SPJC inaugurates Hon. Manuel Heredia Hall

The Hon. Manuel Heredia Hall was officially inaugurated on Thursday June 2nd. With its three classrooms, the facility will also provide extra space for the High School during the daytime. This came just under one year of the official ground breaking ceremony for the building.

Present for the ceremony were; Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr., Minister of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation; Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education; Principal of San Pedro High School (SPHS) Mr. Emil R. Vasquez; Mr. R. Angel Nuñez, President of the San Pedro Junior College (SPJC); Mr. Gustavo Ellis, Dean, San Pedro Junior College; Mayor Elsa Paz, members of the media, other special invited guests and students.

After a welcome address by Mr. Vasquez, the ceremony continued with entertaining presentations by the new SPHS band, solo skit by Josie Lopez, a cultural presentation by Emily Gomez and Ismael Kay and other presentations.

Offering special addresses were guest speakers, Mr. R. Angel Nuñez, Hon. Patrick Faber and Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. After much entertainment and inspirational talks, Mr. R. Angel Nuñez and Mrs. Martha Guerrero had the distinct honor of unveiling the plaque. This was followed by the blessing of the new building by Rev. Fr. Daniel Lemence Nuñez and the cutting of the ribbon by Hon. Manuel Heredia, Hon. Patrick Faber and Miss. SPHS 2011-2012, Miss Miriam Rodriguez.

Located on the SPHS grounds, the facility came about through the joint efforts of Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. and President of the SPJC, Mr. Angel Nuñez, who lobbied for funding. Funding for the construction of the new structure was eventually secured through Grand Belizeans Estates Limited in exchange for a parcel of government land on Northern Ambergris Caye. The building was constructed at an estimated cost of $350,000.

Tourism Ministers of Guatemala and Belize meet in San Pedro

The Minister of Tourism of Guatemala, Honorable Dr. Jorge Samayoa and the Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture, Honorable Manuel Heredia Jr. met today. The meeting was a part of a courtesy call made by Samayoa to Heredia at his San Pedro Town Office. The Guatemalan Minister was accompanied by the Head of Marketing for Tourism Sylvia Paiz de Estrada and the Central American Integrated System (SICA) Executive Director Mercedes Melendez de Mena.
The delegation of three met with Minister Heredia, who was accompanied by the Chairperson of the Belize Tourism Board of Directors Miriam Roberson, Director of Tourism Selenie Matus and recently appointed Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Tourism, Lindsey Garbutt.
In November, Minister Samayoa was appointed as the Minister of Tourism of Guatemala. He is scheduled to take over the SICA Pro Tem Presidency of Tourism Ministers early next year, a position currently held by Minister Heredia. Both Ministers and their teams met behind closed doors where a number of issues were discussed.
In a brief interview with Minister Heredia, he said that Minister Samayoa visit is part of his planned visits to all Central American Tourism Minister. The visit is ahead of taking the Pro Tem Presidency of SICA Tourism Minister early next year.
Following the courtesy call Minister Heredia hosted the delegation to lunch.

Happy Independence Day Belize!!

Belize officially turned 29 years old today September 21. After the official ceremonies, which included torch bearers, drummers, majorettes, The Belize Coast Guard's gun salute, and Mayor Elsa Paz's official midnight GRITO, it was time for fireworks...Happy Independence Day Belize - Long Live Belize!!

Later this evening (starting around 2pm Tuesday afternoon) - the official Independence Day Parade and Jump Up will be held. Be sure to come out to see the beautiful floats and feel the independence spirit!!