Community and Society
One year later: Organizers reflect on BIG GARBAGE CLEAN UP Campaign
It has been one year since the San Pedro Chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association (SP BTIA) along with the American Crocodile Education Sanctuary (ACES) and the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) organized the biggest clean-up campaign on the island to date. Held from November 9 to 12, 2018, the clean-up campaign aimed to raise awareness on the improper garbage disposal on Ambergris Caye.
Community and Society
BTB’s New Tour Guide Training Techniques presented to SP Tour Guide Association
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) joined the San Pedro’s Tour Guide Association at an informative meeting held at the San Pedro Lions Den on Wednesday, November 13th. The main topic of the evening was a professional tour guide training program facilitated by BTB, which will be a mandatory requirement for every tour guide. The meeting also saw a new set of tour guide graduates receiving their certificates of completion.
Community and Society
MSC Meraviglia Cruise: World’s Seventh Largest Ship debuts in Belize
On Wednesday, November 13th, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Meraviglia cruise, which is the 7th largest cruise ship in the world, made its golden voyage to Belize, carrying nearly 4,500 guests (at double occupancy) on board.
Community and Society
Belize Coast Guard to get a new commander
On November 27th, the Belize Coast Guard (BCG) will be celebrating 14 years of service to the country, and following their annual ceremonies, a new Commandant will be sworn in. He is Deputy Commandant and Captain 42-year-old Elton Bennett. He will be replacing incumbent Admiral John Borland, who has commanded the BCG for over a decade.
Community and Society
MOH addresses allegations of forged internship documents signed off to foreign medical students for cash
An investigation taking place at the University of Otago in New Zealand named Belize as one country where medical students studying there from New Zealand falsified their work placement records. According to an online article, the students of that country allegedly received their elective paperwork signed-off for cash and chose specific medical centres around Belize, one of them being in San Pedro Town. The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Belize defended itself, stating that they dealt with the issue immediately when they learned about it 2016.
Community and Society
Murlene ‘Mel’ Spain re-elected as President of San Pedro’s Lions Club
During the San Pedro Lions Club 44th anniversary celebration on Saturday, November 9th, Murlene ‘Mel’ Spain was re-elected as President. Hosted at the Lions Den on Barrier Reef Drive on San Pedro Town, the event saw a reshuffling in the club’s Board of Directors, who were officiated in front of invited guests from the island and mainland. The annual event also included refreshments for the attendees and live music with the island’s number one band, Rompe Raja!
Community and Society
San Pedro Police burn kilos of seized drugs
A large amount of drugs, consisting of marijuana, crack cocaine, cocaine, pills such as Ecstasy, among other illicit drugs, were destroyed by fire by the San Pedro Police formation on Wednesday, November 13th, at a location south of San Pedro Town.
Accidents & Disasters
Belize Port Authority levies charges in water-taxi explosion deaths
The Belize Port Authority (BPA) has concluded its investigation into the explosion that occurred on May 5, 2019, on a boat docked at the Ocean Ferry Water Taxi Boat Terminal in Belize City. Charges have been brought against boat Captain Ernesto Delgado, as well as boat companies San Pedro Water Jets International and Ocean Ferry Belize. The explosion took the lives of eight-year-old Kimberly Melissa Guy, ten-year-old Yamiri Yasmin Guy, and injured several other persons.