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.

LIFE IS A SERIES OF ACTIONS THAT WE LOOK AT LATER AS LOST THOUGHTS (Brenda A. Ysaguirre)

Everyone wants to help but no one really does anythin. Why is that a fact when it comes to having to help others. Belizeans, thank the good Lord are a giving, kind and active race. Yet with our every changing culture due to the melthing pot that is Belize, we have become a little less caring in the past years. Hopeful we can begin the process of learning to be our brothers keepers once more before it is too late.The future of Belize depends on it.

Brenda Ysaguirre

Barco, con bandera de Belize y operado por una compañía ucrania, transporta tanques y material militar ucranio.

LA IMAGEN DE UN SECUESTRO

La tripulación del mercante MV Faina, secuestrado el 25 de septiembre, en la cubierta del barco। Esta foto la tomó el pasado domingo en aguas de Somaila un barco militar de EE UU que se acercó a comprobar el estado de salud de los marineros। En la cubierta superior se puede ver a los secuestradores. El barco, con bandera de Belize y operado por una compañía ucrania, transporta tanques y material militar ucranio.

JUST IN CASE YOU DOUBTED I AM IN UNIVERSITY

A FEW OF MY CLASSMATES AND I GIVING SOME PRESENTATIONS AT UNID IN CHETUNMAL, Q.ROO!!
MY THANKS GOES TO ABEL OF ABEL DESESTRESS FOR BEING MY FRIEND AND MY SUPPORT. YOUR LOVE KEEP MY STRONG AND YOUR SUPPORT LEADS ME ON.

"TRY ANYTHING" MUST HAVE BEEN THE ORDER

Sorry for abandoning my blog once again. I was busy taking examinations at my university in Chetumal. It has been quite an expeierience and I encourage everyone to try taking up an education in a foreign country in a foreign language. It is demanding as ever but I am really proud of myself for taking on this almost impossible step in my life.

Now it is back to the business of the hour.

WELL, THE FLOOD WATERS HAVE GONE DOWN AND THE STREETS AND ROADS ARE NOW IN A DEPLORABLE CONDITION. THE COOROZAL TOWN BORD IS TRYING TO SEE IF PLACING A MIXTURE OF CEMENT WILL HELP KEEP THE STREET HOLES-FREE. I AM SKEPTICAL BECAUSE DRIED CEMENT IN THE HOLES SEEMS TO BE LIKE PUTTING A MIXTURE OF HARD ICING TO FILL A SPACE IN A CAKE. I HPE ONCE THE VEHICLES START RUNNING OVER IT, WE AREN'T FACED WITH A BIGGER EROSIN OF THE STREETS AND ROADS. MY BELIEF IS THAT IT WON'T WORK. BEING THE DAUGHTER OF ONE OF BELIZE'S BEST ARCHITECTS IN HIS DAY, I DOUBT IT WILL LAST. BUT I AM PRAYING!!! WE NEED BETTER ROADS!

WHEN ALL SEEM LOST

WHEN ALL SEEM LOST
There is hope for us yet,
There is much we still have to get.
When all seem lost.

There is so much to do,
There is work for me and you,
When all seem lost.

There is a time for change,
There is a time to refrin,
When all seem lost.

So give a helping hand,
Because this is your land,
When all seem lost.

EFECTOS DE INUNDACIONES

En los distritos de Belice (centro), Orange Walk y Corozal (norte) continúan las inundaciones y la elevación de los niveles de las aguas, como el río Belice, la laguna de Crooked Tree, el New River y el río Hondo –en la frontera de México y Belice–. Las áreas afectadas incluyen el valle del río Belice, la ciudad de Belice y sus alrededores. En el sur, la mayor parte de los ríos están en el nivel de desbordamiento, pero comienzan a descender.
La Oficina Nacional para la Atención de Emergencias de Belice (NEMO) continúa la campaña para recabar fondos para las víctimas. Organizaciones, como la Cruz Roja de Belice, siguen prestando ayuda. El sector privado ha hecho donaciones. En las zonas afectadas se brindan despensas y atención médica. Varias poblaciones siguen aisladas por tierra. Las carreteras de Norte y del Occidente presentan cortes por inundaciones en algunos de sus tramos.
Fue encontrado el cuerpo de la menor de 6 años ahogada el 24 de octubre en el río Mopan. De acuerdo con cálculos, la depresión tropical 16 afectó a 80 poblaciones y causó daños severos por varios millones de dólares a la infraestructura, viviendas, agricultura e industria. Continúan los esfuerzos de recuperación en Cayo (occidente); las aguas han comenzado a retroceder. Los productores de pollo y carne en el norte y occidente han sufrido pérdidas

