June 19, 2016

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

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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

BEL explains power interruptions on Ambergris Caye
Early in June 2016, Ambergris Caye experienced several unexpected power interruptions that sometimes left the entire island without electricity. Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has maintained that the frequent power interruptions were due to necessary maintenance works being carried out by BEL. BEL reports two particular incidents affecting the island. On Saturday, June 4th the entire Ambergris Caye was left without power for almost three hours. This power outage happened between the early hours of 6:40AM and 9:14AM. The need to pull the plug, according to BEL, was in order to relocate the mobile sub-station for maintenance of the transmission system which supplies Corozal, Orange Walk and San Pedro with power. The second incident, based on their report, occurred on Thursday, June 9th and lasted from 10AM to 10:30AM.

Kent Gabourel & BSFC El Pescador team win in Weekend Warriors’ road championships
Kent “Bob” Gabourel of the Kulture Megabytes team and the BFSC El Pescador team came out big winners in the Weekend Warriors cycling club national road championships on the Hummingbird and George Price Highways, as Gabourel finished solo in the road race at Leslie’s Imports in Belize City on Sunday, June 12. Bob punctuated his dominance of the competition by getting off his bike and carrying it across the finish line, much to the amusement of his teammate Vallan Symns who rode in 2nd.

First Journalism course offered in Belize
The first professional journalism course has finally been introduced to Belizean journalists. The first lecture took place on Saturday, June 11th at the Central Campus of the University of Belize in Belmopan City. Journalists from across the country will be undertaking the syllabus: ‘safeguarding the future: The environmental and economic connections in Belize.’ The 12-month free course includes classes and field work focusing on topics and issues at the heart of Belize’s environmental and economic crossroads. The media members that registered will also benefit from the course modules of basic journalism, newsgathering, skills, best practices, and instruction in the use of social media and digital platforms.

Three sick crocodiles stolen from ACES
The American Crocodile Education Sanctuary (ACES) is a non-profit organization permitted by the Belize Forest Department to research, conserve and protect the crocodiles in our country. Sometime between June 12th and mid-day June 13th three small crocodiles that were in their care were stolen from the ACES property in the Boca del Rio area. According to ACES croc wrangler Chris Summers, one of the small crocodiles suffered from dwarfism, with an abnormally slow rate of growth. With little chance of surviving in the wild, the dwarf had been in care of ACES for the last few years, and was used for education at schools and summer camps. Due to his size and lack of survival skills, Summers believes that the little croc would quickly fall prey to a predator should he be released into the wild. “The dwarf croc is one I use for education, so whoever has taken him has not just robbed us, but has also robbed the children we go to see for learning about and seeing a croc up close in a safe environment,” commented Summers.

Alex Parmelee fails to deliver ambulances to EMS program
On December of 2015 it was announced that San Pedro Town would soon be equipped with two ambulances that had been donated to the local medical facility. The initiative was part of an attempt to establish an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system spearheaded by EMS expert Alex Parmelee. He was tasked with bringing back the equipment and ambulances, but to date, Parmelee has not made it back to San Pedro. In January 2016, The San Pedro Sun contacted Parmelee about the delay of the deliveries, and he responded that despite the tardiness all plans were as scheduled. “Currently collecting equipment in USA, lots of equipment will be heading to Belize soon,” he said. A few months later, when The San Pedro Sun contacted him again about the project, he informed us that nothing was happening and that there were no funds available for the transfer of the ambulances and medical equipment to Belize. “A lot more work needs to be done if a sustainable program is to be in place. These are matters beyond my control,” said Parmelee. He had been asked by Belize Ministry of Health to start the EMS program on the island and with such recommendation it was not difficult to find potential donors who would assist him in getting the project on wheels.

Misc Belizean Sources

Today is Election Day on Caye Caulker.

Kaina Martinez has won second place in the womens 200M
Her time of 23.68 was enough to break the previous record set in 2014, but was 0.2 seconds behind Yasmin Woo of Panama. Meanwhile, 2014 Commonwealth Belize flagbearer dominated in the first two events of the Heptathlon.

The Belize Times

Monima Must Go! – Pablo Marin hires unqualified crony as Northern Regional Health Manager
The appointment of Audibaldo Monima, a junior coast guard officer, to lead the public health sector in the North as the Regional Health Manager has sent shockwaves across the health sector. Monima has absolutely no professional training whatsoever in the field of health management. In his former professional life he was a junior coast guard officer and according to our sources he hardly made it past the examination process. The BELIZE TIMES has learnt that Monima’s qualifications are limited to an Associate’s Degree in business administration from the Corozal Junior College and a certificate from the Mexican navy for a training course. So why has he been appointed to a post that requires a Master’s Degree in Public Health or at a minimum work experience of five years in Public Health Administration, Finance and Human Resource Management? That’s what concerned minds want to know!

PUP holds memorial service for stalwart
In life Albert “Macka” Lamb was considered a lieutenant in the People’s United Party. Macka passed away last week at his home and due to the body’s state of decomposition, he was buried immediately. On Wednesday afternoon, the PUP said goodbye to Macka at a special memorial service held at the Party Headquarters which was attended by members of his family as well as friends in the Party.

Mose Hyde blasts Sedi for lies!
Krem WUB’s no-nonsense morning show host, Mose Hyde, laid it thick on Foreign Minister Sedi Elrington on Wednesday morning for his lies to the nation about his discussions with Guatemala. Following Elrington’s junket to Istanbul, Turkey in May, to meet the Guatemalan Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales, Elrington reported to the nation that the purpose of the trip was to negotiate an agreed protocol on Sarstoon. Following the meeting, the Government’s press office reported that while a negotiated agreement was not reached, an informal agreement was arrived at by both parties that Belizeans and the Belizean Defense Force would have untrammelled access to the Sarstoon. This became the “official line” from the Government of Belize, but a letter from the Government of Guatemala to the Government of Belize, obtained by KREM News, shows that the Government of Guatemala rejected that narrative reported by the Government of Belize.

Witness needed in Marlon Bonner murder case
Belize City Southside’s top cop, Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, has decided to use social media to appeal for the public’s assistance in solving a recent murder. On Tuesday, Williams posted on Facebook – “we now have the suspected gun man, the man who was brave enough to go and shoot Mr. Bonner barefaced in the presence of many others, but the usual problem is manifesting itself – no one wants to give a statement”. On Sunday at around 4:00pm Marlon Bonner, 34, a resident of Central American Boulevard in Belize City, was brutally murdered on a basketball court at the corner of Faber’s Road and the Boulevard. Bonner was under a tree waiting for his turn on the Court when a gunman, unmasked, calmly walked up to him and fired shots which hit him in the head, back and chest. Bonner died on the spot. The court was crowded and the shooter did not try to hide his identity. By Monday Police announced that they knew exactly who he was, and also knew the identity of a second man who stood watch on the street outside the basketball court to give his accomplice time to commit the murder. But ACP Williams also made it clear that they were having trouble getting any of the many witnesses to give a formal statement implicating the killer.

Think About It
Dean Barrow needs to be fired as the Prime Minister of Belize. He could have won six general elections but what he has done and is doing to Belize is bordering on treason. And by the way, any politician who has $350 million dollars to buy votes in a poor country can win any elections. The gross mismanagement and the unacceptable incompetence along with the lies, deceit and deception over the Sarstoon River cannot be countenanced. It must stop. Now. There is a law in Belize that if citizens are dissatisfied with the work or the incompetence, not to mention wrong doing, of an elected member of the National Assembly, they the citizens can require a recall of that person and he has to step down. In the case of the Prime Minister the quickest way before worse is done to Belize is the legal method of a Vote of No Confidence done in the House of Representatives.

The Orlando Tragedy Aftermath
Last Saturday night’s shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando Florida has sent shock waves around the world and released a firestorm of emotions and controversial discussions. With the advent of social media and in particular the popularity of Facebook, news of such events travelled at the speed of light and by early Saturday morning, the world was discussing this terrible tragedy. Belize was no exception! Much is now being discovered about 29 year old Omar Mateen, the apparently troubled individual who is fingered as the gunman. Mateen’s father, a man who once attempted to run for president of Afghanistan and described as a “Taliban supporter”, told news people that he did not believe that his son’s religion (he was a Muslim) had anything to do with the shooting. He claims that his son became angry after observing two men kissing each other a few months before in Miami. The interesting thing is that it is now being revealed that Mateen himself might have been a regular at the gay club and may have even dated other men, using a gay dating app on his phone.

WHERE THERE IS NO VISION… – Scripture tells us, ‘where there is no vision the people perish’.
Latest estimates according to statistics released by the Ministry of Education led by the newly-crowned Deputy Prime Minister in the Barrow Administration, Patrick Faber, indicates that the gap between those accessing education and those who don’t has been increasing nearly as fast as his ego. There are approximately 105,221 students enrolled in school from pre-school to university level. 7,400 are in pre-school, 68,812 are enrolled in primary school, 20,539 in high school, and some 8,470 plus at the tertiary level. Recently 7,257 students sat the Primary Selection Examination (PSE). Of this amount a quarter of them or 1,800 plus, for various reasons from lack of classroom space at the high school level to the financial wherewithal to go on to high school, will not be furthering their education. The new Deputy Prime Minister when asked the question if there were enough space at the high school level for every student leaving primary school answered “yes” and that the information was readily available at the Ministry.

KHMH wins 2 in Interoffice softball
The Kark Heusner Memorial Hospital softball team has four wins and four losses after back to back wins over the BEL Powersockets and Telemedia in the 2016 Belize City interoffice softball tournament held at the Roger’s Stadium over the weekend.

Chunox SDA boys win football nationals
The Chunox 7th Day Adventist Primary School boys from the Corozal District won the National Primary School Football Championship at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium last Thursday and Friday, June 9 – 10. In Game 10, the championship final, the Corozal boys won 1-0, when Elmir Santoya scored the winning goal in the 2nd half. In Game 9, the consolation game for 3rd place, the Dangriga squad was back to full strength, but the Sugar City boys won: 2-0 when David Smith scored in the 1st half and he also converted a penalty in the 2nd half for the 2-0 win.

Copper Bank RC girls are Football Champions
The Copper Bank RC School girls from the Corozal District won the 2016 National Primary Schools Football Championships at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium last Thursday and Friday, June 9 – 10. The Copper Bank girls defeated the Independence girls 1-0 in the finals. Dianira Lopez scored the winning goal in the 1st half. In 3rd place, the Orange Walk champions, San Lazaro girls won 2-1 over the Toledo district champions, the Santa Elena Primary girls. Katie Jones scored in the first half. Serafina Choc equalized for the Toledo girls in the second half, but Katie came back to score her 2nd goal of the match.

Remembering “Macka” Lamb
Remarks by: Hon. John Briceño Independence Hall Tuesday, 14th June 2016 I can see them now, Macka Lamb, Ray Lightburn, Lindy Rogers, my uncle Polo and my dad all gathered around Mr. Price telling stories about the Party. Macka of course would ...

Bulgarians who pulled off ATM scam sentenced to one year
Two Bulgarian men, who pulled off a credit card scam that left the Belize Bank short of over $14,000 will have to spend more time in Belize than they had initially planned when they pleaded guilty to 18 counts of theft, because today they were ...

Burley Card remanded for unlawful sex with minor
Burley Card was remanded to the Belize Central Prison today after he was arraigned on five counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor who was 15-years and 8-months-old. The legal age of consent ...

Shane Gillett acquitted of Samuel Price’s murder
31 year old Shane Gillett, the man accused of the murder of Samuel Price, 84, the brother of Belize National Hero Rt. Hon. George Price, walked out of the Supreme Court this morning, free ...

DIGNITY IN DEATH?
The sad news of the death of Vanessa Champagne Paris came through this past week. Ms. Paris was born Porfelio Rodriguez Jr., and the information given is that she considered herself a transgender woman. Activist Caleb Orosco, on being interviewed after the death of Ms. Paris, expressed ...

National Security 101
It is a fact that Belize’s national security is under attack by Guatemala. The United Democratic Party Government has failed miserably in the management of the national security of the Jewel. The reason for this writer’s sentiment is understood through the definition of national security. “A well-known maxim defines ...

THE WONDERER AND HARVEST CAYE
Belizeans should be aware of the Norwegian cruise line project located at Harvest Caye south of Placencia. Everyone was wondering how this project got such quick approval through the Environmental process. BTIA tried to question and slow down the ...

Hon. Landy Habet distributes corn seeds to farmers
With the start of the rain seasons, farmers are hoping that their lands will become fertile enough to carry out planting and growing of vegetables. Many communities in rural Belize are very ...

Gems of Graduation Season 2016 Finale – Featuring: Belmopan Baptist High, Orange Walk Technical High, Belize High School of Agriculture, Belize Adventist College, Sarteneja Baptist High, Mount Carmel High, Stann Creek Ecumenical College, Julian Cho Technical High and Chunox St. Viator Vocational High
It’s long been said that nothing is ever really over until it’s over. And so it is with the BELIZE TIMES’ coverage of High School Graduation Season 2016. We’ve ...

Hard Knocks
Love on the Rocks!   Saw Sedi on TV last night, him and Carlos Raul Morales. They both talked at the OAS General Assembly. This is the part I don’t get. Carlos Raul was professional and straight up, no grins or giggles. But when it was Sedi’s turn I swear all ...

Why no watta in Hopkins still?
Dear Editor, With all the heavy rains we have been having every night in Hopkins, the reserves should be full. Then why do we have no water pressure in Hopkins? There is $60,000 in the account, why are they not using it to fix the water pressure problem? Establishments have had to close because ...

UB President insults the intelligence of its stakeholders
Dear Editor, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” – Nelson Mandela Congratulations to the over 500 students, who graduated from the University of Belize on Saturday. No words of praise for UB President Allan Slusher for his remarks, however, as there was no freedom ...

The Reporter

Opposition to boycott upcoming Belize/Guatemala meeting
The People’s United Party (PUP) has announced that it will boycott the upcoming negotiations between the Governments of Belize (GOB) and Guatemala because of the way GOB is approaching the situation. PUP leader John Briceno, held a press conference on Friday explaining that because GOB selectively invites the Opposition to negotiation meetings, his party will not send a representative to the meeting in Washington D.C., next Tuesday, to discuss a protocol for using the Sarstoon River. Briceno went on to detail several instances where GOB has taken steps in the negotiations and have excluded the opposition completely, and instances where the PUP have sent advisory letters to GOB only to receive short, dismissive responses by the Prime Minister. “When it is convenient for them, they want to drag us along and when it is not, they are just very dismissive, “ Briceno said. He added that he is preparing to hold a meeting with his team of former Foreign Ministers to discuss a way forward using a bi-partisan approach. Briceno maintains that GOB has not been doing a proper job of representing Belize’s interests on the issue, pointing out that Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington has not made any strong statements about Guatemala’s continued military aggression at the Sarstoon.

Breaking Belize News

PUP not worried over village council election results
Beaten in three straight general elections, several by-elections and multiple municipal council elections since the departure of Right Honorable Said Musa as party leader in 2008, one may forgive the People’s United Party for seizing on the 016 village council elections as a means of […]

PUP out of Washington talks as Briceno blasts Government
Leader of the Opposition People’s United Party John Briceno told reporters on Friday that the country has made no progress in the international front in stopping Guatemala from advancing its territorial claim. The PUP is also irked that their political rivals appear to have frozen them out […]

Lightning strikes, injures Hattieville woman
Weather conditions are currently rainy as a tropical wave exits the country. In Hattieville earlier this morning, a young woman was apparently struck by lightning as she held her child in a chair inside her home. The child does not appear to be hurt but […]

Entertainer leads plastics clean-up campaign in Caye Caulker
Next Saturday, an environmental activist group on Caye Caulker headed by a popular entertainer is marking its first anniversary. The Anti-Pollution Plastic and the Sea initiative was formed in response to a chronic problem on La Isla Cariñosa, where according to founder Allison “Dan Man” […]

Police step up operations after fatal and violent start to weekend
There was a fatal shooting incident reported on Kraal Road in Belize Cityon Friday night. Details are scarce but we understand that the victim died early this morning in hospital while in the Intensive Care Unit. Several other persons were reported injured in separate incidents betweenFriday night […]

Image Factory launches A Beautiful Tragedy
Last night the Image Factory launched its latest exhibit, a collection of artwork done by Briheda Haylock, a bold and outspoken artist who uses her works to empower women and the LGBT community. The exhibit, “A Beautiful Tragedy”, featured a collection of provocative photos and […]

Who’s watching the Belize economy?
With all the recent controversy surrounding the Guatemalan territorial claim and the incidents stemming from heightened tension and apparent strained diplomatic relations between the two countries, concern over the economy seems to have faded to the background. But a recent report from the International Monetary Fund […]

Blogs

Forget about living the dream as you travel, Charlie Guo, let the dream come to you
Charlie Guo is a man on the go. He’s a self-described nomad who sprints from adventure to adventure and in a recent essay he says all this chasing the dream has left him a bit empty. Don’t hate Charlie. Give him credit for a little self-reflection. Charlie Guo is a self-described nomad. For the past two years he has traveled the world, doing amazing stuff. And his life sucks. Wait. His life doesn’t suck. Charlie thinks it sucks.

International Sources

Belize-bound group wants some travelers who play tunes
Gary Hunt is in search of a musician (or two) with a yen for an extraordinary international working vacation. It features towering palm trees on broad, sandy beaches; a charming and funky hotel in a small, end-of-the-road Central American fishing village; a town whose “Main Street” is an almost mile-long sidewalk dotted with one-story buildings painted in a panoply of pastels. There’s an overriding humanitarian and environmental purpose: You’ll help deliver to impoverished, grateful students school supplies that otherwise would end up in Roanoke’s landfill. You’ll be treated to lunch at the home of a poet laureate. When you arrive in Placencia, Belize, it will be lobster season. The crustaceans are featured at affordable prices on the menus at just about every restaurant.

Career and Tech students engage in place-based, scientific learning in Central America
At the end of last month, 20 Mat-Su Career and Technical High School students embarked on a 16-day adventure in Central America to learn place-based science and earn school credit. Career and Tech science teacher Tim Lundt, along with history teacher Zack Lanphier and Wasilla Middle School math teacher Vonda Best, led the students on an educational journey through Belize and Guatemala to gain knowledge about Mayan culture, rainforest and marine biology for a half-credit ecology course. The group arrived in Belize City on May 25, then traveled four hours by bus to Peten, Guatemala. There they stayed at Hotel Gringo Perdido located on Lake Peten, snuggled up against the Mayan rainforest.

Are Passports Required on Closed-Loop Cruises?
A closed-loop cruise refers to a cruise that begins and ends in the same city. Since the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative now requires U.S. citizens traveling by land or sea to Bermuda, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean region to possess a valid passport, there is some confusion as to whether a passport is required for a closed-loop cruise. This article seeks to clear up the confusion. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not require American citizens on closed-loop cruises to present a passport. However, they do require passengers to present both proof of citizenship and proof of identity in order to depart and enter the country. Examples of acceptable proof of citizenship include an original or certified copy of a birth certificate, a certificate of naturalization or a passport card. Acceptable photo ID could be an enhanced drivers license (EDL). This does not mean that a passport is not necessary. It only means that you do not need one to exit or re-enter the United States. You may still be required to obtain a passport if the countries you plan to visit during the cruise require that visitors have one. Just as the United States government has waived this requirement, many countries that are popular destinations for cruises have also waived the requirement. For example, cruise passengers do not presently need a passport to visit either Belize or the Honduras as long as their cruise does not end there.

Videos

June 18, 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

Rotary Club introduces Chairs for Charity at Lobster Fest Block Party
Even though attending a large festival can be lots of fun, waiting in line isn’t. Fortunately, the Rotary Club of Ambergris Caye Belize (RCACB) will be introducing their fundraiser, “Chairs for Charity”, to rescue you from waiting in those long lines. Tickets can be purchased from each Lobster Crawl event leading up to the Block Party. For $40 BZ from 5-11:30 PM or $25BZ for either 5-8PM (first seating) or 8-11:30PM (second seating), you can get seating at tables, booth vendor menus, bar access, portable toilets inside the area, wrist bracelet for easy exit/re-entry, entry into draws for two $100 gift certificates from Toucan Gift Stores, and a chance to win a three night stay at Costa Blu. Volunteers from the San Pedro High School’s Softball Team will serve as runners for the event, and tend to your specific needs. The Ambergris Caye branch is the 9th rotary club in the country, and their 30 members have planned this charity to raise funds that will benefit their community service projects. The RCACB was officially chartered on Wednesday, May 25th. As their motto reads, “Strengthening Community through Service to Future Generations”, the club hopes to get ticket holders introduced to what great services they provide within the community.

Learn about the ancient Maya culture from the experts!
The Belize Archaeology and Anthropology Symposium (BAAS) is hosted by the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) and the Belize Institute of Archaeology and will be held this year on June 28th through July 1st at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel. One of the presentations at this year’s symposium will feature findings from the Marco Gonzalez Archeological Site located on Ambergris Caye. According to Jan Brown, Co-Manager of the site, Dr. James Aimers, PhD, Professor of Anthropology, State University of New York at Geneseo, will be presenting a paper that reviews research on the pottery of Marco Gonzalez from 1986 to work conducted on two well-stratified deposits in January and February 2016. The pottery of Marco Gonzalez reflects the occupational history of the site, provides more detail about activities conducted there such as salt-production, and indicates how the site’s exchange relationships changed over time.

Interoffice 6-a-side- Football Tournament continues
The second week in the 6-a-side Interoffice Football League continued from Thursday, June 9th through Sunday June 12th at the Honorable Louis Sylvester Sporting Complex. Fans flocked around the pitch to support their favourite teams during the long weekend sporting event. The next set of matches are scheduled from Thursday, June 16th through Sunday, June 19th at the Sporting Complex starting at 7PM. Fans are encouraged to come cheer for their favourite team, as they play this great sport.

Low water pressure concerns residents
The San Pedro Sun spoke with BWSL Human Resource and Public Relation Manager Haydon Brown to get his insight on the matter. According to Brown, BWSL was performing maintenance work to the San Pedro system. “We had to change a main line, and that caused us to shut down the system. At the same time, Consolidated Water did some maintenance work as well, and low pressure resulted from it. However, when we work to improve our services, we notify our customers about the water interruptions, and make them aware,” said Brown. Brown stated that their water service issues should be fixed by this weekend. If residents are still experiencing issues with low water pressure after this weekend, Brown encourages you to go to the BWSL office and make an official complaint. If you have any concerns, questions, or comments about the low water pressure, you may contact Haydon Brown at 222-4757 Ext. 234 or via e-mail at haydon.brown@bwsl.com.bz

Michelle Nuñez to represent Belize at Miss America Latina del Mundo 2016
Michelle Estrella Nuñez is the designated Belize contestant at the Miss America Latina Del Mundo 2016 pageant. Nuñez is from San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, and is no stranger to pageantry, having held the title of Miss San Pedro in 2014-2015. Michelle Nuñez is a graduate of St. John’s College Junior College in Belize City, with an Associate’s Degree in General Studies. She is also a past title holder of Miss San Pedro (2014-2015). She speaks English and Spanish fluently, and enjoys cooking and dancing. Nuñez is known for her community-minded endeavors. In January 2015, Nuñez founded SHINE Girls Club, a youth enrichment program designed for young girls to succeed in life. She is the present director of the club. That same year, she earned a Leadership Award as the Top Agent for Insurance Corporation of Belize (ICB) San Pedro Branch. She is also the Secretary for the Rotaract Club of San Pedro.

SPRCS Football Team are National Sub-Champions
After winning the Belize District Finals on June 6th in Belize City, San Pedro Roman Catholic School (SPRCS) Male Football Team went on to represent the District at the Primary School Football National Championships on Thursday, June 9th, and Friday, June 10th. Teams from all six districts were invited to compete at the newly renovated Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan City, Cayo. SPRCS played a total of four games. In the first game, SPRCS took on Orange Walk, and scored a 2-0 victory. Their second game was against Toledo, and they tied at 1-1

The San Pedro Lobster Fest has commenced
After four months of waiting, lobster season has re-opened, and the 10th Annual Lobster Fest, voted the number one festival in Belize, has arrived to San Pedro as well. With fishermen bringing in loads of lobster, the island is being stocked with enough lobster to satisfy eager taste buds. The first Lobster Crawl event took place at Amber Beach Bar & Grill at Caribbean Villas on Wednesday, June 15th, where many lovers of the tasty crustacean dined on their special: Honey Glazed Lobster with Coconut Rice and Steamed Veggies. Guests also enjoyed live music, and drank spicy mangorita’s to celebrate the start of the festival. The Lobster Fest Committee reminds the public that they will be issuing out Lobster Crawl Passports that will allow you to collect stamps at every venue during the week’s celebrations. Each stamp will entitle the passport holder to a raffle ticket to enter a grand raffle for a vacation package for two to the San Pedro Lobster Festival 2017. The vacation package includes local air fare, complimentary hotel accommodations, tours, golf cart rental, bar tabs, dinner and much more.

Misc Belizean Sources

Marco Gonzalez Summer Solstice
What a great way to celebrate the Marco Gonzalez Archaeological Reserve right here on Ambergris Caye than with the summer solstice? In honor of Father's Day there will be a special blessing for dads in attendance too!

BELTRAIDE HANDS OVER NEW SECURITY AND MAINTENACE BUILDING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF BELIZE
The Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) today, officially handed over a new security and maintenance facility to the University of Belize (U.B.). Hon. Tracy Taegar-Panton, Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Development, Petroleum, Investment, Trade and Commerce with responsibility for BELTRAIDE, handed over the keys to the new building to Mr. Harrison Pilgrim and Mr. Allan Slusher, Chairman and President of the University of Belize respectively, during a brief ceremony held this morning at the U.B.’s Faculty of Management and Social Sciences Campus in Belize City.

Keep up with the latest happenings on the Belize-Guatemala issue via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Twitter feed!

Kaina Martinez at the XXVII Central American Games
Big up Belize! We're proud to report that 2012 Belize Olympic team member Kaina Martinez has performed outstandingly in the XXVII Central American Games currently underway in El Salvador. Viewers may remember our conversation with Kaina last week in which she discussed her goal for constant improvement and aligning body and mind. She seems to be getting that down to an art after shaving 0.3 seconds off her preliminary time for the Women's 100 Meters, setting a new record and taking home the gold. Congratulations also to Shaun Gill who will be taking home the bronze medal for the men's 100 Meters

Cenaida's Rises From the Ashes
Cenaida's might have burnt down, but like the Phoenix, it has risen from the ashes, and it's on the same lot! Cenaida's is now easily accessible from Far West street. It's in the old tortilla building across from Maxim's. Same amazing food.

September Celebrations Theme 2016
Sovereign and Strong - Together as one! Winning entry by Mrs. Argelia Mendoza Ken, a teacher and counselor at the Belize High School of Agriculture in the Orange Walk District.

Channel 7

Lawlessness Unbound: 15 Year Old Attempts Hit in Front Of Country's Biggest Police Station
Last night, the headline was a brazen daylight murder of 20 year-old Elroy Perdomo Jr., who was killed in a funeral procession. Well tonight, the gunmen have gone from brazen to utterly lawless. There's no other way to describe an attempted hit carried out right in front of the biggest police station in the country - in the heart of downtown, at the height of the morning rush! The 15 year old gunman laid in wait outside the Queen Street Police Station to kill a known gang figure who was leaving the Station. Sure, the area was swarming with police, and civilians on their way to work - but that didn't deter the minor from getting into a gunfight with one of the cops, and injuring the officer while he was fleeing after his failed murder attempt.

He Son Got 16 Shots, Mother Explains Why Elroy Couldn't Stay Home
And while that is today's lawless act of violence, yesterday's was also very daring. 20 year-old Elroy Perdomo Jr. was shot 16 times by two gunmen who stalked him while he was moving along in a funeral procession. As we reported, Perdomo was the main suspect in the murder of Marlon Bonner, but because police couldn't get any of the many eyewitnesses to come forward and formally point him out as the gunman, Perdomo could not be charged. And so he was released at 11:00 am and less than 4 hours later, his killers took justice into their own hands and murdered him in cold blood and broad daylight. Today, we got an opportunity to have a very frank conversation with his mother, and she told us why he refused to stay home after police let him go, a decision which Southside Commander Chester Williams believes could have saved his life.

Not Guilty: Ronlee Beats Another Murder Rap
One hour ago, Ronlee Petillo and Matthew Smith left the Supreme Court as free men - after more than 5 years on remand. They were accused of the murder of market vendor Miguel Rivera - who was killed in 2011 reportedly because he had witnessed a crime earlier that day. But, the prosecution's case fell apart when the main witness, another market vendor named Juan Guardado got amnesia on the stand. He couldn't remember the statement he gave implicating the two men as the shooters, and went as far as to say, quote, "at night, all black people look the same." Eventually, he had to be treated as a hostile witness, and was of little use to the prosecution. And so today, nine days after the case started, defence attorneys, Anthony Sylvester for Ronlee Petillo and Leeroy Banner for Matthew Smith made no case submissions for their clients. Justice Adolph Lucas agreed, and found the two men not guilty. With that they dashed out of court, tasting freedom for the first time in 63 months. We spoke with their attorneys outside the court about how the case against them crumbled.

PUP Pulls Out Of Washington Talks, Says GOB Going Down Wrong Diplomatic Path
Next week Tuesday, the Foreign Ministers of Belize and Guatemala will meet again in Washington DC, to discuss what's called the Sarstoon mechanism - which means a mode for the two countries to co-exist on the disputed river that forms Belize's southern boundary. The talks come at a critical juncture, and might be called "super-important", but the PUP today announced that it will boycott those talks. Party Leader John Briceno explained why at a press conference at Party Headquarters today:... Hon. John Briceno, PUP Party Leader: "My party and I have done everything possible to work with the government in a bi-partisan effort. Regrettably this effort has become a partnership of convenience by the UDP administration. That is why I have decided that until the government is prepared to work with us in a meaningful partnership on this issue, we will not attend the talks in Washington DC next week Tuesday." Jules Vasquez: "Is it because the government did not include you all in the contingent that went to the OAS general assembly?" Hon. John Briceno, PUP Party Leader: "Absolutely not. That is only a part of it. The government has been showing a pattern of what we called this partnership of convenience. When it is convenient for them, they want to drag us along and when it is not, they are just very dismissive. We send these letters trying to advise the Prime Minister and then he sends very short curt letter pretty much dismissing what you have to say. So, if you don't want to listen to us, why is it that you want us around?"

Is Boycott Because PUP Feel "Hurted" By Disinvite?
As you heard in that interview, the breaking point for the PUP came when they were dis-invited to the OAS General Assembly which was held earlier this week in the Dominican Republic. The reason for the dis-invite? They were told the Guatemalan Foreign Minister wouldn't have had time to meet. Still, a resolution touching on the Belize Guatemala issue came out of that meeting, and the PUP says if they had been there, they would have made a difference:... Hon. John Briceno, PUP Party Leader: "We are deeply disappointed in the resolution that was passed. The resolution clearly shows no progress made towards stopping Guatemala from annexing our portion of the Sarstoon River. In fact the resolution deals mostly about restricting our efforts to bring or to inform the international community about Guatemala's illegal annexation of our portion of the Sarstoon. It seems as if the foreign minister has been hoodwinked by Carlos Raul, the Guatemalan Foreign Minister.."

Opposition Demands Stern Diplomatic Note
And the PUP wants Foreign Minister Elrington to abandon the diplomatic speak, and take a hardline after the Guatemalan armed forces again stopped a Belize contingent on the Sarstoon. Hon. John Briceno, PUP Party Leader: "We are demanding from the government that they send a very strong diplomatic note to Guatemala and copied to the Organization of American States (OAS), demanding that the Guatemalan armed forces remain on their side of the Sarstoon River." Government has said that it is investigating the incident, and, quote "if the report is accurate, the incident would constitute a breach of the spirit of the Confidence Building Measures and must also be rejected as prejudicial to the ongoing diplomatic efforts, including next week's meeting in Washington, to establish a bilateral Cooperation Mechanism for the Sarstoon."

Cell Block Suicide
A man killed himself this morning in his cell block at the Orange Walk Police Station. Driver Luis Magana was detained last night in relation to a domestic complaint but when police went to check on him after 12:00 this morning, Magana was hanging by his neck with piece of cloth that he tied to the cell bar - he used a belt to secure the noose. Today Orange Walk Police told us that they are looking at several angles in this case - one being what led Magana to take his own life since there were no signs of that when he was detained, but also, how did Magana have his belt in his cell. ASP Selvin Tillett, OC - Orange Walk Police: "Cpl. Jose Alfaro who is attached to the Orange Walk Police Station reported about 12:15am, he was informed that a male prisoner named Luis Magana, 29 years old Belizean driver of Trial Farm Village had hang himself in cell #3. As a result Cpl. Alfaro visited the said cell block which is located in the Orange Walk police station compound, where he saw Luis Magana hanging from a piece of cloth which was tied to the bar of the cell with a brown belt around his neck. Magana was motionless and was apparently dead inside the prison cell. The scene was examined, processed and the body was taken to the Northern Regional Hospital where he was pronounce dead on arrival." "According to police, when he was detained outside, he was somewhat restless, but his arrival at the station he was calm, sitting down and he was taken to the cell block - no indication."

PUP, Content To Lose The Village Council Battles, But Determined To Win The Political War
Village council elections continue this weekend all across the country. So far, the UDP is performing much like it did three years ago, by dominating the results. The party is claiming that after 83 village council elections in the first two weeks, they control about 50 villages and the PUP control about half of that. Still, the PUP party leader told the media today that his party is making baby steps, if not strides:... Jules Vasquez: "The UDP says it's outdoing PUP." Hon. John Briceno, PUP Party Leader: "And I've never said that we are outdoing the UDP. What I'm saying is that we are winning more than what we were winning 3 years ago and secondly, where they are winning, we are closing that gap and that is what is important. We don't expect to win right now. It's the big prize we are looking after. That is the one we are going to win."

COLA Calls For GOB To Take A Broader View Of Border Issues
Today, after a brief break from public affairs, the activist group COLA issued a release on the state of Belize Guatemala relations. President Giovanni Brackett told us today that the government has to clarify that the final decision on the ICJ rests in a referendum by the citizens of Belize - and he wants an education campaign to reflect that:... Geovannie Brackett, President - COLA: "We need to go back to the awareness, campaign, that Stewart Leslie and them, had started to alert the people that we are still at a referendum process and that discussion needs to be started all over again finally the Sarstoon is still a huge issue for COLA. We've built a base, but the Guatemalans have gone ahead to assert their power over the entire Sarstoon and even though we have built those base, we have failed to assert out level of power over our side of the Sarstoon."

Can Belize Make OW Stadium Ready For Codicader?
The CODICADER games 2016 are less than three weeks away and Belize is hosting this year's regional tournament for the primary school level. A visiting team from all participating countries was here two weeks ago to do a final evaluation of our sporting facilities which will be used for the games. At the end of that evaluation we got a thumbs up from the visiting team, although they had some minor problems with the complex building in orange walk. So how is that issue being resolved? Here is what Minister of State Elodio Aragon told us about it today:... The CODICADER games are scheduled to take place from the 6th to the 12th of July.

Police United Need Big Bucks For Champions League
The schedule for the CONCACAF Champions League is not out yet, but the Police United FC has already commenced preparations to take on two of the biggest teams in the region. They go up against Pachuca, from Mexico and Olimpia from Honduras in the first round of the tournament. This is the first time that the Police United has represented Belize at such an international tournament. Now while this is certainly a remarkable feat, the venture is quite expensive. And while the team committee has been sourcing funds for the past few months they are no where near meeting there targeted budget. So just how far is the Ministry of Sports willing to assist them in this venture. Today we asked Minister of State Aragon just that. The team has proposed an initial budget of 200 thousand dollars.

Cayo Cops Bust BDF Volunteer With Wholesale Weed
We report many times on police drug busts but this time it was a fellow lawman who was busted with weed. Yesterday morning around 10:00 in San Ignacio, police searched the residence of BDF volunteer Anthony Goff and found 3 pounds of weed in plastic bags. Goff was arrested for possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.

"Danman" Ready To Do The Dirty Work
For the past year, Allison Hemsley, better known as "Danman", has been out on Caye Caulker on a clean-up campaign to try to keep the beach front as garbage free as possible. He's an advocate for marine life which is threatened by the volume of plastic that finds it way into the major bodies of water. Yesterday, he stopped by 7News to invite Caye Caulker residents to join him next week on an education campaign: Danman's event takes place next week Saturday, June 25.

PSE's Best
Over 7 thousand students sat the PSE this year. Sadly thousands of them got D's and E's - a failing grade which the students have to carry, but which is really an indictment of a failed education system. But...that's a whole other story...tonight, the story is about the 25 who excelled, brilliant boys and girls whose performance proved them to be stellar students. In honor of these top achievers the Ministry of Education held a special award ceremony at the Princess Ramada hotel. Emanuel Pech reports. All those primary schoolers who excelled at the PSE examination this year were honoured at a special award ceremony at the Princess Ramada Hotel this morning. These were the top 25 performers who met and surpassed expectations.

Will Ministry Fix The System?
So as you heard, the Ministry of Education has its work cut out for it, with the consistently poor results of the PSE each year. But just how seriously is the Ministry taking this matter? Well according to CEO David Leacock, they are serious enough to begin axing teachers who are doing the educational system an injustice by not taking advantage of the training initiatives lead by the Ministry. He explained how they are trying to enhance the academic performance of primary school students. David Leacock, CEO, Ministry of Education: "Notably over the past few years we've been pushing for ensuring that all teachers are trained, so we are guarding the entry into the profession by making sure, through the teaching service commission, that schools hire trained teachers. We've been providing more opportunities for teachers to get trained and this year as you all may be aware, there's an effort for those who have not taken the opportunity to get trained there's an ongoing effort to push them towards that. "

Channel 5

Terror on Queen Street: 4 Persons Shot During Attempt on Life of Notorious Figure
Belize City resident, Elroy Perdomo Junior, was murdered on Thursday afternoon during a funeral procession four hours after he was released from police custody. If that brazen murder sent shockwaves, [...]

GSU Offers Assistance in Shooting Investigation
Officers attached to the Gang Suppression Unit were immediately dispatched to the scene and have also joined in the investigation on the incident that appears to be as a result [...]

P.U.P. Says G.O.B. Not Keeping Them in the Loop on Bilateral Talks
There’s also political news coming out of Queen Street. As you know, Guatemala military forces are maintaining a heavy presence in our side of the Sarstoon River. The situation has [...]

P.U.P. Leader Chastises Foreign Minister Elrington
The O.A.S. General Assembly concluded its yearly meeting in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic last Wednesday. The General Assembly passed a resolution and we will come to that later, but days [...]

O.A.S. Resolution Doesn’t Address Annexation of the Sarstoon by Guatemala
At the press conference this afternoon; Party Leader John Briceño also spoke of the resolution that was passed earlier this week at the General Assembly of the O.A.S.  That declaration [...]

P.U.P. Will Not Participate in Washington Talks
Is the P.U.P. reacting to government’s decision to call them off from the O.A.S. delegation? Well, Briceño says there can be nothing farther from the truth. He told the media [...]

P.U.P. Leader Comments on Lack of Confidence in Foreign Minister
Immediately following the Istanbul talks, the government made the infamous public statement that Belizeans have untrammeled access to our side of the Sarstoon. The ink was barely dry on that [...]

Eamon Courtenay Not Impressed by Elrington’s Declaration at the O.A.S. General Assembly
Earlier this week, Belizeans were treated to an address by Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington in which he informed the members of the O.A.S. in the Dominican Republic that he and [...]

Galen Forum discusses Guatemala’s claim to Belize
Guatemala’s unfounded claim to Belize is nothing new, but what seems to be a consistent policy of aggression is. Currently, as News Five proved again just Thursday, Belizean civilians are [...]

Disconnect between Belize’s Diplomatic Effort and the Reality on Ground
Our News Five team was turned back from the Sarstoon on Thursday. They were clearly in what has traditionally been Belizean territory, sticking close to the northern bank of the [...]

Duo is Freed of 2011 Murder of Michael Finnegan Market Vendor
Late this evening, the trial of Ronlee Petillo and Matthew Smith charged with the murder of fruit vendor, Miguel Angel Rivera concluded before Judge Adolph Lucas. The murder occurred on [...]

Cassian Young is Remanded for Robbery
Tonight, twenty-seven year old Cassian Young of Mosul Street, Belize City is on remand at the Belize Central Prison for a robbery which occurred on June eleventh. His attorney, Herbert [...]

P.S.E. Awards – Brightest Young Minds Honored for Excellence
The award ceremony for top achievers of the 2016 P.S.E. took place at the Ramada Princess this morning. Students from schools across the country were bussed in to celebrate the [...]

P.U.P. Leader Weighs-in On Brazen Shooting Near Police Station
The daring attempt on the life of Brandon Tillett this morning on Queen Street happened less than a stone’s throw away from Independence Hall, the headquarters of the People’s United [...]

P.U.P. Focusing on Next General Elections, Not Village Council’s
Another round of village council elections will be held this weekend in various rural communities across the country.  While the democratic exercise should be free of political influence, a number [...]

COLA Lashes Out at G.O.B. for Advancing an ICJ Agenda
Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action, COLA, has weighed in on the latest development coming out of the O.A.S. General Assembly, as it relates to Belize and Guatemala.  Earlier today, [...]

Belizean Athletes Perform Outstandingly in Central American Games
Amid all the negative news, tonight there is positive news involving Belizean athletes. We take pride in reporting that 2012 Belize Olympic team member Kaina Martinez has performed outstandingly in [...]

LOVE FM

Minor Releases Barrage of Bullets at Precinct Three; One Cop + 3 Injured
Four persons are now recovering from gunshot wounds they received at the Queen Street Police Station after an early morning shootout. The intended target was George Street figure, Brandon Tillett who was exiting the station. Corporal Alrick Arnold was on the scene and fired shots at the gunman. Superintendent Hiberto Romero of Crime Investigation Branch […]

Opposition Leader Says Belize Is in A Sad State of Affairs
As investigations continue into the shooting this morning at the Queen Street Police Station, Leader of the Opposition has described the incident as being a part of the country’s sad state of affairs. The minor who is in custody for this morning’s shooting is no stranger to law enforcement authorities as Love News understands that […]

Barrow’s Insistent Exclusion of the Opposition from the Belize/Guatemala Situation
On Wednesday, June 15, the 46th General Assembly Meeting of the OAS concluded in Santo Domingo. As we reported earlier this week, the People’s United Party was disinvited from attending that meeting; a move that has been frowned upon by the party as explained by the Leader of the Opposition, John Briceno. So, with the […]

Sedi Says No Annexation; Briceno Says Yes
The word, ‘annexation’ means the takeover or seizure of something, especially territory. Ten days ago in an interview with the Foreign Affairs Minister, Wilfred Elrington was asked about Guatemala’s annexation of the Sarstoon River. The question was asked subsequent to several instances where the Guatemalan Armed Forces had blocked Belizeans from traversing those waters. Minister […]

PUP’s Demands on the Belize/Guatemala Issue
When John Briceno was elected to head the People’s United Party one of the first things he took on was extending a hand of cooperation to the Government of Belize when it comes to the discussions and negotiations between Belize and Guatemala. The Barrow administration however has seemingly been giving the PUP a hard time […]

The Takeover of the Sarstoon by the Guatemalans
Yesterday we told you of the incident where Wil Maheia of the Belize Territorial Volunteers and members of the media were blocked from the Sarstoon by the Guatemalan Armed Forces. Opposition Leader speaks on that incident. COLA’s President, Geovanni Brackett today pointed out that there was much clamor for the construction of the Forward Operating […]

Briceno Expresses Disappointment at Resolutions Agreed to at the OAS
A resolution was approved at the recent General Assembly meeting of the OAS held in Santo Domingo. The People’s United Party, however is disappointed at this recent document as it in no way helps Belize’s sovereignty. Briceno says he had written to the Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow on how the opposition could have […]

COLA Wants Clarity on the ICJ and Referendum Exercise
Wednesday saw the closing of the 46th General Assembly meeting of the Organization of American States, held in Santo Domingo. As we reported earlier this week, there was a declaration approved by the OAS in which Belize and Guatemala have committed to ongoing efforts to find a peaceful solution to the border dispute. Belize’s Foreign […]

Top 2016 PSE Performers Awarded
This morning the Primary School Examination Excellence Award ceremony was held in Belize City. Twelve students from all over the country were awarded for topping the examinations. Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Elodio Aragon Jr, spoke about the importance of recognizing students and teachers who put hard work into the PSEs. […]

Belize Internationally Recognized as the First to Implement Managed Access Areas for Fishers
Recently we told you of the Managed Access initiative taken by the Fisheries Department where Belize’s waters are being divided into nine fishing areas with commercial fishermen having access of up to two areas and the opportunity to use larger deep water areas, known as area nine. Under this program, the Fisheries Department will manage […]

PlusTV

Belizean vessel carrying members of the media denied access to sarstoon
The Sarstoon River apparently remains under the control of Guatemalan Army Forces. This would be a logical conclusion following another incident which occurred Thursday June 16 when a Belizean vessel carrying members of the media and BTV Leader Wil Mehia tried to enter the Belizean side of the Sa...

Vessel runs aground on Belize Reef in front of San Pedro
The damages caused to the Belize Barrier Reef have yet to be assessed after an American registered 39-foot vessel ran aground in front of San Pedro Town. However, because of the location where the vessel was lodged, it is suspected that the damages to the delicate coral topography will be significan...

Monima is no longer Northern Regional Health Manager
We have told you about the new Northern Regional Health Manager Audibaldo Monima , a former coast guard, who is accused of being grossly under qualified for the post bestowed upon him by the Ministry of Health. On Wednesday, the PUP’s Northern Caucus issued a press release on the issue saying...

Man to be tried for attempted murder of cop
Nearly one year ago, 29 year old Darren Levi Gillett, a Construction Worker of Racoon Street, Belize City was accused of a vicious attack on a police officer who was robbed and beaten on the side of the road as he tried to fix a flat tire. Today he was told he would stand trial in the Supreme Court ...

Supreme Court Justice unhurt in highway accident
72 year old Supreme Court Justice Denis Hannomansingh was involved in a road traffic accident on Wednesday. The accident happened on the northern highway near the Mameyal Curve. At 10:20 a.m, on Wednesday June 15, Justice Hannomansingh was headed from Corozal to Orange Walk when between miles 58...

