AO - Bus "agitation at the Western Border"

From my archive of press clippings:

Amandala Online

Bus "agitation at the Western Border"


Posted: 27/03/2009 - 09:48 AM

Author: Adele Ramos

For several years it has been common practice for Central American tourist buses to traverse the roads between Guatemala, Belize and Mexico, with buses making stops in Belize, picking up tourists and taking them to other stops on their route.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"(T)he Department of Transport implemented a sudden blockade, barring the buses from crossing both northern and western borders to pick up tourists here in Belize.

Chief Transport Officer, Candelaria Saldivar, told Amandala today that Linea Dorado (which operates in Guatemala and Mexico), San Juan Express (a Guatemalan line) and ADO bus services (originating out of Mexico) had been picking up passengers in Belize at San Ignacio, Belize City (at the Belize Water Taxi Terminal), Orange Walk and Corozal, when only operators with permits issued by the department can legally do so."

&

"The issue that the DOT is taking with the buses is that they have been picking up passengers in Belize even though they don’t have valid road service permits, and they have been doing so for several years, claiming that they don’t need a permit to come because of a Mundo Maya agreement, which Saldivar says the Belize Government does not have a copy of.

However, there are concerns that even if there were such an agreement, it is not reciprocal, because Belize does not get the same privileges in Guatemala and Mexico as buses from those countries have in Belize. "

SPS - San Pedro businessman arrested

From my archive of press clippings:

San Pedro Sun


San Pedro businessman arrested

The Island Newspaper, Ambergris Caye, Belize

Vol. 19, No. 12

March 26, 2009


People come from around the world to live in Belize and adopt San Pedro as home, and in our close-knit community we often grow to know each other. It is certainly not the first time San Pedro has innocently harbored ill-intentioned people but just the same it is always surprising to learn that one of our own is not who we thought they were. Such is the case when on Monday morning San Pedro police arrested 56 year old local business man and Canadian National James Jensen for theft and obtaining property by deception.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"According to police, a pair of investors from the United States, through their attorney Godfrey Smith, filed a report at the police station in Belize City, where they claimed that Jensen had taken some $50,000US towards a property investment in Punta Gorda. The American couple claims that they became concerned when Jensen could not provide them with the property documentation."

&

"Public records in the US show that Jensen was found guilty and convicted of Theft by Swindle (obtaining property by deception) in 2006 and further investigation reveals that Jensen has a long record of legal infractions in the US, where he was living illegally for several years."

AO - Cops grab Czechs with yacht stolen in Martinique

Amandala Online

Cops grab Czechs with yacht stolen in Martinique


Posted: 02/04/2009 - 09:44 PM


Author: Aaron Humes


It’s a long way from Martinique to Belize, but a boat from the French Eastern Caribbean dependency found its way here – and straight into the hands of Belize City police.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"On Monday morning police recovered the Ishtar, a white sailing yacht, at the property of Old Belize at Mile 5 on the Western Highway.

On board the boat were three sailors from the Czech Republic: Jan Minarik, 28, Milos Gaspar, 43, and Miroslav Dolezalek, 37.

According to local police, their counterparts in Martinique had reported the boat stolen.

The Ishtar had been rented for a week in Martinique in February, but disappeared and was later reported stolen."

&

"Accompanying files list Gaspar as being sought in Platte County in the U.S. state of Missouri for failing to return a rented Coachman R/V worth US$75,000, and passing bad cheques, then fleeing the state to avoid prosecution."

AO - Belize hosts CARICOM bosses

Amandala Online



Belize hosts CARICOM bosses

Posted: 13/03/2009 - 09:05 AM Author: Adele Ramos

For the next two days Belize plays host to 154 delegates from 11 sister Caribbean states attending the 20th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), being hosted at the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow is leading the meeting, in his role as CARICOM chairman for the first half of 2009. During official opening ceremonies preceding today’s business meetings where officials met in caucus, Prime Minister Barrow embraced his regional counterparts and heralded the session as one of special significance."

"The meeting comes at a time when the Caribbean faces dire challenges brought on by the world economic turmoil, and CARICOM officials say they are convinced that it is only regional integration that can soften the consequences of the financial fallout."

&

"Prime Minister Barrow made a major announcement to his Caribbean counterparts, putting on record his administration’s intention to replace London’s Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) for both civil and criminal matters.

The Privy Council has been blamed for staying the executions of many convicted in lower courts with murder, but more than that, indications are that some countries in the region are warming up to the idea of having a court closer to home controlled by their regional counterparts to arbitrate their legal matters."

AO - Belize hosts CARICOM bosses

Amandala Online

Belize hosts CARICOM bosses

Posted: 13/03/2009 - 09:05 AM


Author: Adele Ramos


For the next two days Belize plays host to 154 delegates from 11 sister Caribbean states attending the 20th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), being hosted at the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"Prime Minister Barrow made a major announcement to his Caribbean counterparts, putting on record his administration’s intention to replace London’s Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) for both civil and criminal matters.

The Privy Council has been blamed for staying the executions of many convicted in lower courts with murder, but more than that, indications are that some countries in the region are warming up to the idea of having a court closer to home controlled by their regional counterparts to arbitrate their legal matters."

&

"Belize is also gearing up to replace its old passport with a new CARICOM passport, also as a part of its commitment to integration in CARICOM."

SFCN - Caribbean leaders reaffirm integrity of Guyana and Belize sovereignty

South Florida Caribbean News

Caribbean leaders reaffirm integrity of Guyana and Belize sovereignty


Tuesday, March 17, 2009


BELIZE CITY, Belize - The border issues between Guyana and Venezuela and Belize and Guatemala were discussed in Belmopan by Caribbean Heads of Government during the just-concluded 12th Inter-Sessional.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"Heads of Government reaffirmed their unequivocal support for the safeguarding of Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and its right to develop its resources in the entirety of its territory."

"Heads of Government reaffirmed their unequivocal support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Belize."