Roger Anthony, 35, appeared in Magistrate’s Court where he pleaded guilty to professing to belong to a criminal gang and one count of displaying support of a criminal gang.
Anthony appeared before Magistrate Adolph Lucas, Jr. where in mitigation Anthony asked the court to be lenient on him and to impose a fine. Magistrate Lucas imposed two $500 fines plus two $5.00 costs of court.
The first fine of $500 was ordered to be paid by April 12th, 2013 or in default 5 months imprisonment while the other $500 fine was order to be paid by June 14th, 2013 or in default another 5 months imprisonment.
Roger Anthony, a resident of the Crooked Tree area in the Belize District was picked up by police over the weekend in the area known as “Ghost Town. At about 10:00 a.m., members of the GSU were on mobile patrol in the area of Vernon Street, when they stopped at the intersection of May Flower and Vernon Streets and saw Anthony and another man in the area. Both men were searched for illegal drugs and firearms; however, nothing incriminating was found on either man. During the search, officers noticed a sign being displayed on Anthony’s shirt. One of the signs read GTC as well as 30’s and OG was seen printed on the pocket of the shirt. Officers of the GSU said when they asked Anthony what GTC meant, he responded by saying Ghost Town Crip, and that he is the leader of the gang and that his alias is “MOB.
-1 1 0 39 2/21/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/21/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 3 0 88 robots= author= 5911 Accused of burglarizing Home of Traffic Manager accused-of-burglarizing-home-of-traffic-manager
On Monday, February 18th, Luis Romero, 47, a resident of #40 Plues Street appeared in Magistate’s Court to answer to charges of burglary.
Romero appeared unrepresented before Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith.
Allegations are that Romero, entered the home of Belize City Traffic Manager, Kevan Jenkins which is located at #7135 Lumber Yard Crescent. The incident is said to have occurred on Monday, January 28th 2013, where over a $1,000 in items were stolen from Jenkins’ home including $150.00 in cash, a pair of scandals and jewelry.
In court, prosecutor, Sgt. Egbert Castillo objected to bail being granted to Romero stating that he has two convictions for crimes of dishonestie, which include theft and handling stolen goods. He also submitted that bail should not be offered to Romero because of the prevalence of the crime, the gravity of the crime, the strength of the prosecution’s case especially since the Scenes of Crime technicians have lifted fingerprints at the crime scene that positively match Romero’s, the fact that there is a possibility that he may or could interfere with the witnesses and the fact that the police case is ongoing.
The Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith agreed and denied Romero bail. He was then remanded to the Belize Central Prison until April 9th, 2013.
-1 1 0 39 2/21/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/21/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 2 0 139 robots= author= 5912 Two Dead, 10 survive Weekend Shootings two-dead-10-survive-weekend-shootings
The weekend of Friday, February 15th, to Sunday, February 17th, was extremely violent in Belize City. The three-day span saw twelve victims of gun violence. Ten of them are lucky to be alive.
The first shooting incident took place at about 3:30 p.m. on Neal Pen Road. 34-year-old Kenroy Tillett and 32-year-old Alton Roches were doing repairs on a white Ford Ranger pickup truck when a dark complexioned man rode up on bicycle and opened fire in their direction. Both men got into the vehicle in an attempt to flee but during that time Roches received a gunshot wound to the left side of the abdomen and Tillett received gunshot wounds to the left side of the neck and left hand. They were then assisted by a friend who rushed them to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for treatment. Police recovered ten 9mm expended shells from the scene but have not reported any arrest in this incident as yet.
The second shooting incident occurred at about 9:40 p.m. on Friday, February 15th, at the corner of Orange Street and East Canal. Car Dealer, Donald Matura was standing at the corner of the streets when he noticed a young man was disrespecting a little girl. According to Matura, he intervened because “I knew the child and her family and could not stand by idly.” Matura continued, “It is most unfortunate that older men find it acceptable to interfere with children in our society.” After Matura’s intervention, the young man returned with a firearm and opened fire in his direction. Matura received gunshot wounds to his abdomen, left hand, right hand and left leg. 26-year-old Carmita Chan and 32-year-old Alchea Harris also received gunshot injuries as they were walking on Orange Street. Chan was shot in the left side of her buttocks and Harris was grazed on his left hip. All three individuals were transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for treatment. Chan and Harris were released shortly after and Matura continues to recover from his injuries. In a statement to the press, Matura said, “My sincerest thanks to Dr. Jose Moguel who operated on me for over five hours assisted by Dr. Leah Rosado and the nurses in the operating theater at the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital, whose names I do not know yet, but who deserve all the praises. I have received the best of care at the KHMH and know that with the divine intervention of God, my father, the work of these doctors and nurse brought me back to life when I was almost given up for dead.” Police have not announced any arrest in this incident.
The third shooting incident of the weekend took place at about 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 16th, in Munoz Alley. Derek Cervantes is recovering from a gunshot wound to the chest after he was shot by 23-year-old Devon Dean Saldano while talking to 39-year-old Lincoln ‘Kilo Bway’ Allen. According to reports, Saldano and another young man approached Cervantes and Allen in the alley then Saldano pulled out a firearm and opened fire. Allen received gunshot wounds to the back of the head and mouth, while Cervantes was shot in the chest. Before the gunman could escape, Cervantes pulled out his licensed 9 mm pistol and fired a shot at him which struck him in the head. Both Allen and Saldano died on the scene. Cervantes was transported to a medical facility where he was admitted in a critical condition. Police recovered six 9mm expended shells and a licensed Glock 9mm pistol with an empty magazine belonging to Cervantes from the scene. The identity of Saldano’s accomplice has not been confirmed as yet and police investigation into the incident continues.
The fourth shooting incident occurred at about 4:20 a.m. on Sunday, February 17th. 47-year-old mason, Mario Ramos, was sitting on his bed at his Mayflower Street home when he heard four gunshot sounds. He then felt a burning sensation on his right hip and realized that he had been shot. Ramos then made checks on his wife and grandchildren to see if they were all right. No one else in the house was injured and Ramos was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for treatment. The bullet entered Ramos’ right hip and exited through his right thigh. He has since been treated for his injuries and released from the hospital. No arrest has been reported by police in this incident.
The final shooting of the weekend took place on Kraal Road at about 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 17th. 24-year-old Deon Gibson, 39-year-old Orlando Velasquez and 19-year-old Randy James Harris were hanging out with others in a yard on Kraal Road when a dark complexioned man entered the yard and started shooting. Many in the yard escaped unharmed but Gibson was shot in the left hand, Velasquez was shot in the left thigh and Harris was shot in the right hand. All three men were transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where they have been treated and released. Police investigation into the incident continues.
-1 1 0 39 2/21/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/21/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 1 0 176 robots= author= 5913 Hilly Martinez to lead Olympic Committee for the Next Four Years hilly-martinez-to-lead-olympic-committee-for-the-next-four-years
The Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association held a Special General Assembly on Saturday, February 16th, 2013, at the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City, where the seventeen (17) National Federations/Associations that belong to the local Olympic Committee were in full attendance. Each of the national federations/associations was represented by two delegates at the Special General Assembly.
The Special General Assembly was held in order for the elections of officers for the Quadrennial period 2013-2017. The Quadrennial period comes to a close at the conclusion of the Summer Olympics.
Before the elections of officers for the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, the Governor General of Belize Sir Colville Young was unanimously elected and appointed the Patron of the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association.
The Elections was presided over by an Election Commission, appointed in coordination with the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, the Pan American Sports Organisation (PASO) and Charles B. Hyde Sr, President of Belize NOC/OA Fair Play Commission, which comprised of Raymond Lashley, Retired. Pharmacist, Sharon Frazer, Senior Magistrate, and Hadie Gomez, Retired Principal.
The following were elected to serve on the Executive of the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association:
Hilberto (Hilly) Martinez; President
Owen (Sonny) Meighan; Vice President
Yolanda Fonseca; Secretary General
Josephine Flowers; Assistant Secretary General
Giovanni Alamilla; Treasurer
Herman Pastor Jr.; Member
Allan Sharp; Member
Arturo Vasquez; Member
The meeting culminated with a Resolution presented by Billy Musa, President of the Belize Tennis Association under the written approval of all 17 Associations, to name the outgoing President, Edward Pitts, as President Emeritus.
-1 1 0 41 2/21/2013 06:00:00 62 2/21/2013 20:43:14 64 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/21/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 3 0 5 0 312 robots= author= 5914 Anti-Doping Samples to be collected before Central American Games anti-doping-samples-to-be-collected-before-central-american-games
The National Anti-Doping Organisation of Belize will be carrying out five Anti-Doping Sample Collections from athletes that will represent Belize at the 10th Central American Games scheduled for San Jose, Costa Rica from March 3rd – 17th, 2013.
The samples will be collected from athletics, football, softball, volleyball and basketball from Thursday, February 21st, 2013 to Saturday, February 23rd, 2013, between the hours of 6:00 am and 12:00 midnight.
The random selection will be carried out by the Doping Control Officers of the National Anti-Doping Organisation.
