Urban Agriculture Program in South Side Belize City

- Press Release - Belmopan - December 7, 2010 - The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in conjunction with RESTORE Belize Programme is pleased to invite members of the public to attend the launching of the “Urban Agriculture Project in South Side - Belize City” to be held on Thursday December 9th, 2010 commencing at 10:00 a.m. at the Wilton Cumberbatch Field, Cor. Faber's Road and Caesar Ridge Rd., Belize City.

This collaborative effort between the Belize District Agriculture Department and RESTORE BELIZE PROGRAM is aimed at establishing backyard/home and school gardens to grow short term vegetables/condiments/herbs that will help citizens supplement their diet. This initiative is in line with the Ministry’s mandate of promoting food security; income generation; and poverty reduction.

Sir Hilary Beckles, eminent West Indian Historian visits Belize

-Press Release – Belmopan - 2nd November, 2010 - Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies ,Cave Hill Campus, Barbados - will visit Belize from 7-9 November 2010.
On Monday, November 8th, 2010, Sir Hilary will deliver a major Public Lecture entitled: “Reparations from Britain for Slavery, Native Genocide and Military Colonization” at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts, Belize City at 7.00 pm.
Sir Hilary is an esteemed author, historian, UNESCO Consultant and Cricketer.
During his visit Sir Hilary will meet with Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade/NICH, Members of the Kriol, Mayan and Garifuna Councils, and will be hosted at a planned Celebrity Cricket Match in Bermudian Landing.
Sir Hilary’s visit is sponsored by The UWI, Open Campus Belize and Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in association with NICH and KREM Television.
For further information please call: 223-0484 or email: belize@open.uwi.edu Ambassador Adalbert Tucker -Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade 822 2110 /-669 0100.

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.

BEL Working to Restore Power Following Passage of Hurricane Richard

Press Release - October 25, 2010 - BEL - Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) advises that the Company conducted a damage assessment earlier today and has commenced restoration works to provide power supply to areas affected by power outages since the passage of Hurricane Richard on Sunday.

The hurricane caused downed power lines and damaged utility poles in several parts of the Belize and Cayo Districts. Employees are working diligently to restore power as soon as possible with top priority placed on restoration to critical services such as hospitals.

As part of the restoration works, BEL work crews are thoroughly inspecting distribution power lines as well as service connections to customers’ homes and businesses to ensure that it is safe to energize each community. BEL must ensure that these issues are addressed before energizing power systems in various communities because live wires lying in water presents a critical safety hazard to the public.

Customers along the Western Highway from La Democracia to Blackman Eddy may not have power restored until Tuesday due to extensively damaged transmission lines.

Power supply has been restored to Independence Village, Punta Gorda Town and surrounding areas. The Company expects to restore power to approximately 50% of customers in Dangriga Town and surrounding areas some time today, while repairs to damaged infrastructure continues.

In Belmopan, San Ignacio and surrounding areas, the Company is aiming to restore power supply to at least 80% of customers by later tonight.

In Belize City, power will likely be restored to 60% of customers tonight and in Ladyville and Hattieville, 90% of customers.

Pockets of customers in all affected areas will remain without power due to extensively damaged infrastructure and these areas need to remain disconnected in order to carry out repairs.

The Northern Zone, which includes the Corozal and Orange Walk Districts and San Pedro Town were not affected by power outages due to Hurricane Richard.

BEL thanks customers for their patience and will continue to provide updated information as it becomes available.

-END-

BEL Provides Report on Power System Performance

Released: September 25, 2010

BEL Provides Report on Power System Performance

Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) advises that in the event there is loss of power supply due to damages caused by Tropical Storm Matthew, the Company will dispatch work crews to the field as soon as it is safe to do so. If weather conditions are such that it would make it unsafe for work crews, works will be delayed until conditions improve.

Customers are asked to call BEL at 0-800-235-2273 or 0-800-BEL-CARE to report any damages to power lines.

The Company also takes this opportunity to report on a few power outages experienced in the Belize District between last night and this morning.

At approximately 7:30 p.m. yesterday, the Company received a report of loss of power supply to sections of the West Landivar Area in Belize City. Work crews were dispatched to the field and once the power line fault was located the Company had to commission a power outage for the entire West Landivar Area at 12:36 a.m. in order to carry out repairs. Poor visibility and difficulty in accessing the location of the fault, slowed restoration works, however power was fully restored to West Landivar at 1:08 a.m.

In North San Pedro, there were intermittent power outages between 9:30 p.m. yesterday and 11:40 p.m. at which time the power supply was stabilized.

At 7:30 a.m. today, power supply was lost to the Lake Gardens area in Ladyville, as a result of a blown fuse on the distribution system in the area. Power was restored at 9:43 a.m.

At approximately 9:00 a.m., power supply was lost to portions of Belize City as a result of a power line fault on the distribution system. Power supply was restored within 30 minutes to the affected areas on the North Side. Power supply will be restored to the affected areas on the South Side, by 12:00 noon, except for Magazine Road up to the bridge on Fairweather Street, Cemetery Road from Pound Yard to Partridge Street and Raccoon Street, Seagull Street and the immediate surrounding areas. Power supply to these areas will be restored by 2:30 p.m. today.

BEL apologizes for any inconvenience caused. For more information, contact BEL at 0-800-235-2273.

-END-

Awesome September Deals with Maya Island Air

Celebrate Belize With Maya Island Air's “Super Low Fare”

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Belize City to Dangriga

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-September Only-

Happy Independence Day!

Former San Pedro businessman found dead in Belize City

News has reached The San Pedro Sun office that former San Pedro businessman Mario Varacalli, owner of Hungry Monkey Sub Shop was found dead this morning. Reports are that employees found him inside The Hungry Monkey Shop located on North Front Street Belize City. Although cause of death is unconfirmed at this time, reports are that he had told many people that he intended to end his life. The San Pedro Sun extends condolences to his family and friends.