual WHITE. Think white slacks and a white button down, or a simple white dress. This is not a super formal event. Tickets are available at Ramon’s Village, El Fogon and Rum + Bean Coffee Shop at Mahogany Bay. ALL proceeds will go directly to the Inspiration Center. Donors are filling in. Mahogany Bay is donating the Facility, the staff and the liquor aside from donations by Bowen & Bowen of all the beer. Travellers Liquors Ltd. is donating all rum. Karl H. Menzies will be donating the wine. At 8pm, food will be served. Tables/food are being donated by Belcampo Lodge in Punta Gorda, by Ian Anderson’s Farm House Deli, by Victoria House, by Rojo Beach Bar & Lounge, by AmberGreens, the gorgeous aquaponics green house on the Mahogany Bay property and by the TacoShack, also part of Mahogany Bay.

Travel In Belize: Top 10 Things To Do
If you’re planning your first trip to Belize it can be hard to decide what to do, given there are so many choices. Here’s a list of the top 10 activities to consider when planning your trip: 1. Visit a Mayan Ruin. Remnants of the amazing Mayan civilization have been found throughout Belize. After all, Belize was the center of the Mundo Maya. It’s a special treat to explore one of the unique ruins and step back in time. In the Cayo you have a choice of touring Xunantunich, Cahal Pech, or Caracol. If in Corozal, check out Santa Rita or Cerros. Even if you stay on Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker you can take a boat trip and tour of Lamanai or Altun Ha.

Inside the Great Blue Hole of Belize
An almost perfectly circular sinkhole measuring 300 meters across, the Great Blue Hole is one of the most popular and special sites for diving in the Belize Barrier Reef. Formed about 10,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age, the Blue Hole offers divers a uniquely gothic experience of starkly beautiful underwater caves featuring enormous stalactites and the occasional glimpse of the elusive hammerhead shark. As an underwater diving attraction, there is little variation by season or time of year so just about any time is a good time to explore the watery depths of the Belize Blue Hole. Be aware that storms or heavy rainfall can somewhat reduce visibility as well as make transportation to the Belize Blue Hole more difficult. There are no commercial routes that connect Lighthouse Reef (which surrounds the Belize Blue Hole) and the mainland or other islands. A number of private companies offer boat service to and from the area, as well as supplying the necessary diving gear and equipment.

Ginger Pork and Broccoli
In a medium skillet, saute 2 garlic cloves, minced, and 2 teaspoons minced ginger in 1 teaspoon sesame oil for 1 minute. Add 4 ounces cubed pork loin, fat removed, and cook 5 minutes until browned on all sides. Add 1 cup cooked brown rice to pork. Cook 1 cup chopped cauliflower and 1 cup chopped broccoli in boiling salted water for 1 minute; strain, reserving 1/3 cup water. Add vegetables and water to skillet with pork. Cook until water has evaporated, and then add 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons sliced scallion, and a dash red chili flakes.

International Sources

IMF Says Belize 'economy is slowing and fiscal and external vulnerabilities are rising.'
'The economy is slowing and fiscal and external vulnerabilities are rising. Falling oil production and multiple shocks in the primary sector reduced GDP growth to 1 percent in 2015. The decline in prices of energy and other commodities led to deflation in 2015, although the increase in fuel tax restored positive inflation, at 0.1 percent in March. The current account deficit widened to 9.8 percent of GDP as exports fell by 9 percent (mainly oil and marine products) and imports continued to grow, partly due to investment projects. Following partial compensation payments for the two nationalized companies, international reserves fell to 4.6 months of imports in March 2016. The fiscal deficit widened to 8 percent of GDP due to a one-off payment related to a settlement of a loan to one of the nationalized companies, an increase in public sector wages and transfers, and a large overrun in capital expenditure. As a result, the stock of public debt climbed to 82 percent of GDP. The banking system continued to strengthen, although the challenges posed by loss of correspondent banking relationships with international banks have increased since the 2015 Article IV Consultation.

IMF Staff Completes 2016 Article IV Mission to Belize
End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF's Executive Board. This mission will result in a Board discussion. An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Jacques Bouhga-Hagbe visited Belize during May 11-25 to hold discussions in the context of the country's 2016 Article IV Consultation. At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Bouhga-Hagbe issued the following statement: 'The economy is slowing and fiscal and external vulnerabilities are rising. Falling oil production and multiple shocks in the primary sector reduced GDP growth to 1 percent in 2015. The decline in prices of energy and other commodities led to deflation in 2015, although the increase in fuel tax restored positive inflation, at 0.1 percent in March.

IMF staff completes mission to Belize
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Jacques Bouhga-Hagbe visited Belize during May 11–25 to hold discussions in the context of the country’s 2016 Article IV Consultation. At the conclusion of the visit, Bouhga-Hagbe issued the following statement: “The economy is slowing and fiscal and external vulnerabilities are rising. Falling oil production and multiple shocks in the primary sector reduced GDP growth to 1 percent in 2015. The decline in prices of energy and other commodities led to deflation in 2015, although the increase in fuel tax restored positive inflation, at 0.1 percent in March. The current account deficit widened to 9.8 percent of GDP as exports fell by 9 percent (mainly oil and marine products) and imports continued to grow, partly due to investment projects. “Following partial compensation payments for the two nationalized companies, international reserves fell to 4.6 months of imports in March 2016. The fiscal deficit widened to 8 percent of GDP due to a one-off payment related to a settlement of a loan to one of the nationalized companies, an increase in public sector wages and transfers, and a large overrun in capital expenditure. As a result, the stock of public debt climbed to 82 percent of GDP.

CDB to fund US$400,000 road project in Belize
The village of Crooked Tree in Belize is home to approximately 1,000 residents, many of whom need to commute daily for employment or educational opportunities. Currently, the village can only be accessed via a 5.6km-long unpaved road, or causeway across the lagoon. During periods of high-intensity rainfall, high water levels in the lagoon regularly overtop the causeway and portions of the road, interrupting access to the community. To assist with ensuring uninterrupted access to the village, the board of directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved funding in the amount of US$400,000. The funds will be used to partially finance a feasibility study and the preparation of designs to upgrade the Crooked Tree Road and Causeway.

A Spider vs. Gecko Battle Showed Me the True Heart of Belize
It was 2 a.m. I was huddled in the middle of my bed at Chaa Creek, a luxury jungle resort in Belize, trembling and staring at the blanket I just chucked to the floor in a fit of fear. I’d been in the jungle for three days. Everything up to this point had been great. I trekked through the jungle to nearly the Guatemala border searching for Mayan ruins. I helped stir some drying painted sand locals in a small village use to create elaborate murals on the ground for the Easter season. I snorkeled with sharks and stingrays. But at this moment, none of that mattered. There were two beds in my room and I was using the one closest to the door. I turned off all the lights except the main room light and the bedside table. Then, something in the dark shadows at the foot of the next bed moved. Years of monsters-under-the-bed nightmares had trained me well, and I quickly pulled my legs up onto my bed. And then the monster crawled out of the darkness: a lightly fuzzed and largely segmented black spider as big as my hand. It slowly advanced toward my bed, staring at me with its soulless eyes the entire time.

