Oct 12th 10
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New Ambergris Caye Playground
Ambergris Today | Members of the San Pedro Lions Club and volunteers took time off their Pan American Day holiday on Monday, 11 October 2010, to spruce up the Mosquito Coast Park with a new playground. Thanks to the generous donation from the Holy Cross Anglican School, the Lions Club has a great addition that will enhance the appeal of the Mosquito Coast Park.
Lion members and volunteers had the task of transporting all the playground parts to the park and assembling it. Just getting all the parts in order and getting the design in order took much of the morning, but the group got going and by the end of the day had a good portion of the playground erected. It will take a bit more man power and days to fully complete the structures, but the Lions Club is excited and pleased in adding such a great item to the Mosquito Coast Park.
Oct 12th 10
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Hurricane Paula
Editor’s Note: since this article was written Paula has moved from a Tropical Storm to a Category 1 Hurricane. NEMO has discontinued Tropical Storm Warnings for the coast of Belize as of this morning.
Weather Underground | Posted by: Jeff Masters, 7:30 PM GMT on October 11, 2010. Data from the Hurricane Hunters, land stations, and satellite imagery reveal that the strong tropical disturbance centered near the coast of Honduras just west of the border with Nicaragua is now Tropical Storm Paula. Paula is the 16th named storm of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. The Hurricane Hunters reported a central pressure of 1001 mb and top surface winds of 45 mph in their 2:11pm EDT center fix.
Satellite imagery shows a well-organized system with a modest but increasing amount of intense thunderstorm activity, and some respectable low-level spiral bands. Water vapor satellite loops reveal that Paula has been able to substantially moisten the atmosphere in the Western Caribbean over the past day, and dry air will be less of an impediment to development than it was yesterday. Wind shear is a moderate 10 – 15 knots. Puerto Lempira, Honduras reported sustained winds of 35 mph at 12pm CST this afternoon, with 3.31″ of rain from the storm thus far.
Proximity to land is hampering Paula’s ability to intensify some, and the storm’s northwest movement of 10 mph will take the center far enough away from the coast of Honduras this evening to substantially increase the storm’s ability to intensify. The latest SHIPS model forecast calls for wind shear to stay mostly in the moderate range, 10 – 15 knots, through Tuesday afternoon, then increase to the high range, 20 – 25 knots, for the remainder of the week. The computer models predict Paula will continue on a northwest motion then turn more north-northwest on Wednesday, which would take the storm close to landfall on the coast of Belize or Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. (Continue Reading)
Oct 12th 10
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OAS
PR | On October 8, 2010, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Belize hosted a public, half-day consultation with local stakeholders on the Legal Review of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement, a study prepared with the support of the Department of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Numerous organizations from the private and public sectors attended the briefing, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Coalition of Services Providers, the Belize Bar Association, the Public Service Union, and BELIPO.
Alexis Rosado, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, thanked the OAS for its ongoing support to Belize in the area of trade capacity building and underscored the importance of the need for collaborative work on the implementation of trade agreements. He expressed the need for ongoing dialogue on issues of importance, such as the harmonization of legislation, if Belize is to truly benefit from the EPA and other similar agreements. (Continue Reading)
Oct 12th 10
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How to Rent a Private Island
FoxNews.com | About five years ago travel writer Joshua Berman and his wife capped their honeymoon by renting a private island, French Louie Caye, off the Placencia Peninsula in Belize.
He recalls that “it was an incredible experience watching that boat pull away and knowing we were all alone,” which they were for a night and the following day, though they also enjoyed a little non-human companionship. “We had two dogs and a fridge stocked with shrimp and fish in a small wooden cabin. We could see a few other islands in the distance, but otherwise, it felt like the Caribbean was all ours. We cooked our own meals, snorkeled the coral around the island, and sat in the sand watching the dogs chase crabs back into the water.”
