Features
Judge allows into evidence dying declaration of murder victim Egbert Baldwin
Police welcome record-breaking number of new recruits
The Museum of Belizean Art opens doors
PWLB officially launched
The biography of Mr. Thomas Vincent Ramos
Mr. Thomas Vincent Ramos, the son of Mr. Cecilio Ramos of Honduras and Miss Santurlina Rhys of this country, was born in Puerto Cortez, Honduras, on Saturday, 17thSeptember 1887.
He was educated at Wesleyan Methodist Primary Schools in Stann Creek Town and Belize City. He took correspondence courses in business administration, public speaking, journalism and accountancy. His best-loved teacher was Mr. Israel Daniel Meighan.
Personality of the Week: Irene Wallace
Coping with the loss of her sons through gun violence
She works regularly at the Putt Putt Bar and Grill. That?s where I first met Mrs. Irene Wallace, a struggling mother of 10 children who lives in Port Loyola, Belize City. Several months ago, I spoke with her about the loss of her son, Charles, Jr., who died from a single gunshot blast last April at the age of 19.
It was while she was on the job on Friday, August 19, this year, when she received the heartbreaking news that another one of her sons, Andrew, had been shot dead ? this time by a police officer who claimed that the 13-year-old boy was menacing them with a gun.
Personality of the Week: Rosita Baltazar
Dance icon, Rosita Baltazar, has graced stages both locally and internationally ? in Mexico, the USA, Malaysia and the Caribbean, yet her feet are, for the most part, planted firmly on Belizean soil, where the devoted dancer shares her greatest love with aspiring dancers.
?As a young girl growing up in Punta Gorda, dancing was always my favorite hobby. However, it was not until I arrived in Belize City that I made my first real attempt to pursue my dream of becoming a professional dancer,? Rosita revealed.
Money Laundering
money laundering means -
(a) engaging, directly or indirectly, in a transaction that involves property that is the proceeds of crime, knowing or having reasonable grounds for believing the same to be the proceeds of crime; or
(b) receiving, possessing, managing, investing, concealing, disguising, disposing of or bringing into Belize any property that is the proceeds of crime, knowing or having reasonable grounds for believing the same to be the proceeds of crime;
--MONEY LAUNDERING (PREVENTION) ACT CHAPTER 104. Page 8.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST?
Matthew 6:24: ?No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other...?
By definition, a person is deemed to have a conflict of interest if his or her private interests benefits from his or her professional or public ones; but also if a person wearing many hats has competing professional interests, thereby making it difficult for that person to perform his or her duties properly.
TIMELINE OF UNREST IN BELIZE
The past year has been one of turmoil in Belize. The country has experienced protest after protest, primarily over the Said Musa administration?s public finance policies and practices, and against the imprudent lending and exposure of Social Security funds, heavy taxation and skyrocketing gas prices.
The same issues that were the source of ferment on August 28, 2004, have fueled another protest on September 24, 2005?more than a year later.
Belize celebrates 24th anniversary of Independence
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.
Pops Hamilton and Albert Cattouse ? superstars of the 60?s football!
This morning, Amandala felt privileged to talk to two of Belize?s famous football players from the early 60?s, Lionel ?Pops? Hamilton, 61, and Albert Cattouse, 60 (not Pappy Cat). Both men spoke about the game with great love, and the sparkle could be seen in their eyes as they reminisced on their teenage years, when they played on the famous ?Brodies? football team that dominated many of the competitions.
Brukdown explosion! Lee Laa and Mr. Peters, release new albums
Lovers of Brukdown music will no doubt be ecstatic over the new releases of the fabulous entertainer, Lila (Lee Laa) Vernon, and the ?Godfather of Brukdown Music,? the legendary Wilfred Peters.
Both produced by CAYE Records in Los Angeles, California, the albums bring to life this Afro-centric music that folk storytellers say reached its peak and remained alive and strong during the era of the mahogany camps.
John Alexander Watler revives The Story of Belize City
In exactly one week, celebrated Belizean playwright, novelist and poet, John Alexander Watler, 67, will release his latest work ? a compact disc compilation of three of his most popular pieces: The Story of Belize City (1979), a historical and cultural poem; While they fight/I write (1981), a political poem; and A Grand Tour of Monkey River (1993), an environmental poem.
XCHANGE – youth voices on the media
About 35 young people from across the country held a discussion with the media late Wednesday, August 24, as a part of a one-week youth leadership program, called XChange.
Present at the discussion were representatives of Integrity Radio, KREM FM and KREM TV, Amandala, and Fer de Lance Productions.
Queen of the Bay pageant Friday, September 2
(Left to right) Leisha Pollard, Keera Ford and Delonie Flores
The September celebrations are next month, and as part of the activities scheduled to take place this year to commemorate 10thSeptember, the Queen of the Bay pageant is scheduled to take place on Friday, September 2, at 7:30 p.m. at the Belize City Center.
The team for this year?s celebration is ?Diverse people, diverse views, one goal; betterment for all,? which was submitted by Gena Thompson, and chosen by the September Celebration Committee.
Learn and Earn
?I want to continue?? ?Griga youths say
Learn and earn. The concept of teaching single mothers and young people a trade from which they can earn a living is the foundation of a month-long program that is being held at the Buyei Juan Lambey Institute.
Since July 18, over 20 participants have been learning to make a variety of crafts, including drums and cups from bamboo, shakas and cups from calabash, miniature matas from mahogany, graters (egi in Garifuna), and small boats from teak hardwood.
1st Annual Belize Jazz Festival a smashing success!
?The show has, indeed, gotten rave reviews from many of those who attended.?
Belize?s most renowned saxophonists, John Moody, Pablo Clarke and his son Ronnie Clarke, Chris Bradshaw, and Norman Ysaguirre, as well as trombone player Lucio Enriquez, blew away the audience with their soul-touching performances at the 1stAnnual Belize Jazz Festival, held at the Bliss on Friday night, July 28, 2005.
The debut festival lasted nearly four hours and saw the performances of a wide array of artistes, male and female, veteran and new, young and not so young. Among them were Frankie Rhys on keyboards and his wife, singing sensation Diana Rhys; the flashy songbird, Jeanette Dyer; the soft-spoken diva, Jenny Lovell; the symphonic duo - Sam Hamilton and Zoila Clarke; and the soulful nightingales - Ernestine Carballo and Tanya Carter.
