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
The Belize Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage gathered eighteen
thousand signatures, that's more than the 10% of the electorate required to
trigger a referendum - in their case, on offshore drilling.
And they triggered that referendum process in December, when these boxes
were presented to the Governor General.
The Coalition timed the process to coincide with the Municipal elections on
March 7th. But it's not going to happen - and it's not because of the
technical points raised by the Prime Minister at his press conference
yesterday; it's for a far more basic reason.
According to reports we've received from senior sources, the Elections and
Boundaries found that the eight thousand of the names gathered do not
qualify.
The reason is that the signatures of those eight thousand persons provided
in the referendum petition do not match the signatures corresponding to
those names in the binders of voters - which is the primary record of
electors.
This was discovered by the Elections and Boundaries office during its
verification of the signatures on the petition - a process which that
office is required by law to perform.
Staffers had until sixth February to complete that process but - according
to our information they finished earlier this week - and the list has now
been sent to the Governor General for his consideration.
And, while the GG acts in his own deliberate judgment, seems there's not
much to consider: without 10% of the electorate signed on and verified on a
petition, the referendum simply cannot be triggered. And that's pretty
much the end of story.
As we understand it, the GG's office has written to the Coalition telling
them that because the signatures did not match, the petition has failed and
there can be no further action on the matter.
We did reach Coalition coordinator Tanya Williams about the signatures late
this evening and she told us, quote "we are confident that the signatures
we submitted are valid and we will meet with the membership to discuss our
options."
There was an armed robbery in Belize City this morning - fortunately no one
was hurt.
At 8:45 two men slipped behind the steel door at Payless Store on
Administration Drive in the Lake Independence Area. The door is usually
kept locked but the proprietor had opened it for crates of chicken to be
delivered.
That's when the gunmen got in - fired two shots which sent customers
running into the street. The storeowner did not resist and they helped
themselves to the cash pan which was wrapped in a plastic bag.
They left on bicycles and were seen riding down the street with a silver
pistol.
They threw a cloth on nearby Miller street and residents say one of them
was also seen changing his shirt. They split up and rode off in different
directions.
Police processed the crime scene but have not detained any suspects. Both
were described to us as grown men - one of them with dreadlocks.
In more disturbing robbery - a businessman was waylaid and robbed a hundred
thousand dollars at his home on Sunday. Vinod Chawla the owner of RC
imports told police that he pulled up at his home on Amara Avenue where
three men pounced on him as he got out of his vehicle.
They held him up at gunpoint and made off with the proceeds of the week's sales, which is
$101,526 dollars in cash and cheques. The men then escaped unto cemetery
road. Police have made a number of detentions but no one has been arrested.
There's been another flare-up along the western border with Guatemala, and
this time it's proved deadly! And it happened only days after that
country's Foreign Minister and Defense Chief visited the adjacency zone in
Peten, to assess the needs of residents living in that volatile border
region.
An exchange of deadly gunfire last Saturday, January 28th. between
Belize Security Forces and suspected Guatemalan poachers is said to have
left at least one Guatemalan dead and another injured. The Guatemalan
newspaper, Siglo Veinte Uno in an article published today, reports that as
a result of the incident, 29 year old Guatemalan national Juan Choc Chub is
dead, and his brother Daniel was seriously injured. The report claims
that the deadly incident took place in the village of Mount Olives located
in the Dolores, Peten area of Guatemala.
The latest confrontation along the sensitive border has triggered a
statement of condemnation from Guatemala's Foreign Ministry, and a personal
call from that country's newly elected President Otto Perez Molina for a
thorough investigation by the Belize Government into the incident.
Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alexis Rosado
confirms the incident took place, but says it happened squarely within
Belize sovereign territory, not within the adjacency zone as is being
reported by the Guatemalan press.
Alexis Rosado - CEO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belize - Via Telephone "My understanding is that a cross-fire occurred in Belize on Saturday - and well outside the adjacency zone in Belizean territory. Now, the reason why there was such a delay in airing of this story is that apparently, the BDF was not aware that there were any injuries when these cross-fires happened. So, reports coming out from Guatemala didn't reach us until Monday that there were injuries and a possible fatality. So we are looking into the matter; we have also asked the OAS to assist us in establishing the facts and to help our police in conducting their investigation."
Jim McFadzean "Any determination yet what triggered the cross-fire?"