Jesse Lee youth preparing for Belize
Jesse Lee Church’s youth will be hosting their first breakfast-to-go before the Memorial Day parade on May 30. The breakfast will include an egg and cheese breakfast sandwich with your choice of bacon or sausage and a beverage for $8. They will be set up at the corner of Main and King Lane. The money raised by the high schoolers will be added to the group’s Belize mission trip fund which has a goal of $30,000. The group of 16 youths and their leaders will be traveling to Belize to help impoverished children. Jesse Lee’s team will be working with the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission in their efforts in reconstructing and refurbishing classrooms.

What to Know Before Buying Travel Insurance
Don’t let the extra money deter you from making the investment of travel insurance — the peace of mind it buys is worth every penny. A dream of Belize for your birthday or experiencing the Australian Outback doesn’t have to be derailed by events outside of your control. Travel experts have found that many recent global events have affected how travelers view insurance. For many U.S. travelers, insuranced used to be a “nice to have” but not an essential, however that attitude is changing. The U.S. Travel Insurance Association reported that insurance purchases are up by over 15% since 2012. Looking to purchase a package for an upcoming trip? Some things to do before buying:

Watch Shyne Perform ‘Bad Boyz’ During Bad Boy Family Reunion Show
There’s a few rappers missing from Diddy’s star-studded Bad Boy Reunion show but Shyne isn’t one of them. The 37-year-old rhymer surprised fans when he appeared to perform “Bad Boyz” via video. The former Bad Boy artist appeared live onscreen for concertgoers at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center last week weekend to spit lyrics from his his 2000 song. Shyne moved back to his home country, Belize, back in 2009. But that didn’t stop the rhymer from joining in the Bad Boy fun as he rapped in from of one of Belize’s famous Mayan temples. “Happy birthday to the greatest rapper of all time,” he said before getting into the track. “Notorious B.I.G.” Diddy put together an epic lineup for The Notorious B.I.G.’s birthday (May 20) with his Bad Boy family. Lil’ Kim, Ma$e, Faith Evans, the LOX, French Montana, Total, 112, Mario Winans and Carl Thomas were just some of the artists who came out to perform. Bad Boy affiliates and friends such as Jay Z, Mary J Blige and DMX also stepped on the stage to perform.

SHYNE JOINED THE BAD BOY FAMILY REUNION TOUR FROM BELIZE
Shyne streamed into the second night of Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour from Belize. (Revolt TV)

Cost of corn flour in Venezuela skyrockets 900% as economy continues to slide
The arepa – a corn flour patty that's typically stuffed with meat, cheese and vegetables – is a staple of the Venezuelan diet, but that regional dish has become a lot pricier after the government-controlled price of corn flour skyrocketed almost 900 percent. For the last 13 months, the government of President Nicolás Maduro kept the price a steady 19 bolivares per kilogram – which is a little less than $2 at the official exchange rate. But earlier this week, Venezuela’s Superintendent of Fair Prices increased the price of corn flour to 190 bolivares per kilo, or around $19.

Honduras aims to become the leader of the textile industry in the Americas
Honduras is pursuing an ambitious development plan focused on strengthening the textile industry, according to government sources. The Central American country has established itself as a leading player in recent years, currently holding the spot as the second largest exporter of textiles in the Americas, after Mexico. Here are the top five reasons given by the government why Honduras is on the path to becoming the leader of the textile industry in the Americas. 1. Sustainability The key to success for this transformation is sustainability. The plan, a joint initiative of the government and the private sector, seeks to position the country as a leader in the Americas that pushes the frontier of sustainability and innovation in textiles, raising the bar for development and productivity in the industry. This is a critical factor in the current global context where consumers, particularly the younger generations, demand sustainable practices and supply chain integrity throughout the production process.

Videos

May 26, 2016

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Ministry of Health Confirms Zika in Pregnant Woman
The Ministry of Health has received another confirmed case of Zika in the country by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). The case is being closely monitored by the Ministry of Health staff as the patient is a pregnant woman. This patient is from the Cayo District. The case was picked up through the heightened and strengthened vector borne disease and vaccine preventable disease surveillance, which now includes the monitoring of Zika, currently underway across the country. The Ministry this morning collected a sample from another pregnant woman with symptoms of the virus. The sample will be sent to CARPHA for further testing.

Mayor Guerrero makes education a priority
Education is definitely the key to success, and as a part of Education Month, Mayor Daniel Guerrero, Councilor Ruben Gonzalez, and members from the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) visited the San Pedro High School, Holy Cross Anglican School, Ambergris Caye Elementary School, Isla Bonita Elementary School, New Horizon Seventh-day Adventist School, and the San Pedro Roman Catholic School. The initial purpose for the Mayor’s visit was to emphasize the importance of education and to assist schools in renovating, improving, or aiding all schools visited. Mayor Guerrero’s agenda included giving a welcome to the student body of each school, touring each classroom and interacting with teachers to hear their needed requests. “After various school visits, it is apparent that many schools are in need of repairs, and improvements to infrastructure are needed,” said Guerrero. He pledged to put a commitment on education, and promised to supply schools with needed materials to improve the overall quality of the education system in San Pedro.

Ambergris Caye residents join Hands across the Sands against offshore oil exploration
On Saturday, May 21st Belizeans from among 13 municipalities joined hands as part of the second annual “Hands across the Sand,” in order to promote and highlight the issues of offshore oil exploration and drilling. This year, the campaign was also aimed at spreading the message of saying ‘NO’ to filthy fuels and saying ‘YES’ to clean energy. The event, which also took place in over 80 countries around the world, was spearheaded in Belize by Oceana in Belize who rallied citizens to take part in this worthy cause. In San Pedro Town a total of 19 residents gathered on the beach in front of the Central Park. For around 15 minutes, the group held hands in solidarity against offshore oil development in Belize’s marine environment. Hundreds of Belizeans across the 13 municipalities also joined in. Orange Walk Town, Corozal Town Belize City, Belmopan City, San Ignacio Town, Hopkins Villa, Placencia Village, Sarteneja Village, Caye Caulker Village, and Punta Gorda Town said NO to filthy fuels.

Full Moon concert highlights local talent
The glow of the full, beautiful moon inspired the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), the San Pedro House of Culture (SPHC), and the San Pedro AIDS Commission (SPAC) to host a full moon concert on Saturday, May 21st. The event took place at Central Park, where dozens of people viewed the full moon while enjoying free entertainment from four local artists. The concert featured Wil Nuñez, Oscar Aguilar, Natalie Arceo, and Rompe Raja for a night of family fun. Vice President of SPAC, David Jenkins, and his committee was productive throughout the night raising funds from their food and drink sales. “The weather is perfect and the concert finally happened after many attempts. On behalf of our AIDS Commission, all proceeds will help our organization to continue to stand up for people living with HIV/AIDS in San Pedro,” said Jenkins. The night was perfectly clear, and people danced and applauded the musical talents of the artists. Overall, the concert was a success and the SPHC is hoping to plan a Full Moon concert each quarter of the year.

SPTC celebrates teachers and nurses
In honor of Teacher’s and Nurse’s week, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC), along with Area Representative and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr., organized a celebration to commemorate their tremendous contribution to the island on Thursday, May 19th. Nurses, doctors, and medical practitioners from Dr. Otto Rodriguez Polyclinic II, as well as teachers, administrators, and principals from schools across San Pedro packed the Angel Nuñez Auditorium for a night of fun. Prior to starting the ceremony, guests enjoyed socializing and mingling with colleagues and business friends. With an apology given for the absence of Hon. Heredia, Councilor Ruben Gonzalez gave the official vote of thanks for the night. “The purpose of this event is to celebrate all our teachers, nurses, and medical practitioners. We are all very thankful for the commitment from them and we recognize their hard work, long hours, patience, and grace they have. I encourage them to keep up the good work,” said Councilor Gonzalez.

