Thursday, November 11, 2010

Ambergris Today Website Is Good to GO!

Website Update: The Ambergris Today Daily Blog has been incorporated into our NEW Website as part of the switch from a weekly newspaper to a DAILY Online News Source. Ambergris Today now fully operates as an online service with daily news posts and weekly feature updates of your favorite newspaper columns like 25 Years Ago, Flashbacks, Picture of the Week, Dorian's Angels, Restaurant Reviews, Horoscopes, Pepito Comix, Teen Talk and Chris Emmanuel's Secrets to Life. All the newspaper has been incorporated to our online website for easier access and worldwide exposure of our news and your advertisements. Visit the new Ambergris Today and make sure you Bookmark  it for your Daily Updates. (Subscriptions through RSS Feeds)
Thanks to everybody for the GREAT response so far! Ambergris Today Now bringing you DAILY NEWS and reports.
www.ambergristoday.com

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Old Football Field Project - Preliminary Consultation


A preliminary consultation for the Old Football Field (Saca Chispas) Sunset Boardwalk and Water Taxi Terminal, was held on Monday, November 9, at the San Pedro Lions Den. Heading the meeting for the evening were Mr. Carlos Santos and Mr. Pepe Garcia.

The Sustainable Tourism Program of the Ministry of  Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation and the Belize Tourism Board have a project in concept for the Old Football Field which consists of having a sunset boardwalk and water taxi terminal in the lagoon area.


The project’s over view is to have waterfront development on the lagoon front to create a new destination within San Pedro Town which will consolidate water travel to serve local and international traffic, provide new opportunities for leisure and commerce, build public-private partnerships for commercial and cultural growth, promote waterfront beautification, and further the overall enhancement of Ambergris Caye as a tourist destination, resulting in an increase in overnight tourist visitation.


The Project Site encompasses public land along the lagoon front west of the existing football field. The project will entail some reclamation of the lagoon to extend the football field (1.2 acres) west towards the lagoon and +/- 2500 linear feet of boardwalk stretching to the north to the intersection with CaribeƱa Street and south to Tarpon Street. Moving the football field to the west will allow Angel Coral Street to run across the existing field at the moment for easy traffic flow as well as having a parking lot on the east side of the field, this information was done based upon recommendations of the feasibility study.

After having presented the project to those in attendance the floor was opened to questions and comments. It was a meeting filled with mixed emotions as some thought the idea of beautifying the area, having a sports complex which is so desperately needed, as well as the parking facility are great ideas. Making major changes in the area for the fishermen was not easily acceptable to everyone in attendance.

Many feared that if the area is changed and modernized not only will the island lose its historical and cultural aspect of being known as quaint fishing village we once were but the survival of all the fish in the area such as the tarpons and other fish will lose their natural habitat.

“It’s a beautiful concept, but if it is at the expense of all the fish that inhabit the area, then we don’t want it,” explained a local fisherman/tour guide.

“Instead of spending $8Mil dollars in doing such a huge boardwalk which is not needed, why don’t we spend much less in fixing up the existing sea wall and standardize all piers,” commented Mr. Severo Guerrero Jr. who is a tour guide and Town Councilor.

Many agreed that instead of having a huge boardwalk the money should be invested in other areas such as finishing the paving of the road from the San Juan Area all the way to the Boca del Rio Bridge, beautifying the beaches and even investing the money in the San Mateo Area which is dire need of proper roads and infrastructure.

This public consultation was held to get the feedback of the public which will then be addressed to the Belize Tourism Board and Inter-American Development Bank. A private meeting with the Mayor and Councilors as well as a separate meeting with the fishermen of the area is to be held today, Tuesday, November 9. Another Public Consultation for this project is set to be held by mid December of this year. For more information or questions regarding this project, you can send an email to info@sustainabletourismbz.org

 



Jason Reyes charged for Stabbing Death of Lionel Pinelo


On Friday, November 5, at about 11:45 p.m. San Pedro Police visited the Ambergris Hopes Clinic located on Pescador Drive, where a male person appeared to have a stab wound on the left side of his rib cage. The male person was later identified to be Lionel Rodolfo Pinelo, 24-year-old, Belizean cabinet worker.

Investigations revealed that Lionel was on a golf cart on Laguna Drive in front of Rainbow Star Machine Bar with some friends. The golf cart was stopped by a group of persons with whom he had a confrontation with one of them earlier in the day. One of the persons took an object and inflicted a stab wound on the left side of the rib cage.

Lionel was taken to the Ambergris Hopes Clinic to receive medical attention but was later transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday, November 6 at about 8:15 a.m.

A post mortem was carried out on the body of Lionel Pinelo which revealed that Pinelo died of exsanguination due to internal and external bleeding due to the stab wound.

Jason Reyes, 21-years-old, Belizean Maintenance worker of Boca Del Rio area, was arraigned for Murder in the San Pedro Magistrate Court on Monday, November 8, 2010. No plea was taken on the indictable charge and Reyes was remanded to the Belize Central Prison in Hattieville until December 8 when he will reappear in court.

San Pedro Water Jets Boat Runs Aground


At about 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 9, a boat belonging to San Pedro Water Jets International had a minor accident as it ran aground into a mangrove area on the lagoon side.Reports are that the boat arrived from Chetumal, Quintana Roo and was transporting international passengers to the neighboring Island of Caye Caulker. There were 40 passengers on board and there were no casualties reported. Several boats were dispatched to the area to render assistance to the passengers.