All athletes are reminded that they are to make themselves available for Anti-Doping Sample Collection. The Anti-Doping Samples will then be sent to the UCLA Olympic Laboratory for analysis.
-1 1 0 41 2/21/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/21/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 4 0 176 robots= author= 5915 Belmopan Bandits lead Premier League Football Competition belmopan-bandits-lead-premier-league-football-competition
The Premier League of Belize Football Competition continued over the last week with four games on the schedule.
On Saturday, February 16th, at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan, the defending champions and the current leaders in this year’s competition, the Belmopan Bandits blanked the visiting San Felipe Barcelona by the score of 2-0. The goals for the Belmopan Bandits were scored by David Trapp via a penalty kick in the 27th minute of play and the 2nd and final goal of the game was scored by Ian Gaynair in the 89th minute of play.
Meanwhile, out at the Marshalleck Stadium in Benque Viejo Town, the visiting San Ignacio United shut out the home team Verdes by the score of 1-0. The only goal of the game was scored by Leonard Valdez in the 48th minute of play.
The competition then continued on Sunday February 17th, 2013, with two more games. At the MCC Grounds, the visiting FC Belize defeated Police United by the score of 1-0. The goal for FC Belize was scored by Michael Hernandez in the 30th minute of play.
And in the final game of the week that was played at the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio, it was the Belize Defence Force winning over the visiting Placencia Assassins FC by the score of 2-1.
The Belize Defence Force was able to get onto the scoreboard first when Paul Nuñez scored his team’s 1st goal of the game in the 42nd minute of play to give the BDF an early lead.
It was well into the second half of the game that the visiting Placencia Assassins was able to get onto the scoreboard when Luis Torres scored the equalising goal in the 56th minute of play. The final goal of the game was scored by Shane Flores in the 90+ minutes of the game that give the Belize Defence Force the win.
-1 1 0 41 2/21/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/21/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 3 0 180 robots= author= 5916 US Olympian Corey Hicks was in Belize us-olympian-corey-hicks-was-in-belize
Former US Olympian in Decathlon and current Athletics Director for Track and Field at American Heritage Prep School in Plantation, Florida, Corey Hicks arrived in Belize on Friday, February 15th, 2013 and departed the country on Sunday, February 17th, 2013 after spending the weekend with track athletes at the Marion Jones Stadium.
On Saturday, Hicks held a motivational talk with the athletes and coaches that were present and he also held demonstration clinics with them. He also told the athletes and coaches that the track at the Marion Jones Sports Complex is a world class track and is of the very same stock that Florence Johnson established her World Record on.
Hicks, for his part, will develop a training package for Belizean athletes that will help to enhance their performance and their potentials for acceptance to American universities. Apart from the training programme, he will also develop a profile for each athlete that will help to place them in schools.
Corey is expected to be back in Belize very soon.
-1 1 0 41 2/21/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/21/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 2 0 147 robots= author= 5917 Independence High School National Football Champions independence-high-school-national-football-champions
The 2012-2013 National Secondary Schools Sports Association National Football Championships were played on Friday, February 15th and Saturday, February 16th, 2013, at the People’s Stadium in Orange Walk Town.
The schools that participated in the National Football Championships are as follows: from the North, Orange Walk Technical High School (females) and Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico (males); from Central Wesley College (females) and St. John’s College (males); from the West Belmopan Comprehensive High School (females) and Mount Carmel High School (males); and from the South Independence High School (females and males).
On Saturday, February 16th, in the female championship game, Independence High School defeated Orange Walk Technical High School in penalty shoot out by the score of 4-3 to capture the female title. At the end of regulation time, the score was 1-1. The goal for Independence High School in regulation time was scored by Yosselin Pacheco, while the goal for Orange Walk Technical High School was scored by Norelia Terry.
In the penalty shoot out, the goals for Independence High School were scored by Sylvia Cabral, Yosselin Pacheco, Kelsey Polanco and Erica Vallecillo. Meanwhile, the goals for Orange Walk Technical High School were scored by Yanira Chan, Gisel Baizar and Elizabeth Quintana.
In the consolation game played earlier in the day, Belmopan Comprehensive School defeated Wesley College in overtime by the score of 1-0. The only goal of the game was scored by Anna Arias.
In the first female game played on Friday, February 15th, Independence High School defeated Belmopan Comprehensive School by the score of 2-0. The goals for Independence High School were scored by Erica Vallecillo and Kelsey Polanco.
In game two, it was Orange Walk Technical High School winning over Wesley College by the score of 2-0. The goals for Orange Walk Technical High School were scored by Gisel Baizar and Norelia Terry.
At the end of the female championship game, Myriene Drysdale of Independence High School was named the Most Valuable Player of the championship.
In the male championship game also played on Saturday, February 16th, Independence High School defeated Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico by the score of 1-0. The goal for Independence High School was scored by Myron Cadle.
In the male consolation game also played that day, Mount Carmel High School defeated St. John’s College by the score of 2-1. The two goals for Mount Carmel High School were scored by Richard Omoruyi while the goal for St. John’s College was scored by Tarique James.
On Friday, February 15th, in the first game of the male championship, Independence High School defeated Mount Carmel High School by the score of 3-1. Two goals for Independence High School were scored by Calvin Westby and the third by Deon Corado, while the only goal for Mount Carmel High School was scored by Charles Ponce.
In the second male game, Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico defeated St. John’s College by the score of 2-0. The two goals for Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico were scored by Eliazar Itza.
At the end of the male championship, Jordy Polanco was named the Most Valuable Player.
We say congratulations to the winners and all out student-athletes that participated in the championship.
-1 1 0 41 2/21/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/21/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 1 0 198 robots= author= 5918 Justice Minnet Hafiz-Bertram Sworn in as New Justice of Appeal justice-minnet-hafiz-bertram-sworn-in-as-new-justice-of-appeal
Belmopan. February 18th, 2013.
Justice Minnet Hafiz-Bertram was today sworn in as a Justice of the Belize Court of Appeal by the Governor General, Sir Colville Young, at Belize House, Belmopan.
Present at the swearing-in ceremony were the Chief Justice, Kenneth Benjamin, and Justices Denis Hanomansingh, Michelle Arana and Courtenay Abel. Also present was Justice Minnet Hafiz-Bertram’s husband, Wilhelm Bertram.
Justice Hafiz-Bertram, who is originally from Guyana, has served as a Supreme Court Judge in Belize since 2007. Before her appointment to the Supreme Court, she was Register General and Registrar of the Supreme Court. She also served for sometime as Crown Counsel in the Attorney General’s Ministry.
Justice Hafiz-Bertram studied law in Guyana and at the Hugh Wooding Law School, Trinidad and Tobago, where she received her Legal Education Certificate in 1997. She later became a member of the Guyana Bar, the Trinidad and Tobago Bar and the Belize Bar. She is well versed both in civil and criminal law.
Justice Hafiz-Bertram’s appointment as a Justice of Appeal takes effect from 15th February 2013 and will last until she attains the age of 65 years. She is at present 51 years of age.
Other Justices of the Court of Appeal are the President, Hon Justice Manuel Sosa, and Justices of Appeal, Awich, Morrison and Mendes.
The next sitting of the Court of Appeal commences on the 12th March 2013 in Belize City.
-1 1 0 59 2/21/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/21/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 2 0 128 robots= author= 5919 Equine Encephalomyelitis Outbreaks in Belize – VACCINATION FOR HORSES STRONGLY RECOMMENDED equine-encephalomyelitis-outbreaks-in-belize-vaccination-for-horses-strongly-recommended
Belmopan. February 15th, 2013.
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) strongly recommends to all horse owners throughout Belize, and especially in the Northern and Western Regions, to vaccinate their horses against Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis.
BAHA has confirmation from the USDA laboratory in Iowa, USA that the Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis virus is currently circulating in Belize. Outbreaks have been detected in the Corozal and Cayo Districts. The viral disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and alternate infection of birds or rodents and mosquitoes maintain the virus in nature. Equine Encephalomyelitis viruses can also cause infection in humans.
The risk of infection can be reduced in horses by vaccination and housing horses in screened barns, particularly during the hours of high mosquito activity. Repellents and fans can be helpful. Measures to prevent mosquito bites, including the use of repellents and protective clothing (that is, long pants and long-sleeved shirts) can reduce the risk of infection in humans.
Additional information can be obtained from BAHA veterinary officers and the Ministry of Health.
-1 1 0 59 2/21/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/21/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 1 0 246 robots= author= 5920 Big Nothing! big-nothing
BGYEA has a membership of 1,000 persons, or so we thought. And we were led to believe this because that is the number of people who Petillo submitted to get an acre of land each at the Harmonyville area outside of Belmopan. To be exact it was 1,040 names that were submitted under the BGYEA banner so we were left to assume that that is the number of members that belong to the organization.
The demonstration held on Tuesday, February 26th, however, clocked exactly 136 persons. A head count proved that. To have even been able to have a head count proves that the demonstration could not live up to the billing. What’s more, those who participated were the regular demonstration prototypes. Those who will come out for any and all demonstrations (we wonder if these people work for a living to be able to find time to be at every demonstration even during the week. Or maybe it is that they make their living off demonstrations.)