MEXICO FEATURES ANDY PALACIO IN THEIR "DIA DE LOS MUERTOS" DISPLAY

An exhibit for the Day of the Dead or ‘Dia de los Muertos’, was opened today at the Belize City House of Culture. The display was organized by the Mexican Embassy in collaboration with NICH and the Museum of Belize and depicts the cultural and traditional celebration practiced by Maya/Mestizo culture. News Five spoke to Museum Belize Director, Lita Krohn and Director of the Mexican Cultural Institute, Jorge Lopez Castro, about the exhibition.

Lita Krohn, Director, Museum of Belize
“Here at the house of culture we have two altars; one here is the Mexican style and when you see the other one it will be Belizean style. But how does it relate to Belize, its Maya culture. The Mayas never forgot their dead, the Mayas never forgot their ancestors and this is one way of remembering the dead. And so the Christians sort of incorporated it and that’s how we do it. We’re doing this for Andy Palacio. The Mexicans are honouring Andy Palacio and we in turn are honouring Pat Cervantes, who was a cultural attaché of Mexico in Belize. It’s a domestic ritual. The Maya always carried it out down south right now they are doing this in Orange Walk, Benque, all over the north; they’re all doing this ritual. So it has been going on for thousands of years. In the Creole culture they celebrate at wakes. The person is dead but they don’t want the memory to go away and I would say like in the Garifuna culture the nine nights, the dugu, all of these are remembering the dead.”

Jorge Lopez Castro, Director, Mexican Cultural Institute
“The day of the dead is from the thirty-first of October until the second of November. In this celebration there are many activities: visits to the cemetery to clean out the tombs and to put offerings at the tombs, there is music, there is dances, there is prepare to special foods for this days. We have religious ceremonies, there are many activities. In every house we put an altar. The altar is a way to connect with the dead people, normally the closest friends or relatives or someone very close to the family. In this connection we put eight items that the people love: for example their favourite food, objects like in this case like the guitar of Andy, some beers some and maracas etcetera. The white because this is for the adults and the yellow for the children. This is the objective of the two colours of the candles.”

Three deceased cultural personalities are being honoured: Beverly Smith-Lopez, a pioneer in the cultural arts, internationally recognized musician, Andy Palacio, and Paz Cervantes a former cultural attaché of Mexico in Belize.

Continúan inundaciones

The waters continue to rise in Belize and Mexico and I would want to believe that it is doing the same i he other Latin American countries that Tropical Depression Number 16 has left in chaos.

It is obviously not a good time of the year and if the rising water does not stop soon we will be faced with far more damage than we can handle.

Continúan inundaciones.
Ayer, el Primer Ministro Dean Barrow hizo un recorrido por aire y por tierra de varias zonas en el distrito de Belice (centro del país), afectadas por las inundaciones después del paso de la depresión tropical 16. Indicó que la reparación de viviendas en la ciudad de Belice requerirá USD 1.75 millones. Se espera una declaración de emergencia nacional, pero el PM indicó que esperará una evaluación para evitar hacerlo de manera prematura. La declaratoria es necesaria para recibir cierto tipo de ayuda internacional.
Continúan las inundaciones en el valle del río Belice, Orange Walk y Corozal. Varias familias han sido evacuadas en el norte del país, debido al continúo aumento de los ríos. Según el Servicio de Meteorología de Belice, pasará más de un mes para que el nivel del Río Hondo vuelva a la normalidad.
En los próximos días se estima que el flujo creciente de agua afectará la ciudad de Belice. Ayer varios tramos de las carreteras Norte y Occidental sufrieron cortes por las inundaciones, fueron reparadas y se reabrieron a la circulación; sin embargo, varias partes siguen bajo el agua. Todos los puentes en el país serán revisados por motivos de seguridad.
Varias organizaciones continúan las campañas de donación y ayuda a los afectados. Algunos centros turísticos han sido afectados. Los niveles de los ríos en el occidente han disminuido considerablemente

STAND UP AGAINST THE TYRANTS

BELIZEAN, FEEL YOU HAVE BEEN WRONGLY TREATED AND ARE LOSING YOUR JOB FOR REASONS THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE? NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT. GET IN TOUCH WITH ME. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.LET'S JOIN FORCES FOR A BETTER LIFE AND A BETTER BELIZE.