Ambergris Today

Belizeans Across the Nation Hold Hands for a Cause
Residents across Thirteen municipalities join hands as part of the Second Annual “Hands Across the Sand” to Say ‘No’ to Filthy Fuels and ‘Yes’ to Clean Energy - On May 21, 2016, at noon, Belizeans around the country joined hands on beaches, across bridges, along sea walls and in other public areas to stand in solidarity against offshore oil development in Belize's economically important marine environment. Belize was one of 83 countries to observe Hands Across the Sand with participation from hundreds of residents across the following municipalities: Orange Walk town, Dangriga, Belize City, Placencia, Corozal Town, San Ignacio, Hopkins, Sarteneja, Punta Gorda town, Caye Caulker, San Pedro (Headline Picture) and Belmopan.

Misc Belizean Sources

Habaneros Pepper Sauce
This stuff is just onions in vinegar with maybe a few habaneros or jalapenos cut up and tossed in for a little kick and some other secret spices. Rosita's Burrito stand had it in a big jug and you could put it on burritos/hotdogs.

Village Initiative Arcadia San Pedro Seminar Series August 8 – August 19
Arcadia University is being hosted in San Pedro for the purpose of bring free education and seminars to the community. With focus on Education, Nutrition, Physical Therapy, Medical and Psychological Support, and Business, Supervisory and Leadership initiatives.

Republic of China (Taiwan) to Disburse First Installment for Renal Failure Prevention Project to the Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health on behalf of the Government and people of Belize will be receiving the first disbursement of US$34,500 for the capacity building project for the prevention and control of chronic renal failure in Belize at a ceremony to be held at the Best Western Biltmore Hotel on May 30th, 2016 at 9:00a.m. The “Renal Failure Prevention Project” is a three-year project with a total approved budget of US$2.2 million. It was signed on February 10, 2016 between Belize and Taiwan to treat patients at the early stages of renal failure or kidney disease, ultimately reducing the socio-economic burden to families and to the health system. Training will be provided to general practitioners and dialysis nurses in Taiwan, while local training programs will be conducted for Case Managers and Community Health Workers in identification and management of risk factors for kidney failure. Furthermore, the project also includes the establishment and launch of a tracking and management system for chronic disease cases in medical facilities.

Minister Panton delivers Keynote Address at Galen University Graduation
On Sunday, May 22nd, 2016, Galen University graduated ninety-nine students at its 13th Commencement Exercises held at the Muffles College Auditorium in Orange Walk Town. Graduates received degreesin various fields including Anthropology, Environmental Science, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Elementary Education, Accounting and Business Administration. Hon. Tracy Taegar- Panton, Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Development, Petroleum, Investment, Trade & Commerce, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the emerging socio-economic needs and challenges in the public and private sectors and how Belizeans can combine their skills, talents and experiences to shape a new future. The minister stressed the importance of diversifying our economic base using technology, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship as well as maintaining open dialogue to foster co-ordination and objectivity on matters of national importance.

Empower Yourself Belize Movement
Empower Yourself Belize Movement (EYBM) recently held a event to commemorate IDAHOT Day. EYBM is a Belize NGO that works with People Living with HIV and focuses on delivering health tips and the importance of medication adherence, addressing nutrition, increasing prevention education interventions for HIV/STI, and advice on personal hygiene. Currently EYBM is funded through The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). PEPFAR is the U.S. Government initiative to help save the lives of those suffering from HIV/AIDS around the world. This historic commitment is the largest by any nation to combat a single disease internationally, and PEPFAR investments also help alleviate suffering from other diseases across the global health spectrum. PEPFAR is driven by a shared responsibility among donor and partner nations and others to make smart investments to save lives.

Education in Belize: Breaking bad habits
I commend the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) for defiantly standing up to Guatemala during its escalating armed border incursions into Belize. An age old, yet formerly non-violent, border dispute has now turned violent. Guatemala has defiantly stationed its military at Belize's Southern Sarstoon border, and may want to push armed contingents even further into our Southern and Western borders. Our government ignored the first armed encroachment, and then urged Belizeans to stay away from the Sarstoon border. Yet, we now have incurred loss of life on both sides. Many Belizeans have reached a boiling point (against their own government as well as Guatemala), and are taking defiant actions to protest Guatemala's armed bullying and the Belize government's sudden Sarstoon Prohibition law. BNTU members/teachers have set a positive example for thousands of students in Belize, and showed them the importance of "taking action".

May 2016 External Trade & Consumer Price Index
During the month of April 2016, the prices of goods and services purchased by Belizean households were a marginal 0.1 percent higher than in April 2015. According to latest statistics released by the Statistical Institute of Belize, the All Items Consumer Price Index was 102.9, up from 102.8 in April of last year. For the first four months of the year 2016, an inflation rate of 0.2 percent was recorded.
Belize’s total imports for the month of April 2016 were valued at $168.9 million. This was an increase of 7.2 percent or $11.3 million over last April’s imports, which totaled $157.6 million. Of the various categories, ‘Machinery and Transport Equipment’ was the primary reason for the rise in total imports during the month, growing considerably by $25 million dollars, from $31 million in April 2015 to $56 million in April 2016. This increase was mainly attributable to purchases of telecommunications equipment valued at $17 million dollars made during the month. The ‘Other Manufactures’ category had the only other observable increase, growing by a lesser $2 million due mostly to purchases of construction material along with plastic boxes and crates.

2nd annual Summer Music Camp, Caye Caulker
You have seen what our children are capable of accomplishing with a dedicated and excellent music instructor like Mr. Carlos Perrote so Come join us during the summer as we get ready for our 2nd annual Summer Music Camp. Our Saturday music classes will continue as scheduled. The music camp is not only designed for children but adults as well. If you would like to join us or sponsor a child give me a call at 605-5904 or visit my Tutoring center at the corner of Estrella Street and Avenida Mangle.

Bartending Training in Belize City
Belize Mixology is finally coming to Belize City for bartending training. Details are as follows: Venue: BTEC building at the ITVET compound. Introduction to Bartending: Tuesday June 7th to 9th from 9am to 12pm. Cost $350 Advanced Bartending: Friday June 10th to 13th from 9am to 12 pm. Cost $450 We are offering a 10% discount for the first 10 persons to to sign up and pay the required 50 % deposit. Payment can be made via cash, cheque, or bank deposit to our Scotia company account. This is a great oppurtunity to gain knowledge in a rapidly growing sector of the hospitality industry. We also help in finding jobs for qualified participants after training. If a participant would like to take just the Advanced course, he/she would need to have a minimum of 5 years of experience at a fully functioning bar. If not then the Introduction training is required first. Certificates are awarded for each training. Spaces are very limited.

