THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW YEAR

Success comes to he who is willing to work hard, fight a good fight and sacrifice everything when necessary. (Brenda A. Ysaguirre)

As we near the end of another year we are faced with many new challenges. The economical situation at home and abroad dims the festive moment. If what the analysts are saying is true, we can look forward to a new year filled with more hardship as more people lose there jobs and many others graduate into a world that offers very little for them. Only the strong will survive. Only those who know the true meaning of sacrifice will succeed. Only the fearless will attain the satifaction of a hard day's work for a well earned pay.

I do not mean to dampen the eve of New Year's Eve. I only want to make sure we all understand that there will be a lot of hardship but that we can win the battle in the new year if we use stamina and sacrifice.

Good Luck to everyone and do have a Happy New Year. Go out or just stay at home and eat some grapes (12 actually to follow the Spanish tradition of one for each month of the year. You eat them just before midnight and our ancestors believed it would give you a good year.)

Have a Blessed New Year. Remember, we can make 2009 all it was meant to be if we work hard and sacrifice when necessary.

Brenda A. Ysaguirre

PC FROM COROZAL TOWN COMMITS BIGAMY?

A police constable attached to the Patrol Branch of the Police Department in Belize City is under criminal investigation after his estranged wife of ten years reported to his superiors that he has married again without first getting a divorce from his first marriage.

Jaime Pena was picked up from his work place Monday afternoon and taken into custody for questioning after his wife Ruby Pena, made a report against him.

The wife told investigators that her husband has allegedly married to a Guatemalan woman identified as Olga Leticia Guzman on February 9 of last year, despite the fact that he has never secured a divorce from her, whom he had married almost 11 years ago on February 7 of 1998.

According to the wife, she presented a copy of her husband new marriage certificate to the police to prove that he has married twice, but police say they need to further investigate to determine if the report is true.

Ruby Pena told the Reporter that she and her husband has three children, a ten year old boy, and two girls, a six year and a four year old.

The wife said she and Pena has been separated for almost two years and that she had secured legal separation after a long abusive relation and allegation of adultery.

She said Pena married her in the name of Luciano Jaime Pena, but used the name Jaime Pena in his second marriage. The wife said she and her husband were married at the Roman Catholic Church in Corozal Town, while the husband married the other woman at the Supreme Court Registry.

“All I want is for him to leave me and my kids alone. He has been trying to get me and the kids out of the house for some time,” the wife claimed.

She went on to accuse the husband of one time forcing his way into the family home.

She said she filed criminal charges against him, but “he asked me to drop the charge because he could lose his job,” she said.

Police Superintendent Julio Valdez, the officer in charge of the police Criminal Investigation Branch in Belize City, confirmed to the Reporter that Pena’s wife has filed a complaint against him, but they are investigating the allegation.

He said no arrest can be made unless they can confirmed with the Registry Department that indeed Pena has been married twice.

Pena, who we were unable to reach for comments, is originally from Corozal Town.

He has been questioned by police and denied the allegation.

If the evidence turns out to be true and Pena is convicted, he could face five to eight years in jail.

Last Updated by the Reporter ( Tuesday, 23 December 2008 )


I personally know Ruby, she is hardworking and has just finished her PED Associates Degree at CJC ACE. I wish he all the best in her future endeavours. She deserves it after all she has been through.
Keep the faith, dear friend and past student. God is with you!

BACK TO NORMAL

The photo that shouldn´t be at this time but the fact is it´s news. Information below.


Well, Christmas is over and it is time for things to continue. it is the day after the day after christmas!!! hahahaha. We have got to get back on track. Talk about all the money we spent! I didn´t do that this year on Chrstmas but I sure did it on the Spa and I continue to do it. I know it will be good for Corozal especially since with all the crazy things happening in this world we are faced with a lot of stressed out people. Anyway, I hope things get better.
Now back to normal. Here is some news from the country of Belize.


