Mosquito Coast Park Updated Pictures

The San Pedro Lions Club has been working arduously ever since a set of playground equipment was donated to the Club. Its erection started a few weeks back at the Mosquito Coast Park, south of San Pedro Town. Here we see that the first slide has been completed and children already enjoying it. Lions Club members and volunteers are taking time off their weekends to continue working on the assembly. It's a great addition to the park and we thank the Lions Club for their hard work and Holy Cross Anglican School for the donation.

Belize Lions Zone 59 grant $10,0000 US to Hurricane Richard Victims

Press Release

The Belize Lions Zone 59 is pleased to announce the disbursement of a grant of US$10,0000 to be used for relief supplies to the victims of Hurricane Richard. The money was secured through the Lions Club International Foundation (LCCIF) Disaster Relief Fund which is available to any district or zone after a disaster.

    Immediately after the passage of Hurricane Richard, The Belize Lions Zone 59 expressed to the Prime Minister of Belize, Hon. Dean Barrow, that as a service organization inn Belize, we were ready to assist in bringing some immediate relief too the victims of hurricane Richard.

Following the announcement of the initial assessment of the damages, The Zone Chairman, Baldemar Graniel, immediately contacted Lions International and provided them with the necessary documentation to secure the grant. On Monday November 1^st, LCIF contacted the Zone Chairman to inform him that the monies have been approved and ready for disbursement.

LCIF has a board-established grant criterion and emergency grant funds must be used only to provide basic necessities such as food, clothing, blankets, bottled water, and medical supplies for those affected by the disaster. Because monies must be utilized by the Lions, thee organization will be working very closely with the Government of Belize, through the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMMO), in identifying areas that are more in need. In the immediate days ahead, the Zone Chairman, Lion Graniel will be consulting with the Presidents of the Club to work out a methodology of disbursing relief supplies.

The LCCIF grant will complement the efforts of various other Lion s Clubs following the aftermath of Hurricane Richard. The Lions Club International Foundation, along with the Belize Lions Zone 59, continues to pledge its full support to all those Belizeans affected by Hurricane Richard and we remain committed in making our community and country a better place to live. On behalf of the Belize Lions Zone 59 and the people of Belize, we also wish to thank LCIFF for awarding us with thee much needed grant.

For more details please feel free to contact Zone Chairman Baldemar Graniel or Zone Secretary Jorge Aldana. 

Contacts: Zone Chairman (501) 610‐2489, 

Zone Secretary (501) 634‐1171 or (501) 662‐0143

Collection Drive for Hurricane Victims to Commence Tomorrow

Lion President Melanie Paz with some goods already collected on Monday 

   The San Pedro Lions Club commenced a collection drive of clothing and non-perishable goods for the victims of Hurricane Richard in Belize immediately after the storm passed on Monday, October 25, 2010. 

Hurricane Richard Relief Drive Update:

A cross section of community mined people and organized groups will be meeting this afternoon at the Reef Radio Studios at 5p.m. after the decision was made to unite the collection drive efforts of all groups on the island into one strong effort to get as much help and supplies needed to the hurricane victims in mainland Belize. Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation is meeting with Cabinet today and will relay what government is asking of the rest of the country to donate toward the relief efforts. This way only the essential goods and items can be delivered to those who need it the most. An announcement will be made after the meeting and at the Reef Radio Morning Show as to the collecting drive plans are. If you and your organization is interested in helping the invitation stands for everybody to attend.

San Pedro Lions Club Holds Collection Drive for Hurricane Richard Victims

The San Pedro Lions Club is holding a collection drive for clothing and non-perishable goods for the victims of Hurricane Richard in Belize. Lions Club members will be present this afternoon from 2p.m. and onwards to accept donations and are asking the community to help their brothers and sisters who have been affected by the storm. Canned goods, clothing and non-perishable goods will be greatly appreciated. The drive will continue into tomorrow starting at 10a.m.

Former Lion Club Member Pleads Guilty to Embezzling

    (From Love FM News, Belize City) The court case between expelled Lion Member, Kainie Manuel of San Pedro Town and the Zone 59 Lions Organization of Belize came to an end on Friday October 8th at the San Pedro Magistrate Court.