If you’re already shaking your head about how beyond your budget a private island overnight like this must be, consider that the present-day nightly rate for French Louie is $450 and includes food, the boat ride to and from the island, and snorkeling gear. Plus, in the years since Berman’s stay, the island has added a caretaker who, among other duties, will catch and cook fish for you. (Continue Reading)
Oct 12th 10
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Independent UK | The BBC has aired its Panorama investigation into the financial affairs of the Conservative donor Lord Ashcroft, two weeks after removing it from its schedule at the eleventh hour. The programme had been postponed following legal objections and information provided by the peer in the final hours before broadcast. A revised version, examining his controversial business dealings in two Caribbean tax havens, aired on BBC1 last night.
Reporters visited both Belize and Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), where Lord Ashcroft operates a bank, and interviewed local politicians and subcontractors. It examined a telecoms business in Belize and a luxury marina development in the TCI and alleged links with the peer. Lord Ashcroft’s representatives declined to comment on the programme last night, but were quoted by the BBC denying any impropriety.
The programme has been a year in the making and had first been pencilled in for broadcast during the general election.
Oct 11th 10
Posted in San Pedro Weather // Comments Off
IR Satellite Photo
General Situation: Generally fair conditions will continue today. An area of low pressure will move into the Northwest Caribbean tomorrow. 24hr Forecast: Partially cloudy with only isolated showers. Winds: Northeast at 5 to 15 knots. Sea State: Choppy. Outlook: Through Wednesday: Cloudy spells with a few showers or thunderstorms over Northern and Coastal areas. Highs: 31°C/87°F Lows: 23°C/73°F.
Tropical Weather Outlook: Showers and thunderstorms have become a little better organized in association with an area of low pressure near the Honduras / Nicaragua border. Conditions appear favorable for additional development, and a tropical depression could form as the system moves west-northwestward at about 10 mph.
Oct 11th 10
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Editorial | Ambergris Caye has in the last few years been one of the main sources of income for the government of Belize,and it is a sad but true fact that the government has done almost nothing in return for all the taxes that have been paid by the residents of San Pedro. The roads are a major case in point – both the mayor and our government representative have been asking for monies to cover at least part of the expense of building or continuing road building To the bridge, on Seagrape Drive and to the DFC area.
Our present main road, Coconut Drive going south, is already starting to show signs of decay and disrepair and it is obvious to all that the amount of traffic that travels on this road is too much. Seagrape Drive needs to be developed to alleviate some of this. This will allow Coconut Drive to last for many more years than it will do at present.
The road from Richies Supermarket to the bridge is a disgrace, and gets worse very time we have a little rainfall. The only people who can be happy with this situation are the vehicle repair businesses who must rub their hands with glee everytime the sky clouds over. Maintainance costs are huge for golf carts, and they are constantly breaking down due to the excessive wear and tear that they suffer over the pot holes that are rarely repaired. Golf carts are designed to be used on golf courses which of course are generally large flat smooth areas of well maintained grassy areas, not pitted tracks with a multitude of obstructions which have to be driven over.
The road from the DFC to Coconut drive is walked by many children everday on their way to school, and it will come as no surprise when a couple of them may disappear due to the depth of the puddles that they have to traverse. Perhaps the town council should put a boat with a driver to help them cross these obstacles.
A few years ago a letter was written to both local newspapers saying that the roads had to be improved. A meeting was called by concerned citizens and the fledgling San Pedro Business Association. The then prime minister the Rt. Hon Said Mussa attended and pledged an amount of money from the government which allowed the road from Ramons to Victoria House to be built. He realised that tourism raises and had raised a huge amount of capital for Belize as a whole, and very little had beeen put back to help with the development of this industry.
Maybe a meeting should be arranged to invite our current prime minister the right honourable Dean Barrow and his representative the right honourable Manuel Heredia to participate in a meeting, and ask them both to provide substantial funding for these projects. It should be obvious to both of them a little investment in this will reap untold rewards by bringing in many more tens of millions of tourist dollars into the government coffers, and also allow the local populace to enjoy a better lifestyle and ensure that their children will have employment here on the island when they finish school.
