Guatemala takes over SICA presidency from Belize

Caribbean News Now | SAN PEDRO, Belize — Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow on Thursday handed over the presidency of the Central American Integration System (SICA) to the president of Guatemala, Alvaro Colom, at the tourist island of San Pedro in Belize.

Barrow in his remarks said that SICA has been the engine in mechanisms that drive development of the region.

He added, “It will be timely for us to reassert at this meeting our ultimate commitment to the integration movement, to enter into the record our revitalized dedication to the development in harmony of our countries and to restate our unswerving resolve to make sure that individually and collectively, we uplift our peoples to improve their quality of life and rid our societies of all traces of poverty and inequality.”

In taking over the presidency of SICA, Colom said he had strong hopes that the role of SICA will progress with the cooperation of all member countries.

He added, “I am certain that with all the presidents of Central America and the situations of Central America, we will continue to build a Central America that is already a little Caribbean.”

(more…)

San Pedro AIDS Commission holds Toy Drive

San Pedro Sun | This year, the San Pedro AIDS Commission is teaming up with the San Pedro Lions Club and Mr. Wil Moreno of the Belize Association of California to collect and distribute toys in San Pedro. Through the program “A Christmas Giving”, Mr. Moreno will provide a couple of boxes of stuffed toys and baby clothing to be distributed by the Members of the AIDS Commission and the Lions Club.
This partnership will allow the Association of California to assist in providing clothes, toys, books and gifts to children on the island. The AIDS commission takes this opportunity to encourage the residents of San Pedro to do the same and help the families and children that are less fortunate with gifts this Christmas season.

(more…)

OCEANA’S Board of Directors meets in Belize

Oceana Belize

LoveFM | Oceana’s Board of Directors is hosting its first ever international meeting in Belize which is taking place from December 6th to 9th. The meeting will have the participation of 15 board members and internationally recognized actor Ted Danson who is a marine advocate and founding member of Oceana will make a presentation on issues affecting humanity globally. The working session of the meeting is being held today in San Pedro; Audrey Matura-Shepherd is the Vice President of Oceana Belize.

Audrey Matura-Shepherd; Vice President, Oceana

“For Belize our plan would be we would be reporting what is accomplished in this area and looking forward to our campaign next year which will be the issues of off shore drilling exploration and the issue of gillnets. Those are the issues we are looking at to see where we can work with the government and to move forward for the development of Belize. We actually have a cocktail being hosted by the mayor and the town council of San Pedro, Mayor Paz is hosting us at a cocktail and that is just so that the members of the board get to meet the members of the San Pedro Town council. As you all will recall the San Pedro Town Board under the leadership of Mayor Elsa Paz have been very supportive of Oceana and its call for a ban on offshore drilling and exploration. It is time for members of those two organizations to meet in a very social setting and just have very informal dialogue.”

As part of the activities marking Oceana’s first international meeting, the board will be approving its global strategy and budget for 2011 and learning more about the pressing marine issues in Belize. Oceana in Belize will be presenting awards to honor two outstanding Belizeans for their work in Marine Advocacy. (more…)

Fifth Annual Holiday Lighted Boat Parade lights up the sea

San Pedro Holiday Boat Parade

San Pedro Sun | The fifth annual Holiday Lighted Boat Parade has come and gone on La Isla Bonita. The dark seas were lit up by festive boats that took the annual route from Boca del Rio and south to the Caribbean Villas area. Along the shoreline, hundreds of spectators lined up to watch the beautiful twinkling lights as the vessels sailed/drove at sea.

Of course, there was judging to be had, and this year’s judges, Einer Gomez, Wil Alamilla, Miss San Pedro – Natasha Stuart, Dianne Lawrence and Mayor Elsa Paz had the hard task of deciding the overall winner. There were several prizes to hand out, so each participant was honored.

Most Artistic: Sea Symphony
Most Religious & Junior Division winners: Holy Cross Anglican School (only Junior Division participant)
Mayor’s Trophy: San Pedro AIDS Commission
Best Overall – 1st Place: Blue Tang’s Sirena Azul
Best Overall –2nd Place: San Pedro Lions Club

Honorable Mentions: Canadian Connection, The Rum Punch, Searious Adventures’ “Red Hot” Catamaran (The SEArious Escape)

Congratulations to all participants and winners for a job well done!! Join us again when we light up the seas once more in 2011.

HIV/AIDS Fundraiser in San Pedro

San Pedro Aids Commission

San Pedro Sun | World AIDS Day is today (December 1st). In honor of this event, the San Pedro AIDS Society held a special fundraiser, which included a FREE testing area on Sunday at the Central Park. Health professionals aided in testing a number of people, while providing information, pamphlets, and more. There was food, drinks and snacks for sale, and as always, music kept the atmosphere lively. Kudos to the San Pedro AIDS committee for their dedication and effort – your hard work makes a better, more informed society.

