Ambergris Today Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Ambergris Today, Issue #1, 1999

The tenth year in a child’s life is the stage when he is just about to move from childhood into adolescence. Not so for Ambergris Today. We had to move from birth into maturity from our very first year, a task that has been rewarding, challenging but most of all exciting and pleasurable.

In ten short years we have been able to meet our main objective which is to share with our public a positive attitude of everything that affects our community. In most cases this has been easy sailing but in some cases we have had to do the unorthodox in order to be able to attract the attention of the authorities and get positive action from them. When grumbling, lamenting and pointing fingers did not work we had to risk one of our reporters' life so as to finally get the authorities to remove that peril. Mission accomplished for it was a negative occurrence with a positive ending.

Of course we need to thank many for making our journey successful and exciting. Thanks to all our patrons who have allowed us to advertise their products, services, agendas, manifestos, and even their joys and celebrations.

Thanks to our columnists whose only desire is to help make life more meaningful to everyone. A special thanks to our Teen Talk Columnists over the years (all nine of them) who have maintained a keen interest in the welfare of our youths. Let’s not forget our very popular column Secrets to Life by Chris Emmanuel and our Geekends Tech Tips from Xtreme Geeks. Mr. Angel Nuñez, congratulations on your book that was the fruit of your long-standing column 25 Years Ago. To the many past columnists who have come and gone, Thank You.

Thanks to those who write letters to express sincere concerns of the Islanders. Thanks to the fire department and the Police for their keen cooperation in making San Pedro a better and safer place for all of us.

A big thank you to everyone who sends photos of their memorable social events and You Reports which seek to remedy some irregularity in our community. Thanks to our printers, Norman Printing House, for giving us high quality printing and meeting our tight deadlines and always on time for delivery.

And most of all thanks to our reading public, both on hard copies and internet, for making us the newspaper of their choice. Our website and daily blog are skyrocketing in popularity!

Last but not least thanks and congratulations to our dedicated and professional staff that put heads together day after day and many times need to go out of their way just for you our readers. All of you are Ambergris Today, and to all of you we say Happy Anniversary and Kudos to everyone. We hope to continue serving you another ten years and beyond.

National Tourism Awards Nomination

It's time for the Annual National Tourism Awards presented by the Belize Tourism Board. At this time industry stakeholders, distinguished guests and tourism friends gather to recognize businesses, organizations and individuals who have made notable contributions to the development of tourism in Belize. The Belize Tourism Board invites your nomination for the 9th Annual National Tourism Awards.

If you were impressed by the quality of service you received in any of the following categories, we encourage you submit your recommendation for awardees:

Minister's Award

Lifetime Achievement Award

Corporate Organization of the Year

Education Award of the Year

Environmental Organization of the Year

Receptive Service of the Year

Hotel of the Year

Restaurant of the Year (NEW)

Small Hotel of the Year

Tour Operator of the Year

Tour Guide of the Year

Frontline Person of the Year

Cultural Award of the Year

Small Vendor of the Year

To submit a nomination to the Belize Tourism Board please click here! Deadline for nominations is midnight March 1, 2009. To view past winners visit www.belizetourism.org

Two More Bodies Discovered in North Ambergris

The commotion outside the Police Department as news reaches the public

Ambergris Today has received confirmation from the San Pedro Police of the discovery of two male bodies that were buried in a grave, one on top of the other, in the same vicinity where they came upon the dead body of John Paul Saldiver on Saturday, January 31. This is 16 miles north of San Pedro Town. This discovery was made today, February 3, and the Police believe the identity of the bodies to be that of James Swan and Elias Gutierrez. More on this as information becomes available. For a complete story, stay tuned for Thursday's edition of Ambergris Today.

Sidewalk Posts Fixed

The sidewalk posts over by the San Pedro RC School are constantly being repaired as inconsiderate motorist keep knocking them down. Work is currently being done to repair the damaged posts so the railing can be put up to keep pedestrians safe as they use the sidewalk along the busy Tarpon Street. Everybody is urged to be more careful and to take care of the sidewalk.

Belize in Top 10 Caribbean Snorkeling Parks

MSNBC has listed Belize under their TOP 10 Caribbean Snorkeling Parks with, not only one but, two fascinating locations. Glover's Reef and The Isles of Sapodilla have made their Top 10 List.

Glover’s Reef is one of the Caribbean’s rare atolls, lying some 30 miles off the Belize coast and forming a large, protected link in the vast Mesoamerican Barrier Reef (locally called the Belize Barrier Reef). Created in 1993 and named a World Heritage Site in 2000, the reserve encompasses the entire atoll, down to the 100-fathom line, with no-take areas where grouper spawn, and zones that allow sustainable indigenous fishing or snorkeling and diving. Inside the atoll’s 80-square-mile lagoon, 700 coral patch reefs provide endless snorkeling and common sightings of turtles, sharks and rays.

At the southern end of Belize, 40 miles offshore from Punta Gorda, the 14 sandy isles of Sapodilla make up the elbow of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef as it bends toward Honduras. . Endangered hawksbill sea turtles nest on Hunting Caye, and it’s common to see turtles as well as nurse sharks, rays and all the ornamental reef fish. Accommodations in Punta Gorda, such as the Coral House Inn (coralhouseinn.net), can arrange local guides for the trip out to the cayes.

Other snorkeling parks include: Bonaire National Marine Park, Little Cayman - Bloody Bay Marine Park, Venezuela - Los Roques Archipelago National Park, Dominica - Soufriere/Scott’s Head Marine Reserve, St. Vincent + the Grenadines - Tobago Cays Marine Park, St. Lucia - Soufriere Marine Management Area, Bahamas - Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park and in Mexico - Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve. Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27892516/

World Wetlands Day Observed

In observance of World Wetlands Day, a boat parade was held early Monday morning, February 2, in show of support and awareness of the wetlands in San Pedro and around the country of Belize. The parade started from the lagoon just behind the old football field and circled the Boca Ciega area on the southern tip of the island. Thanks to all those who participated in show of support and awareness to the wetlands that are a crucial ecosystem in our natural environment. A primary school poster contest will also be held today at Central Park at 3:30p.m.

World Wetlands Day 2009

World Wetlands Day is celebrated internationally each year on 2 February. It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971. The international theme for World Wetlands Day 2009 is "Upstream-Downstream: Wetlands connect us all". This is in recognition of how interconnected we all are within river basins and the impact that activities upstream have on the lower parts of a river catchment.

Weekend Shooting in San Pedro

BDF support has been beefed up on the island

This weekend San Pedro Police had their hands full investigating several cases on the island. On Friday, January 30, police along with the help of the BDF and ADU were conducting an investigation on a drug case where Eric Swan opened fire at the Police and he was shot in the leg and buttocks. Swan was then treated at the San Pedro Poly Clinic by Dr. Javier Zuniga and was later transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.
Later that night, gunshots were heard at the Central Park and police were called to the scene, police later arrested Dennis Eiley of San Pedro Town and charged for discharging a fire arm in public. And if that wasn’t enough for the weekend, on Saturday, January 31, Police were called concerning a kidnapping on North Ambergris Caye. Police went up 16 miles north Ambergris Caye in the Rocky Point Area where they found the lifeless body of John Paul Saldivar. The body was then taken to the KHMH for a post mortem. Police are investigating these cases, both of Eric Swan and John Saldivar which are related to drug trafficking. Read more on these stories on Thursday’s edition of Ambergris Today.