Holiday Hotel Halloween Bash

San Pedro howled at the moon last night at the annual Holiday Hotel Halloween Party. The costumes were amazing and everyone had a great time! For more photos visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=47456&id=1676548056.

Lieutenant General P. K. (Ken) Keen donates to NEMO

The Embassy of the United States of America and the U.S. Military Liaison Office in Belize is pleased to announce the visit of Military Deputy Commander of U.S. Southern Command Lieutenant General P. K. (Ken) Keen.

Lieutenant General Keen will present US$150,000 of relief supplies to the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) on Wednesday, November 3. Relief supplies include two generators, mattresses, blankets, clothing, medical supplies, sheets, and pillows. The donation is made possible through U.S. Southern Command’s Humanitarian Assistance Program.

Lieutenant General Keen serves as the Military Deputy Commander of U.S. Southern Command, Miami, Florida. He is second-in-command of one of ten Unified Commands under the Department of Defense. Southern Command conducts military operations and promotes security cooperation throughout the 16 million square mile area of Latin America and the Caribbean. Most recently, LTG Keen served as the Commander, Joint Task Force Haiti during Operation UNIFIED RESPONSE. As Commander of all U.S. forces in Haiti, he led the largest ever U.S. military operation in support of foreign natural disaster response.

San Pedro Schools get into the Halloween Spirit

Schools across San Pedro got into the spirit of Halloween. At ABC Pre School, students and teachers were dressed in fun costumes while they sang and danced in the spirit of Halloween. As a special treat for students at the pre-school, workers from the Holiday Hotel stopped by to donate tasty cupcakes, while representatives from the San Pedro Town Council gave out treats, crayons and coloring books.

At the Island Academy, parents and guardians cheered on as the different classes competed amongst themselves, vying for the titles of Scariest, Funniest, Fairest Maiden and Most Creative costumes.

San Pedro Lobsterfest 2011 Dates Announced

San Pedro Lobsterfest 2011 Dates Announced

The organizing committee of San Pedro Lobsterfest is pleased to announce the official dates of the 2011 San Pedro Lobsterfest. Festivities will begin on Sunday June 19th, 2011 and run through the week, culminating with the traditional Lobsterfest Block Party on Saturday June 25th, 2011. Mark your calendars, as this celebration is sure to be the biggest and best ever.

For more information please visit their website at http://sanpedrolobsterfest.com/

Story Writing Competition

Belize National Library Service and Information System

Persons desirous of entering the Story Writing Competition being sponsored by the Belize National Library Service and Information System, in commemoration of its 75th Anniversary, are asked to note that the closing date has been extended from October 31 to November 5, 2010 at 4.00 p.m..
Chief Librarian.

Kind Kids Write 2010

Kind Kids Write 2010

Be Kind Belize, in cooperation with The San Pedro Sun and AmbergrisCaye.com is delighted to announce ‘Kind Kids Write’, an essay writing contest open to all children living in San Pedro and in Standards 4, 5 & 6.

Be Kind Belize is a humane education programme that has been working with schools in the San Pedro community for two years. Humane education is based on the concept that all life is precious and is practiced by teaching young people the value and importance of treating other living creatures with kindness. The programme includes units on Belizean wildlife, responsibility, empathy and dog bite prevention.

In an effort to include more children in the conversations about kindness, empathy and personal responsibility, Be Kind Belize has joined up with The San Pedro Sun and AmbergrisCaye.com to launch ‘Kind Kids Write’. This will give children from all over San Pedro an opportunity to express themselves about the importance of kindness in our everyday lives and why it is important to our society. Amongst some, kindness is seen as a weakness, so children are encouraged to emphasise kindness as a strength in their essays.

Three judges will review all of the entries to announce a winner on the 20th of December. There will be First Prizes for the best girl’s and best boy’s essays. First prizes will be brand new bicycles. There will also be six Runners Up, who will receive a package of scholastic gifts. The two First Prize winners will have their entries published by the San Pedro Sun and AmbergrisCaye.com.

Kind Kids Write – Guidelines

• Essay to be written on the theme of KINDNESS.
• Only children in Standards 4, 5 & 6 attending a school in San Pedro are eligible.
• 350 words or less.
• Entries written in legible handwriting or typed are acceptable.
• Spelling and grammar will be taken into consideration by judges.
• Name, age, contact details and name of school must be included on all entries.
• Closing date is the 10th of December 2010.

