San Pedro High School Girls shine in Orange Walk

The Boys and Girls football teams of the San Pedro High School traveled to Orange Walk over the weekend to compete in the Northern Regionals of the High School Football competition. At the end of the day, the girls topped the competition bringing home the trophy while the boys were defeated - non the less, they performed exceptionally. Both teams were not short on fans as many individuals traveled from San Pedro to cheer on our boys and girls. Congratulations to both teams. Great Job.

SPHS Girls with their trophy
SPHS Girls

SPHS Boys playing

What's New? The Butcher

With a large number of residents from all corners of the world living on Ambergris Caye, it is just fitting that “The Butcher” becomes an integral part of our community. Kurt Buhles of Frankfurt, Germany, moved to San Pedro in 2009. His experience working with meats and sausages, both items he enjoys – he took his love for the food and decided to share it with residents, visitors and tourists on San Pedro.

After opening its doors on November 1st, 2010, The Butcher now offers a unique variety of sausages, guaranteed to satisfy the taste buds of even the pickiest eaters. Items available at The Butcher include, breakfast links, pork salami, roast beef, Vienna sausage, meatloaf, cooked ham, cheese grillers, onion sausage, blood sausage, bratwurst and polish sausages among others.

The Butcher is your one stop location for delectable sausage and German bread from the two German bakeries on the island. All products are prepared using fresh Belizean meats. Opening hours for The Butcher are as follows: Mondays through Saturday – 9:00am – 6:00pm and on Sundays from 10:00am – 1:00pm. Between the hours of 11:00am – 4:00pm daily The Butcher grills international style burgers for just $5.

For further information, Kurt may be reached at 628-8262.

The Art of Life

Friendship with Pain

“It’s never about what happened to you, but what you become through it.” - Emmanuel

You see them when you travel through Belize City; in fact they are in every city. Standing, sitting, lying sometimes barely alive it seems. These are the street people, the homeless. “Spare some change?” He calls out, holding out a hand crusted with grime. He’s got a blank stare in his eyes just behind his pain, his skin is weathered hanging inside old clothes that has seen too many pavements. His smell makes you coil backwards as though being pushed back by an invisible field.

Pain or pleasure-who knows what, put him roaming on the streets. He is part of the human landscape. No one likes to look at pain. No need for details-we want to move on-get to the fun part. Out of fear it might be you, you toss the coin into his palm, you can move on now.

Some people live with pain all their lives. Others chose to end life hoping for a better place. Living with pain is not easy. Some days are better than others they say. But as they come to accept it, pain becomes a friend that comes and goes teaching when to stand strong and when to let go. Life is filled with opposites but as we step back blurring our vision we transcend the detail and see the whole beauty of the complete picture. Pain is the complement of a joyous life. As we stay strong in the face of suffering, joy eventually becomes the background of all there is. Through time it prepares us for a door we may pass through. After all we can’t take the human landscape where we are going.

Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sunbreeze Hotel, Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black orchid Spa and Sol Spa.

Oceana Declares: "Government must immediately amend Petroleum Act"

Press Release - January 28, 2011 - Oceana - In the interest of good governance and good faith towards the people of this country the Barrow Administration needs to immediately amend Section 13 of the Petroleum Act.

There is need for comprehensive revision of the entire Petroleum Act Chapter 225 Laws of Belize but there are sections that need to be amended immediately. Section 13 of the Petroleum Act has been abused by both government administrations, so much so that all, except one, petroleum contract have been and continues to be given out behind closed doors at Cabinet.

Section 13 provides for open competitive bidding, but also has proviso three which removes this layer to transparency and accountability and allows the Minister “with the approval of the Cabinet, [to] select contractors other than through competitive bidding procedures in the following cases-
(a) where the technical or economic circumstances make it advisable; or
(b) where he determines that the circumstances so require.”

The recent revelation in the 2010 Petroleum contract Maps obtained by Oceana from the Department of Petroleum & Geology is a clear indication that companies such as Paradise Energy, with no Petroleum experience in violation of Section 11, will continue to obtain oil leases unknown to the Belize people, who are the true owner of oil rights in this country.

“The government only holds these rights on trust Belizeans”, explained Oceana VP Audrey Matura-shepherd. “We must continue to demand accountability and transparency, but sadly every government has sought to ignore subsections 1 and 2 of Section 13 of the law because it suits their purpose, which is not to be transparent and not to be accountable to the people of Belize when entering these deals”

Section 13 Petroleum Act says that “selection of contracts should be carried out through public competitive bidding or such other competitive procedure as may be determined by the Minister”. It also states that the minister “shall publish in the Gazzette a description of the areas for which bids are to be solicited along with the procedures and rules relating to the submission of such bids”.

Matura-Shepherd explains that “this is never done because the open competitive bidding process is completely circumvented and the Minister applies the exception which is to go behind closed doors in Cabinet unknown to the unsuspecting Belizean people and using Section 13 (3) it appears that the Minister always seems to “determine that the circumstances require” secret issuing of contracts…. this cannot continue!”

Oceana is concerned that the now relinquished OPIC block vacant since October 2010 can secretly be given out again using the provisions of the law, which must not stand.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Audrey Matura-Shepherd

610-0702.

Mark Your Calendars!!

San Pedro Cancer Society Fundraiser:

(with the help of Miss Flora Ancona)

On Saturday, January 29th, 2011, a fundraiser will be held for Verna Reyes at the Central Park starting at 10:30am. Food such as Tamales and Rice and Beans will be on sale.

Special t-shirts depicting the San Pedro Cancer Society logo as well as a lavender cancer ribbon will be on sale at this event for $20. Members and supporters are asked to purchase a t-shirt which can be used for the cancer walk held on February 4th, 2011.

The San Pedro Lions Club

Miss Chiquitita (to benefit San Pedro Pre School):