Alexis Rosado "Well, you know, in those areas where Channel 7 has reported on a lot - and other news media - the Chiquibul area has become very active. We keep getting illegal activities in the area, and we keep sending cautions and warnings. The police and BDF have repeatedly had to deal with people who are doing things that they shouldn't be doing in our national parks."
Jim McFadzean "Guatemalan President Otto Perez has said that he expects that his foreign minister will be meeting with Minister Elrington next week - sometime soon - and he expects that this incident be given top priority."
Alexis Rosado "That would be normal in a situation like this. We would expect to discuss a wide range of things, and clearly this would have to be one of them, because as you know, the Chiquibul National park, and all protected areas, have been very active with illegal activities. We are trying to find ways on our side but also jointly with the Guatemalan and the OAS assistance to try to stem the tide of illegal activities."
The meeting between the two Foreign Ministers is set for this coming Monday
in Belize. The men are expected to discuss a number of bilateral issues,
but foremost on the agenda will be the latest border incident.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release yesterday in which it
states: (quote):"The Government of Belize wishes to express its regret for
any injury or loss of life that may have occurred, and offers its deepest
sympathies to the families of those affected by the incident."
Last night we told you about a man who ended up in the emergency room at
the KHMH after he claimed that he was beaten up badly by police officers.
Well, this morning he got released from the hospital and straight into
police custody - bruised face and all. We caught him exiting the hospital
in hand cuffs where he showed us his injuries and told us he is an innocent
man.
Justo Lopez - Alleges Police Brutality "The men took advantage of me for simple reasons. It's not like I was running from them or escaping from them. They had my hands handcuffed behind my back. Look at my hands and how they look. My hands are swollen from only that. These men kicked me repeatedly in my stomach, kicked me up just to make me talk for something I didn't do. And I still haven't given them anything, because I didn't do anything. I didn't do anything, you understand. They didn't have to take advantage of me like this. Where I was, I was quite alright. I didn't have to come back here. But just because people are saying things, I came back in and what happened? Even my vehicle they have held. First of all, the policemen told me that it was 3 young men on bicycle. He saw the young men on bicycle; now my vehicle got involve in this thing. How did my vehicle get involved in this? They didn't even put a warrant out for me. If you want somebody like that, put it on the media, the newspaper, the internet. That's why you have the internet when you have most wanted. None of those things have my picture. Nobody can go back to Amandala or any of the media and say that Justo was wanted for this. You all just have pictures in your offices. You all didn't make it clear to the media when they said that this one and that one got charged, and we are looking for this young man. So this is foolishness what they did to me. They took advantage of me."
Monica Bodden
"Which incident are they accusing you of?"
Justo Lopez "Shooting some police in March at Belama at the police sub-station. That's what they are accusing me of, but like what I said, if that happened from then, they had all this time to put my picture on the media, and they didn't even do that, and that's why I tell you that I don't know because you watch the news everyday and you go to the internet, but you don't see anything about yourself. It was when the person told me that they wanted me, because somebody went up, and we met up. And he told me that they are looking for me, and so I decided to come in."
Giovanni Brackett - Plus TV "You have the cuffs on. Are they still detaining you?"
Justo Lopez "Yes, they are still detaining me. Right now, I'm going to prison."
Giovanni Brackett - Plus TV "So are they going to charge you with anything?"
Justo Lopez "So far, I don't know if they will charge me, or for what, because they are also talking about some ID parade when I get to the station too. But my lawyer said that he has to be present for anything that they have to do after this."
Reporter "Do you feel that the police department will be held accountable?"
Justo Lopez "I have no idea, because these people are really advantageous. I don't know what to say about that."
Reporter "How do you feel about being around police officers now?"
Justo Lopez
"When they are in their uniforms, I don't feel anyway. It's the ones who are in plain clothes. As I saw them coming, when I was downstairs, last night, I got nervous. I'm afraid that they'll beat me. See, the police officer is coming to take me now."
Lopez was wanted by police for questioning in connection with the shooting
of 23-year old police officer Nigel White which happened on the 26 of March
2011 at the Police Sub-Station in Belama. Tonight we understand that he
will be charged with attempted murder and grievous harm.
Nelson Lockwood, a 42 year-old unemployed resident of Sand Hill Village,
was found guilty of his second theft in two weeks, when he appeared before
Magistrate Hettie Mae Stuart today.
