GOB only bidder - DFC still out $22 million

In streams of blue, yellow and red, masses of relatives, friends and supporters endorsing the 153 candidates for Municipal Elections 2006 swept over the nation?s principal streets and converged on nomination stations countrywide, where candidates were formally nominated to participate in the 2006 Municipal Elections.

Opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) mayoral candidate, Zenaida Moya, declared that the sprint to March 1 is on!

A jury of 4 men and 8 women today found Jermaine Pascascio, 25, guilty of the murder of Inez ?Blankie? Leal, proprietor of Blankie?s Store, who was shot and killed at his place of business, located at #60 Pickstock Street, on September 23, 2004.

The jury deliberated from 1:22 p.m., after receiving instructions from the judge, and returned with the verdict at 3:50 p.m.

Government announced its decision this week to buy over the terminals that now belong to Novelo Bus Line, a company that went into receivership almost two years ago, after the Novelo family were unable to service roughly $50 million in debt?the bulk of it owned to public sector bank, the Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

Edward P. Yorke High School expelled him, but the Ministry of Education ordered him reinstated. In protest, over 30 teachers called in sick yesterday.

Today, 4thform student Karl Tulcey, 18, who had been expelled in early January of this year, is back at school, and so are the teachers.

Frank ?Pawpa? Mena, United Democratic Party Dangriga mayoral candidate for the town council elections slated for March 1, is tonight hospitalized at the Southern Regional Hospital, recovering from multiple superficial first degree burns sustained when a cigarette lighter reportedly exploded in his hand sometime after 7:00 last night.

What was to have been a friendly land transaction between a Cabinet Minister and a Belizean tourism investor has turned into a nasty war of lawsuits that seems to have no early end in sight. Proprietor of Five Sisters Lodge in Mountain Pine Ridge, Cayo, Carlos Popper, came to our offices today to tell us his story of a land deal gone sour. It was much the same story he told to Channel 7 News on Monday?a story which they aired and are now being called upon to retract on the threat of a lawsuit from Hon. Servulo Baeza and Hon. Ainslie Leslie.

Eulalio Meneces, reportedly a PUP Orange Walk Town Councilor, caused some large political waves earlier this week when a letter was sent anonymously to the media, with the letterhead of Hon. John Brice?o, Deputy Prime Minister. The letter was signed on behalf of Hon. Brice?o, ?To Whom It May Concern,? informing that ?the case between Eulalio Meneces [reportedly a Town Councilor] and the Customs Department is being looked after [by] the Hon. John Brice?o and Hon. Servulo Baeza ?who are in dialogue with the Prime Minister to bring the matter to a closure.?

Police Corporal #417, Edgar Tapia, 34, a resident of the town, was yesterday morning charged in Corozal Magistrate?s Court with rape, among other charges.

It is alleged that he forced a 32-year-old woman of Corozal Town into her vehicle and later raped her at a secluded area.

The Department of Transport this morning re-opened the West Collet Canal terminal of Novelo Bus Line for some northern runs, two days after it had originally intended. Only a few buses had used the terminal today, and the Department anticipates that over the course of the next few days, traffic will increase.

Tonight William Douglas Campbell, 66, an American citizen, is listed in a serious but stable condition, while his close friend, Danilo Villatoro, 39, a Honduran caretaker, is dead after a shooting incident at Tres Cocos (North Ambergris Caye), about a mile north of San Pedro Town.

One source told Amandala that the shooting was as a result of an argument between the two friends who had been seen drinking heavily today at Campbell?s home, but there may have been another reason for the shootings.

A recently established company, Ready Call Center, located on New Road in Belize City where Intelco was located, has come under fire from a group of former and present workers who contend that the company is not properly observing Belize labor laws, limiting them to short 10-and 15- minute breaks instead of their full lunch hour, and requiring them to work on public and bank holidays. Other workers have complained that they have worked holidays and overtime and have still not been paid.

Workers want same treatment from GOB and Social Security as Michael Ashcroft

The workers of the Belize Telecommunications Limited had been in a long tussle with Government in their quest to acquire a sizeable chunk of shares in the Belize Telecommunications Limited. They had first begun with negotiating for 51%; now they are fighting for 20.

Ricardo Gallego, 44, a.k.a., ?Tire,? a resident of Mile 10, Northern Highway, was found dead shortly before 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24, while in detention at the Ladyville Police Station.

The Police Department is today saying his death is related to a ?liver ailment condition,? and that he died in his sleep, even though there has been no post-mortem done on the body.