De-escalating the Working Poor's Mental Health Issues
We are all challenged with emotional distresses. As men it is harder as we are expected to be stronger. There is a correlation with physical work. The more physical the environment is, the more macho a male is expected to be. The only therapy that most of us receive is when we chat with a friend or in a group, social setting. You ever see a bunch of guys hang out and drink? In the middle of the loud music and chatting about which woman is sexy, there will be moments when relationship issues are brought up. The only help they get is the release, depending on the quality group they may or may not receive good advice. But they will get the "I feel yo pain" response, which is all the therapy they receive. Earlier in the week you may have noticed a series of "high school fights" of mostly girls and maybe one with adult females. The quality of the discussion by the friend who recorded these attacks, that's what they were, attacks to shame the victim who they expected to lose. They didn't want a fight, they wanted a victim whose pain can be repeated continuously. If you look at the comments, they range from "this boring" "They can't be from this neighborhood because they so lame". People have no empathy. People are cold.

Submit your application today to the BETEX Committee
Deadline for applications is April 29, 2016.

Ministry of Health Confirms Zika in Pregnant Woman
The Ministry of Health has received another confirmed case of Zika in the country by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). The case is being closely monitored by the Ministry of Health staff as the patient is a pregnant woman. This patient is from the Cayo District. The case was picked up through the heightened and strengthened vector borne disease and vaccine preventable disease surveillance, which now includes the monitoring of Zika, currently underway across the country. The Ministry this morning collected a sample from another pregnant woman with symptoms of the virus. The sample will be sent to CARPHA for further testing. Vector control and public health officers, along with staff from the Epidemiology Unit and Maternal and Child Health Departments, are actively engaged with the community and are further scaling up efforts in the monitoring of Zika.

The Ombudsman of Belize Assumes Presidency of the Central American Council of Human Rights Defenders/Ombudsmen
The Ombudsman of Belize welcomes the Central American Council of Human Rights Defenders/Ombudsmen to Belize City, Belize from 25 to 27 May, 2016. During the Council’s visit, the Ombudsman of Belize will assume the Presidency of the Council for the year 2016 to 2017. On May 25, the Council will host a Forum on Internal Displacement and Forced Migration, a topic of important concern to the region at the moment. The Council will also have closed meetings to discuss other important topics, including the formulation of plans and projects, adoption of resolutions and other matters. The Council was reconstituted in February 2015 and consists of the seven Central American Countries: Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. The Presidency rotates among the member countries annually.

Poets Corner: Shock Wave
By Abdulmajeed K Nunez. Pause for a cause Let’s look at our laws The Mayan cause Is Belize’s cause Their ICJ victory Made legal history Setting precedence for indigenous peoples throughout the territory This makes the status quo uneasy Sending shockwaves throughout the hegemony The NGC, NCC and the East Indian Council Need to seek legal counsel Join together taking your indigenous cause to the judiciary This will put a stop the hegemony’s corruption in country We all have rights to this territory We won’t be able to accede any land and territories To any other countries

Power interruption from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday May 29th for the entire Corozal District.
BEL to conduct critical maintenance of equipment at the Corozal Substation.

2016 Frenchie's Offshore Open
First place honors for the 2016 Frenchie's Offshore Open went to Team Venator out of Chetumal who boated a 135lb Blue Marlin, a 15lb Wahoo and 5lb Tuna. 2nd Place winners were Princesa Del Mar out of San Pedro who released a Sailfish on Day 1 and a White Marlin on Day 2 while 3rd Place went to Fishizzle also from San Pedro who released a White Marlin on Day 2 and took heaviest Dorado which weighed 18lbs. In all the tournament boats released 2 Sailfish, 3 White Marlin and weighed 1 Blue Marlin. Thanks to all our sponsors for their support and to all 17 boats who competed. We'll see you again next year Caye Caulker!

Men at Work art Exhibit in Corozal
Mark the date, as we celebrate Corozal's talented male artists at the 4th annual Men at Work art exhibit.

I AM Belize scholarship Program
Belize Electricity Limited and RESTORE Belize entered into a four-year partnership on May 25, with the Company committing to provide a $36,000 total contribution towards the “I AM Belize scholarship Program”. BEL’s contribution will provide tuition, books, and uniforms for 9 new scholarship students for the 2016 – 2019 school years. A total of 38 students have graduated from the program since its inception in 2010, with a success rate of 80% in 2014 – 2015.

ATLIB Professional Development 2016
ATLIB had their 2016 Professional Development Sessions last week, where most of the country's tertiary level professors met to learn everything from technology in the classroom to grant writing to statistics. Sacred Heart Junior College, Belize hosted the event. Minister Faber was there to kick off the learning, and he gave a great speech about quality and the need to strive for that goal in the field of education.

Public Service Info Day 2016
Public Service Information Day is Friday, May 27th, and it'll be celebrated at Sir George Brown Field in Belmopan. The Benque Marimba Academy will be there along with entertainment for everyone. There will also be chocolate making. Thanks, MoEYSC! "Happening on Friday May 27th 2016 @ The Sir George Brown Field in Belmopan!!! Come out and view our booth MOEYSC from 9:00 am to 3:00pm!!!"

Belize Zoo Conservation Camp 2016
The Belize Zoo is gearing up for their 23rd annual Conservation Camp. Now is the time to apply because the camp will start on June 27th. "CONSERVATION CAMP 2016!: TBZ will once again be accepting young Belizeans join our Education team as we explore Belize's natural wonders through our week long conservation camp. This will be the 23rd year of 'Zoo Camp.' Special guest presentations, field trips, scientific studies and role play are just a few of the many activities planned this year. The goal of Camp, as always, is to foster conservation-minded attitudes in the next generation of stewards of our natural heritage. June 27th to July 1st are the dates this year, so, parents, start applying! Campers must be 12-17 years of age, and come prepared for 4 nights and 5 days of activities. More info and registration forms can be requested from [email protected], or [email protected], or call the Zoo at 822-8000."

Maypole Dance w/ the Charikanari Dancers in San Pedro
Join us this Friday at the San Pedro House of Culture as we revive the traditional Maypole dance. Performing will be the Black & White Charikanari Dancers. This events will be a fundraising event for the cultural dance group. Food & drinks on sale. Performing will be the Charikanari Dancers and local children. See you there!

Learn more about The Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project
Public Engagement meeting #2, June 15th

Channel 7

PM Was Curt When Discussing Istanbul Talks
Yesterday bilateral talks between the Foreign Ministers of Belize and Guatemala concluded in Istanbul, Turkey. At the conclusion of that meeting, the Foreign Affairs Ministries of both Belize and Guatemala sent out a joint press release. Although it was lengthy, and mentioned that both parties recognized the need to avoid further incidents along the border, it did not give much specifics as to what was actually discussed. However, as a result of these talks, the Prime Minister, who sits as the chair of the National Security Council, saw it fit to revoke the Sarstoon SI. That was a surprising action, given that the Prime Minister ended the 30-day Sarstoon Ban a few days early. So, what did the Belize delegation relay back to give him that kind of confidence? That's what we asked when we caught him Orange Walk Town after attending Elijio Joe Briceño's funeral. Here's how that very brief conversation actually went:

Ambassador Courtenay Was More Forthcoming On Bilateral Talks
We had a few more important questions for the Prime Minister on this topic, but he declined to entertain anymore and walked off. We did however meet Eamon Courtney at that same event, who had returned home early. He was a bit more candid in speaking with us about the bilateral talks at Istanbul. He attended the summit as a representative of the Leader of the Opposition and as a member the Belize delegation. Here is his take on the Istanbul discussions. Eamon Courtenay - Representative of the Leader of the Opposition: "First of all I think the most significant thing is that Belize and Guatemala have now agreed that it is necessary to have a protocol for the free navigation in the Sarstoon and the parties have agreed that they will start the negotiations very shortly of that protocol. As the Foreign Minister indicated during the course of the meeting the basis on which Belize will start is that we will have full sovereignty and territorial integrity over our side of the Sarstoon River as well as the Sarstoon Island; so that was the basis from which we will start. The second important thing is a sort of informal understanding from Guatemala that there will be free navigation even whilst we are negotiating so we do not expect that the Guatemalan naval forces and military are going to continue to stop Belizeans or other people from using the Sarstoon River."