Entries may be submitted by email to BeKindBelize@gmail.com or delivered in person to The San Pedro Sun offices on Front Street.

For more information on Kind Kids Write, contact Be Kind Belize on 226 4366/624 8251 or send an email to BeKindBelize@gmail.com .

BEL Provides Update on Restoration Works

Released: October 28, 2010

BEL Provides Update on Restoration Works

As a follow up to the second press release sent on the evening of October 27, 2010, Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) provides the below status report as of 3:30 p.m. today.

AREAS

Lords Bank Village power was fully restored on Wednesday night. However, a section of the community lost power supply today, as a result of a burnt utility pole. This section should be restored by midnight.

Along the Western Highway from Bainsville to Mile 25 and Franks Eddy to La Democracia power was restored to most areas between Franks Eddy and La Democracia, including Mahogany Heights on Wednesday night. There remain approximately 50 customers without power as a result of damaged low voltage power lines. Power to these customers should be restored by midnight.

Bainsville to Mile 25 should be restored by midnight.

All of Freetown Sibun and Gracie Rock. Approximately 50 customers remain without power. Power should be restored by midnight on Friday.

Belize River Valley from Scotland Halfmoon to Rancho Dolores and Lemonal
Power was restored to approximately 20 customers today. Approximately 30 more remain without power. Restoration of power to these customers remains on schedule for midnight.

Along the Hummingbird Highway from Alta Vista to St. Margaret’s power fully restored on Wednesday night.

Mullins River on schedule to be restored by midnight. Approximately 40 customers are without power.

In Dangriga and surrounding areas, we have identified approximately 100 customers that are currently without power. Power should be restored to most of these customers by midnight on Friday.

In Belmopan and surrounding areas, we have approximately 100 customers reporting no power. Power should be restored to most of these customers by midnight on Friday.

In Belize City and surrounding areas, we have approximately 130 customers reporting no power. Power should be restored to most of these customers by midnight on Friday.

Customers outside of the above-mentioned areas are asked to call BEL to make a report, if they remain without power. Call BEL at 0800-235-2273 or 0800-BEL-CARE.

BEL thanks customers for their patience, during these power restoration works.

-END-

Belize Audubon Society announces closure of two National Parks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Amanda Burgos-Acosta, Advocacy Program Manager
Telephone: (work) 223-5004/4987/4988
Email: advocacy@belizeaudubon.org
Website: www.belizeaudubon.org
Media available: none

P R E S S R E L E A S E

Belize Audubon Society announces closure of two National Parks

Belize City, Belize, Thursday, October 28, 2010 - -On October 24th the passing of Hurricane Richard had disastrous impacts on the country of Belize. Our protected areas were not spared; two of the most affected protected areas are Guanacaste National Park and St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park. Both sites incurred tremendous damage with large amounts of trees having fallen. The closure of these protected areas is necessary for the safety of all concerned as damages have made most trails impassable and dangerous. The Belize Audubon Society will issue a public notice informing the public of the re-opening of these protected areas. We ask that all citizens and visitors be advised of this notice.
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The Belize Audubon Society (BAS) is a non-governmental membership organization dedicated to the sustainable management of Belize’s natural resources through leadership and strategic partnership with stakeholders in order to create a balance between people and the environment.

Bear Travels: Current Location - Ambergris Caye, Belize

5th graders in Phoenix are sending Bear around the world. His first stop was California, and he's now in Belize! Bear arrived on Friday, just in time for Hurricane Richard. He was hosted by Nancy Nida of Fido's Courtyard, who ensured that shades & flip-flops were on before heading out to tour the island.

Bear has gone fishing, joined the ladies in the kitchen, and naturally, is enjoying a bit of R&R in the sun. Where will Bear head to next?

Belize student tops CSEC for first time

Press Release - October 27, 2010 - BRIDGETOWN, Barbados- For the first time, a student from Belize is the Most Outstanding Candidate Overall in the Region in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) May/June examinations.

He is Dorien Villafranco of St John’s College in Belize City.

