NEMO Public Advisory #5 - Tropical Storm Richard

Press Releases
NEMO Public Advisory #5 - Tropical Storm Richard
By NEMO Information Unit
Oct 23, 2010, 08:00 pm

At 6:00 p.m. the center of the Tropical Storm Richard was located near Latitude 16.2 North, Longitude 84.4 West, located 270 miles East South East of Belize City. The Storm is moving towards the West at 8 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds remain near 65 miles per hour with higher gusts. The Hurricane Warning and Phase III of the NEMO Hurricane Preparedness Plan is still in effect for the coast of Belize.

The center of TS Richard is expected to pass near the north eastern coast of Honduras tonight. It is anticipated that the Storm will make landfall on Belize Sunday afternoon/evening as a Category 1 Hurricane.

People living in coastal communities including: San Pedro and Caye Caulker, Mullins River, Monkey River, Placencia, Seine Bight, Punta Negra, Hopkins, Sarteneja and who believe their homes would not withstand 50 mph winds or do not feel safe at their homes are advised to seek shelter. NEMO will be opening shelters for coastal districts at 6:00 p.m. this evening.

o Public Officers are being asked to report to their respective shelters.

o Travelling to the Cayes is not advised.

o Mariners are advised not to go to sea.

o If you have to evacuate do so early. If you are going to Shelter take along those things you will need. Your life is the most important possession.

o Put your Hurricane plans into action.

o If you live in an area that will flood take seriously the advice from NEMO and the Met Office and be prepared to quickly move your family and belongings to safety. Belongings include assets, property, animals and crops.

o All Tropical Storms and Hurricane are not the same therefore take this advisory seriously.

o Remember stay tune to your radio and television over the weekend!

People who have livestock areas that are likely to flood should move them to safety. Farmers in areas that normally flood who have crops in the fields should harvest as soon as possible.

The public is advised to remain vigilant and to be prepared for heavy winds and rains which can cause life threatening floods. Continue listening to the local radio and television stations for further advisories from the NEMO and the National Met Service.


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NEMO Public Advisory #2 - Tropical Storm Richard

Press Releases
NEMO Public Advisory #2 - Tropical Storm Richard
By NEMO Information Unit
Oct 22, 2010, 06:05 pm

NEMO Public Advisory #2
Tropical Storm Richard

At 6:00 p.m. the center of the Tropical Storm Richard was located near Latitude 15.8 North, Longitude 82.3West. The Storm is moving towards the West at 5 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds remain near 45 miles per hour with higher gusts.

People on the Cayes and along the coast who need to move are advised to do so early. Fisher folks are advised to stay alert and listen for the marine advisories.

People who are evacuating to shelters are advised to do so early and take three days' supply of dry and or canned food.

People who have livestock’s in low lying areas that are flood prone should move them to higher ground. Farmers in flood prone areas who have crops out in the fields that are close to harvesting should consider harvesting as soon as possible.

Stay tune to your radio and television over the weekend and if you have to take the following actions do so promptly:

o If you were planning to go to the Cayes and along the Coast this weekend you are advised to cancel your trip

o If you are at Sea seek safe harbour

o If you have to evacuate do so early. If you are going to Shelter take along those things you will need. Your life is the most important possession.

o Review and be prepared to put your emergency / Hurricane Plan into action

o If you live in an area that will flood take seriously the advice from NEMO and the Met Office and be prepared to quickly move your family and belongings to safety. Belongings include assets, property, animals and crops.

o All Tropical Storms and Hurricane are not the same take this advisory seriously.

o Remember stay tune to your radio and television over the weekend!

Public Officers are being asked to remain alert and be ready for deployment. All government vehicles must be fueled and parked at the Ministry of Works compound in their respective district.

The Preliminary Phase and a Tropical Storm Watch is still in effect. Please contact your NEMO District Emergency Operation Center for local information.

NEMO remains on ‘HIGH ALERT’ as it continues to monitor Tropical Storm Richard.


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TS Richard expected to make landfall on Sunday

National Emergency Management Organization

“Preserving Life and Property”

DATE: Friday, October 22, 2010 TIME: 3:00 pm

NEMO Public Advisory #1

Tropical Storm Richard

At 3:00 p.m. the center of the Tropical Storm Richard was located near Latitude 16.2 North, Longitude 81.7West. The Storm is moving towards the West at 5 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds remain near 45 miles per hour with higher gusts.

The public is being advised of further deteriorating weather conditions as Richard moves nearer to Belize and to remain vigilant.

People on the Cayes and along the coast who need to move are advised to do so early. Fisher folks are advised to stay alert and listen for the marine advisories.

Public Officers are being asked to remain alert and be ready for deployment. All government vehicles must be fueled and parked at the Ministry of Works compound in their respective district.

The Preliminary Phase and a Tropical Storm Watch has been declared for the entire coast of Belize at 3:00 p.m. today. Please contact your NEMO District Emergency Operation Center for local information.

NEMO is on ‘HIGH ALERT’ as it continues to monitor Tropical Storm Richard. Listen to your local radio and television stations for further advisories from the NEMO and the National Met Service.

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The San Pedro Emergency Operating Committee met at 2:00pm today October 22nd 2010
and issues the following advisory:
1. Boat owners and operators are advised to be on standby in the event of
evacuation, thereafter to seek safe harbor.
2. Public officers are advised to be on standby.
3. The preliminary phase hes been declared as of 3:00pm this afternoon and all are asked to be on alert and stay
tuned to their radio for updated information.
4. There is a possibility for voluntary evacuation commencing in the morning.