For BGYEA to not be able to muster up the crowd, to at least have 100 people who are listed as their members must be some kind of disappointment for Petillo. Then again, maybe it is that those people who are members are not with him on this one. In fact, there are those who had originally signed up to be a part of the land distribution in the area who had their names struck off the list and replaced with other names. Then there were instances where some made payments to get their land documents only to find out that they were no longer on the list.
The question is now begged is this the kind of ‘fair’ land distribution that Petillo is harping upon? If that is the case, then I guess those who have been involved with him know his capacity for fairness.
-1 6 0 54 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 2 0 1167 robots= author= 5921 Youths Take Ownership of Their Future youths-take-ownership-of-their-future
On Wednesday, February 27th, young Belizeans from across the length and breadth of the country gathered at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts to celebrate the launch of the National Youth Development Policy of Belize. The policy was developed after extensive consultation with youths from urban and rural areas in every district of the country. According to the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Hon. Patrick Faber, “The policy is reflective of the vision and drive of our Belizean youths and their ability to harness their abilities to achieve a common goal.”
The first National Youth Policy was ratified by Cabinet in 2001. There was no real effort to implement the policies of the document and a decision was made to update it in 2006. The policy remained in draft state on a bureaucrat’s desk until the Ministry of Education and Youth partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2011 in an agreement to revisit the Draft National Youth Development Policy with an aim to update the policy based on new approaches. That new approach was based on youth leadership. Throughout the consultation process, the youths directed the conversation and drove the debate. UNICEF representatives explained that there were to be separate consultations with youths in each district; however, the youths became totally engaged and the process featured a travelling party in which youths travelled from district to district in order to get their peers involved in the development of the national policy.
The main features of the policy are geared toward the achievement of social cohesion, increased economic opportunities, improved healthcare and quality education. Since over seventy percent of the population is under the age of thirty-five years, the youths believe that there needs to be greater youth involvement at decision making levels in Government and civil society organizations. Minister Faber said, “Being a young nation, our goal must be to strengthen youth and our community by ensuring the development of internal and external assets that increases the resiliency of youths moving them from a system of being lead to a system where they lead.”
The National Youth Development Policy was adopted by the Government of Belize on January 8th, 2013. At the launch on Wednesday, youths shared their experiences in the drafting of the policy through poems, dramas, dances and other forms of art. Youth leaders expressed their joy for finally seeing years of work pay off. However, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Hon. Herman Longsworth, explained that the launch of the National Youth Development Policy is “not the end of a process but the start of a partnership between the Government, youths, youth stakeholders and the region in moving our youth agenda forward”. Longsworth encouraged the youths to remain vigilant and active in ensuring that the recommendations in the policy are fully implemented.
Longsworth said, “The future of Belize rests on the shoulders of the youth: their vision, dedication, enthusiasm, skills and their ability to cope with and manage change and challenges as well as their ability to recognize and grasp opportunities for growth which will enable them to reach their full potential and in turn translate to positive growth for the nation.”
-1 6 0 53 2/28/2013 06:00:00 64 Shane D. Williams 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 1 0 1335 robots= author= 5922 Slicing the Pie slicing-the-pie
All over the world, people are demanding larger slices of the pie but larger slices for some means smaller slices for others. The alternative is to get a larger pie which is easy to say but not so easy to do and in any case, people would still vie for larger slices of a larger pie. During a global recession, Belize has managed to grow a larger pie but not at the rate most people would want. Growing a larger pie also requires balancing some difficult choices and taking some controversial decisions. Slicing the pie fairly sounds like a no-brainer but those who are accustomed to taking the largest slices generally react very badly.
Between and within sectors, there are numerous voices calling out for larger slices. Teachers and UB students are two groups demanding that the education pie be sliced in their favour. It is not that these two groups are not deserving of more but rather that those whose slices would be shaved are at least as deserving and maybe more so. In balancing the slices given to salaries and other public goods such as teacher training, feeding programmes and other types of support attention must be paid to the direct needs of teachers but also for students and parents. It is admittedly difficult for many students to afford tertiary education even though it is heavily subsidised by the Government. However, the reality is that the students who reach this point are not representative of the general population. The children of the rich and middle class have a far better chance of entering tertiary education than the children of the poor and this holds true for all countries throughout the world with all kinds of different political systems. Slicing the education pie so that more resources can go to preschools and primary schools is a proven way to improve the chances of all children, especially those from poorer backgrounds, to reach higher educational levels. This not only helps the affected children and improves their life position but it also has a positive effect on the whole economy. The general discussion on salaries for public sector workers (including teachers) is also about how to slice the pie and the suggested solution is to tie the slicing with the growth of the pie.
Land distribution is another area of frustration and it is undeniably true that the Lands Department has earned itself a reputation for incompetence and corruption through many administrations. A new more transparent system has been planned for many years and it appears that it is finally being implemented. It is right for Belizeans to continue to scrutinize the mechanics of land distribution but it is also time to evaluate land policy in general to reduce speculation. There is no long term benefit to Belize if individual Belizeans obtain land at subsidised rates and then on sell it at inflated prices to foreigners. Evidence that holds up in court may be hard to pin down but we all know of people who are well connected to an administration obtaining large tracts of land at low prices and making huge profits by subdividing and selling it. This pushes up land prices in general and encourages other individual Belizeans to sell their lands. The end result is that these inflated prices effectively shut the next generation of Belizeans out of land ownership, especially in prime areas.
Productive discussions on how to slice the pie whether for land or other public goods require a certain level of trust and this is where those who feel entitled to a larger slice than everyone else are most active. It is therefore to be expected that those who wish to regain lost political power and those who dream of gaining it in the future will wish to use any legitimate protest or unhappiness over the slicing. In addition, entities such as the Ashcroft Group, which previously helped themselves to a generous portion of the Belizean pie, are busy funding and encouraging any protest in the hope that they can grab back their undeservedly large slices while actively working against any increase in the total pie.
It is understandable that people will agitate for their own interests and lobby for a larger slice of the pie. However, it is also necessary to be aware of the needs of all the other slice holders and to be vigilant against those who seek to use these situations to gain unwarranted benefits for themselves.
-1 10 0 56 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 1 0 24 robots= author= 5923 Handover of Vehicles to the Police Department handover-of-vehicles-to-the-police-department-
On Monday, February 25th, Minister of National Security, Hon. John Saldivar handed over two additional vehicles to the Police Department.
Receiving the two Mahindra pickup trucks from the Minister was Deputy Commissioner of Police Elodio Aragon.
One of the vehicles was assigned to the Crimes Investigations Branch headquartered in Belmopan and the other to the Southern Intermediate Formation commanded from Independence Village, Stann Creek District.
On hand to receive the vehicles from the Deputy Commissioner were Officer Commanding the National Crimes Investigation Branch, Assistant Commissioner of Police Russell Blackett; and Officer Commanding the Intermediate Southern Formation, Assistant Superintendent Alton Alvarez.
The vehicles were handed over at a short ceremony held at the Police Headquarters in Belmopan.
-1 1 0 40 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 10 0 415 robots= author= 5924 Foreign Affairs warns of Dangers in Clearing Western Border foreign-affairs-warns-of-dangers-in-clearing-western-border
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is warning individuals who are attempting to clear the western border. According to a press release by the Ministry it “advises all members of the public that any attempt on their part to clear the Western Border can give rise to serious danger to themselves and we therefore strongly advise against participation in any such action.” The release continues stating that, “proposed efforts as reported in the media may conduce to a disturbance of the peace and to unnecessary tensions between two countries, contrary to the long-standing efforts that successive Belize Governments have been working hard to secure.” The release then sites a specific incidentin February of 2000 when a joint BDF and Police border team, comprising of Second Lieutenant Romaldo Herrera, Lance Corporal Lucio Arana, Private Luciano Tzub and Police Constable Macedonio Sanchez, were on a routine patrol within Belizean territory when they were detained by 25 Guatemalan soldiers and taken into Guatemala where they were later charged with illegal entry and possession of prohibited firearms.
The release comes after Wil Maehia publicly announced that he and a group of persons intend to go to the western border with machetes to “clear the border”. It is not yet known how exactly Maehia will determine where the border is located and how he will be able to determine exactly that he is in or out of Belizean territory. To him we say, you have been warned! We simply hope that in his need to get attention he does not get Belizeans injured.
-1 1 0 40 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 9 0 500 robots= author= 5925 Belize now exporting Cattle to Mexico belize-now-exporting-cattle-to-mexico
On Monday, February 25th, for the first time in many years, Belize began the legal exportation of cattle into Mexico. As many as 44 cattle were trucked into the northern country to officially mark the beginning of Belize’s formal trade of cattle into Mexico. According to the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Jose Alpuche, Belize has been certified as being a country that Mexico can import cattle from.