The Opposition Leader's Representative Is Cautiously Optimistic
But just how confident is the Belize Delegation that Guatemala will hold true to this "informal" agreement? We couldn't get the Prime Minister's thoughts on that issue but according to Eamon Courtney, it is all but a waiting game now. He added that, at least for their part, the PUP remains confident - but not too confident - on the way forward. Here is how he put it. Eamon Courtenay - Representative of the Leader of the Opposition: "I would say it's important for us to see what happens. Saying something in a diplomatic meeting is one thing, the proof of the pudding is in the eating so we need to see what happens beginning now when we exercise our rights to use the Sarstoon when our citizens and when the military exercise their right. We expect based on the understanding at the meeting that they will be entitled to do so as we have always done. Now as you say the important thing is whether or not the Guatemalan forces in the Sarstoon is going to respect that. We are hopeful that they will, we insisted that the information be communicated not only to the top of the military but to the soldiers and the naval forces in the area. So there should be no defence that the message didn't reach the people in the field and that type of thing; we expect full compliance and respect for our territorial rights."

When's the Next Bilateral Talks On Sarstoon Protocol?
So, the SI is revoked and tensions at the Southern border are expected to de-escalate given the "Informal" agreement that allows for the free passage of Belizean military and civilians along the Sarstoon. It's is a good start, but just for how long will this "informal" agreement stand? Both countries have agreed that it is necessary to set the protocol of operation at the Sarstoon but no timeline has been given for when that protocol will be fleshed out; however according to Eamon Courtney, negotiations are expected to begin soon in that regard. And, it better, he says, because the PUP have all intentions of continuing to assert their sovereignty over Belize's portion of the Sarstoon. Eamon Courtenay - Representative of the Leader of the Opposition: "The understanding is that Ambassador Roldan and Ambassador Rosado will meet very shortly and set the time table for the meetings which we expect to start as a matter of urgency. We expect the meetings to take place very quickly and to be progressed with some deliberate speed because we need certainty and we need a clear understanding because we will be exercising our rights in the Sarstoon."

PUP's Failed Trip Could Have Affected The Outcome Of Istanbul Talks
Full respect of our rights to even visit the Sarstoon… this is very a strong position from a PUP senator. As you know, the party's trip didn't happen for the reasons the Opposition Leader described last night. Nevertheless the members of the Guatemalan delegation caught wind of the planned expedition and at the diplomatic talks at Istanbul yesterday it was briefly brought up. Eamon Courtenay - Representative of the Leader of the Opposition: "The Foreign Minister of Guatemala did mention the fact that the proposed trip by the PUP was in his view and in his words provocative. Our side didn't respond to it but as you know we believe that we have a right to travel in the Sarstoon and to travel anywhere in the 8,867 square miles of Belize. It is regrettable that Guatemala would regard that as being provocative but it is our right that the PUP believes that every Belizean has a right to exercise and we as a party if necessary will do it."

Opposition Leader's Rep. Sees Purpose For PUP Lawsuit
So now with the SI revoked, it makes another PUP Trip to the Sarstoon a little less meaningful by way of political standards. The main reason for the PUP's visit to the Sarstoon was to challenge the - what they called- unconstitutional move by the Government. So no SI, no political meaning. But is the same true for the Constitutional Challenge which the opposition filed against the Government? Today we asked Eamon Courtney for his legal opinion on this matter. Here is what he said. Eamon Courtenay - Representative of the Leader of the Opposition: "It's not mute and it is not pointless because we expect the challenge to continue. You see what you have there is in our view an unlawful exercise of state power. As I said before it is bad policy and it is bad in law. The public safety act has a specific criteria for the Governer General to exercise that power to restrain people from moving in the Sarstoon or anywhere else. We believe that the facts were not there for him to do it and therefore he acted unlawfully and we have to set a precedent, the court has to speak to the circumstances in which that kind of power can be exercised in the future. So it is a very important case, it violated our constitutional rights and the constitutional rights of many Belizeans who attempted to go there and we ask the court to still pronounce on it for the future."

2nd Zika Confirmed In Belize; This Time It's A Pregnant Woman
Belize has another confirmed case of Zika in country, and this time, it's a pregnant woman who is infected. That's not the type of news that the Ministry of Health wants at this time, since the woman's baby is at risk of being born with the medical condition as micro-cephaly, a birth defect where newborns have abnormally small heads and under-developed brains. The Ministry of Health confirmed before news time that it has received the confirmation of the pregnant woman by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). Their statement says, quote, "The case is being closely monitored by the Ministry of Health staff as the patient is a pregnant woman. This patient is from the Cayo District. The case was picked up through the heightened and strengthened vector borne disease and vaccine preventable disease surveillance, which now includes the monitoring of Zika, currently underway across the country.

Police Constable Killed Himself
Suicides don't normally make the evening news, but one of them is tonight after a cop killed himself this morning. Another cop attempted to take his life less than 5 days before, and we'll get to that, but first to the very tragic story of Constable Edward Gonzalez. Right now, the Queen Street Police Formation, where he was stationed is still trying to grapple with his death. The 34 year-old constable shot himself in the head early this morning around 2. Gonzalez was with 2 other officers outside of the Queen Street Police Station when he suddenly pulled out his licensed gun and shot himself. Gonzalez's suicide has stunned his colleagues and today at a press briefing, they told us they didn't see this coming. Courtney Weatherburne has the story. PC Edward Gonzalez went to work every morning at 7:00 sharp. He was always right on time for the routine inspection and briefing sessions. Gonzalez became known for his promptness, tidiness and good police work.

Another Cop Tried Suicide; Very Fortunately, He Failed
Now while it is very unfortunate that Gonzalez lost all hope and ended his life, there is hope for Precinct 2 Police Constable Melvin Nah. He is recovering at the hospital right now after he tried to poison himself on Monday night. Luckily his family and friends got to him quickly and rushed him to the hospital. Nah was saved. Police told us more about this other troubling case. ACP Chester Williams - OC, Chester Williams: "There was an incident on Monday night where a police officer who is assigned to precinct 2 apparently drank some noxious substance and was rushed to the KHMH. He is currently in the hospital admitted in a stable condition. From what we have been made to understand he's slowly recovering and he should make a full recovery in a very short space of time."

Police Counsellor Trying Assist With The Stressors Of The Job
So Now, what is being done in the police department to help officers like Gonzalez and Nah? Well as you heard, there is an Employee Assistance Program which provides counseling to police officers. Today we spoke to the coordinator of the program Shawn Vargas and he highlighted some of the stresses that police offices face and he also discussed how to manage that stress. Shawn Vargas - Coordinator, Employee Assistance Prog.: "It's a high stress job. There are several factors that police officers have to contend with. Many among them is putting your life at risk on a daily basis and so as to some of the challenges that they are faced among the general public on their job it's the idea of walking to know that you might be a target; now that's a level you have to work with. It is important for us to understand ourselves, it is important for us to understand our body; our body tells us a lot in terms of dealing with stress and coping with personal challenges. So if you believe that you are a point, at a breaking point then it is best to get professional help. It is best to get professional help for guidance and professional help is available through the employee assistance programme."