    Manuel pleaded guilty to the charge of forgery after she was accused of exhausting the Zone’s bank account earlier this year. After failing to appear in court on Thursday, October 7, Magistrate Patricia Arana issued a bench warrant for Manuel’s arrest. Ms. Manuel was subsequently detained that same evening and escorted to court by the police on Friday morning where she pleaded guilty.

    Zone 59 Chairman Baldemar Graniel gave Manuel three options of repayments. The first option was that the money be paid in full, the second option was for the total to be divided into equal five monthly payments which is equivalent to the length of time that she took the money and the third option was for it to be divided into the months left for the Zone Chairman to complete his term in office.

    Manuel told Magistrate Arana that she is not working but offered to pay the sum of $500.00 on the fifth of every month until the full amount of $10,000.00 is repaid back to the Zone’s Atlantic Bank Account. Graniel agreed to the terms of repayment on the advice of the Magistrate.

    The forgery case was a civil suit but there is still a pending criminal charge of robbery for the same offense. In regards to the case of robbery, Graniel explained to Arana that he would not withdraw the charges but instead put it on hold until the Zone collects all the money embezzled by Manuel via the civil suit. He said that in the event that Manuel fails to honor the court’s decisions, he would then proceed with the robbery case against her.

    The magistrate informed Manuel that because the criminal case was not drop and it was a separate hearing from the civil suit, she (Manuel) will still have to present herself in court at every occasion that the case is called for court date and on every adjournment thereafter. Hence Manuel is to reappear in court to continue with her robbery charges on November 6.

Lions Club Erects Playground at Mosquito Coast Park

    Members of the San Pedro Lions Club and volunteers took time off their Pan American Day holiday on Monday, 11 October 2010, to spruce up the Mosquito Coast Park with a new playground. Thanks to the generous donation from the Holy Cross Anglican School, the Lions Club has a great addition that will enhance the appeal of the Mosquito Coast Park.

    Lion members and volunteers had the task of transporting all the playground parts to the park and assembling it. Just getting all the parts in order and getting the design in order took much of the morning, but the group got going and by the end of the day had a good portion of the playground erected. It will take a bit more man power and days to fully complete the structures, but the Lions Club is excited and pleased in adding such a great item to the Mosquito Coast Park.

Lions Club Hosts Noche Sanpedrana

The San Pedro Lions Club hosted the Costa Maya Festival's Noche Sanpedrana on Saturday, July 31, where the eight contestants of the Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant were officially sashed by outgoing Miss Costa Maya 2009 Maritza Rivas, Miss Nicaragua. It was a fabulous social evening were residents got the opportunity to personally meet, greet and welcome the beauty ambassadors to San Pedro, Belize. The night was full of music, dance, fundraisers and a fashion show that showcased clothes from local boutiques. The Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant takes place on August 5 at the International Costa Maya Festival in San Pedro, Belize.

Miss Costa Maya 2009, Miss Nicaragua, Maritza Rivas

Miss Belize, Liliana Nuñez

Miss Mexico, Priscilla Pastrana Lopez

Miss Costa Rica, Krysia Ortiz Campos

Miss Honduras, Nicole Yaret Hawit

Miss Guatemala, Gabriela Asturias

Miss Panama, Yosibell Sanchez Espino

Miss El Salvador, Diana Ingrid Martinez Pineda

Miss Nicaragua, Claudia Alejandra Trejos Gadea

The Beauty Queens mingle with the guests

Lions Club Donates to SP AIDS Comm.

Melanie Paz, President of the San Pedro Lions Club presented a check to the AIDS Commission ($500). Funds are being used to buy Nutritional Food & Vitamins to people living with HIV in San Pedro. The San Pedro AIDS Commission is grateful for this generous donation. The San Pedro AIDS Commission will have a booth at LobsterFest and invites everyone to visit.

Lions Haiti Fundraiser

The San Pedro Lions Club had a successful fundraising event, yesterday Sunday, January 24, as residents attended their drive to raise money for the victims of Haiti’s earthquake. There was plenty of food and drinks on sale, including a clothes and shoe sale and Bingo. Rompe Raja was there for the live entertainment.