Keyren Tzib has second Supreme Court trial
Previously committed to stand trial for the manslaughter death of her common-law Thytis Blancaneaux almost a year ago, 26 year old Keyren Tzib, a former member of the Belize Coast Guard charged with attempted murder and dangerous harm of petty officer Kurt Hyde on Easter Monday April 6, 2015, was co...

Woman charged with burglary
42 year old Sarita Estrada, a resident of La Democracia who allegedly crashed a graduation party, was charged with burglary when she appeared today before Magistrate Deborah Rogers. Estrada was also charged with wounding and aggravated assault. She pleaded not guilty to the charges and she was relea...

Former NGC president Ernest Castro of Belmopan dies
The Garifuna community is mourning the passing of former president of the National Garifuna Council, Ernest Castro, who collapsed and later died at his home in Belmopan on Monday morning, after apparently suffering a massive heart attack following a morning walk. We spoke this afternoon with the NGC...

Amandala

Keyren Tzib’s attempted murder case committed to the Supreme Court
The interdicted Belize Coast Guard seaman, Keyren Tzib, appeared in the courtroom of Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith this morning, along with her attorney Darrell Bradley to continue the preliminary inquiry into her attempted murder charge. At the end of the process—which involved the submission of statements and documentary evidence that the Crown had gathered against Tzib—she was committed to stand trial for attempted murder and the use of deadly means of harm against fellow Coast Guard officer Kurt Hyde, whom she allegedly shot on Easter Monday, April 6, 2015. The 25-year-old Tzib sat quietly, as the court prosecutor read out the names of witnesses who gave statements to the police. There was neither objection nor submission from her attorney challenging the evidence that had been gathered against Tzib.

Murder suspect executed with 16 shots in funeral procession
Elroy Perdomo, Jr., 20, a youth of Kraal Road, Belize City, who had been detained by police up until this morning as the lead suspect in the brazen Sunday afternoon murder of Marlon Bonner, 34, was gunned down four hours after his release from custody, while he was in a funeral procession. “I guess the street justice was quick,” Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, told journalists in a press briefing this afternoon. As we reported in our midweek issue, Bonner, a resident of Central American Boulevard, was murdered by an unmasked man at about 3:30 on Sunday, June 12, on a basketball court located at the corner of Fabers Road and Central American Boulevard.

Guatemalan aggression resumes at the Sarstoon
Nine armed soldiers of the Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) showed up on the Belize side of the Sarstoon River today, ordering a group of Belizeans, including Wil Maheia of the Belize Territorial Volunteers and Mike Rudon, news reporter at Channel 5, to stop traversing the Sarstoon, Amandala was told today. Maheia said that they went to the area after 6:00 a.m. with a crew from Channel 5. “Going up, it was OK. They [the GAF] followed us, and we passed the [Sarstoon] Island. And when we decided to turn back, they said, ‘Stop!’ We said, ‘No man!’ and they insisted and they started to run their boat close to ours,” Maheia recounted. He said that there were four people on the boat that took the Belizean civilians to the Sarstoon. The Guatemalans, in a similar motorized skiff, had more passengers onboard their vessel and so the Belizeans were able to outpace them.

Confessions of a Belizean intelligence agent
After more than thirty years of gathering intelligence, dating back to the 70s, a retired special branch officer, who prefers to remain unnamed, decided to break his silence in an interview with Amandala. He reached the climax of his intelligence-gathering career during joint operations with the British, Americans and Guatemalans. He indicated that during the time of his intelligence-gathering, Guatemala was engaged in a brutal civil war that was waged from around 1960 to 1996, between the Guatemalan government and various leftist guerrilla groups. By 1979, as the civil war in Guatemala was intensifying, Guatemalan support groups had made their way to Belize, from which they provided food, medicine and possibly arms to the rebellious guerrillas, the retired agent said. He told our newspaper that these guerilla support groups were located in places like the Valley of Peace, Armenia, Blackman Eddy and Maskall; while the community of Billy White served as the nucleus for their operations.

Canadian wanted in connection with murder of football star in San Pedro
San Pedro police have concluded their investigation into the vicious killing of San Pedro football star and popular coach, Melvin Almendarez, 34, of the DFC area of San Pedro Town, which occurred at about 11:00 p.m. on May 6 in the southern end of San Pedro. The football star had been beaten and shot in his abdomen. Furthermore, a vehicle, believed to be a golf cart, was driven over the victim. Police said that their investigation led them to the victim’s friend, Jordan Bacchus, 32, a Canadian who is wanted for questioning. Police had taken Bacchus into custody after Almendarez was found dead, but only because they had found him in possession of cannabis, so they charged him for possession of the controlled drug and he was released on self-bail.

The Istanbul blunder: Misrepresentations of the Sarstoon status
For about one year now, the Republic of Guatemala has been insisting that they are exercising sovereignty over the entire Sarstoon River, which has become the flashpoint of Guatemala’s territorial claim and a massive diplomatic challenge to the United Democratic Party administration led by Prime Minister Dean Barrow, accused of losing the Belize side of the Sarstoon River in the face of persistent military aggression by Guatemalans on Belize’s southern border. That diplomatic challenge has not been going too well for Belize, and Guatemala has been ratcheting-up its offensive in the international media. In the wake of bilateral talks that were held between Foreign Ministers of Belize and Guatemala in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 23 and 24, 2016, the Government of Belize immediately revoked a Statutory Instrument which had banned Belizeans for about a month from entering Belize’s side of the Sarstoon River while Government attempted to negotiate a protocol with Guatemala on the use of the river.

Track and field delegation to El Salvador for Central American Senior Championships
Please note that Belize will have representation at the Central American Senior Championship in athletics, to be hosted in San Salvador, El Salvador. The team of almost 30 athletes will travel on Wednesday from Belize to El Salvador, returning on Tuesday. This team will have eight (8) foreign athletes and others are local athletes. This is the largest contingent of senior athletes that the Belize Athletic Association (BAA) has sent in some years. We do look forward for great representation, performance and medals.

Rural Female Softball Marathon completed, tournament resumes
The Rural Female Softball Tournament took a break this past weekend for the completion of the season opening Marathon, which had been suspended before completion. In game 1 on Sunday, June 12, in Lords Bank, Easy Does It won (7-0) by forfeit over Lords Bank Sunrise. Easy Does It then clipped Orchid Girls (from Burrell Boom), 5-4, behind winning pitcher Margret Hendy; while Therese Baptist took the loss. And in the last game for the Marathon championship, Orchid Girls prevailed, 23-21, over Easy Does It. Winning pitcher was Arneek Baptist, while Margret Hendy got the loss. The regular season of the Belize Rural Female Softball Tournament 2016, resumes this weekend with games at two different venues for Division A and Division B teams.

TIDE Freshwater Cup games, results and plans
The TIDE Freshwater Cup high school finals took place on Friday, June 10, at the Julian Cho High School grounds. In the opener at 1:00 p.m., George Town High School Girls drew, 1-1, with Julian Cho High School Girls. Queen Banegas (14’) put George Town in front, but Osmi Requena (19’) equalized for Julian Cho. They then went to penalties, and Julian Cho Girls came out victorious by 4 goals to 2. In the nightcap, it was George Town High School Boys, 1-0, over Julian Cho High School Boys, on a goal by Alence Ayala (26’). After the games, the winners received trophies and medals.

Jonathan Benjamin helped the Eagles to bite Wicked 11 very hard
Hello, my so loved readers of Cricket Corner! Thank you all. Well, under the auspices of the Belize National Cricket Association, and the kind sponsorship of Smart and the so refreshing drinks of Belikin, the Harrison Parks Cricket Competition 2016 playoffs started. Before I get into details, on behalf of myself, my family, and the official body of our cricket association, our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Mr. Norris “Shabat” Harris of Double Head Cabbage, who left this place upon earth to go or be with others who had gone along before him. This is a great blow to Excellence Cricket Team, as he was, without a doubt, an inspirational man to the team. Again I say, may his soul find peace with our Maker/Creator. With those said, we will get down to this weekend of cricket. At Flowers Bank, Western Eagles travelled there to go up against Wicked 11. Western Eagles is in third place in its zone (Zone 1), and Wicked 11 at second in its zone (Zone 2).

Editorial: Sold out
When planet earth came close to nuclear war in October of 1962, the first thing we will note in this essay is that in Belize we were blissfully ignorant of the absolute danger. The second thing we will note is that the world came close to nuclear Armageddon because Fidel Castro, the leader of the Cuban people, was willing to risk Armageddon in order to preserve his island’s sovereignty and independence from the United States of America, the world superpower just ninety miles north of Cuba. A sober man may be tempted to consider Fidel a crazy man, but there was a history between the United States and Cuba going back into the nineteenth century which provides explanations for the anger of the Cuban people against the American government. There is no such history between the American government and the people of Belize, and this explains why there has never been any animosity towards Washington felt by the Belizean people. Until the Seventeen Proposals in 1968, and even afterwards, the Belizean people have, first and foremost, viewed America as a land of magnificent economic opportunity.

From the Publisher
Information, entertainment, and communications technologies have captivated the minds of our young generations and dramatically changed our Belizean way of life. It really started, I suppose, with television in the population center around 1982 or so. To be truthful, the northern areas of Belize had been seeing Mexican television from back in the 1960s. I don’t have the slightest idea how widespread access to Mexican television was for Belizean norteños and how it affected their daily lives. All I know is that in football circles in Belize City, we began to get the idea that football in Belize’s north was benefiting from seeing quality international football on television, such as the World Cup in Mexico City in 1970. Those of us who spent Easter, summer, and other holidays at cayes and coastal villages back in the 1950s and 1960s spent our waking hours in a way of life similar to that of rural villagers in many respects. The key thing was the absence of electricity, so light came from the moon and the stars when the sun went down. Inside our abodes at night, we lit hurricane lanterns, which burned kerosene. We young people spent a lot of time playing games, telling stories, chasing crabs, and entertaining ourselves in various ways which involved interaction and group activity. During the daylight hours at cayes and coastal villages, there was swimming, fishing, cricket and football games, and where the work section was concerned there would be the cooking, the washing and drying of clothes, cutting of grass, sweeping of houses, and so on.

Beryl focuses on Part V of the 2001 Legal Opinion
Dear Editor, It was with great alarm that I read in both Channel 5 and Channel 7’s online news transcripts today that, regarding the Sarstoon River, Guatemala now deems it necessary to start a process in which several Guatemalan state institutions, not named but including the Ministry of Defense, must be involved. No mention of equivalent Belizean institutions! All Belizeans should be concerned. This latest revelation speaks to a continuing effort on Guatemala’s part to expand that state’s function on the river through multiple institutions and so further consolidate and strengthen possession and sovereignty over the Sarstoon. Belizeans must send a clear message to the Government of Belize that no agreement must be reached with Guatemala that excludes equivalent Belizean institutions. What seems more clear with this most recent communication is that Guatemala’s counterplan that I recently wrote about (Amandala, “Guatemala – Connecting The Dots”) envisions the reversal of the conditions on the ground that existed in 2001, the year of the Legal Opinion on Guatemala’s Claim that was commissioned by the then government of Belize, and, in the process, rendering the opinion outdated, irrelevant and useless – the very opinion on which, together with the 1859 Treaty, GOB bases its decision to take the claim to the International Court of Justice. This seems to be the case at least in regards to the Sarstoon to date.

Should the crumbs be taxable?
Dear Sir/Madam, Please allow me space in your widely read newspaper to shed some light on the latest ploy by the Belize City Council to tax tour guides working outside the gates of the Fort Street Tourism Village. A few weeks ago personnel from out of the Revenue Department of the City Council met with tour operators who work outside the Tourism Village informing them that they will now be applying a peddler’s tax to all tour guides and operators who solicit tours in the zone. Their reason is that everyone who does any business on the city streets has to pay taxes to the Council. Because these are considered small businesses, they all must pay what the Council refers to as peddler’s license. All tour guides are now required to pay $25 per month if they want to continue to work within the FSTZ (Fort Street Tourism Zone). As a tour operator who also works in the zone and will be affected, I believe this is an extreme measure which most of these people won’t be able to afford. The Council appears to be shoving this new policy down our throats without proper consultation and consideration. This apparently is being endorsed by the Belize Tourist Board (BTB).

My unexpected encounters with Muhammad Ali
From racist Middle America in Louisville, Kentucky a black boy who rose to become a global iconic figure as a result of his unparallel athleticism, self- discovery and social/political defiance in the face of white supremacy, died on Friday, June 3rd, 2016. Muhammad Ali, who won the Olympic gold medal for boxing in the heavyweight division and then went on to capture the world title an unprecedented three times, defined an entire generation and became a voice and symbol against racism, injustice, oppression and global imperialism. As we are inundated with various mass media coverage of the passing of Ali, once again we are witnessing that even in death someone else controls the narrative, which in many respects represent the unfinished work and challenge still facing the black liberation struggle in this third millennium. here has been a disturbing pattern in the past few years where the very forces to which our giants waged struggle and resistance against, ended up influencing the affairs of their image, works, interment and legacy. This may appear to some as unimportant; however, if we continue to allow others to frame our historical narrative, tell our stories, then the authenticity and poignant truths will continue to be distorted and lack the propensity to empower and inspire our children and future generations.

BELIZEANS IN L. A. HOLD HISTORIC GUATEMALAN CLAIM TOWN MEETING!
The Belizean diaspora community in Los Angeles have been making big strides in internationalizing Belize’s struggle for self-determination and territorial integrity in the face of the recent Guatemalan military aggression against the nation state of Belize, with the recent annexation and occupation of the Belize Sarstoon River and Island in the southernmost bordering area of Belize. Concerned members of the Belizean community in L.A. came out on Sunday, June 12, 2016 at the Holy Name of Jesus School in Los Angeles, California to hear speakers from Belize, and in the Los Angeles Belizean community itself, present pertinent information and popular education about the Guatemalan military aggression on the Belize Sarstoon River, Belize’s chances of going to the International Court of Justice (I.C.J.) to settle the Anglo/Guatemalan dispute, and the present state of affairs in Belize surrounding the issue which has captured the minds and attention of Belizeans at home and abroad about the fate of their country Belize.

Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission begins consultations this Friday
The Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission held a breakfast meeting with the media in Belize City this morning, after which it announced that the consultation process is about to get underway this weekend. Commission chair, Lisel Alamilla, announced that the Commission will be holding its first public consultation this Friday, June 17, in San Felipe. It moves next to Big Falls on Saturday, June 18, and to San Vicente on Sunday, June 19. Alamilla said that based on its first round of meetings with elected leaders in Toledo, they had asked the Commission to visit each village. The chair of the Commission also informed the media of plans to meet this week with officials of the Government of Belize, to report on the work it has done to date and what it plans to do in the near future.

2016 PSE: Students improve writing but still stuck in Math
At 9:00 on Friday morning, the 25 top performers in this year’s Primary School Examination (PSE) will receive their certificates and plaques at a formal awards ceremony which will be held at the Princess Ramada on Newtown Barracks in Belize City. This year, Kenly Young of St. Andrew’s Anglican School in Cayo and Angelina Urbina of La Inmaculada RC School in Orange Walk, tied for the top spot with a score of 391 or 97.75%. At tomorrow’s ceremony, Young and Urbina will receive the Jane and Michael Nembhard Award. Nelson Longsworth, Director of the Examinations Unit in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, has been leading the unit for the past two years. Longsworth said that while overall there is little change between the performance last year and this year, there was a notable improvement on the writing paper for the English portion of the exam. This contrasted, though, with a marked underperformance in problem solving.

Accused acquitted of murder of Samuel Price, brother of George Price
This morning, Supreme Court Justice Adolph Lucas handed down a not guilty verdict in the murder trial by judge without jury of Shane Gillett, 30, accused of killing Samuel Price, 84, the brother of Belize’s first Prime Minister and National Hero, Rt. Hon. George Price. In delivering his judgment, Justice Lucas briefly summarized the prosecution evidence that was led by Crown Counsels Portia Staine and Sherigne Rodriguez. On Saturday, April 16, 2011, a nephew of Price went to check on him and found it strange that he was not outside waiting. The nephew alerted two other family members, and when they finally went inside, along with a police officer, they found that Price’s house was in a bloody mess. He was found lying in a pool of blood, dead in his bathroom. Price had suffered blunt force trauma to his head, Dr. Hugh Sanchez, the pathologist who performed an autopsy on Price, concluded.

The Reporter

Chaos on Queen Street- four shot in front of police station
A policeman is fighting for his life in the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), while three more persons were injured in a mid-morning shooting in front of the Queen Street Police Station on Friday morning. At around 8:20 a.m., a 15-year-old boy rode down Queen […]

Nurses prepare questions for regional licensing exam
The Nurses and Midwives Council of Belize is concluding a two-day workshop today Friday, to prepare a list of questions which will form a part of the regional licensing examination for nursing. The Council is holding the workshop at the Best Western Belie Biltmore Plaza […]

Desertification and soil degradation pose many threats, expert says
Today, June 17 is being observed as World Day to Combat Desertification, under the theme this year of “Protect Earth. Restore Land. Engage People”. The purpose of the day is to alert people across the world about the dangers that desertification and soil degradation pose. […]

Two policemen, a school warden and a student shot in fr Queen Street
Breaking news: There has been a shooting in front of the Queen Street police station. Eye witnesses say a lone shooter rode up to the police station and fired 10-15 shots. Two policemen have reportedly been injured. One of them was saved by his cell phone which he had in […]

New Image Factory exhibit tackles taboos
Briheda Haylock premiered an art exhibit at the Image Factory this week that boldly confronts taboo issues, in support of women empowerment and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transexual community. The exhibit, “I Am Woman”, opens on Friday at 7:00 pm and is a dedication to the […]

Gay organization’s representative raises concern over “Champagne’s” autopsy results
Caleb Orozco, the president of the United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNiBAM) has raised concern over the post-mortem results for “Vanessa Champagne Paris”, 21, a transgender woman legally known as Porfelio Rodriguez, Jr., who died on Friday, June third. Orozco shared with the Reporter on Monday […]

Four Belizeans going to promote Belize at International Food Show in Taiwan
Four Belizeans will represent and promote Belize at the “2016 Taipei International Food Show”, planned for June 22 – 25. Through close collaboration between Taiwan’s Central American Trade Office and the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE), Shauna Arnold, an export promotion officer with […]

Ali’s final farewell
Louisville, Ky Thousands of people including some of the most famous names in the world converged on the city of Louisville between June 9 and 10 to pay their final respects to Muhammad Ali, the hometown hero who just might have put this city on the […]

Government of Japan donates wheelchairs to GOB
In an official handing over ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Conference Room in Belmopan, the Embassy of Japan donated 30 wheelchairs to officials from the Ministry of Health. According to a government press release, the 30 foldable wheelchairs will be distributed, as needed, to hospitals and clinics, throughout […]

Taiwan expands Tilapia farming program in Independence
As part of its Aquaculture Project, a five-year initiative started in February of 2012, the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) introduced a Tilapia farming workshop at Independence High School on June 8. The project aims to enhance Tilapia production in Belize, boost the […]

What Guatemala really said
Belize’s true status over part ownership of the Sarstoon River became further convoluted this week with the revelation of the contents of a letter from Guatemala to Belize, following the “Istanbul Meeting”, which sought to chart a way towards negotiating Belizeans’ use of the river. […]

Sex video exposes homeless couple coerced to perform sex acts for soft drinks
Another sex video, captured on a cell phone, which has been circulated on social media for at least two weeks, caught the attention of the Ministry of Health this week because of the subjects involved. The poorly-recorded video shows a man and a woman who […]

Father of three killed executed on basketball court
Marlon Anthony Bonner, 34, a father of three with no known gang-affiliations, was shot an killed in a gangland style execution on Sunday evening while playing basketball at the corner of Central American Boulevard and Fabers Road. Bonner, who played basketball at that court every Sunday, was […]

Media crew turned back once more from the Sarstoon!
Guatemalan military personnel turned back another boat with Belizean media workers who visited the Sarstoon River on Thursday. The government says it is investigating the report “to verify all its particulars including a report that the media vessel was in Belizean waters.” The government issued […]

Monima resigns! Health CEO takes blame
Audibaldo Monima, the 30-¬year-¬old former Coast Guard training officer who was introduced to the staff at the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday June 6, as the new Northern Region Health Manager, has resigned from the post after he was asked to do so or face termination. This followed a […]

Editorial
The on-going debate about the quality of education our children receive in our primary schools should take into account the fact that in Belize there are some cultural and economic ingredients which make us less prepared than children of similar age in many other countries. We believe, and there is […]

Murder suspect shot 16 times
Elroy Perdomo, the main suspect in last Sunday’s murder of Marlon Bonner, was riddled with 16 shots as he walked behind a funeral on Vernon Street around 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. Perdomo, 21, had only been released from police custody four hours earlier when he came under fire. According to […]

Boat hits the barrier reef
A 39 foot trawler crashed into the barrier reef on Wednesday night, leaving government authorities like the Departmenrt of the Environment (DOE) and Belize Port Authority with the task of moving it and assessing the damage. On Thursday the DOE sent officers to inspect the crash […]

Breaking Belize News

PSE AWARDS 2016 held
Their hard work is done, and now it is time for some celebration. Belize’s brightest students got their due at the annual national award ceremony for the 2016 Primary School Examination (PSE), held in Belize City at the Ramada Princess Hotel. Minister of State in the […]

Former president of NGC Ernest Castro dies
The Garifuna community is mourning the passing of former president of the National Garifuna Council, Ernest Castro, who collapsed and later died at his home in Belmopan on Monday morning, after apparently suffering a massive heart attack following a morning walk. The NGC’s current president, Sandra Miranda, who was […]

Another vessel runs aground on Barrier Reef
The damages caused to the Belize Barrier Reef have yet to be assessed after an American registered 39-foot vessel ran aground in front of San Pedro Town. However, because of the location where the vessel was lodged, it is suspected that the damages to the delicate coral topography will be […]

Moist and unstable conditions to prevail
The 24-hour forecast is for cloudy skies at times today with a few showers and isolated thunderstorms mainly over the coast and in the north this morning then mostly inland this afternoon. Tonight it is expected to be cloudy with a few showers or thunderstorms mainly […]

Gunman opens fire on police and civilians in front of Queen Street Police Station
A brazen gunman opened fire on and injured Police Officer, Alrick Arnold and two civilians in front of the Queen Street Police Station between 8:00 and 9:00 this morning. Details of the shooting are still not fully known but BBN understands that Officer Arnold and the […]

Person of interest in City murder is “executed”
Police in Belize City say they had finally gotten their hands on one of the persons suspected to be involved in the Sunday evening murder of 34 year old Marlon Bonner, Elroy Perdomo. But no sooner than he was let go this morning than so-called “street justice” […]

Blogs

Belizean Food – Typical and Traditional Things To Try
Belizean food is simple, always fresh and amazing. If you’ve traveled in Central America you’ll notice that there are many similarities between Belizean cuisine and traditional food found in places like El Salvador, Costa Rica and even Mexico…but each meal has a slight twist – it might be a few added ingredients or the way it is eaten. So take advantage of Belize being a melting pot of cultures and experience an explosion of flavours that will enchant all of your senses. Here’s a basic guide with a list of the best things to taste – bookmark this page or write it down, your culinary adventure awaits! Appetizers: Conch fritters, Ceviche, Cheese Dip, Belizean Pico de Gallo. Breakfast: Johnny Cakes, Fry Jacks (fried flour dough), Chaya with Eggs, Flour Tortillas, Meat Pie.

Miss El Salvador – Miss Costa Maya International 2016 Contestant
The International Costa Maya Festival is excited to announce its third contestant vying the title of Miss Costa Maya International 2016. Meet Marlin Ramirez.

The first lobster dish of the season has been consumed; now, on to LobsterFest!
Lobster season. It’s on. We had our first taste of the new season on Thursday at Estel’s Dine by the Sea, lobster omelettes all around. Man, they were good. Next up has got to be the original island lobster sliders at Casa Picasso, my all-time island favorite lobster delivery system. Must have something to do with those little buns slathered in butter. I’m surprised that lobsters have not evolved to include gobs of butter under the exoskeleton. You know, the way the Butterball turkey has evolved to naturally include lots of butter under the skin. Or the way watermelons can be grown to include vodka infused inside the “meat.” Isn’t evolution amazing? But anyway, lobster. To celebrate the opening of lobster season this week, all of Ambergris Caye, it seems, is turning out delicious dishes which feature freshly captured Spineys. From Wednesday through next Saturday, the island is abuzz with the Lobster Crawl. Each night, a different restaurant features a special lobster dish. Last night was the turn of Pirate’s Treasure, north of the bridge. Normally this is the place to go for another spiky creature, the Lion Fish. The chef-owner makes the Lion Fish sing on your plate, in a tickle-your-tastebuds-kind-of-way. For lobster, the place was packed.

International Sources

Venezuelan Diplomacy Succeeds at OAS General Assembly
By taking timely diplomatic actions, Venezuela maintained the initiative at the 46th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), which ended in Santo Domingo on Wednesday night. At the first plenary session, held on Tuesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry presented a series of demands to Caracas, including holding a rapid referendum demanded by the president to revoke the president. Kerry's speech was immediately rebutted by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez, who after saying "the master of the world has just spoken", reminded Kerry that her country does not need charity and it is a free and sovereign nation.

Corozal Dog and Cat Protection Program
Photographs from Day # 1 of Corozal Dog and Cat Protection Program, Spay and Neuter Clinic. Today day 2 begins at 9am. Please carefully read the poster below if you plan to attend.

State of North America’s Birds 2016
More than 350 migratory bird species in North America are truly trinational, splitting time in Canada, the U.S.A, and Mexico over the course of a calendar year. Birds connect the three countries of North America. And according to the recently released State of North America’s Birds 2016 report, those three countries—their governments, and their societies—need to step up and do more to preserve our continent’s spectacular and shared natural heritage of birdlife. This report is the first-ever scientific conservation assessment of all 1,154 bird species in North America, and it was only possible because of the tremendous scale and big-data capabilities of citizen-science. Tens of thousands of Canadians, Americans, and Mexicans—from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans, and the tundra to the Yucatan—contributed data that was analyzed by scientists from all three countries. eBird was one of the data sources; read on to see new data visualizations and exciting maps made from your eBird sightings.

Canadian Forces divers in Caribbean for month of training
Canadian Forces divers from the Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) are in the Caribbean this month on an international training exercise. The exercise, which is called "Tradewinds," happens annually and more than 20 nations participate, including Jamaica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis and Belize. The Canadian dive unit is offering training to 22 participants from various coast guard and navy dive teams from other countries. The course is being held in Jamaica's Discovery Bay. "Mainly the divers here, what they face, is a ship will come into port and they've got to be searched for drug caches that have been attached to them either on the way in or on the way out," said Lt. JR Gallant, the officer in charge of the 11-person dive team. "Any ship that comes into their harbour has to be searched before it leaves, and numerous times a year they find drug caches on them."

Tropical wave to move into Gulf of Mexico by Sunday
A tropical wave is producing disorganized thunderstorms and cloudiness over the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, Belize, northern Guatemala and adjacent waters of the northwestern Caribbean Sea. Any development of this disturbance should be slow to occur due to proximity to land and only marginally conducive upper-level winds. The system is forecast to move westward to west-northwestward at about 10 mph during the next few days, and emerge over the Bay of Campeche and the southwestern Gulf of Mexico by Sunday. Tropical formation chances are 10 percent over the next 48 hours and 30 percent over the next five days.

Videos

June 17, 2016

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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

Guatemalan Armed Forces Attempts to Block Belizean Vessel
The Government of Belize has received an initial report that a Belizean vessel with two media personnel was traversing the Sarstoon River this morning when they were approached by a Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) vessel, with nine (9) GAF persons on board. The GAF personnel attempted to stop the Belizean vessel, which, reportedly, was traveling along the north side of the Sarstoon Island. The Belizean vessel was able to speed away back to Punta Gorda. GOB is investigating this incident in an effort to verify all its particulars including that the media vessel was in Belize’s waters. In the meantime, Guatemalan authorities have communicated that they attempted to stop the vessel to inquire as to the reason for the taking of pictures of their naval base.

BTB launches “Central America is Yours, Enjoy it” Digital Campaign
Technology has inspired the Belize Tourism Board (BTB), along with the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) to launch a new digital campaign “Central America is Yours, Enjoy It” on Thursday, June 8th. The campaign seeks to motivate half a million Central Americans from Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua to vacation in the region. Last year, tourism in Central America increased by 6.9%, earning roughly 17 billion US dollars. Executive Director at BTIA, John Burgos, said that Belize’s tourism revenues could definitely benefit from this program. “The campaign will be focusing on promoting interregional tourism, whereby Belizeans will be encouraged to travel to Central America, and vice versa.” The digital campaign will use social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube to encourage internet users to promote tourism within Central America. According to the Central American Tourism Integration System (SITCA), 40% of tourists that travel within Central America are Central American. Nielsen Online (June 2015), states that on average, 31% engage using the internet.

2016 PSE Results are in; SPRCS tops the island
After two days of intense examinations, students in San Pedro were eager to find out their Primary School Examination (PSE) scores. On Friday, June 10th, results were revealed and once again, the San Pedro Roman Catholic Primary School (SPRCS) tops the list. San Pedro’s top scorers are Rachel Alamilla, scored 94.3%, who placed 22nd overall in the country and Catherine Canul and Alyssa Martin who received the same score of 90.5%, while Stephanie Usher had a score of 87.8%. Kenly Young from St. Andrews Anglican School and Angelina Urbina from La Imaculada Roman Catholic School had the top scores in Belize with 391 points out of 400. This year, a total of 7,235 Standard Six students sat for the PSE countrywide. Tests were administrated in the four major subjects of Mathematics, English, Science, and Social Studies.

Where have all the TV channels gone?
On Thursday, June 9th, CCV informed their subscribers via text about the situation. “CCV is experiencing technical difficulties causing the loss of channels. We are working to re-instate them. We apologize for the inconvenience caused.” “I’m trying to decide if I should pay $22 instead of $44. It’s going on the second week that channels have been gone. If you order rice and beans with stew chicken to-go, and when you open your food, you only see rice and beans without the chicken, what would you think? I am not getting the answer I want from CCV,” said the resident. Other theories have surfaced, including one from an anonymous consumer who alluded to copyright infringement, and piracy as the cause of the missing channels. However, those claims are not confirmed.

Large vessel runs into reef in front of Ambergris Caye
The American registered vessel was captained by 66-year-old Roger Day, who was heading to the United States of America from Guatemala. When approaching Ambergris Caye, the vessel’s engine began giving trouble and the vessel started taking in water. Day then decided to head to shore, but with no knowledge of the waters near the island and his navigational equipment not adjusted to recognize the channels of the reef, he ended up grounding on the reef itself. Day then sent out a SOS call, which was answered by personnel from Amigos Del Mar, Tour Operator who brought him to shore. The corresponding authorities have been notified about the incident, primarily the Belize Port Authority (BPA), Belize Coast Guard, Department of Environment, and Hol Chan Marine Reserve. According to officials, the strong smell of fuel around the boat indicates that some gas may have leaked into the sea, which will add to the increasing damage to the reef. Also, during the investigations, the Belize Coast Guard apprehended four male individuals who were caught stealing inside the vessel while they were also attempting to make way with the engine. The culprits were immediately detained and handed over to the San Pedro Police Formation where they await charges.

Island honors Class of 2016 secondary graduates
The weekend of Saturday, June 11th and Sunday, June 12th was a celebration of two secondary institutions’ graduation ceremonies on La Isla Bonita. The San Pedro High School held its 45th Graduation Commencement Exercise on Saturday, June 11th at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium starting at 5PM when 96 students marched in to the tune of Pomp and Circumstance. Tanairi Arana and Jonathan Andino were the Mistress and Master of Ceremonies. After the graduates sang their school song, Elladira Garcia delivered the salutatory address. Principal Emil Vasquez and Chairman Aljemiro Paz Jr. distributed diplomas to the Class of 2016, after which outstanding students were awarded. Jonathan Andino was voted Senior of the Year, Louis Valdez won Best Athlete, and Bruce Garbutt was awarded Student of the Year.

ACES Special Needs Classroom burglarized
Over the weekend of Saturday, June 11th and Sunday, June 12th, the Ambergris Caye Elementary School (ACES) was burglarized. ACES officials observed that the Special Education classroom was the only class that was broken into, and items were stolen from their supply closet. A black Dell 17 inch Inspiron laptop, along with its manufacturer charger, and a black HP Mini 1104 9 inch laptop was taken, totaling over $700 US in losses. ACES contacted the San Pedro Police Department, and three police officers visited scene. At this time, the investigation is still ongoing. Special Educator Sarah Jean Freudenberg is devastated that her classroom was burglarized. “I was very saddened to find that our classroom had been broken into when I arrived to school Monday morning. It looks as though someone broke in through the handicap bathroom window, then broke into the supply closet in the classroom. Other items of value were not removed from the classroom, and no other classrooms were tampered with,” said Freudenberg.

Students from New Horizon receive GREAT certificates
As part of the Community Policing initiative, Police Constable (PC) Juan Choc has been active in schools across San Pedro in effort to introduce students to the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) Program. On Wednesday, June 8th, PC Choc, Deputy of the Coastal Executive Unit Henry Jemmott, and Councilor Ruben Gonzalez visited Yurelie Casanova’s Standard Four class at the New Horizon Seventh-day Adventist School. A total of 21 students were awarded with certificates for successfully completing the program. The GREAT program began country-wide in 2010, and PC Choc traveled to San Salvador, El Salvador for a two-week training that integrates the program into the school’s curriculum. Over the course of 13 lessons each week, children are educated on the consequences of gang violence and the benefits of developing positive relationships with law enforcement. They also learn how to refuse peer pressure, get help in communicating their problems and make concrete resolutions.

Ambergris Today

Michelle Nuñez to Represent Belize at Miss America Latina del Mundo
Mr. Michael Arnold, National Director for Miss America Latina Del Mundo Belize 2016 hereby introduces Miss Michelle Estrella Nunez of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, who is the designated Contestant to represent Belize at this prestigious event. Presently, the Crown is held by Miss Karla Monje representing the United States of America. Miss Michelle Nunez is a graduate of St. John’s College in Belize City with an Associate Degree in General Studies. She is also the title holder of Miss San Pedro (2014-2015). Miss Nunez earned a Leadership Award in 2015 as the Top Agent for San Pedro Branch. This is an Award of Excellence from the Insurance Corporation of Belize (ICB). Miss Nunez speaks fluently English and Spanish. She also enjoys cooking and dancing. She is a member and Secretary for the Rotaract Club of San Pedro. Miss Nunez is also the Founder and Director of SHINE Girls Club, a youth enrichment program designed for young girls to succeed in life. The SHINE Girls Club was launched in January 2015.

Solani Graniel Heads to Miss Caribbean Roots Pageant
Solani Graniel, of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, will be representing Belize at the Miss Caribbean Roots pageant which will be held from June 21 - 26, 2016 during the 43rd annual Folkloric, Sports and Culture Festival of the Providencia and Santa Catalina Islands in Colombia. “Well I set off to my first international pageant and what can I say, it has definitely been a roller coaster getting everything prepared and I want to thank everyone who has helped me and especially sponsored me!” stated Solani on her Facebook profile. “I take off to represent the most beautiful country in my eyes Belize. I'm super excited to see what awaits me and I hope to make Belize proud. I'll do my best to post pics on FB! Colombia get ready Belize is coming! Solani was crowned Miss San Pedro back in 2013 and currently holds the title of Miss San Pedro Lions Queen 2016-2017. She departs for Colombia today, Friday, June 17; let's all wish her luck.

Fishermen Arrested for Out of Season Lobster
While everyone else was following the law and enjoying their first day of Lobster fishing on the opening of the season, on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, the Conservation Compliance Unit – Punta Gorda branch of the Belize Fisheries Department arrested two fishermen for the possession of lobster tail out of season. The detainees were Lucito Armando Sosa, 52 years, and Elizardo Tut, 42 years, both of Independence Village, Stann Creek District. Based on information obtained, the Fisheries Officer, Mr. Victor Vasquez and his team searched the Coco Solo Caye, located directly East of Punta Negra Village on the southern barrier reef. After a thorough search of the island, the Fisheries personnel found one white ice cooler buried in the sand with 204 out of season spiny lobster tail.

Thirty-nine Foot Vessel Runs Into Reef Outside Ambergris Caye
The strong stench of diesel fuel fills the air as you approach the 39-foot Mainship Trawler that has run around into the coral reef just in front of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize. Damages to the vessel and the reef are significant but not fully known as investigations continue after the early evening shipwreck. Amigos del Mar personnel tell Ambergris Today that they responded to the distress call of Captain Roger Day, 66, who was the only person aboard the vessel ‘Connie Sue’ at about 7p.m. on Wednesday, June 15. He was brought ashore after which all the proper authorities were notified, including the Belize Coast Guard, Belize Port Authority, Department of Environment and Hol Chan Marine Reserve. A statement made by Day to the Port Authority indicates that the American registered vessel was enroute from Guatemala to the United States when it started to take in water in the area in front of San Pedro Town. Day was forced to immediately head to shore but his navigational equipment failed to direct him through the channel on the reef; he missed it by far and struck the reef.

Misc Belizean Sources

BELIZE FISHING REPORT: Weeks of June 5th – June 11th, 2016
A very quiet week here at the lodge meant the anglers had the water to themselves. Orvis’ Bonefish Bonanza went off without a hitch with lots more than bonefish being caught. Russ got the first tarpon of the week and jumped 4 more that same day, John bested him with 1 to the hand and 6 in the air! Cody had a huge 100 pound plus fish right up to the boat that was pretty well whipped before it flipped off leaving everyone asking “did you touch the leader?” More fish were jumped and many more were cast to with results ranging from total spook, total ignore to a long follow without a bite.

"Chiquibul" the jaguar cub, The Belize Zoo
TBZ has some exciting news to share! We are pleased to introduce our latest and littlest member of the Zoo family, "Chiquibul" the jaguar cub. She was rescued from drowning by our amazing colleagues at Friends for Conservation and Development - FCD Belize in the Chiquibul Forest. The young cub was in need of urgent medical attention, and was quickly transferred the Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic. The wonderful BWRC team provided little "Chiqui" with exceptional medical care, and lots of love, as she made a strong recovery. Now at her new home at TBZ, Chiquibul is gradually losing her shy character and becoming playful and affectionate towards her caregivers.

"The Alba"
The San Pedro House of Culture invites everyone to join us for "The Alba" (the first light before sunrise), starting at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, June 20th at the Catholic Church to enjoy a typical fisherman's breakfast. Be part of our Dia de San Pedro Celebrations and help us keep our traditions alive.

Recently consolidated site of Benque Viejo
While visiting the site of Xunantunich in San Jose Succotz, you can also go over to the town of Benque Viejo del Carmen and see the recently consolidated site of Benque Viejo. It offers beatiful views of the surrounding town and offers a glimpse into the past of the country of Belize and the ancient Maya.

Bishop Martin Primary School visits Xunantunich
About 45 kids and accompanied by parents and teachers from the Bishop Martin Primary School visited the site of Xunantunich. They learned about the history of Ancient Maya and the wildlife surrounding the site from Jorge de Leon and Bernane.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY: OAS – KDI School of Pubic Policy and Management, South Korea
The Organization of American States (OAS), through the Department of Human Development, Education and Employment (DHDEE) and KDI School of Public Policy and Management, through the OAS Partnerships Program for Education and Training (PAEC), are offering scholarships to qualified candidates of the Americas to participate in Master programs.

Guatemalan Armed Forces Attempts to Block Belizean Vessel
The Government of Belize has received an initial report that a Belizean vessel with two media personnel was traversing the Sarstoon River this morning when they were approached by a Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) vessel, with nine (9) GAF persons on board. The GAF personnel attempted to stop the Belizean vessel, which, reportedly, was traveling along the north side of the Sarstoon Island. The Belizean vessel was able to speed away back to Punta Gorda. GOB is investigating this incident in an effort to verify all its particulars including that the media vessel was in Belize's waters. In the meantime, Guatemalan authorities have communicated that they attempted to stop the vessel to inquire as to the reason for the taking of pictures of their naval base.

Summer Program for Youth in Corozal
The Department of Youth Services in Corozal District invites all youth to be a part of the summer program that they have prepared for young people. Lots of Learning and Lots of Fun!! Join us!! for more info contact us at 402 0440 or dysczl@gmail.com" - See schedule of events!

Corozal: HUGE FATHER'S DAY SALE on June 17 and 18 at Quality Poultry Products
Corner of 4th Avenue and 3rd Street South - "Dis Da Fi Wi Chikin" - Regular and Whole Chicken only $1.95 per pound.

Belize Hotel Association (BHA) Annual General Meeting
The Belize Hotel Association (BHA) Annual General Meeting will be held on June 30, 2016. Come listen to our dynamic speaker Mr. Frank Comito, CEO of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association. Election of officers! Grand Raffles and Chinese Auction in support of our scholarship fund. All are invited! Kindly RSVP your attendance. We look forward to seeing you there!

Fajina is a Maya word that means communal labor
Members of a community give their time for the good of the community to make sure that everyone can benefit from working together. Our Fajina is a community outreach organization run by archaeologists who feel a great responsibility to give back and support the communities in which they work. Three archaeologists, Leah McCurdy, Rebecca Freidel and Sylvia Batty have written an archaeologically accurate trilingual children's book that follows Little Moon and her journey to the great Clay Mountain (ancient Xunantunich). The books are being distributed to students from 5 schools in the historically Yucatec Maya villages of San Antonio, Succotz and Calla Creek in the Cayo district.

Channel 7

Street Justice Is Swift And Ruthless For Man Killed At Funeral
Gun violence in the city reached to a new low this afternoon when a man was killed at a funeral! It happened on Vernon Street just after 3:00, when Elroy Perdomo Jr., better known as "Chin", was in a funeral procession. He stepped out of the procession to stop at nearby shop. That gave his killers the right opportunity to ambush and shoot him 16 times. Daniel Ortiz reports: About an hour ago, we found the family of Elroy "Chin" Perdomo Jr., outside the emergency room of the KHMH. They had only just gotten the news that he was dead, his body riddled by 16 gunshots. He was gunned down here on Vernon Street, and according to witnesses the two gunmen ambushed him just after he had stopped at this shop to buy some snacks. We're told that he had been attending the funeral services for Pablo Roberto Sanchez Sr., and he was traveling along with the funeral procession as it headed toward the burial grounds. Police say that the shooters pulled up in a car, and one of them emptied a full clip on him. After the spray of gunfire, the shooter sped off.

Cops Say Victim Should Have Stayed Home
So, while the investigators on the scene weren't ready to call Perdomo's murder street justice, Eastern Division South Commander Chester Williams wasn't so shy. He's been on Facebook for the past two days asking eyewitnesses to come forward with information about the main suspect in Marlon Bonner's murder, Elroy Perdomo. And now, Perdomo is dead - hours after police released him. Williams said that Perdomo should have stayed home to avoid street justice: ACP Chester Williams - OC, Eastern Division South: "I must say it's a sad state of affair to see what we have come to and yes Mr. Perdomo was in custody in respect to the murder of Mr. Bonner which took place on Sunday. As I have said on my Facebook page, there were several persons out there who said that they saw him do the shooting. According to those persons who were out there, he had nothing on his face so everyone was sure that it was him. While many of the witnesses spoke to us and gave us full detail as to what took place, none of them were willing to give us a statement, because of that we had to release him at 11 this morning because his 48 hours period was up and he was released from custody."

Sayonara Mr. Monima!
Audibaldo Monima has been at the center of a raging controversy for a week now. The newly hired northern region health manager has been exposed by the media as thoroughly unqualified for the job. Well, the news tonight is that Monima has resigned, or more accurately, he was forced to resign. This morning, the CEO in the Ministry of Health, Ramon Figueroa told us that Monima was given the option to resign or be terminated, and he chose to resign. He said the ministry made the decision after a full review of Monima's qualifications where it was agreed that he does not meet the requirements for the job. Seems they were last to get the memo on what was public knowledge a week ago. Today the CEO apologized for the wrong information he gave us when he said that Monima had a master's degree in naval command - he now says that's just what he had been told. When he saw the news which said that he only had a certificate from the Mexican Navy Juniour Staff College, Figueroa said he checked Monima's file and learned of his error. Monima has resigned but under the terms of his contract, he has to give three months notice, so the Ministry can now either to choose to send him home and pay him for those three months, or keep him around for three months and find something for him to do.

Guats Goad Press On Sarstoon
For the past two days, we've been reporting on the leaked diplomatic note from the Guatemalan Government which refutes the Belize Government's assertion that they agreed to allow Belizeans to freely travel the Sarstoon. As you've been seeing since the Istanbul Bilateral talks concluded a month ago, Prime Minister Dean Barrrow, Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington, and even PUP Representative Eamon Courtenay all told 7News that the Guatemalans did in fact enter informal agreement for "untrammeled access" to the Sarstoon by Belizeans. A few days later, Channel 5 and KREM went to test this agreement for "untrammeled access", and they exposed that the Guatemalan military was still blockading Belizean vessels from traveling freely through the River. A week later, the PUP went on their own familiarization trip, and they encountered no such harassment, which the Foreign Minister confidently asserted as proof that though the Guatemalans simply hadn't relayed the arrangement down the chain of command during the media trip, but had since done so.

Killer Canuck On the Lam?
Police in San Pedro are now playing catch up in the Melvin Almendarez murder investigation. That's because the main suspect Canadian National Jordan Bacchus can't be found. In May when Almendarez was murdered, Bacchus was detained as the prime person of interest since he was the last person seen with Almendarez before he was found dead on a feeder road in Southern San Pedro. At the time, Bacchus was charged for possession of controlled drugs but was granted bail and released shortly after. A month has passed, and now police are turning to the public for assistance because Bacchus, now officially wanted by police for the murder of 31 year old Melvin Almendarez, is at large. The San Pedro Sun reports that there was overwhelming evidence against Bacchus: we are talking about a bloody clothes at his residence, blood at the bottom of his golf cart, hair specimens from the victim on his belongings, and a positive test result for gun powder on his hands…seems like the only thing left was the smoking gun! But just why wasn't held by police pending further investigations? Well, it seems there was no objection to bail after he was charged for possession of controlled drugs. It's the common practice in the court room where the prosecutor would object to bail pending the investigation of another more serious offense.

