A guide to the Maya Ruins of Belize

ATM Cave Belize courtesy of PortofinoBelize.com

The Maya ruins of Belize include a number of well-known and historically important pre-Columbian Maya archaeological sites. Belize is considered part of the southern Maya lowlands of the Mesoamerican culture area, and the sites found there were occupied from the Preclassic until and after the arrival of the Spanish.

Actun Tunichil Muknal

As a Maya archaeological site, ATM is notable for its skeletons, ceramics, and stoneware. The most famous of the human remains is known as “The Crystal Maiden”. It is the skeleton of a teenaged girl, probably a sacrifice victim, the bones of which have been completely covered by the natural processes of the cave, leaving them with a sparkling appearance. There are several such skeletons in the Main Chamber. The ceramics at the site are significant partially because they are marked with “kill holes”, which indicates they were used for ceremonial purposes. The cave is also an important tourist site, with guided tours. (more…)

101 Birds of Belize

101 Birds of Belize by Belize naturalist Carolyn Miller.

If you are planning to go Central America — or just love learning about birds — A New book by noted Belize naturalist Carolyn Miller is now available for sale, called 101 Birds of Belize. The book, published by the Belize Audubon Society, is now available in the United States, and the book sells for between $15 and $20. Contact the Belize Audubon Society to order.

From the Foreword by Craig Lee of the National Audubon Society:  Belize opened my eyes to the joys of tropical birds and their environments. And that experience set me on a different course that has shaped my life. This book is a milestone along that course. As a tourist from a northern part of the USA, all the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Belize were as foreign to me as the humid warmth the first time I visited.

The country was full of surprises for every sense. But, together with the wonderful Belizean people, it was the glorious array of birds that captivated me night and day. What I would have given to have this book when I crept out of my room at first light to investigate the incredibly strange calls emanating from a tree festooned with gigantic hanging, woven nests. It would have helped me to quickly figure out that I was seeing my first Oropendula. Instead I had to study the immense Peterson volume Birds of Mexico and Central America to find this amazing creature. (more…)

Chief Justice Gives BTL 48 Hours

BTL Ordered to Comply within 48 hours or face contempt charges

Last Thursday, the Chief Justice of Belize made a ruling ordering BTL to “reinstall all equipment belonging to (Smart) from its sites and towers” and “provide (SMART with) reasonable and non-discriminatory terms for all telecommunication services ordinarily offered when requested by the claimant including E-1 service.”

At the time it seemed simple enough, but there are so many technical nuances, and so many shades of meaning that implementing the decision proved difficult for BTL. First of all, there’s nothing “ordinary” – as the CJ put it – about the E-1 service which SMART was leasing from BTL to make its long distance phone calls. That’s because it was an unfiltered E-1 access which simply means it allowed SMART to use the line for voice over internet calls – which no other operator or individual can “ordinarily” access – no matter how much they pay.

BTL has been hedging over these nuanced meanings for the past week, but the Chief Justice says he doesn’t want to hear it; an order is an order and yesterday he gave BTL 48 hours to comply unreservedly or face contempt charges. So the E1 access – as we understand it is being restored and the equipment – which BTL’s claim is a trespass is being re-installed. And that should stand until next week when the Public Utilities Commission issues its own ruling on the E1 access issue. That is expected on the 23rd. Source: 7 News Belize

More Trouble for Australian Chef

In August, we told you about Cesare Fermino Daneille an Australian Chef who was working in Placencia. He was charged for obtaining property by deception after he allegedly conned the owner of the Red Hut Inn into getting into some fraudulent travel deals.

But Daneielle put that behind him yesterday when the owner of Red Hut Chen Yin Hsieh dropped the charges. He should have been a happy man, but not for long because during the investigation police noted that his Belize visitor’s permit expired at the end of June, 2009.

So today he was back in court charged with failure to comply with a visitor’s permit. He pleaded guilty, was fine done thousand dollars and ordered to pay forthwith. He was unable to pay, so he will serve one year in prison after which he will be deported to Australia.

The interesting part is that Chen Yin Hseih dropped the charges against him on the understanding that he agreed to pay back the money that she lost in the scam in 6 installments. But seeing now that he’s going to jail, and from there back to Australia, her chance of getting back that many seem now to be slim to narrow. Source: 7 News Belize

The Jewel gets a new name from a book of pictures

Tourism Minister Manuel Heredia and sponsor Armin Bedran at book launching.

Belize the Jewel is about to get a new label – Heavenly Belize. This is the name pilot-photographer Marius Jovaisa chose for his book of photographs about Belize. Last Wednesday, December 9, he released the first copy, presenting it to Tourism Minister Manuel Heredia, at a ceremony at the Radisson Fort George Hotel

The book is about landscapes and seascapes of breath-taking beauty by Lithuanian photographer Marius Jovaisa, who is also a publisher, and author of documentary films. Jovaisa’s first epic work, Unseen Lithuania published last year, quickly became a bestseller.