Prime Minister’s Visit to Mexico Achieves Major Progress in Bilateral Cooperation, Assistance and Development

-Press Release - GOB, Belmopan- 21st October, 2010-Major progress has been achieved in vital areas of cooperation, assistance and development as a result of the official visit to Mexico earlier this week by Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow and a ministerial/technical delegation which left Belize on Sunday October 17 and returned home on Tuesday October 19th 2010.
A total of FIVE bilateral agreements and documents were signed by the two countries. Signed by Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education and Youth was an agreement for Technical Cooperation to support Quality and Competitiveness in Technical Education and Training. Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Hon. Wilfred Elrington signed three documents. One is an exchange of letters for the exemption of Mexican visas for holders of Belize Diplomatic Passports to include Official Passports, another is a memorandum of understanding between the foreign ministries of both countries regarding Cooperation to support National Communities abroad, and the third is a Cooperation Agreement between the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property Rights and the Belize Intellectual Property Office.
Also during the visit, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Alexis Rosado signed the Final Act of the VI Session of the Bi-national Commission held on September 30 and October 1st, 2010, which covers a wide range of areas for cooperation, assistance and development.
During bilateral meetings held on Tuesday between the delegations headed by Prime Minister Dean Barrow and President Felipe Calderon, further cooperation and assistance was discussed in a number of areas such as Regional Security, Energy, Infrastructure, Housing, Education, Trade and Investment, Tourism, Sports and Climate Change.
Another substantive achievement coming out of the Prime Minister’s visit was an agreement with representatives of COMCE for a team of Mexican business people to visit Belize in February of next year to explore possible areas of trade and investment and to help develop the framework for a partial scope agreement between Belize and Mexico. The agreement was reached during a breakfast meeting that the Prime Minister and his delegation held with members of the business community in Mexico City.
The Prime Minister’s delegation to Mexico City included Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Education Hon. Patrick Faber, Senior Advisor and former Prime Minister Dr. Manuel Esquivel, CEO in the Office of the Prime Minister Audrey Wallace, CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexis Rosado, CEO in the Ministry of Works Cadet Henderson, and CEO in the Ministry of Housing Lawrence Sylvester.
The Prime Minister and his delegation were accompanied during the entire visit by Mexico’s Ambassador in Belize H.E. Luis Manuel Lopez Moreno and Belize’s Ambassador in Mexico H.E. Rosendo Antonio Urbina. (ends)

UB’s Bachelor’s Program now available in San Pedro

As our community continues to grow, so do the needs of its residents. Over the years, San Pedro has been able to offer a high school education (San Pedro High School), followed by an Associate’s Degree program (San Pedro Junior College). Rather than having to travel, being far away from family, and spending lots of money on rent and food, students have been able to attend classes with the added convenience of evening hours. Those who work during the day find that being able to accumulate credits at night works to their convenience, especially for those who have put their education on hold. Now, it is time for yet another advance in the educational opportunities of San Pedro.

On October 19th, 2010, The San Pedro Sun received a press release from the University of Belize (UB). The release stated that “[UB]…is pleased to announce that for the first time, its Bachelor Degree in Tourism Management Program will be offered in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, in January, 2011.” For many recent graduates of San Pedro Junior College (SPJC), this is quite possibly the most exciting news, as they now may continue their education in the comfort of their own home. When we contacted Mr. Froylan Gilharry, Assistant Dean of San Pedro Junior College, he was enthusiastic about the program.


“This has been one of my personal projects; to convince UB to offer a degree here on the island, since I am the tourism teacher at SPJC and a graduate from University of Belize,” stated Gilharry. His enthusiasm kept him going through the negotiations for “over a year”. Having met with Mr. Kevin Geban (UB Tourism Lecturer) and Dr. Vincent Palacio (Dean of UB), they ironed out the logistics and now, finally, it will be feasible to offer a Bachelor’s Degree in San Pedro. As contact person for UB San Pedro, Mr. Gilharry was quite happy to provide us with information regarding the course, and the technical aspects of it.

According to him, the program will be a partnership between UB and SPJC. SPJC will offer all pre-requisites in order to complete the Bachelor’s Degree program. Classes will be held on Friday nights and all day on Saturday. Taught by UB Lecturers and other experts, the new program will be a great introduction of UB to San Pedro. Gilharry further stated that, “Depending on the enrollment, and the interest from students for other courses to be offered, UB will then make that decision when and if it is feasible to offer any other programs.”

For their part, UB found that San Pedro, Ambergris Caye was a logical place to expand and offer their advanced courses. Dean of the Faculty of Management and Sciences (FMSS), Dr Vincent Palacio explained that the expansion of the program “is in keeping with the continued commitment of the national University to provide affordable and accessible educational and training programs that are relevant, responds to, and contributes to national development needs and priorities of Belize.” The release further states that while the tourism sector continues to be a priority for the Government of Belize, UB is committed to playing an active role in the development of said sector by producing quality human resources. Ambergris Caye has been classified as one of the most important destinations for Belize’s tourism, accounting for 42.3% of total tourism expenditure. Now, the human resources on the island can add a Bachelor’s Degree to their accomplishments, further enhancing the industry which they thrive on.

Currently San Pedro Junior College offers three programs: Associate’s Degree in Business Management, Associate’s Degree in Business Administration (majoring in Accounting) and Associate’s Degree in Tourism Management. Any student who graduates from SPJC can easily enroll in the new UB Bachelor’s Program, as all subjects offered by SPJC are accepted by UB. A recruitment session will be held at San Pedro Junior College on November 5th, 2010 at 7pm. For more information, contact Mr. Froylan Gilharry at the SPHS/SPJC building during office hours.