Important Note: This Internet version of 7 News is a verbatum
transcript of our evening television news script. Many interviews on our newscast
are conducted in Creole. In the interest of clarity for our foreign readers,
we attempt to paraphrase the Creole quotes in English
A terrible road accident on the Northern Highway, a mile south of the Burrel Boom road junction unfolded today around Eleven A.M. this morning and claimed the life of a sixteen year old. The young man identified as Dale Sibley, a resident of Ladyville was hit from the back by a black Toyota Camry and died on the spot. Jim McFadzean was at the scene moments after the accident happened and has this report.
Jim McFadzean Reporting
The vivid tire marks give a clue as to what probably happen here today as the lifeless body of 16 year old Dale Sibley lay in the middle of the Northern Highway just a mile south of the Burrell Boom junction. Sibley is said to have been riding south to the Los Lagos community accompanied by 2 other friends on bicycles. He had just left Josie's Restaurant an establishment which sits right across from the Ready Call Center and which belongs to his mother. Friend of the family the Honourable Michael Hutchinson was at the scene shortly after the tragic accident.
Jim McFadzean "What are the accounts as to why the accident happen? I have spoken to someone who said that the young man that was hit was behind was wearing a headphone; apparently he was listening to music and apparently might not have been aware of the traffic behind him or the car that hit him."
Minister of State Michael Hutchinson "Well that's what we all suspects but because when you arrive on the scene the head piece was near his ears so we just suspect that probably he was listening to the music and didn't hear the oncoming traffic but it's just speculation, so I couldn't say definitely for sure he had those ear piece in."
Jim McFadzean "There are tire marks suggesting that the car had to swerve."
Minister of State Michael Hutchinson "Yes I notice that the driver seems to have tried all his best not to hit him because if you notice the wreck is on the car fenders so he did try to get away but it looks like he couldn't avoid the whole impact. It just resulted in Mr. Sibley's death."
The 2 other young men accompanying Sibley were so traumatize by the incident that they fled the scene.
Minister of State Michael Hutchinson "Two other cyclists were with him but apparently they got so devastated. I think one of them ran over the yard over and was crying and the I don't see where the other disappear to. But I know that there were some friends with him but it seems that they took it really hard."
It's another one of those avoidable accidents that was played out here on the Northern Highway this morning. As the mayhem continues on these poorly design and dangerous roads, another family must mourn the loss of a love one.
Jim McFadzean "The villagers and people in the rural are always in danger form speeding motorists because there are not made pedestrian friendly."
Minister of State Michael Hutchinson "That is so true. The only thing we can do is try to make the public become aware both the drivers, the pedestrian and cyclists, that these roads are dangerous and they must drive with extreme caution and care. Moreover drivers must know that when they enter a village they must abide by the speed limit so to avoid accidents such as this."
Reporting for 7 News, I am Jim McFadzean
Sibley had just completed third form this year at Ladyville Technical High School.
Make the Switch!! It was well, almost everybody's buzz word this morning as Belize's national wireless company set in motion another one of their 'marketing promotions' aimed at maximizing their already major portion of the wireless market. The promotion, a second of its kind in less than a year, triggered frenzy amongst the hundreds who showed up to take advantage of the company's latest Make the Switch bargain! Our Monica Bodden got caught up in the frenzy and filed this report.
Monica Bodden Reporting
If you were anywhere near Church Street this morning - you couldn't have missed the crowd of people standing outside BTL - for the company's latest promotions.
Michael Augustus, Public Relations Representative "It's an awesome promotion where we are doing a "Make the Switch" we have 4 phones which we had I should say because we had the famous LG Cookie which is a touch screen, by 9 o' clock this morning those were all finish and we had a huge number of those. We have 3 Samsungs phones, those are the ones we still have left and as you can see the crowd out here us. The crowd are just walking in and out with phones, everybody wants to make the switch, everybody wants to come over to Digicell and we are encouraging people to come on over."
According to Augustus, making the switch for a brand new Digicell phone was pretty easy.