CALL ME AT CELLULAR NUMBER 607-8315 BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 3PM TO 10PM FROM MONDAY TO THURSDAY. ON FRIDAYS YOU CAN GET ME FROM 1PM TO 4PM.

WHEN THE PHOTOS TELL IT ALL - FLOOD WATCH OCTOBER 2008

AFTER THE STORM

For the time being the rains have stopped and now we have a cold front over Belize. However, all is not over. Now is the time of recovery. The people in the areas that had the flooding ae still suffering. Many are still not in their homes and many have lost most of their personal properties.

NOW IS THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE TO GIVE A HELPING HAND.

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY TO THE RELIEF ORGANIZERS WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE FOOD, MEDICINES AND CLOTHING ( AMONG OTHER THINGS) TO THOSE WHO NOW NEED OUR HELP.

In an effort to assist our brothers and sisters who have suffered so much in the past weeks, the YO PUEDO GROUP OF COROZAL and CCC ACE and CJC ACE have initiated a drive to collect non-persishable goods and clothing. THIS IS THE TIME WHEN WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER. LET US GIVE FROM THE HEART.

TO MY READERS ABROAD, YOU TOO CAN HELP. YOUR MONETARY DONATIONS CAN BE SENT TO THE RED CROSS OF BELIZE OR GET IN CONTACT WITH ME AT 501-607-8315 (3pm to 31am Belize time) OR AT 00521-983-131-5669 FROM 7AM TO 11AM (Mexico time).

Thank you and God Bless.

TROPICAL DEPRESSION NUMBER 16 - WITH DEATH IN ITS WATER

Breaking News: Five drown in Mopan River
We start tonight’s newscast with a tragic report just in to our newsroom. And that is that five persons have fallen victims to the rising waters of the Mopan River in the Cayo District. Full details of the incident are yet to be ascertained, but it appears that the five persons are from the village of Arenal and had gone shopping in Melchor de Mencos on the Guatemalan side of the border. They were traveling in a canoe that was swept away by the strong currents of the river. According to one eye witnesses, they tried to save the persons but the strong currents prevented them. The owner of the canoe was able to make it to the shores. A search and rescue team has been deployed to the area. There is also another late report that one more body has been found in the Calla Creek area of the Cayo District which would mean that the number of victims in Belize is rising quickly.

Earlier this week, on Wednesday, to Nigerians drowned in the Sittee River. Their identities of the first two persons who succumbed to the flood waters from Tropical Depression Sixteen have been revealed. The body of a woman wearing long brown jeans pants, a long sleeve brown blouse and a pair of black shoes, believed to be Nigerian National, Mujeedat Olasunbo Biobaku, was found about six hundred yards from the Kendall Causeway. The search team also recovered two suitcases containing Nigerian passports issued to Biobaku and Adulgafar Taye Bello. The search continues for the man believed to be Bello. The couple was travelling in a chartered canoe and were believed be heading to Punta Gorda when the canoe capsized. Only the owner, thirty-seven year old Carlos Balona, survived the incident. No charges have been made against Balona who was believed to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. Tropical Depression Sixteen has also taken many other lives throughout the region. Fourteen deaths have been reported in Honduras, six from Costa Rica, four from Nicaragua, three from Guatemala.

AND THEN THE STREETS OF BELIZE...

Well, next on the agenda when all the flooding goes away will be all the streets all over Belize that are in a deplorable condition. I think it is time for us to realize that there is a lot of work that is not getting done YET. I hope the authorities will get down to repairing the streets. I mentioned this some time ago. IF WE HAVE GOOD ROADS THE TOURIST WILL LOVE TRAVELLING THE LENGTH AND BREATH OF THIS JEWEL. I hope someone listens soon or better yet, I HOPE THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE ROADS SOON!!!!

PICTURES OF THE FLOODING IN THE WEST OF BELIZE

Flooding in Roaring Creek



Flooding in San Ignacio



Flooding at Iguana Creek

FLOODING TAKING WITH IT PRECIOUS LIVES

On Friday night while I was driving from Corozal Town, Belize to Chetumal, Mexico I had my radio on. In a way I now wish I didn't. Reports coming over the air was devastating.

THEY ARE NOW RECOVERING BODIES FROM THE RIVERS DOWN WEST WHERE THE FLOODING HAS BECOME WORST.

I listened as an eye witness re-counted the story of what he saw when three person lost their lives while crossing the river in a canoe. It was just awful. The painful thing about all this loss of life and property is that it is far from over. Reports indicate that there will be more flooding and more rains before this tropical depression/wave is over and done with.