US Vessel Rakes Reef
Last night at around 7 o'clock, A 40-foot Vessel ran aground on the Barrier Reef just in front of the eastern side of San Pedro Town, right in plain view of persons who were on the beachfront of island town. The vessel, seen here in a photo form the San Pedro Sun, is named "Connie Sue", and is registered in Florida, and according to reports, her captain, 66 year-old Roger Day, , was heading to the United States from Guatemala. While the vessel was approaching Ambergris Caye, it allegedly started to have engine problems, and took on water. The captain then sent out a distress call which was answered by the employees of Amigos Del Mar, which was nearby. By that time, the vessel ran aground on the reef, and there is evidence of significant damage. Personnel from Coast Guard told us that they and the Belize Port Authority were immediately informed, and they dispatched a team to investigate. The Sun reports that the investigators suspect that some of the engine's fuel may have leaked into the sea, which compounds the damage.

IDB And The City
The Yabra Area Renovators are back in Belize for the second phase of project planning. As we told you in February, a team from the IDB's American Planning Association came to do an evaluation and inspection of the area and also to connect with the community. The vision behind this project is to revitalize Yabra and restore its historical value and beauty. Well today at City Hall, Mayor Darrell Bradley and the planning team gave us a more comprehensive overview of that project. Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor: "City Council is working on a series of activities in partnership again with the Inter-American Development Bank and the American Planning Association to really emphasize the sustainable development goals. One of the real points of the sustainable development goals is to make cities more livable. We've spoken a lot about the idea of urban planning, there have been a lot of interest in terms of zoning and capacity building. One of the things that we recognize is that the City council is very limited in terms of its capacity, hence the partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank and the American Planning Association, so that we have a group of planners from the APA who are in country. This is not the first time that they are in the country and focusing on particularly on an intervention in the Yabra area."

The Belize City Brand Is Not Violence
But apart from the Land Use Plan, the team is also developing a brand that will represent what Belize City has to offer. Today at the press conference both the Mayor and the City Council's Director of Finance showed us the draft city brand and explained how it will enhance civic pride and boost tourism. Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor: "We also have a team of individuals who are developing a city brand for Belize City and this is something again, that's build up from some of the work that has been done by the Belize Tourism Board and other entities who have worked on city branding. They have released to us a preliminary brand for the city and you will notice in relation to some of the ideas they have come up with, some of the colour choices, it is reflective of our history, our culture and what we have to offer as Belize City. The icon and the imagery is something that we wanted to define or be a statement about Belize City itself and the idea is that we would want to build a whole degree of pride around the brand."

City Can't Afford To Zone
Now with all these big plans, can the City Council afford it? Although the council has secured finances from the government and has support from the IDB through a grant, the council's finances can't carry the cost - that's because most of what the city earns is spent on sanitation, not on city planning or development. Director of Finance Marilyn Ordonez gave us the financial outline. Marilyn Ordonez, Director of Finance: "What the city has done was to secure its funding from the government and have that bond secured with funding that is earmarked and secured. That bond is then managed by the Central Bank so that the residents don't have to worry about that. Bond holders know that their funds are secured. When we look at the financials, what was very striking was that the huge cost that we have is reflected in payroll and sanitation. When we look at the financials, the sanitation costs exceeds payroll, so that's telling us that when we collect our property tax or trade license and all our revenue we are working to deal with garbage. Our cost, revenue, is going to garbage and is that what we want as a city? We need to perhaps revisit that because it means that something is wrong."

Dredging, Sometime Soon
Funding from Government for the dredging in the Belize Harbour has been approved and works are to start very soon. As you heard yesterday, Minister of Tourism Manuel Heredia and State Minister in Investment Tracey Panton both said that GOB is committed to assisting financially with this major siltation problem, one that has been plaguing the harbor since late last year. Today Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley told us that it's definitely a go and that these works fall somewhat under one aspect of the Flood Mitigation Project. Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor: "I think the Minister of Tourism, if I'm not mistaken, and Minister Tracy Panton had indicated in relationship to the government's contribution, I think a lot of it has to do with, and I mentioned this before in terms of just finding the finances, that's an amount of money that various government entities don't necessarily have in their budget. I think one of the points that I would want to emphasize is that this is the reason why, in terms of the flood mitigation project, there's a tremendous amount of emphasis on sustainability and maintenance. We are focusing now in the flood mitigation project, part of it is a study of the river maintenance. In terms of insuring that there's a regular budgeted amount for the maintenance of assets that have been emerged. I'm very sad that this is only now coming unfolding because that has been a problem for some time but my understanding is that the Ministry of Finance has already approved the money. There was a dredge out there for 2 days so we are understanding that the project will start very shortly."

Nurses For The Big Test
A panel of educators with different backgrounds in nursing gathered today at the Biltmore Plaza for a two day workshop. Their task is to come up with a list of questions which will be submitted to the CXC office in Barbados to design a nurse's entry exam using questions submitted from all CARICOM member countries. Now, nurses can already enroll in a Bachelor's level program at UB, but the idea is to have them sit a regional entrance exam facilitated by the Nurses Council in each country. Today's event was that first stage towards designing this year's exam. The Caribbean Examination Council has been managing the regional nurses' exam for the two years.

BELTRAIDE Cares For UB
Today Beltraide handed over a set of keys to the University of Belize for a brand new security and maintenance facility at the UB Faculty's Campus in Belize City. This is a much smaller structure than the one which will be housing the the Belize Enterprise and Innovation Institute, a Beltraide initiative to foster innovative business ideas in the country. Last year Beltraide and UB broke ground to mark the start of construction for this facility. But when the plan was being laid out, the contractors realized that the existing security maintenance facility was in the way. So to compensate Beltraide promised to construct a new building for this purpose. Today that promise was kept. We caught up with the stakeholders this morning as the keys were handed over and also got to speak to them about the construction of the larger facility in the pipeline. Alan Slusher, President - UB: "We are very happy for these new facilities. We are very happy that BELTRAIDE has it fit to construct a building on our premises and it was our good fortune that our facilities building was in the way, because we had been looking at it and recognizing that the space that we had in the facilities that we had for our staff weren't really up to par. But obviously the institution is cash strapped and we didn't have any resources to fix it. So we are very thankful that our minister for BELTRAIDE need or desire to build a building at a particular spot, which meant that we would get new and nice facilities. Part of the arrangements and BELTRAIDE can describe it much better than I can - they are creating and enterprise and innovation center which will also utilize our staff and our students as part of the process in building entrepreneurial and business capacity for Belize."

Sovereign For September
The theme for this year's September Celebrations has been set, and it has a lot to do with what you hear about on the news almost every night - and we don't mean crime! We mean the Sarstoon river - and what it represents, which is Belizean sovereignty. In line with that, this year's theme is "Sovereign and Strong - Together as one!" Today, our colleagues at CTV-3 in Orange Walk spoke to the teacher and counselor who came up with it. She is Argelia Mendoza Ken, and she explained why she chose this theme:.. "Our country has been facing a lot of difficult times where our sovereignty and our status as Belizeans has been challenged. However, these challenges have only made us see a different face of Belize where we have united as Belizeans to defend and protect our patrimony, regardless of race, of culture, of religion. So beside all the bad stuff that has been happening, it had made us bring out the best in us and what better time to celebrate our accomplishments than during our patriotic holidays."

Municipal Airstrip, Finally
The date is finally set for the formal opening of the Belize municipal airstrip. In 2012 government broke ground for the expansion of the runway, and nearly four years later it seems that the long wait is finally over because according to the Minister of Tourism Hon. Manuel Heredia, works are expected to be completed by August. Hon. Manuel Heredia - Minister of Tourism: "Well let me say that the project was a very ambitious project, but everything will come in play. There were supposed to be finalized by no later than August, but according to the contractor, probably because if the weather have been so good to us, probably we will have it completed by the ending of July and hopefully we can inaugurate it early in August. Probably we might start using the runway before the inauguration. But if you look around, the apron which we are using as the airstrip now will also be hot mix. The parking area that you see on the other side, also that will be able to accommodate over 100 vehicles. That will be hot mix also and well fenced with security, nice lights and so forth. We are hoping that it will be a masterpiece when completed. I believe it is smaller than the International Airport, but I think it will be more modern."

The Other Way Of Raising Cane
When we think of the cane industry, you probably think of all those cane cutters and their machetes. It's backbreaking manual labour cutting down hundreds of acres cane and then loading all that unto trucks. And while that labour is the hallmark of the industry, there is a simpler way: mechanized harvesting. Now, it's not a popular idea, but the Sugar Industry Research & Development Institute along with the Depratment of Environment are encouraging farmers to adopt it. They say it is more cost efficient, and it also means the fields won't have to be burned, thereby saving the environment form pollutants. They held a demonstration today in Buena Vista Village and our colleagues ta CTV-3 were there to hear about this different approach:.. Three days of demonstrations are being held

Bold Briheda Challenges Sexual Stereotypes
Artist Bridheda Haylock is always challenging notions of conformity - and now she's taking on the prickly subject of sexuality. Sure, we may live in an oversexed society, but Briheda says the sexual roles assigned to women are oppressive. Her show boldly challenges those traditionalist notions. She told us about it today:... Haylock says she identifies as gender fluid. After this show she heads to Indonesia on an art exchange.

Channel 5

GAF Stops News Five from Traversing Our Side of the Sarstoon
Can Belizeans go into the Sarstoon – at least on our side of the river? That’s been the million dollar question since our news team was stopped on May twenty-seventh. [...]

G.O.B. Investigates Incident on Sarstoon
Late this evening, the Government issued a release about this morning’s incident in the Sarstoon. It reads in part: “G.O.B. is investigating this incident in an effort to verify all [...]

Mixed Interpretations on Agreement in the Sarstoon Following Istanbul Talks
As we’ve shown you, our news team traveled south to the Sarstoon River where they were turned back by the Guatemalan Armed Forces.  While that was taking place this morning, [...]

Is Guatemala Taking the Ongoing Bilateral Discussions Seriously?
Is Guatemala taking the ongoing bilateral discussions seriously?  It is a question that we’ve put to Foreign Minister Elrington in light of the recent happenings at the Sarstoon.  On May [...]

Prime Suspect in Marlon Bonner’s Murder is Executed on Vernon Street
Today, there was further violence in the south side of Belize City. Elroy Perdomo Junior was executed on Vernon Street as he attended a funeral. Perdomo Junior was held for [...]

Amidst Controversy, Audibaldo Monima Resigns as North Region Health Manager
Last week Wednesday, News Five broke the story of the appointment of Audibaldo Monima Junior as Regional Health Manager for the north. The backlash over that appointment was fast and [...]

Keyren Tzib to Stand Trial for Attempted Murder of Coastguard Officer
Coastguard officer, Keyren Tzib has been back and forth at court for two cases; the manslaughter of her boyfriend for which she is out on bail. The other case against [...]

U.S. and Mexico Offer to Assist Guatemala with Investigation into Death of Minor in Chiquibul
Now back to the issue of the Guatemalan claim. Foreign Ministers Wilfred Elrington and Carlos Raul Morales are heading to Washington early next week where they hope to establish a [...]

It’s Official: Belize’s Referendum Act to be Amended
With all the talk on either side about resolving the territorial dispute at the International Court of Justice, government intends to amend the existing Referendum Act to lower the threshold [...]

US Vessel Traveling From Guatemala Runs Aground on Reef in San Pedro
It’s been one year since a Guatemalan gunboat ran aground in Belize’s littoral waters near Glovers Reef; it was reportedly navigating international waters en route to Mexico, when it drifted [...]

City Planners Come Up with a Plan to Spruce Up the Yarborough
A team of urban designers, at the invitation of the Belize City Council, is back in the Old Capital where a project to rehabilitate the Yarborough community is set to [...]

American Planning Association Meets with Yarborough Residents
Team leader Justin Moore is an urban designer with the American Planning Association and his engagement with residents in Yarborough has been on an individual level.   Justin Moore, Urban [...]

Artist and Curator Briheda Haylock Launches Beautiful Tragedy
Belizean artist and curator Briheda Haylock is launching an exhibition at the Image Factory on Friday.  Beautiful Tragedy, as she dubs the photography display, addresses the issue of gender and [...]

Officers on San Pedro get Public Relations Training
In Belize City, police have been meeting and greeting with residents to establish better rapport as a way of curbing violence. While in San Pedro this morning, we found police [...]

Healthy Living: Healthier Skin for the Summer
Taking care of your skin, particularly in the summer months, is important. Exposure to the sun damages your skin extensively and you may not know that some routine practices are [...]

CTV3

Guatemalans Take Control Of The Sarstoon..Belizeans Confronted By GAF
Tonight all indications are that Guatemala is sticking to their word when they said that they never agreed to an unofficial agreement for Belizeans to have untrammeled access to the Sarstoon, during talks that took place last month in Istanbul. The reason we say this is because earlier today leader of the Belize Territorial Volunteers, Will Maheia and a crew from Channel Five News decided to test the waters at the Sarstoon to verify if Belizeans in fact have access to the river. So….do we? No we don’t. As the group made their way up the Sarstoon they were intercepted by Guatemalan Armed Forces who out rightly declared that the group was on Guatemalan waters. According to Will Maheia, the group made their way into the Sarstoon at about 6:30 this morning, with their main objective being to corroborate GOB’s ratification that Belizeans are free to navigate the Sarstoon. Although the group made it past the Sarstoon Island, soon after they were approached by a Guatemalan boat consisting of 9 members of the Guatemalan Armed Forces who seemed particularly aggressive and keen at stopping them from navigating through the river even though they were clearly on the Northern Channel.

GOB To Investigate Recent Encounter At Sarstoon
So what does Government have to say about this latest breach of the so called Informal Agreement? In a release issued late this evening, GOB says that they are seeking to confirm the details of the Channel 5 version of events which as you know is that that a Belizean vessel with two media personnel was traversing the Sarstoon River this morning when they were approached by a Guatemalan Armed Force vessel, with nine military personnel on board who attempted to stop the Belizean vessel which was traveling along the north side of the Sarstoon Island. In the release GOB makes clear its firm position that if the report is accurate, meaning that if the investigations reveal that the media vessel was actually in Belize’s waters, the incident would constitute a breach of the spirit of the Confidence Building Measures and will be rejected as prejudicial to the ongoing diplomatic efforts, including next week's meeting in Washington, to establish a bilateral Cooperation Mechanism for the Sarstoon.

Monima Gone..He Is Forced To Resign Following Public Pressure
CEO in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ramon Figueroa, confirmed today the resignation of Belize’s new regional Health Manager…former Coast Guard Audibaldo Monima, after having held the post for just over one month. According to Figueroa, the ministry made the decision after a full review of Monima’s qualifications where it was agreed that he does not meet the requirements for the job. Information is that Monima chose to resign after being confronted with an option to be terminated or to leave voluntarily. This came after the mounting public outcry following his controversial appointment that raised indignation from several senior officials within the public health sector, who believed he was not qualified for the post. The contention of Monima’s appointment came after senior officials within the Ministry of Health , who were reviewing Monima’s file to determine his capability, felt that the former coast guard with an associate’s degree in Business from the Corozal Junior College and a certificate from the Mexican Navy did not fit the criteria to hold the high ranking post which calls for a Master’s Degree in Public health administration, Health systems management and a minimum of five years’ experience in health administration, finance and human resource management, neither of which Monima possessed.

Department Of Environment Promotes Green Harvesting
In an effort to minimize the main sources of unintentional formation and release of dioxins and furans the Department of the Environment and the Belize Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI) today hosted one of three scheduled field days focused on green harvesting by using mechanical harvesting, and creating a seed bank of 10 acres with 4 to 5 varieties of sugar cane. These demonstrations will serve to encourage cane farmers to decrease burning of cane and to support a clean and healthy environment. According to Head of Project Evaluation for DEO, Jorge Franco, through the demonstrations the department seeks to reduce organic pollutants. “Our involvement in the project is sponsoring the activity which we will refer to as the Green Harvest Demonstration to cane farmers, this is an initiative under the Belize Chemicals and Waste Management project, this project has two major components. (1) is to dispose of the current inventory stock piles of persistent organic pollutants as well as to reduce the emissions from burning these are to reduce emissions dioxins and furans which we refer to as unintentional persistent organic pollutants from the burning of cane fields in the agriculture sector, what we did is to we entered in to an agreement with SIRDI to promote the reduction of burning so as to reduce the production of these unintentional persistent organic pollutants.”

LOVE FM

The Persistent Mixed Messages on the Belize Guatemala Issue
For some time now the Guatemalan Armed Forces has laid claim on the entire Sarstoon River. Their adamant and aggressive behavior has brought pressure on the Belizean Government as its citizens have been unaccepting of the actions of the Guatemalan military and have been demanding that the Government reciprocate in aggression. The Barrow administration, however, […]

Another Attempt by the Guats to Block Belizeans at the Sarstoon; MFA Responds
As we told you at the top of our news, the Guatemalan Armed Forces attempted to block our media colleague as he along with Wil Maheia made their way to the Sarstoon this morning. Just before five o’clock this evening the Government of Belize sent out a release on the incident stating, quote, “The Government […]

Death at a Funeral in Belize City
Today Elroy Perdomo attended a funeral at the St. Martins De Porres church located on Vernon Street in Belize City. Little did he know that today would be his last day alive as he was shot multiple times. The incident occurred after the funeral as the procession carried on to the cemetery. Love News spoke […]

Vessel Crashes on Reef Near Ambergris Caye
Several local agencies have been called in to deal with a situation where a 39-foot trawler ran into the coral reef near Ambergris Caye. One of the agencies called in was the Belize Coast Guard. Love News spoke with the Vice Commander of the BCG, Elton Bennett for information on the incident. ELTON BENNETT: “Sometime […]

Monima Resigns as Northern Regional Health Manager
Audibaldo Monima is perhaps the shortest serving Northern Regional Health Manager in the history of Belize’s public service as today he tendered his resignation. Monima was awarded the position in May with the approval from the Minister of Health, Pablo Marin. The appointment raised questions as to his qualifications for the position and with that […]

Keyren Tzib to Stand Trial for Attempted Murder
Twenty-nine year old Keyren Tzib, a former member of Belize Coast Guard charged with attempted murder and dangerous harm, was committed today to stand trial in the Supreme Court at a preliminary inquiry in the court of the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith. Tzib is to appear in court on October 4. The charges are […]

Re-Shaping the Yarborough Area of the Old Capital
The American Planning Association is back in Belize to work on their intervention for the Yaborough area in Belize City. The last time the group was in Belize was in February to start a survey plan in order to re-develop neighborhoods in Belize. The survey project is in collaboration with the Belize City Council and […]

A Brand for Belize City
You may be familiar with the Belize logo that has been made popular by the Belize Tourism Board. Two life size multicolored colored signs have been built in the city which is a representation of the Country of Belize. Now, the city council has developed a plan to have a city brand. The brand would […]

PlusTV

Foreign Minister speaks at OAS assembly; back home, some want his head!
The General Assembly meeting of the Organization of American States comes to an end today in the Dominican Republic. Both the foreign minister of Belize and Guatemala made presentations during which they spoke of the role of the hemispheric organization in helping both countries to reach a permanent...

Canadian national wanted by San Pedro police for Murder
Ambergris Caye police are asking the public’s assistance in locating Canadian National Jordan Bacchus Bacchus is wanted for the murder of 31-year-old Melvin Almendarez who was found dead on May 6th at a feeder road in Southern Ambergris Caye. A post mortem conducted on Almendarez’s body revealed t...

Shane Gillett acquitted of murder of Samuel Price
30 year old Shane Gillett, Burrell Boom resident accused of and alleged to have confessed to the murder of 84 year old Samuel Price in 2011, could not have willingly given police a caution statement detailing his confession, Justice Adolph Lucas ruled today. And so, the judge concluded he could not ...

KHMH denies report of negligence during blackout
Yesterday PLUS News was told by a source that a female KHMH patient from the Jane Usher Boulevard area of Belize City died during a blackout Monday night because hospital staff did not turn on the hospital generator quick enough to get her ventilator going after it cut off. Today, the CEO of the KHM...

Fishers Arrested for Out of Season Lobster
52 year old Lucito Armando Sosa and 42 year old Elizardo Tut, both of Independence Village, Stann Creek District were both arrested for the possession of lobster tails out of season. On Tuesday June 14, 2016 the Conservation Compliance Unit – Punta Gorda branch of the Belize Fisheries Department ar...

Catholic Church to conduct mass at Belize Guatemala border
The Catholic church in Belize will be meeting with its counterpart from Guatemala for a Mass to be held at the border. The mass will be held under the theme,” Neighbours seeking the way of peace”. The event is scheduled for this coming Saturday June 18, 2016. The objective of the event is to pray...

National Tertiary Level Empowerment Symposium to address Belize sovereignty
On Friday, representatives of Belize’s entire tertiary level education system – eight junior colleges, the University of Belize and Galen University as host – will gather in San Ignacio for a first-ever National Tertiary Level Empowerment Symposium on the topic “Defending Belize’s Sovereignty.” Thr...

4H center graduates 25 persons
25 persons graduated from the 4H Center in Belmopan this morning. We spoke to CEO for Youth, Sports, and Culture, Adele Catzim Sanchez. Adele Catzim Sanchez- CEO for youth, sports and culture: I am glad that this year we have 25 graduates who have completed the ten month program at the 4h youth deve...

The Guardian

The Airport giveaway
Of all the wrongs that the People's United Party did to the country of Belize, one of the most hurtful and enduring ones is the giveaway of the Phillip Goldson International Airport. Two weeks ago we catalogued how it was that the Government of Belize ended up owing 9 million dollars to NEWCO. It was basically as a result of the then PUP government taking away a contract which it signed with that company and giving it to its cronies. This week we have a closer look at the contract between the Government of Belize (GOB), the Belize Airports Authority (BAA) and the Belize Airport Concession Company Limited (BACC). From beginning to end, in almost every single page of the contract there is some egregious injury caused to the people of Belize. The agreement was made on the 29th of December, 2003 and it is almost an evil Christmas gift to the people of Belize who have very little or no knowledge of the contents of the agreement. The first injury is the handing over of "all the land... together with all buildings and erections thereon and all infrastructure, installations and facilities comprising the Airport to hold the same unto the Company for the term of 30 years..." there is no financial consideration for doing this. What is worse is that the term of 30 years "may be extended for a further period not exceeding fifteen years on such terms and conditions as the parties shall agree..." In this event the BACC would notify the government one year before the expiration of the first 30 year contract.

Consultations in Maya communities start Friday
The Maya Land Rights Commission has already met with the steering committee of the Maya Leaders Alliance and the Toledo Alcalde Association, non-governmental organizations in Southern Belize and elected leaders from all the villages in the Toledo District, Maya and non-Maya villages, as part of the consultation process in executing the order handed down by the Caribbean Court of Justice confirming customary Maya land tenure rights. The District of Toledo was divided into nine zones and there were nine meetings within a two weeks period. Now the Commission will be going community by community to hold consultations directly with residents. Those meetings will start this Friday, June 17, says Commission Chair Lisel Alamilla. The most difficult position the Commission has found itself in so far is getting the parties to agree on the starting point for discussions, since the order for many is a bit ambiguous. Indigenous Affairs expert and Maya Land Rights Commissioner, Queen Counsel Anthony Ross, says, “They have come to their own conclusion as to how these matters should be resolved. It is represented in the order and it is our function to assist in giving life to that order.

Fruta Bomba closes operations
Fruta Bomba is winding down its operations in Belize. The Guardian Newspaper is reliably informed that the company is this week doing the final clearing up of its operations in Belize. Earlier this year, in February, Brooks Tropicals the parent company for Fruta Bomba & Belize Food Packers Ltd., which was the sole papaya exporter from Belize, terminated the services of 123 employees. That was as part of the company winding down its operations in Belize. The company had over 250 employees and at the time explained that it would continue to shut down its operations during a period of 6 months. It apparently is doing so much earlier than that announcement.

UDP continues to dominate in Village councils
On Sunday June 12 village council elections were held in 39 villages and the outcome of the elections come as no surprise, the UDP continues to dominate across the country. The UDP secured victories in 23 villages while the PUP did so in 12. There are two villages namely Gracie Rock and La Democracia that do not claim either party. Two other villages have a mix of PUP,UDP and independent representation not allowing for any one of the parties to have a majority. Notable developments in this most recent election is the endorsement of the slates in Corozal South West where San Roman and Louisville were uncontested allowing for UDP councils to be formed. Down south, in Stann Creek West, the UDP secured victories in all the villages which were contested, namely, San Juan (Cow pen), Georgetown and Maya Mopan. Also of note is that Roaring Creek and Camalote which were previously controlled by the PUP went to the UDP.

Another Munchie bestseller?
Munchie is once again in a story telling mode. Now he is telling a story of a pint bottle war that supposedly took place at the San Jose football field on Sunday night sometime between 7:30 and 8:00. Well this gentleman has become quite a storyteller and has told some wild stories in the past that seem to have come direct from the Twilight Zone. So if we seem to be taking in this one with a block of salt we cannot be faulted for that. We all know of the elaborate story stemming out of his father’s death, of which we won’t go in to details, because it is a matter that landed him in court after he was sued. That matter is still in court awaiting a decision of the court. Now this new story out of Munchie’s apparently sick mind is just as far out there as his previous stories. This one however has a twist. He claimed that he and his supporters were attacked by some Gapi Vega supporters who stoned them with pint bottles. For this one he even has props. On the newscast he produced a lady who he said got her head burst. The lady has an apparent wound to the head indeed as shown on the TV, but we don’t know when and how she got that wound. She did not speak to the media.

Flavors of Belize to be promoted in Taiwan’s International Food Show
As part of the concerted and continuing efforts to promote trade and business opportunities between Taiwan and Belize, the Embassy of the ROC (Taiwan) works with the Central American Trade Office (Taiwan) and the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) to facilitate four Belizean professionals to represent and promote the Flavors of Belize in the upcoming “2016 Taipei International Food Show.” Ms. Shauna Arnold, Export Promotion Officer, EXPORTBelize of BELTRAIDE, Ms. Simone Bell, Marketing Consultant of Caribbean Premier Products and Ms. Yalily Cuello and Samantha Turcios, Marketing Personnel of L&R Liquors, will travel to Taipei to participate in the Food Show scheduled on June 22-25, 2016. Ms. Arnold began working as an Export Promotion Officer in EXPORTBelize in 2014. EXPORTBelize’s main focus is to encourage competitiveness of local businesses to promote their products and services regionally and internationally. A part of Ms. Arnold’s responsibilities includes proactively exploring the local market for potential Belizean export industries or products with export potential and interest to meet the demands of the international market, identifying viable export markets for Belizean products, engaging in trade shows and trade missions to assess emerging markets.

Promoting Green Harvesting of sugar cane for a cleaner environment
The Department of the Environment (DOE) is responsible for conducting compliance monitoring, enforcement of the EPA, and to carry out the environmental screening process for developments that have the potential to significantly alter the natural state of the environment. As one of its responsibilities, the DOE is responsible for carrying out activities under international environmental agreements, such as the Stockholm Convention on Chemicals. The Stockholm Convention on Chemicals is a legally binding international agreement that tasks all participating countries to take actions to reduce or eliminate the production, use, and/or release into the environment of certain types of chemicals called persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Persistent Organic Pollutants were produced because of their benefits in pest and disease control, such as DDT for the control of mosquitoes that carry malaria and dengue. However, these chemicals have had unforeseen negative effects on human health and the environment. POPs can be transported by wind and water, and affect people and wildlife far from where they are used.

Illegal Guatemalan settlers removed from border area
The Ministry of National Security issued a release on Monday June 13 in which it informed the public that it had ordered a number of Guatmalan families off Belizean territory after they were found living an farming in areas close to the border. The Minister informed that a joint patrol was conducted in the areas of Valentin Camp, Retiro, Cebada and Sapote during the period 29 May, 2016 to 09 June 2016. Members of the Belize Defence Force, with the support of the Belize Police Department, Forestry Department, Ministry of Human Development and Friends for Conservation and Development, destroyed 650 marijuana plants of varying height, 50 acres of pumpkin and 100 coffee plants.

PSE results show no improvement in Math and English
Results for the 2016 Primary School Examinations are in and once again there is no improvement to report on for performance in Math and English. The Ministry of Education is expecting this to change in the near future; however, as the jury is still out on the $20 million Education Quality Improvement Project (EQIP) funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Over the next four years, the Ministry of Education expects to have teachers trained in more effective ways for the teaching of English, Math and Science in 129 primary schools across the country. Through EQIP, the Ministry will provide more support to training institutions for new teachers and train close to half of the country’s current primary education teachers. EQIP will also train primary school principals and develop and implement an information system for education management. Until EQIP is fully in effect, we will have to live with the kind of results released on Friday, June 10.

St. Andrew’s Anglican School again tops in the PSE
Students from Saint Andrew’s Anglican School have once again performed remarkably well in the Primary School Examination PSE 2016. Five of their students came in the top 25, with Kenly Young coming in first, Ranai Gonzalez fourth, Leila Duarte twentieth, and both Rhianon Figueroa and Gabrille Mas coming in twenty second. Just three years ago, Saint Andrew Anglican had also done excellently in the PSE overall. We stopped by Saint Andrew’s Anglican School on Tuesday to speak to the Nation’s top luminary at the primary school level, Kenly Young. In particular style, the thirteen year old sounded very confident about her most recent achievement; topping at 391 of the 400 points. Kenly Young revealed that she takes her notes in class every day, then proceeds to review them at home. Having come in first place in her classes at Saint Andrew’s since Infant One, Young now plans to continue studying at the nearby Sacred Heart College.

Rotary’s huge donation to KHMH and Help Age
“Service Above Self” is the Rotary motto which has saved and transformed lives all over the globe. Here in Belize, Rotarians raise funds locally and work with their international chapters to improve playgrounds, provide homes and sponsor life saving medical treatment to individuals deserving of a hand up. The latest gesture of kindness by Rotary Belize came in the form of a donation of medical supplies to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, Help Age Belize and the Kolbe Foundation. The Rotary Club of Belize received a 40 ft container loaded with hospital and medical supplies from the Rotary Club of Port Moody British Columbia Canada and Rotary World Help. They decided to donate the supplies to the three named social institutions who immediately put it to use. The donation includes 22 desk top computers, 20 mechanical hospital beds, two emergency patient trolleys, a complete surgical kit for the Ear, Nose and Throat Department, specimen collection containers, IV sets, central lines, surgical supplies (colostomy sets), anaesthertic supplies (laryngeal masks), linens and other needed supplies.

San Ignacio and Santa Elena Town Council conducts clean-up
The San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Council in collaboration with the Public Health Department recently conducted a cleanup campaign in the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena. The objective of the cleanup was to prevent cases of mosquito borne diseases like Zika in the towns. Having completed the arduous efforts, the San Ignacio and Santa Elena Town Council would like to extend its gratitude to those who assisted such as members of the Belize Defense Force, Public Health Department, the Zone 10 Neighborhood Watch Group and Mr. Art Wager. The town council will continue to carry out major clean-ups in the twin towns. Anyone who requires assistance in removing garbage from their Neighborhood can call 804-2035 The breeding grounds for the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are old tires, containers, coconut husks and old bottles.

Skills training for teachers for educational excellence
Certification Exercises were held on Monday June 13, in the Northern Districts for 20 teachers and 25 parents who successfully completed training in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Classroom Management, Leadership, Parenting Skills, Intermediate Computer Skills and First Aid Training. Teachers and parents received Certificate of Completion and Participation at ceremonies at Ranchito Community Centre, Corozal Another ceremony is scheduled to be held at 2:30 pm on Thursday June 16 at Carmelita Primary School, Orange Walk. During the training the teachers were equipped with enhanced educational leadership skills and competencies, which will significantly contribute in making a positive educational impact in nurturing the development of students. To this end, the future leaders of Belize will have the opportunity to develop socially, culturally, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically and intellectually.

Lyson Cacho and Tarique Gillett to stand trial for murder again
One month ago, May 13, Lyson Cacho, 21, and Tarique Nathaniel Gillett, 19, were told by Magistrate Deborah Rogers that they were free from charges of murder and attempted murder upon Michael Welch and Kingsley Morrison after the case files were not presented. However, they were re-arrested shortly after exiting the courtroom and charged once again. A preliminary inquiry was conducted on Friday, June 10, before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith. Prosecutor, Inspector Egbert Castillo, submitted as many as 22 statements and 19 documentary evidence that the prosecution is relying on in the case against the men. Allegations are that on Sunday, March 1, 2015, Michael Welch and Kingsley Morrison, two disc jockeys, were socializing at a residence on Periwinkle Street when two gunmen rode up on bicycles and opened fired on them. Welch was shot multiple times and died within minutes, while Morrison was shot once to the upper right shoulder, and was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.

Burley Card Murphy accused of carnal knowledge
Burley Kenyon Card Murphy, 27, is at the Belize Central Prison on remand after he appeared before Magistrate Deborah Rogers to answer to five counts of unlawful sexual intercourse upon a girl 15 years and 8 months of age. In a report to police in the presence of her mother on Thursday, June 9, the minor said that between November 2015 and May 2016 she had sexual intercourse five different times with Burley. She was examined by Dr. Mauricio Navarette that same day and he classified her injuries as grievous harm and confirmed that she has been carnally known. As a result of the minor’s report, police arrested Murphy on Friday, June 10, and charged him with five counts of unlawful sexual intercourse. Since the charges are indictable, no plea was taken from Murphy. Due to the nature of the offenses, Magistrate Rogers could not grant bail but informed Murphy that he can apply to the Supreme Court for bail with the help of an attorney. He is expected to return to court on August 31.

Fishers arrested for out of season lobster 1 day before season opens
On Tuesday June 14, 2016 the Conservation Compliance Unit – Punta Gorda branch of the Belize Fisheries Department arrested two fishermen for the possession of lobster tail out of season. The detainees were Lucito Armando Sosa, 52 years, and Elizardo Tut, 42 years, both of Independence Village, Stann Creek District. Based on information obtained, the Fisheries Officer, Mr. Victor Vasquez and his team searched the Coco Solo Caye, located directly East of Punta Negra Village on the southern barrier reef. After a thorough search of the island, the Fisheries personnel found one white ice cooler buried in the sand with 204 out of season spiny lobster tail. Both fishers were arrested and summoned to appear at the Punta Gorda Magistrate Court on June 22, 2016.

Derrick Garbutt charged for burglarizing Spoonaz Photo & Café Bar
Spoonaz Photo and Café Bar on North Front Street was burglarized on Tuesday, May 31, and the entire incident was captured by a surveillance camera. The man police believe they have identified from the tape is 38-year-old Derrick Garbutt. On Monday, June 13, Garbutt was escorted to court by police where he was arraigned on a single charge of burglary. Allegations are that he entered the premises as a trespasser and stole an assortment of liquor; including, Black Label, Disaronno, Jose Cuervo and 4 Smirnoff. He also allegedly took a pellet gun. The total value of goods stolen is $1,750.

Man discharges firearm in San Ignacio
A 36 year old Belizean Contractor of Duck Run 1 Village in the Cayo District, Juan Gonzalez, has appeared before a Magistrate in San Ignacio Town on a count of possession of firearm whilst under the influence of alcohol and discharging a firearm in public. He was remanded until August 8, 2016 as his charges were under the crime control and criminal justice act, which was read along with the firearm act. This follows his discharging a firearm in public in San Ignacio Town. Juan Gonzalez had discharged the firearm in-front of Mariana’s bar located on Blue Bird Street on Wednesday night of last week and had left the area in a brown Ford explorer pickup. As a result, San Ignacio Police was dispatched whereupon they made checks on Bullet Tree road. Police observed a brown in colour 4 door ford explorer pickup with License Plate PG- C00564 that had ran off the road into a drain, with damages to the front portion and to its windshield.

Accused Killer of Samuel Price walks from murder charge
In a trial by judge, Justice Adolph Lucas found Shane Gillett, 30, not guilty of the murder of 84-year-old Samuel Price, brother of the late Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price. Justice Lucas delivered his judgment on Wednesday, June 15, one week after closing arguments from Crown Counsel Porsha Staine- Ferguson and defense attorney, Leroy Banner. Justice Lucas dismissed the two most important pieces of evidence the prosecution was relying on. Those are the statements of Natalie Hyde, who told police that Gillett confided in her about Price’s murder, and a confession statement from Gillett to police. Judge Lucas rejected Hyde’s testimony in the trial and her statements given to police in 2011 saying in his ruling, “due to Hyde’s inconsistency, she is unreliable as a witness.” Judge Lucas noted that Hyde left out quite a number of important information in her statement to police that she gave on the witness stand when pressed by Banner. With that he ruled that her statement and testimony are unreliable.

Caught with a birthday stash
Jasmine Street resident, Shann Michael Young, 36, was planning to bring in his birthday in the clouds on Monday, June 20, but he was busted with his birthday stash on Tuesday, June 14, and now has to pay the court $10,500 by September 15 or serve three years imprisonment. According to police report, officers of the Special Branch Tactical Unit were conducting operations in the Jasmine Street area and decided to conduct a search of Young’s house. During the search, officers found a pipe under a pillow in his room. They then went to search Young’s yard and found 68 grams of weed inside a plastic bag that was under a bucket. Shann Young and Wilber Isaac Gentle were present in the yard at the time of the search.

$10,000 fine plus 3 years in jail for Clifton Willoughby
A 24-year-old Belize City resident must serve three years in jail and pay $10,000 after he was convicted of being in possession of 99 grams of weed inside his home on Iguana Street on May 25, 2015. This sentence was handed down by newly appointed Magistrate, Emmerita Anderson, on Tuesday, 14 June 2016. In the trial, Willoughby was unrepresented and the prosecutor offered to accept a guilty plea for possession simplicita but Willoughby rejected it and chose to go to trial for drug trafficking. A guilty plea for possession would have meant a lesser fine and no jail time. Instead he faced the prosecution’s strong case and chose to remain silent during the trial.

The 2015-2016 National Primary School Football Championships were played on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th June, 2016, out at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in the City of Belmopan.
On Friday 10th June, in the girls’ championship game, Copper Bank Roman Catholic School representing the Corozal District defeated Independence Primary School representing the Stann Creek District by the score of 1-0. The only goal of the game was scored by Dianira Lopez in the 13th minute of play to give Copper Bank Roman Catholic School the win and the national title. Earlier in the day, in the third place game, San Lazaro Roman Catholic School representing the Orange Walk district defeated Santa Elena Primary School representing the Cayo District by the score of 2-1. The goals for San Lazaro Roman Catholic School were scored by Kaite Jones (2) in the 19th and 22nd minutes of play. Meanwhile, the lone goal for Santa Elena Primary School was scored by Fracheza Cus in the 21st minute of play.

Belize Telemedia won over Heritage Bank in Firms Basketball
The Belize District Basketball Association firms Competition continued on Saturday 11th June, 2016, with three more games at Bird’s Isle. In the first game played, Belize Telemedia Ltd won over Heritage Bank by the score of 84-73. The top scorers for the Belize Telemedia Ltd team were Lupito Acosta with 22 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals; Devon Lozano with 14 points, 1 rebound, and a steal and Lennox Cayetano with 12 points and 11 rebounds. For the Heritage Bank Team, the top scorers were Felix Martinez with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal; Andrew Ortiz with 18 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals and Kurt Burgess with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal. In game two, Belize Bank Bulldogs won over Tropic Air by the score of 81-75. The top scorers for the Belize Bank Bulldogs were Brian White with 25 points, 15 rebounds and 2 steals; Rupert Brown with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists and a steal and Lincey Lopez with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal. Meanwhile, the top scorers for Tropic Air were Greg Rudon with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal; Jamal Augustine with 20 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.

Mini aircraft goes down in Spanish Lookout
All attempts to obtain enough lift for a mini plane failed Sunday evening of this past weekend in Spanish Lookout and as a result it descended to damaging results in a pasture. Removed from the bloodied yellow plane were pilots Floyd Thiessen and John Friesen. Such was the force on impact that both men received injuries to their vertebral column. The unfortunate incident happened at about 6:00 pm Sunday, attracting many onlookers to the crash site. As can be learned from this experience, ultra lights carry inherent risks.

Courts Optical provides free eye exams in Cayo
Courts Optical, with offices in both Belize City and Belmopan, on Friday morning of last week extended its reach to residents in San Ignacio Town, offering free eye exams. While Courts Optical has its offices open on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays as well as on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Belmopan, the optical team has seen it fit to visit San Ignacio Town at least once a month. Courts Optical has chosen Cornerstone Foundation, located at number 27 Far West Street to do eye exams. Courts Optical also visits the Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek and Toledo Districts at least once a month. For Edgar Arriola, the services provided by Courts Optical are welcomed as it relieves him of the huge expenses that he has been making in Guatemala. Edgar Arriola’s vision had deteriorated over the last few months. With the services being provided by Courts Optical, Arriola will now have a few more dollars in his pocket to spend on other essentials.

Hilton Worldwide Announces its First Property in Belize with Curio- A Collection by Hilton
The Belize Tourism Board is pleased to announce the new hotel brand in Belize; Curio, a collection by Hilton. In 2012, with the endorsement of the National Sustainable Tourism Master Plan, we began our path towards our 2030 goals for Tourism. Since then, one of our recurrent objectives has remained the need to introduce additional globally-recognized brands within our product offering. As a result, today we mark an important milestone for tourism development in Belize. We congratulate the Mahogany Bay Village group for its successful creation of this business partnership. With 12 months of continuous growth in overnight arrivals, we hope that this news continues to highlight Belize's readiness for further investment, growth and development in tourism.

Intervention by the Foreign Minister of Belize Hon. Wilfred Elrington at the 46thRegular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States
Foreign Minister of Belize, Hon. Wilfred Elrington led a delegation at the 46th Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, which ended today. In his address to the delegates, Foreign Minister Elrington thanked Dominican President Danilo Medina, Foreign Minister Andres Navarro, the Government and people of the Dominican Republic for their warm welcome and kind hospitality, as well as the OAS Secretary General Almagro and Assistant Secretary General Mendez for their stewardship of the OAS. Minister Elrington also made reference to the recent tragedy that occurred in Orlando, Florida, extending deepest sympathies to the Government and people of the United States of America, and especially to the grief stricken families.

Government of Belize condemns mass shooting in Orlando, Florida
The Government of Belize expresses distress and sorrow over the senseless killing and injuring of innocent citizens in Orlando, Florida on June 12, 2016. The Government extends its condolences and prayers to the families and friends of those killed and injured in this tragic incident. This horrible mass shooting in a nightclub serves as a reminder to all of the ever-present threat of terrorism and indiscriminate violence. The Government condemns these unjustifiable and savage attacks against innocent civilians and stands in solidarity with the United States of America during this very difficult period.

Ministry of Health receives wheelchairs from the Government of Japan
The Government of Belize through the Ministry of Health received a donation of 30 wheelchairs from the Government of Japan at a symbolic handing over ceremony on Friday June 10 in the City of Belmopan. The Ministry of Health received 30 foldable wheelchairs which were given as a donation by the Government of Japan under its Non-Project Grant Aid for provision of Industrial Products FY 2014 for Belize. The wheelchairs will be distributed as needed to hospitals and clinics across the country. The ceremony took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conference room where representatives from the Embassy of Japan and the Ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs were present. Hon. Angel Campos, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, received the donation on behalf of the Government of Belize.

Public school students top PSE
Kenly Young from St. Andrew’s Anglican School in the Cayo District and Angelina Urbina from La Immaculada R.C. School in the Orange Walk District are the top performers of the 2016 Primary School Examinations (PSE). A total 7,392 candidates were registered for the PSE and 7,235 candidates actually sat all or part of the exam this year. Of the 7235 who sat the exam, 143 (or approximately 2%) were either absent for part of the exam or had an “Ungraded” for the English Writing Paper or the Math Problem Solving Paper; had a “No Result” for at least one part of the exam, or had a combination of “Absent”, “Ungraded” or “No Result” for different parts of the exam. There were 27 private candidates. Kenly Young and Angelina Urbina scored 391 marks out of 400, which is 97.75 percent. Young says, “The most important thing is believing in yourself because if you believe in yourself then you know that you can overcome any barrier, any battle that comes your way. And then of course you have to work hard, you have to study, you have to listen to your teacher and make sure that you are on top.”

Tilapia farming workshop held in Stann Creek District
During this workshop, the participants received important lectures for tilapia farming, which were: “Pond Construction and Planning for Tilapia Cultivation,” “Pond Management for Tilapia Cultivation” and “Marketing & Organization Strategies for Tilapia Cultivation.” Furthermore, the participants also got the “Secchi disk” and learned how to use it to measure the water quality of their ponds. In the last hour, the participants had the opportunity to learn and practice how to get their own real cost of their farming tilapia. With this information, the producers can know how to improve their product and still have reasonable profits from the selling of farmed tilapia. As of today, there are still many Belizean consumers who have never tried the perfect taste of farmed tilapia, which is very different from the tilapia from the river; they have no muddy taste. After this workshop, the tilapia producers will enhance their producing level and improve the quality and quantity for their farmed tilapia; so there will be more Belizean consumers who can have the various benefits from eating delicious farmed tilapia.

Village council elections will be Johnny’s last test
With only two of the six weeks of Village Council Elections now behind us and the packing the once grand old party, the People’s United Party, has been taking in those elections, people are now asking , “ is Johnny on his way out?” A few weeks ago we reported that, the PUP was trying to plant a seed of discontent in the UDP. Now we are hearing that they no longer have to be doing that because they have their own discontent within their own party. Once again we have to use what appears to now be a rhetorical statement. That statement once again is that the PUP has been unable to win any sort of election since it won the double elections of March 5, 2003. As we told you two weeks ago and mentioned earlier in this essay, the PUP’s were trying to plant a seed of discontent within the UDP. Now their impression is that the UDP has a problem because there are TWO VIABLE candidates in the UDP who are not only interested in leading the UDP, but are very capable of doing so. Well, the idea of having two or more persons within a Mass Party, who are ready, willing and able to assume leadership of that party, when it’s present leader steps aside to make way for new blood and continuity, is the type of problem all political parties would like to have.

