First Anniversary of Feliz Bar and Grill

It was a great afternoon at Feliz Bar and Grill for there first Anniversary. After all the rain in the early morning, sunshine stayed all afternoon for an enjoyment in here at Feliz. On Saturday Nov.23 Feliz Bar had a fun First anniversary. It all started as the band played live music the entire afternoon. At the time of the celebration free watermelon shot was given out to the customers. Everyone had a blast and a happy smile in their face. Tasting the Pork Roast was a delicous food I had ever had.  So, if you want to heng some where cool come join Feliz Bar and Grill  for the great service they have to offer. The fun continued as live games on flat screen tv was brought courtesy of Feliz restuarant. Little pup's played along with other pup's and people had good time spending at Feliz restuarant. When it comes to games we offer Bingo time every Wednesday at 6pm. Also, we offer our fastest internet in town and a location just for you to sit back relax and enjoy the time of paradise only here at Feliz. We will waiting for yor visit. Don't forget that we also have a pool-side and great food to order.

 

Famous Watermelon Shot

 

 

Garifuna Settlement Day celebration in San Pedro

It was a beautiful day to enjoy the Garifuna Settlement day here in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. The sky was clear, the sea was calm, and the kids were having fun in the water. On November 19, 2013 the Garifuna came out in Central Park to present their ceremony held in San Pedro. It started at 11a.m. in the morning when a group of Garifuna’s, made a re-enactment of how they reached in Belize around the island with a boat. Ending up back in Central park, the show commenced.

It was great to hear the Garifuna National Anthem in their own language, followed by the Garifuna prayer.  A speech was made from each individual Mayor Daniel Guerrero, Retired teacher Angel Nunez, Mintister of Tourism and Culture Manuel Heredia, San Pedro Garifuna Council, each explained their own speech. They felt very happy to see this culture continue and growing each year. The show continued with the live drumming and show-casing their own food. The band were playing on the drums, while some dance along with the music enjoying the Punta rhythm. Locals and Tourists had a great experienced seeing at what Belize has to offer for the local Belizeans and Visitors abroad.


Sponsors were thanked for those who had helped on donating the Garifuna Culture to help bring this fantastic show together.

Since 1802 Garifuna was recognized to be part of the community in Belize. It comes back from the early 19 century when the Garinagu settled mostly on the southern part of Belize. This year it makes 181 years of Garifuna is being recognize in Belize, by the township in Dangriga.

The National flag of the Garifuna is White, yellow, and Black. Ladies clothing style , wear's a long dress sewn in chekered style and along with a head piece covering their entire head. The different types of food of Garifuna are called Boil up, serre, hudut, ereba (cassava bread). As the music the enjoy hearing in their culture would be Punta, Punta Rock, hungu-hungu, combination, wanaragua, abaimahani, matamuerte, laremuna wadaguman, gunjai, sambai, charikanari, eremuna egi, paranda, berusu, punta rock, teremuna ligilisi, arumahani, and Mali-amalihani. Punta is the mst popular when they are having a social event. Language comes from Arawakan language spoken in Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and Nicaragua by the Garifuna people. Religion is accepted as Catholic and some in other religion.


Here are some photos taken:




Mayor Daniel Guerrero saying his speach.

Mr. Nunez up on stage talking about when the arrivals came in San Pedro.



Ms. Queen Garifuna pageant.

 

One of the member's beatting one of the ingridients.



Group having a fun time playing the drums.



 

 

 

San Pedro 8th Annual Boat Parade

Every year in December 7th, San Pedro celebrates one of the famous traditions the "Boat Parade". This event enlightens the night view at night. It attracts many from the distance. Some may want stand on the beach or some may want to sit back relax and enjoy watching the boat parade, as it goes by on a dock. This event Heralds the holiday takes us to a Christmas spirit feeling.

 As you enjoy the Christmas feeling, you and your family, can enjoy the warm welcoming Christmas boat parade. It will be a spectacular experience to see and enjoy. Starting from Wayo's Beach Bar and ends at Caribbean Villas and it will make a turn and straight to Central Park for the winning Contest. With the amazing view at night, it will bring colorful lights and the enjoyment of the crowd cheering as the boats go by. So if you want to enjoy this event you may not want to miss it.

 This year it will be even better and enjoyable to witness. In looking forward to the regualar participants new invites were invited to join in this year's event. Many prizes will be given in categories for the best decoration boat including original and the best religious decoration and the choice of the Mayor coveted Trophy cup.

