TWENTY YEAR OLD GETS 15 YEARS FO MANSLAUGHTER

After hearing mitigation pleas from two character witnesses, Justice Herbert Lord sentenced, twenty year old Guatemalan, Yanira Escobar, to fifteen years imprisonment. Escobar, who also goes by Dominga Hernandez, was found guilty of Manslaughter two weeks ago in connection with the 2005 stabbing death of twenty-two year old Yesenia Jessica Salguero. In court today Escobar’s childhood friend, Ana Trujillo, took the stand and told the court that she has known Escobar since she was eight years old and that as a child Escobar used to deliver tortillas for her for a living. She said Escobar has always been an honest, respectful and humble person. The other person to take the stand was Carla Casimiro, a Principal Officer at Hattieville Prison, who testified that since Escobar has been on remand awaiting trial, she has engaged in positive programmes at the facility, such as Arts and Craft, literacy, and catering. Lindberth Willis also asked Justice Lord to consider the dock statement that Escobar gave and that she was only seventeen at the time of the incident and she was provoked and that she had already spent three years in remand. In closing, Willis asked (quote) “that the court tempers justice with mercy”.

For her part, Director of Public Prosecutions, Sheryl-Lynn Branker-Tait, said that while Escobar is able to take part in prison programmes, there is a dead victim and four orphaned children. When Escobar was asked if she had anything to say before sentencing, she broke down in tears and begged the court for leniency saying that she knows she made a mistake, has asked for forgiveness and wishes she could be able to help her younger sister and niece. In delivering the sentence, Justice Lord said he felt he had no choice but to go with the minimum of fifteen years jail time, which took effect as of July eighteenth when the case started. The incident occurred outside King’s Club in the Cayo district around eleven p.m. on July third 2005 when Salguero was injured, and later died in the hospital. Escobar has been in custody since July fifth, 2005 when the incident occurred.

A FLOWER FOUND IN BELIZE

This flower was found at the maya Mountain area in Belize, Central America

DIVING IN BELIZE WITH THE STING RAYS AT HOL CHAN

Marie Chestnut (Mobunny) diving with the Rays at Hol Chan

Photograph by Irmin Wehmeier

CONCH REVEALED

We eat it in fried conch fritters, conch ceviche, and conch soup but do we know what they look like before they are served to us?

The pictures below are courtesy of Cullen Walker and they help us see what a conch looks like. Thanks Cullen.

SUPA G GETS READY FOR THE SEPTEMBER CELEBRATIONS

The September celebrations are just around the corner, and you will know this from the musical explosion that is coming our way... On Tuesday, Reckless stopped by the studio with his latest offering and tonight, Supa G is back in Belize from a successful tour in Chicago to promote his new CD before heading out for Belize Day at the UWI Campos in Barbados.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting
Lensford Martinez was born in Georgetown in the Stann Creek district and grew up in Corozal Town. But while you may not recognize that name you absolutely know Supa G. In his career, he has made dour albums with Punta Rebels and seven solo albums. His popularity has grown so much that the airwaves have become saturated with his jingles. One of his most popular songs, Lay the Pipe, is also one of the most controversial because of the racial male stereotyping.

Lensford “Supa G” Martinez, Musician
“It is a lady that I met, that’s what she told me and I just decided to put it in a song. So it wasn’t just from Supa G, that is from a woman’s point of view. It was a controversial song because even in the U.S., a lot of people approach me, Hispanic people, and say how come dah only we wah build di house and dehn only di black man wah do di plumbing. And I tell dehn if yoh listen to di entire song then yoh wah si dat both di Spanish person and di black person does di plumbing. But to me it’s just a song about having fun.”

This week Supa has released a new album called Di Scandal.

Lensford “Supa G” Martinez
“With this album it has more positive music; meaning it has more songs that is talking about reality. It is talking about changes that we need to make to make things better in this community. I have tracks like Fuego that is talking about too much gun violence in the city and the country.”

Supa’s style has changed. His lyrics aren’t about sexual intimacy, but are more formed to inspire listeners to dialogue about many of society’s ills.

Lensford “Supa G” Martinez
“So I’m more conscious, I’ve matured. And my music also has matured with me turning to that positivity. One of the most famous bad thing happening in our society with a lot of men molesting the young ones. And I believe it is really, really wrong and it is terrible and it is wrong. Kids are not supposed to be hurt any at all; we are supposed to protect the young ones. For men to be doing that I think they are really getting out of hand. So I wanted to touch that topic and write a song about that also.”

“And also about things going up, everything the cost of living going up. We can’t buy rice fi mek we bubble up now. You know things getting really hard. “Pressure”.”

While there is a notable difference in lyrics, Supa is struggling between making sexual songs that sell versus lending a social consciousness to music.

Lensford “Supa G” Martinez
“The songs that bring money to me are the songs that people would say don’t make much sense, are the songs that get more airtime in the clubs; songs that people want to party with. I get phone calls because of which song? Bwai, because of Lay the Pipe. I get tons of phone calls. Now what should I do as an artist? Concentrate on more of that type of music because that’s the music that brings in the money? But then I want to show a different light. I want to change the game and hope it works.”

And conscious lyrics should bring success because Supa G’s first musical inspiration was Andy Palacio. And Andy’s music transitioned from Punta to planetary. Di Scandal is now available in music stores. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.

Supa G will be performing in a concert this Thursday night at the Princess Royal Park in Dangriga to promote the album.

MISS FIDO'S BIKINI COMPETITION 2008

Miss Costa Rica Maria Quesada wins Miss Fido’s Bikini Competition 2008!
A full house turned up at Fido’s Courtyard on Tuesday night to take part in the La Reina Fido’s Bikini Competition 2008. The eight gorgeous Costa Maya delegates put on a run way show like no other with four segments of bikini changes.
After four rounds of stiff competition, the judge’s score were tied amongst two contestants and the top five were called out once more for another round of modeling. Based on the audiences’ reaction and the individual majority vote of the judges, Miss Costa Rica Maria Quesada ultimately was crowned as Miss Fido’s Bikini model!
Photo from the San Pedro Sun

HANDMADE CHOCOLATE IN BELIZE

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Juan Cho and his wife handmaking chocolate in San Felipe Village (near Punta Gorda).

Photograph by Cullen Walker