Dorien won the award for 2010 by achieving 15 Grade Is at one sitting. He achieved Grade I in Biology, Caribbean History, Chemistry, English A, English B, Information Technology, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Physics, Principles of Accounts, Religious Education, Social Studies, Spanish, Physical Education and Sport and Human and Social Biology.

Dorien achieved A on all is his Profile Grades, except in Caribbean History and Integrated Science in which he received one ‘B’ each.

She`niele Grant of Wolmers Girls’ School, Jamaica receives the award for the Most Outstanding Candidate in Business Education. She achieved Grade I in 11 subjects, including five business subjects with all A Profiles. The five business subjects are Economics, Information Technology, Office Administration, Principles of Accounts and Principles of Business. She`niele also achieved Grade I in Chemistry, English A, English B, Mathematics, Physics and Spanish.

Two other students from Jamaica have won CSEC awards. Ayala Bennett of Ardenne High School is the recipient of the award for the Most Outstanding Candidate in Humanities. Ayala achieved Grade I in 11 subjects including six Humanities subjects - Caribbean History, English B, French, Geography, Social Studies and Spanish. She also achieved Grade I in English A, Information Technology, Mathematics, and Human and Social Biology.

The other Jamaican student to receive a prize this year is Adrian Kellyman of Seaforth High School. Adrian wins the award for the Most Outstanding Performance in Visual Arts, 2-Dimensional work. Adrian produced a piece of work in the Imaginative Composition Section entitled “The City Dump.” The piece depicts various scenes and activities in a city dump.

The other Visual Arts award goes to Hemawati Lochansing, a student of Rio Claro West Secondary School, Trinidad and Tobago. Hemawati receives the award for the Most Outstanding Performance in Visual Arts, 3-Dimensional work. She designed and produced a container for saving coins. Using ceramics, the container was designed in the shape of a tree trunk with two iguanas looking over the opening for the coins.

Oliver Maynard of Presentation Boys’ College, Grenada receives the award for the Most Outstanding Candidate in Technical/Vocational Education. Oliver achieved Grade I in 10 subjects, Grade II in one subject and Grade III in one subject. He achieved Grade I in three Technical/Vocational subjects – Agricultural Science, Technical Drawing and Electrical and Electronic Technology. Oliver also achieved Grade I in Biology, Chemistry, English A, Information Technology, Mathematics, Physics and Principles of Business. He achieved Grade II in Caribbean History and Grade III in Spanish.

Navindra Baldeo of Queen’s College, Guyana wins the award for the Most Outstanding Candidate in Sciences. Navindra achieved 12 subjects at Grade I and one subject at Grade II. He achieved Grade I in six Science subjects – Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Information Technology, Integrated Science and Physics. He also achieved Grade I in English A, English B, Geography, Electronic Document Preparation and Management and Human and Social Biology, and Grade II in French.

The prize for the Best Short Story in the English A examination goes to Zoie Hamilton of Washington Archibald High School, St Kitts and Nevis.

Zoie’s story is entitled “Grasping Death” and is based on the stimulus: it was the middle of the mathematic class. Mrs. Taylor our teacher suddenly collapsed and sprawled unconscious on the floor. It was terrifying...

As a result of Dorien’s performance, St John’s College will receive the CSEC School of the Year award, a prize which was held by Queen’s College, Guyana for the last four consecutive years.

The awards was were approved last Thursday 21st October 2010 at the meeting of the Sub-Committee of the School Examinations Committee (SUBSEC) held at the Barbados Beach Club.

Awardees will receive their prizes at a ceremony scheduled for Turks and Caicos Islands on Thursday 2nd December 2010. The prize package includes a full scholarship to the University of the West Indies, monetary prizes, plaques and books.

At Large Jaguar Euthanized

Bruce Cullerton (deceased)

In a bizarre twist of fate, and to date the only fatality related to Hurricane Richard, was the death of American Ex-pat Bruce Cullerton when sometime on Monday a contained jaguar escaped from his hurricane damaged enclosure and lethally mauled Cullerton.

The grim accident took place near the Belize Zoo on the Western Highway after the area took a direct hit from the hurricane Sunday night. Professional wildlife photographers and owners of the animal compound where the jaguar was contained, Richard and Carol Foster, reported that their property had sustained a lot of damage and that the jaguar had escaped. Reports speculate that their neighbor Cullerton may have been trying to rescue his dog from the jaguar attack when he lost his life.