Michael Augustus "All you have to do is to have a SMART phone that is connected and fully activated. You come in and you walk up to the customer service representative and they will give you, you tell them which phones you are interested in. Come with $99 if you would want one of the LG Cookie or there is also a Samgsung for $99 it very pretty and looks like one of the high models ones. Then for $49 along with that SMART phone and walk out with a Digicell package; phone, simcard and a $10 card plus you also get 750 SMS."
Doors were opened from - 8 o'clock this morning and as you can see - people were literally pushing to get through them. The inside was just as crowded as outside as these customers all wanted take advantage of the promotion.
Michael Augustus "When I came to work this morning I could not even find a parking space, I had to go all the way around and park in the Romacs parking lot and I had to walk in and asking for excuse until I get through the gate. we are happy and proud that the customers wants to become Digicell customers."
The Make the Switch promotion today was nationwide and our sources tell us it generated similar frenzy at all Telemedia outlets countrywide.
The much publicized case by the top brass of the Police force regarding the alleged conspiracy to rob a popular Chinese restaurant by one of its own officers is in the news again tonight. Detective constable Jermaine Mangar and Ernie Miranda are the only persons left with the charge of conspiracy to commit robbery. The two are alleged to have conspired to rob Chon Saan Palace, located on Kelly Street in Belize City. The charge of conspiracy to commit robbery was withdrawn from the third defendant, Jermaine Palacio, by the Director of Public Prosecutions on July 16th. Palacio is now a free man, however Mangar and Miranda appeared today in the number one Magistrate's court where their case was adjourned until August 28th. This morning Mangar was charged with three counts of an act to prejudice the good order of the Belize Police Department, offences which will be tried at a Police Tribunal on August 5th. On July 14th, a charge of attempted robbery in relation to the same incident was withdrawn from all three men.
Twenty seven year cell phone salesman Robert Taylor who was charged with murder but was convicted of manslaughter last week, was sentenced to 15 years today by Justice Adolph Lucas. The sentence, stipulated Justice Lucas, should take effect from July 15, 2010 when the trial started. Before he decided on the sentence Justice Lucas heard pleas for mitigation from Taylor, his attorney Phillip Palacio, his employer Gilroy Usher, and Usher's daughter, Monica. Taylor said he was sorry for what happened and he apologized to the family of the deceased, Leslie "Footie" Gentle. Palacio asked Justice Lucas to take into consideration that Taylor is the father of two children, that he expressed remorse, the circumstances under which the incident occurred and that he was in prison since July 2008. Usher said he had no problems with Taylor when Taylor worked for him and he taught Taylor in Primary School. Monica said Taylor was not a person quick to anger and he was like a member of their family. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on July 30, 2008, in front a tacos stand on Cemetery Road near to Pound Yard Bridge. According to the evidence, Taylor was badly beaten by Leslie and Taylor left, saying he would return. Taylor came back shortly afterwards and stabbed Gentle 10 times during a struggle. Senior Crown Councel Yohhanhoseh Cane represented the prosecution.
The Belize City Council has been conducting a series of training over the past 3 weeks which they say is aimed at strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the services they deliver to the public.. The trainings that are focused on both the technical and administrative functions have been conducted for personnel working within the various departments such as, Traffic, the Belize Municipal Court and the city's Special Constables. 7 News caught up with Deputy Mayor Phillip Willoughby who told us more about the initiative.
Phillip Willoughby, Deputy Mayor "We had over the past 3 weeks training for the traffic department by Chief Magistrate herself Mrs. Margaret McKenzie. We had with the court and now we are now having one for the Special Constable Unit. It's just to strengthen the department, enhance our capacity and also for capacity building purposes, help us to understand to learn what is our role, how we function, the different type of laws and how we execute the by-laws that govern each department of the council."
Monica Bodden"How vital do you think is it?"
Phillip Willoughby, Deputy Mayor "Well very vital. Very essential for them for most of them within the special constable unit, they are new and these trainings will help to build their capacity building to understand being knowledgeable and cognizant and how to execute their duties, how to function out there with the public, how to integrate with the public and how to enforce the laws."
Today's training was focused on the importance of building good Public Relations - and was offered primarily to a group of Special Constables at the Municipal Court.