Baby Maddy needs your help

San Pedro Sun | Come on out on Sunday November 21st at the Central Park to support a worthy cause.  Direct donations can be made to Kristy Rodriguez at Belize Bank account number: 68022218202

Garifuna Settlement Day Schedule set

Garifuna Settlement Day Schedule

San Pedro Sun | The National Garifuna Council San Pedro Branch Garifuna Settlement Day Celebrations 2010 Schedule:

November 17th: Drumming in the Central Park
Come out and learn the art of playing the Garifuna drums and how to dance Punta, Paranda, Hugu Hugu, Jankunu and more…

November 18th: Cultural Block Party
3rd Annual, Battle of the Drums
Cultural Dance Presentations
Cultural foods
Jankunu Competition

19th November Opening Ceremony
After Party under the Big Palapa

November 19th:
Urumie at 6am
Mass at the Catholic Church
Afternoon Beach Party Central Park
All Day Huduth Sale

Controversy at The Next Miss Belize Fashion Show

The Next Miss Belize Fashion Show in San Pedro

San Pedro Sun | Controversy reigned at the Queen of the Jewel fashion show dubbed the Royal Parade this past Saturday when the final results were called out. The fashion show began nearly two hours (9:30pm) after its scheduled start-time (7:30pm). No explanation was given for the late start; however, the show itself was a sight to behold. Despite poor attendance, mostly blamed for lack of promotion on the part of the organizers, those that remained in the audience were ready for a fabulous show.

The beautiful delegates vying for the title of Miss Belize showcased the fun and fabulous designs of RH Creations. The colorful prints evoked a feeling of the tropics, and the general consensus was that those present (at least the ladies) could see themselves in at least two of the designs each. The showing was a success, and RH Creations certainly proved a hit.

During the catwalk, the ladies were being judged for poise and presentation. At the end of the night, one winner was to be declared Best Model. Before announcing the winner, sashes were handed out to each girl – with some confusion as it seemed that the ladies hadn’t been properly identified. A search on the website and Facebook pages of The Next Miss Belize brought up no proper identification of each girl.

In the end, the results were announced and it was a tie between San Pedro’s Scarleth Delgado and Belmopan’s Krista Cruz. However, the controversy erupted when the winner’s sash and tiara were placed on Scarleth. Scarleth took her winner’s walk down the runway, and Krista followed. That was when the audience realized a mistake had been made – apparently some had not heard the announcement of a tie, and the celebratory mood turned to boos. The ladies remained on stage, and their poise never faltered despite the controversy. For that, they must be congratulated.

The final show for The Next Miss Belize will be on November 27th, 2010 at the Bliss Center in Belize City. Many islanders are planning on attending to show support to their two representatives, Anna Haylock and Scarleth Delgado. It is the sincere hope of everyone that the organization will have worked out its technical issues and the pageant itself goes smoothly.

Monkey Business Tours in Belize Launches New Website to Customize Your Adventure with Photo and Video Promotion

Monkey Business Tour Shoppe at Banana Beach Resort in Ambergris Caye, Belize is announcing the official launch of its new website, www.MonkeyBusinessTours.com, with a fresh new feature to customize your adventure in Belize.

The new Monkey Business site is the first of its kind in Belize to offer more than 40 different mainland and Caribbean Sea tours and adventures, from kayaking through the class four rapids of Belize’s tropical rivers and tubing through ancient Mayan caves, to snorkeling along the Belize Barrier Reef and fly fishing in the Cayes.

MonkeyBusinessTours.com also features a unique Customize Your Adventure function, providing vacationers with thousands of customizable adventure and vacation combinations. Users may pick and choose various tours and activities during their stay in Belize. The program then emails back a customized itinerary and vacation package.
Users may even select accommodations at Banana Beach Resort.

“We’re really excited about the Customize Your Adventure technology, allowing us to offer our guests a truly perfect vacation, custom tailored for each individual or group,” says Jimmy Dean, owner of Banana Beach Resort and Monkey Business Tour Shoppe.

Also with the launch of the new site, MonkeyBusinessTours.com is announcing its “Share Your Adventure and Win a Vacation” promotion. For anyone who’s been on an adventure tour in Belize, share your experience with the world, post your videos, or post your pictures at MonkeyBusinessTours.com and automatically enter to win a 5-night, 5-day vacation with one adventure tour of your choice for two. Entries also have a chance to win one of six monthly prizes to get 10% off your next stay at Banana Beach Resort. For details, please go to www.MonkeyBusinessTours.com/share-your-adventure.

About Banana Beach Resort
Banana Beach Resort is the only full-service, 3-star beachfront resort in Ambergris Caye, Belize, one of the most popular new Caribbean island destinations. At Banana Beach Resort, guests have the option of 66 rooms and fully equipped suites, two fresh water pools, Monkey Business Tour Shoppe (MonkeyBusinessTours.com), Ambergris
Divers Dive Shop (AmbergrisDivers.com), El Divino Steakhouse & Martini Lounge, and Massage Hut, all in one convenient location. www.BananaBeach.com.

South Ambergris Caye Neighborhood Watch Cleanup

South Ambergris Caye Neighborhood Watch

PR | The South Ambergris Caye Neighborhood Watch is gearing up for the island’s busy season with a neighborhood clean up! All south end residents and their families are encouraged to participate in sweeping our neighborhood clean of trash and debris on roads, the beach and empty lots.

The clean up will take place on Sunday November 14. We will meet at the water tower at 7:30am to divide into groups to tackle different sections. Please bring bug spray, work gloves, and whatever tools you may need such as rakes, machetes and shovels. The SACNW will provide cold water and garbage bags. Clean-ups generally only take a couple hours and the more people who help out the faster it will be.

The SACNW invites all neighborhoods to get involved in organized clean ups and showing our visitors just how Bonita our island can be!