Minister Louis Farrakhan at the Big Bird’s Isle

The leader of the Nation of Islam, Minister Louis Farrakhan, is visiting the country of Belize for the third time, first in twenty-seven years. News of his visit first surfaced in late November of 2012 when he was scheduled to come to Belize on December 6th. Unfortunately, Minister Farrakhan was forced to cancel the trip due to exhaustion and dehydration after visiting five Caribbean countries. Belizean Muslims and other supporters of the black movement were disappointed by news of the cancelation and hoped for a makeup visit. The date for that makeup visit was announced by Nuri Muhammad late last week and on Monday, March 4th, Minister Louis Farrakhan arrived in Belize.

While in Belize, Minister Farrakhan is scheduled to meet with several different groups of people before he holds a unity rally at the Bird’s Isle at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 8th. In an interview minutes after arriving at the international airport named after our local civil rights champion, Phillip S.W. Goldson, Minister Farrakhan explained that the purpose of his visit is “not just to speak to the Muslims but to the Christians, the Mayans to all of the members of this potentially powerful nation”. He said the problem Belize is facing with urban violence is common among black people in the region and across the world:” I think that the future of Belize has to tie in to Central America as well as to the whole of the Caribbean. The crime rate is going up and you have gang problems here with young people. It’s the same throughout the Caribbean and the United States as well as Africa.”

On Monday, Minister Farrakhan met the Prime Minister of Belize and Minister of Foreign Affairs in Belize City. On Tuesday, he met with social activists from several organizations inside the conference room of the University of the West Indies. On Wednesday, he met with students of the University of Belize at the institution’s Central Campus in Belmopan City. During his stay, the Minister is also scheduled to meet with the prison population, local Muslim community and youths from around Belize City. He said, “I think the way forward is the unity of the people of Belize, three hundred thousand, and the unity of the Caribbean, so I hope that I can encourage us to find a stronger path of unity.

-1 1 0 40 3/7/2013 06:00:00 64 Shane D. Williams 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 0 746 robots= author= 5962 A Post in The Wrong Place a-post-in-the-wrong-place

As The Guardian has been moving around the City looking at the infrastructural upgrades taking place, we were taken aback by this sight. A lamp post which is sitting well into Chetumal Street, at least two feet on the street and we were left to wonder if BEL will be moving the lamp post or if it will be left there and concrete poured around it.

As we understand it requests have been made to BEL to remove the post and place it on the side but that request has yet to be honored. We also understand that the contractor is just a couple of days away from pouring concrete in the final few yards of Chetumal Street. We only hope that the post is removed when that takes place.

-1 1 0 40 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 0 405 robots= author= 5963 Prime Minister departs Country to accompany Wife for Continuation of Her Medical Treatment prime-minister-departs-country-to-accompany-wife-for-continuation-of-her-medical-treatment-

Belmopan. March 5th, 2013.
The Office of the Prime Minister informs that the Hon. Dean Barrow will depart the country today, 5th March, 2013, to accompany his wife, Mrs. Kim Simplis-Barrow for continuation of her medical treatment.

During the Prime Minister’s absence, Hon. Gaspar Vega, the Deputy Prime Minister will act as Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Barrow expects to return to the country on 13th March, 2013.

-1 1 0 40 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 0 447 robots= author= 5964 Belize City and San Benito sign Sister City Relations belize-city-and-san-benito-sign-sister-city-relations

The Belize City Council hosted a Guatemalan delegation from the town of San Benito for three days between Friday, March 1st and Sunday, March 3rd. The 12-member delegation was hosted in Belize City and even taken to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The highlight of the visit by the Mayor of San Benito, Sonia Rivera, was the signing of a sister city relations agreement.

According to Mayor Darrell Bradley, the agreement will facilitate exchange visits between the two municipalities as well as trade and cultural exchanges.

In January of this year, the Mayor along with a delegation including councillors and senior staff at the Belize City Council made calls on the municipalities of Melchor de Mencos, San Benito and Almolonga during a 5-day visit.

-1 1 0 40 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 0 394 robots= author= 5965 Another Impressive Month for Tourist Arrivals another-impressive-month-for-tourist-arrivals

The Belize Tourism Board has released the statistics for tourist arrivals in the month of January and it shows that Mother Nature’s secret is out as the number of people visiting Belize continues to increase. Overnight tourist arrivals have increased by a remarkable 17.2% compared to last year’s stats. A total of 28,431 overnight tourists were recorded in January. Last year the number was 24,263. 19,965 passengers arrived at the Phillip Goldson International Airport this January which is 1,407 more than last year, an increase of 7.6%. Even more impressive news is that cruise tourism was up by 19.4% in comparison to January of 2012. 102,871 cruise tourists arrived in Belize in January. Last year, 86,128 cruise tourists made it to Belizean shores. This has been the most impressive January for tourist arrivals in Belize’s history.

-1 1 0 40 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 0 356 robots= author= 5966 Deputy Prime Minister Presents Land Title to University of Belize deputy-prime-minister-presents-land-title-to-university-of-belize

Belmopan. March 5th, 2013.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Gaspar Vega today presented the title for University of Belize Toledo Campus to the President of the University, Dr. Cary Fraser.

This is second title presented by Hon. Vega to the University. In September 2012, the University was presented with the title to the campus for its Central Farm campus by Deputy Prime Minister Vega.

-1 1 0 40 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 0 369 robots= author= 5967 UB establishes Endowed Scholarship for ACC Student ub-establishes-endowed-scholarship-for-acc-student

The University of Belize last week established an endowed scholarship that will create for a student from the Anglican Cathedral College (ACC), who will major in science and mathematics at the University of Belize. The scholarship will cover full tuition and fees and will be awarded on an annual basis by the University.