Another blunt and fiery remark has placed Belize's top law enforcement official on the defensive once again. Only a short while on the job as Minister responsible for the police, the Honorable Douglas Singh who earlier this month made some harsh criticism of the undisciplined lifestyle of some of the force's senior officers. Only a few weeks after having to defend those comments, Singh finds himself again in the hot seat after remarks he made on Love Television's morning show two days ago. In an interview with the hosts of that show, Singh is said to have made insensitive and irresponsible remarks related to the death of eight year old Marquis Mahler who died as a result of a shooting incident on July 9th. Singh in his comments alluded that the hostile and dangerous environment in which eight year old Marquis was raised might have contributed to his death. This morning, the grandmother of Mahler, Marie Lewis took umbrage with Singh's comments and called the KREM Wake up Belize talk show to express her outrage to the Minister's insensitivity and assault on her family's reputation.
Marie Lewis, Grandmother - Marquis Mahler "Yesterday when I listen to it, I said what! They can't talk about me like this. They said that I cause the death of little Marquis, me Marie Lewis because of how I am selling drugs in that yard for 40 years. 40 years ago I was only 27, so I don't understand; I was working all around at that time. The Minister doesn't know me any at all. He said that the baby that got shot, the people was selling drugs in that yard. He said that 40 Faber's Road is constant with drugs and that's what causes the little boys death. It is very shocking and hurtful for me because how can I walk the streets holding up my head? When people look at me and say Mrs. Marie, I didn't know you use to sell drugs at your yard."
Minister Doug Singh "This is a tragic situation. An 8 year old Youngman losses his life, that's something that I think bothers everyone, it bother me. In particular it should not have happen, but I don't think that what I said was wrong; it angered me as a matter of fact that an eight year old would lose his life. I have young children myself, I know the kind of pain that that possibly would cause and I think that is one of the reasons why I say what I do. I think we have to take responsibilities for what happens to a certain extent. Some of these things is tragic and is cause by others but if there is anything that we did in our lives that could have contributed to that; we need to take responsibility for that. My whole comment was made in context of a reference that Mr. Adolphus said at the press conference held by Belizeans for Justice where he pointed out that mothers, fathers, parents have to start to take responsibility for what happen and that was the context under which I made that comment. If it offended the Lewis family and Marie Lewis then I apologize for that, but at the end of the day I wasn't wrong. We have to start this conversation where we can start to look to see where we contribute in any way to endangering people in our lives and that was the only under which it was said."
Jim McFadzean "Minister, do you regret maybe the way you coin the remarks about this family?"
Minister Doug Singh "No I don't actually because I don't believe I said anything that was inaccurate. Some people may say what I said could have been insensitive and if they perceive it as such then I'll apologize but there isn't very many easy way to say certain things sometimes and I think too often we hide behind that as a fact. Some things aren't easy to say and maybe there could have been different choices of words but I don't know how else you could have said 40 Faber's Road is a place known for this type of activity. There is a lot of things people could say differently about me. I am one of the people targeted in the media just about every week for just about everything and I don't take that personally. I put myself in this position and I have to handle it the way I do. When you put yourself in certain positions and stones are thrown you, you have to be able to handle it."
The Minister says he will not retreat from calling ' a spade a spade' when necessary.
Its 6th year of the Eder Alamilla Summer camp, an art camp that was started in memory of a young artist who had a very controversial death, Eder Alamilla. 50 kids signed up this year to improve the artistic abilities over the two week program. We visited today while they were making pencil holders.
Emaun Hyde "How does it feel teaching kids to express themselves through art?"
Tania Alamilla Mahler, Camp Organiser "It's fun, it's a lot of fun, a lot of kids enjoy doing it. They did not know how to draw; they did not know how to create anything. They are like 'miss I can't do anything with this' and I am like 'yes you can' yesterday for example we
did the clay and they are like 'miss we can do anything but a ball' I'm like you can do a lot more with clay."
Emaun Hyde "Do you have any hopes for futures years?"
Tania Alamilla Mahler "Sure we are planning to continue it. we were planning to go out district but we cannot financially do it, hopefully next year we can do it."
Emaun Hyde "How do you feel that you gave up your summer vacation in a sense to help out the kids? is it a good feeling or you kind of regret it?"