THE NEWS IN SPANISH AS GOTTEN FROM THE MEXICAN EMBASSY IN BELIZE
Enfermedad de Newcastle. El gobierno confirmó que la enfermedad de Newcastle (ND) que ataca a las aves, detectada en las granjas de Spanish Lookout, se extendió a aves de corral domésticas en algunas áreas de los distritos de Cayo, Belice y Stann Creek. Se recordó al público que la ND no afecta a las personas y que la carne de pollo es segura para el consumo humano. La Autoridad de Sanidad Agrícola de Belice (BAHA) anunció la vacunación de aves en las áreas afectadas (News 5, 7 News, Love FM, Estéreo Amor, Wave Radio, comunicado del gobierno).
Hospitales Amigos del Lactante. El Hospital Comunitario de Corozal y el Hospital Regional del Norte fueron declarados por la UNICEF como Hospitales Amigos del Lactante, es decir que implementaron exitosamente pasos específicos para garantizar la lactancia materna. El Hospital Karl Heusner Memorial en la ciudad de Belice era el único hospital con esa distinción (News 5, Wave Radio, comunicado del gobierno).
Material médico. El Ministro de Salud, Pablo Marín, respondió a preocupaciones sobre el suministro de material para el Hospital Karl Heusner Memorial. Indicó que se ha implementado un nuevo sistema computarizado y, por otro lado, se ha mejorado el equipo con que cuentan los hospitales. Agregó que en 2009, el nuevo sistema de suministro trabajará normalmente, mientras que la meta es que cada hospital tenga aparatos de rayos X y ultrasonido (News 5).
Protección al consumidor. La Oficina de Estándares de Belice realiza inspecciones a diferentes negocios para verificar la calidad de los productos, así como las balanzas y máquinas de medición, con el fin de proteger a los consumidores (News 5, 7 News, San Pedro Daily).
Muerte de empresario. De acuerdo con la autopsia practicada ayer, al parecer el empresario Chayben Bou-Nahra se suicidió (News 5, 7 News, Amandala, The Reporter).
Noticias relacionadas con México
Comisión Fronteriza. La Secretaría de Salud de México y el Ministerio de Salud de Belice firmaron el 22 de diciembre en Chetumal, México, el Acuerdo para establecer la Comisión de Salud Fronteriza México-Belice (Wave Radio, comunicado del gobierno).
Comercio México-Belice. El 11 y 12 de diciembre se realizó en Chetumal la segunda parte del Encuentro Bilateral de Comercio México-Belice, el cual reunió a empresarios de ambos países para ampliar las exportaciones de productos beliceños a México (The Reporter, San Pedro Daily).
Reglas para vehículos extranjeros. La Embajada de México recordó que todo conductor que viaje a Quintana Roo con un vehículo deberá contar con licencia vigente, título de propiedad del vehículo y seguro de daños a terceros. Para viajar al resto de México, además deberán pagar una tasa por la importación temporal y un depósito en garantía (News 5, Love FM, Estéreo Amor, Fiesta Radio).

NEWS IN ENGLISH
Vehicle plunges into river; housewife drowns
A school principal will spend the holidays in mourning after his wife drowned tragically when the vehicle they were traveling in plunged into the New River. The incident occurred just before three p.m. on Tuesday as Principal of Chunox R.C. School, fifty-one year old Octaviano Mesh and his wife were traveling in a Four Runner to Corozal Town. Mesh told police that he applied brakes as they approached the Laguna Seca Ferry which spans the river, but the brakes failed and they ended up in the river. While Mesh was able to free himself and hang onto the ferry cable, his wife, fifty year old Leocadia Mesh was trapped inside. Mesh could not rescue his wife and by the time help came from the villagers some twenty minutes later, it was too late. The widower has since been served with a notice of intended prosecution pending a police investigation.