The Diane Sylvestre Endowment Fund is named after the benefactor, Jacqueline Diane Sylvestre, who was born in Belize to a distinguished British family that had originally arrived in the country in the 1700’s. Ms. Sylvestre was educated at St. Hilda’s College in Belize City (now the Anglican Cathedral College). She obtained a B.A. in Chemistry and Mathematics from Newcomb College, New Orleans, Louisiana and advanced degree in Physical Chemistry at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana.

President of the University of Belize, Dr. Cary Fraser thanked Sylvestre for the generous gift and pledged that it will emphasize that the University will focus upon expanding its training for Belizeans in the fields of science and mathematics. He said, “The endowed scholarship underscores the importance of the Belizean Diaspora in contributing to the socio-economic development of Belize by supporting the expansion of educational opportunities for young Belizeans.”

In her illustrious career, Sylvestre taught at the United Nations International School in New York City where she taught mathematics for 22 years and for 17 years served as the Head of the Department of Mathematics. She recently retired from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, where she taught Mathematics for 16 years.

-1 1 0 40 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 96 robots= author= 5968 UDP Leadership revisits Dangriga udp-leadership-revisits-dangriga

DANGRIGA, Stann Creek District, Saturday, March 2, 2013:

The second stop on the post National Convention tour of the United Democratic Party (UDP)Team was in Dangriga for a meeting and social interaction with representatives from Dangriga and Stann Creek West constituencies.

The event began at 8:00 pm on Saturday, March 2, at Mar’s Place in Dangriga’s New Site Community. Serving as master of Ceremony and delivering the welcome address was the ever dynamic Frank “Papa” Mena in his capacity as the UDP Caretaker Representative for Dangriga.

Addresses were likewise delivered by Deputy Chairman of the Party, Fern Gutierrez; by Party Chairman, Alberto August and by the Deputy Leader of the Party, Hon. Gaspar Vega. While closing remarks were delivered by the Stann Creek West Caretaker Representative, Duncan McPherson. Also joining the team in Dangriga was brother Eden Martinez from Toledo East.

In summary all speakers reiterated the strong family bond that exist within the leadership of the Party while dispelling any murmuring of division which is what the opposition would like to have happened in the wake of the February 17,  National Convention.

The Party Chairman informed the gathering that while it was widely speculated that the very first task of the new Chairman would have been to heal wounds occasioned by the convention,  this was certainly not the case as unity within all ranks of the party returned to normal immediately following the announcement of the results. He further informed that the enemy is not within but rather outside of our GREAT Party.

As the Party continues to grow, and with the convention now behind us, all attention must be focused on the upcoming village council elections as the Party seeks to consolidate support in every corner of the nation while government continues to seek ways to improve the lives of all Belizeans.

As the countrywide tour continues, the team is schedule to meet with all six Cayo constituencies this weekend.

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PUNTA GORDA TOWN, Friday, March 1, 2013:
True to the promise of coming back to the people after the February 17th, National Convention, today Deputy Party Leader, Hon. Gaspar Vega; Party Chairman, Alberto August and Deputy Chairman of the United Democratic Party, Fern Gutierrez met, in Punta Gorda Town, with delegates from Toledo East and Toledo West in the company of Caretaker Representatives ,brothers Eden Martinez and Juan Coy respectively.

In delivering the welcome address Brother Eden thanked the team for keeping its promise of returning to the constituency. This he said “…is a step in the right direction as too often once elected, there is the tendency to cast the people aside only to come around when their vote is needed.” He pledged the firm commitment of his committee to begin unifying the party support in Toledo East and to display this commitment by winning the majority of the village council elections in the constituency.

Deputy Chairman of the Party/ Punta Gorda Town Councilor, Fern Gutierrez, thanked the delegates for the overwhelming show of support as was evident by the results of the February 17 Convention. She told the gathering that as a representative of the south at the highest level of the Party, she intends to be the voice of the south within the Party while at the same time assisting in promoting the Party’s national agenda.

For his part, Party Chairman, Alberto August spoke of plans to grow the membership of the Party and to seek the consensus of the Leadership to transform the image of the Party to one that truly takes care of its supporters.  He pledged to work tirelessly with all constituency leaders in the effort to prepare the Party for all elections beginning with the upcoming village council elections.

The Party’s Deputy Leader/Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Gaspar Vega, thanked both Caretaker Representatives and the Delegates for supporting the Unity Team in the February 17 convention while reaffirming his commitment to keep in contact with the leaders in both constituencies. The DPL likewise reaffirmed the commitment to visit the constituency at least once each year to listen to the concerns of the people and to seek out the best way to address their concerns.

In delivering the closing remarks, Brother Juan Coy, thanked the team and other officials of the Party in attendance for the taking time out to travel to the south so soon after the convention. “This” he said, “is concrete evidence that the leadership of the Party is serious about its pledge to keep in touch with the people.”  Like brother Eden Martinez, brother Juan Coy pledged to continue the hard work in Toledo West and to secure victory for the Party in the majority of the villages in the constituency.

-1 1 0 40 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 47 robots= author= 5970 A Winding Path a-winding-path

The path towards women’s empowerment in the modern era is a long and winding one, sometimes making great strides forward and then losing ground and slipping backwards. International Women’s Day, observed on March 8th, may be a good time to evaluate where the struggle stands today. In some areas, much progress appears to have been made but in others the situation has barely changed.

