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There is a new Reina de la Costa Maya and she is Natalia Villanueva from Mexico. The weekend of festivities commenced on Thursday night with the international pageant in La Isla Bonita. Eight beauties from the seven Central American Countries and Mexico competed in national and cultural costume, swimwear, formal wear and final answer. After […]
Written on August 3, 2012 | Posted in
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Regional / International |
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By now you know of the persistent reports of a crazy ‘land grab’ at the Ministry of Natural Resources involving relatives and close associates of the Deputy Prime Minister. When it came up in the House during the recent budget debate, the Prime Minister deflected the report by claiming that Corozal Southeast Representative, Florencio Marin […]
The Prime Minister did not address directly the land amassed by the Vegas, nor did he indicate if his government would reprimand the Minister or condemn his actions. While the PM has some of the land is bought from private hands, for most people the land transactions stink to high heaven, and whether by luck […]
When we checked out today, the price of land in San Pedro, it is verifiable that the price paid by the Vega clan is chum change in which ever area the land is situated. In fact, the most conservative estimate for crown land in underdeveloped areas would be at least four times more. This morning […]
Former Deputy Commandant Javier Castellanos remains a private citizen despite a recent decision taken by the Belize Advisory Council to have him reinstated in the Belize Defense Force. The judgment reverses the decision of the Security Services Commission in which Castellanos was wrongfully terminated from the B.D.F. in the wake of a break-in at the […]
Written on August 2, 2012 | Posted in
People & Places |
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A San Pedro resident is the winner of a free trip for two to the US or Caribbean as well as spending money. Aloya Campos got lucky in the annual Summer Getaway promotion, done by SMART in collaboration with American Airlines. Campos, who has been a SMART customer since the service was launched in San […]
Written on August 2, 2012 | Posted in
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Peter Lacey is on a mission to improve literacy among Belize’s children and he’s doing it through an annual summer camp for primary school students. This year, over two hundred kids participated in the city and for the first time, the camp was extended to Orange Walk where over a hundred students took part. Five […]
Written on August 2, 2012 | Posted in
Education,
People & Places |
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For over a year, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) has been working toward a National Resource Center to be established in Belmopan. With financial assistance from the European Union, the YWCA took a major step toward accomplishing that goal with a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, to begin the construction of the National Enterprise Development […]
Written on August 2, 2012 | Posted in
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People & Places |
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From time to time we have reported on alarming land transactions at the Ministry of Natural Resources. The allegations have centered on what is considered ministerial abuse in the sale of huge acreages of prime land to family members or highly connected party supporters at rock bottom prices. Recently, we reported on a long list […]
Written on August 1, 2012 | Posted in
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Well this morning, the P.U.P. called a press conference on the statement made by the prime minister. The main star was village council chairman Orlando Balam who was brought in from the north to clear up the mess of land purportedly issued in San Jose Nuevo Palmar, to Florencio Marin Jr. Balam exonerated the Corozal […]
Written on August 1, 2012 | Posted in
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But who’s telling the truth? Marin Junior, who has been at the center of the controversy, called into question the prime minister’s integrity following remarks made during the special sitting in which P.M. Barrow accused him of land grabbing. According to Marin, he declared all of his assets before the Integrity Commission when he was […]
Written on August 1, 2012 | Posted in
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Also taking the podium at Independence Hall, was Opposition Leader Francis Fonseca, who condemned the blatant nepotism which he alleges is taking place at the Ministry of Natural Resources. Fonseca charged that the entire Lands Department is littered with family and friends of Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega who have been appointed to key positions […]
Written on August 1, 2012 | Posted in
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The pillaging of our protected national parks by Guatemalan nationals was brought to the forefront recently because of the magnitude of the damage caused by the border incursions. On July twenty-third, the Ya’axche Conservation Trust attempted to carry out a five day patrol inside the Columbia River Forest Reserve and Bladen Nature Reserve, in southern […]
Written on August 1, 2012 | Posted in
Environment,
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In a related story, it has now been confirmed that about three hundred Guatemalans have been illegally panning for gold which they sell way below market value. The Friends for Conservation and Development, which co-manages the Chiquibul National Park, says that while they are doing their part, particularly with the joint forces unit, they believe […]
Written on August 1, 2012 | Posted in
Crime,
Environment,
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Earlier this week, a group of fire fighters were undertaking table top training to move up the ladder in fire fighting. Well today, they went out to the Western Highway to put theory to work and to test their tactical skills in case of a fire. The media was invited but alas the exercise had […]
Written on August 1, 2012 | Posted in
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People & Places |
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The Rotary Club of Belize is well known for its involvement in numerous projects that assist children and needy families; particular the Gift of Life Program. But as a charity organization, their initiatives depend heavily on fundraising efforts. One of the main events is the Rotary’s annual play, and the curtains open on Thursday night […]
Written on August 1, 2012 | Posted in
Entertainment,
People & Places |
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Music, Latin beauties and fashion will be everywhere inside the grounds that host the annual Costa Maya Festival. So if you head out to La Isla Bonita on Thursday, the premiere night will showcase a beauty pageant among competing queens from the region. The entire weekend will be saturated with diverse cultural activities from all […]
Still looking for something to do for the summer? You can head on out to the Yarborough field for the next four weeks. The Belize City Council has officially launched its own annual summer camp for students. The councilor with responsibility for sports, says that this year’s camp will be a bit different, however, it […]
Written on August 1, 2012 | Posted in
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Ten year old Brithon Cordova remains in a critical condition at the K.H.M.H., but his condition is slowly improving. His mother, Norma Cordova, says that although he cannot talk he is alert. The boy has been hospitalized since Thursday after his zinc house collapsed on top of him when he and his seven year old […]
Written on July 31, 2012 | Posted in
Health,
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The spate of heinous attacks on young children, particularly the murder of Jasmine Lowe, has sparked a national movement to address the issue of the kidnappings and abductions of children. This morning, the system, Jasmine Alert, was launched. It involves the mobilization of stakeholders to get the message of a missing child into the public […]
Written on July 31, 2012 | Posted in
People & Places,
Social Issues |
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Summer camps are usually about sports, arts, education and the like but one started this morning with a health theme of a disease that is affecting thousands. There is no known data on the exact number of children living in this country with diabetes, but the camp is geared exclusively to this group. Over thirty […]
Written on July 30, 2012 | Posted in
People & Places |
1 comment
Promotions are in the pipeline for a number of firefighters, but first they have to prove that they are fit to assume new responsibilities. That is why the National Fire Service is carrying out five weeks of training that will test and develop the tactical response skills of the participating officers. Of the seventeen that […]
Written on July 30, 2012 | Posted in
People & Places |
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A special session of the House of Representatives was held this morning in Belmopan. It was called for the presentations of four bills, but it was other hot button issues that dominated the session. With pressure building up, the Foreign Minister Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington addressed the House on an erroneous report by the OAS in […]
Written on July 27, 2012 | Posted in
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Minister Elrington says that while the OAS blunder was objectionable, he is satisfied with the withdrawal of its original statement and the issuance of a corrected version. Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs “In respect of the OAS press release which first came out on last week Friday, twentieth July, I can report […]
The fate of Colonel Javier Castellanos, as a ranking officer in the Belize Defense Force, hangs in the balance tonight. The Belize Advisory Council, chaired by Attorney Lionel Welch, has already determined that he is to be reinstated as the deputy commander of the B.D.F. On Tuesday, the Belize Advisory Council, essentially comprised of government-appointed […]