Loaded AK-47 rifle found in Corozal
Corozal police have discovered a loaded prohibited firearm. The find, an AK-forty-seven rifle, was found at an abandoned lot off a feeder road in the Dominguez Layout area of Corozal Town. It had a magazine and three live rounds. No one has been arrested and police continue to investigate. They believe the weapon with serial number EW0336N, which is used only by the Mexican and Guatemalan militaries, was to be used by persons planning a robbery. Information to News Five is that police have been looking for this particular weapon for the past five months

MERRY CHRISTMAS ONCE AGAIN AND HERE COMES SOMETHING NEW TO COROZAL

THIS IS JUST A FEW PICTURES TO SHOW YOU WHAT IT IS LIKE AT PREHISPANICO COCOON IN COROZAL, BELIZE. COME TRY IT FOR YOURSELF. YOU WILL BE REBORN.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

To all the bloggers and readers who surf the net and read my blogs I want to thank you for doing so this year and I would like at this time to wish you and your loved ones a Merry and Blessed Christmas.

Have a ownderful holiday and of possible reach out to sometone in need. Remember if we give love we will get it back in some form or fashion.

Let us teach our young people that giving is better than receiving.

God Bless Us Everyone!

Brenda

NOte: for those of you in Belize or those of you who wuill be visiting Belize, I have opened a health spa in Corozal Town, Belize on the Bay. It is called Prehispanico and is a branch of Abel's spa that he has in Chetumal. We offer massage therapy with temazcal. It is good for stress, tiredness, relaxation, insomia. The treatment is approximately 2 hours long depending on your condition and is for $50.00 BZ. We are building a huge Temazcal in my garden that can hold about 24 people who will sweat to herbs and oils.It is good for many ills. Drop in and see for your selves. Appointments are necessary so call us at 607 8315, 607 8759, 422 0259 and 422 0346. The first cellphone number and house number are mine. We have available one male and one female doing the massages at this time. Eventually this spa will have many other featurs. I will keep you posted. Photos will be set on next blog. Once again, Merry Christmas from our home to yours.
B

EXTEND A HELPING HAND AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR

When you live in two worlds like I now do it is hard for me to say hi from Belize and not from Mexico. This past year has been one of growth, sorrow, hapiness, fulfillment and progress. We look at the world today and we are fortunate to just be alive. There are so many less fortunate so while we want to complain about not being able to buy this and that, we must stop and think that there are many who have no where to sleep and no food to eat. No one to tell them "I Love You", "I care for you" and all the things we take for granted in our everyday existence.

As Christmas comes around once more we are singing and feeling the spirit of Christmas. BUT ARE WE REALLY BEING CHRISTIANS? ARE WE REALLY LOVING EACH OTHER? THE TIME HAS COME. THIS IS THE REASON FOR MERRIMENT BUT IT IS ALSO THE REASON TO DO BETTER. LET US LOOK AROUND US AND TRY TO HELP AT LEAST ONE LESS FORTUNATE HUMAN BEING. THIS WORLD IS OURS AND WHAT WE DO WITH IT WILL BE PASSED DOWN TO OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. REMEMBER, LOVE IS ALL IT TAKES.

LOVE, PEACE, JOY,
BRENDA

WHERE DID OUR WORLD GO?

It's Sunday in Belize and all over the world. December 21. If it was a normal year I would have been in Georgia by now, shopping with Carolyn and Ciarra and getting ready for Christmas. However, I am here in Belize and it is time to think back on what went wrong!!! Because something MUST have gone wrong with the crazy world in which we live. The economical situation of the world today leaves us to believe that there is far more to it all than what meets the eye. Where did we go wrong? Didn't we have Earth Day in hope of freeing the world from this and that? Didn't we do everything in our power to protect the ozone layer? Didn't we create santuaries for endangered species? So, WHAT WENT WRONG???