Heavenly Belize, his second big album of aerial pictures, seems destined for a similar success. Jovaisa’s one-man photographic exhibitions have been featured in Australia, Argentina the Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, and Spain, as well as in the United States. (more…)

Immigration advice to travel to Mexico

In order to welcome Belizean residents who wish to visit Mexico during the holiday season, the Embassy of Mexico reminds the public the following regulations: Belizean nationals are reminded that a visa is not required to travel to Mexico as a tourist or in transit through Mexican territory to another country. To enter Mexico, they will only need to hold a valid Belizean passport and fill out a tourist immigration form which is obtained free of cost at any of the points of entry into Mexico, at any of the borders, maritime ports or international airports. They will be able to enter Mexico multiple times within the period of time authorized by Mexican immigration officials.

Residents in Belize with passports from other countries, like Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua among other nationalities, need a Mexican visa to travel to Chetumal or any other part of Mexico. US, UK and Canadian nationals, among others, do not need a Mexican visa. Before visiting Mexico, it is advised to consult the list of countries whose nationals require visa at the Embassy of Mexico Consular Section or the web site www.sre.gob.mx (more…)

It’s a Howling Success

Robin Brocket

At The Belize Zoo, sometimes animals are received that can be rehabilitated for a life back into the wild. For instance, a few of the species TBZ has rehabilitated and set free includes Anteaters, a Jabiru stork, and a pair of Bat Falcons.

When it comes to primates, both the Spider Monkey and the Howler Monkey, TBZ is lucky to be able to work in concert with primatologist Robin Brocket. Robin heads up the Wildlife Care Center and for well over a decade or more, she has been restoring monkeys back into the forests of our country.

Many times, the monkeys have been kept illegally as pets. Government officials at the Forest Department will confiscate wildlife held illegally, and then bring the animals to facilities which can properly manage these species, or in the best situation, rehabilitate them for release back into the wild. (more…)

Things I Learned in Belize

Chill out! Eddie says the Mayan shamen assure him the world won't end in 2012.

It’s pouring down with the most intense tropical storm imaginable, so while I wait to find out if my snorkel trip is going to be cancelled or rescheduled, it’s a good time for a review. So here’s a recap of important things I’ve learned on this vacation:

1) Stop worrying about 2012. Anyone who’s seen the trailer for the disaster movie is no doubt aware that the Mayan Long Count calendar ends in 2012. According to certain Hollywood producers, that means floods, planetary misalignment and a world of hurt for John Cusack. Well, my guide at the Mayan ruins of Lamanai is part Maya and he says he’s talked to contemporary Mayan shamen. They all concur that the end of the calendar just signifies the end of a religious cycle and the start of another. No calamities are predicted.

2) Speaking of the Maya, they were the fittest people in the world. While the average Mayan must have been about 5 feet, the steps on their pyramids would be a long stretch even for an NBA player. Add that to all the canoeing the Mayans did up and down the river and these guys must have been solid muscle with lungs that never quit. Are you as fit as a Mayan? Probably not. Bet they didn’t need no steenkin rope to race up their pyramids. And they did it in steamy jungle humidity. Are you as fit as a Mayan? Probably not. Bet they didn’t need no steenkin’ rope to race up their pyramids. And they did it in steamy jungle humidity.

3) Time is relative. Belize Time is measured in Belize Minutes, which can be as long or as short as you want them to be. This can be useful, say, in the case of happy hour. (more…)

Mother of Rape Victim Outraged at Acquittal

Two days after twenty eight year old Winston Sharshante was acquitted of raping an eleven year old girl, today her mother spoke out. He was found not guilty by a jury of five women and four men on Monday after a medical examination proved that the child was carnally known and the girl’s mother told the court she caught him in the act at her home in San Pedro. And while what happens in the court is one thing, equally disturbing is that since the incident on the night of September second the child’s mother claims her daughter who is presently in the care of Human Services reportedly has not received any form of counselling.

Today the child’s mother spoke about what she says happened on the night her daughter was raped and the not guilty verdict. She also made a desperate appeal to all single mothers in the hope that they will not have to experience what she and her eleven year old are now fighting to forget. The mother of four children ages four to fourteen today cried out for justice. (more…)

Oceana calls for the Suspension of Propsed High Seas Fishing by Government

Oceana Belize

The newly established office of Oceana in Belize has issued a statement calling on the Government of Belize to suspend all plans and proposals to allow foreign fishing fleets in our territorial waters. This is in relation to the recent arrival of Jamaican fishing boats to be used to do high seas fishing in southern Belize. The Oceana release also calls on the government to, quote, “do the right thing and develop a comprehensive plan of action on how to deal with the issues of foreign fleets in our waters,” end of quote.

But more than just asking for the suspension of the proposals, Oceana has offered to assist the Government of Belize in develop policies that would govern such proposals. The Oceana statement says that it has also come to the group’s attention that there is an additional request to set up a processing plant in independence village and again import Jamaican Vessels that would be in direct competition with local fishermen.

Oceana says the Government of Belize needs to do the justified thing by developing a comprehensive plan of action, with input from the local fishermen and various fishing cooperatives in order to adequately evaluate potential harm to Belize’s marine resources when dealing with foreign investors in our terrestrial waters. (more…)