The modern effort began in the late 19th Century with the Suffragette Movement in the USA and Europe with women campaigning to get the right to vote. The mocking tone with which these pioneering women were met is echoed frequently through the years as the campaign took the fight onto different fronts. This is one area where real progress has been made over the past 200 years but we should remember that women only achieved equal suffrage in Belize in 1954. Theoretically, women have the vote in almost every country in the world, although there are still some inequities and in many societies women are expected to vote in the way that their men folk instruct. More women are also found in political leadership positions, but their representation at this level is still weak in most countries. Belize is particularly backward in this regard.

Education is one area where great strides have been made and in many countries female participation in higher level education is greater than male participation. However, there are still societies that discourage or prevent girls from getting an education as evidenced by the near fatal attack on Malala Yousafzai for her advocacy efforts in favour of female education. Even in more enlightened societies, girls are too often choosing or being channelled into non technical and non scientific areas of study. This puts them at a serious disadvantage in modern knowledge based societies and goes some way to explain why up to today women earn less on average than their male counterparts in every country in the world.

Only fifty years ago women doing the exact same job as men were paid significantly less on the grounds that they didn’t need to be paid at the same rate as men who had families to support. They were also barred from many male dominated areas and “female” jobs were always remunerated at a lower rate than “male” jobs. Thus, nursing which requires a high level of training and education paid (and still pays) less than manual labour. Cooks are generally female and are on the lower rungs of the ladder while chefs who are mostly men are on a much higher level although they are really doing the same job. Now that salaries are being equalised and the need for manual labour is decreasing we see a trend of more men participating in traditionally female jobs and often rising faster within the ranks than women. Women are still significantly disadvantaged in the job/career area because of their multiple responsibilities for child and family care that make it difficult for them to participate fully. They sometimes have to break their service for pregnancy or infant care and often cannot work late hours or weekends like their male colleagues and this creates or reinforces the glass ceiling that working women face. There is still very little provision of support services for women in even the most affluent countries.

In the area of sexual and reproductive health, there have been many changes since Marie Stopes lobbied for the provision of family planning services in the 1920s. It was a long and difficult fight that still smoulders in a few dark corners. Although the majority of the world’s men and women use contraception or would use it if it was accessible some conservative (mostly male) voices contend that it is sinful. This has the effect of denying contraceptive services to the poor. Contraception has probably been one of the greatest forces facilitating the journey of women towards equality which is made even harder when you are barefoot and pregnant.

One area where progress has been particularly disappointing is gender violence. The level of violence directed towards women remains stubbornly high. Although the violence for the most part is not state sanctioned, there is still a lack of political will to take firm action and often laws are skewed against the victims.

So as we observe International Women’s Day in 2013, we see a patchy picture that encourages us to celebrate the progress made but be ever mindful of the work still to be done.

-1 10 0 56 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 3/7/2013 18:31:19 64 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 18 robots= author= 5971 THEN & NOW then-a-now

It is so good to be back in the pages of the Guardian again.
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It once was, many years ago, when Mike Espat could have been considered a political force to recon with.  Those days have long gone by as was clearly demonstrated during the last sitting of the House of Representatives.  The NOW poor excuse for an area representative truly embarrassed himself when he “proudly” sought to express a private issue as a matter of “grave” public interest.
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It is no secret that Mike Espat supported neither Said Musa nor Francis Fonseca for leadership of the now dwindling opposition but the very least they could have done was to advise him that such matter has no place in the House and thereby save him all that public embarrassment.
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Yes everyone knows that Mike Espat supported the Pineapple face Marin Sr. for leadership of the opposition and that when he sought advice from the Junior Marin in the House, the poor fella, who knows not his posterior from that section of the arm just below the shoulder, wrongfully encouraged him to make a fool of himself in the House of Representatives and by extension to the nation by way of national radio and television.
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Talking about the time to go…. The time for Mike Espat to go has NOW certainly come. How much longer will he continue to embarrass himself and the good people of Toledo East?
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Another BIG joke of the week has got to be the one about Eamon Courtenay seeking to come forward as somewhat of a guru in diplomacy and foreign affairs. The situation is compounded when those who lead the opposition in the twilight of its years, are stroking Courtenay’s ego.
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Hello Everyone!!! Wake Up!!! Wake Up!!! Is this not the same leadership of the fading opposition who, while Courtenay was sitting at a meeting table in a Central American country, instructed an aide to pull him aside and to inform him that he was instantly fired by “his” government and that he should lift his butt off the seat, leave the meeting and return to Belize immediately to be replaced by Scar Face.
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The nation has one message for Eamon….. Go fly a kite Bwai and while flying that kite, meditate on how best you can make right by the hard working Belizean people for the early 90’s missing 3.34 million dollars of their Social Security funds which, with interest over the last 20 years, could NOW be in the tens of millions of dollars.
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And the one that took the cake…. Julius Espat tells the nation that he cannot be accused of any wrongdoing because he acquired, for a pittance, the Chief Justice residence on Regent Street in Belize City, the huge tract of land at the northern border station in Corozal, the forestry workshop on Forest Drive in Belmopan among others, when he was NOT in government. Can you imagine therefore what he would have grabbed if his party had won the last general election?  Thank you Jesus ….. The Lord certainly works in mysterious ways.
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It is said that “Fishes are caught by their mouth”.  Watch it Julius, the hook is stuck deep down your throat. It is also said that “politics and power do not a person change but rather it brings out the person that one has always been.” Which reminds me: Collet Montejo, where hath thine wife goneth?  In fact, where is thine whole Church?
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It’s been several months NOW, and the member for Orange Walk South, caught deep inside Belizean territory in the north, with several cases of contraband Mexican beer, continues to sit, in the House of Representatives, directly behind the figurative leader and the real leader of that which is left of the PUP. If only either one of them, would but glance over their shoulders they would come face to face with a portion of that which is taking George Price’s party of the grave. They would also come face to face with the member for Cayo North whose truck was photographed parked on top of a boy on the member’s family property in San Ignacio. Is this member another nail in the coffin of George Price’s party?
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It was a former editor of the PUP Slimes who, in his drunken stupor, told us one day that Tricky Dickie is the author of a column in the slimes.  Is it really the Tricky one who recently wrote that the announced return of British Troops was noting but a “pipe dream” and a distraction by the Minister of National Security and the Government of Belize? Oh how slimy with egg his face must NOW be as we continue to see an increasing number of British Troops in military vehicular convoy traversing  our highways as they move from point A to point B.
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And NOW, on a final note: How much longer will the rotten dread attorney allow the declining opposition to continue using him? Of course we are not asking him to get out of Queen Square. He is safe as a church mouse in Queen Square as with every election the trashing he gets worsens. Let him sit his butt right there and take the licking.
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What we are referring to is the rotten dread attorney taking time each week to write nonsense in his party rag, when that time could be spent “reading” further into law, in order to one day wean himself from pro-bono party work and begin living like the “boys” instead of “brown-nosing” the few of what’s left of the PUP all of whom speak not too respectfully of him at every chance they get. And if you don’t believe this, you just ask Albert Vaughn.
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-1 1 0 40 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 51 robots= author= 5972 Abel Arana’s Family asks: Where is the Gun? abel-aranas-family-asks-where-is-the-gun