Major discovery at Xunantunich
The Institute of Archaeology in collaboration with the Northern Arizona University, has made a very important archaeological find at the Xunantunich Archaeological Site, located just outside of Succotz Village. After over 5 months of restorative work, and excavation at the Mayan Site, local and international archaeologists have found a Stela which was buried at the base of one of the Temples which make up Xunantunich, or Stone Woman. Stelae have long since been determined by the archaeologist as a sort of historical record. They are often engraved to glorify Mayan royalty and note important deeds of that time. Apart from the this panel, the archaeologists have unearthed several Mayan jewelry, ceremonial artifacts, remains of clay pottery, and other items which lead the experts to suspect that this unearthed temple may actually be a ceremonial tomb. There is a lot more work required to determine if it is, and only when the excavation work is complete will it be revealed as to what exactly is buried under the earth which takes the shape of an 8 meter hill that has parts of the forest growing on top of it.

Marlon Bonner killed on Fabers Road
34 year-old Marlon Anthony Bonner, a resident from Fabers Road, was killed in a brazen day-light shooting on Sunday, June 12. It happened on the basketball court located at the corner of Fabers Road and Central American Boulevard, in the plain view of many witnesses who could have been injured had the gunman started firing indiscriminately. It happened at around 5 o’clock that evening when Bonner was waiting for his opportunity to play basketball with the other young men who were finishing up their game. His family says that it was a part of his routine, after a hard day’s work or on the weekends to make time and play basketball. He was sitting under the shade of a tree when the gunman came walking through the entrance of the fenced basketball court. According to police, the shooter had another man acting as a sort of look-out.

Brian Brown on trial for bullet proof vest and drug charges
Prosecutor Kileru Awich called seven witnesses to testify in court against the notorious Brian Brown on Friday, June 10, who is on trial for weapon and drug charges stemming back to May of 2012. Taking the stand for the prosecution were six GSU officers: George Ferguson, Jian Young, Sgt. Mark Martinez, Adrian Lopez, Sgt. Francisco Ack, and Suzette Anderson. Awich is also relying on the statement of Senior Justice of the Peace, Modesto Madrill, who said that he witnessed the search done at the house allegedly belonging to Brown. On May 16, 2012, police visited Brown’s home where they forced open his sliding metal gate. Once inside, police conducted a search even though he wasn’t there. Police first searched a bedroom where they found two amounts of cash which were $325.75 and $2,427.00. They then went into a bathroom where they claimed they found a transparent plastic bag with a chalk-like substance weighing 17 grams.

GSU charge deportee for failure to report
Police have arrested and charged Keith Flowers, 25, for failure to report as a deportee. Flowers was sent home from Los Angeles, California on January 21, 2016 after he was convicted of carjacking. Upon arrival he was issued a compliance letter from the Commissioner of Police requesting that he report to the Gang Suppression Unit’s office every Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the week. Allegations are that Flowers failed to report on Monday, June 6, and was charged as a result. Flowers was unrepresented when he appeared before Magistrate Emmerita Anderson on Thursday, June 9. In court, he wasted no time and pleaded guilty to the charge with an explanation. Flowers said he was sick on Sunday so he went to the doctor on Monday and got a medical form to show the court. He failed to report on June 6 but explained that he did so the day after but was detained and charged.

Nikolai James to Supreme Court for carnal knowledge
Nikolai James, 27-year-old former security guard, will face a sexualt assault charge in the Supreme Court of Belize after a preliminary inquiry conducted on Thursday, June 9, determined that there is sufficient evidence for him to stand trial. James was represented in the PI by attorney Oscar Selgado who chose not to challenge any of the evidence presented by the prosecutor, Inspector Egbert Castillo. Castillo submitted as many as ten statements including one from the victim and a medical legal form stating that the minor was carnally known. James was able to go home since his Supreme Court bail granted in April 2015 is still valid.

Five years imprisonment for squeezing his “girlfriend”
Waylon Martinez, 31, a construction worker of the Lord’s Bank area, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a woman he claims is his girlfriend. Allegations are that at about 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 5, he waited for the victim in an alley that leads to her home and as she was passing by he pushed her into nearby bushes and began to squeeze her vagina and buttocks while trying to remove her clothes. According to the woman, she screamed and that was when he began to choke her. She struggled with Martinez until her brother-in-law noticed the altercation and came to her aid. The woman reported the incident to police and Martinez was later arrested and charged.

Murder Lyndon Murrillo...
Lyndon Murrillo, 55, better known as “Mr. Chako, and Watchie” was killed in his home village of Mahogany Heights. Police investigation is that he was riding his bike home on Thursday night, June 9, at around 8:15 p.m, near mile 30 on the George Price Highway. He had a plate of food in hand, and while he was making his way home, some still unknown assailant or assailants ambushed him and shot him twice from behind. He was injured once to the foot, and once to the back, and that bullet exited the right side of his chest. He collapsed beside his bike and died shortly on the spot. His family and friends were shocked to get the news that he had been killed, and shortly afterwards, word began spreading around the villages, who came out to confirm for themselves. At this time, police have no additional information on the terrible slaying of this older gentleman. They are trying to investigate it as quickly and effectively as possible. They have no known motives at this point in the investigation. Murrillo, described as a law-abiding citizen, leaves behind 5 children, 3 sons and 2 girls, the youngest of them being 11 years old.

Charged for slapping teacher over son’s exam notes
Jane Usher Boulevard resident Sophie Suzanne Myvett, 35, is out on bail after she appeared before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser on Monday, June 13, to answer to a single charge of common assault upon a Muslim school teacher, Myra Cus. Allegations are that Myvett visited the Muslim Community Primary School on Friday, June 10, to ask for her son’s exam review notes. However, Teacher Cus refused to give her the notes. Myvett allegedly followed the teacher into the principal’s office and that was where she slapped her. The teacher made a report to police which resulted in Myvett being arrested and charged.

Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy wins again in the Cayo Softball competition
The 2016 Raymond Garbutt Cayo Softball Association senior female competition continued on Sunday 12th June, at the softball pitch in Unitedville Village with three games on the schedule. In the first game played, the Belmopan Bandits blasted the Belmopan Capital City Emeralds by the score of 20-0. The winning pitcher was Lanisha Jones and the losing pitcher was Leonellie Aldana. In game two, the defending champions Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy continued on its winning path when it won over Camalote via the default route. And in the final game of the day, the host team Unitedville Rebels United won handily over the Esperanza Wolverines by the score of 11-3. The winning pitcher was Francine Salazar and the losing pitcher was Olivia Miralda.

Belize Softball Federation to hold Umpires’ Training
The Belize Softball Federation has announced that it will be holding an Umpires’ Training for intermediate and advance 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.

Senior Track and Field athletes to Central American Championship
Belize will have representation at the Central American Senior Championship in athletics to be hosted in San Salvador, El Salvador. The team of almost 30 athletes left the country on Wednesday 15th June for El Salvador and is scheduled to return home on Tuesday. The team will consist of eight (8) overseas based athletes while the others are local based athletes. This is the largest contingent of senior athletes that the Belize Athletics Association has sent out in many years. The contingent is headed by the President of the Belize Athletics Association Deon Sutherland while the delegate is the Vice President Jaheed Smith.

Breaking Belize News

OAS declaration supports Belize, Guatemala in peaceful solution to dispute
With assurances from Belize and Guatemala that they are moving toward – subject to national approval by referenda – a peaceful, court-mediated settlement of the territorial dispute, the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) has approved a Declaration of Support at […]

September Celebrations theme speaks of sovereignty, strength and togetherness
Sovereign and Strong – Together as one! The National Celebrations Commission has selected this theme to represent the upcoming September Celebrations. The theme was submitted by Argelia Mendoza Ken, a teacher and counselor at the Belize High School of Agriculture in the Orange Walk […]

Lobster season opens with major festivals
The lobster season is now open and it is tradition in Belize to organize lobster festivals which offer many ways to sample the crustacean. San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, kicked off its two-week event on June 15th, while the more popular Placencia Lobsterfest takes […]

New Northern Regional Health Manager resigns
CEO in the Ministry of Health Dr. Ramon Figueroa confirmed this afternoon that former coast guard officer Audibaldo Monima has resigned after being controversially appointed as Health Manager for the Northern Region. According to Dr. Figueroa, Monima chose to resign after being confronted with […]

Belizeans denied access to Sarstoon again
A Belizean vessel carrying members of the media and Belizean civilians was denied access to the Sarstoon River by Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) again this morning. BBN is informed that Wil Maheia and personnel from Channel 5 News made the trip and were told, […]

Blogs

Last Minute Shopping at Belize International Airport
You had the very best intentions. OF COURSE you read my post about the best places in San Pedro to buy souvenirs…and you promised friends back home something – ANYTHING – as long as it was from Belize. But one day sipping Pina Coladas by the pool turned into two days snorkeling turned into three days learning to dive and…time just slipped away. As it can…on Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker or even Half Moon Caye. So when you sadly realize that it’s your last day (FOR NOW) in Belize, you do what everyone does….EVERYONE. You think: I’ll pick up a few souvenirs for the kids/dog sitter/co-workers at the airport. So, since I was at the Belize International Airport just a few days ago, I thought I’d do what I really don’t like doing. Airport shop. Can you see why? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! For some last minute grab-ables that are a step-up from a junky shot glass or a plastic magnet.

Making life easier for Belize kids
No matter what country you are from or live in, children are the most precious part of a community and it is important to ensure that they are well nurtured. Belize Kids are no different, however the need for assistance is. Without government funded schools many hard working two income families still struggle to send their children to school, never mind be in the position to buy them items that may be considered a luxury such as a back pack. It’s so special when a young person who although not born in Belize has grown up in San Pedro, recognizes a need and decides to do something about it. Faith Noel is just that somebody to start the ball rolling. I got an email from one of my blog readers, Patty Jacquez saying she was was talking with Renita a local business woman and she mentioned that Patty should message me. This is in response to San Pedro Scoop aka Rebecca’s recent blog about “Giving in San Pedro, helping local kids“. In it she mentioned Jansport backpacks for the kids. She went on to say more about the blog post on the high school collecting backpacks for underprivileged kids.

International Sources

Belize implements sustainable fisheries reform
With its newly-implemented reforms, Belize has become the first country in the world to adopt a national, multispecies secure fishing rights program for small-scale fisheries. After a long struggle to address illegal fishing and the threat of overfishing, a partnership of fishing communities and non-governmental organizations, under the leadership of Belize’s Fisheries Department, created a new system that empowers fishermen and women to conserve and protect their fishery while still using its resources to provide for their families. “We have a small-scale fishery here in Belize, and at the end of the day we are very keen in putting in place a regime which speaks to long-term sustainability that empowers and improves the livelihoods of the people who depend on fisheries,” said fisheries administrator Beverly Wade.

10 Best Places to Retire in Belize
Whether it is sandy beaches or rolling hills, there is a place for every retiree in 10 best places to retire in Belize! Belize is a tiny country in Central America. It was a former colony of the British Empire, and it gained its independence in 1981. Today, Belize has the lowest population density among all Central American countries. Its society is comprised of many ethnicities such as the Maya, Garinagu, and Creoles. As a result, its culture is a rich mix of the varied practices of its people. The cultural mix is very evident in its food, as Belizean food integrates Mexican, Creole, and Mayan recipes.

10 Incredible Sapota Benefits: From Boosting Energy to Bone Health
The heady sweet aroma of sapota is unmistakable, with its fleshy brown skin and grainy sweetness in the inside. It's quite easy to either love the sapota or hate it. But taking the middle path, we're not quite sure. We have something to thank the Spanish for. Had it not been for them, the chickoo, chikoo or sapota would have perhaps never come to India. With its roots in Mexico, Easter Guatemala and Belize (on the eastern coast of central America), the Colonisers took it to the Philippines from where it travelled to the rest of Asia, making its way into India only in the late nineteenth century.In India, the sapota is grown in many states - Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. Incidentally, Karnataka is known to be the highest grower of the fruit, followed by Maharashtra. The varieties of sapota in India have funny names - Kali Patli, cricket ball, Baramati, Pili Patli, Dwarapudi, Chhatri and so on. Now while the fruit isn't really cooked, or even used in salads (except for maybe fruit salads), probably due its supremely dominating flavours, the sapota can be blended into milk or yogurt and had as a smoothie. Or you could make a jam out of it too. There are quite a few interesting recipes out there, from chickoo halwa, kheer, to even barfis. Honestly, the best way to eat this fruit is by itself.

Videos

June 16, 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

The 2016 Lobster Season opens!
The 2016 Spiny Lobster Fishing Season is officially open! From as early as 4AM on Wednesday, June 15th island lobster fishermen took to the bountiful Caribbean Sea to stock up on our favorite crustacean. With restaurants across Ambergris Caye pulling out their scrumptious lobster menus and specials, visitors to the island are sure to enjoy the best – and freshest – dishes. Of course, the opening of the lobster season also means the kick off of the eagerly anticipated San Pedro Lobster Fest. The party started today at Amber Beach Bar and Grill with a full day of music, fun and lobster treats! For those who have still not made it out, there is still time – Amber’s Lobster Fest special goes until 10PM.

Mahogany Bay Village brings the Hilton Brand to Belize
Hilton is officially in Belize. On Wednesday, June 15th, to a core of press and tourism representatives gathered at The Great House, it was announced that Mahogany Bay Village is now part of Hilton’s soft brand “Curio”. The exciting venture comes 35 months after developers of Mahogany Bay Village began searching for the answer to: “What would hospitality done differently look like?” Now Belize, Hilton Worldwide and Mahogany Bay Village are moving forward in partnership, offering 52 million Hilton clients the opportunity to experience the best that Belize has to offer.

Fishers Arrested for Out of Season Lobster
On Tuesday June 14, 2016 the Conservation Compliance Unit – Punta Gorda branch of the Belize Fisheries Department arrested two fishermen for the possession of lobster tail out of season. The detainees were Lucito Armando Sosa, 52 years, and Elizardo Tut, 42 years, both of Independence Village, Stann Creek District. Based on information obtained, the Fisheries Officer, Mr. Victor Vasquez and his team searched the Coco Solo Caye, located directly East of Punta Negra Village on the southern barrier reef. After a thorough search of the island, the Fisheries personnel found one white ice cooler buried in the sand with 204 out of season spiny lobster tail.

Jordan Bacchus wanted for Almendarez’s murder
Canadian National Jordan Bacchus is wanted by San Pedro Police for the brutal murder of 31-year-old local athlete Melvin Almendarez. Almendarez was found dead on May 6th at a feeder road in Southern Ambergris Caye. During the initial investigations, Bacchus was detained as the prime person of interest since he was the last person seen with Almendarez. He was also charged for Possession of Controlled Drugs upon his arrest. However, he was later released on bail and has since been at large. According to the Deputy Officer in Charge of the San Pedro Police Sub-Formation Henry Jemmott, at the end of the investigation, the prosecutors were able to tie Bacchus to the murder, with overwhelming evidence. “We were able to find clothing with blood at his residence; his golf cart had blood underneath as well. Hair specimens from the victim were also found on his belongings,” said Jemmott. Bacchus also tested positive with gun powder residuals on his hands, confirming that he had fired the gun used in the murder. The evidence also tied in with the results of the post-mortem on Almendarez, which stated the cause of death to be from acute pulmonary edema, face trauma as a consequence of blunt instrument type and a gunshot wound to the abdomen. This led to the speculation that he was run over by a golf cart after he was murdered.

Ambergris Today

Hilton Worldwide Announces First Property in Belize at Mahogany Bay Village, Ambergris Caye
Hilton Worldwide today announced the signing of the new Resort at Mahogany Bay Village to Curio - A Collection by Hilton. When open, in 2017, The Resort at Mahogany Bay Village, Curio by Hilton will be the first Hilton Worldwide property in Belize, as well as the first luxury resort form a global Brand in the country.

Historic 2016 Graduation at San Pedro High School
Saturday, June 11, 2016, the R. Angel Nunez Auditorium witnessed a historic graduation for San Pedro High School. Three very significant achievements highlighted this year’s ceremony, one which included the graduation of 96 students who marched up the aisle of the school’s auditorium, making this the largest class ever to graduate from this prestigious institution. Another historic achievement announced by Principal Vasquez was that Valedictorian Virginia Vasquez completed her final year with a perfect average 4.0GPA. Salutatorian for the graduation was Elladira Garcia; Guest Speaker was Mrs. Giselle Lobos Flores and Delmi Garcia offered the Vote of Thanks.

Misc Belizean Sources

Mahogany Bay Village today announces their partnership with the Hilton brand of hotels

Miss San Pedro High seeks backpack donations
Miss San Pedro High Faith Noel is on her way to her goal of 80 back packs with donations from family and friends! Sixty back packs and counting! If you'd like to donate a back pack or a monetary donation for the five lunch Palapas you can drop it off at Sandy Point Real Estate w Ana the office manager. Blue Water Grill and The Phoenix are also contributing this months donations to Miss SPHS cause and donations can be made there too!

Belize's Wonder Women! Diane Von Furstenburg
For the month of June we are proud to announce that Mrs. Roxy Aleman-Richard is our Belize Wonder Woman! Roxy Aleman-Richard started her banking career in 2006. Growing up in a family business from a young age gave her exposure to hard-work, financial figures, customer service but most of all connecting with people which has been my greatest passion and the one of the most important component of my success. She started as a Personal Banking Officer at Scotiabank Belize Ltd and went up the ladder to now being the Belmopan Branch Manager. Her greatest resource is her staff and therefore her drive and passion is the development, engagement and upliftment of her staff as persons in leadership roles and in their career paths. She strongly believes in inspiring her staff, leading by example and encouraging them to believe in themselves and that the sky is the limit. She maintains an open door policy to her staff, very open to feedback and provides ongoing coaching opportunities to elevate all staff to higher level.

Glyphic panel dicovered at Xunantunich
A glyphic panel newly dicovered at Xunantunich sheds light on more details concerning the history of the Maya in Belize, in particular the sites of Caracol, and Xunantunich, as well as ancient warfare. It has a date of December 2, 638 AD and mentions the death of Lady Batz' Ek' who was the mother of Lord K'an II, a ruler of Caracol from about 618 to about 658 AD. Lady Batz' Ek' came to Caracol as a princess from an ally in Mexico, the site of Calakmul.

2016 Belize Archaeology Anthropology Symposium
The 2016 BAAS is on it's way. Here is the schedule at a glance!

Ever wanted to read about the rock art inside a Belizean cave?
Ms Dagmar Galvan successfully submitted her Masters Thesis entitled: Images from the Dark: Dating the Pictographs and Petroglyphs from Actun Uayazba Kab, Belize. Stop by the Institute of Archaeology to take a look.

Mahogany Bay Village partners with Hilton brand
Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) today announced the signing of the new Resort at Mahogany Bay Village to Curio – A Collection by Hilton™. When open, The Resort at Mahogany Bay Village, Curio Collection by Hilton will be the first Hilton Worldwide property in Belize, as well as the first luxury resort from a global brand in the country. The rustic-chic resort destination is located in San Pedro, Belize on Ambergris Caye, about 15 miles from the mainland and 10 minutes from the San Pedro Airport. With 205 cottage and villa-style rooms, the resort sits on a 60-acre property featuring private residences, bay and beach clubs, a spa, meeting space and “The Village,” a vibrant public space. “The opportunity to develop The Resort at Mahogany Bay Village came at an opportune time and with a well-matched partner,” said Juan Corvinos, managing director, development, Central America, Andean and Hispanic Caribbean regions, Hilton Worldwide. “Paired with Mahogany Bay’s hospitality expertise, eco-friendly practices and focus on supporting the local community, our first Hilton Worldwide property in Belize will elevate accommodation offerings in the country and allow travelers to discover the true local flavor and spectacular natural beauty of Ambergris Caye and Belize.”

Caribbean Spice Belize Booth in San Pedro
clock Saturday, June 25 at 6 PM - 11 PM, San Pedro Lobster Festival.

Mobile Vet Clinic on Caye Caulker June 18
Look for us in your neighborhood Saturday!

Caribbean Spice Belize Booth in Placencia
Jun 25 at 10 AM to Jun 26 at 10 PM, Placencia Beach

TMM Shutdown
End of an era.

Intervention by the Foreign Minister of Belize Hon. Wilfred Elrington at the 46thRegular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States
Foreign Minister of Belize, Hon. Wilfred Elrington led a delegation at the 46th Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, which ended today. In his address to the delegates, Foreign Minister Elrington thanked Dominican President Danilo Medina, Foreign Minister Andres Navarro, the Government and people of the Dominican Republic for their warm welcome and kind hospitality, as well as the OAS Secretary General Almagro and Assistant Secretary General Mendez for their stewardship of the OAS. Minister Elrington also made reference to the recent tragedy that occurred in Orlando, Florida, extending deepest sympathies to the Government and people of the United States of America, and especially to the grief stricken families.

So many folks have shared their Lobster Catch of the Day
Happy Lobster Day to all the fisher men and women!

3rd Annual Bodybuilding Classic July 16, Corozal
For the third year, Spartan Fitness Gym in Corozal, managed and owned by Rigo Vellos, is organizing the III Annual Body Building Classic 2016. Special appearance by the Corozal Community College Marching Band. Let us support a great event!

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
Isla Bonita Graduation - Saturday 5-7:30. Holy Cross Graduation - Sunday 2pm. Sunday Fathers Day Comedy show (presented in Spanish) 9pm. Miracles From Heaven, Eye in the Sky, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Cell

The Establishment of the Colony, 1862 -1871
Largely as a result of the costly military expeditions against the Maya, the expenses of administering the new colony of British Honduras increased, at a time when the economy was severely depressed. Great landowners and merchants dominated the Legislative Assembly, which controlled the colony's revenues and expenditures. Some of the landowners were also involved in commerce but their interest differed from the other merchants of Belize Town. The former group resisted the taxation of land (to authorize the raising of sufficient revenue. Unable to agree among themselves, the members of the Legislative Assembly surrendered their political privileges and asked for establishment of direct British rule in return for the greater security of crown colony status. The new constitution was inaugurated in April 1871 and the new legislature became the Legislative Council. Under the new constitution of 1871, the lieutenant governor (William Wellington Cairns 1870-1874) and the Legislative Council, consisting of five ex officio or "official" and four appointed or "unofficial" members, governed British Honduras. This constitutional change confirmed and completed a change in the focus and form of power in the colony's political economy that had been evolving during the preceding half century. The change moved power from the old settler oligarchy to the boardrooms of British companies and to the Colonial Office in London.

Channel 7

Supreme Court Justice At The Wheel When SUV Flips, He Escapes Unharmed
Supreme Court Justice Denis Hannomansingh is lucky to be alive tonight after his vehicle flipped violently on the northern highway today. It happened near the notorious Mameyal Curve. At 10:20 am, the 72 year old was southbound, from Corozal to Orange Walk between miles 58 and 59 when he lost control of his 2016 Isuzu M-U-X SUV, and ran off the highway. He attempted to right the vehicle, but it slammed into a culvert and flipped. Police found it inside the mouth of the culvert with its four wheels in the air. It was a major impact, but quite remarkably Hanomansingh escaped unhurt – and he was seen on the roadside talking to police. His government issued vehicle received significant damages.

Judge Says Shane Didn't Kill Sammy, George Price's Brother
Today in the Supreme Court, 34 year old Shane Gillett was acquitted of the murder of for 84 year-old Samuel Price, younger brother of National Hero George Price. Gillett, who had been on remand at the Belize Central Prison for five years, was finally able to go home. Price was found dead inside his home at Mile 5 and a half on the Philip Goldson Highway in April of 2011. He was partially submerged in a tub of water with blunt force injuries to the head. During Gillett's trial, the prosecution called 10 witnesses, and submitted a written confession statement in which Gillett admitted that he committed the crime. The main prosecution witness was one of Gillett's Burrell Boom neighbours who told the court that he told her he killed Price. But, when he got his opportunity to defend himself, Gillett told the court that the police tortured him into confessing. Additionally, Justice Adolph Lucas who presided over the trial without jury found that the main witness was not reliable, and had added details to the statement she gave police.

Wil Maheia Says Fire Foreign Minister For Mix Up Over "Untrammelled"
Yesterday, we showed you the leaked diplomatic note from the Guatemalan Government which rejects Belize's interpretation that Belizeans can freely traffic the Sarstoon River. The document makes it clear that as soon as the Guatemalan Foreign Minister, Carlos Raul Morales, learned of the a Belize Government press release talking about "untrammelled traffic for (Belizeans)" in the Sarstoon, he sent off a diplomatic note objecting to that language. The Guatemalan diplomatic note makes it clear that they are sticking by the joint statement as the true record of all agreements made at the meeting, and that said nothing about "untrammelled traffic." So what got lost in translation so badly, that even the Prime Minister repeated it confidently? You will remember that when we asked him about it 1 day after the Istanbul Talks, and he said that it was this understanding of this informal agreement – which Guatemala now denies – which led him and his Government to revoke the 30-day Sarstoon ban early. Here's what he said then:

The Siltation Solution?
We first reported on the silt build up in the Belize harbour at the start of the year. Originally we suspected that it was because of the cold front and its north easterly winds. But all the cold fronts have blown away, and the problem has only gotten worse. The Mayor of Belize City said Central Government needed to step up with 2 million dollars to solve the problem, but still there seemed to be no movement. But, today we learned that Cabinet has discussed the situation and monies have already been allocated for a dredging project to take place. Here's what two members of cabinet told us today. Hon. Manuel Heredia - Minister of Tourism: "I don't know if they have started because as far as I'm concerned the go ahead has been given. I know that monies have been allocated and it is in conjunction with the village, BTB and the government of Belize and speaking with those investors they will be a lot of dredging to be done and if we cannot accomplish everything then it is our hope that from over there we can go step further. But definitely cabinet had given its blessing and I know that monies were allocated for that particular project."

PUP Says Rescind Monima
Northern Regional Health Manager Audibaldo Monima continues to take a hammering for his lack of qualification. The PUP's Northern Caucus today sent out a release saying, quote, "His appointment not only defies the Public Service regulations but..also (disrespects) every qualified Belizean who has…the specialized skills to fill this position…It is unbelievable that the very qualified managers in the Ministry of Health will acquiesce to an irresponsible and evidently political appointment of this sort putting at risk the very health status of an entire region of the country." It goes on to say, quote "The PUP Northern Caucus calls on the Minister of Health…to immediately rescind this unconscionable appointment…" The CEO In the Ministry of Health Ramon Figueroa has told us that Monima – a former Coast Guard officer - is on a six-month trial basis.

Lobster Buried In Beach
Very regularly, we report on the busts of illegal that the Fisheries Department's Belize City branch makes. Well tonight, the Punta Gorda Branch is making the news after they busted 2 Independence Villagers with out-of-season spiny lobsters. Yesterday, based on intelligence, Fisheries Officer Victor Vasquez and his team conducted a raid of Coco Solo Caye, on the Southern Barrier Reef, directly east of Punta Negra Village. On the island, they found 52 year-old Lucito Armando Sosa, and 42 year-old Elizardo Tut, and when the conducted a thorough sweep, they found an ice cooler buried in the sand. They opened it and found 204 out of season spiny lobster tails.

Hilton Hotels Makes Entry Into Belize
The figures for tourist arrivals in Belize for this year are already looking good, and while the BTB expects these numbers to continue climbing, today the industry got a major injection of credibility with the addition of a major hotel brand. The Mahogany Bay Resort in South Ambergris Caye had linked up with the Hilton Group of hotels. Now, it's not a super luxury brand like the Ritz Carlton or the Four Seasons, but Hilton is very major. And Hilton's Curio collection is a perfect fit for the 60 acre property of Mahogany Bay and its 205 cottages. Emanuel Pech travelled to San Pedro for the grand unveiling of this partnership: These colonial style villas are the hallmarks of the Mahogany Bay Village, in San Pedro. It is a project that began a few years ago, through developers Robert Helms and Berth Clifford with the idea to build a Belizean style resort.

Can Congested San Pedro Accommodate More Tourists?
So while the tourism industry is definitely looking forward to the increased numbers in tourist arrivals, the majority of the traffic that the Curios Belize Hotel has promised is coming mainly to San Pedro. Now, the streets of San Pedro are already congested as it is. And now that Belize, through Hilton, will be taping into a market of 52 million people, how will La Isla Bonita ever handle the masses? We asked Hon. Manual Heredia today about this issue of overcrowding the island. Hon. Manuel Heredia - Minister of Tourism: "I wouldn't say there is an overcrowding of people. There might be somewhat of a congestion of vehicles which is different but at the same time we have a plan, we're not sleeping over here. We have a plan and if you have time you can take a look on the other side of the airstrip we are building an alternative road that would bring you from the marina where barges load containers and heavy vehicles. That road will be exclusively for heavy vehicles and then the main road into town will be for the small vehicles and so. At the same time we are working on a second bridge that will also be used for heavy vehicles and the now existing bridge will be used for the smaller ones. Again the sub division that was very questionable during the time before elections we have finally surveyed a thousand of them with provisions for hospital, college, elementary school, police station, fire department, playgrounds, everything in this master plan that was done for that area."

New Ambergris Caye Airport Taking Shape
And a part of that development that Hon. Heredia is talking about includes the Basil Jones airstrip on northern Ambergris Caye. The idea is to redevelop, redesign and expand it into a fully outfitted international airport. It's a project that The Prime Minister first announced in his Independence address last year. Well it's been 9 months since then so when will works begin? Today the Minister of Tourism gave us an update. Hon. Manuel Heredia - Minister of Tourism: "And connecting this new sub division to that main road which will eventually lead to the Basil Jones Airstrip which in the future will be become an International Airport. We already have 2 proposed investors that are looking forward in developing this. They're looking at probably two, three different models whereby whenever they have their feasibility studies finished they will come back to government and say this are the three models which one of them do you prefer and we move forward from there."

Cruise Tourism Taking Shape?
And while that's the new airport, what about the new cruise port? Well, the future of the cruise tourism in Belize seems to be settling on the idea of a cruise port in South Side Belize City. Talks continue and just last week, the stakeholders met for further consultation. Tourism Minister Heredia gave us an update. Hon. Manuel Heredia - Minister of Tourism: "If I'm not mistaken it was last week that we met with a group. They are looking also in partnership with Royal Caribbean it is not a done deal but they are doing their feasibility study and a lot has been done. I wasn't conscious that a lot had been done during the time of the part administration and Royal Caribbean and I don't know if it was Belize Bank or what other but everybody is teaming up to see how we can develop the Port Loyola Port, finalize that one. To me as the minister I believe that the economic impact to Southside Belize City and then it will avoid also the congestion that we have around the village with so many buses having to be around that area. That area I believe can be designed, there is sufficient land over there to develop a first class port for Belize City and bring in an economic impact to the Southside Belize City."

Motorbike Mauled
A man was flung from his motorcycle in an accident right in front of our Albert Street studio. It happened this afternoon at about 12:20. A motorcyclist was heading down Albert Street when a vehicle rammed into him as he was passing the junction of Dean and Albert Streets. The man driving the Suzuki – who is seen in the red shirt was heading to the other side of Dean Street but did not give way to the motorbike. The impact tossed the man on the motorbike 20 feet away and had to be brought back to the sidewalk. He received abrasions and bruises to his legs, arms and elbows. He was treated and released from the hospital. The intersection is a troublesome one, and we see an average of 5 to 6 fender benders here every year.

Killer Bees Zone In On Octogenrian
An 82 year old man was attacked by killer bees in the city. Rupert Sanders was riding to work on Friday morning when the killer bees darted out from a tree limb that's right in front of the St. John's Cathedral on Regent Street and swarmed him. Luckily he jumped off his bike and ran to the nearby clinic down the street. Sanders came to our studios this morning to tell us how he survived the bee attack. Rupert Sandals - Stung by Bees: "About 8:30 quarter to 9 I was passing here going to Brodies because I do a lee handy job da Brodies and I go every morning. When I pass right ya there goes a pile of bees and I see like a million bloody bee the attack me and I bawl and I can't get up and I the dodge; take off my cap and I the brush and while I the brush they the bite more in my head back. When I lift up my shirt, they in my back and I can't get away so what I do is hib down the bloody bike and I walk up so, I get to that clinic there and they start tend to me. When I walk through bally take his helmet and brush me off and then one mi inna mi ears the ooooooo and I hold this ear and this ear and when I get there the lady put me on the bed and pump some water the nurse and the bee come out, come out live too."

Seeing Behind The Xunantunich Stela
Last night, we gave you a short excerpt of our story on the exciting archaeological find made at the Xunantunich archaeological site in Western Belize. But, because our team had to rush back to make in time for the news, we were unable to provide you with all the important elements of the story. Here's that full report now: After months of excavation at the Xunantunich Maya Site, the archaeologists proudly laid out artifacts which they found buried under the dirt and forest from western Belize. They're all from this mound, which they've been slowly and carefully exposing as they try to preserve the structural integrity of the Temple hidden underneath. Kelsey Sullivan – Northern Arizona University: "Over here, we just have a very small display of the types of artifacts that we're finding. Over here the first one we have is a bark beater it's made out of limestone and then we have a fragment of a matate and a mono used to grind items mostly corn.."

Culture Minister On Grijalva
But while the Culture Minister was excited to celebrate this positive development, he was quiet when Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith found his Orange Walk UDP Colleague, Denny Grijalva, guilty of destroying the Noh Mul Maya Site about 2 months ago. So, yesterday we asked Aragon about the politics of the Noh Mul judgment: Daniel Ortiz: "Why we are here celebrating this important discovery the reality is that your colleague, your UDP colleague was responsible for the destruction of one of these important cultural heritages. This issue sort of went under the rug, nobody from the UDP party said anything about it let's just leave it like that. What is going to happen with Mr. Denny Grijalva, will he be facing any political consequences for the destruction that happened?"

Caring For KHMH
Beds, trolleys and computers: those just a few of the many pieces of equipment that were donated to the KHMH today. It all came in a 40 foot container filled with supplies and equipment provided by the Rotary Club. Today, at a short handing over ceremony both the donors and KHMH administration discussed the importance of this donation to public health. But a number of those supplies and pieces of equipment were also shared with 2 other institutions: HelpAge and the Kolbe foundation. Today at the handing over ceremony the Executive Director of HelpAge, Ivorine Bulwer told us how this donation will help enhance the quality of life for their members. Almost all of the equipment donated is already in use.

Death In the Dark?
But based on allegations that were made against the KHMH, some may say that a new generator should have been a part of today's donation. That is because there was a report that a patient at the hospital had died during one of the recent black outs. Today we asked KHMH CEO Coye about it and he told us he hasn't gotten any such report and even if that was the case, it certainly wouldn't be as a result of any generator malfunction or failure. Dr. Adrian Coye - CEO, KHMH: "I have not heard of that report I'll say that first of all and I know there was a complaint regarding the blackout but to say it directly resulted in someone dying I would have to refute that. Second we have a very well maintained generator that is monthly tested and so that does come on when we have a blackout. Now the important thing about that is that when the generator comes on not every single location in the hospital will get currant only the critical areas, the ICUs, operating theatre, emergency room etc. In each wards and so there are specific plugs that are also provided electricity so I'm not really sure about what has happened here, we can investigate it of course and we take all of these complaints seriously so if that person who has expressed externally they come to us and let us know and then we can proceed in a much more detailed manner."

Taking Care of The Aged
Today is World Elderly Awareness Abuse Day and HelpAge organized a conference for its members on what elderly abuse is and what are the different types of abuse. The HelpAge Executive Director discussed the importance of this observance and told us about the activities that were held today. But the elderly can also experience all those types of abuse in the same HelpAge Homes that are there to shelter and protect them. Bulwer told us what they are doing to address this reality. There were 60 elderly members at the HelpAge event.

The Politics of IMF Predictions
The IMF recently reported that Belize's economy is in a slowdown and with ballooning debt, the prognosis is not encouraging. So what is the Ministry of Economic Development doing about it? Minister of State Tracy Panton spoke about the report today: Hon. Tracy Panton - Minister of State - Investment, Trade & Commerce: "Well yes there are concerns and I don't know that the IMF at least in my history has ever given a good report on Belize or any other countries they have done their assessments. There are serious issues that we have to face, certainly looking at the debt servicing, in terms of our super-bond payments we're now moving from a situation where we're only going to be paying interest payments to making principle payments. That bug issue has not gone away for us, the whole issue obviously of corresponding banks situation which still a very delicate situation in this country and really is very important to us to solve as part of a regional dialogue because it's not only Belize but certainly other members of the region as well facing the same challenges. "

Channel 5

O.A.S. Passes Resolution to take Guatemala’s Claim to the I.C.J.
There has been no official notification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Belize, but thanks to a release from Guatemala and one from the O.A.S., tonight we can tell [...]

Burrell Boom Man is Freed of the Murder of Samuel Price
A decision was handed down this morning, in respect of the murder of eighty-four year Samuel Price, the brother of the late father of the nation George Price. Thirty-year old [...]

1 Man Detained for Murder of Marlon Bonner, But Police Need Your Help
In another case of murder, thirty-four-year-old Marlon Anthony Bonner was callously dispatched in a hail of bullets on Sunday evening as he awaited a turn to play a game of [...]

ACP Williams Maintains South Side Murder not Gang-related
Bonner, who was shot multiple times to the back, head and chest, was accosted by a lone gunman.  While Belize City police are no closer to a motive, they do [...]

P.U.P. Northern Caucus Calls for Removal of New Northern Region Health Manager
The appointment of former coast guard officer Audibaldo Monima as Health Manager for the Northern Region has raised the ire of many within the public health sector, particularly because he [...]

The Iconic Hilton Brand Finds a Home in Belize
The Hilton brand of hotels and resorts is coming to Belize, on La Isla Bonita to be precise. The announcement was made today in San Pedro that Mahogany Bay Village [...]

Minister Tracy Panton Weighs-in on the IMF Report
Weeks ago the International Monetary Fund, IMF, issued its Article Four Consultation Report. The long and short is that the report speaks of a decelerating economy in Belize amid increasing [...]

Is the Agriculture Industry on the Rebound?
The IMF Report also points to the increase in imports and a decline of exports from Belize. According to the report, “The current account deficit widened to nine point eight [...]

Does Economic Climate Stimulate Small Business Development?
The current economic climate does little to stimulate or support entrepreneurs and small business development. Several small businesses have had to close, and many more are struggling because of heavy [...]

G.O.B. Takes on Extreme Siltation in Belize City Harbor
News Five also took the opportunity to ask the ministers about the extreme case of siltation in the Belize City Harbor, particularly in front of the Bliss Center for the [...]

An Update on the Proposed Belize City Cruise Port
While we were in San Pedro, News Five asked Minister of Tourism Manuel Heredia Junior about the much needed Belize City cruise port. For years, there has been a request [...]

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2016
The abuse of elderly persons in many forms is not rare; in fact it is common, but not often reported. On the occasion of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the [...]

Congestion on La Isla Bonita, San Pedro
And this last piece of news from San Pedro…there have been complaints of congestion, particularly with heavy vehicles and traffic on the island. It doesn’t quite fit with the Sustainable [...]

K.H.M.H. Receives Donation Medical Equipment and Supplies
This morning, the K.H.M.H. proudly announced receipt of a much needed donation of medical equipment and supplies – so needed in fact that the items donated were not available for [...]

Blackout Did Not Cause Any Death at K.H.M.H.
There was a sudden blackout on Monday night in Belize City, with power restored about fifteen minutes after. Any loss of power can range anywhere from a minor to a [...]

South Side Police Meet and Greet Residents in St. Martins
Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams led a team of officers into the Saint Martin De Porres area this afternoon, not to conduct a sting operation, but to make acquaintance [...]

LOVE FM

OAS Approves Declaration on Belize’s and Guatemala’s Efforts at Peace
The 46th General Assembly of the Organization of American States is currently underway in Santo Domingo with representatives from all its member states. During this meeting, an approval was given on a declaration of support for Belize and Guatemala in their ongoing efforts to find a peaceful solution to the border dispute. The details of […]

PUP Calls for Rescission of Monima’s Appointment in Health
One of the recent issues in the health sector is in the north where the post of Regional Health Manager for the Northern Regional Hospital in Orange Walk Town was awarded to Audibaldo Monima who was once attached to the Belize Coast Guard. The issue became a point of concern when it was found out […]

Superbond Issue Has Not Gone Away, Says Minister Panton
With the recent International Monetary Funds (IMF) report documented by the IMF staff on their two week visit to Belize, the preliminary reports were startling. The report addressed the slowing of the economy and the increase of the country’s fiscal and external vulnerabilities. While the reports seemed alarming, Minister of State in Investment, Trade and […]

Samuel Price’s Accused Murderer Goes Free
Thirty year old Shane Gillett, an air condition and refrigeration maintenance technician charged with the murder of 84 year old Samuel Price, the brother of former Prime Minister George Price, was acquitted of the charge today by Justice Adolph Lucas in a trial that was without jury. Price, who lived alone at mile 5 and […]

Police’s Investigation Meets Dead End For Failure of Witnesses Testifying
This past Sunday afternoon Marlon Bonner was gunned down on a basketball court at the corner of Fabers Road and Central American Boulevard. The police have been carrying an investigation and have one person in custody. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams gave us an update on the ongoing investigation stating that they have established […]

Ambergris Caye to Boast First Hilton Resort in Belize
Mahogany Bay Village located on the south of Ambergris Caye, was built about two years ago. A village designed with a mixture of modern and British colonial architecture will become the host of one of the world’s most prestigious hotels in the world; Hilton Hotel. Mahogany Bay Village is the first property in Belize to […]

HELPAGE Educates the Elderly on Abuse Awareness
June 15 is internationally commemorated as Elderly Abuse Awareness Day. Helpage Belize engaged in educational activities during the course of the day. Executive Director of the Help Age Belize, Ivorine Bulwer, tells us more IVORINE BULWER “It’s a day for us to create that level of awareness of what comprises elderly abuse, it may be […]

Dredging the Silt at Southern Foreshore
The last update you heard of the buildup silt near the Bliss Institute for Performing Arts was that dredging seemed as if it had begun. However, the silt build up is still there and getting worse. The buildup is located directly between the Bliss and the Fort Street Tourist Village. Today we asked Minister of […]

Talks Continue on Cruise Port Development
After negotiations failed at carrying through with the Stake Bank Project on the north side of Belize City, officials began looking at the feasibility of constructing a cruise port in the Port Loyola area of the old capital. Today, Tourism Minister, Manuel Heredia gave the media an update on where talks currently stand in that […]

Team Uncovers Stelae at Xunantunich Maya Temple
Xunantunich is a Maya archaeological temple located in the Cayo District where excavation was being done in one of the temples by the Department of Archaeology in collaboration with members of the Northern Arizona University. During the excavation process, the party found a stelae buried in the area of the temple. A stelae is a […]

PlusTV

Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission plans first village consultations
Appointed in January to oversee the implementation of the April, 2015 consent order by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) recognizing customary land tenure within the Toledo District, the Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission will this weekend meet with three separate villages. The Commission travels...

Police address crime issues
Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, Officer Commanding Eastern Division (South) spoke of several crime and law enforcement-related issues in his press conference in Belize City on Monday. We begin with an update on the 9 o’clock curfew that was instituted for children of South side Be...

Guatemalan diplomatic note chides Belize Government over wrong information to Belizeans
Upon return from the World Humanitarian Summit held by the United Nations in Istanbul in May of this year, the Government of Belize announced to the nation that the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Belize and Guatemala, Hon. Wilfred Elrington and Mr. Carlos Raúl Morales, in the presence of officials ...

Man acquitted of rape of girl in Stann Creek
Jose Pana, a 37 year old farmer from Bella Vista, Stann Creek District, was acquitted this morning by a jury of nine women in the Southern Session of the Supreme Court sitting in Dangriga before Justice Denis Hanomansingh. Pana was charged with rape and unnatural crime for allegedly raping and sodom...

Guatemalan national wanted for burglary in Belmopan
Belmopan police are looking for a Guatemalan national in relation to a burglary. Wilder Alfredo Vasquez’s fingerprints were found at the scene of a burglary that occurred earlier this year and now that the finger print match has been determined, Vasquez has made it to a police “Wanted” poster. Vasqu...

Gang signs left on bathroom mirrors after burglaries
And speaking of burglaries, reports are that there have been some burglaries in the Belmopan area where the culprit or culprits, after taking valuables, leave a message on the bathroom mirror. The message written says “666” and then the number “18” is written under it. Most people know that 666 is r...

Mahogany Heights woman charged over election incident
Police have charged a woman who allegedly assaulted, insulted and wounded a police officer working at the village council elections held in Mahogany Heights, Cayo District over the weekend. 23 year old Lynden Jones, a tour guide, pleaded not guilty to wounding, assaulting a police officer and using ...

Spoonaz Café burglar charged
Police have charged 38 year old unemployed Derick Garbutt for the reported burglary of Spoonaz’s Photo, Café and Bar on North Front Street on May 31, which was caught on surveillance camera. Appearing on Monday evening before Magistrate Emmerita Anderson, Garbutt pleaded not guilty and was remanded ...

Possession of Drugs and prohibited firearm
On the morning of Monday June 13, Benque Viejo Police were conducting patrols within Benque Viejo Town when their attention was drawn to a male person acting suspiciously. Police searched him but found nothing on him but the man continued to behave ina nervous manner. Police decided to take the man ...

Breaking Belize News

Guatemala denies agreeing to allow Belizeans access to Sarstoon
Guatemala claims that the Belize government’s interpretation of the meetings in Instabul is wrong. In a document leaked yesterday, a diplomatic note from the Embassy of Guatemala in Belize, rejected GOB’s statement that the agreements included Belizeans having free access to the Sarstoon River, […]

Xunantunich tells more about her past in archaeological find
The Department of Archaeology has made an important discovery at Xunantunich, the “Stone Woman”, which sheds new light as to the city’s history and how it became one of the most important and powerful in the region. The discovery was made by excavators from the […]

Fishermen caught with illegal lobster hours before open season
Two fishermen were caught with out of season lobster just one day before the season opened. The men, Lucito Armando Sosa, 52, and Elizardo Tut, 42, both of Independence Village Stann Creek District were caught on Coco Solo Caye East of Punta Negra Village. There officials […]

Shane Gillett acquitted of murder of Samuel Price
Thirty year old Shane Gillett, an air condition and refrigeration maintenance technician charged with the murder of 84 year old Samuel Price, the brother of former prime minister George Price, was acquitted of the charge today by Justice Adolph Lucas in a trial that was without jury. […]

Blogs

The Panel at Xunantunich
The early explorers, adventurers and archeologist believed that the ancient Maya were quiet people that lived in the forests, in harmony with their surroundings. Slowly, over time, they realized that these ancient people were actually people. They slashed and burned jungles to plant their corn. They hunted and domesticated wild animals like the wild turkey, great curassow and collared picary to be used as meat. They mined large open quarries and burned limestone for lime production so that they could later make mortar and plaster. Another trait they had was that they waged wars with each other. Here is one such story. In 562 A. D., Yajaw Te’ K’inich II, ruler of the site of Caracol launched an attack to Tikal, a large Maya site in the country of Guatemala. The attack was successful, with the help of another site, Calakmul in Mexico. Tikal went into a hiatus and Caracol remained dominant in that area. Lord Knot Ajaw succeeded his father, and shortly after, he was succeeded by his younger brother Kan II. Lord Kan II is known to have done great things during his reign. He brought much prosperity and the population increased. Roads and causeways were built during this time. Sixty four years after they invaded the site of Tikal, Lord Kan II waged war with the site of Naranjo, not too far from Tikal, in fact, a perfect stricking distance away.

