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Hurricane Earl Diverts Carnival Dream Cruise Ship To Belize

August 31, 2010 By Belizean Leave a Comment

Belize tourism operators got a welcome surprise today when the Carnival Dream cruise ship with more than three thousand passengers pulled into Belize after being diverted from planned ports of call by Hurricane Earl.

The Carnival Dream, which departed from Port Canaveral on Friday had its itinerary altered by Carnival Cruise Lines due to Hurricane Earl which is currently tearing through the Caribbean headed for the U.S. East Coast.

Instead of sailing its planned Eastern Caribbean cruise with stops in Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Maarten, the ship siwtched to the Western Caribbean route to visit Cozumel, Belize, Roatan and Costa Maya. The Carnival Dream arrived in Belize today bringing much needed business, according to local radio station reports monitored in Belize.

Belize offers many beach and inland activities for cruise ship passengers, including ancient Mayan Ruins and Cave Tubing.

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Belize Placencia Peninsula Wants Cruise Ships To Stay Away

August 27, 2010 By Belizean Leave a Comment

A movement is building strength in Belize as citizens and environmental groups mobilize to thwart an attempt by Royal Caribbean to bring cruise tourism and trinket shops to southern Belize. The Placencia Tour Operators Association this week sent out a well researched list of reasons why it believes cruise tourism would be a disaster for the village and surrounding 27-mile-long sandy peninsula, which thrives on overnight tourism who visit for diving, snorkeling and beach-going in a relaxed, uncrowded atmosphere.

Noting that its members voted this week to oppose cruise tourism, the association said cruise ship tourists would have a detrimental effect on its traditional overnight tourist business, which has “known economic benefits … outweighing possible economic benefits from cruise tourism.” [Read more...]

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Actor Morgan Freeman Joins Fight To Ban Belize Offshore Oil Drilling

August 26, 2010 By Belizean 1 Comment

Actor Morgan Freeman has come out in support of an initiative by citizens of Belize to oppose offshore oil drilling in the Belize Barrier Reef which is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The government of Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow has so far declined to impose a ban on offshore drilling in the wake of the oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Belize derives the majority of its foreign exchange earnings from eco friendly tourism on the Belize Barrier Reef, the largest in the western hemisphere, and a considerable source of marine products such as lobster, shrimp and fish which is exported to the U.S.A. by Belize fishing cooperatives. Citizens of Belize and environmental groups have come together to call on the Belize  government to ban offshore drilling. [Read more...]

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Belize Is World Fourth Largest Producer Black Eye Beans

August 23, 2010 By Belizean Leave a Comment
Belize Black Eye Peas Produced By BEL CAR Export and Import Company in Belize.

Black Eye Peas produced by BEL CAR Export and Import Company Ltd. in Belize.

Belize is ranked number 4 in world production of Black Eye Beans according the Chief Executive Officer of BEL CAR Export and Import Company Limited the top grain processing company in Belize. Belize is number 4 behind Peru, Madagascar and Myanmar. Bel Car CEO Mr. Otto Friesen told Belizean.com that in quality, Belize is ranked 2nd behind only Peru.

BEL-CAR is headquartered in Spanish Lookout, Cayo District and has a little over 200 members. Most members are from the Spanish Lookout Mennonite community, but other members are located at Hillbank and other areas of Belize. Black Eye Beans, also known as Black Eye Peas,  are currently the #1 export for BEL-CAR, and the #2 is Light Red Kidney Beans. In terms of volume 90% of BEL-CAR’s beans are Black Eyes, and 10% Red Kidney Beans. [Read more...]

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Royal Caribbean Eyes Placencia Belize For New Cruise Ship Terminal

August 20, 2010 By Belizean Leave a Comment

Local newspapers are reporting that Royal Caribbean has submitted a proposal to the Belize government for the construction of a cruise ship terminal and shopping center in the Placencia Peninsula in southern Belize. There has been speculation for some time about this proposal which is being vigorously opposed by residents and hotel owners in the area that do not care for the idea of thousands of day tourists trampling around the peaceful and pristine southern part of Belize.

In a newspaper interview the CEO of the government controlled Belize Tourism Board Michael Singh confirmed that “Government has received a proposal from an investment group including Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines for development of a low density tourism village on the southern point of Placencia Village”.