Marlisse Leslie, Volunteer "No, it's a good feeling because I'm a Leo and we give back to the community and it's our way of giving, we are helping out. Its summer and I really didn't have anything to do."
Emaun Hyde "So you enjoy giving back to your community."
Marlisse Leslie, Volunteer "Yes I do."
Emaun Hyde "You decide to come here because you like to draw?"
Tyrese Oliva, Participant "Yes ma'am."
Emaun Hyde "What do you hope to learn while you are here?"
Tyrese Oliva, Participant "Sports."
Leisja Young, Participant "I decide to come to the summer camp because I like arts and I really have anything else to do."
Emaun Hyde "Do you think coming here will improve your art skills?"
Leisja Young, Participant "Yes."
Emaun Hyde "What have you done here so far?"
Leisja Young, Participant "I did pottery, a pencil holder and today I did drawing."
The summer camp began on July 26th and will run until August 6th from 9 - 11 am at the Lion's Den. Kids from age 5 to 17 will be doing crafts such as clay pots, scrapbooks, drums, and so on.
Terryl Godoy has been painting for about 34 years, and is one of Belize's most well known artists. But what most people didn't know is that he's also a musician. About 2 years ago he stopped painting as much, to devote more time to his music. We caught up with him today as he gave us more insight into that.
Emaun Hyde "So that's what you said basically two years ago that's its hard for a painter these days. Does that hold through now?"
Terryl Godoy, Artist/Musician "Back then was much better than now. We really find the true critical time where finance is so hard to get. Back then I jump into music and it was great and today I demand to paint and to sell my product, I demand. So what I do I go around and
I paint people homes and whatever the deal is, whatever the bargain is, I'll work with you, you won't take me too low because there is other buyers. But I'll give you the first privilege that if I had paint your house you get the first privilege. But we'll bargain out."
Emaun Hyde "What are your plans for the future in both music and painting?"
Terryl Godoy "Grow bigger. But really and truly this should be a surprise to the public, I have intension to put a restaurant and a stage for live music, have different band come over and play. That's my big aim to do that."
Emaun Hyde "You are planning concerts?"
Terryl Godoy "We are going to do a little concerts for entertaining the people that comes at the restaurant and also have this idea of a mobile truck to reach out to different district and villages to perform music live because this is what we love."
Terryl is asking anyone who owns one of his paintings to take pictures of them, and email them to him so he can use it for his website. His email is terrylgodoy@yahoo.com
The Young Men's Christian Association, YMCA, has been having summer programs for over 5 years, and this year was no different. They had classes for math, reading, character building, basketball, and also story writing. Today was their last day, and to celebrate they showed off their new talents. 7 news was there.
Dr. Clara Cuellar, Camp Organiser "Given any of the school that these children are coming from, if you went to their schools they wouldn't have been the ones selected to read today and yet you come here and I know it might not seems that oh our child can explain a book because that's what they should be able to do. But what we are doing here at the YMCA is taking children who are not selected to do it because we couldn't do it then we are assisting in making sure that they can do it. And we work very closely with the schools in the area, the Ministry of Education, we have trained teachers, that's what makes this program a huge success and the trained teachers are paid through the ministry because as a non-profit organization we cannot afford that. But that allows us to have individual attentions; small groups. I always the teachers bring two important assets; the genuine love for children, which is very important. When a child has that caring, a thrust is develop, once that trust is develop then the child will work. The child believes in themselves because the adult first believe in the child."
Emaun Hyde "You are spearheading a project that you said yourself is making a positive difference. How does feel being a part of it?"
Dr. Clara Cuellar "Nothing but good. One of the wonderful gifts anybody has that deals with children and youth development is the joy of watching young people grow up and smile when they don't even know you are watching them because they feel good about what they are doing."
Liston Williams, Participant "I am coming to this summer camp for 6 years now and I like it because it teaches you to do a lot of fun things. It help me to improve in my classes in math, reading, help with homework, if you have a research you can go on the internet and they teach you about computers, that's why I like to come to YMCA."
Emaun Hyde "What fun stuff have you been doing so far over the past month?"
Liston Williams "I've been making posters, doing drawing, make up characters and writing stories."