Eastern Division South Commander Wants In-House Personal Constable
But is this Employee Assistance Program enough? Well, the Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams doesn't think so. Williams explained that there needs to be a greater focus on having in house counsellors at the different divisions. ACP Chester Williams - OC, Chester Williams: "Our department have grown so huge and I think that the police department is the largest organization in the government service, bigger than the BDF, bigger than the coast guard. The only organization bigger than us are the teachers and I think that we have grown to the extent that we should be able to have our own in house counsellors and I think that what we need to do is look seriously at how we can achieve this to have at least one at each of the different divisions within the police department. That is only 6 regions so to hire 6 counsellors to be available at any given time to provide counselling to our officers I do believe that the benefit will surely outweigh the cost. While we do have the employee assistance programme it is a good idea, good initiative but I think that if we have our own in house counsellors our officers will be more use to those person and they'll be more willing to open to those persons."

Calaney's Attorney Says She Has No-Case To Answer To
For the past 16 days now, 30 year-old Calaney Flowers has been standing trial in the court room of Justice Troadio Gonzalez for the capital offenses of murder and attempted murder. Police say that on August 28, 2012 she used her car to intentionally knock her ex-boyfriend, 29 year-old Lyndon Morrison, down. He was on his motorcycle with his new girlfriend Sochyl Sosa, and the impact of the collision caused them to suffer serious injuries, which ended up claiming Lyndon Morrison's life. Well, since we last reported on the trial without jury, a lot has taken place. The prosecutor, Crown Counsel Sheneiza Smith, has called a number of witnesses including Morrison's mother Laurel Grant, as well as Sochyl Sosa, the woman who survived the deadly accident. She told the court last week from the stand that, on that night, at around 9:00 o'clock, she was at home, when Lyndon Morrison arrived at her house to pick her up on his motorcycle. They stopped at Friendship Restaurant on Mahogany Street to buy a burger and headed to a Chinese shop near to get a juice.

The Newco Ghost of Previous Government's Past
You may remember Newco, as a European Consortium which had a brief 30-year concession agreement with the Previous Musa Government over the Management and control of the Philip Goldson International Airport. That business deal eventually led a legal dispute which for which a 4.2 million US dollar award has been hanging over the current Government's head. Well, it appears that this ghost of the Musa Government past is coming back to haunt the current Goverment once again. It's a dispute that dates back 11 years ago to May of 2005 when Newco, sued the the Musa Government. The company's claim is that the then Government of the day entered into that concession agreement and 11 months later, they terminated it without cause. If that deal hadn't ended abruptly, Newco would have been entitled to operate the airport and make improvements to it. You'll remember that the Belize Airport Concession Company, the group of well-connected local investors, got the deal to run the airport after the canceled Newco agreement.

BEL Teams Up With Restore Belize For Scholarships
Every year, Restore Belize sources business partners to help fund four years of secondary school expenses for a number of underprivileged students. Today they signed a formal agreement with the Belize Electricity Limited, BEL, in which the electricity company is granting $36 thousand dollars to the "I AM Belize scholarship Program". The grant will provide tuition, books, and uniform for 9 new scholarship students for a period of four years. We spoke with Restore Belize and the BEL representatives who signed the document. Here's what they told us about this new partnership. Roger Bradley - Sr. Prog. Officer, RESTORE Belize: "What is happening is we are embarking on a partnership between RESTORE Belize and the Belize National Energy Charitable Trust to riase funds for another 4 years and this morning we really appreciate the assistance of the Belize Electricity Limited and this will enable 9 students to have an opportunity to complete their secondary education."

A Discrepancy In the Narrative Of Chester's Alleged Shooter
You may remember the high speed city chase that almost got Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams shot by a gunman, or worse. As we told you, On May 13th Williams was driving in his personal vehicle when he got word of a shooting on Euphrates Avenue. He was also alerted of a fleeing black truck that was nearby when the shooting happened. Williams was in the area and set chase after the men in the vehicle. He caught up with them and that is when he came face to face with 19 year old Zacharia Knox. Knox fired 3 shots at Williams but he missed. Knox along with 2 others were charged in connection with the shooting. But there is one thing that does not quite add up, Knox somehow ended up in the hospital in a critical condition after that brazen encounter with Williams. So how did he get there? Well we asked Williams about it today and he said plainly : he does not know! Mike Rudon - Channel 5 News: "That fellow last report we got he fired at you, he was apprehended that same evening and somehow from there to this point he is at the KHMH in what was critical condition up to a couple days ago. Could you take us from the apprehension to the KHMH."

Don "Joe" Laid To Rest
Earlier you heard the Prime Minister's comments on the latest developments on the diplomatic front between Belize and Guatemala. We met him in Orange Walk earlier this evening, but he was not there on official business. He was actually there in a sort of informal capacity, to attend the funeral service of the late Joe Briceño, a stalwart PUP, former Government Minister, and two time representative for Orange Walk. He is also happens to be the father of the now leader of the People's United Party. Today, the Prime Minister and a few other UDP Ministers paid a courtesy visit to the Leader of the Opposition and attended his father's funeral. Minister for Port Loyola even offered a few kind words to the late Briceno during the official funeral service. Today we spoke to the PM who told us that while He and the Briceno's are political enemies, outside of that political arena is no space for animosity. And so today it was just right to join in honor the legacy of the late Briceno.

Come Have Lunch With A Cop
You know all about the weekly meet and greets that the different Eastern Division commanders hold to become more friendly and available to the communities they serve. Well, the Eastern Division's commanders are offering another means to reason with them on a one-on-one basis. It's called the Lunch with a Cop initative, in which, as the name suggests, members of the public can sit down and share a meal, with the different Eastern Division leaders. Assistant Superintendent of Police Desiree Phillips told us more about it today. The first edition of the Lunch with a Cop initative is set for tomorrow at 11;30 to 1 at the Sea View Restaurant at the Princess Hotel. Everyone is invited to come and have lunch with 12 officers at your own expense.

The ESRI User Conference Is Here Again
The 2016 Belize Esri user conference was held today at Biltmore Plaza. The two day event saw key note speaker Jacqueline DaCota, the Chairperson of the Land Information Council of Jamaica, presenting her expertise in the field of applied Geographic information system (GIS). Other speakers included lecturers, GIS students, business owners, bank managers, members of Government agencies, and just about anybody else you could think of- all sharing their knowledge and experiences in the use of GIS technology. The wide variety of participants set the background for what ESRI and its local partners are trying to do- and that is to get everyone using this GIS technology.

Channel 5

Suicide at Queen Street Precinct: On-duty Police Officer Shoots Himself
Today, the Belize Police Department is reeling from the sudden death of one of their own, Police Constable Edwardo Gonzalez – not in the line of duty, but allegedly by [...]

Another Officer Ingests Deadly Poison in Suicide Attempt
That suicide this morning follows what we are told was an attempt by another police officer on Monday. In that case the officer allegedly ingested some form of poison, reportedly [...]

