Tag:
Philip “Billy” Leslie
Education
First Tour Guide graduation ceremony held for 2024
A group of 36 residents from San Pedro have received their certification from the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) after completing a four-month-long national tour guide training. A brief ceremony to commemorate the accomplishment was held on Friday, March 1st, at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium, with the presence of their family and friends.
Community and Society
Hol Chan Marine Reserve celebrates annual seminar with tour guides and operators
The Hol Chan Marine Reserve management hosted their annual 'Responsible Tour Guide and Tour Operator seminar in San Pedro Town and Caye Caulker. The sessions served to inform the tourism stakeholders on the rules and regulations of the marine reserve, provide updates on the marine reserve management, and collect feedback from the tour guides and tour operators. This year's event ended with a round of raffles in which many attendees walked away with Christmas hams. Three lucky winners won the grand prizes, including a new stove, a refrigerator, and $1,000 cash.
Community and Society
San Pedro’s Philip ‘Billy’ Leslie and celebrity Chef Sean Kuylen are 2023 Oceana’s Ocean Heroes
On the 13th annual Ocean Hero Award, Oceana Belize recognized another islander with prestigious recognition. Philip ‘Billy’ Leslie was presented with the Ocean Hero Award on Friday, November 10th alongside another Belizean champion of the sea, Chef Sean Kuylen.
Education
San Pedro welcomes 52 new tour guides
On Tuesday, August 1st, 52 islanders received their Belize Tourism Board (BTB) certification after completing the national tour guide training. A short ceremony was held at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium to acknowledge the recipients. The San Pedro Junior College’s collaboration with instructors Philip ‘Billy’ Leslie and Josue Sosa made the course possible.
Community and Society
Kids in Action Summer Camp trains new scuba divers, fly-fishers, and snorkelers/swimmers
The 2023 Kids in Action Youth Scuba Summer Camp held a special event on Sunday, July 30th, to introduce the new young students who completed their diving, fly-fishing, and swimming program. The closing ceremony of the annual summer camp was held at the San Pedro High School. The educational camp saw the participation of 60 kids learning scuba diving, fly-fishing, snorkeling, and swimming.
Community and Society
The Kids in Action summer program is back
The Youth Scuba Summer Camp, Kids in Action 2023, was launched on Monday, July 17th, at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium with the enrolment of 50 children. The two-week program is divided into three fields. Some participants will learn scuba diving, while others will take lessons in snorkeling and swimming, and the third option will include fly-fishing training.
Community and Society
Tropic Air pilots and staff receive tour guide certification
On Monday, May 15th, a class of pilots and staff from Tropic Air received their certificates for completing the National Tour Guide Training Program. After a short ceremony starting at 6:30PM at the company’s corporate headquarters, representatives from the Belize Tourism Board and trainer Philip ‘Billy’ Leslie handed out certificates to the participants. The program saw 13 pilots completing the course, allowing them to apply for their Tour Guide license. In addition, ten participants also completed training in first aid and Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Community and Society
Hol Chan Marine Reserve to secure SSB loan to combat Sargassum
The beaches of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, as those across the country, are again choking with the heavy influx of the brown algae known as Sargassum. It has become an inconvenience making the shoreline unattractive with the rotten seaweed and threatening the local tourism industry. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve (HCMR) is securing a $3.5 million loan from the Social Security Board (SSB) to address the situation. Some consider this move by HCMR frivolous and that the Government of Belize should bear the expense. The Hol Chan management, however, explained the need for the loan and what the project was all about.