Emaun Hyde "Do you think you are better at reading and writing now that you've been to the summer camp again?"
Liston Williams "Yes ma'am."
Emaun Hyde "You haven't been volunteering and helping teaching, but what have you been doing over the past month?"
Sergio Cuellar, Volunteer "Well over the past month I've been in the office working meaning the IT department, working on computers, getting to everything about the computer system. Also I have been tutoring some students in their reading; I have learn new ways how to bring across the students in reading and making syllables of new words."
Emaun Hyde "Overall it was a really good experience for you?"
Stefan Zuniga, Volunteer "It was a really good experience because the students thank me for what they have learned in basketball, also in math and reading and it help them to show their talent in the world and to go abroad and use their talent to positive things."
Today made one month since the summer program began.
When the nation's hopes were dashed at the Centro-Basket championships held in Santo Domingo a couple weeks ago, all eyes were on Belize's Under 15 Basketball team taking part in the COCOBA Under 15 tournament held this week in Guatemala. No mention was given in the press about a group of young cyclists who left the country a week a go to take part in both regional and international cycling championships. The two group came home yesterday, and did proud for the country of Belize. Belize made history in Guatemala when it won the Green Jersey and best sprinter one of the top three championship prizes. Tomorrow we will bring you a full report on the sterling performance of the group of teenagers who took part in championship races in both Guatemala and Canada.
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A terrible road accident on the Northern Highway, a mile south of the Burrel Boom road junction unfolded today around Eleven A.M. this morning and claimed the life of a sixteen year old. The young man identified as Dale Sibley, a resident of Ladyville was hit from the back by a black Toyota Camry and died on the spot. Jim McFadzean was at the scene moments after the accident happened and has this report.
"Yes I notice that the driver seems to have tried all his best not to hit him because if you notice the wreck is on the car fenders so he did try to get away but it looks like he couldn't avoid the whole impact. It just resulted in Mr. Sibley's death."
Make the Switch!! It was well, almost everybody's buzz word this morning as Belize's national wireless company set in motion another one of their 'marketing promotions' aimed at maximizing their already major portion of the wireless market. The promotion, a second of its kind in less than a year, triggered frenzy amongst the hundreds who showed up to take advantage of the company's latest Make the Switch bargain! Our Monica Bodden got caught up in the frenzy and filed this report.
Michael Augustus, Public Relations Representative
"When I came to work this morning I could not even find a parking space, I had to go all the way around and park in the Romacs parking lot and I had to walk in and asking for excuse until I get through the gate. we are happy and proud that the customers wants to become Digicell customers."
The much publicized case by the top brass of the Police force regarding the alleged conspiracy to rob a popular Chinese restaurant by one of its own officers is in the news again tonight. Detective constable Jermaine Mangar and Ernie Miranda are the only persons left with the charge of conspiracy to commit robbery. The two are alleged to have conspired to rob Chon Saan Palace, located on Kelly Street in Belize City. The charge of conspiracy to commit robbery was withdrawn from the third defendant, Jermaine Palacio, by the Director of Public Prosecutions on July 16th. Palacio is now a free man, however Mangar and Miranda appeared today in the number one Magistrate's court where their case was adjourned until August 28th. This morning Mangar was charged with three counts of an act to prejudice the good order of the Belize Police Department, offences which will be tried at a Police Tribunal on August 5th. On July 14th, a charge of attempted robbery in relation to the same incident was withdrawn from all three men.
Twenty seven year cell phone salesman Robert Taylor who was charged with murder but was convicted of manslaughter last week, was sentenced to 15 years today by Justice Adolph Lucas. The sentence, stipulated Justice Lucas, should take effect from July 15, 2010 when the trial started. Before he decided on the sentence Justice Lucas heard pleas for mitigation from Taylor, his attorney Phillip Palacio, his employer Gilroy Usher, and Usher's daughter, Monica. Taylor said he was sorry for what happened and he apologized to the family of the deceased, Leslie "Footie" Gentle. Palacio asked Justice Lucas to take into consideration that Taylor is the father of two children, that he expressed remorse, the circumstances under which the incident occurred and that he was in prison since July 2008. Usher said he had no problems with Taylor when Taylor worked for him and he taught Taylor in Primary School. Monica said Taylor was not a person quick to anger and he was like a member of their family. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on July 30, 2008, in front a tacos stand on Cemetery Road near to Pound Yard Bridge. According to the evidence, Taylor was badly beaten by Leslie and Taylor left, saying he would return. Taylor came back shortly afterwards and stabbed Gentle 10 times during a struggle. Senior Crown Councel Yohhanhoseh Cane represented the prosecution. 