23-year-old Abel Arana died shortly after he was involved in a shootout at a residence on Camal Street, Hattieville Village on Sunday, March 3rd. According to a preliminary report from the Belize Police Department, Arana was at the house on Camal Street socializing with Sherlock Ralph Martinez and others when an argument ensued. According to police, “shots were fired apparently by both persons who took out weapons and fired at each other.” Arana was shot to the abdomen and left side of the buttocks. He was taken to the Hattieville Health Center where he later succumbed to his injuries. Martinez was shot in the lower part of the abdomen. He was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he continues to receive treatment for the injury.

Relatives and friends of both men have been outspoken about their assumptions of what happened in the house on Camal Street. Those close to Martinez are saying that he and Arana never had a relationship as friends; therefore, they would not have been socializing together. One friend of Martinez appeared on 7 News and said that Arana went to the house with the intent of killing Martinez. However, during the attempt, Martinez managed to knock the gun away and fired shots of his own. Arana’s parents dispute the allegations. They believe that their son was ‘chanced’ out of his life. They claim that the two men were friends as Martinez was very visible at a party that Arana had thrown for his child a few days earlier. Arana’s parents believe their son was beaten by numerous individuals and then shot. They ask, “If he [Arana] had gone there to kill him [Martinez] why not leave the gun on the scene so the police can find the gun? Where is the gun now?”

Police recovered two expended 9mm shells and two 9mm live rounds from the scene but no gun. They have recorded statements from several individuals.

-1 1 0 39 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 12 0 341 robots= author= 5973 First Woman to be tried for Escape at the Supreme Court first-woman-to-be-tried-for-escape-at-the-supreme-court-

On Friday, March 1st, the case of escape against 21- year-old Latifah Augustine, a student and resident of #170 East Collet Canal in Belize City, was committed to the April Session of the Supreme Court by Magistrate Dale Cayetano. As a result of the decision, her old bail was revoked and she was placed in lock down; she was offered a new bail in the sum of $3,000 plus a surety of the same amount.

In the past, the offense of escape was treated as a summary offense and was tried at the Belize City Magistrate’s Court but an amendment to the act now sees the charge being dealt with on indictment. When a person is charged for the offense, no plea is taken and a preliminary inquiry is held to determine if there is sufficient evidence to commit the matter to the Supreme Court.

Augustine is accused of escaping from lawful custody on Saturday, November 3rd, 2012 whilst at the Queen Street Police Station. She had been detained for assaulting a police officer and drinking in a public place. In a report, Sgt. Titus Parham reported that on Saturday, November 3rd, 2013, at about 10:40 a.m., he was on duty at the Queen Street Police Station as the EDO (Executive Duty Officer), when he was informed that Augustine was detained and placed into the female cell area for the offenses.

When checks were made by Sgt. Titus Parham, he noticed that Augustine had escaped from inside her cell, which was apparently not locked properly. Augustine was recaptured 2 days later, on Monday, November 5th, 2012 by PC Garbutt at about 5:40 p.m. in the Youth for the Future Drive area.  She was escorted to the Queen Street Police Station and additionally charged for escape.

-1 1 0 39 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 11 0 119 robots= author= 5974 Woman withdraws Bail from Ex-Cop woman-withdraws-bail-from-ex-cop

On Monday, March 4th, an ex-police officer, who was dismissed from the Belize Police Department after being charged for robbery, saw his 2012 bail revoked in court. Kimberly Grant, his former girlfriend, visited Court #6 where she appeared before Magistrate Adolph Lucas requesting the urgent withdrawal of her bail from her ex boyfriend, Michael Diaz.

Grant told Magistrate Adolph Lucas that on several occasions, Diaz has not been showing up at court despite the fact that in December 2012 she made a personal visit to him make sure he showed up. Diaz defied her request and as a result, she revoked her bail. Magistrate Lucas granted her request after she explained her situation.

In court, Diaz, who was unrepresented, explained that his ex-girlfriend is being malicious against him because they recently broke up. He says he did not show up on his latest court date because it was changed without his knowledge.

Court records, however, show that Diaz failed to show up to three consecutive court dates for a robbery charge he has before Court #6 since December 2012.

He told the court that he did not show up because he confused the dates with another case he has before Court #6.

Despite his story, Diaz was denied bail and was remanded to prison until Friday, March 8th, 2013.