Tuesday afternoon news reports were rampant about the attack and Belize Wildlife Department (BFD) Officials, along with law enforcement, Belize Zoo personnel and local animal experts descended on the area to determine their next move. In a phone interview with Wildlife Officer Rasheda Sampson, Sampson told The SPSUN that last night a team of highly trained animal experts, including the BFD, set up a series of snare traps with sensors along the Foster and Cullerton’s property. At approximately 9:30pm they successfully snared the animal within feet of its home enclosure and after positive identification the jaguar was euthanized.


For the complete story read The San Pedro Sun tomorrow.

Jessel Lauriano to represent Belize at Miss World Pageant 2010

Be sure to stay tuned to the TV on Saturday, October 30, 2010 and watch for Miss Belize Jessel Lauriano as she represents the Jewel at the Miss World Pageant. Held in Hainan Island at the Crown Plaza Hotel, China, the pageant will be televised to well over 1 billion viewers.
At the moment, the channel that will be airing the pageant has not been confirmed, but it is most likely that Telemundo or Televisa will be airing the Spanish version, so stay tuned!!
About Jessel Lauriano:
Jessel aspires to have a successful career in Social Work helping young people. Her hobbies include singing, dancing, softball, basketball and Graphic Designing. Best of luck to Miss Belize!

BEL Works to Restore Power to Several Communities in the Belize and Stann Creek District

Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) advises that it is working to restore power to the following areas that were affected by Hurricane Richard.

· Lords Bank Village
· Old Northern Highway from the Mile 19 junction on the Northern Highway to Maskall
· Westlake, Western Pines and Sunset Park communities
· On the Western Highway from Bainsville to Mile 25 and Franks Eddy to La Democracia
· All of Freetown Sibun
· Belize River Valley from Scotland Halfmoon to Rancho Dolores and Lemonal
· Along the Hummingbird Highway from Alta Vista to St. Margaret Villages
· Mullins River

The Company expects to have power restored to these areas by later tonight.

Customers outside of the above mentioned areas are asked to call BEL to make a report, if they remain without power.

In Belize City, a number of transformers, service poles and service connections were damaged and as a result, pockets of customers may still be without power. The Company will continue to carry out these necessary repairs and restore power as soon as possible.

BEL also reminds the public to stay away from fallen, broken or low hanging electric lines or poles.

BEL thanks customers for their patience, during these power restoration works.

-END-

5th Annual Holiday Lighted Boat Parade, Bigger and Brighter

Press Release – San Pedro Holiday Lighted Boat Parade – October 26th, 2010 – The Fifth Annual Holiday Lighted Boat Parade will be held on Saturday, December 4th. This eagerly awaited event promises to be even MORE SPECTACULAR than last year with beautiful lighted boats bringing in the Holidays by “cruising” the shoreline of San Pedro Town from Boca del Rio to Caribbean Villas and back. This colorful parade is scheduled to commence at 7:00 p.m. With the support of the business community, this year the Committee has opted to increase the Cash Prizes in the various categories. The Best Overall Winner will receive $1000; Best Overall (2nd place) - $500; Most Artistic - $500; Best Religious - $500; Junior Division -$500 worth of School Supplies; and of course, the coveted Mayor Trophy among other Fabulous Prizes.

From now through to November 26th you can join in the parade for FREE. A late entry fee of $25 will be charged to anyone registering after the abovementioned date. Enter any type of water vessel - the only requirement is that there MUST be lights on board.

The Parade Committee will be collecting sponsorships for this beautiful event. Sponsorships can be in the form of cash donation and/or trophy sponsorship, etc. Watch for more details to come your way soon. If you are interested in participating by way of a sponsorship, boat entry or help on the committee, please contact Jan Brown at 226-2059/662-2725; stop by Coral Beach Realty to register or call Felix Ayuso 226-2198/2788 or 663-9922. For more information please visit our website: http://www.sanpedroboatparade.com/

Start planning now and let’s make this THE MOST SPARKLING HOLIDAY LIGHTED BOAT PARADE EVER!!!!!

This year's Garifuna Settlement Day theme is:

"Gibe Memegili Wayumaha; Lidanba Uarani Wawansera"

"We continue to have many aspirations; in unity we advance"