Moving to Central Park there will be many activities to do. The block party will be in different booths and featuring local artist, the best food sale, and as well as fundraising booth. Schools are being asked to join the parade. Awards will be given to the best school choir and by submitting two songs for the committee to enjoy.

If you are looking for a space, Booth rental application will be available starting on November 18 at the San Pedro Business Association Office. If you have any concern about this year's event or you may want to have a T-shirt, you can contact a Tel: SPBA at 226-2799, Cell: 624-3204 or email: info@sanpedrobusiness.com or drop by at the SPBA on Barrier Reef Drive before November 20th.

 Music will be provided by DJ Habo being the master of ceremonies while keeping the crowd listening to carols, while the boat parade goes by and prizes will be given after the ceremony.

 The SPBA San Pedro Holiday Lighted Boat parade committee invites all businesses and individuals in the community to consider donating to the event or offering sponsorship to ensure that this event is successful and that the tradition may live on. All boat owners and organizations are welcome to enter a boat in the parade and competition. Please contact the SPBA for more details on how you can be a part of this wonderful event.
Signed: San Pedro Holiday Lighted Boat Parade Committee: Rebecca Arceo, Amanda Syme, Coqui Alamilla and Jan Brown

Garifuna Culture Exhibit in Corozal

The Corozal House of Culture is pleased to present the Contributors of Garifuna Culture Exhibit You are invited to join us on On November 19th Garifuna Settlement Day for the opening, along with our other activities; a drum making workshop and Drum Circle. The exhibit will stay on display into the New Year. For more information contact 422-0071. Sounds of Garifuna drums will fill the air in Corozal Town.  It starts  at 5 p.m. The circle will consist of 30 Garifuna drums supplied and orchestrated by drum maker/performer Mr. Mark Welch. Mistress of Ceremony, Ms. Audrey Martinez will engage the audience with storytelling, song, and the Garifuna language. This event is imperative in reaching out to the Corozal community, showcasing the Garifuna culture and love of music. Join in the circle with drums provided or to bring your own and be a part of the Garifuna rhythm.

Mr. Welch will also be conducting a drum making workshop at 1 p.m. The cost is $100 to make your own drum. Interested persons may contact the House of Culture. Deadline for registration is November 15th.

Rain in Belize causes extremely high levels of water increase

After having  heavy rain, last weekend, reports came from Sarteneja Village saying that the road was overflood. Residence in the area said by looking at how high it reach, it measured three feet high of water. Sarteneja community had to forced to leave the area before seeking for transportation to work and school. This flood in Sarteneja has been affected for months. The condition of the road has been extremely worsen by the heavy rain that was caused. While residence travelled by foot it took approximatley three hours to walk the forty mile road from sarteneja to Orange Walk and Corozal. The road was to be paved by early 2013 and work is just starting. Reports came in that buses often got stucked. The road is deteriorated and people are fustrated and the residence in Sarteneja to leave the village. Having no water in the community, they say that for the past ten months they hadn't had awater and the new portable water hasn't reached yet.

Conditions on the road. Before the ferry going to Corozal.
 

Looking on the main land of Belize, Crooked Tree was over flooded in some areas of the village. Some parts of the area was found over four feet of water. Some serious health problem are reported cough and athlete foot. Since residence had to pass through water to reach to their destination and homes they said that the water was up to their knee. Students ad resident of Crooked Tree had to be shuttled by a boat since the village was over flooded.  Water is still rising in some areas and the 5 miles streatch road to Crooked Tree was over four feet high. Since the flooding in the area, the villagers stayed without food and water. Also, as Tourist Season is beginning, residents of the small cabanas can't do much because of the flooding and they will have big lost. One of them said it take about 4-7 weeks or more for the water to seattle. Chairman Edmund Castro has not yet visited the village after three weeks of rain and flooding.

In the west side of Belize the village of Arizona, next to Teakettle was also under water. As Teakettle experience two feet of water three weeks ago. Today some yards are covered with water. Were water comes down from the Mountains it find it's way to low-lands on the hill side. Students of the village can little do nothing, but to wear boots and walk over mud to reach to school. The only road access is useable is the road to Pook Hill.  A resident in the area had to dig a drain for the water run else where. Flue is affecting some resindents of the village because of walking in the water. Minister of Woks says as soon as the weather seattles and dries up we will be fixing the roads.