Diaz in July 2012 was charged with robbing Ann Marie Hulse of her $800 gold chain on July 12th, 2012 in Belize City.

He had been remanded initially on the robbery but was granted bail in October 2012 when Grant, his then girlfriend, bailed him.

After Grant revoked her bail, there was an exchange of words outside the court room when a friend of Diaz’s became upset with her for revoking her bail.

-1 1 0 39 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 90 robots= author= 5975 Guilty of Possession of a Controlled drug guilty-of-possession-of-a-controlled-drug

In February 49-year-old Benjamin Lester Chaplin, a Plummer of Faber’s Road pleaded guilty to assaulting a 12-year-old child when he beat her with his belt. On Friday, March 1st, he again appeared in Magistrate’s Court, this time to answer to charges of possession of a controlled drug.

Chaplin appeared before Magistrate Hettie Mae-Stewart where he pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled drug. For the two offenses, despite the fact that he has 3 previous convictions for possession of a controlled drug, Chaplin was spared from jail term as he was fined $8000 plus  $5.00 cost of court for 9.8 grams of cannabis, and another fine of $300 plus $5.00 cost of court for 3.7 grams of cannabis which were found in his possession. The two fines were ordered to be paid by April 29th, 2013 or in default of payments, he is to serve 9 months altogether.

On Thursday, February 27th, 2013, police on mobile patrol though Petticoat Alley found Chaplin in possession of the cannabis. He was then escorted to the Queen Street Police Station where another search was conducted on him. Then, police discovered a match box which contained 3.7 grams of cannabis.

According to PC #1157, Kareem Swazo, he and other police officers were conducting  a mobile patrol at about 6:00 p.m. when they saw Chaplin acting suspiciously. He was approached and a search was conducted which led to the discovery of a white transparent plastic bag which contained the substance.

This is Chaplin’s second conviction within a month. On Tuesday, February 12th, 2013, he pleaded guilty to common assault upon a 12-year-old school girl who he admitted to beating with his belt. For that offense, Chaplin appeared before Senior Magistrate, Sharon Frazer who imposed a suspended sentence of 3 months, which is to last for 2 years. He is not to go before the court on any other matter or else he will have to serve 3 months imprisonment.

-1 1 0 39 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 0 106 robots= author= 5976 Drug Plane that left Belize detained in Venezuela drug-plane-that-left-belize-detained-in-venezuela

A Plane with U.S. registration number N345MD, which left from a licensed airfield in Western Belize without a flight plan, was intercepted in Venezuela by the armed forces of that country. The Plane, an Aero Commander 500, flew illegally into Venezuelan airspace to land in an unregistered airstrip in Venezuela on Friday, February 22nd but was intercepted sometime around 2:40 on that morning.

Venezuelan news reports indicate that the plane was occupied by 51-year-old Canadian, David William Sawatzky and Colombian, 31-year-old Jorge Armando Bustamante Ustariz.

The airplane was equipped with 4 auxillary fuel tanks for an approximate flight possibility of 8 hours. Inspection of the on-board GPS system determined that the plane had left Belize and was destined to an airstrip near the border of Venezuela and Colombia. Authorities in Venezuela are speculating that the plane would have been used for narcotraficking.

-1 1 0 39 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 0 345 robots= author= 5977 Two detained for Murder of Frank Neal two-detained-for-murder-of-frank-neal

Police have detained two persons in their investigation of the murder of 36-year-old Stevedore, Frank Neal. Neal was riding his bicycle on Glynn Street at about 5:50 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5th, when a dark complexioned man rode up from behind and fired several shots at him. One of the bullets struck Neal to the back of the head causing him to die instantly.

Neal is not from the area where he was killed and there is still no certain motive established by police as yet. He is a resident of Guerrero Street and the ride on Glynn Street was a routine one for him since he frequented the area to buy Johnny Cakes. Police have not confirmed if anything was stolen from Neal who, according to reports, had just collected his pay. One 9mm expended shell was recovered from the scene and police investigation continues.

-1 1 0 39 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 0 103 robots= author= 5978 Honduran beaten to Death in Dangriga honduran-beaten-to-death-in-dangriga

35-year-old Honduran maintenance worker, Julio Cesar Lopez Funez collected his pay from the Belize Bank Dangriga Branch at approximately 1 p.m. on Wednesday, February 27th. He then exited the bank and while walking on Tubroose Street, he was assaulted and left in an unconscious state. Funez’s wallet, which contained cash and identification cards, was stolen. Police responded to the scene at 1:26 p.m. and found him lying in an unconscious state with injuries to the face and head. He was rushed to the Southern Regional Hospital then transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on Friday, March 1st, at 9:15 p.m. Police investigation into Funez’s murder continues.

-1 1 0 39 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 85 robots= author= 5979 Eugene Palacio gunned down on Caesar Ridge Road eugene-palacio-gunned-down-on-caesar-ridge-road

37-year-old Eugene Eric Castillo Palacio spent Sunday night, March 3rd, partying with his relatives on Caesar Ridge Road on the occasion of his aunt’s birthday. The family’s celebration came to an abrupt halt at about 9:30 p.m., when the festive music was overlapped by the sound of gunshots just outside the premises. Palacio was standing on the side of the street with a female cousin when a gunman of dark complexion came walking from the direction of Gill Street. The gunman walked up to Palacio and shot him in the face. He then fired several more shots at Palacio before he fled the area. Palacio received gunshot injuries to the head and chest. He died on the scene. Police are asking individuals with information that can assist the investigation to visit the nearest police station. According to reports, there were numerous people on the street at the time of the murder.

