With the usual pomp and circumstance, Belize celebrated the 24thAnniversary of its Independence on Wednesday, September 21.
Before the Official Uniform Parade took over the principal streets of Belize City, Belizeans and their guests who gathered at the Memorial Park had the opportunity to listen to reflective addresses from the Prime Minister, Hon. Said Musa, the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Dean Barrow, and Belize City Mayor, Hon. David Fonseca.
The acquisition price of the most recent shipment of fuel shows increases per US gallon of $0.77 for premium gasoline, $0.73 for regular gasoline, $0.22 for kerosene and $0.12 for diesel.
To mitigate the increase in acquisition costs, the Government of Belize will absorb half of the increase for all four fuel products.
The Association of Concerned Belizeans (ACB), which emerged out of the political ferment of August last year, is organizing a demonstration in Belize City for Saturday morning, September 24. The demonstration is a response to the Government of Belize?s audacious and defiant move in taking $10 million of Social Security Board moneys to lend on concessionary terms to a Lord Michael Ashcroft?related company ? Sunshine.
There are angels within all of us, and by this I mean there are things we do that we are good at, things we enjoy doing, and things which make us feel fulfilled. Sometimes these angels are so wonderful and soaring, we say that there is genius within a man or a woman.
Belizeans from all walks of life gathered at the Castleton Race Track in beautiful Burrell Boom on Sunday, the 18th September, to watch one of the biggest days in horse racing in Belize. It was an 8-race card. We are certain that everyone got his/her money?s worth.
There were outbursts of hugs and joy this afternoon when Andrew ?Pawpa? Brown and his older brother Floyd Brown were declared free men ? in time for the Independence Day celebrations and after 65 days in the Hattieville Prison.
The brothers were freed after Solicitor General Elson Kaseke told the court that he was resting his case against Pawpa Brown since the tape recordings, his key piece of evidence against Pawpa, was ruled inadmissible by the Chief Magistrate. The brothers? lead attorney, senior counsel Dean Barrow, then made a no case submission.
It is a twisted story of ?she say, he say?, but it involves an allegation of molestation, so here it goes:
A mother of eight, a resident of Hattieville, on Thursday last told the newspaper that on Wednesday, September 14, she was beaten by four relatives ? three brothers and a cousin ? after they had an argument. Dorita Gillett, a housewife, told us that she was kicked in the stomach and stamped all over the body by her relatives. She said that the cousin had lashed her with a machete several times over the body.
The sixth running of the annual Lionman Triathlon started at exactly 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, September 18. A field of 37 brave athletes, both nationals and internationals, lined up at the Sandlighters Promenade to challenge the new and longer Olympic standard route of this year?s Lionman competition. The swimming, riding and running distances were all dramatically increased to comply with international specifications.
It is my view that the Cycling Association ought to instill its objectives unto all of its members as set down in the Constitution: (a) ?The Association shall foster and promote athletics generally and the sport of cycling at all levels in particular in order to maintain the competitive spirit and the physical and mental well-being of its members.?
The General Council of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) yesterday evening removed its own president, Horris Patten, from the board of directors of the Belize Social Security Board, because of Patten?s having voted for a motion for the SSB to give an unsecured, concessionary loan of $10 million to Sunshine Holdings Trust, a Michael Ashcroft affiliate.
Amandala has learned that prior to Patten?s removal, the NTUCB?s other representative on the board, Antonio Gonzalez, said that he would voluntarily resign.
The Belize Ex-Services League (BEL), an organization founded to take care of the needs of World War I and World War II veterans, is embroiled in a drawn-out, bitter war between its Executive Council and the Belize City branch, the only branch that has been actively generating revenue.
Police continue to investigate Belize?s biggest cocaine bust ever, which occurred around midday on Monday, September 12, near the Tobacco Caye Range area south of Dangriga Town.
Around 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Dangriga police received reliable information and communicated with the police department in Belize City. A joint operation was conducted by members of the (United States) Drug Enforcement Agency, Belize Defence Force, the Anti-Drug Unit (ADU) and the police, who were dispatched in boats to the area.
On Tuesday, September 13, three suspects - Randy Petillo, 29, a laborer of #54 Pen Road, Dangriga Town; Errol Ferguson, 27, a laborer of #8416 Electric Avenue, Belize City; and Orin Saragosa, 23, a laborer of #8425 Electric Avenue - appeared in the Dangriga Magistrate?s Court, where they were jointly charged with the rape of a 17-year-old girl.
This Sunday, September 18, brings up exciting horseracing at the Castleton Race Track in beautiful Burrell Boom, starting at 1:00 p.m. The day will feature a seven-race card, which promises to be a scorcher with the grand entrance of our two-year-old Local Upgrades and Thoroughbreds. These are the horses that we are hoping will improve and bring much needed competition to the horseracing industry. Folks don?t want to see two horses in a race with one way in the front and the other way back. I would say that there are about ten or more Local Upgrades and about six Thoroughbreds that will integrate the various classes.
