Torch Run/Solidarity Walk this SUNDAY!

Press Release – San Pedro AIDS Commission / WIN Belize – November 25th, 2008 – The San Pedro AIDS Commission along with WIN-Belize invites the general public to its Annual World AIDS Day Solidarity Walk and Torch Run. This event, geared to show our solidarity to those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, shall take place at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 30th. Gathering place for this event will be at Central Park. Following the Solidarity Walk and Torch Run – an all-day AIDS fair will take place at the park. Health professionals will be on hand to conduct rapid HIV testing. In addition to this an information booth, a food and drinks stall will be available. Everyone is asked to join in this special day and help “Stop the SADness – Stop HIV.”

Belize Bank donates

As part of Childrens Week, the staff of Belize Bank took time off from their busy work life and gave back to some dersving students. 50 students from the RC School and Holy Cross recieved baggies of school supplies that came in handy for the exam week.

International Children's Day was observed on Friday...

Wednesday fire might be Arson

At approximately 3:49 p.m., the San Pedro Fire Department received information of a fire taking place. Full speed ahead SPFD went in search of the blaze which was found at Sea Grape Apartments on Coconut Drive. When they arrived on the scene, they discovered that neighbors had assisted in extinguishing the blaze.
SPFD investigations have revealed that tenant Katherine Coco Henkis was allegedly seen throwing items from her apartment outside to the verandah. A neighbor claims that he saw Henkis light the items on fire after which, it is alleged that she locked herself inside the apartment. The verandah was fully ignited and neighbors sprang into action dousing the flames. Henkis was repeatedly asked to unlock her doors and step out of her home but she refused. The door had to be broken down in order to gain access to the inside.
Fire Chief Jerome Garcia stated that what was ignited was actually a log, some lumber and paint containers. No damage was seen inside the apartment but the verandah did receive serious smoke damage. Read more of this story in Friday's edition of The San Pedro Sun!!

Happy Garifuna Settlement Day Belize!

On Garifuna Settlement Day, November 19th, reenactments of the landing of the first boats of the Garinagu in Belize are performed in town celebrations and in San Pedro was no exception. Cultural drummers and dancers perform whilst the traditional foods is sold for gatherings. They ride the surf to shore in their dugout canoes (motor boat) waving palm fronds and banana leaves to symbolize the cassava that sustained their ancestors. This ritual, rich in music and dance, helps sustain Garífuna culture.

Today marks 206 years that the Garifuna arrived in Belize ..

Indeed, the Garifuna found many reasons to celebrate, and their excitement is infectious, not to mention their delectable traditional dishes. The San Pedro Garifuna Council did an excellent job in keeping the heritage alive in San Pedro, kudus!! The Council would like to give special thanks to all the sponsors of this year’s Garifuna Settlement Day Celebrations. This years theme; “Iun rahowa hama meme isanigu lidoun garifunaduau lau pantau”, “Continuing to proudly empower our children in their Garifuna heritage.” Happy Garifuna Settlement Day to all Garinagus in Belize!

A Video collage of all events to be uploaded soon, stay tuned!

Belize Mission Project donates to Holy Cross

Last week was the third and final week of the Belize Mission Project in San Pedro for 2008. The project, organized by Frank Whipps, provides free dental and medical care at the Lionʼs Den during three specified weeks in October and November. In addition to providing health services, each week these volunteers participate in another project. For many years they have collected funds and distributed sacks of groceries to local families to express thanks for the hospitality received during their stay on the island. This year the last group of volunteers decided to do something different.

Instead of passing out sacks of groceries, they collected funds to donate to the Holy Cross School Food Services. Every day this school provides breakfast, lunch, snacks and bottled water to 500 students free of charge. Representatives of the Belize Mission Project came to visit the school on Friday, Nov. 14 with donations totaling $3450 to present to Francis Wilson. Francis gratefully accepted the donation on behalf of the school and gave the visitors a tour of the school. She explained to them how the school functioned based largely on the generous contributions of labor and money from interested people throughout the world.