Last year, the Ministry of Agriculture began a cattle sweep in Belize with a pilot at Blue Creek. The sweep entails testing cattle for Brucellosis and Tuberculosis as well as tagging and placing the tested and tagged animals in a registry. CEO Alpuche says the sweep became necessary if Belize were to be able to legally export cattle to Mexico. Due to international pressures in animal health after outbreaks of diseases in cattle such as Madcow and Foot & Mouth diseases, the exportation of cattle from Belize became hindered and it was only through the sweep that the Blue Creek herd could have been certified for export to Mexico. The Blue Creek herd, which has now been certified, consists of some 18 thousand heads. Through the sweep, animals are traced from their birth to the point of expiration and records are kept on each of the animals.
While the Blue Creek herd can now be exported to Mexico, the cattle sweep continues in other parts of the country with technicians now working in the Corozal and Orange Walk Districts. These two districts will be completed within 4 to 6 weeks and the entire country would have been completed within 11 months. Alpuche says that the program will entail the processing of an estimated 100 thousand heads of cattle countrywide and will involve the tagging and testing every single cattle that is in the country. He explained that currently there are herds of cattle which do not have owners; these, however, will have to be taken to cull to ensure that the registry is comprehensive and to avoid contamination of the certified herds.
The sweep said Alpuche will put Belize into global recognition and will allow for legal exportation to other countries like Guatemala.
-1 1 0 40 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 8 0 739 robots= author= 5926 Ministry of Health conducts Field Epidemiology Training Program ministry-of-health-conducts-field-epidemiology-training-program
A third cohort has embarked on a Basic Level Course in Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) in Belize.
The objective of the program is to build capacity for frontline responders in the detection, surveillance, response, analysis and prevention associated with high priority public health problems. Additionally, it will help to improve on the modeling and measuring of diseases in the country and also in the presentation of that data. It is an applied program administered by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to strengthen the technical leadership of Epidemiologists, who work directly with outbreak investigation and surveillance events in Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic.
Field Epidemiology Training Programs have been established in 28 countries as extensions of the Epidemic Intelligence Service model. A total of 20 health professionals have since graduated and benefited from the Basic Module Training and 4 from the Advance Module since 2009. The Training Program is a collaborative effort among various organizations: Ministry of Health (MOH), the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Prevention’s Regional Office in Central America and Panama (CDC-CAP), Training Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET) in Collaboration with Naval Medical Research Unit 6 (NAMRU).
Participants will include Medical Officers of the Ministry of Health and from the Belize Defence Force, Public Health Inspectors, Public Health Nurses and Laboratory Technicians. Facilitators for the workshop are trained MOH Public Health Staff. This round of the training is funded by NAMRU-6 through TEPHINET for military medical staff and health personnel. The training was launched on Wednesday, February 27th, at the ICT Center in Belmopan City.
-1 1 0 40 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 7 0 529 robots= author= 5927 Mexican Army commemorated in Belize its 100th Anniversary mexican-army-commemorated-in-belize-its-100th-anniversary
Belmopan, 25 February 2013.
On February 19th, Mexico celebrated the Mexican Army and Air Force Day and its 100th Anniversary. In Belize, the office of the Military Attaché of the Mexican Embassy held a commemoration ceremony on February 23rd. The event was headed by the Mexican Military and Air Attaché, General Pedro Almazan, and the Mexican Ambassador Mario Velazquez.
In celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Mexican Army, General Almazan remarked that this military force includes individuals from all sectors of the society, the voluntary recruitment of its members and its positive reputation for its subordination to civil authority, which have characterized it above other defense forces in the world. He emphasized that the Mexican Army has never been nor will be an instrument of conquest or aggression against other countries, due to the fact that its pacifist mission requires focusing with loyalty and true dedication to service, in maintaining institutional order and in the tasks that contribute to the country’s progress. General Almazan also highlighted the role of the Army in providing security and defense of Mexican sovereignty, as well as the gender policies implemented and the respect for the Rule of Law and Human Rights.
He added that the moral and political thought of today’s Mexican Army is an undeniable product of the paths of loyalty and professionalism from the last 100 years, as well as the guide granted by the Military Education, offered from many years to the Mexican military personnel, supported by a quality military education system. This system consists of various colleges, schools, research centres and other training and development courses of academic excellence that has therefore become one of the fundamental pillars of the Mexican military institutions.
General Almazan underlined as well that proud of these achievements, eager to share with the armed forces of friend countries and neighbours, and by ratifying their solidarity and fraternal support, every year the Mexican Army and Air Force open the doors of its military schools. Members of those armies are welcome to pursue, as scholarship recipients, professional careers and to conduct specialized courses.
Invited guests to the ceremony were the Governor General Sir Colville Young, CEO in the Ministry of National Security, Coronel George Lovell, CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Alexis Rosado, Commander of the Belize Defense Force (BDF), General David Jones, Commander of the Belize National Coast Guard (BNCG), Captain John Borland, as well as military attachés in Belize, Ambassadors and other members of the Diplomatic Corps and Belizean government officials.
In particular, the Mexican Military Attaché praised the friendship between Belize and Mexico, specially the commendable work of the Mexican Army in providing assistance to Belize, including the Belizean population during natural disasters. In the last twelve months, bilateral relations have been strengthened through the following actions:
•The successful completion by a group of Mexican military engineers of the construction of the interconnection road, from the new international bridge Chac-Temal to the Belizean customs and port facilities, in the Northern border.
• The 7th Belize-Mexico Border Military Commanders Meeting which took place in Chetumal, Mexico.
• The scholarship program for Belizean students for 2013-2014 provided by the Mexican Ministry of National Defense, through the Mexican Military Attaché.
The program includes 12 training courses for Officers and Sergeants of the Army and Air Force in different Military Schools such as Aviation, Medical, Dentistry, Military Engineers, Health, Nurses or Transmissions; 8 Specialized courses for Officers of the Army, as well as 4 Masters, 13 Medical Specialist, 15 Postgraduate courses, 17 Medical Subspecialist, and 10 Technical-Specialized Courses for Military, Naval and Civil Surgeons, Nurses and Health Service.
The Mexican Army was created by Venustiano Carranza in 1913 under the name of “Constitutionalist Army” in order to fight the coup d’État that overthrown the then newly elected democratic regimen.
For more information visit the Mexican Embassy’s website: www.sre.gob.mx/belice or Facebook: www.facebook.com/EmbassyofMexicoinBelize Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Embamexbee
-1 1 0 40 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 6 0 660 robots= author= 5928 Old Paslow Building Site renovated old-paslow-building-site-renovated
The site where the Paslow building was once located (popularly known as Ground Zero) is scheduled for a makeover. Over the past weekend, the Belize City Council moved vendors who were located on the grounds and placed some of them in the Battlefield Park while others chose other areas across the city to place their booths. Speaking to Public Relations Manager at the Belize City Council, Kenny Morgan, he explained that a request came from the Sustainable Tourism Programme to move the vendors as extensive work will be done in the area as the project nears the foot of the Swing Bridge. Morgan says that the vendors were given two weeks notice during which they were to have found somewhere else to go. For those who did find a new location, they were moved to the new location while others who were unable to identify a new location were placed at the Battlefield Park for a period of 90 days during which they will once again be moved since that park will also undergo major renovations.
As for the Paslow site, Morgan says that the persons who is leasing it will fence the property and begin to collect parking fees from people who use it.
-1 1 0 40 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 5 0 438 robots= author= 5929 New Requirements for Passports new-requirements-for-passports
As of March 1st, the Immigration Department will be adding requirements for persons to apply for passports. Among the new requirements is the addition of a second recommender for the persons making the passport application. Persons who are making applications from foreign missions will also be asked to fill out an additional form. For those persons who have lost or have their passports damaged, a form is also being introduced that needs to be filled out as well. According to Acting Director of Immigration, Maria Marin, the measures are being put in place in order to ensure the security of the process.
In the past, the application process only required an applicant to have one recommender who would have been a Justice of the Peace, Minister of Religion, Medical Practitioner, Notary Public or an Attorney at Law. Now, there is a second recommender being added who should be a Member of the House of Representatives, a Chief Executive Officer in any Ministry of Government, a Head of Department or a Licensed Teacher. In addition to filling out the form, those making recommendations will be asked to certify by way of a picture that the person is who he or she says they are.
Other changes in the application process the addition of expedited services where passports can be delivered in 24 hours for a fee of $200, 48 hours for a fee of $100 and 3 to 5 day service for a fee of $50. All other fees for passports remain the same as before.
-1 1 0 40 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 4 0 439 robots= author= 5930 Petillo’s Fair Distribution of Land petillos-fair-distribution-of-land
Every time Nigel Petillo appears on the news media, he harps on having fair distribution of land. Well, while nobody can fault him for asking, we can fault him for not practicing what he preaches. And the Harmonyville distribution of land is proof of this.
He said that he would be distributing land to first time land owners for the purpose of creating an agricultural community. Well, we are yet to see if the community will indeed become an agricultural one. While that is up in the air what we do know is that the land is not being distributed in a fair manner. The Guardian has come into possession of a document which shows that it is Petillo first, second, third, fourth, fifth and so on and so on. The document shows that among those who have received land in Harmonyville are Petillo’s siblings including Jason Petillo, Charlton Petillo, Stephen Petillo, Glen Petillo, even his wife Michelle Noralez (Nigel Petillo’s other name is Rudolph Noralez) and his parents Naomi Petillo and Jeffery Petillo were thrown into the mix.