SPRC School All Saints Fair 2010



The San Pedro Roman Catholic School held its 5th annual All Saints Fair on Friday, November 5, 2010. At the fair there was much to eat and drink, raffles, and great games such as tombola, marble board games, horseshoe among others. Students from both the lower and upper division participated by dressing as a Saint.
    
This year’s winners are as follows:
1st Place – St Martin De Porres – Israel Ake and Brian Sanchez
2nd Place – Juan Diego – Osmar Vasquez and Steven Rosales and St. Lucy – Angelee Forman
3rd Place – St. Elizabeth – Alexia Acosta, Virgin of Guadalupe – Noelie Wiltshire and St. Veronica – Abriana Sierra

Principal Roxannie Kay stated that all proceeds of this year’s fair will go towards the school’s marching band. “There are many children interested in joining the marching band and so we decided that this year’s proceeds from the fair will be put towards the marching band,” commented Mrs, Kay. “There is the need of replacing old instruments and getting new ones as well.”
 

 



 


Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Memorial Service for the Late Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez



A memorial service was held for the late Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez just a week after the tragic murder. Father Daniel NuƱez carried out the memorial service in front of a crowd in an empty lot adjacent to the crime scene on Tuesday, November 09, 2010.


Opening remarks were delivered by Lady Bowen as she expressed her sympathies to the family of the late Maria. Mayor Elsa Paz spoke on behalf of the island of San Pedro and reiterated that everyone feels sorry for the loss of such wonderful young lady.

After the mass ended Mr. Gach Guerrero, San Pedro Station Manager of Maya Island Air, read a letter which was sent by Maria’s brother-in-law, Arturo Gomez. The letter read:
    “Mari-Toni, as she was affectionately called, was a loving twin sister, daughter, wife and mother. She loved her job and when she was offered to work for Maya Island Air Regional she was more than delighted to do so as she had the opportunity to visit the beautiful Island of San Pedro. I am sure Mari-Toni lived the most memorable moments of her life in the island which was cut short by the unfortunate incident. I appreciate your condolences and affection towards our family. We envy you all for having seen the last of her unforgettable smile in one of the most beautiful places in the world; my sincere affection, Arturo Gomez.”

Present at the memorial service were Mayor Elsa Paz, Maya Island Air Personnel, Police Personnel, community activists, teachers, hotel personnel and many local residents.

On behalf of the community of San Pedro, Ambergris Today would like to express its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of the late Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez.




Lady Dixie Bowen with the opening remarks

Mayor Elsa Paz expresses condolences on behalf of island residents

Gach Guerrero of Maya Island Air reads letter from Maria's Family





Memorial attendants pay respect to Maria at scene of the crime

The large shrubs that obstructed the view to the house have been cut down for safety

San Pedro High Boys Take Silver at National Volleyball Tournament

San Pedro High Male Volleyball Team

After bringing home the first place trophies for both the male and female Northern Regional Volleyball Championship on October 23, the San Pedro Volleyball teams were in high spirits as they travelled this past weekend to Corozal Civic Centre, Corozal Town where Escuela Secundaria Mexico Technical High School hosted the NSSSA National Volleyball Tournament Finals.

The San Pedro High School Boys were able to secure second place beating Wesley College in the first match to compete with Toledo Community College in the finals, but the boys from TCC stood their ground to capture the first place Trophy.

San Pedro High School Female Volleyball Team
The San Pedro High School girls had the hard task of confronting last year’s national champ from St. Catherine Academy in the first match. The SCA girls proved to be too much for the San Pedro High girls which lead them to play against Sacred Heart College in the second match which they also lost, taking fourth place. St. Catherine Academy took first place in the female competition.

Participating schools in the finals included:
*North: Female - San Pedro High School (SPHS) & Male - San Pedro High School (SPHS)
*Central: Female - St. Catherine Academy (SCA) & Male - Wesley College (WES)
*West: Female - Sacred Heart College (SHC) & Male: Belmopan Comprehensive High School (BCHS)
*South: Female - Ecumenical College (EC) & Male - Toledo Community College (TCC)

Female Champions: St. Catherine Academy – Central
Male Champions: Toledo Community College – South
Female MVP: SCA – Emma Hoare
Male MVP: TCC – Denver Lino

Monday, November 8, 2010

Ambergris Today Now Provides Daily News Service

Ambergris Today with David Marin at Reef Radio Morning Show

Ambergris Today is proud to announce its switch from a weekly newspaper to a fully electronic E-newspaper with now DAILY updates on News and Information important to you. No more waiting for news every Thursday, get your information Now. Same website - New Look. www.ambergristoday.com


Guess what? Right after our official announcement on the Reef Radio Morning show - due to the Extreme amount of traffic to our new updated website this morning our server was not ready to handle that HUGE amount of traffic to our site. Thus the Server went down. WOW! Can you believe it! We are working on getting it back online. Sorry for the inconvenience. We are working on it FAST! THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT!

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Murder Suspect Released

The manhunt continues for the murderer of Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez as last night's apprehension of a murder suspect turned out to be a bust. The man who was detained in Caye Caulker and brought to San Pedro late last night for questioning was able to provide to the San Pedro Police Department enough evidence that he is a new visitor to Belize. According to Police, the man was very cooperative and shortly after his detainment he was released and transported back to the island of Caye Caulker. The Police Department continues its intensive search for more evidence for the possible identification of Gomez's murderer.