Missing Items of Deceased Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez!

The San Pedro Police Department is seeking the assistance of the general public in either recovering missing items, or identifying individuals who may be in the possession of the following items, belonging to recently deceased Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez!

The Panasonic LUMIX HD Camera in a silver color

The NOKIA Operator Slide Phone.

The public is informed that information relayed to the Police Department is held in the utmost confidence and information received will be used cautiously. You are asked to please make use of the police information hotline by dialing 922, 226-2022 or 1-800-922-TIPS with your information.

Mosquito Coast Park updates

On Sunday, twenty-four people turned out to hold a work-a-thon to assemble new playground equipment at the Lion’s Mosquito Coast Park. A large group of on-lookers were also on hand to provide encouragement during the sometimes complicated process! The children present could not wait until the project was complete and they especially enjoyed the new slide. The threat of rain didn't dampen the Halloween spirits and lots of good food and refreshments were provided.

IDB President Visits Belize to Discuss Public and Private Sector Funding

Belmopan, November 3rd, 2010. President of the Inter American Development Bank, Luis Alberto Moreno is making a two day visit to Belize on Thursday and Friday, November 4th and 5th, 2010, to meet with Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow, other government officials and representatives of the private sector to discuss the IDB’s continued financing of development projects in Belize and other possible areas of funding.

Mr. Moreno arrives in Belize on Thursday November 4th, and will be hold a meeting with Prime Minister Barrow and other government officials at the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel, Northern Highway, starting at 2:30 PM. Other senior staff from the IDB accompanying the President will also be meeting with top officials of the Government of Belize.

On Friday November 5th, the President and his delegation of senior IDB officials will participate in a symposium with members of the private sector organized by the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry to be held at the Macfield Conference Centre on Coney Drive, Belize City.

Noteworthy is the fact that this is the first time the IDB President will hold such discussions with the private sector in Belize with the view of establishing lending programs for private sector financing, which would complement its on-going program of public sector financing for development projects in our country.

United States Embasse issues Grants to Belizean Projects!

The United States Embassy recently awarded US$450,000 in grants to nine Belizean organizations working to improve communities and citizen safety. The presentation of the grants was held on Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010 at 10:00 AM at the U.S. Embassy in Belmopan.
The grants issued were made possible through efforts of the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI). All Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) recipients of the grants were present along with an embassy official available for questions.

Among the organizations that received grants were; Strengthening Youth Security led by Caracol Youth Communication Development. This project emphasizes art education and community development for vulnerable youth populations in borer areas such as Benque, Cristo Rey and Arenal. The grant was for $90,000.00.

Youth Voices, led by Global Parish received $77,800. Youth Voices is a project that seeks to empower at-risk youth and focuses on art and filmmaking education. This project hopes to improve skills and community building through training and a participatory arts program including digital video, documentary filmmaking, and poetry. This project will be primarily located in Belize City, with workshops throughout the country. Nyasha Laing is the Project Director.

Asset Based Community Development led by the Center for Community Resource Development (CCRD) received $40,410. This initiative fosters grassroots economic stability through social and economic development of high-risk neighborhoods. This organization seeks to develop youth leaders and business entrepreneurs. This project hopes to focus on the Lake Independence Neighborhood in Belize City.

Central Christian School Vocational Training Center led by Assemblies of God of Belize received $7629. This program provides vocational training for both parents and students at the school in areas such as: sewing, computer, home economics, gardening and after school reading programs.
Crime Stoppers Community Outreach Programs led by Crime Stoppers received $100,000. This is a two-year project that is a public awareness outreach program. It develops community involvement and activities designed to prevent crimes, assist in reporting crimes and engage the at-risk youth and community.

The Humane Education Program led by the Belmopan Humane Society, received $10,875. This is a two-hour-per-week after-school educational program involving animals and targeting at-risk youth. It intends to reduce the level of violence through care and respect of animals.
The Institutional Strengthening of the Helping Early Leavers Program led by YWCA received $50,000 USD. This program provides vocational training to women ages 13-18 years old in the areas of sewing, cosmetology and life skills and will augment the skill-based training programs at the YWCA.

Innovations to improve post-harvest technology and the income of white maize and black bean producers led by the Toledo Cacao Growers Association received US$46,320. This grant will assist with innovations to increase maize and black bean harvest. The funding targets local farmers and small communities to improve the economic stability in the southern Toledo District, specifically in the villages of Jalacte and San Vicente.

Youth Chess Program led by the Belize National Youth Chess Foundation received US$26,966. This program targets at-risk youth from across the country between the ages of 5-14 years old. Chess and chess events are used as teaching tools to develop logic, life skills, team building, and effective choices and thought processes and focuses country wide.

Body of unidentified female found

Confirmed reports are that the body of an unidentified female was found between Coconut Dr and the beach, near the Belize Yacht Club Area (also known as the South Airstrip Area).

She was found off an alley that connects the beach to the street under a veranda near a bushy area. She was fully concealed/covered.

Details are shortcoming at this time as police are still processing the scene - hence the rumors that abound need to be confirmed before an official announcement of the identity of the female can be made.

Police are currently awaiting the arrival of Dr. Mario Estradaban, to conduct the official post mortem. For the moment, the Police are treating the scene as that of a homicide.