That’s right! The entire Petillo clan was put on the land queue. While that just proves that Petillo not only speaks from two sides of his mouth, he also acts from two positions, the ‘fair’ land distribution does not end there. Even Petillo’s in laws got in on the land action, names like Vanzie, Guzman, Garbutt, Wade and Hall keep on repeating themselves on the list of those who benefitted from the distribution at Harmonyville. Oh yes! We know the truth Nigel. Do you think these things will go unsaid?
For Petillo to jump up on television and claim that he is fighting for fair distribution of land and not practicing what he is championing brings to mine one word HYPOCRITE!
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There have been three protests 4 protests since the year started and from the way things are shaping up to be, there is a guarantee that there will be another sometime soon. Maybe the reason for that protest will be that the sun is shining brighter and hotter these days and people are not happy about it. Whatever the protest however there is one certainty: the same people will show up to demonstrate. The following is a list of those who will surely make it. In no particular order they are: Don Hector, Geovanni Brackett, Moses Sulph, Wil Maehia, Nigel Petillo, Murphy McClaren and Micah Goodin. We haven’t seen Yolanda in a while still we will include her.
-1 1 0 40 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 2 0 366 robots= author= 5932 John Gideon murdered in Hattieville john-gideon-murdered-in-hattieville
Popular employee of San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi, John Gideon was gunned down just after giving two friends a ride home on Friday night, February 22nd. According to reports, 32-year-old Gideon left his home in New Site Hattieville Village at around 11:30 p.m. to drop two friends home. It is believed that on his return home, his grey Mercedes Benz ran out of gas near Mile 17 on the George Price Highway. Gideon got out the vehicle, took out his battery, and started to walk. Shortly after, he was approached by a man riding a bicycle who stopped and fired several shots at him before riding off. Gideon was shot to the face, head and back. He died on the scene. Police have not reported any arrest in the case as yet and the investigation continues.
Gideon leaves behind a wife and two children (a 6-year-old daughter and 14-month-old son).
-1 1 0 39 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 9 0 436 robots= author= 5933 Guilty of Murder guilty-of-murder
On Monday, February 25th a jury of 12 stepped into the deliberating room to decide the fate of Japheth Bennett, who was only a teenager when he was accused of killing Ellis Meighan Sr., the brother of well-known cyclist, Ernest “Jawmeighan” Meighan. After almost 4 hours of deliberations, they reached a verdict of guilty of murder and their decision was unanimous.
When Bennett heard the verdict, he was in shock; he disbelieved that he could have been found guilty. Meanwhile, Justice Adolph Lucas deferred sentencing for Thursday, February 28th, 2013.
Ellis Meighan Sr., was gunned down on September 9th, 2009 at the corner of Banak Street and Central American Boulevard. He was shot once to the head and according to Dr. Mario Estradabran who testified in court, Meighan died from trauma due to a single gunshot wound to the head. He explained that the shot he received to the head had entered the back and exited the front and that it was shot from a distance ranging from 28 to 30 inches.
At the time of him being charged, the now 20-year-old Japheth Bennett, was only 17.
In court, there was no eyewitness to the murder but one main witness for the prosecution’s case led police to the arrest of Bennett. That witness was identified as Marlon Middleton, who back in 2009, told the police that he heard the shots and later saw a man lying at the corner of Banak Street and Central American Boulevard. He also told police he saw Bennett, someone whom he had known for 5 months prior to the shooting, standing over Meighan’s body with a firearm in his hand.
In the trial, when Middleton took the stand, he first told the court that he was heading from the West Landivar area at around 8:40 p.m., on the night on September 9th, 2009, when he heard shots ring out in the area.
According to Middleton, he was heading to his sister’s house after playing basketball,when he saw the body of a man lying on the ground at the corner of Banak Street and Central American Boulevard. He said that he observed the body of the man for 5 minutes but he did not know who the man was and then he continued to ride on. According to Middleton, he didn’t see anything else that night.
But in the trial, the prosecutor had to make an application to treat Middleton as a hostile witness.
She was later able to get his 2009 statement admitted into evidence, despite the fact that Middleton continuously told the court that he didn’t recall ever giving police a statement in the matter.
When shown his 2009 statement with a signature on it, Middleton told the court that he never signed it and that the signature seen on the statement was not his.
In his defense, Bennett told the court from a dock statement, “I did not kill Ellis Meighan Sr., I don’t know Ellis Meighan Sr., I was not even close to Meighan at the time they accused me of the murder. I was in my usual places playing with my dog that I love the most. I didn’t have any intention of killing Meighan or doing anything like that.”
The trial of Japheth Bennett began on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 he was represented by attorney, Michael Peyrefitte in the trial.
-1 1 0 39 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 8 0 347 robots= author= 5934 Jose Guido Campo chopped to Death jose-guido-campo-chopped-to-death
Police are investigating the murder of 56-year-old Jose Nemencio Guido Campo which occurred sometime between 6 p.m. and 12 midnight on Friday, February 22nd. According to reports, Jose was travelling with his son, Luis Campo, from Cotton Tree Village to their residence in Sunset Park Village. Luis told police officers that his pickup truck experienced mechanical problems near ile 9 on the George Price Highway and his father decided to continue the journey home on foot through a shortcut that is situated between Miles 8 and 9 on the highway. It was at about 11:45 p.m. that Luis became concerned over his father’s whereabouts since he did not arrive at home. Luis stated that he went to search the shortcut that led from the highway to Sunset Park Village when he saw blood stains on the path. He later saw the lifeless body of his father with cut wounds to the face and right hand. His left arm was amputated. Police was informed of the incident at 12:01 a.m. and they responded to the scene of the discovery.
No arrest has been reported in relation to the incident as yet and police are encouraging anyone with information that can assist with their investigation to call the nearest police station or 0-800-922-8477.
-1 1 0 39 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 7 0 377 robots= author= 5935 Bail granted to Pregnant Woman bail-granted-to-pregnant-woman-
On Friday, February 22nd, 25-year-old Natalie Coleman, a pregnant Libertad woman who was convicted on January 3rd and sentenced to 5 years for possession of 4-16 gauge cartridges, was granted bail in the sum of $5,000 plus one surety of the same amount.
Her attorney, Anthony Sylvester, took the matter of bail to the Magistrate’s Court, where Coleman was convicted since her conviction has been appealed and is to be heard soon.
In his submission to the court, Sylvester asked the court for a stay of execution of her January 3rd, 2013 conviction as they have already filed a notice of appeal in the Supreme Court. He asked the court to consider bail for several reasons. One reason being that Coleman’s case has a reasonable prospect of success. Another point was that she is 7 months pregnant and prior to her conviction, she had no record or had been before the court.
His main ground is that Coleman’s penalty was inhumane as the punishment does not fit the circumstances and the law indicates that her sentence upon conviction was nothing less than 5 years.
The minimum now for firearm and ammunition conviction is 5 years. Before the amendment it was 2 years minimum.
In December 2011, Coleman along with her 22-year-old boyfriend, Randy Dominguez, were charged jointly with one count of possession of ammunition. Police claim they searched a home in Biscayne Village where they found 4 16-gauge cartridges inside the home.
Present at the home, was Coleman and according to police, Dominquez ran off making good his escape through a back door.
Despite that, he was charged along with Coleman but he was not arraigned on the charged until March 2012. Three months after the home search. In November 2012, Dominquez, with help of an attorney, was acquitted of the charge leaving Coleman alone to stand trial which led to her conviction.
-1 1 0 39 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 6 0 139 robots= author= 5936 Accused of having Sex with a 13-year-old Girl accused-of-having-sex-with-a-13-year-old-girl
A Gardenia mechanic, who is accused of having sexual intercourse at least once with a 13-year-old primary school girl, was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday February 26th where he was read a single charge of carnal knowledge.
22 year-old Marlon Dawson, appeared before Magistrate Dale Cayetano where he was denied bail due to the nature of the offence and was remanded to the Belize Central Prison.
The matter was reported to the Belize Human Services Department on Friday, February 22nd. The girl, who was accompanied by her father told authorities that on December 14th, 2012, Dawson had sexual intercourse with her whilst at a home in the village.
The child has since been examined by a doctor who has confirmed that she was carnally known.
Dawson is due back in Court #4 on March 28th, 2013.
-1 1 0 39 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 5 0 223 robots= author= 5937 Waitress convicted of Drug Trafficking waitress-convicted-of-drug-trafficking
On Tuesday, February 26th, 31-year-old Elvia Dominguez, a Biscayne resident was convicted in Magistrate’s court for drug trafficking. She appeared before Magistrate Anne Marie Smith unrepresented. In court, Dominguez gave sworn testimony denying the allegations. She said that on that day, she had gone to the Municipal Airstrip in Belize City and heading back home, she caught a taxi. She added that another man had also boarded the taxi earlier on but that he was dropped off at the Conch Bay area. Whilst inside the taxi, the police stopped it and found weed in her purse.