On Ambergris Caye, Mahogany Bay to be the country’s first global-brand resort: A Hilton
After decades building its reputation on boutique and eco-friendly resorts, Belize now has its first global brand-named resort in development, here on Ambergris Caye: Hilton. The global hospitality giant is going small though, naming The Resort at Mahogeny Bay Village to its exclusive line of boutique resorts and hotels, called the Curio Collection by Hilton. Curio began in 2014 as an attempt by a major corporation to develop a more intimate side that would appeal to “independent-minded travelers’ needs for local discovery and authentic experiences,” according to a Hilton press release. The Curio Collection consists of 25 high-end luxury resorts and hotels around the world, mostly in the U.S. as well as Jamaica, Spain Argentina and Germany. Unlike traditional brand-name resorts which encourage guests to remain (and spend) within their walls while enjoying an approximation of local culture, the Curios Collection is for guests who want to step out and enjoy the real world.

International Sources

Hilton Is Expanding to Belize
Hilton is continuing its regional expansion in the Caribbean with a new hotel brand in Belize. Curio, the collection by Hilton that’s been making its way to the region of late (most notably in Jamaica), will debut in Belize with the soon-to-open Resort at Mahogany Bay Village. The hotel, which will be known as The Resort at Mahogany Bay Village, Curio Collection by Hilton, will be the company’s first property in Belize. The self-styled “rustic-chic” resort is located in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, about 15 miles from the mainland and 10 minutes from San Pedro Airport. The 205-room hotel will be a mix of cottage and villa-style guestrooms, set on a 60-acre property that will also include private residences, bay and beach clubs, a spa, meeting space and a social center called “The Village.”

Climate Prediction Center’s Central America Hazards Outlook June 16 – June 22, 2016
Wet weather is forecast to continue during the next seven days. The recent increase in rainfall has been beneficial to the Primera, May-August season, in Central America. During the past seven days, widespread, heavy and above-average rain was observed across most areas, with the heaviest rain in northern Guatemala, Belize, the Gulf of Honduras, Gulf of Fonseca, and eastern Nicaragua. Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rain was recorded elsewhere. Although the stark increase in rainfall over the past two weeks has helped to eliminate thirty-day moisture deficits over many local areas of northern Central America, moderate, negative rainfall anomalies have persisted over the western, northern, and eastern parts of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. In Guatemala, poor rain during April and May has already led to wilted crops over some areas. Recent vegetation health indices have indicated mostly marginal to above-average conditions over Central America.

Videos

June 15, 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

The Belize National Flag
The Belize Flag was first raised when we got our independence back in September 21, 1981. For those who are not that acquainted with the Belize Flag, it consists of the Coat of Arms of Belize in the centre of a blue rectangle with red striped on the top and bottom. To us Belizeans, this is a beautiful flag with a very patriotic meaning. The royal blue background represents the first political party of the country, The People’s United Party established in 1950. The red strip represent the second major political party, The United Democratic Party established in 1973. This two parties have formed the Central Government of Belize since independence.

Teenager in stable condition after boat accident
Police have confirmed that one 15-year-old female minor was injured when a boat ran her over. 47-year-old Scott Carr and his teenage daughter had only been on the island one day, and had taken a kayak out to sea for some snorkeling adventure when the incident occurred on Tuesday, June 14th near a beach resort south of San Pedro Town. Initial reports are that around 1PM, Captain Carlos Franco was driving his white skiff, Phanny, with serial number CVL-0325, equipped with a 200-horse power engine, when he struck the minor. The collision caused injuries to her face, legs and hands. The young girl was immediately transported to the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II, where she was stabilized. She was later flown to Belize City where she remains in a stable condition at Belize Medical Associates.

Police Report: Drug Trafficking
On Thursday, June 9th at 3:30PM, a joint team of San Pedro Special Branch and Criminal Investigation Branch personnel conducted search at an apartment room located two and a half mile South of San Pedro Town which was occupied at the time by 35-year-old Sara Christine Brodie and 37-year-old Matthew George Hoy, both Canadian Nationals. The search conducted led to the discovery of a total of 177.5 grams of suspected Cannabis. They were formally arrested and charged for the crime of ‘Drugs Trafficking’.

Osprey falls prey to pellet gun shots
On Saturday, June 4th, the San Pedro Saga Humane Society received a phone call from a person reporting the discovery of an injured bird. Saga staff immediately followed up, and encountered a female Osprey suffering from dehydration, a broken wing, and several wounds across its body. Saga took the bird back to the clinic, where it was given supportive care and was administered fluids to temper its dehydration before rushing it to the mainland to get treatment from Belize Bird Rescue (BBR). After BBR picked up the Osprey, they noticed that both her legs were paralyzed. She was transported to a local animal clinic in Belize City, and was given an X-ray. Dr. Philip DeShield, who evaluated the bird, discovered that she had been shot three times with a pellet gun, and her wing has a broken ulna. It is suspected that the bird was a nesting adult, and its nest was repeatedly shot at until the bird landed on the ground. The three pellets are still embedded in her body, as due to massive hematomas, she cannot undergo surgery. She is in stable condition, being medicated, given daily baths, and eating well.

Ambergris Today

Pic of the Week - Jack’s Story - Shark Water
Our Picture of the Week is actually a Video Pick of the Week as young Jack Angele shares his story about saving the sharks. After being inspired by his role models, Jack took up the task of raising money in any way that he could to support the cause of preventing the illegal killing and finning of sharks. Jack is from Vancouver, BC, Canada, but his second home is San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. He loves diving and life in La Isla Bonita. In this video, Jack shares about his love of Sharks and why he wants to help save them. Jack lives and breathes sharks; we think is is doing an amazing job.

Perverse Video Circulating, Ministry of Health Condemns Exploitation of Vulnerable Persons
It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Health that a perverse video is being circulated on social media. The video features a man and a woman, purported to have diagnoses of mental disorders, being instructed to perform sexual acts by the persons recording the video. The audio on the video reveals that the couple was being encouraged in their actions only to be rewarded with a soda by the persons who were watching and recording the couple performing various sexual acts. The Ministry of Health is appalled at this assault on human dignity and is dismayed that these persons felt comfortable enough to record and share this video to further humiliate this couple and their families.

Misc Belizean Sources

Maya Phrases
Maya Yucatec(Maaya T'aan) is spoken by the Yucatec Maya(Maya Masewal) people of Orange Walk,Corozal and Cayo district. Let's preserve our original language which is Maya . Since Many Maya Yucatec now mostly speak Spanish and English today is a good time to practice and give tribute to our Maya ancestors.

Splashers
Sign up for this Thursdays paint party!

Managed Access
These are the new managed access proposed areas. Each fisherman chose 2 areas only. Each area will use a color code. Also the map, and the index for the color code, along with the dimensions required. And the Daily Catch Log book forms.

HISTORIC ANGLO GUATEMALAN CLAIM TOWN MEETING: A PHOTO ESSAY!
The Belizean diaspora community in Los Angeles have been making big strides in internationalizing Belize's struggle for self determination and territorial integrity against the recent Guatemalan military aggression against the nation state of Belize, with the recent annexation and occupation of the Belize Sarstoon River and Island in the southern most bordering area of Belize. Concerned members of the Belizean community in L.A. came out on Sunday June 12, 2016 at the Holy Name of Jesus School in Los Angeles, California to hear speakers from Belize, and in the Los Angeles Belizean community itself, present pertinent information and popular education about the Guatemalan military aggression on the Belize Sarstoon River, Belize's chances of going to the International Court of Justice (I.C.J.) to settle the Anglo Guatemalan Claim, and the present state of affairs in Belize surrounding the issue which has captured the minds and attention of Belizeans at home and abroad about the fate of their country Belize.

SBDC Workshop: BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPMENT
Presented by: Mr. Jorge Gentle. Post/Teaching Description: Business Adviser, SBDCBelize, Beltraide. Location: La Inmaculda Credit Union's Training Room, 5 Park Street North, Orange Walk Town. Workshop Date: June 23, 2016. Time: 9am to 12 noon . CALLING OUT ALL ENTREPRENEURS, ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS OWNERS This Workshop is for you!!! A Business Plan is a tool that helps entrepreneurs define their business and provides a purpose and a direction to their next business move. This workshop will help participants to understand the various elements of a business plan. Due to time frame allotted, the workshop will be a lead to a brainstorming session allowing participants to think of what would be included in their specific plan. This information will later facilitate the business plan process for participants by using the ideas generated during the workshop. The class will focus mostly on discussions and activities

BELTRAIDE holds Trade Clinic for entrepreneurs in Independence!
A group of entrepreneurs from Dangriga and surrounding villages had the opportunity to attend an information session to assist them in becoming more competitive. The Trade Clinic was held at the Independence High School Conference Room on 31st May 2016. The Trade Clinic is the second session organized by EXPORTBelize, a unit of the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) , with the aim to sensitize members of the private sector across Belize on regulations, requirements, export procedures and documentations and opportunities that exist under trade agreements in order to do business in the local and international market.

Rotaract Blood Drive
The Rotaract Clubs of Benque and San Ignacio are teaming up with the Belize Blood Bank to do a Blood Drive. It'll be Friday, June 17th, at the Red Cross building on Joseph Andrews, and it starts at 8:30am. Give blood and save a life. "Tomorrow is World Blood Donors day and as we all know there is always a need for blood so Join Rotaract San Ignacio and Benque this Friday at the Red Cross building, located on Joseph Andrews Drive, between 8:30 am to 5 pm to donate blood! Be a hero! Save a life!"

Channel 7

Guatemala Chafed Over GOB Press Release
"the two sides have informally accepted a situation in which there will be untrammeled traffic for Belize's military and civilians along the Sarstoon...." that's what the Government announced on May 24th coming out of the Istanbul talks between Foreign Ministers Wilfred Elrington and Carlos Raul Morales. To make it clear, "untrammeled" means without restriction, meaning Belizeans could move freely on our side of the Sarstoon. Well, tonight we have documentary proof that the Guatemalans reject that interpretation and do not agree that Belizeans can freely traffic the Sarstoon. Four days after that government of Belize press release, Guatemala's Embassy in Belize sent a Diplomatic Note rejecting that specific line from the Government press release. They say that the joint communique quote, "reflects all agreements reached" and we note that said nothing about Belizeans freely trafficking the Sarstoon.

Police Frustrated: Many Witnesses, No One Will Talk
Southside police say they have the main suspect in Sunday's murder of Marlon Bonner, but they can't charge him because the public isn't cooperating. Today, Southside Commander, Assistant Commissioner Chester Williams put out a distress post on his Facebook page saying, quote, "we now have the suspected gun man, the man who was brave enough to go and shoot Mr Bonner bare faced in the presence of many others, but the usual problem is manifesting itself: no one wants to give a statement." End quote. He then appeals to anyone who witnessed the murder to inbox him on FACEBOOK. He concludes, grimly, "we are doing all we can to bring these two cowards to justice but there is nothing we can do if we don't get the cooperation of the public."

Making Maya Land Rights Judgment Real
The Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission was set up by the Government of Belize to implement the consent order given by country's highest court, the Caribbean Court of Justice. In that case, the Government conceded last year that Maya Customary Land Tenure exists, and that they will work to preserve those rights by putting them in a formal land system. To do that, however, the Government has to consult with the Maya people to determine what that customary land tenure system will actually look like. But, after months of inactivity following the end of the case, the Commission was put together to start that very-important consultation process. Since early this year, the Commission, headed by former minister Lisel Alamilla, has been making baby steps. They have the very daunting task to consult with each of the 39 villages, which according to the Commission, have asked to be met with one by one so that they can discuss important issues such as who they have appointed to represent their interest.

Truck Set On Fire In Early Afternoon
Shortly before 3 yesterday after, the fire Department had to rush out to Amara Avenue, where a jeep was on fire. The vehicle, a gold Jeep Wrangler, was the property of well-known Belize City businessman Evan Tench, of Techtronic's Communications. The vehicle was used mostly by his son. The incident occurred in broad daylight and it was all caught on camera. Here in this first angle, the camera shows the suspect ride past on a bicycle from the far right corner of the screen as he appears to be scouting the area About one minute in, a second camera captures him as he passes near the jeep, acting suspiciously. Camera two only captures him briefly as he passes in and out of sight. He seems to be holding a red container, containing some sort of flammable liquid.

Man Gets Off Accusation of Horrible Sex Crime
A Stann Creek man walked free today from serious sexual assault charges. 37 year old Bella Vista resident Jose Pana was accused of raping and sodomizing an 8 year old girl in February 2014. The report is that the child had gone to get flour for Pana from her aunt's house and that is when Pana followed her inside and then raped and sodomized her in the kitchen. Well today in the Supreme Court, Pana was acquitted of those charges. Although the doctors had certified that the child had been carnally known, there were several inconsistencies in both the child's statement and Pena's statement. The child had said the assault happened in the morning but her family says it happened in the afternoon after 3. As for Pana, he had said that on the day of the incident he was out almost all day doing construction work. But his wife then clarified that he Field and on that day he was home by 3 in the afternoon. The child who is now 11, testified in the trial.

Patrick Menzies: One Man Against Monima
The new Northern Regional Health Manager Audibaldo Monima has been pilloried in the press because he doesn't have the qualifications for the job. But while we in the press have discussed his lack of suitability for the post at length one well known activist is angry that the public isn't really picking up on it. Patrick Menzies set up a protest outside the Corozal Community Hospital to encourage to north to speak out against Monima:... Patrick Menzies, protestor: "Well we are out here because we want to bring attention, the news has been saying it, but many Belizeans haven't been paying attention especially up North. We have a situation where you have the Minister of Health appointing an individual that is not close to being qualified for the position he's been given and not just that, maybe a nice coast guard officer and I'm a military, so I respect coast guard officers that's fine. "

Bze Catholics Call On Guat Faithful For a Border Mass
Two weeks ago, the National Evangelical Association of Belize held a cross border prayer service at the Belize Guatemala adjacency zone in Benque. Over 60 pastors attended along with a reported 130 persons from both Belize and Peten. Now although, border tensions have somewhat subsided, the Belize Ramon Catholic church is trying its hand in this initiative and plans to visit the Benque border this weekend to do their own cross border prayer service with their Guatemalan counterparts. Today we spoke to Bishop Christopher Glancy, who represents the Catholic diocese on the board of the Belize Council of Churches. He told us that their main inspiration for organizing this event was Guatemala's Archbishop Julio Vian's words on the Belize Guatemala dispute. Here is how he explained it. Bishop Christopher Glancy, Auxiliary Bishop of Belize: "We are planning to have a mass, a Eucharist at the adjacency zone in the Melchor, Benque border crossing there where the Organization of American States has an office between the two customs post."

The Moral Tightrope Between Terror, Hate Crimes And Sin
While we spoke to Bishop Glancy we also got a chance to ask him about the current LGBT discussion - centered around Sunday's massacre at a gay night club in Orlando, Florida. Now the Catholic Church disavows homosexuality as sinful, but what is the Church's response to the Orlando mass-killing? We asked Bishop Glancy today. Bishop Christopher Glancy, Auxiliary Bishop of Belize: "No, ours would be one of horror just as it is as it is for so many around the world. We certainly send out prayers to the families who lost loved ones in that senseless act of violence. We in no way condone violence against people of homosexual orientation in any way. We believe that we have to respect people and part of that is certainly respecting life. We pray for them, their families and that this kind of violence and terrorism would cease. It's not what we believe in at all."

Deon Got A (Pen)Gun
Benque Police have charged a man for stashing weed and a pen gun inside his tennis shoe. The police were on patrol around 8:00 yesterday morning when they spotted 23 year old Ladyville resident Deon Rowland Jex. Jex was acting suspiciously and they searched him. The officers didn't find anything on him but they weren't satisfied, so they took Jex to the Benque Viejo Police Station and searched him thoroughly, that is when they found 7.9 grams of weed hidden in his shoe and a pen gun that fell out of his pants. Jex was charged with Possession of controlled drugs, possession of Prohibited firearm and mischievous act.

Monchie's Ride Got Smashed During Pint Bottle Battle
We know all too well of the crazy stuff that happens during elections - the choice words or dirty talk that is thrown around about opponents, not to mention the brawls or just the very heated confrontations between opposing camps. Well, that is the same spirit that overtook the village council elections in Orange Walk North this weekend. After the UDP's slate won on Sunday in San Jose Village, there was reportedly a pint bottle battle between UDP Gaspar Vega's supporters and the PUP crowd from Monchie Cervantez's camp . A PUP party supporter was even struck in the head with a bottle. Now, Orange Walk North is already one of the most contentious constituencies - matter of fact, Monchie Cervantez has even accused Gaspar Vega of plotting a murder conspiracy against his father - so things in Orange Walk-North are never cool. And Sunday's pint fight was a reflection of all that simmering tension. PUP Standard Bearer Monchie Cervantez spoke to our colleagues at CTV-3 and he explained his version of what happened and what might have fueled the escalation.

How Do Muslims Feel About Orlando Mass Murder?
The massacre in Orlando is the worst mass shooting in US history, and that spells trouble for Muslims worldwide, since the killer Omar Mateen, professed to be a Muslim. Now, the Muslim community is observing Ramadan this month. It is the holiest event in the Islamic Calendar - when Muslims fast and pray five times per day. And in the middle of this prayerful time, comes the something as vile and horrific as the Orlando mass murder. Today we spoke to Naveed Mangla, a leader of one of the Muslim communities in Belize, who gave us their response to this latest incident.

The Magnificent Stela At Xunantunich
Today, the Ministry of Culture invited the press to Xunantunich, in the Cayo District. The news is that the Department of Archaeology, in partnership with the Northern Arizona University, had been excavating one of the temples, when they made an exciting discovery. It's a Stela which was buried under the overgrown forest which covered this temple. Now as viewers know, Stelae are the Maya's preserved historical record, which notes important events of that period, and this particular one tells the story of the wife of one of Rulers of the most successful Mayan City States. Our news team arrived back from Western Belize just before the start of News, and here's how they explained the discovery: We'll have a full in depth look at the archaeological find in tomorrow's news.

Diane Departs ... Soon
But, while we were in Western Belize, we got an opportunity to speak with Diane Haylock, the President of NICH who's leaving the job after 8 years for a diplomatic posting in Taiwan. Here's what she and State Minister Elodio Aragon had to say about her exit and how they will work to find her replacement: Hon. Elodio Aragon, Min. of State, Youth and Sports: "Miss Diane will be moving on to Taiwan as the Ambassador. The Prime Minister has given her that opportunity to go out there and I believe she will be taking that up." Daniel Ortiz: "We were under the impression that you would remain president emeritus or perpetuity, but we understand you are moving on." Diane Haylock, President - NICH: "Nothing lasts forever. I have spent 8 good years at NICH. It has been an amazing experience for me. One that, lessons I've learnt from being here, lessons I could not have learn from being in a classroom or from reading books. I have grown to appreciate my country even more than I did before then - If that were even possible, because I love Belize."

Channel 5

Leaked Diplomatic Note: Guatemala says No Agreement Allowing Belizeans Access to Sarstoon
Belizeans are free to access our portion of the Sarstoon – go forth and enjoy. That’s pretty much the last word, not in so many words, that we got from [...]

Belize/Guatemala Territorial Dispute at 46th O.A.S. General Assembly
Earlier we told you about the terse diplomatic note sent by Guatemala to Belize, rejecting the notion that there is free access to the Sarstoon by Belizeans. While that diplomatic [...]

Chief Justice tells UB Graduates to Become Aware of Belize/Guatemala Dispute
The territorial dispute remains at the national front burner and was a topic at this year’s graduation season. On Sunday, the largest number of students graduated from the University of [...]

Man Acquitted of Rape of 8 year old Girl in the South
A father from Bella Vista, Stann Creek, who was accused of committing a heinous crime of raping and sodomizing an eight-year-old girl in February 2014, is tonight a free man [...]

Spoonaz Café Burglar Caught and Arraigned
Spoonaz Café, the well-known and popular business place on North Front Street, Belize City, was burglarized recently and the culprit was caught on a surveillance camera. He has been identified [...]

Poll: Should the Referendum Law be Amended?
And tonight’s question is: Do you support an amendment of the Referendum Law from the sixty percent threshold to a simple majority of the population to vote? Send your comments [...]

Major Discovery at Xunantunich
Xunantunich, or Stone Woman, is one of the country’s more popular Mayan sites, located just across the Mopan River in San Jose, Succotz…one kilometer away from the Guatemalan border. Centuries [...]

Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission Gives Update
Since its establishment in January, the local media has only met with the Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission on two occasions, the second being this morning during a breakfast meeting [...]

Consultant says No Conflict between Maya People and Government
The consent order issued by the CCJ in April 2015, has seemingly different interpretations, despite its clarity.  As a result, there are mixed messages being spread across the communities.  The [...]

Government Has to Spearhead Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission
The perception, based on recent incidents involving both parties, is that there is an adversarial relationship between the commission and representatives of the Maya communities.  However, the directive handed down [...]

Commission Chair says Consultations to Begin this Weekend
According to Alamilla, a string of consultations will commence this weekend and those will be preceded by a round of meetings with government to bring officials up to speed with [...]

Arsonist Caught on Surveillance Video
A vehicle was deliberately set on fire on Monday afternoon; it was the property of businessman Evan Tench of Techtronic’s Communication located on Amara Avenue, Belize City. The vehicle, a [...]

Wanna Be a Firefighter? Here’s how!
The National Fire Service, under the auspices of the Ministry of Works, Transport and National Emergency Management is looking for competent persons to join its ranks as firefighter. Today, Station [...]

Blood Connects Us All – World Blood Donor Day Celebrated in Belize
Donating blood may not be an enjoyable experience for many, but knowing the process and the importance can reduce fear. Today was celebrated as World Blood Donor Day; an occasion [...]

LOVE FM

Lisel Alamilla Hosts Media for Breakfast to Discuss the Commission
The last we heard about the Chair of the Maya Lands Rights Commission it was the Toledo Maya Leaders complaining that she had ejected them from her office after they sought to meet with her. Today the Maya Land Rights Commission held a media sensitization breakfast in Belize City. According to Chair of the Commission, […]

Heads Buck in Developing Mechanism in the Maya Land Rights Matter
Legal Consultant for the Commission, Tony Ross said that adequate representation for the Mayas remains a problem. TONY ROSS “The order said in consultation with the Maya people or their representatives we are to develop a legislative, administrative or other measures necessary to create an effective mechanism that is what we’ve got to do and […]

Consultations Set to Begin in Toledo on Maya Land Rights Issues
As it relates to ongoing consultations, Head of the Commission Lisel Alamilla, gave the dates for the upcoming consultations. LISEL ALAMILLA “Mr.Ross is here this week and we are taking the opportunity of him being here to have our first series of consultations with the villages of San Felipe, Big Falls and San Vicente. Based […]

Petition Launched for Government to Ban Glyphosate Chemical
To the regular consumer or citizen, the chemical, Glyphosate may mean nothing; but for the workers in the agricultural sector, its use, its effectiveness and its dangers are well known. Glyphosate is an herbicide that farmers use on the plants’ leaves to kill both broadleaf plants and grasses while the sodium salt form of glyphosate […]

Climate Change Centre Wins Energy Globe Award 2016
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (5 C’s) was recently announced as the 2016 Energy Globe winner for a project they had submitted on Belize. The Climate Change Centre is based in Belize and had submitted the project of a mobile biogas laboratory at the University of Belize’s Belmopan Campus with the objective of building […]

Businessman’s Vehicle Set Ablaze
Yesterday a vehicle belonging to businessman Evan Tench was set ablaze. Tench’s Jeep Wrangler was parked outside his business place when a staff member noticed a male person outside who was around the vehicle via their surveillance camera. At first she thought the man was urinating near the vehicle, but he moved away. About two […]

One Man’s Tale of Why He Stood Alone and Protested the Employment of Unqualified Health Worker
Activist, Patrick Menzies today held a protest in front of the Northern Regional Hospital in Orange Walk Town. Menzies told Love News he was protesting the appointment of Audibaldo Monima as the new Regional Health Manager. Menzies said Monima is not qualified for the post he holds. PATRICK MENZIES “The reason is very evident that […]

Orange Walk Council Continues Infrastructural Improvements
With the rainy season here, the concerns surrounding flood prone areas has returned at the forefront of residents and farmers. We have heard recently from Mayor of Belize City, Darrell Bradley on what the council is doing to deal with the flood prone areas. Love News also spoke with Mayor Kevin Bernard for Orange Walk […]

Mayor Bernard Opposes Sex Work and Seeks To Reduce It In His Municipality
Some weeks ago we brought you a story on the organization, Tikkun Olam. It is an agency set up to advocate for sex workers in making their choice of work legally acceptable in Belize. Elisa Castaneda, who heads the organization, told Love News that the organization seeks to empower women. For context, we bring you […]

Siblings Resort to Court to Settle Land Dispute
Seventy-five year old Albert Hoare Sr., a resident of Camalote Village, is faced with an eviction charge at Belmopan magistrate’s Court in which his sister, Isabel Hoare, is seeking to have him evicted from his portion of a 15 acre piece of land in Camalote. The property was leased to the father of the two, […]

PlusTV

Marlon Bonner Murdered in Belize City
34 year old Marlon Bonner is a Port Loyola resident, scion of a well-known family who have lived in the troubled area for many years and are easy going people. That did not stop an unmasked gunman from shooting Bonner dead as he was playing basketball at the corner of Faber’s Road and Central Americ...

Homeless persons exploited for pornography
Pornographic videos of Belizeans young women, some believed from the Belmopan area, have made its way around social media and have resulted in outrage from many Belizeans. Just as disturbing and perhaps even more so, is another pornographic video that has been making its rounds, this time depicting ...

Belizean/American is Charged for Murder of His Son-in-law in Florida
Fifty-seven-year-old Elvis Tillett , originally from Crooked Tree Village, was arrested in Osceola County, Florida for the murder of his son-in-law, Marquise Ephron. Reports are that Tillett and his twenty-nine-year-old son-in-law got into an argument on Sunday afternoon at a residence in Poincian...

Man pleads guilty over stabbing
28 year old Renford Tillett was saved from jail time with a guilty plea to the charge of use of deadly means of harm when appearing before Justice Troadio Gonzalez. Tillett was originally charged with grievous harm for an incident on June 3, 2011 on Partridge Street in which he stabbed 29 year old T...

Destruction of Marijuana Plants and plantations by Guatemalans in adjacency zone
The Ministry of National Security says that a joint patrol was conducted in the adjacency zone areas of Valentin Camp, Retiro, Cebada and Sapote during the period 29 May, 2016 to 9 June 2016. Members of the Belize Defence Force, with the support of the Belize Police Department, Forestry Department,...

Plane crash in Spanish Lookout; two men injured
Two person were seriously injured when a plane they were flying crashed . The incident happened Sunday evening around 6 p.m. Reports to Plusnews are that Floyd Thiessen and John Friesen were piloting the ultra light when they suddenly noticed that they lost all elevator control. The plane crash lan...

Government of Belize Condemns Mass Shooting in Orlando, Florida
By now Belizeans may be aware of a shooting in the United States that has been described as the worst mass shooting in US history. 50 persons are dead and 53 others injured after a terrorist with Muslim ties entered a gay night club and opened fire. Issis continues to terrify the world through acts...

Crooked Tree fishermen stopped from fishing lagoon; Fisheries Department disclaims knowledge.
Last week a majority of fishermen from the village of Crooked Tree, Belize District, were stopped from getting into the waters of the village lagoon, part of the Wildlife Sanctuary, on a scheduled “haul day,” when fisher folks are allowed to catch fish in the lagoon within the wildlife sanctuary for...

$7000 worth of Marijuana found in Northern Belize
Three Belizeans in the North have been charged for Drug Traficking. That is after they were found with 89 pounds of marijuana. According to the Ministry of National Security, a Belize Defence Force patrol was conducted in the area of Patchacan on Saturday June 11, 2016 which led to the discovery o...

Five years for assault on girlfriend
“I gwaan dah jail feh five years for my own girlfriend…” That is the lament of 31 year old Waylon Martinez after he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault upon a woman he is alleged to have ambushed and squeezed in her private area. The Construction Worker of Lord’s Bank was this mornin...

Belize City equipped with state of the art recording equipment
The Court Audio Recording Project is now fully operational and places state of the art audio recording equipment and related IT equipment in the Supreme Court and all Magistrate Courts throughout the nation. Today, US Ambassador to Belize, H.E. Carlos Moreno participated in a Court Audio Recording ...

548 graduate from UB
548 persons graduated from the University of Belize on Saturday June 11 at the UB Gymnasium in Belmopan. Of the total number of graduates, 70% were females . 177 recived degrees or certificates in Education and Arts, 170 in Management and Social Sciences, 112 in Science and Technology, and 89 in Nur...

Amandala

Brazen murder at Fabers Road hotspot
–The unrelenting wave of crime hitting Belize City claimed the life of Marlon Anthony Bonner, 34, of Central American Boulevard, Belize City, on Sunday afternoon, on the same Fabers Road basketball court where angry city residents mauled the concrete fence, back in December 2007, as they grieved the senseless murder of Faron Felix, 16, one of several brothers who fell victim to gun violence. Whereas Felix’s shooter hid behind the fence under the cover of night to perpetrate his attack, Bonner’s attacker shot him openly in broad daylight. Reports to our newspaper are that a gunman opened fire on Bonner, hitting him several times in his face, head and body. He died on the spot and the gunman fled the scene.

Outrage over perverse video of mental patients having sex for a Coke
The unconscionable sexual exploitation of a homeless man and a woman who is said to be mentally challenged—videotaped while having sex in exchange for Coca-Cola—has been roundly condemned by the Ministry of Health. Reports to our newspaper allege that the persons were bribed with a glass of Coca-Cola to perform explicit, and in some instances unnatural sexual acts, as a group of persons watched. “The Ministry of Health is appalled at this assault on human dignity and is dismayed that these persons felt comfortable enough to record and share this video to further humiliate this couple and their families,” said an official release issued today.

20 Guatemalans found living inside Chiquibul National Park
Acting Commander of the Belize Defence Force (BDF), Lt. Col. Louis Sutherland, confirmed to Amandala today that an illegal settlement of Guatemalans—6 families of 20 persons, including a baby and a two-year-old—was found inside Belizean territory, at a location called El Retiro, between 90 and 150 meters inside Belize. Retiro has over the years been targeted by illegal settlers, and as we reported back in 2010, there was also a Honduran who had taken up illegal residence in the area. Thirty-one persons were reportedly living in the area back in 2010. However, Belizean authorities had reportedly cleared those illegal settlers. Of note is that by law, not even Belizeans are allowed to live in the park. The Guatemalans who were recently discovered there were planting marijuana, coffee and pumpkins, and there were patches of old corn, Sutherland indicated.

Pharmacist axed for supporting deadly LGBT attack in Florida
“I know people will hate me for this, but I believe the killing of 50 last night in Florida is justified,” Raynard Humphreys, a pharmacist at Buttonwood Bay Medical Center, said on his Facebook page Sunday—sparking a social media backlash as well as termination from his job at the Buttonwood Bay Medical Center in Belize City today. The international news has been dominated by reports of this weekend’s mass murder at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando, Florida, although there are questions over how many, if any, of those persons were killed by what has been termed “friendly fire” from police who engaged in crossfire with the Islamic extremist shooter, identified as Omar Mateen. The reports say that according to Mateen’s father, he had become angry some months ago after seeing two gay men openly kissing and touching each other in front of his family.

Unemployed man, 27, remanded for sex with minor, 15
An unemployed 27-year-old man was remanded to the Belize Central Prison after he was arraigned on Monday morning, June 13, in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on five counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. No plea was required from Burley Kenyon Murphy Card, who allegedly had sex with a girl, who is 15-years and 8 months old, between November 2015 and May 2016. In court, the accused man told Magistrate Deborah Rogers that he now goes by the name Burley Murphy and not Burley Card, as his name appeared in the court system. Magistrate Rogers informed Card that due to the nature of the offenses, she could not grant him bail, but she informed him that he could apply for bail through the Supreme Court with the help of an attorney.

Bulgarian ATM thieves sentenced to one year in prison
Today was sentencing day for two Bulgarian men who had each pleaded guilty to 18 counts of theft, for illegally withdrawing a total of $14,800 from the Belize Bank using phony credit and debit bank cards which they presumably brought into the country. Halid Aptula, 28, and Georgi Petrov, 25, have been at the Belize Central Prison awaiting sentencing. They were supposed to have been sentenced two days ago, but the court did not have an interpreter on hand to proceed. When they were arraigned on the charges on May 20, 2016, both men pleaded guilty to stealing $8,000 and $6,800 respectively. The two were videotaped on the bank’s surveillance system making the withdrawals between May 6 and May 7, 2016, the date on which the offences occurred. When Halid Aptula was caught red-handed by an employee of the bank on Saturday, May 7, police moved in and arrested his partner, Gerogi Petrov.

National Primary Schools Football Champions 2016
The inaugural Belize Semipro Football League tournament in 1991 was won by La Victoria football club of Corozal Town, and in more recent times, Nizhee Corozal also claimed the championbship in 2008. But for some reason, having no doubt to do with the economics of the long travels involved, no Corozal team has participated in the Premier League of Belize tournaments for years now. Nevertheless, football is still big in the north, as evidenced last week by the emergence of national primary school football champions for both females and males from Corozal – Copper Bank RC girls and Chunnox SDA boys. They competed against their primary school counterparts from all other districts on Thursday and Friday of last week at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan, and were both crowned National Primary School Football Champions 2016 for females and males, respectively.

Artificial turf puts pressure on kids at primary school football Nationals in Belmopan
The artificial turf, at Isidoro Beaton Stadium, in Belmopan, where the National Primary School Football Championships were held last Thursday and Friday, has a black rubber cushion underneath, that absorbs an enormous amount of heat during the day. Looking across the field, you can see the chain link fence on the other side distorted into wiggly lines by the heat haze from warm air rising off the field. Sitting on the side, the breeze blowing off the field feels like it is coming out of an oven; and for the children playing on the field, it was like playing in a sauna, and many suffered from dehydration and heat exhaustion. The field got so hot that it melted the glue of the players’ boots, which did not have the soles sewed on, and many of the players, e.g. San Lazaro’s star, Katie Jones, lost the soles of their boots which came unglued! They then had to borrow or change to a fresh pair of football boots!

Smart Mundialito Week 9 results; 2 weeks to end of reg. season
The Smart 13 & Under Mundialito completed its Week 9 games on Saturday at the MCC, and there are only 2 more weeks of regular season games remaining, before the top 4 teams go on to the knockout semifinals. There will be one significant change to this year’s Finals, though. Traditionally, it has been a one-game championship final; but this year, the championship will be decided in a 2-game series, FIFA style. In game 1 on Saturday, June 11, Brown Bombers and City Boys played to a 1-1 draw. Ken Galvez shook the net for City Boys, while Keifer Perteau hit the target for Brown Bombers. Game 2 saw Ladyville Rising Stars playing to a nil-nil stalemate with Reality Youths.

Editorial: Appeasement then, resistance now
It will probably take a few days to get an accurate assessment of the impact of the town hall meeting held on Sunday evening, June 12, in Los Angeles, California. That is because it appears the organizers utilized modern technology to make it possible for Belizeans all over the United States and the world to listen to the proceedings live. In addition, we expect videotape of the meeting will become available on computer links. The post-meeting discussion will become international in breadth, by means of social media, and the cross-pollination of opinion will be going on for days. This is our sense at the newspaper of how this will work. The town hall meeting was hosted by the Los Angeles-based BREDAA group, led by Nuri Akbar and Bilal Morris, who had organized a demonstration of Belizeans in front of the Guatemalan Embassy in Los Angeles some weeks ago. At Sunday’s event, Nuri Akbar was master of ceremonies, while the Leader of the Belize Progressive Party (BPP), Patrick Rogers, flew up from Belize to present, while Professor Egbert Higinio drove down from northern California to address the group. The third featured speaker was Mr. Hubert Pipersburgh, a Los Angeles-based activist who has BREDAA roots in the 1980s. After the presentation, a lively question-and-answer session took place. (It was good to hear the great Sir Andie.)

Belize Muslim Responds To Mass Killings In Orlando
Just when the world collectively was celebrating the legacy of one of the world’s greatest human beings, who was a practicing Muslim, we are shattered by the tragedy of Orlando, Florida. As a human being and a practicing Muslim, I condemn the senseless killings and maimings that took place in Orlando this past weekend. This was an act of evil and cannot be countenanced by any moral and civilized person. Having said that. There is clearly a concerted effort on the part of many people, including the mainstream media in the US, to associate the religion of Islam and all Muslims as being responsible for the motivation behind this gruesome act. There is a systematic narrative that follows every act of violence where persons with Muslim names are involved. For this reason, Muslims are scapegoated as being indirectly, and some say directly (Trump), responsible for all acts of terror in the US. But the history of mass killings in the US just doesn’t bear this out. The fact is that the majority of cases of terrorism in the US have not been perpetrated by Muslims.

Kenly Young and Angelina-Urbina tie for top spot in PSE with 97.75%
Kenly Young of St. Andrew Anglican School in San Ignacio Town, Cayo, and Angelina Urbina of La Inmaculada R.C. School in Orange Walk tied for top spot in this year’s Primary School Examination (PSE) with a score of 97.75%, raising the bar above last’s year’s top score of 96.5%. The student who received the second highest mark on the exam was Marcela Lozano of Bernice Yorke Institute in Belize City. A total of 7,235 students were tested in four subject areas: English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science, based on the national primary school curriculum. The grade brackets are A – excellent: 80-100%; B – competent: 70-79%; C – satisfactory: 60-69%; D – adequate: 50-59%; and E – inadequate: 49% and below.

Females top graduating classes at UB, Ocean Academy and Living Hope
Women in Belize continue to lead in academia, with the highest grade point averages in graduating classes of institutions ranging from preparatory school to high school to the country’s national university. This past weekend, three women, Robin Quilter of the University of Belize, Whitley Aguilar of Ocean Academy in San Pedro, and Jorleny Umana of Living Hope Preparatory School in Belize City, were all celebrated as valedictorians for being the top achievers of their schools. Robin Quilter, despite the attention generated when a fellow UB graduate’s boyfriend proposed in front of hundreds at the graduation ceremony, still shone at the ceremony as she paraded down the hall proudly to receive her diploma for her Bachelor’s Degree in accounting and her awards, as she ranked 1st of 509 UB students with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.97. Meanwhile, Angela Sun ranked the highest among UB’s Associate degree students, earning a GPA of 3.97 and an Associate’s degree in mathematics.

CCJ dismisses LGBT challenge to immigration laws of Belize and Trinidad
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) this morning dismissed the claims which LGBTI activist Maurice Arnold Tomlinson, a Jamaican national and an attorney, filed against the states of Belize and Trinidad and Tobago in 2013, alleging that the immigration laws of these CARICOM countries impair his right to hassle-free movement within the Community. Tomlinson had alleged that the domestic laws of both countries run contrary to their commitments under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. In presenting the summary of the decision on Friday morning, Justice Rolston Nelson said that, “the practice of admitting homosexuals of other CARICOM States is not a matter of discretion but is legally required by Article 9 RTC as this is an appropriate measure within the meaning of that provision.” “Belize and Trinidad and Tobago maintain that Mr. Tomlinson is entitled to enter their respective territories without hassle and to remain there for up to six months; and also that, as a homosexual, Mr Tomlinson does not constitute a ‘genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat affecting one of the fundamental interests of society,’ so that he is not an ‘undesirable person,’ as envisioned under the 2007 Conference Decision.”

Breaking Belize News

National Tertiary Level Empowerment Symposium address Belizean sovereignty
On Friday, representatives of Belize’s entire tertiary level education system – eight junior colleges, the University of Belize and Galen University as host – will gather in San Ignacio for a first-ever National Tertiary Level Empowerment Symposium on the topic “Defending Belize’s Sovereignty.” Three panel […]

Burley Card charged over sex
27 year old Burley Kenyon Murphy Card, who goes by Burley Card or Burley Murphy, has been charged over a sexual relationship with a 15 year old girl between November 2015 and May 2016. Murphy was hit with 5 counts of unlawful sexual intercourse […]

Spoonaz Café burglar charged
Police have charged 38 year old unemployed Derick Garbutt for the reported burglary of Spoonaz’s Photo, Café and Bar on North Front Street on May 31, which was caught on surveillance camera. Appearing on Monday evening before Magistrate Emmerita Anderson, Garbutt pleaded not guilty […]

Man acquitted of rape of girl in Stann Creek
Jose Pana, a 37 year old farmer from Bella Vista, Stann Creek District, was acquitted this morning by a jury of nine women in the Southern Session of the Supreme Court sitting in Dangriga before Justice Denis Hanomansingh. Pana was charged with rape and […]

Mahogany Heights woman charged over election incident
Police have charged a woman who allegedly assaulted, insulted and wounded a police officer working at the village council elections held in Mahogany Heights, Cayo District over the weekend. 23 year old Lynden Jones, a tour guide, pleaded not guilty to wounding, assaulting a […]

Police address crime issues
Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, Officer Commanding Eastern Division (South) spoke of several crime and law enforcement-related issues in his press conference in Belize City on Monday. We begin with an update on the 9 o’clock curfew that was instituted for children of South side Belize City […]

Pair busted for drug trafficking in San Pedro
San Pedro Residents, Gilroy Lewis, 23, and Luwesa Parchue, 21, were arrested and charged for drug trafficking this morning after a police search at their Boca Del Rio area apartment, led to the discovery of cannabis. At around 9:00, a team of officers searched […]

Warm and relatively dry conditions prevail
The National Meteorological Service of Belize is predicting mostly sunny skies during the daytime and partly cloudy skies tonight. Only isolated showers are expected. Winds will be blowing from the East at 5-15 knots and the sea state will be light chop – choppy. […]

Man charged for gun and weed
Yesterday morning at around 8:00, police on patrol searched a male person who stated his name as 23-year-old Gian Martinez of Ladyville, Belize District. The search revealed a pen gun and 7.9 grams of cannabis on his person. Officers later learned that the man’s real […]

Over two pounds of weed found in bus
While police and customs personnel were conducting an operation in the Santa Cruz area, Orange Walk Town on Saturday afternoon, they found 2.33 pounds of cannabis on a bus. At around 12:30 p.m., a bus coming out of Santa Cruz was searched and inside, […]

Courts get audio recording equipment from U.S.
Over half a million dollars worth of court audio recording equipment was handed over yesterday morning to the Belize Supreme and Magistrate’s Courts in Belize City. The donation is courtesy the US Backed Central American Regional Security Initiative and the International Narcotics and Law […]

Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission plans village consultations this weekend
Appointed in January to oversee the implementation of the April, 2015 consent order by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) recognizing customary land tenure within the Toledo District, the Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission will this weekend meet with three separate villages. The Commission […]

Blogs

Gales Point Village in the Belize District
Easily visible on a map as a long finger stretching out from the mainland, Gales Point Village is one of the most beautiful spots in Belize. The local Creole villagers in Gales Point are the guardians for the protected feeding and nesting grounds of two of Belize’s most endangered animals: the Caribbean Manatee and the Hawksbill Turtle. Gales Point is in Belize District just a short drive from Belize City. The village itself is located on a long, narrow peninsula that extends two miles into the Southern Lagoon. The easiest way to get to Gales Point is by private boat taxi from Belize City. A road connects the Coastal Road with the village of Gales Point but it is often in a poor state of repair so only a well-equipped off-road vehicle is recommended.

Lobster Festival San Pedro Starts Tomorrow – Here’s the Scoop!
The official start to Lobster season is just ONE DAY away. Fishermen have been out setting traps and laying down lobster shades in preparation and the events are in place for the Ambergris Caye Lobster Festival… The passports are in… The pies are being readied at Boogie’s Belly… Here is a recap of what’s about to go down in San Pedro town. At the beginning, at each event, you can pick up a Passport and then get a stamp at each event. Pick up your passport at any event. An attendee of the festival is going all out. Look at these nails! At the end, at the Block Party, passports will be collected (and returned to you for a very cool souvenir)… Each stamp will entitle the passport holder to a raffle ticket to enter into a grand raffle of a vacation package for two to the San Pedro Lobster Festival 2017. The more stamps you get in your passport the more chances you have to win! The winner receives a vacation package back to San Pedro. The package includes local air fare, complimentary hotel stays, tours, golf cart rental, bar tabs, dinner and many more surprises.

LOBSTER FEST 2016 – SAN PEDRO STYLE!!
The 2016 Lobster Season opens on Wednesday, June 15th and goes through to February 14th, 2017. What better way to celebrate the return of this succulent crustacean than with 12 days of activities to honor their return. The 2016 San Pedro Lobster Fest invites visitors and residents alike, to indulge in their favorite lobster dishes. The festivities start on Wednesday, June 15th and end with a grand block party on Saturday, June 25th. The Lobster Fest Passport has quickly become a super fun aspect of the Lobster Fest. The goal of the passports is to get as many stamps as possible, to win big prizes. The passports are completely free. Fill your Lobster Fest 2016 Passport and get a chance to win an entire vacation for two to Ambergris Caye for the 2017 San Pedro Lobster Fest. Prizes include: round trip airfare from Belize International to San Pedro, Hotel Accommodations, Golf Cart Rentals, Dinners, Lunches, Excursions and so much more. Each stamp you acquire, makes you eligible to the grand raffle, winners will be announced at the block party. Lobster Fest Passport may be acquired at Seaduced by Belize office or at the Lobster Fest Event.