God Bless and preserve Belize and all Belizeans and our neighbours in Mexico and Guatemala.

Caye Caulker Chronicles » Blog Archive » Major Flooding On Mainland Belize

Click on the code below and you can view two videos that show the flooding.

Caye Caulker Chronicles » Blog Archive » Major Flooding On Mainland Belize

PICTURES OF FLOODING IN BELIZE

NIGERIAN COUPLE DROWN CROSSING KENDALL

Just when it looked like the silver lining in the flooding was that there were no casualties, Dangriga police report that two Nigerians drowned Wednesday night in the treacherous waters of the Sittee River in Southern Belize. As far as has been ascertained, the two persons hired canoe owner, thirty-seven year old Carlos Balona, to transport them to Punta Gorda. According to the report, near to the Kendall Causeway, the canoe capsized and the three occupants were thrown into the waters.

Balona, a resident of Maya Center, who swam safely to shore reported the incident to the police and has been questioned because he appeared to be intoxicated. Balona claims that the incident happened when the woman was shaking the canoe and that when her companion stood up, the canoe overturned. A search team early this morning recovered the body of one of the victims, a woman. News Five has not been able to ascertain if the body of the other person has been located. Up to news time the woman’s identity had not been confirmed but a passport that has been recovered is believed to be hers.

The rains in Belize is now affecting the south of this beautiful jewel we call home. There is flooding as the rivers have now passed the level they should be. As Tropical Deprssion number 16 continues to pour down on Belize and Mexico, there are many prayers going out for the families who will have to leave their homes and seek refuge from this terrible weather. It is strange that at this time of the year we are seeing such changes in weather conditions even though we know this is the hurrican season.

My daughter, Carolyn who lives in Georgia, informs me that they were expreiencing a drought. What a freaky world. We have too much and they have too little.

Anyway, we have to go keep on smiling and helping those in need.

God Bless you all in the south and hopefully it will all soon be over.

Love, Brenda

CZECH NATIONAL ORDERED TO LEAVE BELIZE FOLLOWING AIRPORT SCARE

Published on Thursday, October 2, 2008
By Oscar Ramjeet
Caribbean Net News Special Correspondent
Email: oscar@caribbeannetnews.com

BELIZE CITY, Belize: A citizen of the Czech Republic was ordered to leave Belize after he pleaded guilty to overstaying his visit in the country.

Forty-three-year-old Tomas Kahan was responsible for a bomb scare at the Philip Goldson Airport last Friday. He was seen leaving the airport with four coffee bottles with wires attached to them in his luggage, which Kahan said he wanted to export to Spain as a device to be used in gas tanks for vehicles to improve fuel efficiency.

Kahan was detained along with another Czech Marek Bilik, but no additional charges have been placed on them.

He was given permission to stay in the country from May 17 to May 31 2007, and was given a further extension up to September 22. He was arrested four days after the expiration of his visa.

JOE BIDEN'S BROTHER DOING CHARITY WORK IN BELIZE

Published on Thursday, October 2, 2008
By Oscar Ramjeet
Caribbean Net News Special Correspondent
Email: oscar@caribbeannetnews.com

BELIZE CITY, Belize: While US vice presidential candidate Joe Biden is busy preparing for his debate on Thursday night with his opponent Sarah Palin, as well as campaigning for the November 4 general elections, his younger brother is in Belize.

Belize 7 News reported that Frank Biden is doing charity work in Belize called the "Major Gifts Officers" at Hand in Hands Ministry which has its head office in Louisville, Kentuky.

Biden's trip was planned before it was known that his older brother would be the vice presidential nominee.

He has been working primarily in the Belize District, where he is seeing first hand the work of the Hand in Hands Ministry. This is his second trip to Belize.

He is expected to return home before election day.

POLITICAL DONATIONS IN BRITAIN MAY HAVE BEEN CHANNELLED THROUGH BELIZE

Published on Wednesday, October 1, 2008
By Oscar Ramjeet
Caribbean Net News Special Correspondent
Email: oscar@caribbeannetnews.com

BELIZE CITY, Belize: A report published in the London Times and reproduced in Belize newspapers has claimed that Lord Ashcroft, Deputy Chairman of Britain’s Conservative Party, channelled money into party funds from Belize.

The report stated that, despite a ban on overseas donations, about 4.79 million pounds sterling was transferred via a chain of companies to Bearwood Corporate Services, a key donor to the Conservative Party, according to company documents.

The report added that some of these funds appear to have been used for political donations.