I guess we will never really know the answer but WHAT WE DO KNOW IS that there are a lot of hungry and sick people on the face of the earth as we live and breathe today.
Many are losing their jobs, becoming homeless and many are LOSING THE WILL TO CONTINUE. In the next year if there are not positive changes in all our lives we can look forward to the death rate per country increasing. Crime has already sky rocketed and we can see that this is so because in Belize alone the reports of burglaries and fights have increased. In Mexico the killing has not gone unnoticed and the raping and harming of the innocent worldwide is an epedemic of mammoth proportions. Reality MUST NOW KICK IN!!! We have got to do the right thing and reclaim this planet in the name of all that is good. If we take it into our hands we can have a bette life and a better world.

God Bless. Have a safe and Happy Christmas. May your New Year be filled with many wonderful things.

LOVE AND BEST WISHES FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS!!!
Brenda

NOTICIAS DE BELICE PARA DICIEMBRE 4

Arrestan a ex Primer Ministro.
Esta mañana, el ex Primer Ministro Said Musa se presentó ante la Policía, fue formalmente arrestado y acusado ante un juez en la ciudad de Belmopan por presuntas irregularidades en el manejo de una donación a Belice por parte de Venezuela. Fue liberado más tarde bajo fianza. Mañana Ralph Fonseca sería acusado por cargos similares. El ex PM, mediante una declaración pública, negó la acusación (News 5, 7 News, Love FM, Estéreo Amor, San Pedro Daily).

Diferendo fronterizo.
Nuevamente el PM Barrow confirmó que el 8 de diciembre, en la sede de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA) en Washington, D.C., Belice y Guatemala firmarán el acuerdo especial (“compromis”) por el que se comprometen a realizar un referéndum simultáneo para decidir si acuden a la Corte Internacional de Justicia (CIJ) (News 5, 7 News).

Economía.
Ayer, el PM Dean Barrow dijo que espera que la baja en los precios de los combustibles se refleje dentro de los próximos dos meses en la disminución del precio de los alimentos. Agregó que el financiamiento para infraestructura por parte del BID y del Banco de Desarrollo del Caribe (CDB) permitirá estimular la economía y la creación de empleos (News 5, San Pedro Daily).

Salarios. El PM Barrow informó que varios sindicatos de servidores públicos han solicitado incremento salarial. Sin embargo, estimó que el presupuesto del gobierno enfrentará dificultades el próximo año, debido a la baja en los precios del petróleo lo cual afectará los ingresos procedentes de los impuestos sobre la producción petrolera en Belice (News 5).

Impuestos.
El PM Barrow indicó que continuará con su iniciativa para incrementar el impuesto al sector de las telecomunicaciones, el cual incluye la empresa BTL (7 News).

Acusación contra ex ministro. Según 7 News, Rodwell Ferguson, ex ministro del ahora opositor Partido Unido del Pueblo (PUP), al parecer intentó sobornar al ministro de la Propiedad, a través de una carta que involucraba varios lotes cerca del río Sittee (7 News).

Simposio sobre delincuencia.
La Universidad de Belice (UB) llevará a cabo mañana un Simposio sobre Delincuencia. Participarán el ministro de Seguridad Nacional, otros funcionarios públicos, representantes del sector empresarial, organizaciones civiles y estudiantes. La información que se genere será entregada al Ministerio de Seguridad Nacional y la UB dará seguimiento a la forma como aquella sea utilizada (Love FM, Estéreo Amor).
Violencia doméstica. El gobierno de Belice y el Fondo de Desarrollo de las Naciones Unidas para la Mujer (UNIFEM) establecerán en Belice el programa de Intervención contra Hombres que Maltratan que fue diseñado para el Caribe. Durante los próximos 3 días se discutirá la implementación del programa con funcionarios públicos y actores involucrados. El sistema es aplicado en los juzgados, por el cual se garantiza la seguridad de las víctimas y el responsable sigue, de manera voluntaria, un programa alternativo en lugar de ir a prisión. El programa fue implementado exitosamente en Granada (News 5, Love FM).