-1 1 0 39 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 64 robots= author= 5980 Charged for Prohibited Firearm charged-for-prohibited-firearm

Police conducted a search at #79 Tigris Street in Belize City on Monday, March 4th at around 5:45p.m. where they found a .40 caliber pistol along with two rounds in a crate filled with garbage. At the time of the search three women were present and they were subsequently arrested by police.

Before the day was done, a man who also lives at the home visited the police station and gave a caution statement admitting to police that the gun was his. That man is 21-year-old Keron Pinto.

After an overnight in lock down, Pinto appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith on Tuesday, March 5th where he was charged with keeping a prohibited firearm and keeping unlicensed ammunition. In court, Pinto who was unrepresented pleaded not guilty to both charges. Due to the nature of the offenses, bail was denied and Pinto was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until April 5th.

-1 1 0 39 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 45 robots= author= 5981 Guilty of Drug Trafficking guilty-of-drug-trafficking

On Tuesday, March 5th, Prison inmate, Lenton Polonio, who has been serving time for money he owes the court, changed a not guilty plea to guilty for the offense of drug trafficking. As a result he was fined $10,000 plus a $5.00 cost of court. In default of payment, he will spend 3 years in prison. He has until June 30th, 2013 to make payment.

The fine was imposed on Polonio when he appeared before Magistrate Dale Cayetano in Court #4.

Polonio, 34, was arrested and charged on September 14, 2012 in Orange Walk Town but was arraigned in Belize City after he was caught in possession of 147 grams of cannabis.

The bust occurred at about 7:30 a.m., when police officers stopped a brown bus heading north.

According to PC Abner Pasqual, of the Anti-Drug Unit, he and other officers on operations in the old Maskall Road stopped the bus. When the back door of the bus was opened, he smelled the high aroma of cannabis.

He then saw two men sitting in the left back seat of the bus. Both men were ordered to exit. One of the men was Lenton Polonio. A search was then conducted on the men. During the search, police found two black plastic bags in Polonio’s right front pants pocket. Closer inspection revealed that the bags contained marijuana. Polonio was escorted to the Orange Walk Police Station where the suspected cannabis was weighed in his presence and amounted to 147 grams.

In the Belize City Magistrate’s Court the following day, Polonio, a Sculptor and resident of the Maskall Village area, pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking. When he reappeared on Tuesday of this week, he changed his not guilty plea to guilty.

Back in 2008, Polonio was fined $2,000 plus a $5.00 cost of court for possession of a controlled drug.

He owes the court that money and is serving time for it.

-1 1 0 39 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 58 robots= author= 5982 Ronald Revers escapes Death ronald-revers-escapes-death

28-year-old Ronald Revers is lucky to be alive after he was targeted by a gunman on Monday, March 4th. A little before 11 a.m. on Monday, Revers was doing mechanical work on a Ford Escape that had shut down in the Uno Gas Station compound on Youth for the Future Drive when he was approached by a gunman who rode up on him and fired a single shot at Revers. Life and death was a matter of inches for Revers who was lucky since the bullet went through his cheeks. Police responded quickly to the incident and managed to detain Mayflower Street resident, 18-year-old Lloyd King, for the shooting. A .38 revolver was recovered and Revers was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for treatment. He is expected to make a full recovery.

-1 1 0 39 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 61 robots= author= 5983 Softball plays for Gold in Costa Rica today softball-plays-for-gold-in-costa-rica-today

The National Women’s Softball Team of Belize will play for Gold today at the on-going 10th Central American Games that are being played in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Six countries, namely Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and host country Costa Rica participated in the Round Robin Competition with the top four countries advancing to the Page System Playoffs. Belize completed the Round Robin play with a 4-1 record and a date with history. Belize will finish with a medal at the 10th Central American Games.

Belize played two games on Wednesday March 6th, 2013. In the second game played, Belize defeated Panama by the score of 16-9. Belize’s outfielder Barbara Cadle had a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 6th inning that sealed the victory for Belize. The winning pitching was Kenreen Gillett, who had relief help from Francine Hoare.

Earlier in the morning, Belize, behind the pitching of Francine Hoare blanked El Salvador by the score of 4-0.

On Tuesday, Belize defeated Nicaragua by the score of 4-1.  The winning pitcher for Belize was Lanisha Jones.

In the first game that Belize played on Monday, it defeated the host country Costa Rica by the score of 9-2. Kenreen Gillett was the winning pitcher was Belize. However, in the second game played that same day, Belize fell to Guatemala by the score of 4-0. The losing pitcher for Belize was Francine Hoare.

-1 1 0 41 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 0 247 robots= author= 5984 Belize Defence Force halts The Belmopan Bandits belize-defence-force-halts-the-belmopan-bandits

The 2013 Closing Season of the Premier League of Belize continued over the last weekend with a number of games across the country.

On Sunday, March 3rd, at the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio Town, the defending champions and current leaders in this year’s competition, the Belmopan Bandits were dealt its first defeat of the tournament by former champions the Belize Defence Force by the score of 2-0.

The Belize Defence Force got on the scoreboard in the early minutes of the game when Richard Jimenez scored the 1st goal of the game by the score of 2-0 to give his team an early lead. The first half of the game ended 1-0 in favour of the Belize Defence Force.

In the second half of the game the Belize Defence Force was able to extend the lead when Khalil Velasquez scored his team 2nd and final goal of the game in the 58th minute of play for the win.

At the People’s Stadium in Orange Walk Town, the Placencia Assassins edged FC San Felipe Barcelona by the score of 3-2. The goals for the visiting Placencia Assassins were scored by Kareem Haylock in the 38th minute of play, an auto goal by Kenny Canul in the 65th minute of play and Alexander Peters in the 90+ minutes of the game for the 3-2 victory.