According to the details presented in court, at 8:35 a.m. yesterday, he
walked into Brodies on Albert Street. He then went to one of the stalls,
took down 5 boxes of triple A batteries, and walked out the door without
paying.
The security guard on duty followed him out and searched him. The items
were found on his person, and they were identified by the Brodies labels on
them. The security guard turned him over the police, and he was charged for
theft.
In court, it was discovered that he been arraigned before the same judge a
week ago on this same charge. It was also discovered that also had been
recently charged with crimes of dishonesty.
The magistrate asked him why kept repeating this behavior, because he had
promised last week, when she imposed a fine on him in the sum of $1,000,
that he would not do it again.
He addressed the court saying that he knew that he had been doing wrong
things. He even asked to be sentenced to serve time in prison so that he
could, quote "cool his head", unquote. His other request was that while he
wants to serve time, he also wanted the magistrate to be lenient.
Magistrate Stuart then sentenced him to 1 year imprisonment.
After he had received his sentence, he addressed the court saying that
during interrogation, his face was covered, and he was kicked in the
genitals by police officers. He requested medical treatment, which the
Magistrate granted.
On Monday night, we told you of Celia Munnings who was arraigned in the
Magistrate's Court for allegedly stealing from a Hazel Lord, the wife of
Justice Herbert Lord.
As was mentioned in the story, Munnings' attorney, Lionel Welch, alluded to
the fact that there was a very slim connection between Munnings and the
stolen items.
She came to speak to us early this morning to describe exactly how slim
that connection really is, and about her opinions of the injustice that is
being committed against her.
Here's what she had to say about the ordeal - which has now put her job in
jeopardy:
Celia Munnings - Charged with Burglary "First, I was sent there by my office to take a statement for Mrs. Hazel Lord, because she is one of our customers. I went into the place. When I left the place, I got a phone call from her asking me to come back to the business place. When I reached there, I got into an altercation, and that was the situation. Police were there. Everyone was there, and then they accused me removing a purse that I hadn't known anything about."
Daniel Ortiz "After you were accused, the police arrested you right?"
Celia Munnings "Yes, the police were right there, and they took us in the vehicle. They carried us to the station."
Daniel Ortiz "And you said that they searched you for these items?"
Celia Munnings "Yes, they searched us for these items. They haven't found anything on us. They went to our house, searched the house, didn't find anything, but they still locked us up after that time."
Daniel Ortiz "And now you have been charged unfairly, you believe."
Celia Munnings "Yes, I think I was charged unfairly because of something that I haven't done. So I really want justice to be done right in this incident, that I was charged with something that I haven't done."
Daniel Ortiz "And you've been telling us that as a result of this charge, your job is on the line because you deal with money on a regular basis right?"
Celia Munnings "Yes, right about now, my job is in jeopardy. Probably, I may not have a job when this case is over. I shall see what is the system, and I don't know what will happen after this, if my boss will take me back to work."
Daniel Ortiz "So, at this time, what's the situation with your boss?"
Celia Munnings "Well, right about now, I am suspended until further notice, and until then, we'll see what will happen. The way how I really feel why these people are pressuring me, very badly is because it's Judge Lord's wife. And I think that it's not fair what they are doing to me, because they have higher positions than me."
Daniel Ortiz "Did you remove these items? Have you stolen them and tried to sell them - tried to get rid of them? What is your connection to these items? Do you know anything of them?"
Celia Munnings "No, I didn't move any items. I haven't the slightest idea what are the items, and I swear that I don't know anything about these items that they are accusing me of."
Daniel Ortiz "Have you seen any direct involvement of the judge himself in this accusation?"
Celia Munnings "Yes, because when I went to the compound after the lady called me, Mr. Lord was there, and he put it to me that, yes, I moved the purse. He put it directly to me that I was the one who moved the purse."
Munnings says she has been working for Central Cable Vision for almost 3
years without any complaints while handling the company's money.
On January 8th, Punta Gorda Resident Antonio Edwards and his 3-year-old
son were returning home from church when a flatbed pickup truck carrying
Rosewood barreled around a corner and a length of lumber came flying his
way. The lumber struck Edwards on both his legs and broke several bones in
different places. His 3 year-old child who he was carrying was flung from
off his shoulder, but luckily the toddler escaped unhurt.