She told the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith that all she had in her purse was a big butcher’s knife and that she had no idea or knowledge of how the weed got inside her purse. But the Chief Magistrate did not believe her side of the story and found her guilty.
Dominguez was then fined $10,000. She was ordered to pay $2,000 forthwith or in default of payment, she will spend 6 months in prison. The balance she was ordered to pay by January 30th, 2014 or in default of payment, she will spend 3 more years in jail.
Police say that on August 3rd, 2012, at about 10:30 p.m., they were on mobile patrol in the Conch Shell Bay area, when they saw a grey taxi car. The taxi was stopped and inside it, police saw two occupants, Dominquez, and a male driver.
The two persons inside the taxi were asked to exit and police searched the taxi and found nothing. When the searched Dominguez, police found a black bag which contained the suspected cannabis inside a sling bag which was hanging from her right shoulder.
Only Dominguez was charged with drug trafficking.
-1 1 0 39 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 4 0 111 robots= author= 5938 Honduran Driver charged for Manslaughter honduran-driver-charged-for-manslaughter
On Monday, February 25th, 57-year-old Honduran truck driver, Luis Beltran Garcia, appeared in Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Dale Cayetano where he was charged with manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct, driving a motor vehicle without due care and attention and permitting a person to travel without being properly seated.
In court, Magistrate Cayetano denied Garcia bail since his status in Belize is uncertain. He was then remanded to prison until March 29th, since he is considered a flight risk.
Garcia was charged after Kenrick Sutherland fell off a garbage truck on Friday, February 22nd, and was run over. Sutherland, who was sitting in the pan of the vehicle, fell out and was crushed by the rear wheel after he fell under the truck as it was dumping garbage at the landfill located at mile 3 on the George Price Highway.
-1 1 0 39 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 3 0 112 robots= author= 5939 Ex-Cop acquitted of Perjury ex-cop-acquitted-of-perjury
On Monday, February 25th Justice Troadio Gonzalez intervened in the trial of former police officer, Anthony Polonio, who was before the court on charges of perjury. In his intervention, Justice Gonzalez asked a jury of 9 to find the accused not guilty of a charge of perjury.
Polonio had been charged after he allegedly lied to the court during the trial of businessman Chayben Abou-Nahra, who had shot and killed Belize City resident Shawn Copious on Lottie Waight Street in the Kings Park area back in 2005. Bou-Nahra was charged with manslaughter after he claimed he acted in self-defense. But Copious was shot in the back. He was granted bail and in 2007, stood trial for manslaughter but walked free at the end of the trial.
During the trial, none of the three officers, Darius Ramos, Clement Cacho and Anthony Polonio were able to identify Bou-Nahra despite the fact that they claimed they dealt with him in some way or the other. The manner in which the trial concluded before Justice Adolph Lucas led the judge to call the officers wicked and worthless. Two of the three officers were later charged criminally for perjury while the third, Cacho was only disciplined before a tribunal. PC Darius Ramos later died from illness leaving only Anthony Polonio, now 46, to stand trial.
At the end of Polonio’s case on Monday, he was acquitted when trial judge, Troadio Gonzalez directed the jury to find him not guilty. After hearing his fate, Polonio dashed out through a side door and ran down the stairs in an attempt not to be captured by the cameras.
Judge Gonzalez had heard from Polonio’s attorney, Simeon Sampson last Friday, February 22nd, who made a no case submission since the prosecution failed to prove that his client committed any such offense as perjury on the stand back in 2007. He asked the judge to then stop the case and set his client free as there is no evidence to support the prosecution’s case.
Before taking a decision Justice Gonzalez explained to the court that while there were negative answers given by the Polonio, which makes them highly suspicious, it does not matter how suspicious the answers may have been as he does not think it was enough to prove the charge of perjury.
-1 1 0 39 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 2 0 120 robots= author= 5940 Ernest Savery Executed ernest-savery-executed-
In October 2010, 32-year-old prison officer Miriam Gillett was shot in the head while travelling in a vehicle that was being driven by her co-worker, Ernest Savery. Gillett and Silvano Cal were traveling with Savery when a gunman ambushed the vehicle near the Boom Road junction with the George Price Highway. The vehicle was riddled with bullets and crashed into a lamppost near the junction. Savery and Cal were injured in the incident but Gillett died on the spot as a result of the gunshot wound to her head.
It is speculated that Savery was the intended target in the 2010 shooting. However, he did not escape death on Friday night, February 22nd; as a gunman pulled up on him while he walked out of his home on Perez Road in Ladyville Village and fired four shots in his direction. One of the bullets hit Savery in the right side of the abdomen. He was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital but succumbed to the injury shortly after.
In August 2004, Savery was one of three men convicted of the murder of a 67-year-old resident of San Pedro Town. He was later set free when the Privy Council reversed the guilty verdict.
-1 1 0 39 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 1 0 131 robots= author= 5941 Three Called to the Bar three-called-to-the-bar
On Friday, February 22nd, three persons were called to the bar before the Chief Justice, Kenneth A. Benjamin in the Supreme Court.
They are 25-year-old Candice Westby Fisher, the daughter of Former COPOL, Gerald Westby, who is originally from Belmopan City; 39-year-old Michelle Trapp-Zuniga, a Belize City resident and an employee at Legal Aid, along with 27-year-old Baja Shoman, who is also presently employed at Legal Aid.
Ceremonies were held where all three women were given opportunities to speak of their long journey.
Putting into motion the grand moment for Fisher was attorney, Fred Lumor while Attorney, Anthony Sabido made the motion for Baja Shoman and Hubert Elrighton did so for Michelle Trapp Zuniga.
Fisher is presently employed at the Belize Intellectual Property Office in Belmopan as the Deputy Registrar. She graduated from Norman Manley Law School in 2012, and was awarded the Belize Bar Association Prize. In 2010, she graduated from the University of the West Indies where she was awarded the Pitts and Elrington Award.
At the age of 25, she is the daughter of Former COMPOL, Gerald Westby and mother, Clara Westby, both of Belmopan. She had attended the Corozal Community College up until second form then moved on to Belmopan Comprehensive School where she graduated in 2004. She then went on to pursue an associate degree at SJC Sixth Form in 2006. She was once a teacher for a year at the United Evergreen Primary School in Belmopan.
Shoman, at age 27, successfully graduated from the University of West Indies back in 2010. In 2012, she completed the Norman Manley Law School. She attended SCA, then SJCJC and then UB where she studied accounting. She is presently working at the Legal Advice and Services Center (Legal Aid) on Albert Street in Belize City. Baja Shoman is the daughter of Veronica Amoa.
-1 1 0 59 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 3 0 151 robots= author= 5942 Graffiti Artists win Snorkeling Trip to Great Barrier Reef graffiti-artists-win-snorkeling-trip-to-great-barrier-reef
During the Belize Street Art Festival on Saturday, February 23rd, ten young artists took part in a graffiti art competition. The competition was sponsored by the Belize Tourism Board. BTB’s media relations officer, Andrea Polanco told the Guardian that they wanted the youths to display their talent in front of a live audience. The artists were given a blank canvas and wide range of materials to work with. Hundreds of people stopped at the work site to get a look at art in progress. They saw young artists formed images of national monuments and historical sites using materials that can be found around the house. Some artists formed alliances and at the end of the day six pieces were submitted.
On Wednesday, February 27th, the Belize Tourism Board handed out prizes to the winners of the competition. Third place went to Micah Vernon and second place went to Brad Steadman. They received gift bags. First place went to the team of Shantel Carter, Kristen Carter, Miguel Chan and Moises Granedos. They received gift bags and a snorkeling trip to the Great Belize Barrier Reef. The Belize Tourism Board also recognized Erron Golanche, Briheda Haylock, Kody August and Gian Novelo for their pieces.
-1 1 0 59 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 shane D. Williams 2/28/2013 21:06:40 64 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 2 0 2 0 272 robots= author= 5943 3rd Annual Street Art Festival 3rd-annual-street-art-festival
The third annual Belize Street Art Festival, held on Saturday, February 23rd, was a huge success. A steady flow of Belizeans and tourists made their way out to Albert Street to enjoy the food, entertainment and other works of art on display.
Albert Street was blocked off from the Belize Bank to Doony’s Store on Prince Street. Tents were set up across the stretch featuring the works of various artists. There were paintings, weaved baskets, sculptures, local fashion accessories and, more. There were also booths where people stopped in to get tattoos, facial paintings and other body art. In the children zone, there were trampolines, bouncy houses, puppet shows and lively games. The youths had their own stage in front of Scotia Bank to showcase their talents. It was an expressive display as young men and women presented poems, songs and dances of world class quality. Performances at the youth stage ended at 8 p.m. and all the attention was turned to the established local artists.
The main stage was inside the Battlefield Park and a few hundred people gathered in and around the park to watch their favourite local artists perform. The crowd enjoyed the latest from gifted vocalist Melonie Gillett and listened attentively to lyrical genius Jenko Veli. The song of the night was “Street Anthem” by Nello Player and the most electrifying performer was Ernestine Carballo.