The Belize City Council has been conducting a series of training over the past 3 weeks which they say is aimed at strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the services they deliver to the public.. The trainings that are focused on both the technical and administrative functions have been conducted for personnel working within the various departments such as, Traffic, the Belize Municipal Court and the city's Special Constables. 7 News caught up with Deputy Mayor Phillip Willoughby who told us more about the initiative.
"Well very vital. Very essential for them for most of them within the special constable unit, they are new and these trainings will help to build their capacity building to understand being knowledgeable and cognizant and how to execute their duties, how to function out there with the public, how to integrate with the public and how to enforce the laws."
"Yesterday when I listen to it, I said what! They can't talk about me like this. They said that I cause the death of little Marquis, me Marie Lewis because of how I am selling drugs in that yard for 40 years. 40 years ago I was only 27, so I don't understand; I was working all around at that time. The Minister doesn't know me any at all. He said that the baby that got shot, the people was selling drugs in that yard. He said that 40 Faber's Road is constant with drugs and that's what causes the little boys death. It is very shocking and hurtful for me because how can I walk the streets holding up my head? When people look at me and say Mrs. Marie, I didn't know you use to sell drugs at your yard."
"No I don't actually because I don't believe I said anything that was inaccurate. Some people may say what I said could have been insensitive and if they perceive it as such then I'll apologize but there isn't very many easy way to say certain things sometimes and I think too often we hide behind that as a fact. Some things aren't easy to say and maybe there could have been different choices of words but I don't know how else you could have said 40 Faber's Road is a place known for this type of activity. There is a lot of things people could say differently about me. I am one of the people targeted in the media just about every week for just about everything and I don't take that personally. I put myself in this position and I have to handle it the way I do. When you put yourself in certain positions and stones are thrown you, you have to be able to handle it."
Its 6th year of the Eder Alamilla Summer camp, an art camp that was started in memory of a young artist who had a very controversial death, Eder Alamilla. 50 kids signed up this year to improve the artistic abilities over the two week program. We visited today while they were making pencil holders.
did the clay and they are like 'miss we can do anything but a ball' I'm like you can do a lot more with clay."
"No, it's a good feeling because I'm a Leo and we give back to the community and it's our way of giving, we are helping out. Its summer and I really didn't have anything to do."
"Yes ma'am."
"Yes."
Terryl Godoy has been painting for about 34 years, and is one of Belize's most well known artists. But what most people didn't know is that he's also a musician. About 2 years ago he stopped painting as much, to devote more time to his music. We caught up with him today as he gave us more insight into that.
I paint people homes and whatever the deal is, whatever the bargain is, I'll work with you, you won't take me too low because there is other buyers. But I'll give you the first privilege that if I had paint your house you get the first privilege. But we'll bargain out."
"We are going to do a little concerts for entertaining the people that comes at the restaurant and also have this idea of a mobile truck to reach out to different district and villages to perform music live because this is what we love."
The Young Men's Christian Association, YMCA, has been having summer programs for over 5 years, and this year was no different. They had classes for math, reading, character building, basketball, and also story writing. Today was their last day, and to celebrate they showed off their new talents. 7 news was there.
"Nothing but good. One of the wonderful gifts anybody has that deals with children and youth development is the joy of watching young people grow up and smile when they don't even know you are watching them because they feel good about what they are doing."
"I've been making posters, doing drawing, make up characters and writing stories."
"Well over the past month I've been in the office working meaning the IT department, working on computers, getting to everything about the computer system. Also I have been tutoring some students in their reading; I have learn new ways how to bring across the students in reading and making syllables of new words."
"It was a really good experience because the students thank me for what they have learned in basketball, also in math and reading and it help them to show their talent in the world and to go abroad and use their talent to positive things."