Over in San Pedro the end of the airstrip was covered with water over a feet high. South of the Island, it was difficult to use the main road as it was covered with water  and hardly could be seen. Some streets had huge puddle of water and huge holes on the streets. Some Residences in the Island were affected by flooding in their yards. It was a foot high in some areas. Roads in the Island can't be fixed until the rain has clearly stopped and streets needs to be dried up. Residences in the Island are wandering when the streets will be fixed.

B.S.I. to stop Sugar deliveries

The Belize Sugar Farmers and the Belize Sugar Indusrty are in a bitter situation. Since December of last year BSCFA and B.S.I. were negotiating business. Farmers wants to be payed as the bagasse is being use as fuel in the factory, which produces electricty as a bio-fuel for BELCOGEN.  B.S.I. said that they will not pay the farmers. On September, BSCFA refused to negotiate in the table when B.S.I. refuse to address the issue of giving economic benefits of producing Bagasse by B.S.I.. On Monday B.S.I. said that they will not be engaging in any revenue discussing and sharing anything about the bagasse. This week, the farmers are making an urging to BSI to enter into talks before things get even worst with the farmers. The farmers says that B.S.I. had signed a contract for fifteen years with Belize Electric Limited.  Oscar Alonso, C.E.O of BSCFA,  said that if B.S.I conitues to act in bad faith, they are well prepared to forced down cane deliveries.

 On November 25th the operating mill will begin to operate before it even gets any worst. Farmers mentioned that without no signing their will be no craps. B.S.I. and the people, were called to end this matter peacefully and to bring this negotiatable to the table.  On November 2nd their was a meeting with two of the divisions. The Orange Walk division met on the second for a meeting. On the tenth of November Corozal division met for a meeting and both passed a resolution. It was given a mandate to sign an agreement with B.S.I., unless an agreement is being made on the payment for Bagasse. If their is no agreement before crop season, their will be no crop. Then their will be no commencement of crop delivery, that is the Mandate given.  

Alfredo Ortega
The mandate is that we won't start crop is we don't sign any agreement with BSI and in the agreement it has to include bagasse in it. We are asking and calling on BSI to come and let us dialogue because it is not only the cane farmers that will lose, it will be the industry as whole. We are calling on them to come and let us negotiate. I Think the answer that they have given is no, they will not be sharing with us, I think that is a real slap to the face of the farmers."




 Oscar Alonso, C.E.O., Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association
 "We are not putting our foot down, we are extending a hand. We are saying look come let us sit down together." But in that same agreement has twenty-nine pages and on page twenty-nine, there is a clear statement there that binds both parties to come to the table and discuss or negotiate any by-product that will have commercial value and that based on those discussions then we will share the revenues from the proceeds of those by-products. But B.S.I. is saying is that they have invested in BELCOGEN and as such we don’t have any right to any return on the profit and it is that investment that created the value of the bagasse. You have used part of that bagasse to provide energy to your plant to produce sugar and molasses and we have also been used by farmers to spread in our fields for fertilizer and the rest has been disposed of—burning so as not to contaminate the environment. But it is the market that has created that value of the bagasse. Without that market, B.S.I. would not have made that investment. and BELCOGEN for BELCOGEN to supply nine mega watts of energy to B.S.I. So that then adds up to about twenty-five and their capacity is at about thirty-two mega watts of energy that they can produce. So that market then enables B.S.I. to determine what size of investment they need to take. We now have a new set of executives that come in and try to interpret that according to their own personal discretion. No…that is intolerable; that is unfair. What we are simply saying, let’s stick to what is provided in the existing agreement. Don’t come and turn around and say look, we only take the first twenty-eight pages of the agreement and forget about the twenty-ninth page. When ASR came in, we extended them a hand. WIn fact, before they even came and presented proposal of what they intended to do, we alerted them to the fact that look you are buying this factory with this agreement. This agreement calls for the negotiation of a new agreement and also for the bagasse."

BSI sent out a letter on Tuesday were the farmers were invited for a meeting on November 19th. The meeting will be based upon negotating and discuss about everything Except Baggase, in Belize City.
In late September, thefarmers requested a meeting to discuss about bagasse.

Feliz Bar and Grill present "So You Think You Know Me?"

It's BACK after many requests, So You Think You Know Me partner trivia. Wether you have been married for years, dating, best friends, roommates or have worked together for years. Just how well do you know your partner? This is our take on the classic TV show The Newlywed Game.

We also have a special guest coming to join us, Amanda Bisack of The Chica Travelista. She is on our beautiful island with her CAMERA MAN, filming for a pilot for a new travel show!!!