International Sources

Best Snorkeling Spots in Caribbean for Families
Thinking of setting out to the sunny Caribbean for a vacation? Why not combine perfect beaches, great atmosphere and fun foods with the perfect snorkeling experience too? Explore the underwater world, and get up close and personal with the local marine life in the Caribbean. Here are some of the Caribbean’s great kid-friendly snorkeling spots that are not just amazing, but also kid-friendly. About 30 miles off the coast of Belize, Glover’s Reef is part of the Meso-American Barrier Reef. A World Heritage Site and marine reserve, it’s home to an entire atoll and a 80-square-mile lagoon where you can see rays, sharks and turtles aplenty. Don’t miss the whale sharks in March, April, May and June. Glover’s Atoll has its own resort for the ultimate ‘Robinson Crusoe’ Experience. Camp or book one of its thatch cabins over the water, giving you the quickest route to perfect snorkeling (or diving), pristine white sandy beaches and innumerable coconut trees on your doorstep. Paradise found!

The New Captivity: Wild but Not Free
Wildlife tourism threatens manatees and dolphins as people get too close to marine mammals. Stuffed in a wet suit and armed with a fluorescent-green pool noodle, I climb down the short swim ladder into 78-degree water when a manatee blocks my way. It’s a baby, but at about three months old, the chubby gray manatee is already five feet long and apparently has me beat in the weight category. It meanders along the edge of the swim step, scarfing down some algae at the platform’s edge before it spins on its back. “Looks like it wants a belly rub,” says a tourist behind me, and by the animal’s behavior, it sure seems like it. Unlike blubbery sea lions, walruses, or whales, herbivorous manatees are nearly fat-free, their gigantic frames filled mostly by a gastrointestinal tract required to digest the 150 pounds of sea grass they consume daily. Evolving in a tropical environment has left the West Indian manatee (of which the Florida and Belize manatee are considered subspecies) unable to withstand cold ocean temperatures.

Responsible tourism awards longlist unveiled
Responsible Travel has today announced the select 75 organisations longlisted for the 2016 World Responsible Tourism at WTM London sponsored by the Belize Tourism Board. Organisations in the running for the most rigorously judged awards for responsible tourism in the world cover a diverse range of issues from campaigning and innovation to poverty reduction and the inclusion of marginalised people, from hotels with exemplary employment initiatives to wildlife and habitat conservation.

OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY expresses continued support for Belize and Guatemala efforts to peacefully resolve their differences.
Be sure to follow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Twitter for live updates from the 46th General Assembly of the Organization of American States in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic!

Flavors of Belize to be Promoted in Taiwan’s International Food Show
As part of the concerted and continuing efforts to promote trade and business opportunities between Taiwan and Belize, the Embassy of the ROC (Taiwan) works with the Central American Trade Office (Taiwan) and the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) to facilitate four Belizean professionals to represent and promote the flavors of Belize in the upcoming “2016 Taipei International Food Show.” Ms. Shauna Arnold, Export Promotion Officer, EXPORTBelize of BELTRAIDE, Ms. Simone Bell, Marketing Consultant of Caribbean Premier Products and Ms. Yalily Cuello and Samantha Turcios, Marketing Personnel of L&R Liquors, will travel to Taipei to participate in the Food Show scheduled on June 22-25, 2016. Ms. Arnold began working as an Export Promotion Officer in EXPORTBelize in 2014. EXPORTBelize’s main focus is to encourage competitiveness of local business to promote their products and services regionally and internationally.

Green Harvesting
The Department of the Environment (DOE) is responsible for conducting compliance monitoring, enforcement of the EPA, and to carry out the environmental screening process for developments that have the potential to significantly alter the natural state of the environment. As one of its responsibilities, the DOE is responsible for carrying out activities under international environmental agreements, such as the Stockholm Convention on Chemicals. The Stockholm Convention on Chemicals is a legally binding international agreement that tasks all participating countries to take actions to reduce or eliminate the production, use, and/or release into the environment of certain types of chemicals called persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Persistent Organic Pollutants were produced because of their benefits in pest and disease control, such as DDT for the control of mosquitoes that carry malaria and dengue. However, these chemicals have had unforeseen negative effects on human health and the environment. POPs can be transported by wind and water, and affect people and wildlife far from where they are used. They exist for very long periods of time in the environment and can accumulate and pass from one species to the next through the food chain. Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants, or UPOPs, are certain types of chemicals that are produced and released as a result of industrial processes and from combustion; for example, open burning of municipal and medical waste, agricultural burning, and even backyard burning of trash.

AMBERGRIS STADIUM: JUNE 2016 UPDATE

Videos

June 14, 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

Wine and Dine at Stella’s Smile
Tuesday evenings used to be a race to meet deadlines, so no lovely drives or spontaneous dinners after dark. Well, we’re done with that now, and we were so excited to head on over to Stella’s Smile for their Burger Tuesdays. We’ve happily been for Mimosa Sundays, Sangria Thursdays, Wine Flight Wednesdays…you get the drift! Burgers for a Tuesday evening sounded delicious, and we hopped on the purple lovebug (golf cart) and in a few minutes, we’d breezily made our way to Stella’s. The nice new paved road sure makes getting around north of the bridge easier! After parking the cart and led by Bruno, their uber-friendly maître d, we happily made our way to the beautifully laid out patio. Our noses twitched…oooh, what’s that lovely smell? Oh, burgers on the grill!

Ministry of Health Condemns Exploitation of Vulnerable Persons
It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Health that a perverse video is being circulated on social media. The video features a man and a woman, purported to have diagnoses of mental disorders, being instructed to perform sexual acts by the persons recording the video. The audio on the video reveals that the couple was being encouraged in their actions only to be rewarded with a soda by the persons who were watching and recording the couple performing various sexual acts. The Ministry of Health is appalled at this assault on human dignity and is dismayed that these persons felt comfortable enough to record and share this video to further humiliate this couple and their families. The Ministry of Health implores all Belizeans to protect the privacy and rights of all people, especially those who are made vulnerable because of physical and mental disabilities. The public is strongly encouraged to protest and denounce these types of violations of person’s dignity and rights. In so doing we can begin to change the culture of stigma, discrimination and victimization of vulnerable persons who live among us.

Confiscation of Compressed Marijuana in Northern Belize
The Ministry of National Security informs the public that a Belize Defence Force patrol was conducted in the area of Patchacan on 11 June 2016. This patrol led to the discovery of 85 pounds of Marijuana and the detention of three male persons namely: Edilberto Ku, 44-year-old Belizean Vegetable Vendor from Patachacan Village; John Triminio, 59-year-old Belizean Farmer from Xaibe Village; and Gabriel Chan, 28-year-old Belizean Mason from Patachacan Village. These men were handed over to the Corozal Police Station where they were processed and charged. The marijuana is believed to have a street value of over $7,000 Belizean dollars.

Lobster Season reopens: predictions for the 2016-2017 season
It’s been almost four months since the lobster season closed to allow the spiny lobster populations to replenish. The reopening of the season is on Wednesday, June 15th and what better way to rejoice in San Pedro than with the 2016 Lobster Fest! During this time, residents and visitors indulge in their favorite lobster-themed dishes. The twelve-day celebration commences on Wednesday, June 15th and ends with a grand block party on Saturday, June 25th. Under the Fisheries Act of Belize, regulated by the Belize Fisheries Department (BFD), the consumption and harvesting of the Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus Argus) is only allowed from June 15 to February 14. The Belize Fisheries Department reported that after the 2014-2015 lobster season closed, the quantity of lobster tails produced was 484,891.1 pounds in 2014, with the figures increasing to 535,863.2 lbs in 2015.

Rumour: ‘Car Rental in San Pedro?’; Mayor: ‘Absolutely Not!’
As development continues on Ambergris Caye, so grows residents’ concerns about the rapid transformation of a municipality into a busier, more urban area. Recently the state of a new business venture on Coconut Drive has raised many questions, mainly, ‘what business is it?’ There was much speculation that it is a potential car rental, but The San Pedro Town Council has been quick to clarify that it is not. The San Pedro Traffic Department (SPTD) spoke to The San Pedro Sun, stating that while they heard the same rumours, no applications have been submitted for such business. The SPTD is not processing anymore applications for vehicles, except for a limited amount of personal golf carts and motorcycles. Mayor Daniel Guerrero also confirmed the SPTD statements. As the chairman of the Trade Licensing Board, he dismissed the idea of approving any vehicular rentals on the island. “We are not approving any such thing as a car rental. As a matter of fact, at the moment we have a moratorium that no more vehicles can be transported to the island. Those comments about such business are far from true,” said Guerrero.

Ambergris Today

Stay Cool with Dixi’s Smoothies
The minute I tasted my first Dixi Smoothie I knew I had to tell you about it! Dixi told Dorian to bring mom and I to try her Oreo smoothie and I’ve been hooked ever since. Her little smoothie shop is on Front Street behind the Lion’s Den. Here are three reasons why you have to go try this smoothie NOW! We’re lucky to have the sea so close to jump into on super hot days, but not everyone has time to do that every day. The icy cold smoothies at Dixiana’s are just the thing to get you cooled off when you’re in a rush.

Misc Belizean Sources

Belize Social Investment Fund Continues to Empower Teachers & Parents With Skills Training To Achieve Educational Excellence
Certification Exercises will be held in the Northern Districts for 20 teachers and 25 parents who successfully completed training in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Classroom Management, Leadership, Parenting Skills, Intermediate Computer Skills and First Aid Training. Teachers and parents in this regard, will receive Certificate of Completion and Participation at ceremonies scheduled for 3:00 pm on Monday June 13 at Ranchito Community Centre, Corozal; and at 2:30 pm on Thursday June 16 at Carmelita Primary School, Orange Walk. Hence, it is within this context, that these teachers are now equipped with enhanced educational leadership skills and competencies, which will significantly contribute in making a positive educational impact in nurturing the development of students. To this end, the future leaders of Belize will have the opportunity to develop socially, culturally, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically and intellectually.

Agriculture Project Cooperated by Belize and Taiwan Held a Successful Tilapia Farming Workshop in Stann Creek District
In order to improve the Tilapia Business in Belize, the GOB-ROC Aquaculture Project implemented a “Wonderful Tilapia Farming Workshop” in Independence High School on 8 June, 2016. The project period of GOB-ROC Aquaculture Project is February 2012 to February 2017. Its total budget amount is US$ 2.5 million dollars which is funded by the Republic of China (Taiwan) Government. The principle project objective is to enhance the tilapia production industry in Belize, to improve the economic condition and nutrition of Belizeans living in rural areas. There were more than 20 aquaculture producers and related professionals participating in this important event, which included members from the important international organizations of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the private sector (shrimp farmers) and official agricultural specialists.

Corozal House of Culture Men at Work Art exhibit a success!
A gracious thank you to our community for your kind support in attending the 4th Annual Men @ Work art exhibit launch, which took place this past Friday. Once again the men have brought out their very best art work. It is always a pleasure to showcase our cultural artists. As an added feature this year we also showcased our culinary artists; Belize Golden Sugar Cane Juice, as they pressed out fresh juice and we served their latest product-sugar cane wine. Thank you to our artists: Hector Villamil, Benjamin Cal, Carlos Carrillo, Hilberto Trujillo, Allan Jones, Alberto Lopez, Bob Wright, Chuy Carrillo, Marcus Gonzalez, Daniel Cano, Yorel Chable, volunteer Simi Wadwa, and assistant Elma Chun for a successful event! We invite you to kindly visit and view the art which is on display through to June 30th.

Personnel from the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) visited Las Cuevas Research Station this weekend
Biologist Boris Arevalo explains the opportunities at the Station for both research and recreation.

Belize Tourism Board's Digital Summit 2016!
Save the Date and get the early bird deal until June 30, 2016! Belize Tourism Board's Digital Summit 2016!

US Ambassador Moreno participated in a Court Audio Recording & IT Equipment Handover Ceremony at the Supreme Court in Belize City.
The Court Audio Recording Project is now fully operational and places state of the art audio recording equipment and related IT equipment in the Supreme Court and all Magistrate Courts throughout the nation. As part of the project, The U.S. Embassy facilitated training for justices, magistrates, court equipment and IT staff in the use of the equipment. This project is part of the recently signed Justice Sector Reform Letter of Agreement for U.S. 1.45M between the GOB and the USG. This agreement establishes and supports justice sector reform projects designed to increase the GOB's capacity to assist the justice system to fairly, effectively and efficiently process criminal cases in a timely manner.

2016 Belize Archaeology Anthropology Symposium
Mark the dates on your calendars. The 2016 Belize Archaeology Anthropology Symposium is soon upon us. June 28 - July 1

Environmental Day,Middlesex Village, Stann Creek District.
Outside activities. It will be booths and they will have presentations. June 25

2nd Musical Summer Camp on Caye Caulker
On Monday June 27th our 2nd Musical Summer Camp begins. We still have a few spaces but we would like to encourage our adults to join in the fun. Follow this link and get an idea of what its all about.

Destruction of Marijuana Plants and Other Cultivation in the Areas of Valentin Camp, Retiro, Cebada and Sapote
The Ministry of National Security informs the public that a joint patrol was conducted in the areas of Valentin Camp, Retiro, Cebada and Sapote during the period 29 May, 2016 to 09 June 2016. Members of the Belize Defence Force, with the support of the Belize Police Department, Forestry Department, Ministry of Human Development and Friends for Conservation and Development, destroyed 650 marijuana plants of varying height, 50 acres of pumpkin and 100 coffee plants. Also six families consisting of 20 persons were found to be living in Retiro (Belize). These families were ordered to leave. Here are photographs of the plantation and the families.

Confiscation of Compressed Marijuana in Northern Belize
The Ministry of National Security informs the public that a Belize Defence Force patrol was conducted in the area of Patchacan on 11 June 2016. This patrol led to the discovery of 85 pounds of Marijuana and the detention of three male persons namely: Edilberto Ku, 44-year-old Belizean Vegetable Vendor from Patachacan Village; John Triminio, 59-year-old Belizean Farmer from Xaibe Village; and Gabriel Chan, 28-year-old Belizean Mason from Patachacan Village. These men were handed over to the Corozal Police Station where they were processed and charged. The marijuana is believed to have a street value of over $7,000 Belizean dollars.

Ministry of Health Condemns Exploitation of Vulnerable Persons
It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Health that a perverse video is being circulated on social media. The video features a man and a woman, purported to have diagnoses of mental disorders, being instructed to perform sexual acts by the persons recording the video. The audio on the video reveals that the couple was being encouraged in their actions only to be rewarded with a soda by the persons who were watching and recording the couple performing various sexual acts. The Ministry of Health is appalled at this assault on human dignity and is dismayed that these persons felt comfortable enough to record and share this video to further humiliate this couple and their families.

TOP 10 2016 PSE Results for the Corozal District
asser Charaf of Mary Hill RC School tops No 1 at 383 points and takes 10th overall. Congratulations to Yasser Charaf, Rohan Ake, Pedro Kukul, Kaelyn Wade, Arion Griffith, Jadiel Casanova, Jo-Ellyn Clarke, Felipe Galaz, Aleandra Bol and Nigel Rosado. Keep up the great work and aim for the stars.

Dreamscapes of Belize Development
Have you bought land in Dreamscapes of Belize Development. For many in 2008 it started as a dream, but for all it has turned into the ultimate real estate nightmare. "A COMPANY FROM NORTH PALM BEACH FLORIDA SELLING REAL ETATE IN BELIZE IS ACCUSED OF SCAMMING MILLIONS" says a report from BBN and BMG! "A real estate company, DreamScapes Belize, operated by several foreigners with questionable backgrounds has come under scrutiny and been slapped with several lawsuits after being accused of scamming buyers out of millions of dollars in a case of real estate fraud. DreamScapes has also been linked to two firms named in the “Panama Papers” leak from the Mossack-Fonseca firm several months ago.

Succotz Archaeology & Culture Fair
Learn all about the culture and history Succotz at the Succotz Archaeology and Culture Fair on Sunday, June 26th, at the Succotz R.C. primary school. They'll have the Puksi'ik'al Maya Ball Players there.

Hawk Watch Certification Program
For all of you guides out there who expressed some interest in the Hawk Watch Certification Program... We are trying to open this to Belizeans ONLY. However, if our Belizeans do not take advantage of this virtually free opportunity, we will open it to the 20+ foreign students who are dying to get in. This is a 5 week certification program of 1 week (5 days) of workshop and class activities in San Ignacio from September 19-23 and 4 weeks (20 days) of in-field hawk watching in Cattle Landing, Toledo, as part of the hawk watch program between October 1 and December 15. This will be the fourth year of our Raptor Watch Program. The in-field days will be a combination of 8 hour and 4 hour days and will vary from week to week. The training hours are from 8:00-4:00 if working an 8 hour day and from 8:00-12:00 or 12:00-4:00 if working a 4 hour day. This will depend on the schedule and number of participants that day. The house is within walking distance to the count-site and store (less than a mile away).

San Pedro Day
Mark your calendar and join us as we celebrate the day of our patron saint - San Pedro.

Channel 7

City Violence Re-surges With Murder
After 1 month of calm on the Belize City Southside, there was a terrible daylight murder yesterday evening. 34 year-old Marlon Banner was shot and killed on the basketball court at the corner of Fabers Road and Central American Boulevard. From what we've been able to find out he was a family man and a dedicated son who took care of his wife, his children and his ailing mother. Yet, his was a street-style slaying which happened in front of other eyewitnesses, and it had elements of deliberate cruelty reserved for only notorious personalities. Today, our news team went looking for answers and found out that Banner, with no known gang ties, may have been killed simply because of the friends he kept: 34 year-old Marlon Banner was gunned down here inside the Faber's Road Basketball Court. Yesterday evening at around before 5 o'clock, he was waiting for his opportunity to play ball with the other neighborhood young men, something that was part of his daily routine. He sat under this tree, and that's when, according to eyewitnesses, a lone gunman came through the gate.

US Flags Fly Half Mast For Victims in Orlando Massacre
If you follow international news, you will know of the Orlando, Florida nightclub massacre in which 50 people were killed and another 53 injured. US President Barrack Obama has called it "the most deadly shooting in American History." Reports are that over 300 people were inside the popular gay nightclub when a man later identified as Omar Mateen came in with 2 assault rifles and sprayed the crowd with bullets. The FBI is investigating this case as an act of terror and an act of hate. Now, while Belize is not directly linked to this mass shooting, it sends waves of horror to the LGBT community across the world, including Belize. This heinous act also highlights the challenges and threats that LGBT members face daily. Today we asked US Ambassador Moreno for a comment on this deadly shootout.

Did Bze Pharmacist Lose His Job For Homophobe Post On Facebook?
Now while US Ambassador Moreno didn't address the daily threat to LGBT members in Belize, several Belizeans boldly expressed how they felt about it. Most were in solidarity with the victims, but quite a few came out strongly anti-gay in the usual social media banter. But one particular post that gained a lot of traction was this one: Belizean Facebook user Raynard Humphreys said that the killing of 50 members of the gay community in Orlando was, in his opinion, justified. In a subsequent post, he said, and we quote, "I will never say killing of people is right. However I believe in this instance, it was justified. I personally am utterly against homosexuality and I can see where someone a little less sane than I am, can find it in them to hurt so many people."

Caleb On The Contagion Of Hate
So, as you heard, Raynard Humphreys has apologized, but it's too little too late, since he has already lost his job over it. Today, we got an opportunity to speak with Caleb Orozco, Belize's most public gay rights activist, who is currently in the Dominican Republic attending the 2016 OAS General Assembly. He's doing advocacy work on behalf of LGBT persons in Belize and the Caribbean, and so we asked him via Skype today about the concern that there is a strong undercurrent of homophobia in Belizean public sentiment - the kind that manifested itself in the Humphrey's post and many others. Here's what he had to say just before the start of news:

Did Drinking Cop Get Off Easy?
A police officer will face disciplinary action but not criminal charges after he fired gunshots in public. It happened near Perez Road area in Ladyville on Friday night around 9:30. According to reports, Detective Constable Urbie Alamilla was off duty that night and was drinking and socializing with 2 friends when he pulled out his department issued gun and fired 3 shots in the air. That created a public uproar, and this video was taken in the aftermath and posted on Facebook . It shows an apparently inebriated Alamilla laid out on the street, and also confronting a fellow police officer who was trying to bring order to the chaotic scene. Residents in the area crowded the officer demanding that he be charged for firing his weapon - but they warned that knowing the police, he wouldn't be charged. And it seems they were right.

Ruthless and Revolting Exploitation Of Mentally Challenged
The Ministry of Health has put out a public statement condemning a revolting video that has been posted on Facebook. The video depicts two mentally challenged adults, a male and a female being directed to engage in sexual acts - all in exchange for a soft drink. The vile four-minute video shows them being prodded on and directed by a boisterous group of women. In the end it breaks up when the male gets afraid because someone says police are coming. It is a sad commentary on the state of our society's standards, but abuse of the mentally ill is widespread, and it is not the first such video posted on facebook. Looking at the video, there's no clue as to what town or city it happened in, but the Commander of Southside police today said that while it is repulsive, to actually prosecute the persons responsible for co-ercing the sexual exploitation of these mentally ill persons is difficult. Here's how he explained why:

The Many Legal Woes of Derrick Garbutt
Last week Wednesday, we told you about 38 year-old Derrick Garbutt, the man caught on camera as he burglarized Spoonaz Photo Cafe and Bar on Tuesday May 31st. Our information was that he had been arraigned for that crime, but, in fact, he was arraigned for another. He was actually charged in that first instance with common assault, to which he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 3 months. Today, was his actual arraignment for that and the other burglary of the two business places. He was charged with burglary for just over 1,700 worth of liquor and a pellet gun which he stole from Spoonaz Cafe.

BDF And Joint Team Marches Into Chiqubul, Ejects Guates
The Guatemalan army may have deployed more soldiers along the border with Belize and that country's congress may have sent out a travel advisory for its citizens in Belize, but on the ground on the poverty stricken Guatemalan villages along the border with Chiquibul, all that political grandstanding counts for very little. In those communities hunger, and the hunt for arable land is what keeps pushing them into Belize. Further proof of this came between 29th. May and ninth June when a joint patrol was conducted in the areas of Valentin Camp, Retiro, Cebada and Sapote. Now this was more than just the regular joint police and BDF patrol, this one had personnel form the Forestry Department, and the Ministry of Human Development as well as Friends for Conservation and Development. They destroyed 650 Marijuana plants, 50 acres of Pumpkin and 100 Coffee plants. They found six families consisting of 20 persons living in the Retiro are which is well within Belize. They were all ordered to leave.

Belize's Courts Go Digital, Kinda
Belize's courts are finally getting rid of those handwritten transcripts and moving towards digital recordings. The Judges and stenographers, who have to write down as precisely as possible, what is said during proceedings, know all too well how tedious that is. Then there are the claimants who have to wait and hope that those transcripts are accurate enough for deliberation, knowing full well that, handwritten notes are susceptible to errors. Well, all that doubt and anxiety should not be a problem anymore. That's because this morning Representatives from the US Embassy, on behalf of CARSI, which is the Central American Regional Security Initiative, handed over Court Audio Recording Equipment at the Supreme Court. US Ambassador to Belize Carlos Moreno discussed how significant this recording equipment will be during court proceedings.

New System to Be Installed At Prison
But this technological advancement extends beyond the courtroom. US Ambassador Moreno also discussed plans to set up an audio - visual system at the Belize Central prison. There would be an open link or connection to the court for arraignments and other court proceedings. Moreno - himself a former judge - explained just how more efficient and beneficial this system will be. Carlos Moreno, US Ambassador to Belize: "What's next is that we are currently working on an audio/visual connection between the courts, the various police stations and the prison out in Hattieville. So in terms of the audio/visual connection with the prison in Hattieville, this would save time, effort and other resources if we can have certain proceedings like arraignments and shorter type hearings where you don't have to transport the prisoner. It's also better for security, don't have the need for prisoners giving possible opportunity of escaping when they are being transported to court."

I am Guilty, Man Accused of Stabbing Tells Court
Twenty-eight year old Renford Tillett, charged with grievous harm and use of deadly means of harm, pled guilty to the lesser charge of use of deadly means of harm today before Justice John Gonzalez. The incident occurred on June 3, 2011 on Partridge Street. There was a misunderstanding between Tillett and 29 year-old Theodore Swazo and Tillett stabbed Swazo once in the chest. Swazo's injury was classified as grievous harm. The trial began last Tuesday and two witness testified. Then, a trial within this trial was held to determine whether an application made by the Crown to have a dock identification of Tillett should be allowed. But before Justice Gonzalez could rule on it Tillett changed his plea from not guilty to guilty.

New Rules And Regions For Fishers
The Belize Fisheries Department is changing the way fishermen catch fish through a stakeholder based initiative known as Managed Access. This divides Belize's territorial waters into 9 fishing zones. A smaller pilot project like this was launched in 2011 and it targeted two zones, namely the Glovers reef Marine Reserve and the Port Honduras Marine Reserve. The successes in these two areas have given the department enough confidence to expand this initiative to encompass all of Belize's territorial waters. But now with more stringent regulations governing fishing activities in Belize how are the 3 thousand licensed fishermen in Belize taking it? Well we found out this morning when we attended the official launch of the project at the Fisheries compound in Belize City.

The Curfew Overview
3 months ago, we told you about the kids curfew That Eastern Division South Commander Chester Williams had set up. He's trying to curb the number of children out on the streets, who the gang figures could recruit to commit murders. Well, in the months after the pushback from the child advocacy organizations, a modified version was put into effect. Today, he said that it has been quietly working: ACP Chester Williams, OC, Eastern Division South: "The curfew is still ongoing. We picked up I think last week we picked up about 4 minors off the streets. The parents were again issued with the warning letters. We have not arrived at a stage where we can arrest and charge a parent, because those children that we have we picked up and the parent warned, they have not been dealt with before. So, we have not had a situation where we picked up a child twice, because you know that we normally give the warning in the first instance and if the child is being picked up again, then we take legal action against the parent. So we have not had a situation where we picked up a child twice, where we would have to charge the parent because of a second infraction."

Chester Loves The Children
And the summer vacation is already here, which could mean that a lot more young boys will have free time to hang out with these gang figures, whose influence the police are trying cut. So, apart from the usual summer camps, Williams wants to take these city children on tours of the Country, just to get them outside of the city. He calls it "Getting to Know your Country", which he hopes will work keep a lot of the children occupied and safe. Here's how the program will ideally work: Williams says that the model being discussed should be cost and socially effective.

The Many Moods of Mangoes
For fruit lovers, there's no better time of year than when mangoes truly "come een". And they have for sure! Everywhere you turn, from the street corner to the supermarket to the produce market, the full abundance of and multiplicity of mangoes surround us. But which is your favourite? Is it the Black Mango, Number 11, Slippers…or maybe something more exotic like the cousins Sandy and Tanga Shaw, or the super rare, Gold Mango? Exactly one year ago, Courtney Weatherburne went to the Michael Finnegan market for an education in the fascinating taxonomy of Belize's favourite and most fetishised fruit:...

PS Footballers
Last week 12 teams participated in the National Primary School Football Championships. 6 male teams and 6 female teams from each District competed for first place prize at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan. Four teams in each category- male and female-advanced to the semifinals, which were played on Friday. It was a bitter fight to the top but in the end, only one could be named the champ. In the males category it was Chunox SDA Primary School, from Corozal, which took first place prize. They defeated San Pedro RC School. In the female category Corozal's Copper Bank RC School came out victorious. They defeated Independence Primary from Stann Creek. The National Sports Council also named two MVP's. For the male's the MVP went to Romario Martinez from Chunox SDA Primary School, and for the female's the MVP award went to Dianira Lopez of Copper Bank RC School. The winners of this competition will have a chance at participating in next year's CODICADER games.

Channel 5

Marlon Bonner Gunned Down in Belize City
Belize City Police are currently looking for the gunman who brazenly walked onto the basketball court at the corner of Faber’s Road and Central American Boulevard and gunned down Marlon [...]

Gunman Was Identified but Witnesses Are Scarce
The situation facing Police in the Bonner murder is nothing new. In fact, there are many instances in which broad daylight murders have gone unpunished because witnesses are afraid to [...]

Ministry of Health Responds to Video of Sexual Exploitation
Today, the Ministry of Health issued an urgent and scathing release condemning the exploitation of vulnerable persons. It’s a very specific condemnation, referring to a disturbing video which has been [...]

ACP Chester Williams Says Legislation Needed to Address Cyber-crimes
ACP Williams claims that not only because of that video, but because of a general culture of sexual exploitation on social media and the internet, legislators need to be more [...]

Joint Patrol Locates Guatemalan Settlement within Belize
There is another illegal Guatemalan settlement in Belizean territory near the border between the countries. That news came via release from the Ministry of National Security in the wake of [...]

B.D.F. Operation Yields Marijuana Seizure in Patchakan
In addition to operations on the border, the B.D.F. also conducted a more localized exercise in which eighty-five pounds of processed and parceled marijuana was found on three persons in [...]

Angelina Urbina Tied for Top Scorer in P.S.E.
The 2016 P.S.E. results were released late on Friday evening. The Ministry of Education says there is not any marked improvement to those of last year with Math posing a [...]

Kenly Young from St. Andrew’s Shines in P.S.E.
A total of seven thousand three hundred and ninety-two students registered for the 2016 Primary School Examinations of which seven thousand two hundred and thirty-five candidates sat the exams. The [...]

Ministry of Education Explains P.S.E. Results
The Ministry of Education today spoke of the results.  Head of the Exams Unit, Nelson Longsworth, who annually would crunch the numbers and track improvements in the exams, says that [...]

Attorney and Author Godfrey Smith Set to Launch Book on Michael Manley
A biography of Jamaica’s fourth Prime Minister Michael Manley has been penned by well-known Belizean attorney and author, Godfrey Smith.  The life story of the democratic socialist was commissioned in [...]

Government of Belize Condemns Orlando Shooting
The government of Belize has issued a release expressing distress and sorrow over what it calls the senseless killing and injuring of innocent citizens in Orlando, Florida. Forty-nine have been [...]

US Ambassador Carlos Moreno Says There Will Be Justice
The shooting stirred comments and condemnation from many quarters. In Belize, an employee of Buttonwood Bay Medical Center, Raynard Humphreys, commented on Facebook, “I know people will hate me for [...]

San Pedro Police Make Drug Busts
San Pedro police have made a series of arrests following anti-drug operations on the island in the past few days.  On Thursday, a team of officers visited a residence two [...]

Belize City Man on Remand for Sexual Abuse
Tonight, a Belize City man is on remand at the Belize Central Prison for allegedly sexually abusing a minor between November 2015 and May 2016. Twenty-seven-year old Burley Kenyon Murphy, an [...]

Belize Courts Go Digital
Today, the U.S. made a significant donation to Belize’s justice system through its Central American Regional Security Initiative, CARSI. The Embassy has been working with the judiciary to overhaul the [...]

Next is Video Link between Court and Prison for Arraignments
The digital revolution in our courtrooms is just one step in the overhaul of the system. The next will be creating connectivity between pertinent bodies to expedite arraignments and hopefully, [...]

US Ambassador Says CARSI Seeks to Expedite Justice
Justice delayed is justice denied – that’s the trite but true maxim which underscores the efforts to fix what is ailing in Belize’s justice system. Ambassador Moreno told us today [...]

Sports Monday: Basketball, Football and Softball Stats
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.   Friday night’s opener in the Belize District Firm Basketball Competition saw Belize City Council and Civil Aviation Drones open [...]

CTV3

Four Injured In Fridays' Accident
A traffic accident on Friday night near the BSI cutoff in Orange Walk left four persons injured. At around 8:00pm William Zabaneh, 18 year old Belizean student of Princess Margaret Drive, Belize City along with three other persons were travelling in a grey Volkswagen Amarok Pickup from Corozal to Belize City when he collided right Into the back of a tractor that was pulling three trailers as he reached between miles 51 and 52 on the Phillip Goldson Highway just before the BSI cutoff. According to Zabaneh he did not see the trailer which was being pulled at the time by an International Tractor driven at the time by 34 year old Belizean driver of San Estevan Village Alfredo Perez.

Second Round Of Village Council Elections Takes Place
Last week marked the commencement of the Village Council Elections 2016 across the country of Belize where a total of forty three villages took part in the election. Yesterday the voting continued where a total of forty one villages elected their new Village Council. A total 287 seats were occupied, of which forty one were for the positions of chairpersons while the remaining 246 were for councillors. Here in Orange Walk, four villages partook in election namely San Luis, San Jose, Carmelita and Yo Creek. According to official results, the United Democratic Party won in San Jose, San Luis and Carmelita. In the village of Yo Creek, however, the People’s United Party emerged victorious. Village Council Elections will continue next week on Sunday June 19th.

MOH Appalled By Sex Video Of Vulnerable Person
Today the Ministry of Health issued an enduring release where they condemn the inhumane actions taken against persons with mental disabilities in a disturbing video that has been circulating on social media. The video shows two persons, with mental disorders, being instructed by two persons to perform various sexual acts with the promise of a coke. In their release the ministry condemns the heinous act by the two persons who are watching and recording the video by stating Quote “The Ministry of Health is appalled at this assault on human dignity and is dismayed that these persons felt comfortable enough to record and share this video to further humiliate this couple and their families. End quote

GOB Sympathizes With US Mass Killing In Florida
Today the Government of Belize expressed distress and sorrow over the senseless killing and injuring of innocent citizens in Orlando, Florida on June 12th, 2016. The Government extended its condolences and prayers to the families and friends of those killed and injured in the tragic incident. According to GOB the horrible mass shooting at the nightclub serves as a reminder to all of the ever-present threat of terrorism and indiscriminate violence. The Government stated today that they condemn these unjustifiable and savage attacks against innocent civilians and stands in solidarity with the United States of America during this very difficult period. GOB also reiterated its commitment to cooperate with the international community to fight against this scourge to our common humanity.

Real Estate In Belize Linked To Panama Papers
DreamScapes Belize, a real estate is tonight facing a number of lawsuits after being accused of swindling buyers out of millions of dollars in a case of real estate fraud and being linked too two firms named in the Panama Papers leak from the Mossack-Fonseca firm. The company which is said to be operated by foreigners reportedly collected over US $10 million from American and Canadian investors who wanted to buy dream homes in Belize. The company advertised lots for up to US $30,000 and promised model homes, access roads, a potable water supply, waste treatment facility, a school, police and fire stations, an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse and a marina facility with dockage. But none of that existed.

Top PSE Performance From Corozal Prepares For Graduation
As mentioned before this year the top PSE performers from the Corozal District were from Mary Hill RC School. They are Yasser Charaf ranking 13th and Rohan Ake ranking 15th countrywide. The school also had 5 students in the top 10 at a district level. Of course Charaf was one of them who came 1st with 383 points while Ake came 2nd with 380 points and ranking 3rd was Pedro Kukul with a total of 374 points. Today CTV3 news also spoke to the students as they prepared for graduation. Here is what they told us about their latest achievement. Student: “I studied a little and my parents, my teachers and especially the Lord helped me to get throughout the PSE and accomplish this achievement and I feel very excited and proud because I’ve been working hard and always like dreamt of being up here and nothing is impossible you can always accomplish whatever you want as long as you try.”

Fourteen Year Old Missing For Five Days
Tonight Orange Walk Police are looking for a 14 year old girl who left home on Wednesday June 8th and has not been seen or heard from since. According to Orfa Chi of Santa Cruz Village, Orange Walk District, at around 3:30 p.m. on the 8th of June, her daughter Suemi Lizeth Chi left home. Chi stated she was going to the river but never returned home. The child was last seen in Orange Walk Town along with a woman who is known as "PELONA". Suemi is of Hispanic descent, has shoulder length curly black hair, weighs about 100lbs, about 5 feet in height and stout build. She was last seen wearing a white and pink shorts, red blouse, pair of blue slippers and carries a silver chain with two medals around her neck. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Suemi is asked to contact the nearest police station.

Teacher Knocked Down While Heading Back To School
A teacher from San Francisco Roman Catholic School is tonight recuperating at the Northern Regional Hospital after she was knocked down this afternoon. Reports are that sometime before 1:00 p.m., Sonia Romero returned to school from her lunch break and had just parked her vehicle on the right side of the road opposite to the school and had stepped out of the vehicle when she was knocked down by a motorcycle which was reportedly driven by a female. According to a witness, the woman on the motorcycle was driving at a high speed and failed to stop at a bump located near the area where the incident occurred. CTV3 News understands that the impact of the collision caused Romero to be flung from where she stood and the motorcycle ran over her right leg.

Guatemalans Civilians Found Living Within Belizean Territory
Twenty Guatemalan civilians were found living within Belizean territory by members of the Belize Defense Force. Over the period of 29 May, 2016 to 09 June 2016 Members of the Belize Defense Force, with the support of the Belize Police Department, Forestry Department, Ministry of Human Development and Friends for Conservation and Development conducted their quarterly operation in the areas of Valentin Camp, Retiro, Cebada and Sapote in an effort to deter illegal activity in the area. During these operations the BDF discovered a large area used for plantation of Marijuana plants, pumpkin and coffee plants along with six families consisting of 20 persons were found to be living in the Retiro area inside Belize Territory.

BDF Confiscates Eighty Pounds Of Compressed Marijuana
Three Corozal men are behind bars tonight after they were caught with more than 80 pounds of marijuana. The operation was conducted by members of the Belize Defense Force on Saturday June 11th in an area of Patchakan Village in the Corozal District. The three men namely Edilberto Ku, 44 year old Belizean Vegetable Vendor from Patachakan Village, John Triminio, 59 year old Belizean Farmer from Xaibe Village and Gabriel Chan, 28 year old Belizean Mason from Patachakan Village were found with a total of 85 pounds of Marijuana believed to have a street value of over $7,000 Belize dollars. All three men were taken to the Corozal Magistrates court this afternoon where they were charged for the offence of drug trafficking and given bail at the amount of thirty thousand dollars each and two sureties of fifteen thousand which they had not met up to news time.

LOVE FM

Communities Disgusted with Recent Porn Video of Mentally Challenged Persons
A number of videos showing explicit sexual material have made their way into social media as of late. One that raised concerns at the Ministry of Health is one depicting the coercion of sexual activity on mentally ill and homeless individuals. The Ministry of Health issued a release addressing the matter. Part of the release […]

Effects of Social Media, the Orlando Shootings and Self Expression
The effects of social media are far-reaching and perhaps under-estimated by many. With the tragedy that struck eight hundred and seventy five miles away from Belize, in Orlando, Florida, the distance became moot as emotions poured out onto social media ranging from outrage to sadness to anger and in one instance to hatred. There were […]

Murder on the Basketball Court
What should have been a fun Sunday evening at the Faber’s Road basketball court, turned deadly. 34-year-old Marlon Bonner of a Faber’s Road address was gunned down. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams tells us more about the city’s latest murder and what the investigation has revealed so far. CHESTER WILLIAMS “Sometime around 4pm on […]

Silver Sedan and Cane Truck Collide in Northern Belize
On Friday night a road traffic incident on the Phillip Goldson Highway, left three persons injured. A silver Volkswagon and a cane truck were involved in the incident. Eighteen year old William Zabaneh was the driver of the Volkswagon while the cane truck was driven by thirty five year old Alfredo Perez. Inspector Nicholas Palomo, […]

Math Remains Problematic with Poor Performance in PSE 2016
Friday we told you of the results of the Primary School Examination. We erred when we listed the top five performers as this year’s results indicate ties in several positions. The top score for the 2016 PSE was three hundred and ninety one out of a possible four hundred points, earned by two students: Kenly […]

IMF Report is Alarming, Says Mayor Bernard
On May 26, 2016 we brought you the story on the preliminary report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the outlook for Belize following a 2-week assessment done in-country by one of their teams. The report cited several causes for concern, starting with the slowing of the economy and the increase of the country’s […]

Dreamscapes of Belize: A Sham Revealed from Panama Papers
In early April came the revelation of a set of documents leaked from the Mossack Fonseca firm called the Panama Papers. It is a very extensive collection of files that has had many public figures, investors and politicians facing criminal charges and other forms of repercussions after reports of untoward business deals. Belize became a […]

Fisheries Department Releases Map of Managed Access Fishing Areas
This morning the Fisheries Department launched the Manage Access Map detailing nine fishing areas in Belize. For the past three years the department has been consulting with fishermen to regulate fishing turfs. Fisheries Department Administrator Beverly Wade spoke about the importance of manage access. BEVERLY WADE “Manage access is huge for Belize. As you well […]

Traditional Haul Day Goes Awry for Crooked Tree Fishers
Last week there was a situation at the Crooked Tree Haul Day as it is referred to. It is a day on which fishermen are given a license to fish in the area which is a natural reserve. But last week when fishermen went out to the lagoon, things got out of control, after it […]

Godfrey Smith Pens Biography of Jamaica’s 4th PM
Former Government Minister and Attorney General, Godfrey Smith had won the Bocas Literary Prize in 2012 for the best work in non-fiction when he wrote the biography, George Price: A Life Revealed. The former politician who still practices law has been busy penning his second book which is due to be published by the 25-year-old […]

PlusTV

Mahogany Heights man gunned down
There was a murder in Mahogany Heights on Thursday night. According to police, sometime around 8:40 p.m. shots were fired on the dirt road leading into Mahogany Heights Village. When the gunshots seized, 51-year-old Lyndon Murillo, a watchman of Mahogany Heights, was lying on the ground dead. Po...

Belize City man clings to life after shooting incident
Shots were also fired in Belize City and a 25 year old man was hit and is clinging to life. 25-year-old Deshawn Young was shot to the chest, neck and shoulder sometime around 9:30 p.m in the area of Laura Dunn Street, Antelope Street Extension. Young was then taken to the hospital where his conditi...

CCJ dismisses Maurice Tomlinson immigration case
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has dismissed an application in its original jurisdiction by homosexual Jamaican attorney Maurice Tomlinson against the immigration laws of Belize and Trinidad and Tobago. Tomlinson alleged that the existence of laws purporting to deny homosexuals and prostitutes...

Bahamas Says NO To Constitutional Amendments in Referendum
In related news, The Bahamas strongly voted “NO” to four Amendment Bills to their Constitution by Referendum this week. The results from the Referendum were made public on June 7, 2016, and the move is considered a victory for Family Values and protections for the Natural Family. The four defeated ...

Jail for Bulgarians accused of ATM theft
The men accused of stealing from the Belize Bank’s automated teller machine were told today that they will spend twelve months in jail. Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser imposed a custodial sentence on 28 year old Jeorji Petrov, and 25 year old Halid Yuksel Aptula, accused of stealing money through fr...

Stolen vehicle still missing; thief caught on video
Yesterday we told you about a vehicle which was stolen in the middle of the day from the parking lot of Angelus Press in Belmopan. The owner of the grey forerunner told us what happened yesterday. Andrew Williams, Victim of Car Theft: What happened is at about 12:12 this afternoon I got a phone cal...

Tek widout ask but bring back when yuh dun da nuh tief
Learned Attorney and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Wilfred Elrington, says that when Guatemalans took the Belizean Farmer’s tractor by force and took it into Guatemalan territory on May 12, it was for an understandable reason; after all they had a fire to fight and the Belizeans had a tracto...

Breaking Belize News

Save-U security stop cheese shoplifting
This evening, alert security personnel at Save-U supermarket in Belize City foiled an alleged shoplifting attempt targeting the popular Dutch cheese. While Save-U management would not speak on the record nor share surveillance footage of the incident as police have gotten involved, information provided […]

Who stopped Crooked Tree fishermen from working lagoon?
Trouble has been reported with fishermen in the village of Crooked Tree off the Philip Goldson Highway. Last week a majority of the village’s fishermen were stopped from getting into the waters on a scheduled “haul day,” when fisher folks are allowed to catch […]

UDP wins 2nd round of northern village council elections
Round two of the village council elections took place on Sunday, June 12 and in the north, the United Democratic Party (UDP) claimed victory in most communities. In the Corozal district, the UDP claimed seats in Santa Clara and Louisville villages. In Chan Chen, […]

Tilapia Workshop underway
Last week more than 20 aquaculture producers and others in related professions took part in a “Wonderful Tilapia Farming Workshop” at Independence High School. The workshop was aimed at “enhancing the tilapia production industry in Belize, to improve the economic condition and nutrition of […]

GOB condemns Orlando shooting
In a press release issued late this evening the Government of Belize condemned the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida this past weekend. Here is that press release in its entirely: The Government of Belize expresses distress and sorrow over the senseless killing and injuring of […]

Mother slaps teacher over exam review
A domestic who is accused of slapping her son’s teacher over exam notes was today arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court for the offense of common assault. 35 year old Domestic, Sophie Suzanne Myvett, a resident of Jane Usher Boulevard, Belize City, was granted […]

Five years for assault on girlfriend
“I gwaan dah jail feh five years for my own girlfriend…” That is the lament of 31 year old Waylon Martinez after he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault upon a woman he is alleged to have ambushed and squeezed in her private area. […]

Teachers and parents conclude Early Childhood Education training
Twenty teachers and 25 parents who completed training in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Classroom Management, Leadership, Parenting Skills, Intermediate Computer Skills and First Aid Training will be certified this week in northern Belize. The program, led by the Belize Social Investment Fund (SIF), […]

Orange Walk teen missing
Orfa Chi, a 49-year-old resident of Santa Cruz Village, Orange Walk District, reported to police that her daughter, 14-year-old Suemi Lizeth Chi, is missing. She was last seen Wednesday of last week. She told police that at 3:30 p.m. on that day, Suemi left home to go to the […]

Over 25k lost in Placencia burglary
Manager of Ranguana Resort and resident of Placencia Village, Maxine White, 55, reported to police yesterday that sometime between 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday of last week, her home was burglarized. Twent thousand dollars in cash, passports, jewelry, other personal […]

Man murdered in Sunday evening shooting
A Belize City resident of Fabers Road, Marlon Bonner, 34, was shot multiple times yesterday evening while at his neighborhood’s basketball court and died at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH). Initial investigation revealed that Bonner was on the court when a lone gunman approached […]

Managed access of fisheries launched countrywide
Belize’s fishermen and others who enjoy the marine bounty are being asked to be more careful about their usage as part of a program sponsored by the Fisheries Department. Within eight broadly defined areas spanning the length of Belize’s coast, certain areas will be designated […]

Blogs

Learning to do with out some of the basics — like water and cable TV
We are living in a time of scarcity, here on Ambergris Caye. For one, we are running out of water. This is a seasonal thing. We have just come through the dry season. June 1 marked the beginning of the rainy season but, as with all man-made criteria, Nature has its own schedule. Oh, we’ve had a few showers, mostly in the evening, but none of the torrential rains we are expecting. Meanwhile, one cistern in our condo complex ran dry last week — at around 10 p.m. These are fed from rainwater rolling off the roof. The residents had to make do until staff could run a hose from one of the buildings with a greater supply. Each building has its own rainwater entrapment system, but occupancy varies. The one that ran dry feeds the local bar and recently housed a large family in the penthouse (with Jacuzzi , I’m told). So, yeah, their cistern ran out first. A restaurant up the road had a load of water trucked in yesterday, as a precautionary measure. It wouldn’t do to run dry with dirty dishes in the sink and customers clamoring for food!