The Times report also stated that Ashcroft faced questions over whether tax was paid on the donations and whether he is now officially resident in the UK for tax purposes, as he pledged when he became a peer.

His scheme is legal because the donations have been made by a company registered in Britain, but the newspaper stated that the "exploitation of an apparent loophole in the law has triggered calls for an inquiry by the Electoral Commission”.

Sir Alistair Graham, former Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said, "Money is being bounced around the world before it ends up in Conservative Party accounts. This breaks the spirit of the law on foreign donations." .

LONG WEEKEND

ONCE AGAIN BELIZEANS ARE ON THE GO WITH ANOTHER LONG WEEKEND.

As all true Belizeans know, we celebrate everything and we celebrate it well! When a holiday falls on a Sunday, have a holiday on the Monday. September we had that for Independence Day and this weekend we will celebrate Columbus Day, Pan Amaericn Day or Dia de la Raza (all are on the same day, depending where you are in this side of the world).

Belizeans will be leaving town for Mexico ( Chetumal, Cancun, Merida - any of these)or Guatemala. But we love Mexico more!!! Sory Guatemala but I am borm Mexican and I have to love my country first.

Anyway, as we set of to enjoying a great weekend, let us look back at the week that was and try to make the next week better.

HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY, PAN AMERICAN DAY, DIA DE LA RAZA!!!

NOTICIAS DE BELICE - NO TODO QUE BRILLA ...

WHAT'S HAPPENING BELIZE
Viernes, 10 de octubre de 2008.


Decisión contra Telemedia.
La Corte de Apelaciones resolvió contra un recurso promovido por la empresa Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) en el juicio por el que varias organizaciones impugnaron la Ley de Derechos Adquiridos de 2007. Esta ley disolvió la anterior empresa Belize Telecommunications Limited para convertirla en Telemedia. De acuerdo con los demandantes, la ley les había negado la compensación apropiada y varios de sus derechos habían sido violados. El asunto pasará ahora a la Suprema Corte (News 5, 7 News).

Conflicto con electricistas.
Mediante un comunicado, la empresa Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) indicó ayer que ha cumplido con el acuerdo alcanzado con sus trabajadores en julio del presente año. Subrayó que el despido de dos líderes del sindicato de electricistas no tiene que ver con su posición sindical; más bien, sus puestos eran parte del programa de reducción de la plantilla (Love FM, The Reporter, The Guardian).
Nueva donación a Cuba. A nombres del gobierno y pueblo de Belice, la Administración Nacional de Emergencias de Belice (NEMO) entregó un segundo contenedor con alimentos al Embajador de Cuba en Belice. Las provisiones serán destinadas a las víctimas del paso de los huracanes en la isla (News 5, Love FM).

Fiesta Centroamericana de Turismo.
La Asociación de la Industria del Turismo de Belice (BTIA) organizó una gran delegación para participar en la Fiesta Centroamericana de Turismo CATM 2008 que se celebra en Nicaragua del 8 al 13 de octubre (The Guardian).
Comité contra la delincuencia. El Departamento de Policía reactivó el Comité de Coalición el Pueblo, como órgano de consulta, el cual integra a diversos ciudadanos en la lucha contra la delincuencia. El comité lanzó la convocatoria a la población para designar a sus integrantes (News 5).

Policías condecorados.
17 policías de la División Oriental fueron condecorados ayer por su servicio destacado durante septiembre. En la ceremonia, el Belize Bank donó dos computadoras al Departamento de Policía (News 5, 7 News, Love FM).
Entrenamiento sobre SIDA. El Ministerio del Trabajo, en colaboración con el Fondo de Población de las Naciones Unidas (UNFPA), llevará a cabo este fin de semana un taller de entrenamiento sobre el VIH/SIDA destinado a trabajadores de turismo y servicios del distrito de Cayo (occidente de Belice) (Love FM, The Guardian).
Competitividad regional. De acuerdo con el reciente informe del Foro Económico Mundial, el Caribe muestra signos de mejoría en el rango de competitividad mundial. Barbados, Puerto Rico, Guyana y Surinam han mejorado. Sin embargo, Jamaica, Trinidad y Tobago y República Dominicana han visto retrocesos (Love FM).

Noticias relacionadas con México
Exposición fotográfica. La exposición “Project Poverty” de Richard Holder fue abierta ayer en el Instituto de México en Belice. El evento, organizado por la Lifeline Foundation, tuvo el objetivo de recaudar fondos y explorar el contexto de la pobreza. La exposición estará abierta por dos semanas (News 5, 7 News).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BELIZE

TODAY IS INDEPENDENCE DAY IN BELIZE.

