Twenty Five Belizeans to be Honored

Press Release - Government of Belize - Belmopan, 13th September, 2010 - Twenty-five distinguished Belizeans will be honoured during this year’s Tribute to Belizean Patriots ceremony, scheduled for Thursday, September 16th, at 7:00PM, at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts, Belize City. Those nominated to receive national honors and awards are:

Order of Belize

Dr. Lennox A. Pike For contributions to Belize’s Consular Service, Medicine, and the Belizean Community in Detroit

Hon. Curl Osmond Thompson (posthumously) For contributions to Public Service and Industrial Relations

Order of Distinction

Hon. Faith Babb For contributions to Public Service
Mr. Nestor A. Vasquez For contributions to Telecommunications
Mrs. Floss Cassasola (posthumously) For contributions to Education and Music
Mr. Terence Leo Keating (posthumously) For contributions to Scouting and the Uniformed Services

Meritorious Service Award – Male

Mr. Edison Staine For contributions to Music
Mr. Delhart L. Courtney, Sr. For contributions to Sports
Mr. Theodore “Ted” Burrowes For contributions to Music
Mr. Owen “Sonny” Meighan For contributions to Sports
Mr. Bonifacio Moh For contributions to Industry and the Credit Union Movement
Mr. Bartolome Rodriguez, Sr. For contributions to Community Service
Mr. Evert Coe For contributions to Community Service
Mr. Bedford Richie For contributions to Community Service
Mr. Walter Panting, JP For contributions to Community Service
Mr. Salvador “Jorge” Iglesias For contributions to Community Service

Meritorious Service Award – Female
Mrs. Alberta Cano For contributions to Education and Community Service
Ms. Barbara Harris For contributions to Community Development
Ms. Myrna Manzanares For contributions to Culture and the Arts
Ms. Sonia Lenares For contributions to Social Services and Community Development
Ms. Andrea Gabriel For contributions to Culture
Mrs. Olga Myers For contributions to Public Service and Community Service
Ms. Rose Armstrong For contributions to Social Services and Community Development
Mrs. Velda M. Aguet, MBE, JP For contributions to Voluntary and Community Services
Ms. Melba Nora Bodden For contributions to Community Service

The National Honours and Awards Act, 1991, provides that each year on Independence Day, or at such other times as may be deemed expedient, honours and awards may be conferred on persons, living or deceased, who have rendered outstanding and meritorious service to Belize, or who have distinguished themselves in other endeavours worthy of national recognition. (END)

Taxi catches Fire

On Thursday night, The San Pedro Sun received a call that there was a fire in front of a hardware store on Seagrape Drive. Upon our arrival, a burgundy taxi van was being checked by fire officials, who had quickly gotten the flames under control. It is unsure what the cause of the fire was, as the van had just been parked, and the battery unplugged. Investigations continue.

Happy Tenth Of September

After the official coronation of the new Miss San Pedro, Natasha Stuart, San Pedro celebrated the tenth with a grand parade through the streets. Hip Hip Hooray!!

Operacion Bendicion donates to San Pedro

Operation Blessing, Relief and Development International (OBI) is a humanitarian non-profit organization based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. Since 1978, OBI has touched the lives of more than 209.3 million people in over 105 countries and in all 50 states, providing goods and services valued at more than $1.7 billion. OBI is headed by a governing body that includes founder MG “Pat” Robertson. With the mission, “to demonstrate God’s love alleviating human need and suffering in the United States and around the World”, this organization has now reached out to the residents of San Pedro.

Pastor Ismael Rodriguez, representative of OBI Honduras and Mr. Barbosa of the “Primera Iglesia Evangelica y Reformada” in the San Pedrito area of Ambergris Caye were busy this morning, distributing pre-natal vitamins to the various medical providers on the island, as well as tennis shoes to the San Pedro Police Department on behalf of OBI. This particular donation came as part of the Honduras chapter of the organization.


300 cases of pre-natal multi vitamins were distributed. Within each case, there were 12 boxes containing 40 capsules each. The San Pedro Poly Clinic received 150 cases, Dr. Lerida received 30 cases, Los Pinos clinic received 30 cases, Hopes Clinic received 30 cases and the San Telmo Pharmacy received 20 cases. While the multi-vitamins are labeled pre-natal vitamins, according to Pastor Rodriguez, the vitamins are very useful and may be consumed by adults over the age of 20, both male and female. These vitamins are available at no cost to the general public.
Apart from the vitamins, the organization donated 160 pairs of tennis shoes to various individuals and groups. The San Pedro Police Department was delighted to be a recipient of 12 pairs of tennis shoes to be distributed to individuals from the Police Department.

Pastor Rodriguez and the Primera Iglesia Evangelica y Reformada extend special thanks to Mr. Pablo Ico and the San Pedro Town Council for providing transportation of the medicines to the various institutions. He also thanked the San Pedro Poly Clinic II, Dr. Lerida Rodriguez, Los Pinos Clinic, Ambergris Hopes Clinic and the San Telmo Pharmacy for volunteering to assist in getting the vitamins to the residents of Ambergris Caye. The San Pedro Sun, extends kudos to Operacion Bendicion for their generous donations.

Literacy Carnival Parade held in San Pedro

A Literacy Carnival Parade was held through the streets of San Pedro to create awareness of the importance of reading in our society. This is the first ever parade of its kind, and it is hoped that it will be an annual event. Students took to the streets with their handmade signs, or with mascots, depicting favorite characters in storybooks .
Some famous Belizean writers were recognized on posters.

"Reading is not a race. Open up a book and set your own pace."

The alphabet - the key to learning to read...