Golf Cart hit's Island Barbor Shop in San Pedro

On Sunday Nov. 10th between the hour of 8:45pm and 9:05pm, A golf cart rental number 104 license plate C-2419, while driving south on Angel Coral street the driver tried to over take a sink hole that had an iron barrel on top. The driver drove over the iron drum. While stopping the golf cart took him to one side and lost control. The Driver  then realized that he had drove into Island Barbor shop. Along with him a female was riding with him in the golf cart. The female fled the scene. I spoked to the owner of the Island Barbor shop Mostaf Haramouch Saying " I was cutting someone's hair. When I heard this loud bang. I stood their wandering what had happened and realize that a golf cart had crashed the glass. It caught me off gaurd and I was lucky that it had hit the post."  The driver Miguel Campos at the time was drinking when this incedent happened. He suffered a miner injury in his head that cause him a scrap. 15 minutes later the traffic officer along with police arrived on the scene. The driver told police that, while driving south on Angel Coral street, "I tried to miss a hole that I didn't see." he swurved to the right hitting the Island Barbor shop. Later on, he was detained for more investigation.

 

Police investigating on the matter.

Driver tried to over take the sink hole.

Driver had an hard impact when he hit the wall.



Miss Universe Gabriela Isler 2013

The 62 annual Miss Universe 2013 results are in, and the winner of this year’s pageant is Gabriela Isler, Miss Venezuela 2013.
Isler becomes the third Miss Universe 2013 winner in six years for the country of Venezuela, as she defied the odds to win the crown in front of a sold out Crocus City Hall, Krasnogorsk in Moscow Oblast, Russia.

Heading into this competition, Maria Gabriela de Jesus Isler Morales was given 16/1 longshot odds to become the Miss Universe 2013 winner, tied with Miss Germany, Miss Spain, Miss Turkey and Miss Curacao.

However, the 25-year-old, 5-foot 10 beauty from Maracay, Venezuela, dazzled in all facets of the competition, stealing the hearts of the judges on her way to the victory. The top 10 semifinalists for the Miss Universe 2013 pageant were Spain, Philippines, Great Britain, India, Brazil, USA, Ukraine, Ecuador, Venezuela and Dominican Republic.

The top five finishers were: Philippines, Spain, Ecuador, Venezuela and Brazil. In the end there could only be one winner, and the final Miss Universe 2013 results are:

• Miss Universe 2013 Results Winner: Gabriela Isler (Miss Venezuela)
• 1st Runner up: Patricia Yurena Rodriguez (Miss Spain)
• 2nd Runner up: Constanza Baez (Miss Ecuador)
• 3rd Runner up: Ariella Arida (Miss Philippines)
• 4th Runner up: Jakelyne Oliveira (Miss Brazil)

 

Corozal Women's Forum

Time: 10:00 am

Event:"Ralph is dead, now what?"

 Location: Corozal House of Culture

Join the Corozal Women's Forum on November 21st at the Corozal House of Culture for the subject of: "How and why to make your wishes known and prepare your estate." Our November meeting is on a very serious and important subject. Many of you know someone that has died here in Belize and the experience can be very frightening, intimidating, and discouraging let alone heartbreaking.

We want to help eliminate some of the confusion so we have put together a program that will answer many of your questions and help you prepare for the inevitable. The meeting will be open to both men and women.You must pre-register and there will be a $5 per person fee to attend. You may pay at the door. You will receive an information packet with information gathered by our team and our guest speakers.

To register by email corozalwomensforum@gmail.com (preferable) or call 637-0686. Do not assume you are on the list because you told me or another officer you are coming, we can easily forget to get you added. If you signed up at the last meeting you are confirmed. Space is limited so R.S.V.P. soon. Cut off date to register is November 8th. 

Sign in at 9:30AM, meeting starts promptly at 10AM. Post Script: If you have had to deal with this subject and would like to share your experiences we will have time for a couple of you to tell your story. If you wish to remain anonymous please email meloretarandall@gmail.com and I will add your story to our handout without your name. We are also looking for a listing of Attorneys or JP's you have used and would recommend. Email that to Loreta directly as well. Thank you for you support!
Loreta Randall -President

Please check our Facebook page.
For more information contact corozalwomensforum@gmail.com.
The forum is an opportunity for women to meet, enjoy, support, and learn from one another. It is open to all women in the Corozal area. The group promotes self-development through networking and enhancement of acumen among women of the community.
Loreta Randall President
Corozal Womens' Forum
PO Box 13
Corozal Town
Belize Central America
501-637-0686