Edwards was airlifted from PG to Belize City for treatment at the KHMH. He
was given a dress wrapping for the wounds and then sent back home because
according to his wife, they cannot afford the surgery, which has been
approximated at around $6,000.
Almost a month later Antonio Edwards has returned once again to the KHMH -
hoping he can get his surgery done to fix his broken legs. His wife Justina
Edwards claims that the owner of the truck that was transporting the
rosewood lumber is not helping them financially and the bills keep piling
up.
Here's what she told Monica Bodden this morning:
Justina Edwards - Wife of Rosewood Accident Victim "He was saying that he's given us a lot of money; he got mad that I am asking for help because I know that my husband needs help. He never came through with what he was promising us that he will help and maintain us. To this situation, whenever I am ready to call him, he wouldn't answer. And whenever I get to the Belize Hospital, I wouldn't know what to do in this hospital. I call him whenever it was time for him to go into the emergency room, and he locked his phone. And even though he came here from Belize City, and I told him to come to the hospital, he said that he would come at 4 o'clock. He hasn't reached here. When I went to his house and I told him - when he came over and he got the plane ticket, and we arrived - he dropped $200 on the bed foot, and he said that he would help my husband whenever he is coming back to Belize. Right now, we've come from the PG Hospital emergency room, and the ambulance went and got my husband. They flew my husband because he has fever, and I told them that he told them he has pain. His toes get numb, and he knows when we are coming. He hasn't arrived to speak to us and help us. He knows that everything in Belize is about money, and he hasn't spoken to us since we came to Belize. So I am sitting right here, concerned about what I will do and who I need to speak to. All I want is that if there is something that needs to be done for his legs, I need assistance. While I am waiting for his assistance there has been none. He is saying that he has given me $4,000, and he got mad at me because I put it on PGTV. He told me that if I want to go through court, I will not get anything because I'm poor. They said this morning that the big bone and the small bone broke. In this one, it has the big bone broken from both sides, and that the bone that is crushed, and it broke into pieces, that's the one that is now in 6 pieces. The doctor told me that there is nothing that he could do because even if he operated on it, there is nothing that he can place in there, but he promised to try what he can do tomorrow."
Reporter "If 10 is the highest number and 1 is the lowest number; a lot of pain would be 10 and hardly any pain will be 1, what number would u give your pain?"
Anthony Edwards - Rosewood Accident Victim "Well right now it's at 1."
Reporter "1 right now, and how about when you are at home?"
Anthony Edwards "about 100."
Reporter "So, what are they giving to you for the pain?"
Justina Edwards "I see that they keep giving him injections so, I notice that he sleeps from the time I reach back in Belize City, and I am the one seeing it. I sit down close to him and witness it that he went to sleep. But when he is at home, he doesn't sleep, and the pain was not eased due to the ibuprofen that they gave him from here."
But there are always 2 sides to every story. Today 7news contacted the
owner of the pickup truck that was transporting the Rosewood. He is Rodwell
Williams, a resident of Jacintoville in the Toledo District. Williams told
us he has been assisting the Edwards family from day one but they are just
not cooperating with him. He said he had offered to pay the three hundred
dollars for the surgery at the KHMH for Edwards, but they simply refused
because they want the surgery done at a private hospital which will cost
them approximately six thousand dollars for each foot. Williams outlined
his dilemma:
Rodwell Williams - Owner of the Truck which Caused the Rosewood Accident - Via Telephone "Well, I have given them cash. From the time that the accident happened I've been giving them cash. I don't have my books in front of me right now, but roughly I'd say that I gave them about $1,200 in cash, but in other expenses, I totalled it in the past and it came up to over $4,000 in all different types of expenses including the return flight from Belize City, Ambulance which took him to the plane - a lot of different little expenses. I listen to the news and they are saying that I don't help any at all, but what happened - I think - the problem is that the wife of Mr. Edwards, from the day the accident happened, she is the one. Everybody who was there witnessed it. She is one who said, 'This is the day that I'll get rich. Now is my turn to get rich. Mr. Williams has a lot of money, and I will get rich now.' Everybody who was there heard that. So, I think that's her intention. Her intentions are to get as much money as is possible. The surgery - we looked into it, and first we called the doctor who attended to him in Belize City, and he said that there was no need for surgery at the time when he got the injury because the fracture was already closing, so they didn't need to perform a surgery. But Mrs. Justina Edwards insist that the man must get a surgery. She doesn't know why but she just wants the man to get a surgery. She won't feel any better if the many doesn't get a surgery. We sat down and explained to her that the man doesn't need any surgery, but she insisted. The doctors say that when he goes back, they will check him again, and they will tell us if he needs a surgery or not. When I called the hospital, they said $300; that was the cost of the surgery, but Justina wants to go to a private one, which will cost a lot more. I think it will cost about $6,000 for each leg, but she doesn't have to go through private doctors."