The History of the Caribbean Spiny Lobster Industry on San Pedro
The first few decades of the twentieth century brought the beginning of Belize’s spiny lobster industry. Belizeans had traditionally rejected lobsters as “trash fish” and made no effort to exploit them. In the early 1920s as the North American lobster industry was declining, an American and a Canadian founded cannery to process lobster tails for export to the US market. The fishermen who sold their lobster tails to them received only 1 per pound. From these tentative beginnings grew a successful lobster industry that produced the country’s most valuable marine export from roughly World War II to present day. With the lobster fishery came the first freezer boat to purchase lobster tails directly from fishermen and transport them to the USA. After World War II, buyers sent more vessels with freezers and established processing and cold storage facilities in Belize City, thus permitting full-time, year-round lobster production.

6 Awesome Things To Do in Belize
With its mild weather, spectacular beaches and rich history, Belize is one of the most popular places to visit or live. With so many great things to do in Belize, no wonder it was selected by international publications such as U.S. News and World Report, AARP and the Boston Herald as a top retirement location. With the beautiful swaying palm trees, and amazing sunsets and remote islands with white sand beaches, you will surely not want to leave once you are here. Listed below are just a few of the wonderful things to see and do in Belize.

Your Belize Cooking Guide: How to Make Conch Fritters
One thought that is sure to stir up your appetite and get your taste buds clamoring for a tasty meal, is that of Belizean Cuisine. Fear not though, as it’s the second week of June and that means it’s time for another “How to” cooking guide featuring one of Belize's most popular appetizers - Conch Fritters. This succulent seafood selection (say that 3 times fast), is made from fresh conch, coated in a custom-made batter and fried to golden perfection. These delicacies can be enjoyed as a first course meal at local, seaside restaurants, as finger food at a party, or as a quick snack when on-the-go. If you're a foodie like us, you'll be sure to enjoy our cooking guide to creating this tasty Conch Fritters:

International Sources

Mexico protests over Oaxaca teachers' leader arrest
Mexican police have arrested a teachers' union leader accused of siphoning off money raised illegally from union members in the southern city of Oaxaca. Ruben Nunez has led a decade-long fight for better pay and working conditions. His supporters say Mr Nunez is innocent, accusing the Mexican government of having political reasons to arrest him. They have set up roadblocks around Oaxaca to demand his release. The union has also called for demonstrations in Mexico City on Tuesday and Friday.

The Atlantic Slave Trade in Two Minutes
sually, when we say “American slavery” or the “American slave trade,” we mean the American colonies or, later, the United States. But as we discussed in Episode 2 of Slate’s History of American Slavery Academy, relative to the entire slave trade, North America was a bit player. From the trade’s beginning in the 16th century to its conclusion in the 19th, slave merchants brought the vast majority of enslaved Africans to two places: the Caribbean and Brazil. Of the more than 10 million enslaved Africans to eventually reach the Western Hemisphere, just 388,747—less than 4 percent of the total—came to North America. This was dwarfed by the 1.3 million brought to Spanish Central America, the 4 million brought to British, French, Dutch, and Danish holdings in the Caribbean, and the 4.8 million brought to Brazil.

Viewpoint: How British let one million Indians die in famine
It has been a difficult summer for India. Drought and a searing heat wave have affected an astonishing 330 million people across the country. But this summer also marks the 150th anniversary of a far more terrible and catastrophic climatic event: the Orissa famine of 1866. Hardly anyone today knows about this famine. It elicits little mention in even the densest tomes on Indian history. There will be few, if any, solemn commemorations. Yet the Orissa famine killed over a million people in eastern India. In modern-day Orissa state, the worst hit region, one out of every three people perished, a mortality rate far more staggering than that caused by the Irish Potato Famine. The Orissa famine also became an important turning point in India's political development, stimulating nationalist discussions on Indian poverty. Faint echoes of these debates still resonate today amid drought-relief efforts.

Videos

June 13, 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

Letter to the Editor: Dust
To the newspaper and the island’s population: Like many tourists, we are among these humans who have allergies rather easily, allergies caused by pollen and by dust. It was more than unpleasant to see that your island has a severe dust problem. It killed our enjoyment during our vacation and it impacted our health from day one. Your island has a health endangering, allergy causing and a displeasing dust problem. Your island’s traffic and dust was damaging, damaging to our health. We had never experienced so much dust, anywhere during a vacation and anywhere during our lives. My partner got red and running eyes plus breathing issues and I had an allergy sneeze with running nose during our entire stay. There is dust everywhere on and near roads. Vehicles are all dusty, golf carts are all dusty, plants and trees on your roads are all dusty. In town everything is dusty, your streets and roads and your shops; there is dust flying around everywhere. You all might be used to your dust clouds (one could hope) but for us tourists this is a health issue and an issue of quality during our vacation time. Every day we got more and more angry about the dust and concerned about our health conditions. Your dust has one single source, one source only.

Wolfe’s Woofer: Nude Portrait
“Hey, Rogelio,” I called. “How have you been doing?” “Oh, hey Mr. Dennis,” Rogelio said, looking up from his easel with an unfinished painting. “I’m still painting as usual.” “Where have you been?” I asked. “I haven’t seen you around in two years.” “I’ve been painting over in San Ignacio,” he said. “I started doing portraits. Pictures of just people.” “That’s a change,” I told him. “If I recall, your strong paintings were beach scenes.” “I still paint them,” he said, “but I just got tired of them. I want to paint people. I’ll tell you what. You sit on that anchor and I’ll do a little portrait of you. I’m pretty good at it.” When he finished the painting he turned it to me and asked, “What do you think?” “Rogelio, that is a great portrait,” I told him. “I’ll buy it from you right now.” Just then a beautiful woman about thirty-five years old walked up and looked at the picture. “My God,” she said. “You are an amazing artist, sir. Will you do a portrait of me?”

Letter to the Editor: Hitchhikers
Dear Editor: We had the pleasure of visiting San Pedro just a week or so ago. We loved the time we spent there with one exception. We had rented a golf cart to get around. We were staying outside of the main area of town and needed a way to get in and around San Pedro. However, several times we were approached by the locals to give them a ride into town. With crime rates rising, we were uncomfortable doing so, and when we refused, they yelled out F*** you on more than one occasion. We think it is unwise that tourists are hustled into transporting strangers. It raises safety concerns not only for the tourists, but the local population asking for the ride. We even had small children ask. We also noticed that there does not appear to be any public transportation available for the locals including the schools and the children that attend them. This causes a lot traffic chaos each and every day in and around town; rather unpleasant to see such badly organized traffic.

Doctor Love: Already Gone and Unsigned
Dear Doctor Love, When we got married my husband and I were very young. We made mutual commitments like no children, traveling often and paying a house off quickly. Now, it is twelve years later and I have moved out on my own. I don’t feel love for him anymore, I don’t enjoy his company or respect his intelligence like I used to. Mostly though, I feel like I was too young to make those agreements from twelve years ago that he reminds me of constantly. I don’t want to hurt him and I find it is hard to talk about it with him but I want my life to change. I am barely thirty years old. I can’t see living like this for the rest of my life although he would be happy to do so. My friends and family are giving me a lot of trouble because they think this happened suddenly and they think I should go back and try again. When I listen to them I almost change my mind. How can I get everyone to accept the fact that it is done? /s/ Already Gone

Misc Belizean Sources

General Meeting for the National Youth Council
Yesterday the Stann Creek Youth Council attend the Annual General Meeting for the National Youth Council in Belmopan. The Council presented their strategic plan and the NYC Constitution was discussed and successfully amended. Thanks to all the youths who attended.

The real 'Naked and Afraid'
And another great save by an active network. These three little guys were apparently from a felled tree (we may never know the real story) and they ended up on a facebook site for sale. Naturally the post was spotted and word traveled fast! We took the Forest Dept to the home to thank the people that rescued the birds from the felled tree and to let them know that it was illegal to buy, sell or keep wildlife and there could be no permit for baby birds. We are delighted to say the people genuinely didn't know this, were not at all upset at the visit, handed them over willingly, and the birds are in good shape and are eating, sleeping and pooping as all good babies should! We are not exactly sure of the species yet, likely yellow loreds and if not, white-fronts. Any bets?

Land use in the new Colonial Order as a contributory factor to Belize being an importation instead of an exporting country
The forestry industry's control of land and its influence in colonial decision making retarded the development of agriculture and the diversification of the economy. In many parts of the Caribbean, large numbers of former slaves, some of whom had engaged in the cultivation and marketing of food crops, became landowners. British Honduras had vast areas of sparsely populated, unused land. Nevertheless, landownership was controlled by a small European monopoly, thwarting the evolution of a Creole landowning class from the former slaves. Rather than the former slaves, it was the Garifuna, Maya, and Mestizos who pioneered agriculture in nineteenth-century British Honduras. These groups either rented land or lived as squatters. However, the domination of the land by forestry interests continued to stifle agriculture and kept much of the population dependent on imported foods.

The Reporter

Orange Walk and Cayo students are top PSE performers
Kenly Young of St. Andrew’s Anglican Primary School in San Ignacio and Angelina Urbina of La Inmaculada RC Primary in Orange Walk town tied as the top performers in the 2016 Primary School Examination (PSE). They each received 391 points of a possible total of 400. This year, the top ten students tied also for fourth and tenth positions. This year, 7,235 standard six students sat the exams, out of 7,392, including 27 private candidates that registered. The results show that 48 percent of the students received grade C or higher (57.2 to 57.8 percent) in English, and 35 percent had the a mean score of 50.6 percent in math. The remainder of students received less impressive scores. Students did better in social studies and science, with a higher percentage scoring within the A and B categories.

CCJ rules against gay activist
Maurice Tomlinson, a Jamaican homosexual who took the Belize and Trinidadian Governments to court, claiming our immigration laws prohibit homosexuals from entering our countries, has lost that argument in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Tomlinson had sought the CCJ to order the countries to amend our immigration to remove homosexuals from any class of prohibited immigrants. Tomlinson also claimed that Belize and Trinidad were in breach of our obligations under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas because the laws contained provisions that discriminated against homosexuals. The gay activist argued that the existence of these laws prejudiced him from his right to free movement, Belize and Trinidad acknowledged that Tomlinson has a right of entry, under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. Our countries also pointed out that Tomlinson has entered both territories in the past without hassle, and that the existence of the legislation has not caused him to suffer any prejudice.

Videos

June 12, 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

Customs delaying installation EKG machine at the Polyclinic
During the month of March 2016, BWG, The Phoenix and Canary Cove raised $8,920 to purchase the EKG machine for the Polyclinic; however, the polyclinic is still awaiting their machine. Owen Vellos, administrator at the polyclinic, confirmed that the clinic has not received it, and that it is still in Belize City waiting to be cleared from the Customs Department. Co-owner of BWG, Kelly McDermott Kanabar is trying to determine where the hold is up. “We ordered and paid for the machine in April. It arrived in Belize City in early May, and the Ministry of Health was to make arrangements to get the machine installed in San Pedro,” said Kanabar. BWG mentioned that the Customs Department has been reluctant to clear the machine because it is unsure whether or not they should charge duty. Considering that the machine is for medical purposes, and a donation to the polyclinic, duty should not be charged. The San Pedro Sun made a phone call to the Belize Customs and Excise Department, where Victor Tillet stated that the head of the customs department does not have any information in regards to the machine. “I wouldn’t know about that. They (BWG) will need to notify their shipping agents, as well as their customs brokers about their situation,” said Tillet.

No island Government School for the new school year starting in September 2016
It’s been two years since Area Representative for Belize Rural South (BRS) Honorable Manuel Heredia Jr., promised the opening of a government school. There have been no signs of construction, and it seems likely that San Pedro will not have a government school this fall, despite the on-going requests by many island residents. There are a total of three grant-aided, three private schools, and no established government school on Ambergris Caye. Many parents have spoken out about limited space, congested classrooms, and at worst, costly school fees. At the start of a new school year, many parents scramble to find a spot for their child at an affordable rate. The obvious answer, they believe, is to build another school to alleviate the congestion in classrooms and allow opportunities for students who cannot afford to go to private or grant-aided schools. The San Pedro Roman Catholic School (SPRCS) is the largest school in San Pedro, with close to 900 students. Principal at SPRCS, Roxanne Kay, understands the problem that San Pedro schools have when it comes to space. “One of the problems we have here at RC is that we lack space and we don’t see how we could add on more classrooms. My concern ties along to what the public is saying. If we don’t have where to put students, where will the students go? Other schools are private and are more expensive, making it difficult for low-income parents to enroll their children, and a government school could alleviate that problem,” said Principal Kay.

All set for Belize to host the CODICADER games
The Central American countries of Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama will be participating in the 2016 Central American Council of Sports & Recreation (CODICADER) games. For the first time ever, Belize is hosting the under-13 annual sporting tournament for primary school level athletes. Belize will host four (out of seven) following sporting disciplines: basketball, soccer, table tennis and volleyball. The games are set to start on Wednesday, July 6th and will run through Monday, July 11th, with competitions being hosted across the country in Orange Walk, Belmopan, San Ignacio, and Belize City. The opening ceremony will be held at the Marion Jones Sports Complex on Thursday, July 7th at 4PM. Orange Walk Town will host the official closing ceremony on Sunday, July 10th.

Misc Belizean Sources

Good News Snippets with a "milk face" and wild cat picture
Amazing work....consider supporting Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic, caring for our injured Belizean creatures is their #1 priority and we are very fortunate to have them. Chiquibul the orphaned jaguar cub who had been rescued from drowning by FCD rangers and received by BWRC last week Monday, responded well to treatment, recovered and was transferred to the best little zoo, The Belize Zoo - TBZ after 12 days of care at BWRC. While BWRC is a non-public facility providing medical care and rehabilitation for wildlife, which generally prescribes complete exclusion of unnecessary human interaction (so we could not fulfill countless peoples wishes to see the cub in our care), TBZ is the prime institution in Belize to see and learn about native wildlife.

Caye Caulker Bartender Training June 29th 2016
Caye Caulker bartender training by Belize Mixology starts on June 29th 2016 at Roses Grill and Bar. Cost: $350 Bz. Training: Advanced Bartending starts July 2nd to July 6th (Sunday off) Cost $450 per person. Discount offer: 10 % discount is being offered for the first ten people to sign up and pay. 15% discount available for groups of 3-5.

Sacred Heart 2016 PTA Expo
The Sacred Heart PTA is doing their 2nd Fair and Expo next Saturday at Macal River Park. They'll have it all. Loads of informational booths about everything: from Beltraide to Social Security, from Oceana to Smart. Miss Deb's will be there too with the best burgers around.

New Life Gets New Classroom
The ROWKIDS are back, and they're building a new classroom for the New Life primary school. The Rotaract Club of San Ignacio helped them out. Thanks, ROWKIDS and Rotaract! "Today a few of our Rotaract Club of San Ignacio members went out to New Life Government School in Billy White Village, Cayo District to assist ROW kids build a new classroom for the school"

BELIZEAN RADIO & WIL JOHNSON OF RADIO BELIZEMIX!
The legendary Belizean radio broadcaster and audio engineer, Wil Johnson, has taken his craft of radio broadcasting in a serious way. From the youthful age of 17 years old, Johnson began his successful radio broadcasting work in Belize. He worked with KREM Radio, the Belize Corporation of Broadcasting (BCB), and LOVE FM for five years, where he gave his talents as a broadcaster and audio engineer. Wil is also the owner and proprietor of the first Belizean internet radio called Radio Belize Mix that has spanned for some five years now as a very successful business in the Los Angeles Belizean Community. His radio station reaches millions of audiences around the world as well as thousands of Belizean listeners across the Belizean diaspora promoting Belize and Belizean music. A diaspora Belizean himself, Johnson is a hard working Belizean with a passion for excellence, and one of the contributors to the community development in the Los Angeles Belizean Community.

MARK HYDE: A LEGENDARY BELIZEAN DJ AND SOUND ENGINEER FOR ALL TIMES!
We here at Belizean Legends want to send a big shout out and thanks to the legendary Belizean DJ and sound engineer, Mark Hyde of M.H. Sounds for volunteering his time to provide the sound for the BREDAA Town Meeting on Sunday June 12, 2016 at the Holy Name of Jesus School in Los Angeles. Mark Hyde was a a long time Belize-Caribbean Pulse radio engineer for the radio show on KPFK Los Angeles, that was a BREDAA ten-year Belizean community program from 1986 to 1996. A great sense of gratitude is owed to this Belizean brother and his work that he has contributed tirelessly to serve the Belizean people at home and abroad.

Amandala

Homosexuals, MSM, exhibit “unusually high rate of HIV infection”
Belize saw HIV-related deaths peak in 2015 at 110, with young productive males being the hardest hit by the disease. Behind those numbers is a phenomenon that has seemingly been driving the HIV epidemic in Belize, with the highest concentration of cases being in the Belize District area. That is evidenced by an unusually high rate of HIV infection in men who have sex with men (MSM)—homosexuals and bisexuals—and a good portion of those men are also having sex with women, while keeping their homosexual relations “on the down low.” Furthermore, some of those men were forced into their first encounter—and some continue to be forced even as adults. In fact, a comprehensive report to look at the prevalence of HIV among at-risk groups in Belize found that “…the prevalence of HIV found in MSM in Belize was the highest reported after the Multicenter Study in Central America (EMC) in the Central American region.” Clandestine sexual relations frequently occur without the use of protection, and sometimes under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Guats raze over 6 square miles of Chiquibul
Even with reports that Guatemala has increased its military presence around its border with Belize, Guatemalans continue to venture onto Belizean territory, where they not only enter illegally to slash and burn forests for farming, but they also continue to occupy land inside the Chiquibul, on the Belize side of the border. Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) confirmed to us earlier this week that an illegal dwelling we observed on Sunday via an online satellite image “is a fresh clearing, now being addressed by joint patrol.” What FCD’s May 2016 assessment has revealed is that more than 1,600 hectares of the Chiquibul Forest, which is under protected status, has been razed for farming or cattle ranching by Guatemalans. That area converts to approximately 6.2 square miles of Belizean territory. The FCD identified 94 polygons illegally cleared by the Guatemalans. They encroach on Belizean territory each year, where they slash large portions of Belize’s forest, burn it and then plant at the opportune time. The fact that they come back every year suggests that they also get to harvest those crops.

“Maca” Lamb dead at 65
“Maca” Lamb, as Albert Alexander Lamb was known to his many friends, died sometime today and was laid to rest at Eternal Garden, his brother Roy Lamb confirmed late this evening to Amandala. Roy said his brother’s body was discovered by the person from whom he was renting his home in Ladyville. Maca was in his bed. Roy said that the body was already decomposing due to the heat, and that a post-mortem exam had to be performed immediately, before he was laid to rest. According to Roy, the family does not suspect any foul play and the post-mortem result showed that Maca died from a heart condition. He was 65. Maca was a “hard follower” of the Penta Lakers basketball team. He was Lakers to the bone.

Crooked Tree man charged with murder in Florida
A family member of Elvis Tillett, 57, of Crooked Tree, Belize District, now living in Florida, told Amandala this evening that the family scarcely knows anything about Tillett’s relationship with his son-in-law, Marquise Ephron, 29, for whose murder Tillett has been charged by police in Ponciana, Florida. Apparently, when Tillett left Belize about 40 years ago, they lost contact with him, even though he reportedly visited Belize about five years ago, and the family drifted apart, so they do not know what the deadly problems were between Tillett and his son-in-law, Ephron. According to the online version of the Orlando Sentinel, dated June 9, 2016, Elvis Tillett, now living on Mariana Way, Ponciana, Florida, USA, has been charged with murder after he shot and killed his son-in-law, Marquise Ephron, 29, the father of his two grandchildren.

Three Belizeans in Texas road accident
Well-known Corozaleno, Sostenes Tamay, 46, of Halls Layout, Corozal Town, was killed in a road traffic collision at about 8:30 this morning on Highway 246 in Harris County, Houston ,Texas, USA. Tamay and two friends had travelled to Houston to buy a vehicle, and vehicle parts. They had just pulled out of a vehicle junkyard onto Highway 246 when an F150 Ford pickup that was reportedly travelling too fast slammed into the left side of the SUV, behind the driver, where Tamay was seated, and as a result, he suffered massive head and body injuries and died almost immediately on the scene. His family is devastated, and is grappling with the sudden loss. In addition, they must now find $10,000 to bring Tamay’s body from Texas to Corozal to bury him.

Sedi, do you ever think before you talk?
Seven years ago, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Sedi Elrington, told the world that the Belize-Guatemala border was “artificial.” If that was not already damning, on Tuesday during a press conference with the media in Belmopan, he added further insult to the intellect and emotions of many Belizean people. Firstly, he boasted that while the PUP were on their trip on the Sarstoon, a Guatemalan drone flew overhead. He proudly told Amandala, “they did not see the drone, but the drone was on top photographing every move they made.” Secondly, though the Guatemalans have been exercising control over the Sarstoon River to the extent that we must now “ask permission” before visiting our country’s southern boundary, Elrington denied that our territory has been annexed. Belize’s Foreign Minister incredulously said, “you can’t annex what you claim to own.”

Smart 13 & Under Mundialito Week 8 and All Star weekend results
Playoffs are near, and the Smart 13 & Under Mundialito had a “fully loaded” weekend of games, as regularly scheduled Week 8 games were played on Saturday, and on Sunday there were the All Star Game and the traditional exhibition featuring the officials vs coaches. In game 1 on Saturday, June 4, Hattieville Riverside boys bombed Face of Belize, 4-1, with 2 goals from Ruben Darius and 1 apiece from Jose Almendarez and Jaheed Baptist. Kareem Santos got the only goal for Face of Belize. Game 2 was a 0-0 draw between last season’s finalists, Young Warriors and City Boys; and game 3 also saw Brown Bombers and Carlston FC playing to a 0-0 draw. In game 4, Jahren Rivers scored the only goal, to give Collet Strikers the 1-nil win over Reality Youths. And in game 5, D’Jon Canelo’s goal gave Ladyville Jaguars the 1-0 victory over Heights FC.

Simeon Lopez Kids, Female and Youth Cup 2016 Finals
The Belmopan Football Association (BFA) came close to completing the Finals of the Simeon Lopez Kids U-13, Female U-17 and Youth U-15 Cup 2016 on Sunday, June 5, at the Governor General Football Park. All, but 1 of the scheduled games were completed. Third place games In the Female U-17 third place game, which got under way at 9:00 a.m., Central Site Bandits and Las Flores Latin Girls ended 0-0 in regulation, and in the penalty shootout, Central Site Bandits won, 2-1, to take third place. Cindy Chen and Marie Arnold converted for Central Site, while Diana Aparicio tallied for Las Flores. Next was the Kids U-13 third place match, and again it was deadlocked in regulation, this time 1-1, with Angel Milian (22’) putting Police Cadets in front, while Cristian Membreno (41’) equalized for Piccini Rising Stars. In the ensuing penalty shootout, Piccini Rising Stars prevailed, 4-1, with goals from Jaheim Reynolds, Cristian Membreno, Antwone Lewis and Mchichal Duane; while only Robert Thomas converted for Police Cadets.

Cricket Corner: Scorers are a part of the games too.
Hello, cricket fans and families! Under the auspices of the Belize National Cricket Association, the Harrison Parks 2016 Cricket Competition continues this weekend with the starting of the playoff games. The teams that reached the playoff spots are: In Zone One – Excellence in first place; Easy Does It at second; and Western Eagles at third. In Zone Two – Berlan in first place; Wicked 11 at second; and Sunrise at third. These teams (2nd and 3rd place) will play against each other in a best-of-three series. Thanks to our sponsors, Belikin and Smart. This weekend we will see Western Eagles taking on Wicked 11 at Flowers Bank; and Sunrise goes to Lemonal against Easy Does It. The two first place teams wait on the winners of these teams for their challenge.

Si vis pacem, para bellum
Two surprising things occurred within the last week. The first was on Friday morning when a boatload of Opposition People’s United Party (PUP) parliamentarians, constituency chairmen, and party officials visited the Sarstoon River, entered it and circled the Sarstoon Island. Not a member of the Guatemalan armed forces appeared. The second surprising incident took place earlier this week when a Belize Cabinet Minister, Hon. Gaspar Vega, addressed a meeting of the Association of Caribbean States in Havana, Cuba, and spoke in a manner which most Belizeans wish that Belize had been speaking a long time ago. Earlier last week in fact, another surprising thing had happened. The British had been caught, on the evidence of their own archives, having colluded with the Guatemalan army and having assisted them in the early 1980 in fighting leftist insurgents. In the wake of these surprising events, to hear the Belize Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Wilfred Elrington, speak in the same manner of appeasement and apology for Guatemalan aggression and misdeeds at a Tuesday press conference in Belmopan, was very disappointing. The Guatemalans, meanwhile, were quick to declare that the Friday morning détente was a one-off action, or lack thereof, on their part. In other words, they intended to resume their belligerence at the Sarstoon based on their claiming the whole of the river, in defiance of the 1859 Treaty.

From the Publisher
The Creole culture in Belize City when I was growing up was heavily influenced by alcohol. I come from families which included many seafaring males, and it was felt that rum helped to warm one up when one was wet and cold on the sea. Rum was, therefore, not only legal: it was considered practically medicinal. One of the great rites of passage for young Belizean males was their first drunken spree, and it usually occurred at Christmas time when a youth would be visiting from house to house with his friends and contemporaries. It was an important aspect of growing up in Belize for a young man to learn how to drink liquor and control himself. You were supposed to learn how to enjoy yourself as much as you could without making a fool of yourself or becoming a major bother to other people. When I was 7 years old our family moved from Church Street to West Canal Street, near its corner with Regent Street West, near Bolton Bridge. Across Bolton Bridge, at the corner of Regent Street West and East Canal, was a white, two-storey wooden building with pink (or red) window blinds. This was one of the offices owned by the man Ben Stuart, a very prominent mahogany contractor. His white Jaguar automobile was often parked in front of the building, I remember that, and the trucks that hauled mahogany (they called them “camions”) were busy in the street around that building.

Santi writes
X, Read your article in Tuesday’s Amandala. FYI – my father was one of the promoters who brought Muhammad Ali to Belize. I have enclosed a copy of a framed photo I keep at home. There are many in the photo you will recognize. Front row right: Net Vasquez and Dean Lindo. Behind Dean Lindo is my father’s chauffeur for decades, Joe Carillo. I think right row is the Hunter boys. I am up front left with my housekeeper. Santino Castillo

Ministry Of Health: The Miracle Drug For Diabetic Ulcers In Cuba!
Dear Editor, Some years ago I read an article in the Amandala of the experimental Cuban drug HEBERPROT P that was being tested in Europe and was revealing excellent results. Today, the drug has been tested in over twenty-four countries and because of the success in treating diabetic ulcers grade 4 and 5, the drug has been legalized in those countries. In the USA, although it has been proven successful in many states, it is still not being approved, to the dismay of thousands of diabetic patients suffering from diabetic ulcers, which many times lead to amputations. I am appealing to the Ministry of Health to please pursue information on the drug Heberprot P so that we can “test” it in Belize and reap the benefits of this miracle drug.

Commencement or culminating exercises?
Dear Mr. Editor: From the time of my first graduation which was many, many years ago, I had always wondered as to why graduation ceremonies were referred to as “commencement” exercises. I later understood that graduation ceremonies are referred to as “commencement” exercises due to the fact that it is preparing students for a “new beginning.” It offers the perception that it is only the start of all things great and new. It is designed to give students the unalterable hope that it is at this point where their lives will just begin – wherein a copious amount of opportunities will flood their way and where many doors will be open and countless paths will be there to explore and trod. This, however, while it is an innocent idea that forms the precepts of something good, is but a mere illusion to the masses of graduates except for a privileged few. At the end of these “commencement” exercises, there are indeed doors that are swung wide open and paths that are paved with good intentions.

Of Guatemala and Belize
Much has been written on the Belize-Guatemala territorial dispute. We have received a 2001 legal opinion from some very highly regarded lawyers that the Guatemalan claim of ownership to all or part of Belize would be considered untenable on strictly legal grounds if taken to the ICJ. The Governments of both countries have signed an agreement of commitment to do just that. Recently even the Opposition PUP has advocated this as the best option for the resolution of this dispute. Despite the legal opinion of the experts I believe this course of action if incorrectly done could more than likely result in the loss to Guatemala of up to some 53% of our territory, i.e. from Sibun to the Sarstoon River over which Guatemala has already began to exercise its sovereignty. My reason for this opinion is that the Guatemalan claim is based on very convoluted historical and somewhat controversial legal issues which may very well include duplicity on the part of the British and hypocrisy on the part of the Americans that may likely result in a decision favorable to Guatemala whose position is, in my opinion, most closely aligned with the profit-making agendas of the global power brokers who are more than capable of dictating what decision the judges should make.

Internationalizing The Struggle For Belize Against Guatemalan Military Aggression!
In the footsteps of all the Belizean activists who came before us, and whose footsteps we Belizeans in resistance against imperialism walk in, it is most important that we remember the Mayan Belizean activist Julian Cho; the Belizean Patriot, Minister Philip Goldson; the writer of the Belizean national anthem, Colonel Samuel Haynes; the leaders of the resistance against the Anglo Guatemalan claim of 1981 called the Heads of Agreement, Odinga Lumumba and Maria Socorro Bobadilla; and today in the spirit of the Belizean activist against the Guatemalan military aggression in the South of Belize, Wil Maheia. It is their spirit that urged me on as a member of the grassroots diaspora Belizean resistance organization, BREDAA, to have possessed the will on Sunday May 29, 2016 at the symposium against the injustices and oppression of indigenous and marginalized peoples around the world that was organized by the 5th. Annual Garifuna International & Indigenous Film Festival in Venice, California, to speak for Belize and the people of Belize against the naked aggression inflicted by the Guatemalan military oligarchy that have invaded and annexed the southern Belizean bordering river of the Sarstoon, and the Belizean land of the Sarstoon Island.

Veteran football referee Rudy Vasquez on visit from California
On a brief visit to the Jewel after being away for some 33 years is former well known Belize City football referee, Rudy Vasquez, who at 70 years is still an active, registered referee in San Bernadino, California, where he now resides. He says his officiating is now restricted to games below the U-19 level. Rudy was also once the Chairman of the Belize City Football Association back in the latter 1970’s, and, along with Vice-Chairman, friend and fellow referee, Daniel Edmonds, claimed the distinction of leaving some $10,000.00 in the association’s “kitty” at the end of their 1979 term, an unprecedented achievement in those days. Rudy said that he keeps in touch with Danny, who presently resides in Jamaica but has been ailing for some time. Rudy was a referee and a football executive during the exciting football decade of the 70’s in Belize City, and his visit to the Zinc Fence was a pleasant reconnection of sorts with Amandala publisher, Evan X Hyde, yours truly from the sports desk, and editor Russell Vellos, who were all intimately involved with football at that time.

It’s risky to go to the ICJ, says Lindsay Belisle, former Boundary Commissioner
Lindsay Belisle, a former Boundary Commissioner who is also an international surveyor, has added his voice to the national discussion involving the Belize/Guatemala territorial dispute, and the question of whether or not Belize should go to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a final resolution of the territorial claim. Belisle has made several media appearances; the last one was on Thursday, June 2, when he was a guest on KREM Radio and TV’s Wake Up Belize Morning Vibes show (WUB). Belisle served as Boundary and Water Commissioner with Mexico and was advisor to the Belize Government on the Belize/Guatemala boundary team from 1990 to 2008, which covers the period of time when the Organization of American States (OAS) came up with the Confidence-Building Measures and the Adjacency Zone, based on the existing boundary markers. At that time, Efrain Orellano was Guatemalan Advisor. Amandala asked Belisle what he would advise the Belize Government in the wake of Guatemala’s apparent annexation of the Sarstoon River.

Belize prepares for average hurricane season and possibly, La Niña
Today, the National Meteorology Service held its National Climate Outlook Forum with a focus on the rainy season and by extension, the Atlantic Hurricane season. Catherine Cumberbatch, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Service, in addressing those in attendance at the forum, said, “This is a forum where we have stakeholders’ consultation about the climate service and seasonal outlook products that we produce. Specifically, the products that we are talking about for this forum is the seasonal rainfall outlook and temperature outlook for the wet season, which runs from June to November, and what are the projections for drought.” Though this year’s hurricane season is projected to be normal, Cumberbatch told Amandala that such an overall outlook provides no indication of whether or not Belize could be hit by a major storm this season.

The Reporter

Agricultural officer to receive
Gary Ramirez, director of Research and Development in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Environment and Sustainable Development, will take part in a workshop on International Cooperation and Development in Taiwan this month. The training comes through an invitation from the Taiwanese government and will run from June 22nd to July 5th. Ramirez’s duties include consulting with the Chief Agriculture Officer and Central Farm Station Manager, coordinating and submitting projects, assisting in the design, revision and establishment of crop trial plots, and planning promotional and public education activities for major agricultural events, etc.

Watchman gunned down in Mahogany Heights
Lyndon Murrillo, 51, a father of five of Mahogany Heights was shot dead as he rode home Friday night. The watchman had just alighted a bus and was making his way home just before 9:00 p.m., when someone shot him twice from behind. He died on the spot. Murrillo had borrowed the bicycle from his son to reach home because that day he had been suffering from pain in his legs. Regional Commander for Rural Eastern Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Edward Broaster told the media that one of the bullets struck Murillo in the foot and the other went through his back and exited the right side of his chest. He said police have not established a motive. Murrillo’s family have expressed shock that someone wanted him dead and believe his killing was a case of mistaken identity.

Breaking Belize News

Company selling real estate in Belize accused of scamming millions
A real estate company, DreamScapes Belize, operated by several foreigners with questionable backgrounds has come under scrutiny and been slapped with several lawsuits after being accused of scamming buyers out of millions of dollars in a case of real estate fraud. DreamScapes has also been linked to two firms named in the “Panama Papers” leak from the Mossack-Fonseca firm several months ago. DreamScapes allegedly collected over US $10 million from American and Canadian investors who wanted to buy dream homes in Belize. DreamScapes advertised lots for up to US $30,000 and promised model homes, access roads, a potable water supply, waste treatment facility, a school, police and fire stations, an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse and a marina facility with dockage, none of which exist.

Voting continues in Village Council elections
oting for village councils across the country continues tomorrow after the first set of representatives were selected on June 5th. The list of villages in each district where voting will take place tomorrow is as follows: Corozal District: 1. San Roman 2. Santa Clara 3. Louiseville 4. Chan Chen 5. San Antonio. Orange Walk District: 1. Yo Creek 2. Carmelita 3. San José 4 San Luis. Belize District: 1. Burrell Boom 2. La Democracia 3. Freetown Sibun 4. Gracie Rock 5. St. George’s Caye 6. Mahogany Heights.

Blogs

Flying From one Island to Another
For many travelers seeing more than one country at a time on vacation is on their travel itinerary. Today’s guest post by Kendall Beymer takes you on a fun short trip from Belize to Roatan. It is a fast easy flight that takes 1 hour, shorter than the weekly workday commute for many. Enjoy :) For a guy living in Belize you’d think getting away to another tropical island wouldn’t be top on the ole “to do” list…and you’d be right. Never the less I recently saddled up my ponies for a trip to Roatan! The island of magical beauty just a stones throw away. Situated just a bit off the coast of Honduras I quickly realized that saddling my pony had been a utter waste of time and found myself in a scramble looking for a much better way to travel there. This quickly became a no brainier for me; I love my pony and while he could no doubt swim the distance it would likely take much longer than the one hour flight from Phillip S.W. Goldson International Airport in Belize City to Juan Manual Galvez International airport on Roatan. The journey was lovely! It was only a couple pilots, three guys behind me and a blonde chick across the isle. I thought I’d take a nap myself but was continuously interrupted by the beauty. We flew past Turneffe, Lighthouse Reef, and the outer Atolls. Such amazing scenery and so easily view-able on from the windows – pretty much every seat is a window seat AND and isle seat!! In fact – there aren’t ANY middle seats. That’s love.

120+ Day of Sun: Right on Time, The Clouds Start in Belize
June 1st is the official start of the Hurricane Season. We tend to see more storminess towards the end of the season – September and October. But June thru August can bring clouds and after 120 days of SUN SUN SUN… I know what you are thinking…OH THE HUMANITY…we started to see some clouds and even some…sprinkles. Mainly in the night or the early morning but ACTUAL water is coming out of the sky. Alex, Bonnie, Colin done, now Danielle, Earl (that’s a good one!), Fiona, Gaston, Hermine, Ian, Julia, Karl, Lisa, Matthew, Nicole, Otto, Paula, Richard, Shary, Tobias, Virginie and Walter. Did you know that if we go thru all 21 names – additional names will be used from the Greek alphabet…Alpha, Beta, etc. The 2005 hurricane season holds the record for the most named storms. It was the most active and destructive season ever, spawning 27 tropical storms including 15 hurricanes and such catastrophic storms as Katrina, Rita and Wilma… It went thru Zeta, the 6th letter of the Green alphabet. Yikes. Here are my pictures and some other gorgeous ones from Instagram over the last few weeks…sun transitioning to clouds and just some other ones that I love.

Visit Belize’s Tobacco Caye
A tiny island measuring just 5 acres in size and easily traversable on foot in 10 minutes or less, the lovely Tobacco Caye off the coast of southeastern Belize is one of the most beautiful spots in the country. The first European settlers in the area used the tiny island for growing tobacco, giving the name to what is today a picture postcard gem of a tropical island that has no roads, cars, or vehicular traffic. Whether you’re interested in recreating your favorite shipwreck fantasy on a deserted island or simply want to lounge in a hammock underneath swaying palm trees, Tobacco Caye is a delight. Tobacco Caye is especially popular with visitors due to the crystal clear waters, an ideal spot for scuba diving. Just 300 feet offshore is a deep dropoff, perfect for divers who want to explore the rich abundance of marine life in the Belize Barrier Reef. Located within the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, a division of the greater Belize Barrier Reef, Tobacco Caye is approximately a 30-minute boat trip offshore from Dangriga in southeastern Belize.

International Sources

Find True Paradise at Turneffe Flats in Belize
My wife and I just returned from the most fantastic vacation. We’re both avid scuba divers and have dreamed of one day enjoying some Caribbean Diving. We checked out the various dive locations and had finally selected Belize as our destination. We chatted with a few of our friends who also dive and who had stayed at various Belize Resorts. They recommended that we stay at Turneffe Flats on the Turneffe Atoll. We took their advice and are so glad we did. We signed up for one of their combination Fishing & Diving packages. From day one, we knew that we had made the best choice of resort. They’ve everything we could have desired to do, diving, snorkeling, fly fishing, and much more. Their facilities and staff were first class. Our room had a spectacular view that looked out over the water. It had been like we’d gone to paradise. We actually didn’t wish to come home. We started off with our dive portion of our package. Everywhere we went was spectacular but I did have a few favorite dive spots. I truly enjoyed the day trip to The Blue Hole, Half Moon Caye, and Long Caye. For those divers out there, you’ll know that The Blue Hole is where where Jacques Cousteau visited a lot in the early 70’s and it has become Belize’s most famous dive site. I now know why; it had been everything I’d seen and wished for. The clarity of the water is beyond compare. Turneffe Flats can rent you the basic equipment but you’ll want to remember to bring your personal mask, fins, snorkel etc. There is a list of what you’ll need online: Very Important: Don’t forget to bring your certification card.

Marine reservists take over crisis response mission in Central America
About 300 Marine reservists are headed for Central America this week where they’ll train local troops struggling against gang violence and drug cartels and stand ready to help in the event of a natural disaster. Members of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force—Southern Command will set up headquarters for the six-month deployment at the Soto Cano air base in Honduras. From there, they’ll dispatch small advisory teams of grunts and engineers throughout the region. The Marines come from 42 units across 20 states, marking the first time Marine Corps Forces Reserves will take the lead of the annual rotation.

Developers promised paradise but delivered a disaster
The promotional videos paint a portrait of an exotic hideaway, nestled amid enchanting waterfalls and serene seaside vistas, bathed in amber sunsets and dotted with model homes with names like Sandpiper and Macaw. Retirees and investors saw them and were charmed. But nearly a decade after American and Canadians began buying into Dreamscapes of Belize, a planned residential community in Central America’s only English-speaking country, there is no electricity, no marina, no 18-hole golf course. Also, no homes. There are, instead, plenty of disappointed and bewildered customers, some of whom claim in litigation that they were duped into buying dreary, landlocked scrub land by slick YouTube animations, Google ads and an ambiguous sales contract. Mixed up in the dispute are a pair of offshore companies set up by Mossack Fonseca, the Panamanian law firm at the center of the Panama Papers scandal, and a Florida-based skin-care company that is now defunct. It’s not exactly clear what role the offshores played in the drama, although one of them — registered in the Bahamas — was a holding company for the Belize properties, according to a Mossack Fonseca file. More could come out in pending litigation.

Videos

June 11, 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

Congratulations to the Chunox Boys Team from Coroza
They are the National Primary School Football Champions 2016!!! The San Pedro RC School Boys Team fell to the Chunox Boys Team 1-0 in the final game, and thus are the 2016 Sub-Champions.

PSE results are in
Topping the island SPRCS' class are Catherine Canul and Rachel Alamilla! CONGRATULATIONS girls!!!

Land Rover Car Show – a classic blast from the past
Who doesn’t like classic cars? I know I do. The idea of driving a good old sturdy machine would be a privilege. Unfortunately, nowadays you don’t really get the chance to see an oldie cruising around. In Belize, Land Rovers are a legendary highlight of all- terrain vehicles, but never did I think I would end up at a car show starring all these old beauties! It all began with an invitation to attend the first ever ‘Land Rover Car Show’ in the country, and what a better place to host it than Maracas Bar and Grill in Orange Walk Town. Organizers of the event, Land Rover enthusiasts Matt Brislawn (A.K.A Mateo), and Sharon Svec warmly welcomed me, and we breathlessly watched as different Rovers pulled in to the designated parking area. I have always wanted to climb inside one of them, and to my delight that day had come. I got the chance to experience the interiors of the classic vehicles, and it was as I dreamed it would be. While giving me a tour of a 1972 Rover, Mateo explained to me that the late Right Honourable George Cadle Price, Father of Belize’s Independence, was a big fan of Land Rovers.

GOB to implement environmental project to protect Key Biodiversity Areas
Over the next five years the Government of Belize, with assistance from the World Bank, will be implementing a project called ‘Management and Protection of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) in Belize.’ The funding for the project will be facilitated by the Global Environmental Facility and will comprise of technical components covering issues from supporting forest protection and its sustainable management, to institutional strengthening, to the enhancement of environmental regulation enforcement. On Wednesday, June 8th, the management of the KBA project hosted a consultation session to discuss the current Environmental Clearance Process (ECP) or the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Belize at the Coastal Zone Management Authority Institute Training Room in Belize City. Hosting the discussion was Imanol Martin, head of the environmental firm Limia and Martin based in Spain. Martin explained how the project will work under the auspices of the Department of Environment (DOE), with aims of updating and modernizing the actual ECP in order to meet international standards. Another discussion focused on the approval of EIAs before going through the process at DOE. It was mentioned that on given occasions, this is where confusion arises, and in the end, can negatively affect both the developer and environment. According to Martin, the consultation session was a good opportunity to find out what is indeed the real issue hampering the execution of the ECP. n the coming months, there will be follow -ups to visit the plan of the project and keep steering it in the right direction.

SPRCS Boys are doing quite well in the Primary School Football National Championships!!
They are headed to their final game against Chunox, Corozal. They won their semi-final game 2-0 against Stann Creek. Ian Pou Jr. and Jareth Rubio both scored 1 goal apiece.

An Enchanted Night at SPHS Prom 2016
Under the theme ‘An Enchanted Night,’ the senior students of the 2016 class of San Pedro High School (SPHS) held their annual Prom Night on Thursday, June 9th at the beautifully decorated El Patio Restaurant and Lounge. The glitz and glamour of the annual celebration drew a large crowd of onlookers near the venue, hoping for a glimpse of the elegant graduates and their dates. A section of Barrier Reef Drive was closed off to traffic, giving ample space for glamorous arrivals and the crowd of onlookers.

“To the ICJ or not?” BNTU holds forum
As part of their educational campaign “Stand for Belize,” the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) has been holding a series of informative sessions across the country on taking the Belize-Guatemala Territorial Dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to settle. The educational presentations were held on May 18th and Saturday, June 4th. The first session was held in San Pedro Town at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium, where different perspectives were presented to determine whether or not the unfounded Guatemalan claim should indeed be taken to the ICJ for a definitive resolution. Presenters at the forum included Ambassador of Trade at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Stuart Leslie who has served as Belize’s Permanent Representative at United Nations (UN) from 2000 to 2005, Robert “Bobby” Lopez from the Belize Progressive Party (BPP), and representatives of the Vision Inspired by the People Party (VIP) among other invited guests. The presenters were amazed to find out that the majority of the attendees had been born after 1981.