A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISH GOES OUT TO ALL BELIZEANS. HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY ENJOYING THE FREEDOM WE CHERISH IN THIS BEAUTIFUL JEWEL OF OURS.

LOVE ALWAYS,
BRENDA A. YSAGUIRRE

THE DAY BEFORE THE DAY

It is Saturday, Sept 20 and I am sitting in front of my computer in Mexico thinking about what went on today in Belize and what will happen tomorrow. Once again it is the anniversary of the independence of Belize and once again there was a carnival today. Like many Belizean who remember the tenth of years gone by, I look forward to a revival of those wonderful times but I don't belive they will come again. Anyway, there will still be many to march and the parade of the 21st should go as it has for years now, with all the dignity Belizeans have given it.

With pride I look at the the past and I cherish what we had and I look to the future and I yearn for better.

Belizeans, you have the power to move the mountain. You have the power to be patriotic. You have the power to be BELIZEAN!

join hands and march for BELIZE. March for PEACE and march for FREEDOM. Remember that life is but a reflection of the persons who have made things happen.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BELIZE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAND OF THE FREE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND GOD BLESS ALL MY BELIZEANS SISTERS AND BROTHERS.

TO MAY STUDENTS AT COROZAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE ACE AND COROZAL JUNIOR COLLEGE ACE, HAVE A WONDERFUL 21ST SEPTEMBER. ENJOY THE CELEBRATIONS AND THE HOLIDAY.

It i only fitting that today I received a parcel from the International Society of Poetry with my 2007 award for outstanding achievement in poetry. Thanks goes out to all those who have helped me to think and to be poetic. later this week I will take a picture and place it on the blog so you can see me and the award.

Yours always for BELIZE,
Brenda A. Ysaguirre

LET'S TRY TO WORK TOGETHER

Someone once said that all of society is made up of good intentions and bad actions. I truly believe the police force in Beliz needs uplifting. There is too much crime going on these days through this land and if we do not reclaim all from the criminal activity that is happening we will lose a strongand vibrant life style of being free.

Let us try to work together because we don't there is not much future left for Belize.

10TH SEPTEMBER, 2008

As we went about enjoying today, we must have had some thought as to what the tenth is all about. History tells us to believe in a people who would not be captured and who defended their right to be here.

I feel we have lost that sense of patriotism and belief in our country. So few of us will do nothing. So few of us will appreciate this land. So few of us are really TRUE BELIZEAN.

Well, maybe there is still hope for us. Maybe we can still do the right thing for this land and maybe we can still find in our hearts the feeling of patriotism.

HAPPY TENTH OF SEPTEMBER. LONG LIVE BELIZE! LONG LIVE THE BELIZEAN DREAM AND THE BELIZEAN PEOPLE.

PEACE.

BELIZEAN PRIDE - BELMOPAN CITY AT DUSK

HOWLER MONKEY IN BELIZE

SEPTEMBER IS HERE!

IN LATIN AMERICA AND BELIZE THIS IS THE MONTH OF ALL THE CELEBRATIONS OF THE NATIONS.

MEXICO'S INDEPENDENCE DAY IS SEPTEMBER 15.

BELIZE'S INDEPENDENCE IS ON THE 21ST.

AND OTHER AREAS IN THIS SIDE OF THE WORLD ALSO CELEBRATE THEIR INDEPENDENCE.

GOD BLESS ALL THE COUNTRIES ON THEIR INDEPENCE DAY AND ALWYS.

COST OF LIVING KILLING US!

With the cost of living going up and the Belizean dollar losing more value as we convert our dollars to the Mexican pesos, it seems that this year will be a hectic one for those of us who have to stretch our dollars.

Is there anything we can do to alleviate the tight budgets we will have to deal with?

YeS!
1. STOP BUYING THINGS WE DON'T NEED.

2. STOP BUYING THINGS FOR OUR CHILDREN WE KNOW WE CAN'T AFFORD.

3. STOP HAVING BIG SOCIALS WE HAVE TO GO TO THE BANK TO BORROW FOR, SUCH S WEDDINGS,
AND BIRTHDAYS.

WAKE UP, PEOPLE. THESE ARE CRUCIAL TIMES AND THEY CALL FOR CRUCIAL METHODS. LEARN TO SAY NO TO YOURSELVES AND YOUR CHILDREN.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

SENIOR BANDS IN BELIZE DO THEIR THING

Thursday night was part two of the Mas Camp Nights and the four remaining senior bands were more than ready to show us what they had to offer for carnival day. As we approached the first camp, we were curious to find out if this second group of senior bands would have as much energy as the first. Black Pearl did not disappoint. The revelers and their on lookers blocked off an entire block of Dean street with their pre-carnival jump-up.