This evening we received a press release from the Karl Heusner Memorial
Hospital. It stated and we quote "Antonio Edwards is currently undergoing
conservative management of a severe injury(which) is very complex and the options are limited."
The release continues, "He is due to have a second procedure this Friday. This is not an
emergency, and once again timing of intervention is very important." End of
quote. The release continued by saying that, patients requiring urgent or
emergency surgery at the KHMH are not refused their care because of
non-payment. In fact, they receive a bill upon being discharged or even
after being discharged. Many times, they do not even pay their bills anyway.
All major surgeries, including spine or neurosurgery, incur the same
standard cost of $300.00 only. The release ends by saying and we quote
"regarding Mr. Edwards, at no point money was demanded from the patient.
This patient does not require any expensive surgery or implants." End of
quote.
In August 2011, Glenn Tillett, a journalist and talk-show host, was charged
along with his 20 year-old step-daughter for handling stolen goods after
police raided his home and discovered 2 computers which were stolen from the
El Salvadoran Embassy in Belmopan.
Tillett spoke to the media saying that his nephew, 19 year-old Tyrell Hyde,
a resident of Bladden Street, Belmopan, visited his house and stored the
computers there, and that he didn't know that they were stolen.
Well, it now seems that Hyde may have gotten another relative in trouble
with the law; this time it's his aunt, 36 year-old Khaila Nunez - Moralez,
a self-employed resident of Belmopan, who Hyde lives with.
Today, Both Hyde and Nunez-Morales appeared in Belmopan Magistrate's
Court to answer to criminal charges in connection to the breaking and
entering into Kent Herrera's home in Belmopan.
It is alleged that Hyde broke into Herrera's home and stole a 52 by 58 -
inch LG Flat screen TV, valued at $5,800; 8 bags of red and white wine,
valued at $320; 1 bottle of tequila, valued at $70; a bottle of vodka, also
valued at $70; and a bottle of whiskey valued at $100; all to a total value
of $6,360.
Hyde was charged with burglary, while Nunez - Moralez was charged with
abetment to commit burglary when they appeared before Magistrate Adolph
Lucas.
They were unrepresented when they were arraigned and they both pleaded not
guilty to their respective charges. Each was granted bail of $5,000, which
they were able to meet.
38-year old Luisito Manuel Urbina was shot in the abdomen last night on Amara Avenue.
The Hispanic construction worker was walking down Amara at 9:45 p.m. last
night when two men came out of a nearby alley and approached him, firing
one shot into his abdomen. Urbina survived and was rushed to the KHMH where he
is being treated for the injury. He told us he could not speak today
because he was in too much pain.
And Belmopan police are reporting a disturbing case of Aggravated Assault
of a sexual nature. A Guatemalan domestic worker and her ten year old
daughter went to the police department to report that the child's
step-father violated her. According to the minor, on Monday she was with
her younger brother and sister when her step-father went over to where she
was lying down and aggressively fondled her. The police are now looking for
the step-father.
Ever heard of a flying turtle? Well, we saw one today; it flew in from
Punta Gorda on a Tropic Air flight!
The mature female hawksbill was found a few days ago in distress in the
waters off Punta Gorda.
It was spotted by a dive-boat which reported it to
TIDE, The Toledo Institute for Development and The Environment.
They've been trying to rehabilitate it, but for the specialized care, they
had to bring it to the city - and eventually into San Pedro. And like any
big time traveler - this hawksbill came on a fight to the municipal
airstrip.