When one looks at the rest of the country it is noticeable that the worst roads are on the cayes. Look at Placencia which has a wonderful twenty mile stretch of brand new road which is wonderful for them but due to the worsening of the tourism figures for that area a bad investment for the government, and their tax collections. All we, the residents of San Pedro, need is four to five miles of roads. IT IS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR or is it?
Oct 11th 10
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Reward offered for information about missing Rash children
PR | TERMS AND CONDITIONS TO COLLECT THE REWARD FOR THE SAFE RETURN OF BENJAMIN RASH AND ONELIA RASH
A reward in the amount of BZ$12,750.00 (Twelve thousand, Seven Hundred Fifty Belize dollars) is being offered by an anonymous group of donors for the safe return of both Benjamin Rash and Onelia Rash, aged eleven (11) and nine (9), who were last seen on August 30, 2010 near Cattle Landing, in the Toledo District of Belize. Such reward will be paid to the person or persons responsible for the safe return of these children. This reward will only be paid if the following conditions are met:
1. Both children must be alive and in the custody of either the Belize Police Department or the children’s family.
2. The reward will not be paid unless both children are recovered alive. There will be no partial reward for the return of just one child.
3. The reward will not be paid before the children are in the custody of the Belize Police Department or the children’s family. There will be no advance payment of any kind, including (but not limited) to “out-of-pocket expenses,” “facilitation fees,” “locator’s fees,” etc.
4. The reward will be paid to anyone who is aware of the location of the children if he or she provides this information to the Police, and the information leads to the safe recovery of both children. In order to collect the reward, the person providing this information must be able to confirm that they were the ones who provided the information.
5. If more than one person is responsible for the safe recovery of both children, the reward will be split between those persons. In no case will the total reward paid exceed BZ$12,750.00 (Twelve thousand, Seven Hundred, Fifty Belize dollars).
6. If the children are safely returned, and there is a dispute between persons attempting to claim the reward, the Belize Police Department will decide who the reward shall be paid to. The decision of the Belize Police Department will be final.
For further information, or to report the whereabouts of these children, please contact
MIGUEL A. SEGURA, ASST. COMMISSIONER,
HEAD NATIONAL CRIMES INVESTIGATION BRANCH,
Crime Stoppers Hot line – 0-800–922-TIPS
e-mail: masegura666@gmail.com
Oct 11th 10
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Channel 5 Belize | In an interview on Thursday night in this newscast, attorney Arthur Saldivar, who is representing some of the persons who were on duty when Air Century landed in Belize on Sunday night, recalled that in the past administration, the government had removed the minister who was, at the time, heading Immigration when a smuggling ring had been exposed in 2002. Back then the US brought pressure on the government and canceled the US visa of the minister because the immigrants smuggled into Belize were making their way to the United States.
Late this evening, the US Embassy, in a release, encouraged “the Government of Belize to remain steadfast in their commitment to identifying and sanctioning corruption at all levels and implementing measures that eliminate the illegal entry of people and goods into Belize.” According to the release, the US continues to partner with the region to disrupt the movement of criminals and contraband.
The release states “The United States of America believes that a professional cadre of immigration and customs officials, working with transparent and standardized procedures, facilitates legitimate travel and trade while combating corruption and the illegal entry of people and goods. The Embassy has provided training and material assistance to Belize in attaining these objectives.”
Oct 9th 10
Posted in San Pedro Weather // Comments Off
IR Satellite Photo
Northerly airflow continues to support fair and mostly dry conditions.
24hr Forecast: Mostly sunny today and mostly clear and cool tonight. Showers will be isolated.
Winds: North to Northeast at 5 to 15 knots.
Sea State: Choppy.
Outlook: Through Monday: Similar conditions prevail.
Highs: 31°C/87°F
Lows: 21°C/69°F.
Tropical Weather Outlook: At 3:00am Hurricane Otto was centered near 29.2 N 58.5 W or about 430 miles east southeast of Bermuda, moving Northeast at 24 mph with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph. Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected over the north Atlantic, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico during the next 48hrs.