Meanwhile, the goals for the host team San Felipe Barcelona were scored by Deris Benavidez in the 45th and 48th minutes of play.

The competition continued on Saturday, March 2nd, at the Marshalleck Stadium in Benque Viejo town, the home team Verdes FC won its first game of this year’s campaign when it defeated FC Belize by the score of 2-1. The home team was able to get onto the scoreboard first when Julian Maldonado scored his team’s 1st goal of the game in the 23rd minute of play for a 1-0 lead. The visiting FC Belize got on the scoreboard in the 36th minute of play when Norman Pipersburgh scored the equalizing goal for his team.

It was not until the 90 minutes of the game that Julio Ayala was able to score Verdes’ 2nd goal of the game to give them a 2-1 victory.

And at the MCC Grounds in Belize City, the national sub-champions, Police United and San Ignacio United FC played to a 1-1 draw. The visiting San Ignacio United got on the scoreboard first when Rosny Martinez scored his team’s only goal of the game in the 23rd minutes of the game.

Meanwhile, the Police United FC finally got on the scoreboard in the 50th minute of play when Daniel Jimenez scored the equalizing goal for his team.

-1 1 0 41 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 59 robots= author= 5985 Nazarene High School Girls and Boys in Grand Finals of High School Softball Competition nazarene-high-school-girls-and-boys-in-grand-finals-of-high-school-softball-competition

The Central Region Secondary Schools Softball Competition for 2012-2013 will come to an end on Friday, March 8th, at Rogers Stadium with the Grand Final games in the Playoff System.

In the female championship game, Nazarene High School will face the winner from the Final Game which is scheduled to be played on Thursday, March 7th, at Rogers Stadium between Edward P. Yorke High School and Ladyville Technical High School.

Nazarene High School advance to the Grand Final Game on Monday, March 4th, when it defeated Edward P. Yorke High School by the score of 13-7. The winning pitcher was Elma Wade and the losing pitcher was Jessica Lauriano.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, March 5th, Ladyville Technical High School eliminated Wesley College by the score of 18-7 to advance to the Final Game. The winning pitcher was Amber Wade and the losing pitcher was Brianna Meighan.

In the male competition, the inaugural male champions (1982) Nazarene High School also advance to the Grand Final Game when it defeated the number two seed Anglican Cathedral College by the score of 12-10. The winning pitcher was Jerome Carr and the losing pitcher was Devaun Zuniga.

In the second semi-final game played on Tuesday, St. John’s College eliminated Maud Williams Technical High School.

On Thursda,y March 7th, Anglican Cathedral College will go up against St. John’s College with the winner facing Nazarene High School on Friday March 8 for the championship.

-1 1 0 41 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 97 robots= author= 5986 National Primary Schools Softball Championship This Friday national-primary-schools-softball-championship-this-friday

The 2012-2013 National Primary Schools Softball championships will be played this Friday March 8th, 2013, at Rogers Stadium for the girls and at the ITVET Compound for the boys. The competition will commence at 8:30 am with the Official Opening Ceremony.

The championships will be declared opened by Mrs. Philippa Griffith-Bailey, ISF Hall of Fame Member, Women in Sports Commissioner and Treasurer of the National Sports Council of Belize.

The teams are representing the six districts of Belize in both the boys’ and girls’ competition. The teams participating in the girls’ competition are Biscayne Government School (Belize District), Trial Farm Government School (Toledo District), Aguacate Roman Catholic School (Toledo District) St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic School from Esperanza Village (Cayo District), Independence Primary School (Stann Creek District) and Xaibe Roman Catholic School (Corozal District).

The schools that will participate in the boys’ competition are Holy Redeemer School (Belize District), Carmelita Government School (Orange Walk District), San Pedro Columbia Roman Catholic School (Toledo District), St. Jude Roman Catholic School from Camalote Village (Cayo District),Independence Primary School and Xaibe Roman Catholic School (Corozal District).

-1 1 0 41 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 87 robots= author= 5987 Belize City Interoffice Softball Competition 2013 Game Results belize-city-interoffice-softball-competition-2013-game-results

Friday March 1, 2013:
Game 1:
KHMH –   16
Baby Ruth – 12
Highlights:
KHMH scored 16 runs on 11 hits.  Meanwhile, Baby Ruth Baaba Shap scored 12 runs on 8 hits. However, the Baby Ruth Baaba Shap offence was keyed by shortstop Brian Grant who collected 3 hits in 5 official-at-bats. All 3 hits were of the home runs type. Grant had a 3 run homer in the bottom of the 1st inning, a solo blast in the bottom of the 6th inning and a 2 run homer in the bottom of the 7th inning.
The winning pitcher was Ricardo Hermoso and the losing pitcher was Jumoke Castro.
Game 2
BTL – 16
Kit Kat Baaba Shap – 0
Highlights:
BTL scored 16 runs on 10 hits. BTL Shortstop Nelson Tillett and Centre Fielder Lupito Acosta was the key to the BTL offence. They both collected 2 hits each. Tillett went 2 for 2, while Acosta went 2 for 3.
The winning pitcher was Bernard Pitts and the losing pitcher was Leonora Morales.
Saturday March 3, 2013:
Game 1:
Belize Bank – 0
Guardian/NSC – 7
Highlights:
Guardian/Sport Council scored 7 runs on 6 hits. Meanwhile, Belize Bank collected 5 hits off the combined pitching of Claudette Williams and Joel Wade.
The winning pitcher was Joel Wade and the losing pitcher was Evan Lamb.
Game 2:
KHMH – 17
Telemedia – 8
Highlights:
KHMH scored 17 runs on 12 hits.  Telemedia scored 8 runs on 11 hits. Telemedia’s Centre Fielder Lupito Acosta collected 2 hits in 4 official-at-bats and he also drove in 2 of the 8 runs.
The winning pitcher was Ricardo Hermoso and the losing pitcher Bernard Pitts.
Sunday March 4, 2013
Game 1:
Kit Kat Baaba Shap – 4
Belize Bank – 14
Highlights:
Belize Bank scored 14 runs on 9 hits. Designated Player Norman Middleton collected 2 hits in 3 at bats, and he drove in 4 runs.
The winning pitcher was Evan Lamb and the losing pitcher was Leonora Morales.
Game 2:
Tuff “E” Nuff – 3
Guardian/Sports Council – 10
Highlights:
Guardian/Sports Council scored 10 runs on 2 hits but benefited from 13 bases-on-balls. Tuff “E” Nuff meanwhile, scored 3 runs on 6 hits.
The winning pitcher was Claudette Williams and the losing pitcher was Kimara Black.
Monday March 5, 2013:
BWSL – 11
KHMH – 6
Highlights:
BWSL scored 11 runs on 10 hits. The key blow in the game for BWSL was third baseman Joe Domingo’s 3 run home run in the top of the 4th inning. Meanwhile, KHMH scored 4 runs on 6 hits.
The winning pitcher was Sharea Pandy and the losing pitcher was Arlette Castillo.
The competition continues tonight at 7:00 pm between BTL and BWSL.