Karen Vernon, Coordinator of the Festival, said that there were so many requests for booths that she anticipates the festival zone will be extended by one block next year.
-1 1 0 59 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 Shane D. Williams 2/28/2013 21:06:04 64 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 2 0 1 0 162 robots= author= 5944 Alex Neal won Boxing Bout over Mohammad Harmouch alex-neal-won-boxing-bout-over-mohammad-harmouch
The Lion’s Den in Ladyville, a member of the Belize Boxing Federation, sponsored a most successful Boxing Card at the Bird’s Isle in Belize City on Sunday, February 24th, 2013. The day’s events included boxers from the promoting gym Lion’s Den in Ladyville, Leopold Smart Gym here in Belize City and the Lion’s Den in Cayo. There were a number of fights before the main event which featured Alex Neal and Mohammad Harmouch.
In the first bout of the day which featured Eduard Garcia and Brandon Aguilar, the fight demonstrated a lot of skills especially by Garcia in the early goings when he showed superior foot movements. However, Aguilar because of his better fitness was able to overcome the early goings and started to land the much needed hits on Garcia. At the end of the fight, the judges’ decision was in favour of Brandon Aguilar.
The second fight of the day featured Simeon Lino against Rayford Smith. Rayford Smith was declared the victor in this fight based on the judges’ decision.
In fight number three, J.R. won over his opponent based on the judges’ decision that he landed more hits that Brenton Flowers. In the fourth fight of the day, it was Portio Anderson against Oren Velasquez. At the end of the fight, it was Portio Anderson that was declared the winner. In fight number five, Kenyon Wright came up victorious via the Knock out route over “Chino”.
In the only female exhibition game, between Pauline Reneau and Shenique Michael, ended in a draw.
In the final and main event of the day, Lion’s Den Alex Neal went up against the older, experienced and heavier Mohammad Harmouch. At the end of the bout and the judges tabulations, it was a unanimous decision that Alex Neal was the victor.
(Photo: Courtesy of Channel 7)
-1 1 0 41 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 2/28/2013 20:24:16 64 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 2 0 7 0 257 robots= author= 5945 More Crime Fighting Tools for communities more-crime-fighting-tools-for-communities
The United States Embassy through the Central American Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) handed over hand-held radios, flashlights, handcuffs and whistles to some 20 community watch groups across the country. The donation is part of a three year program where the U.S. embassy will provide support and equipment to these organizations to a total of 400 thousand dollars.
According to the U.S. Ambassador, Vinai Thummalapally, the contribution is part of the U.S. State Department’s support to Belizeans in the fight against crime. He stated that since the introduction of the program in Belize in 2009 the U.S. has trained some 33 police officers in community policing specifically to address the growing problem of crime. The CARSI program he noted is specifically geared to help Central American countries by assisting the citizens in security matters, helping youth and empowering communities to reduce crime through community participation.
-1 1 0 40 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 1 0 70 robots= author= 5946 Belizean Athletes to 10th Central American Games belizean-athletes-to-1oth-central-american-games
The Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association will have representation at the 10th Central American Games scheduled for March 3rd -17th, 2013, in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Belize will send a contingent of 175 athletes and officials to the 10th Edition of the games, which will be made up from 13 Sport Disciplines. Belize will have participation in softball (female), Volleyball, Track & Field, Tennis, Judo, Fencing, Triathlon, football, Basketball, Bodybuilding, Karate, Cycling, and Boxing.
The Official Opening Ceremonies of the 10th Central American Games is scheduled for Sunday, March 3th, 2013, with the first wave of Belizean athletes to the games leaving the country on Saturday, March 2nd, which includes Softball, Judo and Fencing. The second and third waves of athletes will follow after that.
The Chef-De-Mission to the 10th Central American Games is Frank McKenzies.
-1 1 0 41 2/28/2013 06:00:00 64 2/28/2013 21:39:38 64 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 2 0 6 0 174 robots= author= 5947 Belmopan Bandits continues on Winning Path belmopan-bandits-continues-on-winning-path
The Premier League of Belize 2013 Closing Season continued over the last weekend with four games played across the country.
On Saturday, February 23rd, at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan, the defending champions and the league’s leading Belmopan Bandits defeated the national sub-champions Police United by the score of 3-2. The visiting Police United was the first to get onto the scoreboard when Amin August, Jr. scored the 1st goal of the game in the 25th minute of play to give his team a temporary lead.
However, it was in the closing minutes of the 1st half of the game that the host team Belmopan Bandits were able to get onto the scoreboard when Jerome James scored his team’s 1st goal of the game in the 40th minute of play.
In the second half of the game, Police United was able to take the lead once again when Daniel Jimenez scored the 2nd goal of the game to give his team a 2-1 lead. Once again, the defending champions and current leaders in this year’s campaign the Belmopan Bandits were able to tie the score at 2-2 when Jeremy Bermudez scored the equalizing goal in the 75th minute of play.
The Belmopan Bandits took the lead for good when David Trapp scored his team’s 3rd goal of the game in the 82nd minute of play for the 3-2 victory.
On Sunday, February 24th, 2013, at the Placencia Football Field in Placencia Village, the former champions Placencia Assassins picked up its first win of the 2013 campaign when it edged the winless Verdes by the score of 2-1. The Placencia Assassins playing before it fans were the first to get on the scoreboard when Zerrick Torres scored the 1st goal of the game in the 12th minute of play to give his team an early lead. That lead was further extended when Alexander Peters scored in the 24th minute of play for a 2-0 lead.
The first half of the game ended 2-0 in favour of the home team the Placencia Assassins.
It was well into the second half of the game that Verdes were able to get on the scoreboard when Wilmer Garcia scored his team’s only goal of the game in the 76th minute of play. At the sound of the long whistle it was indeed a 2-1 victory for the Placencia Assassins.
At the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio Town, FC San Felipe Barcelona blanked the home team San Ignacio United by the score of 2-0. Osmar Duran scored the 1st goal of the game in the 12th minute of play to give his team a 1-0 lead. In fact, that was the only goal really needed. However, Clifton West’s goal that was scored in the 20th minute of play gave his team the insurance goal and the 2-0 victory.
Meanwhile, at the MCC Grounds here in Belize City, FC Belize blanked its nemesis the Belize Defence Force by the score of 1-0. The only goal of the game was scored by Norman Pipersburgh in the 77th minute of play.
-1 1 0 41 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 5 0 74 robots= author= 5948 Tuff “E” Nuff and Baby Ruth Baaba Shap leads Interoffice Softball Competition tuff-e-nuff-and-baby-ruth-baaba-shap-leads-interoffice-softball-competition
The 2012 Belize City Interoffice Softball Competition continued over the last weekend with seven games at Rogers Stadium, the MECCA for softball in the country.
On Friday, February 22nd, in the first game played, BWSL defeated Tuff “E” Nuff by the score of 29-16. BWSL scored a total of 29 runs while pounding the combined pitching of Cojac Smith and Kamira Black for 22 hits. Included among the hits were a3 run home run by third baseman Joe Domingo in the top of the 4th inning and a 2 run home run by left fielder Earl Noralez in the top of the 6th inning.
The winning pitcher was Sharea Pandy and the losing pitcher was Cojac Smith.
In game two, the defending champions BTL defeated Baby Ruth Baaba Shap by the score of 13-9. BTL scored 13 runs on 14 hits. The BTL offence was led by catcher Nelson Tillett who collected 3 hits which included 2 double and a single. Tillett also drove in 4 runs. For Baby Ruth Baaba Shap, it scored 9 runs on 9 hits.
The winning pitcher was Bernard Pitts and the losing pitcher was Jumoke Castro.
The competition continued on Saturday February 9, in game one Guardian/Sports Council defeated Kit Kat Baaba Shap by the score of 10-3. Guardian/Sports Council scored 10 runs on 11 hits, while Kit Kat Baaba Shap scored 3 runs on 6 hits. The winning pitcher was Claudette Williams and the losing pitcher was Leonora Morales.
In game two, Tuff “E” Nuff clipped the wings of the high flying Belize Bank by the score of 13-9. Tuff “E” Nuff scored 13 runs on 13 hits. The Tuff “E” Nuff offence was keyed by pitcher Rico Black who collected 3 hits in 5 official- at bats, which included a run producing double in the 2nd of the bottom inning and a run producing triple in the bottom of the 5th inning. Meanwhile, Belize Bank scored 9 runs on 7 hits.
The winning pitcher was Rico Black and the losing pitcher was Enid Dakers.
In the third and final game of the day, Baby Ruth Baaba Shap doubled up on BSWL by the score of 22-11. Baby Ruth Baaba Shap scored 22 runs on 18 hits. The Baby Ruth Baaba Shap offence was keyed by first baseman Tiffara Welch who collected 4 hits in 5 official-at-bats, which also included a 2 run triple in the top of the7th inning. Meanwhile, BWSL scored 11 runs on 15 hits.
The winning pitcher was Shantel Flowers and the losing pitcher was Kareem Thompson.