We followed it from there to the nearby fisheries Department - where its care-taker explained the troubles she's seen:
James Foley - Science Director, TIDE "She was found near the Frenchman Cayes in Port Honduras Marine Reserve by a dive tourism boat, and they reported her to the TIDE Ranger Station at Abalon Caye, and so they were able to take the turtle back there. Now the problem with the turtle, of course, was that she wasn't able to dive. It was quite clear that she was extremely buoyant at the rear end, leading us to the suspicion that there was some kind of gas build-up inside the shell. Maybe she ingested some plastic which could cause a blockage in her intestine, which may lead to a bacterial infection developing and then gas build-up and seeping through to the underside of the shell. All we know is that she can't dive, and if she can't dive, then she can't eat. They decision was made to bring her over to PG, and then - I'm not sure, but I believe that she might be Belize's first flying turtle. I brought her up on the plane, so thank you so much to Tropic Air for donating the flight; TIDE would like to extend their thanks for that. We were very worried because we thought maybe the altitude might have some impacts, but they were able to redirect the plane, thankfully. It was going to Belmopan, which would have meant going over the hills, but we stopped in Placencia, and then came directly here. The pilot very kindly flew at a lower altitude the entire way."
Jules Vasquez "Is she showing signs of of recovery? Or is she still reluctant to take in food?"
James Foley "Well, She's only eaten one piece of fish since we have seen her, and she hasn't defecated at all, which leads us to the suspicion that maybe she's got a blockage in her gut. That could be because of plastic. We need to do further investigation, but we needed to move her to the Fisheries Department here in Belize City so that we could have the facilities we needed to be able to do that."
Linda Searle - ECOMAR "In the past, if someone spotted a turtle like this floating at sea or washed ashore, if it wasn't too badly injured, they would probably just eat it and believe that the turtle was going to die anyway. But, recently we've found that if people come across a sick turtle, they actually don't want to eat the sick turtle, because maybe they're going to get sick themselves. So, we've been fortunate that the mindsets have been changed, and the people are actually calling us now."
One theory is that the hawksbill may have foraged on a huge raft seaweed
and trash that recently floated into Punta Gorda - similar somewhat to this
one we found a few years ago.
Again, the Hawksbill is an acutely ENDANGERED SPECIES and it is illegal to
hunt, or sell it.
This one is an estimated 50 years old - they can live to as old as 150
years old.
Last week 3 turtle strandings were reported, one in Hopkins, this one
at Frenchman's Caye , and a Green Turtle in a pond at the tourism village,
Ecomar says they need large vats or tubs to keep the turtles and if you
have any you can call Linda at 671-3483.
It's reported that the global burden of cancer is expected to increase
because of aging and lifestyle practices that expose us to cancer causing
agents. It is also known that 64% of all cancer deaths worldwide occur in
countries that are economically under-developed.
Belize falls in that category. And with almost 200 Cancer related deaths recorded in 2010 and
an increasing rate in new diagnoses, Health Authorities here along with the
Belize Cancer society are working together to sensitize the community on
strategies to prevent cancer through lifestyle choices.
President of the Belize Cancer Society, Laura Tucker Longsworth says the disease is related
to lifestyle issues.
Laura Tucker Longsworth - President, Belize Cancer Society "At the Cancer Society, we look at these conditions, and when you look at them, a lot of them are related to lifestyle issues, and that matches the empirical data. If you look at empirical - meaning worldwide scientific data - there is direct relationship with some cancers and what we eat, drink and the environment that we live in"
Jim McFadzean "There's been a significant increase in the number of cancer-related deaths in this country. Have you all determined a cause?"
Lara Tucker Longsworth "We don't know. We don't know. Perhaps we'd like to think that people are more aware that they need to get to the physician earlier, but then again, that is also not quite true because a lot of our men and women are being diagnosed late. When they do present themselves in the health system, they present very late, and so it reduces their survival rate. So we don't know, but what we do know is that we need a comprehensive cancer program for all people in Belize, and we at the Cancer Society have been promoting that and working diligently to impact this message on the community."
Jim McFadzean "What are the cancers that are prevalent in this country among both men and women?"
Lara Tucker Longworth "Men and women are affected by colorectal cancers. For, women it's breast cancer, and cervical cancer. For men it's a prostate cancer."
Jim McFadzean "But there are 2 cancers that..."
