Dia de San Pedro - Boat Procession

Dia de San Pedro is a grand tradition that honors our Patron Saint, St. Peter who was a fisherman. Every year, at the crack of dawn, boats line up and a procession ensues through the waters of San Pedro. Starting from the Caribbean Sea, the boats all make their way to the lagoon where the father blesses the boats and the fishermen.

Transporting St. Peter to the boat.

St. Peter

The boats lined up and the procession began.

One by one they went and through the course of the procession more joined the religious tradition.

Listen to the hymns being sang as the father blesses all the boats present.

Caye Caulker Lobsterfest

Celebrating the Caye Caulker 14th annual Lobsterfest were a lot of San Pedranos and Belizeans countrywide that arrived via boat (jam packed), or airplane.

All in the name of the succulent Lobster tail.
Every which way prepared - loster was the order of the day - yum!!!
With many things to do, some preferred to just "hang out."

Also on hand providing some fun were Coral Ed-Ventures who are currently holding camp in San Pedro Town. Conservation and Reef Education is the message they try to impart.

Super Furia was on hand all day beating out the great tunes and danceable music. Resonating through the village they kept the party mood going.
Newly crowned Miss Lobsterfest Marceli Magana.

Lobster anyone?
Others enjoyed a dip in the Caribbean Sea or the cool breezes that sway through our country of Belize.

2 X 2 volleyball games had everyone watching the good plays.

Dia de San Pedro - Saturday

Dia de San Pedro proved to be loads of fun for all - from young to young at heart, there was something good for all to enjoy.

The imports from Mexico - Danza Mexicana Necte-Ha were a hit with their traditional costumes and fantastic moves.

Other entertainment was provided by Mexican singer Luis Felipe Perez

Getting a drink was a task on it own. Bartenders could not pour drinks fast enough.
Everyone was there and all had a fabulous time.
The Ferris Wheel, year after year it makes for screams and laughter which resonate through the night.
The fireworks display.
Island Explosion was also on hand to rock into the wee hours of the morning.
Children of all ages enjoyed the rides including "The Worm."
Part of the night's festivities included a speacial presentation by Miss San Pedro Angela Alamilla and the San Pedro Dance Company.
San Pedro Dance Company (Beginners Group 1) showed their talent and wowed the crowd who could not stop snapping photographs.
Duck hunting, anyone?

Enjoy the ride ... see how many people were there ... here is a taste of Dia de San Pedro.

Dia de San Pedro - Nicte Ha Dancers

The Grupo Folklorico de Danza, Nicte-Ha, of Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico, were on stage to perform for the gathered crowd. Each of their dances depicted a different region of Mexico, and carried a theme that resonated. This cultural exchange is part of the sister-city relationship that has developed between San Pedro Town, A.C. and Chetumal, Q. Roo. Culture, business, sport and more is interchanged and shared between these two towns during many occasions, and for festivities such as these, that relationship is that much more prominent. Below, enjoy some of that wonderful cultural exchange!

Dia de San Pedro

Dia de San Pedro festivities were set to kick off on Thursday night. Mother Nature had other plans and with the down pour of rain that night's events were cancelled. Not so last night when the town came out in full force to enjoy the show and all the presentations planned by the San Pedro Town Council.

San Pedro Town Council Staff take a break to pose for the camera. (front l-r) Nesher, Lorna and Marion. (top l-r) Patty and Felix.

Masters of Ceremonies for the night The San Pedro Sun's Mary Gonzalez and Reef Radio's Jorge Aldana welcomed everyone to a tradition that has transcended over the years. The celebration in honor of our Patron Saint, St. Peter.

Mary Gonzalez and Jorge Aldana

The Pantempters Steel Band began and ended the show with their Belizean rhythms.

Past Miss San Pedro Mrs. Yoli Rivero 1993 presented a story that highlighted the humble lives of San Pedranos. She spoke of their day to day lives, and shared a bit of San Pedro history that took everyone back to that place in time.

Mrs. Yoli Aguilar Rivero, Miss San Pedro 1993

The Belize National Dance Company had forty five minutes of pure fun on stage. Through their dance moves and their bright smiles, one could see that they enjoyed sharing their music, dance and inspiration with all San Pedranos.

With live drum beats on stage, dancers could not help but sway their hips to the rhythms.

Stephanie, Emily, Ricky and Liliana (below) welcome you to "La Isla Bonita" and hope that you can join them and all San Pedranos in celebrating the rest of the festivities planned. Today, Saturday has other great dance performances and a grand fireworks display. Sunday culminates the Dia de San Pedro Fishing Tournament with a beach bash at Caliente Beach. The fun to be had is in San Pedro this weekend, come and join in the fun!

HIV/AIDS Awareness Poster winners honored

First-place primary school winners from each of the six districts and from San Pedro Ambergris Caye were honored today at an award ceremony held at the United States Embassy. These were for an HIV/ AIDS Awareness Poster Competition managed through the assistance of the Ministry of Education.

First Place recipients were: Shaunne Elliot from Holy Cross Anglican School, Ambergris Caye; Denesha Grant, Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic School, Belize District; Christopher Pulido of Bishop Martin Roman Catholic School, Cayo; Angela Sun, Mary Hill Roman Catholic School, Corozal; Randy Copo, Solomon Seventh Day Adventist School, Orange Walk; Sharyn Martinez, Christ the King School, Stann Creek and Erlena Teul, San Pedro Colombia Roman Catholic School, Toledo. Second and third place winners were also chosen from each of the respective regions, making a total of twenty-one awardees.

Government Public Consultation

The meeting was scheduled for yesterday night at 6:00 p.m. At that time, there was only one individual at the assigned meeting place of the San Pedro Lions Den. By 7:30 p.m. 10 people were in attendance to hear the Government's position on the Constitutional Amendements which they are proposing. The rain fell and would not subside and the Government party decided to instead have the public consultation during the Good Morning San Pedro Show at the Reef Radio.

(l-r) Honorable Ramon Wittz, Honorable John Saldivar and Randine Twist from the Solicitor General's office.

The consultation highlighted many changes which are to be made to the Constitutions Sixth Amendement Bill. As explained by Honorable Ramon Wittz and Honorable John Saldivar both of the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee. Present from the Solicitor General's office was Randine Twist.
AN ACT to amend the Belize Constitution, Chapter 4 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000-2003 are as follows:
*to provide for the vesting of all property rights in petroleum and minerals in the Government and people of Belize
*to prescribe a three-term limit for holders of the office of the Prime Minister
*to provide for the recall of elected representatives before the expiry of their normal term of office
*to enlarge the membership of the Senate to ensure that the Senators nominated by the Opposition and non-governmental organizations together constitute the majority
*to extend the powers and functions of the Senate and to enable the Senate to initiate and conduct public inquiries into mismanagement or corruption by persons in the central government or public statutory bodies
*to include the Belize National Coast Guard Service in the definition of ‘security services’ and to make consequential provisions
*to reconstitute the Judicial and Legal Services Commission to conform with the position in other Commonwealth jurisdictions
*to provide for the expeditious submission of reports by the Auditor General to the National Assembly and
*to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Copies of the bill may be picked up at the offices of the San Pedro Town Council or the National Assembly. Other such consultations have been held in Punta Gorda, Corozal, Orange Walk and San Ignacio with Belize City and Belmopan to follow.