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Hon. John Briceno - Leader of the Opposition "I think it is a good investment, and it's an investment that I support, and I am happy that it's being done. Because as you know, come November, we are going to lose the preferential markets that we had in Europe. So, the price of sugar is going to be sold at the world price - or most of our sugar is going to be sold at the world price. So, we need to find other markets, or do other stuff. By doing the direct consumption sugar, what we're doing is that we're adding value. We are not selling the raw sugar, but we're processing it further. So, that then, we can sell that sugar at a higher prices in CARICOM, and I'm being told yesterday that there is a lot of interest from Mexico, and Guatemala that would like to buy that direct consumption sugar, because we produce a really high quality sugar. So, it's a good thing for the industry. It's good for the farmers, good for BSI, and good for Belize."

CDB Gives Money For Childhood Obesity Program

Of course, all that sugar could give you diabetes - a leading cause of illness and death in Belize where like many other countries obesity is a major health problem. And the concern goes beyond adults, many Belizean children struggle with obesity. Well, the Caribbean Development Bank is trying to help. The CDB has approved a grant of $150,000 US dollars to the Healthy Caribbean Coalition. The coalition in turn will assist Belize along with the Bahamas, Barbados and Jamaica develop childhood obesity prevention programs. The grant was signed in Barbados on Monday September 18th. In a release sent out today it states "Childhood obesity is associated with a wide range of health complications and an increased risk of premature onset of illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease. Preventing childhood obesity is a key strategy for reducing the incidences of Non communicable diseases in the Caribbean." The programs are expected to be implemented in all 4 countries by 2019.

LOO Disappointed in Police On Amy Forte Case

Last night, we showed you what the Acting Police Commissioner, Noel Leal, had to say about the Amy Forte investigation. The acting top cop said that although she asserted to the Prime Minister that her signature was forged in a land sale to Andre Vega, but she has not come in to make a formal complaint to the police. So, with no complainant, police say that it makes no sense to investigate whether or not someone committed fraud in that land deal.

Well, today, when we asked the Opposition Leader about that position from the police, he said that he was very disappointed with the Department.:

Hon. John Briceno - Leader of the Opposition
"Now, look at the stupidness, or the foolishness of what the police is talking, that Amy Forte has to come forth. She has come forth. She has made through her lawyer, an accusation to the Minister of Natural Resources, who happens the Prime Minister of this Country, the man that is leading this country. They lawyer sent a letter stating that there has been fraud, that her client's signature was forged. There is forgery; that's a criminal activity that has taken place. And no other than the Prime Minister said that he believes Amy Forte and the lawyers. He believes that something wrong went on, and that's why he has said, 'Cancel that title that they gave to Andre Vega. Now, if that was not so, do you think that the Prime Minister would just go and say, take away that land from Andre Vega, if he knew that it was all legit, and it was above board? Please man, I think that it is the Ministry of Natural Resources that needs to do their investigation. And once they see that there is fraud, then, the Prime Minister needs to send it to the DPP, and tell the DPP, there is fraud. Here we have somebody has fraudulently signed on behalf of Ms. Forte. But, what I believe is going to happen is that that file is going to disappear. It's going to disappear. So, that even if/when we get into Government, and then we will try to see if we can take - do the right thing, take corrective action against the perpetrators in this crime. I will not be surprised if that file will be missing. So, what the police is doing is that they are trying to fool the Belizean people. They are being led by the political directorate. And I am very disappointed that the police is following the advice or the directive of the politicians in Government. The police should be independent. But, I want to put it on record also, when we get into Government, if the Government does not act on this matter, we are going to act. We are going to do everything possible to bring these people justice."

Police say that they will wait a bit longer to see Forte shows up to report the incident.

Remembering The Father of The Nation

We've shown you quite a bit of our interview with Opposition Leader John Briceño as he discussed a number of national issues.

But, that encounter happened today after the annual Wreath Laying Ceremony for National Hero George Price.

Every year on the anniversary of his death, the PUP go to his grave at the Lord Ridge Ceremony to pay their respects.

We were there for the ceremony, and here's what the keynote speakers had to say:

Darrell Bradley, Mayor - Belize City
"It is humbling for me to stand here today at the feet of the greatest Belizean, the Rt. Hon. George Price lived a life of singular devotion to Belize. As a civic activist, agitator and leader of the independence movement, chief drafter of the constitution, 2 time mayor of Belize City, 1st and only Premier and first prime minister George Price devoted more than 50 years of selfless service to the formation and advancement of this our beloved Belize."