Producción de azúcar.
Ayer inicio la zafra; la industria del azúcar enfrenta varios retos para mejorar la calidad y la cantidad. Varios productores de azúcar mostraron inconformidad con el precio de la tonelada de caña de azúcar que paga el ingenio Belize Sugar Industries (BSI); esta empresa indicó que deberá mejorarse la calidad de la caña. Se espera financiamiento de la Unión Europea para esta temporada (News 5).

Transporte de pasajeros.
La Junta de Transporte interpuso un recurso ante un juez para evitar la excesiva operación de autobuses de la empresa National Transport Ltd de los hermanos Novelo en la Carretera Norte. El 2 de diciembre, el mismo juez había emitido una resolución para someter a revisión la zonificación y los permisos emitidos por esa Junta y le prohibió emitir nuevos permisos de transporte de pasajeros en dicha carretera (7 News).

Desarrollo rural.
La Unión Europea (UE) y el gobierno de Belice entregaron recursos a varias organizaciones dentro del Proyecto de Desarrollo Rural de Toledo (sur del país), con el fin de desarrollar pequeñas empresas y reducir la pobreza rural (Love FM, Estéreo Amor ).

Homenaje. Un importante edificio del gobierno de Belice, fue nombrado en honor de Charles Bartlett Hyde, quien ha dedicado más de 50 años al desarrollo del servicio público y ha desempeñado diversos cargos en la administración pública, entre ellos presidente de la Cámara de Diputados (News 5, 7 News, Love FM, Krem, Wave Radio, comunicado del gobierno).
Capacidades diferentes. Aún cuando Belice no ha firmado la Convención de la ONU de los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad, varias organizaciones beliceñas conmemoraron ayer el Día Internacional de las Personas con Discapacidad. La organización llamada Consejo de Belice para las Deficiencias Visuales también llevó a cabo varias actividades (News 5, Love FM, Estéreo Amor).

Ciudad de Belice.
La alcaldesa de la ciudad y el ministro de Obras indicaron que la pavimentación del centro de la ciudad quedará concluida el 16 de diciembre, después de meses de haber iniciado las obras (News 5).

Exposición menonita.
El Instituto Nacional de Cultura e Historia (NICH) y mujeres de la comunidad menonita realizarán una exposición de tejidos, especialmente colchas bordadas, el 6 y 7 de diciembre (News 5).

Regional
Embargo sobre Cuba.
De acuerdo con una encuesta del Brookings Institution y la Universidad Internacional de Florida, la mayoría de los cubano-americanos opinan que EE UU debería poner fin al embargo sobre Cuba (Love TV, BBC Caribbean).
Erupción. El volcán en la isla de Monserrat hizo erupción. No hubo víctimas (Love TV, BBC Caribbean).

Crisis económica.
Un hotel de lujo en Puerto Rico despidió a más de 200 trabajadores debido a la caída en el turismo. Esto se suma a los despidos en otras partes del Caribe como consecuencia de la crisis económica mundial (Love TV, BBC Caribbean).

Información relacionada con México
Comercio México-Belice. Ayer se realizó el primer segmento del Encuentro de Comercio México-Belice, el cual reunió a empresarios y funcionarios de ambos países. El ministro de Relaciones Exteriores y Comercio Exterior de Belice, Wilfred Elrington, llamó a su país a despertar, ser más competitivo y no perder tiempo. Representantes mexicanos expresaron el interés de México por incrementar el intercambio comercial y subrayaron las oportunidades de los productos beliceños para entrar al mercado mexicano (News 5, 7 News, Love TV, Krem, Estéro Amor).

Copied from information gotten from Mexican Embassy.

IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING

Sometime ago I wrote that they were putting cement mix in the potholes of Corozal under " Try anything must have been the message". Well so far so good. It seems to be working!!! I do hope it stays that way. We need good streets.