Police Department Addresses Critical Turn of Events
When and if that officer does recover, he will be placed into counseling which is provided by the Employee Assistance Program. It’s a twenty-four hour service available to those within [...]

Counseling to be Provided for Traumatized Colleagues
That counseling is sorely needed by officers who deal with long hours at a very difficult job. The suicide and attempted suicide this week highlight the need. But there’s some [...]

‘Papa’ Mena Discusses U.D.P.’s Upcoming Special Convention
On Sunday at the ITVET in Belize City, the United Democratic Party will be holding a special convention to elect a First Deputy Leader.  Belmopan Area Representative John Saldivar is [...]

A Pregnant Mother in Cayo Tests Positive for Zika
There is another confirmed case of zika in Belize. Late this evening, the Ministry of Health issued a release confirming that another patient has tested positive for the virus. This [...]

Did Police Pummel Zachry Knox Following Incident Involving Top Cop?
On May twelfth, nineteen-year-old Zachry Knox allegedly fired three shots at Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams during a high speed chase in the city. Knox was picked up that [...]

A Date for Decision in Calaney Flowers Murder Trial is Set
Thirty-year-old Calaney Flowers, a former employee of Atlantic Bank who is accused of the vehicular homicide of her ex-boyfriend, appeared before Justice Troadio Gonzalez today.  Flowers has also been charged [...]

Youths Charged for Beating Up Elderly Man Near BTL Park
Two Belize City youths were today fined five hundred dollars each after they both pled guilty for badly beating a sixty-four-year-old fisherman over the weekend. Today, twenty-year-old Justin Marin and [...]

Public Service Day Celebrated with Information Fair
An all-day information fair concluded in Belize City this evening.  The event was part of the annual celebration of Public Service Day and saw the participation of a number of [...]

B.E.L. and Restore Belize Sign MOU for High School Scholarship
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed earlier today between Belize Electricity Limited and Restore Belize for a grant of thirty-six thousand dollars.  The money, given for a specific purpose, has [...]

Skills Training Center Showcases Talented Young Students
Over four hundred students have been graduated from the Skill Training Center in Belize City since its inception in 2012. There has been a fifty percent success rate so far [...]

Belize Wins Gold in COCABA Men’s Volleyball Tournament
The Belize Male National Volleyball Team wins the Copa Cancun 2016 Tournament. Over the weekend, three teams from Belize, including the MOEN Stars female team and the UB Black Jaguars [...]

Special Edition Sports Wednesday – Football and Softball Stats
Good evening, I’m James Adderley with a Wednesday edition of Sports Monday. You know some days are better than others so let’s jump into the action.   Monday’s Belize City [...]

PlusTV

Sarstoon Restriction SI revoked
The Government of Belize has announced that it has revoked the Sarstoon Prohibition SI which was placed into effect on April 29th of this year. Government made the announcement on Tuesday May 24, 2016, following a cabinet session, just 5 days shy of when the restriction would have been lifted accor...

Guatemala-Belize Foreign Ministers agree to “work on formal cooperation mechanism”
That agreement to start work on “a formal cooperation mechanism” between the two countries was reached when the Foreign Ministers attended the World Humanitarian Summit held by the United Nations Secretary General. There, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Belize and Guatemala, Hon. Wilfred Elringt...

PUP blames Government for postponed Sarstoon trip
The People’s United Party (PUP) says it has postponed, not cancelled, its planned educational trip to the Sarstoon River for party leaders that was scheduled for Saturday. According to an official statement from the party issued Saturday evening, “..this unfortunate postponement in no way signals an...

BPP and BTV go to Sarstoon
However, while the PUP backed out, the Belize Territorial Volunteer leader Wil Maheai and Belize Progressive Party member Bobby Lopez, did not . The two organizations teamed up and took a boat to the mouth of the Sarstoon River on Saturday before the law was revoked. Also with Maheia and Lopez on...

Teacher drowns on fishing trip with Coast Guard friends
A teacher drowned after he and two of his Coast Guard friends went on a fishing trip in the Orange Walk district. According to reports, on Sunday May 22, 31-year-old Coast Guard Elijio Reyes of Xaibe Village, Corozal District and another Coast Guard, Genaro Chan, were along with their friend 31...

Two injured after car slams into concrete wall
Two Santa Elena residents were injured on Saturday May 21st after the car they were travelling in slammed into the concrete wall by the San Ignacio market. Police say they were called out to Savannah Street, San Ignacio, near the low wooden bridge area sometime around 4 o’clock Saturday morning wher...

RTA on Hummingbird Highway
There was another traffic accident over the long holiday weekend. This one happened on the Humingbird Highway on Monday May 23 somewhere near St. Margaret’s village. There is not much information to go on except that a black SUV apparently lost control and ran off the road flipping and landing with...

Breaking Belize News

Deadly accident in OW kills one, several others hospitalized
Tonight the Gongora family are mourning the death of one of their loved one, 55 year old Elba Gongora, who perished in a fatal traffic accident on the San Felipe Road in the Orange Walk District. Breaking Belize News was made to understand that a […]

Teenagers, 20 and 19, pleaded guilty to wounding 64 year old man
Senior citizen and fisherman 64 year old Lester Hernandez was allegedly caught taking public relief at the BTL Park on Newtown Barracks this past Sunday. He received a beating for his trouble and today two teenagers were made to pay fines for taking the law […]

Belmopanese charged for beating senior citizen
Two young men from Belmopan are accused of beating up a La Democracia villager ten days ago, such that he may lose an eye. 22 year old Justin Ashley Clark and 20 year old Edmond Anthony Pascascio appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court, accused […]

Judge to decide fate of woman accused of murder
Justice Troadio Gonzalez is to hand down a ruling next Monday, May 30, 2016 in the case of Calaney Flowers, accused of the August 28, 2012 murder of her ex-boyfriend, Lyndon Morrison, and the attempted murder of his new girlfriend, Sochil Sosa, a Honduran national. […]

Belizean taxi driver hijacked by Guatemalan
Credible information reaching our newsroom indicates that a Guatemalan has been detained for allegedly hijacking a Belizean taxi driver in the Cayo District. BBN Sources have indicated to us that sometime this afternoon a taxi driver was stopped by two men who requested to be […]

Police United represent Belize in CONCACAF Champions League
Newly crowned national football champions Police United Football Club is Belize’s representative to the CONCACAF Champions League, as winner of the overall Premier League of Belize season 2015-2016. When all points won in competition are taken into consideration, Police, which won the opening season […]

Council of Churches supports ICJ resolution
During Friday’s press briefing in Belize City, the Belize Council of Churches, which represents the three largest Christian denominations in Belize – Roman Catholicism, Anglicanism and Methodism – and other smaller churches, revealed that it supported taking Belize and Guatemala’s territorial dispute to the […]

Melchor vendors did not demonstrate; say it’s safe to shop there
This past Friday there were reports that merchants in Melchor de Mencos, Peten would hold a protest targeting their leadership in Government. But the demonstration never happened. In the weeks following the death of a Guatemalan minor in the adjacency zone on April 20th, […]

Elijio Briceno buried today
Past government minister under the People’s United Party (PUP) from 1979-1984, Elijio ‘Joe’ Briceno, passed away on Saturday night in a Belize City hospital after falling gravely ill. Elijio, the father of current PUP leader, John Briceno, was laid to rest today and given […]