Lara Tucker Longwith "That both of them do have. By the way, men do have breast cancers by the way, but they are in the minority. We are holding a big forum tomorrow at the Bliss Institute starting at 6. It's going from 6 until 9, and it's entitled, 'Let's talk cancer'. The program will consist of Dr. Peter Allen from the Ministry of Health, our pathologiest Dr. Huge Sanchez, who will tell us what he is seeing in his lab and as the pathology expert. Of course, we have a guess speaker, a surgical oncologist, and Mrs. Barrow will give a testimonial. And I like what she is doing because she is putting a face to cancer."
World Cancer Day is observed annually and worldwide on February 4th to increase the general public's awareness on cancer related issues.
For the past two days, we've been telling you about the Panorama
investigative series in the United Kingdom which exposes Lord Michael
Ashcroft's connection to Johnston International, a company he claimed to
have sold in 1999.
Well it's bringing pressure on Ashcroft in the UK. Earlier today in the
British House of Commons, which is like our House Of Representatives,
representative, Thomas Docherty, asked Prime Minister David Cameron, quote:
"It is now clear that the single biggest funder of the Prime Minister's
party got his peerage on false pretenses. Can the Prime Minister guarantee
that Lord Ashcroft has now told the whole truth about his connections with
the building company Johnson International?"
And in the British Courts, an attorney defending the UK's Independent
Newspaper against a suit by Ashcroft told a panel of judges about "a
culture of political corruption" in the Turks and Caicos.
And while all that seethes at the official level, today Ashcroft was in
London with his good friend Godfrey Smith launching the George Price
Biography in that country.
It is an event sponsored by The Institute for the Study of the Americas and
the Institute of Commonwealth Studies with main speaker, Godfrey Smith and
Guest Speaker Lord Michael Ashcroft.
Here's a feature Smith sent to us over the internet where Ashcroft speaks
about his knowledge of George Price:
An interesting historical footnote is that the entire BTL entanglement
first started unfolding in 1993 - just days before the June election when
Price, as then Minister of Finance, signed a letter designating an Ashcroft
company and its subsidiaries as permitted persons, able to hold more than
25% of the company's shareholdings.
That designation was until then reserved for the Government.
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The Belize Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage gathered eighteen
thousand signatures, that's more than the 10% of the electorate required to
trigger a referendum - in their case, on offshore drilling.
There was an armed robbery in Belize City this morning - fortunately no one
was hurt.
There's been another flare-up along the western border with Guatemala, and
this time it's proved deadly! And it happened only days after that
country's Foreign Minister and Defense Chief visited the adjacency zone in
Peten, to assess the needs of residents living in that volatile border
region.
"My understanding is that a cross-fire occurred in Belize on Saturday - and well outside the adjacency zone in Belizean territory. Now, the reason why there was such a delay in airing of this story is that apparently, the BDF was not aware that there were any injuries when these cross-fires happened. So, reports coming out from Guatemala didn't reach us until Monday that there were injuries and a possible fatality. So we are looking into the matter; we have also asked the OAS to assist us in establishing the facts and to help our police in conducting their investigation."
Last night we told you about a man who ended up in the emergency room at
the KHMH after he claimed that he was beaten up badly by police officers.
"The men took advantage of me for simple reasons. It's not like I was running from them or escaping from them. They had my hands handcuffed behind my back. Look at my hands and how they look. My hands are swollen from only that. These men kicked me repeatedly in my stomach, kicked me up just to make me talk for something I didn't do. And I still haven't given them anything, because I didn't do anything. I didn't do anything, you understand. They didn't have to take advantage of me like this. Where I was, I was quite alright. I didn't have to come back here. But just because people are saying things, I came back in and what happened? Even my vehicle they have held. First of all, the policemen told me that it was 3 young men on bicycle. He saw the young men on bicycle; now my vehicle got involve in this thing. How did my vehicle get involved in this? They didn't even put a warrant out for me. If you want somebody like that, put it on the media, the newspaper, the internet. That's why you have the internet when you have most wanted. None of those things have my picture. Nobody can go back to Amandala or any of the media and say that Justo was wanted for this. You all just have pictures in your offices. You all didn't make it clear to the media when they said that this one and that one got charged, and we are looking for this young man. So this is foolishness what they did to me. They took advantage of me."
Nelson Lockwood, a 42 year-old unemployed resident of Sand Hill Village,
was found guilty of his second theft in two weeks, when he appeared before
Magistrate Hettie Mae Stuart today.