Kendra Buller, Leader Black pearl
“Black Pearl senior band will be will presenting this year the three concepts of peace, love and, harmony. As you can see, we have a lovely array of colours. The red section with the heart symbolizes the love. The colourful section, a togetherness of colours, with the harmony sign represents the harmony. The white section with the dove represents the peace section. Black Pearl senior band has seventy-five strong masqueraders ready to go out there and do their thing carnival day so we’re looking forward to it”

King, Black Pearl
“Well this year my costume is representing freedom and basically I just di come out fi rock di street dis year and di thousand ah people weh I have as my fans. Everybody look forward fi si mi inna carnival every year. Every year I usually seh dah mi last year but this year will be my last year so I just come out fi rock and enjoy myself with the colorful colors this year” “Well, fi all di kings dehn weh di compete, I just want seh unnu bring it hard because all like me, come out fi enjoyment dis year but I wah bring it as well.”

Saffiyah Mohammed, Reporting
Over at the Mas Camp of Eternity Mas Band the soca music was blasting. They told us all about the reason behind their root and culture theme.

Misty Williams, Eternity Mas Band
“I di represent Eternity Mas Band and this year we di portray roots and culture the dread represents roots; weh yoh come from with black being the people, gold and different colors. Di pink dah di Maya temple as in culture—di pink and di purple represent culture—and di purple is a leaf. It’s from a, you could seh wah tree. You know di tree grow and we think dat culture di fade inna Belize and we want bring it out inna wah costume that ih could actually grow and ih could actually continue and be something weh grow inna Belize.”

Member, Eternity Mas Band
“This year I decided to join carnival because I wanted to enjoy my September because my birthday is September. But most of all, I joined Eternity because dis year we come fi mash up Belize, we come fi enjoy. You done know.”

Member, Eternity Mas Band
“Tell dehn tighten up cause we di come hard. We wah run over anybody. We noh business, we di come fi dehn”

The erotic Mas Band's camp was filled with costumes of many colors and shapes. The designer, David Matus, explained the meaning of each.

David Matus, Designer, Erotic Mas Band
“This year erotic is doing journey where we are depicting the land, people and sea. Alright our land section, we’re depicting come flora and fauna and we’re depicting some butterflies. In the people section we decided to pick the slaves who came through the British settle and under the sea, well that speaks for itself. The only message that I have is that we line up at number five in the senior band line-up but at the end ah di day we'll be in front”

Queen, Erotic Mas Band
“I am representing Queen of the Land, amorphous, representing the land. The sections are land, people, sea, hence I lead the land. Well I've always been participating. This is like twelve years of carnival. I think I’ve done about three or four queens, won about three and surely I must win this year we’ve been working very hard.”

Our final stop was Mother Nature's creation. They may have been last but they definitely not least.

Leader, Mother Natures Creation
“The theme for the costumes is the myth of fire and water, death and reincarnation. The first section—we’re looking at all different colours—the first section will be aqua, blue, white and green. The second section will be red, yellow, orange. The third group will be the rainbow and the last group will be pink and black”

Member, Mother Nature’s Creation
“I really hype up fi dis parade dis year. I come all di way from L.A. fi jump inna carnival and I wah still come. Belize dah my home, when carnival dah my queen. So dis dah weh I love. On carnival, I do mi natural energy and I get on bad so unnu wah si wah good, good show this year”

Queen, Mother Nature’s Creation
“I'm queen Myra. I’m a mermaid and I’m going to be beautiful, seductive, lure all the men of Belize to love me. Belize makes me want to be in carnival because I see it makes a lot of people happy. It’s a day when we can come out, enjoy ourselves, without all the killing and everything that’s going on in Belize this year. It’s one day that I would like people to come out and enjoy one another. It’s not a day for hurt or anything. It’s a day for us to enjoy and to be proud of our country.”