Weed and shotgun found in Santa Elena
San Ignacio Police with the assistance of its K-9 Unit, conducted searches in two areas of Santa Elena Town yesterday morning, resulting in the discovery of cannabis and a shotgun. At around 6:00 a.m., the team searched along the banks of the Macal River, […]

Sixth ESRI User Conference reaches out to businesses
Total Business Solutions’ 6th annual ESRI User Conference showcases development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology and how to adopt it to modern work. This year, the benefits to businesses are being discussed. Location intelligence – maximizing where you are to be more attractive […]

Police officer kills himself in Belize City
A police officer posted in Precinct 3 of the Queen Street Police Station killed himself last night. Information is still sketchy and according to reports, he shot himself with his own weapon. The police officer is Edwardo Gonzales P.C 944 of Santa Elena, Cayo District. […]

Blogs

A Trip to A New Beach On the Leeward Side of Caye Caulker – Koko King
Monday was a holiday in Belize. I celebrated by joining a bunch of friends on a boat trip to Caye Caulker – actually…to a small caye with a sandbar off the northern tip of Caye Caulker. My friend Jackie had spotted it from her Tropic Air plane and thought it would be a great place to lounge and enjoy the day. There was a sandbar…of sorts. But, the area was extremely grassy and the sandbar, more of a…smushbar. We decided to head to the backside (the leeward side of Caye Caulker – about another 15 minutes) and try the new cleared beach just north of the famous Split in the island. I believe the name is Koko King. A large plot of white sand beach with a beautiful dock and lots of lounge chairs. We pulled up and paid $10bzd each to have access to all the chairs and the sails used for shade. Perfect. To the left, The Split. To the right, a hammock in the water…and lots of kids kayaking and swimming. A few families were up here too for a day in the water.

10 Reasons to visit Belize, Central America
After travelling through Guatemala, the final stop on my Central America itinerary was Belize. Crossing the border from Guatemala to Belize was a surreal experience in itself; armed border police watched on as we dragged our wheelie cases through the ‘no mans land’ between both countries. I didn’t expect to see or feel a whole lot of difference as soon as we crossed the border, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Despite being located next to one another, the identities of Guatemala and Belize are a world apart. Guatemala is full of vibrancy, colour and has a strong Hispanic cultural influence, with Spanish being the first language. In contrast, Belize has a much more laid-back Caribbean vibe and being located right on the Caribbean sea, there is a geographical logic to this strong cultural influence. Like much of the Caribbean, English is the first language in Belize. The country has become an on-trend honeymoon destination in recent years, and after visiting for myself, it’s evident why. And if that hasn’t tempted you enough, here are 10 reasons to visit Belize…

Driving directions from Belize City Airport (BZE) to Placencia, Belize!
You will depart the airport and follow the “International Airport Road” – signs should say – to Belize City. You’ll drive with the airplane runway on your left as you depart the airport. Next, you’ll turn left onto the “Northern Highway”. This is a little different (easier) than going through Belize City. It will probably add about 10 minutes to your drive, but will make the drive a lot easier to manage. You will proceed North for only about 10 minutes. You will make a left onto the “Burrell Boom Cut”. Burrell Boom is a town and this “cut” will take you around to the Western Highway. Follow the Burrell Boom Cut all of the way to the Western Highway, where you will make a right turn onto the Western Highway (this turn is in the area of Hattieville). Go West on the Western Highway.

Dry/Fire Season …. Rain/Hurricane Season
According to a forecast released last Friday by The Weather Company, the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be the most active since 2012. Perhaps more alarming to me are some studies that point to climatological and meteorological conditions mimicking weather patterns from 1998, the year that produced Hurricane Mitch. Preliminary analysis of the 2016 fire season in Belize: In terms of the environmental impacts of fires, thus far in the current fire season, 89% of fires occurred outside of protected areas (a similar percentage to previous years), and when fires did occur in protected areas, they generally affected pine savannas. In the case of the Caracol Archaeological Reserve and the Chiquibul National Park, however, fires detected signified illegal encroachments (clearing of forest) from Belize’s western neighbor. If the 2016 fire season is similar to that of 2012 (when a similar number of fires occurred in the January-April time frame), another 300 or so fires might be expected prior to the end of the year. So it would seem we have not had a record fire/dry season and my early reports are that we did not have an intense dry season. It would seem, though, that when it starts raining it just might pour.

Oscar Generale and Denny Mendez expect a new star!
Leading female character of La Isla Bonita Telenovela, Denny Mendez is soon expecting a bundle of joy. Actress/model Denny Mendez and husband Oscar Generale, a Hollywood producer are living the charmed life in Southern California. The Italian superstar couple were spotted shopping in Beverly Hills among the famous store fronts and top designer labels. The glitz of ritzy Rodeo Drive was matched by the sparkle in Oscar and Denny’s eyes, due in no small part to Denny’s baby bump. Generale and Denny took time off from the Cannes Film Festival this year in anticipation of their new addition to the family. Denny recently completed filming a promotional campaign for Festina watches with Gerard Butler. Oscar Generale was the force behind the deal. The couple will welcome their new little star late in the summer of 2016.

Pleasure over Business a Tropical Tip and a Cheap Dinner
Reef week in Belize has just finished it’s 11th year of recognizing and highlighting the importance of the Belize Eco-system. The 7 day event included fishing tournaments, beach clean ups, a swim to the Belize Barrier Reef and back from the shores of San Pedro, and a kayak race. The event I made it to was the kayak race and had a great time cheering the women’s division (our friends), Cindy Vigna and Lara Goldman on with my other friend Jack. After having a blast chasing the race a bit we continued to hitch our way around town and the last driver we picked up, Terry, decided to keep us for a while :) We got did a joyride to the bridge, down the beach road, made a stop at Palapa Bar then all headed back to my place to hang out.

BELIZE IS HOME TO 5 OF TRIPADVISOR’S TOP 25 LANDMARKS IN CENTRAL AMERICA FOR 2016!
Five landmarks in Belize were named in TripAdvisor’s Top 25 Landmarks in Central America for the year 2016. This should come as no surprise as the country boasts thousands of years in unearthed history owed to the Mayan Civilizations that flourished in what is now Belize. At #4 – Caracol Mayan Ruins – Located deep within the Mayan Mountains, Caracol rests on the Vaca Plateau at an elevation of about 500 meters or 1640 feet above sea-level. The actual size of Caracol is approximately 200 square kilometers (124 Sq Miles). In real time comparison – this would be an area much larger than present-day Belize City. #7 – Xunantunich – One of my personal favorites. Xunantunich was named the 7th top landmark in Central America. The word Xunantunich has several meaning in Maya including “Maiden of the Rock” or “Stone Woman” and is situated on the Western Highway across the river from the village of San Jose Succotz. The site of Xunantunich provides an impressive view of the entire river valley.

Bucket List Family portraits on a caribbean island: Caye Caulker
Peachie and her family took 1 year off from their regular routine in USA and moved on our island… to live the experience of their lives here! And.. was a year full of extraordinary things who gave them an entire different perspective of life. Each had his own Bucket List and they checked most of them… At the end of the list, the mom have her “family photos” checked… she decided to have me snap them. We went in Caye Caulker and had a blast! Life on a tropical island in caribbean.. yeah… you can write a novel! Thank you, guys, for visiting our country and make it your home for this past year! I look forward to see you again!