"First, I was sent there by my office to take a statement for Mrs. Hazel Lord, because she is one of our customers. I went into the place. When I left the place, I got a phone call from her asking me to come back to the business place. When I reached there, I got into an altercation, and that was the situation. Police were there. Everyone was there, and then they accused me removing a purse that I hadn't known anything about."
On January 8th, Punta Gorda Resident Antonio Edwards and his 3-year-old
son were returning home from church when a flatbed pickup truck carrying
Rosewood barreled around a corner and a length of lumber came flying his
way. The lumber struck Edwards on both his legs and broke several bones in
different places. His 3 year-old child who he was carrying was flung from
off his shoulder, but luckily the toddler escaped unhurt.
"He was saying that he's given us a lot of money; he got mad that I am asking for help because I know that my husband needs help. He never came through with what he was promising us that he will help and maintain us. To this situation, whenever I am ready to call him, he wouldn't answer. And whenever I get to the Belize Hospital, I wouldn't know what to do in this hospital. I call him whenever it was time for him to go into the emergency room, and he locked his phone. And even though he came here from Belize City, and I told him to come to the hospital, he said that he would come at 4 o'clock. He hasn't reached here. When I went to his house and I told him - when he came over and he got the plane ticket, and we arrived - he dropped $200 on the bed foot, and he said that he would help my husband whenever he is coming back to Belize. Right now, we've come from the PG Hospital emergency room, and the ambulance went and got my husband. They flew my husband because he has fever, and I told them that he told them he has pain. His toes get numb, and he knows when we are coming. He hasn't arrived to speak to us and help us. He knows that everything in Belize is about money, and he hasn't spoken to us since we came to Belize. So I am sitting right here, concerned about what I will do and who I need to speak to. All I want is that if there is something that needs to be done for his legs, I need assistance. While I am waiting for his assistance there has been none. He is saying that he has given me $4,000, and he got mad at me because I put it on PGTV. He told me that if I want to go through court, I will not get anything because I'm poor. They said this morning that the big bone and the small bone broke. In this one, it has the big bone broken from both sides, and that the bone that is crushed, and it broke into pieces, that's the one that is now in 6 pieces. The doctor told me that there is nothing that he could do because even if he operated on it, there is nothing that he can place in there, but he promised to try what he can do tomorrow."
In August 2011, Glenn Tillett, a journalist and talk-show host, was charged
along with his 20 year-old step-daughter for handling stolen goods after
police raided his home and discovered 2 computers which were stolen from the
El Salvadoran Embassy in Belmopan.
Ever heard of a flying turtle? Well, we saw one today; it flew in from
Punta Gorda on a Tropic Air flight!
"She was found near the Frenchman Cayes in Port Honduras Marine Reserve by a dive tourism boat, and they reported her to the TIDE Ranger Station at Abalon Caye, and so they were able to take the turtle back there. Now the problem with the turtle, of course, was that she wasn't able to dive. It was quite clear that she was extremely buoyant at the rear end, leading us to the suspicion that there was some kind of gas build-up inside the shell. Maybe she ingested some plastic which could cause a blockage in her intestine, which may lead to a bacterial infection developing and then gas build-up and seeping through to the underside of the shell. All we know is that she can't dive, and if she can't dive, then she can't eat. They decision was made to bring her over to PG, and then - I'm not sure, but I believe that she might be Belize's first flying turtle. I brought her up on the plane, so thank you so much to Tropic Air for donating the flight; TIDE would like to extend their thanks for that. We were very worried because we thought maybe the altitude might have some impacts, but they were able to redirect the plane, thankfully. It was going to Belmopan, which would have meant going over the hills, but we stopped in Placencia, and then came directly here. The pilot very kindly flew at a lower altitude the entire way."
"In the past, if someone spotted a turtle like this floating at sea or washed ashore, if it wasn't too badly injured, they would probably just eat it and believe that the turtle was going to die anyway. But, recently we've found that if people come across a sick turtle, they actually don't want to eat the sick turtle, because maybe they're going to get sick themselves. So, we've been fortunate that the mindsets have been changed, and the people are actually calling us now."
"At the Cancer Society, we look at these conditions, and when you look at them, a lot of them are related to lifestyle issues, and that matches the empirical data. If you look at empirical - meaning worldwide scientific data - there is direct relationship with some cancers and what we eat, drink and the environment that we live in"