SPHS students return from Exchange Program
Students from the San Pedro High School’s (SPHS) Drama Club: Marthalicia Vasquez, Jubilee Garcia, and Bessy Gongora, returned from their one-week exchange program in Los Angeles, California, USA on Sunday, June 5th. With help from coordinators Debbie and Larry Heimgartner, the group was rehearsing weekly to perfect their 30-minute dramatic skit that was performed at the Los Angeles Harbor College. The performance contained social issues that deal with depression, divorce, and suicide. Alongside exchange students from London and Mexico, the girls had an unforgettable experience at the college. According to the three SPHS students, their stay in Los Angeles was short but worthwhile. After arriving and settling, the girls introduced themselves to their classmates and socialized with students from different cultural backgrounds throughout the week. The highlight of their visit was the chance they had to perform their skit with other exchange students. The drama club was more than delighted to put on a good performance, and represent Belize in a positive manner. “When it was time for us to perform, all of the audience was left surprised at how we brought this as our story. It was our time to let the world know that teenagers are making a change,” said Vasquez.

Caye Caulker Village Council Elections scheduled for June 19th
It has been three years since the residents of Caye Caulker elected their last Village Council, and now nominations and elections are quickly approaching once again. On Sunday, June 19th, residents of Caye Caulker will be going to the polls at Caye Caulker Roman Catholic School to elect their new village council, and chairperson. Tracie Young, Enelda Rosado, and Ralph Humes are the three official candidates running for chairperson, hoping to make Caye Caulker a better place. The community is encouraged to exercise their right to vote, and make wise decisions when casting their ballot. The San Pedro Sun contacted the three candidates, who shared their thoughts prior to the election: Enelda Rosado, Tracie Young, and Ralph Humes.

Ambergris Today

An Enchanted Night at San Pedro High Prom
It was an evening to remember for the graduating class of San Pedro High School 2016 as the class celebrated its Prom on Thursday, June 9, 2016, at El Patio Restaurant in downtown San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. Prom is huge in San Pedro - streets are blocked, traffic is re-routed and hundreds of spectators line the side of the streets to witness the glamour and magical evening. Celebrated under the theme "An Enchanted Night", it took the senior class of SPHS about two hours to complete a 'purple carpet' walk into El Patio, with wild entrances that included a security guard, tons of confetti, floats, Belize Coast Guard escort, street dancers, a fire truck, male-carried chariot and even pyrotechnics. YUP! That's prom night in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. Best Entrance - Marleni Diaz. Best Dressed Couple - Andrea Valencia and Julious Nuñez. Best Dressed Male - Victor Ack. Best Dressed Female - Kirsty Arnott. Prom King - Edley Godoy. Prom Queen - Elladira Garcia.

Misc Belizean Sources

Man oh war jellyfish, Caye Caulker
The rainy season is here!and also brings some good old friends,that we just have to keep away from them.pretty but dangerous.(man oh war jellyfish) just found them this morning at the beach.

ATTENTION SEA FOOD LOVERS: LOBSTER FEST IN CAYE CAULKER
All day events AT the Beach AFTER PARTY Is going down at WESTBAY Night Club DROPPING HITS AFTER HITS so GYAL COME WINE PAN MI CULU CULU SEE U THERE......

Ministry of Health Receives Wheelchairs from the Government of Japan
The Government of Belize through the Ministry of Health received a donation of 30 wheelchairs from the Government of Japan at a symbolic handing over ceremony today in the City of Belmopan. The Ministry of Health received 30 foldable wheelchairs which were given as a donation by the Government of Japan under its Non-Project Grant Aid for provision of Industrial Products FY 2014 for Belize. The wheelchairs will be distributed as needed to hospitals and clinics across the country. The ceremony took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conference room where representatives from the Embassy of Japan and the Ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs were present. Hon. Angel Campos, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, received the donation on behalf of the Government of Belize.

REMEMBERING MUHAMMAD ALI AND ALL HE STOOD FOR!
This historic photograph comes through the courtesy of Nuri Akbar Estrada. A Belizean in the diaspora in encounter with Muhammad Ali in the 1980's. History in the making.

Ochi Virginia Ku Lozano
Tickets now on sale in the office of Reef Radio. Only $ 25.00. Happy Father's Day!!! Sunday June 19

Francisco Pop Surgery Fund
Francisco Pop Needs Your Help. This is Francisco Pop Jr of Maya Centre, Belize. Francisco is 16 and a student at Ecumenical High School in Dangriga. Francisco also works with his father on the family farm and landscape business. His ambition is to study culinary arts in Mexico and eventually become an executive chef. Francisco has been diagnosed with meningioma, a tumor growing on his spinal cord at his third cervical vertebra. The tumor is not malignant; however, the growth is affecting Francisco’s nervous system. Over the last 5 months his symptoms have gotten progressively worse: his right hand and leg are weakening and his foot is now dragging. His doctor says that he needs surgery as soon as possible, because if we wait too long, the damage caused by the tumor may be irreversible and he could suffer complete paralysis.

Belizeans living in the Diaspora should have all citizenship rights
By Wellington C. Ramos All Belizeans who were born in the country of Belize are citizens of Belize despite the fact that they decided to become citizens of the United States of America and other countries to qualify for dual citizenship. Currently, these Belizeans' children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren qualify for Belizean citizenship, once they can show proof that their parents and grandparents were born in Belize. After they obtain their Belizean citizenship, they qualify for all rights and privileges like the Belizeans who were born in Belize including; voting, running for elective offices and becoming the prime minister of Belize. These new Belizean citizens who acquired citizenship through descent do not and, in the case of Guatemala and some countries, cannot denounce the citizenship of their country of birth. But Belizeans who were born in Belize and became citizens of the United States and other countries must denounce the citizenship of their second country, to qualify themselves to seek elective office in their country of birth Belize. This does not make any sense at all. If a Belizean becomes a naturalized citizen of the United States and other countries, that person must not violate certain laws in those countries. If they do, their citizenship is subject to revocation by the United States and these countries and then subsequently they could be deported back to Belize their country of birth.

CARICOM climate change institution wins international award
The Belize-based Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) has been awarded the 2016 Energy Globe for a project submitted on Belize. CCCCC won from over 1,500 projects submitted from 170 countries and according to a statement issued here, the Energy Globe Award is a prestigious environmental prize worldwide. It distinguishes projects regionally, nationally and globally that conserve resources such as energy or utilize renewable or emission-free sources. The 2016 National Winner of the Energy Globe Award in Belize installed a mobile biogas laboratory at the University of Belize’s Belmopan Campus in order to build capacity in the biogas sector. The submission for the Project “Biogas Laboratory at UB” was made by Henrik Personn, the Renewable Energy Expert at the CCCCC and was designed and implemented by the regional organization.

Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities Hit a Number of 1sts
The Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities (BAPDA) participated in the First Regional Seminar for Women Leaders with Diverse Abilities from 7-10 June in Havana, Cuba. President Roxanne Marin and Manager Eva Middleton were invited to Cuba by President Mabel Ballesturos López and Legal Advisor Bernardo Borges of the Cuban Association of Persons with Physical Limitations (ACLIFIM). They were also supported by the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation. BAPDA announced at the seminar that they had joined with the Belize Red Cross, the Cuban Red Cross and City Emergency Management Organization (CEMO) to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to better assist persons with diverse abilities during times of emergency.

Clean Up Campaign in San Pedrito
The Clean Up Campaign in San Pedrito is well underway as yesterday, June 9th, our crew was in the area cleaning out yards and taking out old items such as refrigerators, stoves and washing machines, as well as old mattresses and old unused wood. Many truckloads made their way out of San Pedrito and unto the Marina area where they were disposed at the disposal site. We want to thank the residents for being cooperative during the clean up and of course to our staff for their hard work!

Bullet Tree Falls Mural Map
Bullet Tree has quite a few famous artists, and they all came together to paint a mural map. It's behind the water board office, before going over the bridge. Great job!

Channel 7

Jail For Bulgarian Bank Card Fraudsters
For the past month, the 2 Bulgarian ATM Scammers, 28 year-old Halid Aptula, and 25 year-old Georgi Petrov, have been at the Belize Central Prison. Well, Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer has ruled that they must spend 12 more months in Jail after they admitted that they scammed a total of $14,800 dollars from Belize Bank ATM's all around Belize City. 3 weeks ago, they pleaded guilty to 18 counts each of illegally withdrawing money from the ATM's, conducting a textbook case of bank card fraud. They got the numbers from ATM's outside Belize, and then made fake credit cards, came to Belize, and used the stolen banking information to make mass withdrawals using those fake bank cards. On May 20, during their second arraignment before Senior Magistrate Frazer, both men did a surprising thing and pleaded guilty to separately stealing $8,000 and $6,800 each. The bank's surveillance systems at the City ATM branches captured them taking out $500 dollars or less, eighteen different times each between Friday, May 6 and Saturday May 7.

Who Killed Lyndon Murillo and Why?
A well known security guard and handy man, 55 year old Lyndon Murillo was killed in Mahogany Heights. The shooting happened last night at around 8:15 when his body was found face up on the side of the road. It was a horrific discovery for the family and the villagers who could never imagine that Murillo would meet his end in this manner. Today our news team visited Mahogany Heights to get more answers in this puzzling case. Courtney Weatherburne reporting: Lyndon Murillo lived and worked at this grocery store for about 3 years. The owners gave him a place to stay at the back of the shop and, in turn, Murillo took care of the store. But he moved out in the middle of last year and began working as a handy man in the village. But last night after he finished some repair work, he was riding home when he was murdered.

Will Rivera's Death Be Vindicated?
Market Vendor Miguel Rivera was killed at the Michael Finnegan Market in 2011, and today the trial against his alleged killers started in the Supreme Court. Ronlee Petillo and Matthew Smith are accused of simply walking up to Rivera and shooting him in front of other vendors - supposedly retaliation for a robbery Rivera had helped to thwart earlier that day. But the trial without jury started out on the wrong foot when the police identification parade was ruled inadmissible. So, today in court, the prosecution asked for the only eyewitness to make a dock identification of the pair, but Petillo's attorney, Anthony Sylvestre objected. So, the prosecutor withdrew its application for the dock ID but told the court that it will try again after the witness has completed his testimony. The case continues on Monday, June 13.

Belize City Man Is Critical
A Belize City man is in critical condition after being shot multiple times last night. At 9:30, 25-year-old Deshawn Young was on Laura Dunn street in the Antelope Street area when residents heard gunshots. They ran outside to find Young lying on the street, covered in blood. Young lives a mile away in Lake Independence. Police say he is critical in the KHMH - and no shooter has been identified.

CCJ Delivers Judgment On Anti-Gay Immigration Law
For the past 14 months, Jamaican Gay Rights Activist Maurice Tomlinson has been waiting for a decision from the Caribbean Court of Justice for his lawsuit against the governments of both Belize and Trinidad and Tobago. He says that the immigration laws of both countries prohibits him as a gay man from entering these jurisdictions legally, which by extension restricts his right to free-movement as a citizen of CARICOM. Today, the judges of the CCJ delivered their decision via teleconference. With video provided by the CCJ, here's Justice Rolston Nelson delivering key excerpts from the written decision: Hon. Justice Rolston Nelson - Judge. Caribbean Court of Justice: "Mr. Morris Tomlinson an attorney at law who is a homosexual approach caught with an application for special leave to bring a case against these states of Belize, Trinidad and Tobago. He claimed that these states had prejudiced him in the enjoyment of his community right to enter these countries without hassle or harassment. Tomlinson's complaint was not based on any factual refusal of entry or otherwise wrongful treatment by Belize and Trinidad and Tobago, rather, it centers on the allegation that the immigration acts of these states prohibit the entry of homosexuals. Tomlinson argues that the mere existence of these laws is sufficient to prejudice the enjoyment of his community rights."

Caleb Calls Out CJ
So, while the Caribbean LGBT community now gets to digest the decision of the CCJ on Tomlinson's immigration law challenge, the local gay community continues to complain about Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin, who has yet to deliver the judgment to Caleb Orozco's lawsuit. It's been 3 years now since Chief Justice Benjamin reserved judgment on the case of the gay rights activitist's challenge to Section 53 of Belize's Criminal Code. That's the law which says, "every person who has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any person or animal shall be liable to imprisonment for ten years." Orozco says that continues to violate his right to privacy, dignity and equality as a gay man. Today, the CCJ apologized to the parties for taking 14 months with the Tomlinson case. But the CJ's judgement is at 36 months, and so we asked attorney Lisa Shoman about the long legal gestation:

80 Years For Rape, Fidel Williams Wants Freedom
So while those stories are coming out of the CCJ, and the Supreme Court, we have a story coming out of Belize's other high court, the Court of Appeal. 50 year-old Fidel Williams went before them to appeal a conviction of 10 counts of rape. He's serving an 80-year prison sentence, and he is seeking to overturn both. He was convicted back in April 2011 at the Dangriga Supreme Court. The crimes which he is convicted of committing happened between March, 2005 and November, 2006, in Dangriga. The victim was 21 years old at the time. Williams' attorney, Leeroy Banner argued that the sentence was excessive. After today's session the Appeal Court panel decided that they will hear further arguments on it.

PSE Grades Not Encouraging, But Some Still Shone
7235 primary schoolers sat the PSE this year and the bad news is that - once again - more than half the students got D's and E's in English, while more than half got A's, B's and C's in Social Studies and Science. But overall, the average grades were slightly down in all four subjects. Still, hundreds of children exceled with A's across the board. But none did it better than Kenly Young from St. Andrews Anglican School in Cayo, and Angelina Urbina from LA Inmaculada in Orange Walk. They tied for first with 391 out of 400 possible points. Marcela Lozano from Bernice York in Belize City was third with 388 points. Hugo Lin from Belize Elementary School was right behind her with 386 points. According to him it wasn't that much of a surprise because, as he told us today, he made sure to put in the work.

Monima, Not A Master
Newly hired Regional Health Manager for the North Audibaldo Monima, does not have a master's degree. The CEO in the Ministry of Health Ramon Figueroa told us that he has a masters in Naval Command. But 7News has confirmed that all he has is a certificate from the Mexican Navy Juniour Staff College. But then the CEO also referred to his management skills. Well, we also learned from Coast Guard sources who asked to remain anonymous that he has no experience, background or education in senior level management. And more than that, reports suggest that he had a less than stellar tenure at the Coast Guard, and ultimately left due to pressure from the high command about his substandard performance. And so while he has no record of advanced training or excellence in naval command, that hardly matters since the job calls for a masters in Public Health Administration.

Crooked Tree Man Accused Of First Degree Murder in Florida
A man with Crooked Tree roots, is facing first degree murder charges in Osceala County, Florida. 57 year old Elvis Tillett, is accused of fatally shooting his son in law inside the family yard on Sunday. News sources from Florida report that Tillett and his 29 year old son-in-law Marquise Ephron, had a history of disagreements leading up to the fatal shooting. Here's the report presented by one of the local TV news stations who was at the scene: The latest reports from Osceola County are that on Saturday Marquise Ephron, who has a child with Tillett's daughter, Samedi, called to make plans to pick up his son. Tillett then allegedly told his daughter that, quote, "If he comes to this house it will not end well." Samedi told investigators that on Sunday, to avoid any conflict, she walked a few blocks down the street to meet her husband. But she said her father followed her in his car and hurled profanities at Ephron. Ephron then followed Tillett back to his home intending to confront his father-in-law. Something happened in the midst of that face-off, and Tillett pulled out his rifle and shot his 29 year old son-in-law, killing him.

Crooked Tree Fishers Frustrated, Cops Says It's The Law
Yesterday Crooked Tree residents were outraged after they were stopped from fishing in their Lagoon. For these villagers, fishing is a way of life and survival but all that came under threat yesterday when the police and personnel from the Forest Department and the Audubon Society showed up and told them they were not allowed to fish. They explained to the fishermen that although they have access and certain freedoms to use the lagoon, there are strict regulations that govern the use of the lagoon since it part of a protected area. Today Assistant Commissioner of Police Edward Broaster discussed those regulations and the work they have been doing with the forest department to stop illegal activity in specific areas. ACP Edward Broaster, OC, Eastern Division Rural "Well, what happened, we have a lot of illegal fishing being done in the lagoon area where the individuals come and set net. Now, there are specific periods in time when they give license for fishermen to go into that area and carry out fishing activity and they are supposed to catch a limited amount or a specific amount, bearing the license that they are issued. So, any activity outside of the license that have been issued to any fishermen is deemed illegal and will be dealt with."

Maskall Logs Looked Suspicious
And from illegal fishing in Crooked Tree to illegal logging in Maksall: This morning police intercepted a truck in Maskall stacked with 13 logs. The driver was unable to provide a permit so he along with his teenaged passenger were detained. The truck, along with the logs were also impounded. ACP Broaster told us more about this bust. ACP Edward Broaster, OC, Eastern Division Rural: "This morning our police in Maskall stopped a truck and upon checking it they found illegal logs in the truck which was brought to Ladyville police station and we have been in touch the forestry offices who will be coming to ascertain the offenses committed and levied charges against the individual Arelio Mai and a 17 year old minor." Courtney Weatherburne: "Where are these 2 people from?" ACP Edward Broaster, OC, Eastern Division Rural: "From Orange Walk." Reporter: "There were coming from Orange Walk?" ACP Edward Broaster, OC, Eastern Division Rural: "No, they were coming from within the Maskall area."

No Breakthrough In Mile 9 Shooting
Police are still trying to get the Mile 9 shooting victims to talk. They are still not cooperating with police but they told us that they have a few leads that will help in this investigation. One of those leads is a link between one of the suspected shooters and the blue Blazer which was involved in the shootout. Broaster told us more. ACP Edward Broaster, OC, Eastern Division Rural "We have some specific individuals that are being sought. As a matter of fact we have an individual who went and withdrew the insurance for one of the vehicle the Monday after the shooting and we are seeking that individual for questioning and we have not been able to get any of them to do those interview at this time, but we are still looking for them." Reporter: "For which vehicle?" ACP Edward Broaster, OC, Eastern Division Rural: "The Blazer." The shooting happened on May 30th in which Michael Wallace, his brother Richard and friend Edward Flowers were ambushed and shot at from 2 vehicles. Michael Wallace was shot to the head and killed.

BDF Changeover Went Smoothly
In the past few months, images like this one of the BDF being harrassed by the Guatemalan military on the Sarstoon River have been featured quite frequently in the news. Well, we've confirmed that for the past 2 weeks, those soldiers who must use the river to conduct weekly changeovers at the Cadenas Observation Post, have done so without the Guatemalan Navy shadowing them. Lieutenant Colonel Luis Sutherland told us today via phone that the last 2 changeovers have occurred without the Guatemalans following them, or attempting to block them while they try to traverse the river.

Raising Money To Send Tamai's Body Home
Corozal Resident Sosotones Tamai died in Houston Texas in a car accident earlier this week. Now, his relatives and friends are trying to raise money to get his body back to Belize for burial. They are trying to raise 7 thousand US dollars and have set up a charity food sale for tomorrow in Houston. They've also started a "gofundme" account online, and have an Atlantic Bank account, number 2-0-0-6-5-0-0-6-7. The Driver of the pickup in which he was killed, Lennox Young, known as DJ Tambran is still recovering from fractures he received, and Houston police have not announced who was at fault.

Soca Vs. Dancehall
The organizers of the event are calling it the Soca versus Dancehall fest. It is a mash up event between popular Soca artist Kerwin Du Bios and hit dancehall reggae artist Aiodonia. And of course local artists like Supa G and T R Shine will also be gracing the stage, so the promoters have high hopes that this will turn out to be one of the biggest events of the summer. It is happening this Saturday in Belize City at Hour Bar. One of the featured artists Kerwin Du Bios arrived in the country today. He is particularly known for some of his hit soca jams like "No apologies" and "Too Real." We met up with him at the Biltmore Plaza today and he made no apologies for choosing soca over dancehall:… Tickets for the concert are available at outlets like Pink Boutique and Cellular World.

Japan Gives Wheelchairs
The Government of Japan donated a set of 30 wheel chairs to the Government of Belize today. The wheelchairs were handed over at a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Belmopan. A resident representative from the Japan International Cooperation Agency handed the chairs over to Angel Campos, the Minister of State with responsibility for NHI, primary health and clinics: The wheelchairs will be distributed to hospitals and clinics in Orange Walk, Corozal and Dangriga.

"The Greatest" Goes Home
The man called "The Greatest", Muhammad Ali, was laid to rest today at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky. That's after a very extensive motorcade bearing his remains processed through his hometown. Thousands came out to pay their respects to the man whose legend transcended the sport of boxing, extending to black and human rights activism. Today, the Government of Belize joined the rest of the world and paid tribute to his memory by flying the Belize flags at half mast on all official buildings. An official Government release from yesterday says, quote, "Ali…devoted most of his time outside of the ring, in pursuit of peace, supporting humanitarian projects, development initiatives and relief to the less fortunate in the developing world. (He) visited (British Honduras…in 1965 for a sparring competition and many Belizeans remember that historic trip. The Government and people of Belize express their sincere condolences to the family on the passing of the late, great boxing legend Muhammad Ali." End Quote

Channel 5

BIrd's Eye View from the studios of Channel 5
Here's a bird's eye view from our studios on Coney Drive. (Use your mobile device to look around in all directions!)

Kenly Young and Angelina Urbina Top Scorers in 2016 PSE
Since last week we have been chasing behind the results of the Primary School Exam. As you know, the results of the competitive examinations are highly anticipated since some high [...]

CCJ Dismisses Maurice Tomlinson’s Immigration Case
There is a much anticipated judgment tonight from the Caribbean Court of Justice. The CCJ has set aside a claim brought by gay rights activist Maurice Tomlinson against the governments [...]

Gay Rights Activist Never Set Foot on Belize
While Tomlinson’s case has been discharged and the government of Belize is absolved, the legal challenge is now compelling lawmakers to make the necessary revisions.  Attorney Nigel Hawke explains.   [...]

Attorney Lisa Shoman Provides Interpretation of CCJ Decision
Senior Counsel Lisa Shoman, who has an interest in the outcome of the matter, sat in on the decision this morning.  She represents Caleb Orozco of UNIBAM who is also [...]

Why is UNIBAM Challenge Still Unresolved?
While the CCJ handed down an unduly delayed judgment today, a little over a year after submissions had been filed, the Supreme Court of Belize is yet to come to [...]

Minister of State Discusses Monima’s Appointment as Regional Health Manager
Minister Pablo Marin is out of the country, but it is likely that he will return to what is amounting to a storm of controversy over the political appointment of [...]

Bulgarian Duo Sentenced to One Year Jail Time for Theft
Two Bulgarian nationals, who were caught stealing from the Belize Bank ATM in early May of this year, begin a prison term behind bars tonight.  Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser imposed [...]

A Watchman is Murdered in Mahogany Heights
A watchman, the father of five children, was executed on Thursday night soon after he exited a bus. Lyndon Murillo met his death at about nine o’clock before he could [...]

Belizean/American is Charged for Murder of His Son-in-law in Florida
There is another murder of a Belizean, but it happened in the U.S. Fifty-seven-year-old Elvis Tillett, originally from Crooked Tree Village, has been arrested in Osceola County, Florida for the [...]

Any Updates in Michael Wallace Murder?
On May twenty-nine, twenty-five year old Michael Wallace was killed on the George Price Highway near the Mile Eight community. Michael, his brother Richard Wallace and a friend Edward Flowers [...]

Gunman Opens Fire on Laura Dunn Street, Deshawn Young is Critically Injured
Twenty-five-year-old Deshawn Young remains hospitalized in critical condition at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after being shot multiple times on Thursday night.  According to residents, an unidentified male person was [...]

Illegal Logging in Maskall
In the past few days, we have been reporting on the arrest of persons for illegal fishing. Well tonight, there is an arrest about illegal logging. An Orange Walk resident [...]

All That Roadwork in the Garden City
If you’re a resident of Belmopan or the West, or even just a commuter passing through, you’ve definitely seen the massive program of works taking place in the Garden City, [...]

Is There Really a Need for a Wide Roundabout Near Guanacaste Park?
That’s the roundabout by Guanacaste Park, but there’s another massive roundabout being built at the junction of the Hummingbird Highway and Forest Drive. Concerns have been expressed by residents of [...]

Pamela Scott Discusses Other Works in Belmopan
There’s another roundabout under construction near the Western Regional Hospital. There’s also work being done on paths on either side of the Ring Road. The concept seemed to be for [...]

Ring Road to be Repaved
To round off the project, there is good news for residents of Belmopan. The entire Ring Road will be completely repaved. Scott says it’s much more than infrastructure, though.   [...]

Japanese Government Donates Wheel Chairs to Ministry of Health
This morning, the Ministry of Health received a very much needed donation of thirty foldable wheelchairs from the Government of Japan. The aid is a part of Japan’s Non-Project Grant [...]

Sugar City Embarks on Massive Infrastructure Project
Earlier we showed you the road works in Belmopan being down through the Road Traffic Safety Project. But one other municipality is also preparing to embark on a massive infrastructure [...]

Police Department Hosts Book Fair
This Saturday, the police department will be having a book fair in both the north and rural eastern division jurisdictions.  The community outreach program is being done to foster reading [...]

Soca Versus Dancehall, What’s Your Pick?
Soca versus Dancehall…it’s a one of its kind concert that the promoters from Kings Promotion have put together for Belizeans this Saturday at the Hour Bar Field in Belize City. [...]

LOVE FM

CCJ Rules Against Gay Jamaican Activist on His Challenge of Belize’s Immigration Laws
The Caribbean Court of Justice has dismissed the case brought by Jamaican activist, Maurice Tomlinson. Tomlinson was challenging Belize’s immigration laws, claiming the law discriminated against him, being a homosexual man. Tomlinson had challenged the Immigration law of Belize stating that it was discriminatory and that it had violated the rights of LGBT persons that […]

Orozco Case: Justice Delayed is Justice Denied
With the ruling in the Tomlinson’s case, it has brought back the attention to the Caleb Orozco case. Orozco is challenging section 53 of the Laws of Belize which states “Every person who has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any person or animal shall be liable to imprisonment for ten years”. Today […]

St Andrew’s Primary School Tops PSE 2016
The results for the primary School Examination (PSE) are a bit delayed this year but they are here and the administrators at the Saint Andrews Anglican Primary School can boast of topping this year’s results. Seven thousand three hundred and ninety two students had registered for the PSE of which seven thousand two hundred and […]

World Bank Publishes Global Economic Prospects 2016
The World Bank has published its Global Economic Prospects dated June 2016 with a general overview that the growth prospects have weakened throughout the world economy. The 194-page document has noted that global growth for 2016 is projected at 2.4 percent, a figure unchanged from what they have dubbed, “the disappointing pace of 2015”. In […]

Watchman Dies in Latest Shooting Incident in Rural Belize
A shooting last night in the area of Mahogany Heights left a watchman dead. Assistant Commissioner of Police Edward Broaster shared the details. The murder weapon used in the shooting was a nine millimeter pistol. The Police recovered three expended shells from the scene.

Thursday Night City Shooting Leaves Young Man Critical
A man remains hospitalized following a shooting incident on Thursday night in Belize City. Police reports are that sometime around nine o’clock residents of Laura Dunn Street and Antelope Street Extension reported hearing gunshots. When they arrived on the scene they found 25-year-old Deshawn Young suffering from gunshot wounds to the chest, neck and shoulder. […]

ALDEBERAN Wraps Up 3rd Campaign for a Young, Clean and Green World
In April 2015, the German non-governmental organization, ALDEBARAN, launched its third campaign under the Young, Clean and Green programme which started in 2010. Today saw the closing ceremony of this phase with presentations done by several secondary schools. Stefanie Lupp is Aldebaran’s Managing Director. During this morning’s ceremony, several of the students spoke of the […]

Health Ministry Looks at Childhood Trauma via Workshops
Childhood Trauma is the trending topic of a three day workshop held by the Ministry of Health. A look into causes, effects and preventions are being discussed. Psychiatric nurses, psychiatrist, councilors, medical officers and psychologist are attending the workshop to enhance their knowledge on the condition. Love News spoke to Ingrid Bonnia Clare, coordinator and […]

Duo of Bulgarians Sentenced for 18 Counts of Theft
Two Bulgarians, Georgi Petrov and Halid Aptula, who had pled guilty to eighteen counts of theft, will serve one year in prison. They were given jail time today by Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser who told their attorneys, they pled guilty and saved the court time but she believed that their actions were too deliberate and […]

Trial of Accused Murderers Begins Before Justice Lucas
The trial of two men, Ronlee Petillo and Matthew Smith, began today in the court of Justice Adolph Lucas with the only eye witness testifying. Petillo and Smith are charged with the murder of Miguel Rivera, who was shot and killed on March 11, 2011, at Finnegan Market, located on West Collet Canal Street. Rivera […]

PlusTV

BTL vehicle collides into cargo truck; four injured
There was an accident on the George Price Highway this afternoon, Thursday June 9, sometime around 2:30 p.m. when a BTL vehicle collided into a cargo truck. The accident happened at mile 35 on the George Price Highway. The vegetable vendor, Guermo Canto, was driving his cargo truck headed to Belmop...

Vehicle stolen midday from Angelus Press Parking lot
A vehicle was stolen in the middle of the day from the parking lot of Angelus Press in Belmopan. It is a grey forerunner with license plate # 3536.. The owner of the vehicle, Andrew Williams, told us what happened. Andrew Williams, Victim of Car Theft: What happened is at about 12:12 this afternoo...

Sedi says Guatemalan wants all of Belize but has NOT annexed the Sarstoon
In our previous newscast, we aired portions of an interview the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Wilfred Elrington, held with our media colleagues on Tuesday. In that extended interview, the Minister spoke about several topics relating to Guatemala including the Speech by outgoing deputy Prime Minis...

24 year old Alston Leon Smith on remand for gunplay in Belize City
A Belize City man who is accused of gun play on Mopan Street, Belize City in broad daylight yesterday evening at around 4:48 p.m., was today arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on a single charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, to wit, a firearm. He is 24 year old Alston Leo...

Deportee charged with failure to report
Men and women deported from “abroad” after serving time for criminal offenses are made to honor the unusual requirement of signing in with law enforcement here as a way of keeping tabs on them. After being warned previously after missing a scheduled sign-in, a second offense left 25 year old Keith F...

Weed found in abandoned St. Mathew’s Village lot
On Wednesday June 8, 2016 about 8:30pm Belmopan Quick Response Team conducted a search in an abandoned lot in Saint Matthew’s Village Cayo District which led to the discovery of a black plastic bag of weed. The cannabis was weighed and it amounted to 233 grams. No one was in the area so it was...

Juan Gonzalez arrested for discharging firearm in pubic
Juan Gonzalez, a 36 year old Belizean contractor of Duck Run 1 in the Cayo district, was arraigned in the San Ignacio Magistrates Court on a charge of possession of firearm whilst under the influence of alcohol and discharging firearm in public . His arrest followed an incident on Wednesday June 9, ...

Mental health workers tackle children’s traumas
For the next three days, mental health workers will be learning about tackling traumatic experiences in children. Life for the youngest of us is not as innocent as yesteryear, with frequent exposure, inadvertent or not, to trauma ranging from sexual and other abuse to gun violence to depressive/suic...

Freak storm in Teakettle Village damages homes
We are nine days into the hurricane season and while there is no hurricane named as yet, Teakettle Villagers say they had a terrifying experience on Tuesday night that has certainly alerted them to the potential dangers of a storm. What is being described as a “freak storm” on Tuesday evening in Tea...

Governor General to attend the Queens 90th Birthday
Today Wednesday 8th June, 2016 the Governor General, His Excellency,Sir Colville Young travelled to the United Kingdom to join other Commonwealth Head of States in the Official Celebration of the Queen’s historic ninetieth Birthday, While Sir Colville is out of the country the Cabinet Secretary, Mr....

The Reporter

Earthquake rocks Nicaragua
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake rocked northwestern Nicaragua near the Honduran border on Thursday night. The U.S. Geological Survey informed that the quake’s epicenter was 16 miles northeast of Chinandega and had a depth of 6.2 miles. The temblor forced the government to shut schools in the cities of Leon and Chinandega. The earthquake was felt strongly in Nicaragua’s capital, Managua, some 70 miles south of the epicenter. It also shook communities in neighboring countries of El Salvador and Honduras. No information of casualties or damage has been reported. In Belize, resident report feeling slight swaying lasting for about 15 seconds, inside their homes.

Vanessa Champagne dies
Vanessa Champagne Paris” (born Porfilio Rodriguez Jr.), died suddenly on Friday night after having suffered an acute bout of stomach cramps she started to experienced after eating food she purchased in Dangriga. Officer of the Independence police formation, Superintendent Reymundo Reyes told the Reporter that […]

Traffic Accident in Houston leaves one Belizean dead
Three Belizean men were involved in traffic accident in Houston, Texas on Tuesday. One died. Well known DJ Lennox “Tambran” Young; Sostenes Tamay, a Corozal resident and Police Coach Amin August were travelling in an SUV when it collided with another vehicle. Tamay was killed in the accident. Young suffered […]

Musician killed in attempted armed robbery in Dangriga
John Jay Rodriguez, 35, a well-known musician who lived in Dangriga was shot and killed in an attempted armed robbery in Dangriga last Friday night. Rodriguez was playing one of the gaming machines inside Havana Club on Havana Street when three youths entered with the […]

World says goodbye to “The Greatest”
As the world looks on in mourning, Louisville will lay its “favorite son” to rest on Friday. Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer who might have been one of the most famous and beloved athletes of all time, drew his final breath on June […]

Caribbean to see record 30 million plus tourists in 2016, experts predict 
The Caribbean is expected to see a record-breaking 30 million plus tourists to our shores by the end of this year.  This would be the first time ever that this region would receive such a large number of visitors, following a record 28.7 million arrivals […]

Third named storm for the hurricane season makes history
Tropical Storm Colin formed this week, making history as the earliest named “third storm” in the Atlantic Hurricane Season. Colin formed on Sunday June 5, in the Gulf of Mexico and headed for the United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explained that it is […]

Meteorologists use international forum to discuss climate change impacts
Meteorologist Frank Tench Sr. represented Belize at the 13th International Weather and Climate Forum last week in France, where presenters and meteorologists from around the world discussed climate change impacts and their roles to convey this important message. The two-day event was hosted by the […]

PUP officials visit Sarstoon unimpeded by Guatemalans
The promised People’s United Party (PUP) trip to the Sarstoon River took place over the weekend, a week and a half after the government revoked the Sarstoon Prohibition Statutory Instrument (SI) on May 24, based on an agreement between our two countries for free passage. […]

CEMO holds fourth annual road safety symposium
The Belize City Emergency Management Organization (CEMO), this week, held its fourth annual symposium, to discuss road safety and related issues. The two-day event was held at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza on Wednesday and Thursday, under the theme “Analyzing Road Traffic accidents and Safety strategies […]

Belize and Ireland explore areas of diplomatic cooperation
Belize and the Republic of Ireland discussed areas of diplomatic cooperation last week when Belize’s non-resident Ambassador to Ireland, Perla Perdomo presented her credentials to President Michael D. Higgins of Ireland at his residence. During her visit, Ambassador Perdomo held private conversations with President Higgins […]

Two busted with $18,000 worth of contraband liquor
Ronnell Gonzalez and Jermaine McDougal were arrested early Sunday morning at a checkpoint on the Philip Goldson Highway, after they were found with more than 50 assorted bottles of liquor. Both men pleaded not guilty and were each granted bail of $15,000, when they appeared before the Court on Monday, […]

Who made Monima manager?
Audibaldo Monima Jr., a former Coast Guard officer, is the new Regional Health Manager for Orange Walk and Corozal, but because he has no known training or experience for a post of that seniority, his employment has come under scrutiny. The post calls for a […]

Ready Call CEO ordered to pay $141,000 in SSB employee contributions
Ready Call Centre, a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company, was ordered through their CEO, Nubia Ramirez Moreno to pay $141,000 to the Social Security Board (SSB). That is a combination of SSB contributions for 50 employees for February, March and April, plus interest, plus a […]

Editorial
Now that the rains have come, we expect that there will be a stronger flow of water in the Haulover Creek to clear away the buildup of silt which has disfigured our coastline along Southern Foreshore. We should not however be expecting the forces of nature to do the maintenance […]

$5 million land network sits unused
Landfolio, a digitized program designed to eliminate duplicity, limit corrupt practices and speed up all land transactions in Belize, has been sitting at the Lands Department for years now, but is not being used, despite it’s US $2.5 million price tag. This week, Minister of […]

Guatemala applies pressure in Sarstoon
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wilfred Elrington, provided a new insight into the Guatemalan claim this week when he told the nation that Guatemala is occupying the Sarstoon as a strategy to enforce her claim on Belize. Elrington in an interview with the local media recalled […]

New, more stringent standards for LPG industry
A series of proposals will be put into practice in Belize to enhance the safety of people in the Liquid Petroleum Gas (butane) industry. This follows recommendations made during a technical training workshop between Mexican LPG experts and their local counterparts. Last week the local […]

Breaking Belize News

Accident on the Philip Goldson highway
A traffic accident has occurred on the Philip Goldson Highway near the BSI factory in Orange Walk. Reports are that a Volkswagen collided into a cane trailer. Fire officials are at the scene and police are on the way. BBN understands that one person […]

PSE 2016 results released; grades stay average
Two students – Kenly Young of St. Andrew’s Anglican Primary School of San Ignacio and Angelina Urbina of La Inmaculada Roman Catholic in Orange Walk share the honor of 2016 Primary School Examination (PSE) top performer with 391 points each out of a possible […]

Jail for Bulgarians accused of ATM theft
The men accused of stealing from the Belize Bank’s automated teller machine were told today that they will spend twelve months in jail. Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser imposed a custodial sentence on 28 year old Jeorji Petrov, and 25 year old Halid Yuksel Aptula, […]

Japan donates 30 wheelchairs to Ministry of Health
A ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ conference room earlier today, served to officially hand over a donation of 30 foldable wheelchairs from the Government of Japan, to our Ministry of Health. The donation was made in Belmopan as part of the […]

Moist conditions to continue
The national meteorological service of Belize is calling for conditions to become slightly moist and unstable for the next 24 hours. The 24 hour forecast is for partly cloudy skies this afternoon with isolated showers and isolated thunderstorms developing inland. It will become cloudy at […]

Shooting leaves one critical in Belize City
Last night Belize City police visited the Karl Heusener Memorial Hospital, where Deshawn Young, 25, was seen suffering from gunshot wounds to his chest, neck and shoulder. Initial investigation revealed that around 9:30 p.m., residents heard gunshots in the Antelope Street Extension area and police responded […]

Watchman murdered near Mahogany Heights
The body of a 51-year-old watchman, Lyndon Murillo, was found dead on a dirt road leading into Mahogany Heights Village, Belize District last night. He was found with gunshot wounds to the chest, back and left ankle. At around 8:45 p.m., officers visited the area and […]

Moist conditions to continue
The national meteorological service of Belize is calling for conditions to become slightly moist and unstable for the next 24 hours. The 24 hour forecast is for partly cloudy skies this afternoon with isolated showers and isolated thunderstorms developing inland. It will become cloudy at […]

Shooting leaves one critical in Belize City
Last night Belize City police visited the Karl Heusener Memorial Hospital, where Deshawn Young, 25, was seen suffering from gunshot wounds to his chest, neck and shoulder. Initial investigation revealed that around 9:30 p.m., residents heard gunshots in the Antelope Street Extension area and police responded […]

Watchman murdered near Mahogany Heights
The body of a 51-year-old watchman, Lyndon Murillo, was found dead on a dirt road leading into Mahogany Heights Village, Belize District last night. He was found with gunshot wounds to the chest, back and left ankle. At around 8:45 p.m., officers visited the area and […]

British soldiers in Belize for Jungle warfare training
Belize Defense Force (BDF) soldiers are currently undergoing training with British Army Troops from the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, as part of the ‘Mayan Warrior’ training exercise. Jungle warfare techniques are being taught to soldiers from the visiting regiment’s Blenheim Company, 2nd Battalion, by […]

CCJ dismisses Maurice Tomlinson immigration case
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has dismissed an application in its original jurisdiction by Jamaican Maurice Tomlinson against the immigration laws of Belize and Trinidad and Tobago. Tomlinson alleged that the existence of laws purporting to deny homosexuals and prostitutes entry discriminated against him […]

Blogs

Private Party on the Upstairs Deck at Palapa Bar and Grill
It all started with me asking Jodie if I could show my friends Cowboy Doug and Gary West the new addition – I had been up there twice already but neither of them had seen it yet. Of course Palapa Bar owner Jodie said she would take us up and give them a quick tour. It is close to done but not quite ready. The sinks and plumbing are getting installed this week in time for the upcoming 10 day San Pedro Lobster Festival. No sooner did we get upstairs and Cowboy decided to buy a bottle of Crown Royal and christen the new bar that he was standing behind. Let the party begin. Of course that led to a few more friends coming up, then the band came upstairs for a less crowed place to eat their meal in peace before the show. Next came a private bouncer – downstairs was busier than a one-toothed man in a corn-on-the-cob eating contest and they did not want the crowd upstairs since it is not officially opwn to the public yet.

THE MOST UP-TO-DATE, COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF FAQ's ABOUT TRAVEL TO PLACENCIA, BELIZE!
Let's get right to it. While I try to send a welcome email to new guests with a lot of info, it always turns out that people find something I didn't include! I thought it was time to compile TWO YEARS of questions and learning into a blog post that will hopefully help you feel informed and totally ready for your trip! If you can think of ANYTHING I left out let me know below, I'll add it :) If you read this whole post start to finish - you will be as informed as a traveler who has been here for years!! It is HIGHLY recommended you read the whole things before you come!! Not to toot my own horn but my goal is to make this the most comprehensive, "live" list of FAQs!

International Sources

Gay rights lawyer loses case against T&T, Belize
A Jamaican gay rights activist has failed in his novel lawsuit challenging T&T’s and Belize’s homophobic immigration laws. Delivering a judgment at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)’s headquarters at Henry Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, CCJ President Dennis Byron and four of his colleagues ruled that while attorney-at-law Maurice Tomlinson had raised a valid issue over the discriminatory nature of both countries’ laws, his case failed as he could not prove that he had been prejudiced by them. In his lawsuit filed in 2014, Tomlinson had admitted to having visited both countries on several occasions in the past without being denied entry but said that he has refused invitations from Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) organisations to return after he learnt of the laws. Due to his firm stance on the issue Tomlinson, who lives in Canada, refused to come to Trinidad to attend hearings of the case and testified via video broadcasting.

Lakeland students research, study in Belize
Two professors and 10 Lakeland College students recently left behind Wisconsin cornfields for the explosion of wildlife in the tropical rainforest of Belize to lay the groundwork for research projects that could potentially inform other biologists. Last month marked the fifth year the college has taken biology students into the jungle for nine nights to gain experience working in an international context. The classmates stay in bunk houses on the property of the Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE), which is surrounded by wildlife preserves and parks that make it an ideal area for researchers because the animals and plant life cross the borders into the foundation’s land. “The wildlife is very present,” said Paul Pickhardt, biology professor, who teaches the course along with fellow biology professor Greg Smith. “If you go outside, you just experience it.” In fact, after long days of research, Pickhardt would take students out on evening treks where they might witness snakes of all varieties, tree frogs, tarantulas, howler monkeys engaging in some kind of territorial dispute and much more. They also learned how to carefully handle the animals that were safe to pick up.

New Belize national ham radio society
The IARU recently realised the reason it hadn't heard from its member Society in Belize for 23 years was because the Society no longer existed The Wireless Institute of Australia reports a new Belize Society has been formed to represent radio amateur in the country which was known as British Honduras from 1862-1973. The WIA News story says: Last week John VK4JJW brought you the story how the IARU had not heard from Belize in over 20 years, further now as you will hear in this story filed by our editor Graham VK4BB for Amateur Radio Newsline this week. Where on earth is the Belize Amateur Radio Club? Well, if you know your geography, you might answer "Central America, or old timers may remember British Honduras. But if you ask the International Amateur Radio Union, you'd be told it is nowhere -- it has gone missing for the last 23 years.

Local Students Lend Hand In Beliz
A Yankton native decided to take a walk on the south side. Chloe Cornemann, a South Dakota State University (SDSU) student, recently visited the country of Belize as part of a service trip offered by SDSU for Fellowship of Christian Athletes members. The group stayed in Belize City. Cornemann, who is a senior majoring in exercise science, has always wanted to go on a service trip but never had the opportunity. "I heard that the SDSU Fellowship of Christian Athletes was taking a mission trip to Belize," she said. "I’ve never had the chance to do one because of basketball and schedule-wise. Since I’m done with basketball, though, it was the perfect chance to do it and I’m glad I did." Another Yankton native, Jenna Grossenburg, also went on the trip, which was sponsored by Praying Pelican Missions.

Climate Change Threatens These 5 Important Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are considered the “rainforests of the sea” because they host such a wide variety of animals and plants, produce so much food and provide so many essential services that make life on Earth possible. They occupy only .2 percent of the ocean, notes the Earth Institute at Columbia University, yet are home to a quarter of all marine species. Crustaceans, reptiles, seaweeds, bacteria, fungi and over 4,000 species of fish live in and around coral reefs. With an annual global economic value of $375 billion, coral reefs provide food and resources for over 500 million people in 94 countries and territories. Coral reefs not only help protect land, they help create it, too. They can reduce the force of giant waves generated by storms and tsunamis and populate the remnants of volcanic islands once the lava cools and sinks below the waves. Just as we have found medicines hiding in rainforest plants, we may find compounds to fight disease on coral reefs.

Ces Français qui s'installent au Bélize : reportage ce samedi après-midi sur TF
Reportage diffusé vers 133h0 ce samedi, après le journal de 13 heures sur TF1. Coincé entre le Mexique et le Guatemala, le Bélize, ancien Honduras britannique, indépendant depuis à peine trente ans, est l'un des pays les moins connus au monde. Pourtant, c'est un paradis pour les voyageurs qui veulent bien prendre la peine de s'y rendre. Seule une quarantaine de Français vivent dans ce petit pays. Pendant plusieurs semaines, les équipes de Grands Reportages ont suivi le quotidien de cinq d'entre eux. Manon a vingt-cinq ans, elle tient la seule crêperie du pays, en bordure de plage. Son affaire prospère et elle veut se lancer dans une nouvelle activité : acheter des terrains sur des îles désertes. Le Belize facilite les démarches pour les créateurs d'entreprises, les formalités sont réduites au strict minimum. En trois heures seulement, Manon a créé sa société... Elle peut partir à la découverte des plus belles îles encore vierges pour les proposer à ses clients.

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