Rt. Hon. Said Musa
"He was the architect of Independence. He is the Father of the Nation. George Price who died on the 19th September 2011, 30 years after he led our nation to independence with full sovereignty and territorial integrity over land, sea, the Rt. Hon. George Price is the national hero of Belize."

Hon. John Briceno, PUP Leader
"Every year we come to Lord Ridge Cemetery not to mourn as what Dolores was alluding to, but to celebrate the life and work of Mr. Price. We place flowers on his grave to show our love and appreciation for his life and his work, in the service of God and country."

Henry Usher, PUP Chairman
"Students, be proud of your flag. Stand attention for your anthem. Always be ready to defend Belize. The struggle for independence was a long and arduous one filled with many pitfalls and naysayers, but through it all Mr. Price remained focused and steadfast. He knew that it was the will of the Belizean people to be free to have our own identity. He gave many speeches explaining the virtues of the good Belizean man and woman. He called each of us to advance the freedom and social progress of the Belizean people."

Working Like Price

And apart from wrath laying, to live on in the spirit of Mr. Price, it's also the National Day of Service. PUP Standard Bearer Gilroy Usher invited us out to the Port Loyola division to get a glimpse at some of the service work that is being done in the Jane Usher area:

Gilroy Usher, PUP Standard Bearer - Port Loyola Division
"We are cleaning the Jane Usher area. Well, we are cleaning specifically Curl Thompson Street in the Jane usher area and I am happy to see that over 25 residents of the area have come out to voluntary help clean up the place. Now, this cleanup was very necessary because right down cult Thompson Street there is a garbage dump that is in the heart of the community and it is very unsightly and it was a health hazard and in addition to that we are also cutting the overgrown grass along Curl Thompson Street."

There were national service activities throughout the country by various groups.

St. Lucian Cruise Ship Worker Goes Home, Clear of Drug Charge

In June we told you about Twenty-four year old St. Lucian Jamal Celise, who worked on the Norwegian cruise ship, Escape but was charged with drug trafficking after two kilos or about four and a pounds of cocaine were found in the cabin he shared with two other seamen.

Well, he was given his freedom today by Justice Courtenay Abel. The issue was whether Celise's detention was unlawful and to prove that it was unlawful his attorney, Anthony Sylvestre made an application for a writ of habeas corpus. The basis of it was that there was no evidence against Celise to support the charge.

Celise had given a statement to the police but it was not given under caution, consequently, it was not evidence. Justice Abel ruled that the evidence was not sufficient to justify the detention of Celise and any further detention was unlawful.

His two crew-mates Derson Frank and Renaldo Roberts from St. Vincent remain on remand.

The AG and The Alcaldes

In the Toledo District, village Alcalde's have judicial power - where they can convene trials for minor matters in their villages. But, there's a lot to be desired in terms of formal training and orientation, and that's why over the weekend, officials from the Attorney General's Ministry took a road trip to PG to offer training to the Toledo Alcaldes Association.

Attorney General Michael Peyreffite explains what it was about.

Seventy-eight Alcaldes and Second Alcaldes attended .

European Ambassadors to "AZ"

As we have reported, the European Union has bailed out the OAS Adjacency Office with a tranche of funding. And today, a delegation of European Union Ambassadors, visited what they call the Belize-Guatemala Adjacency Zone at the Benque Viejo border. OAS Secretary General's Special Representative for Belize-Guatemala Affairs, Magdalena Talamas briefed them on the work of the Adjacency Zone Office.

The delegation included The Eu Ambassador, the British High Commissioner, and Belize's Ambassador of Belize to the European Union along with the Ambassadors of Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain.

Making Music With Machel

Today SJC's music students got a very special visit from Soca superstar Machel Montano. As we told you Montano has been in Belize since last week and Music Ambassador Shyne Barrow has been giving him a country tour. Well, this afternoon Montano and his entourage descended on the SJC compound and students huddled close to get a glimpse of him. Now we are used to seeing Montano take the stage but today he took the piano and the guitar to get his message to the music students. It was like a private pre-concert experience and 7News was there to capture it.

And of course you can see a lot more of Machel at his concert tomorrow night at the Hour Bar. Before going to SJC, Machel visited St. Catherine's Academy.

Preparing For The Worst

In one week, on September 26th, BECOL will have a dam break Simulation Exercise.

Now, we stress this is only a test - so don't be alarmed. But those in the area of the Dam and the Macal River will hear the blaring Early Warning System sirens for an extended period of time.

Today, a briefing was held in advance of a simulation exercise to prepare for the eventuality of a dam-break in the Cayo District.

The briefing was held inside the Training Room at the NEMO Headquarters in Belmopan.

EXTRO...

And we leave you tonight with highlife son Saturday night's Pan yard concerns enjoy and join us back here tomorrow.