-1 1 0 41 3/7/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/7/2013 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 0 141 robots= author= 5988 Home Free home-free

On Friday of last week, the Government announced that it had secured 86% subscription to trade the Superbond for the reissuance of a new bond by the Government of Belize. Belize had needed a 75% subscription in order for the deal to be completed. During a press conference held on Wednesday, March 13th, the Prime Minister announced that Belize is basically ‘Home Free’. Because of the dynamics of the bond offering, the remaining 14% of holders of the Superbond will now automatically be considered in the reissuance.

According to financial observers, the closing of the deal, which is anticipated to be done by Friday of this week or at latest Monday of next week, Belize has been able to achieve what many nations have not been able to do in their restructuring bid. That achievement includes the renegotiation of the largest debt in the country without the assistance of IFI’s, in particular the Inter American Development Bank (IDB), which had earlier on rescinded on a commitment to partially guarantee the new bond, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which had also been looking at Belize’s Financial maneuvering and which had been advising to wage cuts, tax increases and cuts in public expenditure.

 For Belize to have been able to renegotiate the Superbond and in effect save some 494 million dollars in the first 10 years is laudable. This especially when other countries like Jamaica have had to bear the brunt of financial advice from the IMF, which sees the country undergoing public spending cuts, massive increases in taxes as well as salary freezes for public sectors. In Jamaica, it is so bad that teachers and public officers have agreed to wage freezes and even parliamentarians have seen a 10 percent wage cut in their salaries.

At the press conference the Prime Minister once again reiterated the significance of the renegotiations, which if all goes as projected and barring any natural catastrophe, should see the Debt to GDP ratio to a sustainable level of about 60%. He also commended the negotiating team for being able to hold their own against global financial advisors. He also singled out the media for the support it has shown for the process.

-1 6 0 54 3/14/2013 06:00:00 62 0/0/0000 00:00:00 0 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/14/2013 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 0 338 robots= author= 5989 Two Robbers shot Dead in Cayo two-robbers-shot-dead-in-cayo

Police are investigating the sequence of events that took place on Tuesday, March 12th, that ended in a shootout between officers of the San Ignacio Police Station and two alleged robbers. According to official police reports, San Ignacio police responded to information about a robbery in progress at Rose’s Restaurant Store located on Benque Viejo Road in San Ignacio Town at 1:05 p.m. Upon responding to the area, they came in contact with two men; one of them was wearing a blue rag tied over his face, while the other had a black stocking over his face and was armed with a sawed off shot gun. Police ordered the men to freeze. That was when the man armed with the shotgun fired at the officers. The officers returned fire and as a result both robbers were fatally injured. The men have been identified as 21-year-old Rony Garcia of Flamingo Street and 18-year-old Jose Garcia of 5th Street in San Ignacio Town. Police have not released details on their injuries but they were pronounced dead at the San Ignacio Hospital.

According to police, Ming Feng Chen, owner of the store, reported that while inside the store the two men entered and pointed the shotgun at him. They ordered him to lie down on the floor and demanded money. The gun man then approached an employee of the store and took away her cell phone. The other man went behind the counter and took an undisclosed amount of money and other items before exiting the store. Police recovered a total of $342.85 in cash in different denomination inside a black knapsack along with two packs of Benson and Hedges cigarettes, one pack of Independence cigarettes, five Milport cigarettes, twelve Phillies, one blue flip phone and one black Kyocera flip phone. All items found have been identified as property stolen from the store. The gunman was found with a 16 gauge sawed off shotgun and a blue 16-gauge cartridge in his pants pocket.

-1 6 0 53 3/14/2013 06:00:00 62 3/14/2013 18:46:01 64 0 0/0/0000 00:00:00 3/14/2013 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 4 0 1422 robots= author= 5990 Francis I: First Pope from the Americas francis-i-first-pope-from-the-americas

It took five ballots for 115 cardinals to shock the world as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, was elected to succeed Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday afternoon. The Argentinean is the first Pope from outside of Europe in 1300 years and the first from the Americas. He has chosen to assume the name Francis I. In his remarks to thousands of Catholics gathered in the square of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis said, “You know that the work of the conclave is to give a bishop to Rome. It seems as if my brother cardinals went to find him from the end of the earth. Thank you for the welcome.