On Sunday, February 24th, 2013, in the continuation of the competition in game one, Guardian/Sports Council edged BWSL by the score of 10-9. Guardian/Sports Council scored 10 runs on 9 hits, while BWSL scored 9 runs on 8 hits including centre fielder Earl Noralezs’ 3-run home run in the top of the 1st inning.
The winning pitcher was Joel Wade and the losing pitcher was William Smith.
In the final game of the day, Tuff “E” Nuff defeated Kit Kat Baaba Shap by the score of 12-7. Tuff “E” Nuff oofence was charged by shortstop Ryan Bennett who collected 3 hits in 4 official-at-bats.
The winning pitcher was Rico Black and the losing pitcher was Leonora Morales.
-1 1 0 41 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 4 0 89 robots= author= 5949 Secondary Schools Challenge Cup opens in Orange Walk secondary-schools-challenge-cup-opens-in-orange-walk
The Orange Walk Football Association will be having its opening of the Orange Walk District Secondary Schools Challenge Cup on Friday March 1st, 2013 beginning at 4:00 pm at the People’s Stadium.
This weekend’s games will be hosted by Muffles College and the cover charge is only $2.00 and all proceeds will go to the school hosting the games.
The first game is scheduled for 4:00 pm between New Hope School and Belize High School of Agriculture. In game two, it will be Muffles College High School against Orange Walk Technical High School.
-1 1 0 41 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 1 0 3 0 113 robots= author= 5950 Nazarene High School Girls unbeaten in softball nazarene-high-school-girls-unbeaten-in-softball
The Central Region Secondary Schools Softball Competition in both the male and female categories continues at Rogers Stadium.
On Tuesday, February 26th, 2013, in the only game on the schedule in male competition, Maud Williams High School defeated Wesley College by the score of 20-5. The winning pitcher for Maud Williams was Amir Ramos and the losing pitcher was Keiron Young.
On Monday, February 25th, in the female game played, undefeated Nazarene High School blasted St. Catherine Academy by the score 17-2. The winning pitcher was Elma Wade and the losing pitcher was Jacqueline Alas.
In the second female game, Ladyville Technical High School defeated Pallotti High School by the score of 21-6. The winning pitcher was Denika Noralez and the losing pitcher was Marlette Martinez.
The competition continued on Saturday, February 23rd, with 5 games on the schedule. In the first female game, Wesley College defeated Ladyville Technical High School by the score of 14-3. The winning pitcher was Briana Meighan and the losing pitcher was Denika Noralez. In the second female game, Anglican Cathedral College defeated Maud Williams High School by the score of 21-11. The winning pitcher was Leanne Davis and the losing pitcher was Kayla Robinson.
In the first of three male games played, Anglican Cathedral College defeated Wesley College by the score of 15-5. The winning pitcher was Keyvon Evans and the losing pitcher was Keiron Young. In the second male game, Nazarene High School defeated Maud Williams High School by the score of 15-6. The winning pitcher was Jerome Carr and the losing pitcher was Kayson Olivera. In the third male game, Anglican Cathedral College defeated St. John’s College by the score of 25-16. The winning pitcher was Devaun Zuniga and the losing pitcher was Tyler Snaggs.
On Thursday, February 21st, in the female game played, Anglican Cathedral College defeated St. Catherine Academy by the score of 26-24. The winning pitcher was Leanne Davis and the losing pitcher was Jacqueline Alas.
In the male game, Nazarene High School defeated Anglican Cathedral College by the score of 12-5. The winning pitcher was Jerome Carr and the losing pitcher was Devaun Zuniga.
On Wednesday, February 20th, in the female competition, Maud Williams High School defeated Pallotti High School by the score of 27-11. The winning pitcher was Kayla Robinson and the losing pitcher was Marlett Martinez.
In the male game, St. John’s College defeated Maud Williams High School by the score of 20-2. The winning pitcher was Tyler Snaggs and the losing pitcher was Kayson Olivera.
-1 1 0 41 2/28/2013 06:00:00 62 2/28/2013 21:46:14 64 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 2/28/2013 06:00:00 0/0/0000 00:00:00 show_title= link_titles= show_intro= show_section= link_section= show_category= link_category= show_vote= show_author= show_create_date= show_modify_date= show_pdf_icon= show_print_icon= show_email_icon= language= keyref= readmore= 2 0 2 0 118 robots= author= 5951 Biscayne Government School girls and Holy Redeemer Boys are Belize District Softball Champions biscayne-government-school-girls-and-holy-redeemer-boys-are-belize-district-softball-champions
The 2012-2013 Belize District Primary Schools Softball Championship came to an end on Monday, February 25th, 2013, at Rogers Stadium.
In the girls’ championship game, Biscayne Government School defeated St. John Vianney by the score of 6-4 to capture its first ever district title. The winning pitcher was Ashley Robinson and the losing pitcher was Princella Samuels.
In the first game of the day, St. John Vianney School, the Belize City champions ,defeated Belize Rural Primary School the Belize Rural sub-champions by the score of 6-5. The winning pitcher was Princella Samuels and the losing pitcher was Erleen Casasola.
In the second game, Biscayne Government School, the Belize Rural champions, defeated Salvation Army School the Belize City sub-champions by the score of 11-5. The winning pitcher was Ashley Robinson and the losing pitcher was Britney Meighan.
In the boys’ championship game, Holy Redeemer School defeated Belize Rural Primary School by the score of 10-7. The winning pitcher was D’Andre Arana and the losing pitcher was Andrew Banner.
In the first game of the boys’ championship, Holy Redeemer School, the Belize City champions, defeated Holy Cross Anglican School from San Pedro by the score of 10-4. The winning pitcher was D’Andre Arana and the losing pitcher was Lester Alvarez.
In game two, Belize Rural Primary School, the Belize Rural champions, defeated St. Mary’s Anglican School, the Belize City sub-champions, by the score of 11-5. The winning pitcher was Andrew Banner and the losing pitcher was Gilbert Cal.
The Biscayne Government School girls’ team and Holy Redeemer School boys’ team will represent the Belize District at the National Primary Schools Softball championship scheduled for Friday, March 8th, 2013, at Rogers Stadium.
We say congratulations to all our student-athletes that have represented their respective schools so well.
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Though there was a 26.8% decrease in oil production in 2012 and an 11.9% decrease in cruise tourist arrivals, Belize’s economy grew by approximately 5.6%. Considering that the United States’ economy grew by only 2.2% and Latin America and the Caribbean have an estimated growth of 3.0%, Belize’s economic performance is the marvel of the region.
The greater than projected decrease in oil production and the unexpected decrease in cruise tourism were offset by a 10.2% increase in overnight tourist arrivals. The banana and citrus industries also boosted the economy with a significant rebound year. Banana and citrus production suffered greatly in 2011 due to Hurricane Richard in late 2010 and a destructive thunderstorm in September of 2011. The incredible rebound of those two products combined with another impressive year for sugar production resulted in higher than projected growth in the GDP.
Experts are projecting more modest growth in fiscal year 2013/2014. There is an estimated growth of 4.5% in overnight tourist arrivals and leveling of agricultural production. Prime Minister Barrow thought it wise to not project any increase in oil production since there is no guarantee of imminent commercial oil discovery. Therefore, the economy is expected to grow by 3% in the upcoming fiscal year.
Public sector spending will once again play a huge role in economic activity. Prime Minister Barrow said, “It has been our practical and philosophical conviction that big government is a necessity for small countries.” Government will spend $60 million on a package of infrastructural projects that will be implemented by a national construction company named Belize Infrastructure Limited. PM Barrow said, “This is the special-purpose vehicle that will create jobs, stimulate demand, purchase private sector material and supplies and generally raise that tide that will float all Belizean boats. There will be continued investment in the country’s primary and secondary road network as well as the infrastructure of the major towns and cities.
The Government will continue to make good on its mantra of social justice. PM Barrow said, “We will expand our support to the indigent and the working poor through the Food Pantry Program, giving this basic nutritional and survival assistance to more citizens, including now in some rural areas. The Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, also known as Building Opportunities for Our Social Transformation initiative (BOOST) will also continued to be implemented in more communities. The World Bank has praised Belize’s social protection programme, in particular the BOOST initiative, as the best in the hemisphere. The Food Pantry Program allows low income families to purchase basic food items at less than half the price. BOOST sees the government enter into contracts with parents where cash is given to them in exchange for participation in developmental activities such as school attendance, vaccination, etc. In 2008, the total investment in social assistance programs was a half of a million dollars. It is now way over $5 million.
The General Revenue Appropriation Bill (2013) also features increases in spending on the Belize Police Department and other security forces. Though there are no new taxes, the Government is calling on public officers to be more efficient in tax collection as their salary adjustment is dependent upon revenue performance. In summing up his budget presentation, Prime Minister Barrow said, “We therefore walk the fine line of, on the one hand, responding to the pressing social and citizen security needs at home; responding to any reasonable and affordable wage concerns of our public officers and teachers; responding to the need for investment in new physical infrastructure. The budget will be debated on March 21st and 22nd.
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