IF GRANDMA CAN DO IT, SO CAN WE

A robber was reportedly stopped smack in his tracks minutes after he stole a knapsack this morning. The incident occurred just after eleven on Cemetery Road when the thief followed a woman who had just made a withdrawal from an A.T.M. at Shell One Stop Gas Station at the corner of Central American Boulevard and Cemetery Road and demanded her cash. Police, who were right on his tail when the incident occurred, pursued the culprit all the way to the corner of Logwood Street and Magazine Road where they eventually nabbed him. But in his attempt to escape police, the thief almost knocked a girl off a bicycle and was intercepted by a brave senior citizen who said she has known him for a long time.

Maud Conorquie, Stopped Robber
“Me and di young lady di talk yah soh. So I tell ah noh move, stay noh move. Den di young man di come direct to we so I tell ah noh run, stay right close me, if yoh run I wah hold yoh and soh ih look fi run soh.”

Marion Ali
“You tell di man this?”

Maud Conorqiue
“Yes, I tell ah noh run. I tell ah stay right yah and ih di look fi run soh I seh stay, I wah kick yoh up, soh stay right yah because yoh done do wrong den yoh wah look fi run from police. Ih seh but lady I get shot soh I seh well dat dah your problem cause weh yoh wah run fah? Soh wen I look di police di come from soh and dah soh dehn tek ah and put ah inna di vehicle and I tell dehn hey unnu owe me wah award because dah me ketch di man fi unu.”

Marion Ali
“You feel if you neva deh hold ah, ih mi wah…”

Maud Conorquie
“ih mi gwein, ih mi gwein fi true and den ih mi wah get shot because dehn mi wah hurt ah because ih di run. Why ih di run?”

Stunned by Blood-dripping Robber
“I see di police dehn by my house but I really pay it no mind. Two ah di police pick up dehn gone by Cemetery and den I see di young man wid di school bag by di shop. And den when I si di police dehn gone more up by Roger’s Stadium, di young man come out through di alley by health centre and den he come and jump over di old bus terminal fence. And den one ah di police wid gun come out by di bus terminal gate and den ih di ask di security guard fi mek ih open di gate because somebody jump through yah. And den she mi want other information but di policeman gone in and we heard wah shot back deh and den we just si di young man di come running through here and I just see di shot eena ih hand. And then he run up into me but instead of I move outta his way he run right up into me and then I run left my bike weh mi deh down deh and dah wah lady weh mi deh beside me stop ah.”

Maud Conorquie
“He all time eena problem and soh with police and soh cause he noh work and thing, you know. And if ih do wah job ih still do ih lee act between. Miss I got my son dem and I tell you, if I ketch dehn di du anything outta di way I noh di joke wid dem. Yoh noh fi rob nobody out yah.”

Marion Ali
“You noh think by telling him that yoh put yourself in danger?”

Maud Conorqui
“No, dah no danger, he dah no kinda danger. God deh wid me man. I save fi he life too because if he mi run go anywhere dehn mi wah shot ah.”

The jacker, Vanzie Lamb, has received treatment at the K.H.M.H. for his injured hand and now faces a charge of Robbery. While police did not find the money on him, they believe he might have hidden it in an unoccupied bus.

LAST YEAR THIS WAS HURRICANE DEAN

ON AUGUST 22 LAST YEAR E SAW THE FURY FO HURRICANE DEAN.
MAY WE NOT FORGET TO PREPARE FOR THES TERRIBLE DISASTERS.

A BELIZEAN IN A CAN

A HERMIT CRAB

BELIZE'S OWN

Have you tried a Belizean beer yet? Come to Belize

WHEN THINGS BEGIN TO GO WRONG... WHO DO WE CALL?

While we get ready to go back to the classrooms and teach the children of Belize right from wrong, something very terrible seems to be happening in this country of ours. Sorry, people, but the truth hurts sometimes.

There is a rise in crime all over the nation.
Please, Mr. Prime Minister, it is time for you to do something about all the killings, stealing and maiming going on in Belize before we become black-listed completely by tourists.

Last week saw the killing of a person in the Free Zone at Santa Elena in the Corozal District. It seems that there needs to be a better security system in letting people into the free zone and there is need for a small Police Station there, too. Let us stop feeling we are the Belize of old where life goes smoothly. We are living in Hell's world today and we have got to do the right thing to prevent the wrong things from happening. Let's all work towrads a better Belize and a crime free one.

COROZAL JUNIOR COLLEGE ACE OFFERS FIRST AID CLASSES FOR IT PED STUDENTS

As a requirement for grduation, all PED students countrywide MUSTR take a course in First Aid. The photo above shows some of the students in the programme at the CJC ACE (Evening Division)tking the course. It was held on Saturdays in June and July.

Congrats on doing well at all your workshops and in all your classes this summere students.
Love, The Director