Public hearings to listen to the concerns of area residents and hotel investors are scheduled for the end of August. The Belize Tourism Industry Association, BTIA, which is made up of local tourism interests has already stated its opposition to bringing cruise tourism to the area. A published reported quotes a recent survey by the Placencia branch of the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) indicating that a majority of the respondents don’t want a cruise port there.

The Belize Tourism Board is currently embroiled in another controversy, this with FECTAB – the Federation of Cruise Tourism Associations Belize over the government’s decision to allow Carnival Cruise Lines to allow a foreign tour operator to run tours in Belize.

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Carnival Cruise Lines Controversy In Belize

August 18, 2010 By Belizean 1 Comment

Carnival Cruise Lines is embroiled in a controversy in Belize over its decision to select a Jamaican company to exclusively operate shore-based tours in Belize. The Federation of Cruise Tourism Associations Belize, FECTAB, held an emergency meeting in Belize today to review the favored status awarded to the Jamaican company that goes by the name of Bakabush Tours, but which is alleged to be a front for the mega-tour-Jamaican company Chukka Caribbean Adventure.

Belize tour operators are angry at Carnival Cruise Lines, the interloping Jamaican company and  the well-connected Chief Executive Officer of the Belize Tourism Board Mike Singh who may have allegedly awarded the apparent sweetheart deal that may displace indigenous Belize tour operators. More Information on the Carnival Cruise Lines Controversy.

FECTAB has passed a resolution calling for the Jamaicans to leave Belize and have left open their options of civil unrest action against Carnival Cruise Lines in Belize.

Filed Under: Travel

Vacation Time Belize

August 15, 2010 By Belizean Leave a Comment

Boating in Belize along the Belize Barrier Reef

With the new school year opening soon, many people are doing last minute shopping for a new vacation spot for a final getaway. Other folks are scouting for a vacation home or a nice place for retirement. With democracy and new stability, Central America has become the hottest location according to vacation and retirement experts.

Central America has a very diverse society with many cultures and languages. However, Belize is the only nation in Central America where English is the official language. Spanish is widely spoken and most Belizeans are bilingual and even trilingual but all official documents, newspapers, restaurant menus, road signs and so on are in English.

As for stability, Belize is the most stable country in Central America. A former British colony, it transitioned peacefully into independence in 1981 and has had orderly and peaceful elections and changes of government since then. As a member of the British Commonwealth Of Nations, Queen Elizabeth II remains as Belize’s Head of State. [Read more...]

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FOX TV Show Hookup Pilot In Belize

August 14, 2010 By Belizean Leave a Comment

Apocalypto star Rudy Youngblood in BelizeFOX TV is shooting a reality show pilot in Belize. The Hookup show pilot features Apocalypto star Rudy Yungblood. Melissa Tracy, Producer of Hookup told Belize media today that “Hookup is about basically reaching new adventures for our guests and taking our TV audiences to exciting new places where they’ll learn how to fish, cook, and conserving the fish as well as we’ll be donating to charities as we go around the world.”

U.S. movie and television stars caused a stir at the Belize City Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital on Wednesday. Patients and visitors were surprised to see Brody Hutzler of soap operas such as the Young and Restless and Days of Our Lives. He was accompanied by a film crew and Rudy Youngblood of the hit movie, Apocalypto.

T.V. Interview transcript follows: [Read more...]

Filed Under: Entertainment

Belize Chamber Of Commerce Calls For Responsible Journalism

August 12, 2010 By Belizean Leave a Comment

The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry has made a call for responsible journalism following a spate of news stories in government connected media using leaked banking documents. In recent weeks several media houses in Belize connected to the ruling United Democratic Party have been publishing reports questioning the stability of Belize’s banking sector. One of the banks being targeted is an institution that has several lawsuits pending against the government of Belize.

In a press release issued yesterday evening the BCCI states:

“The Chamber expresses extreme concern at the recent breach of confidentiality and extreme lack of judgement demonstrated by members of the media in releasing private portfolio lending information of our banking institutions. Customers entering into a private financial transaction with a bank or other financial institution, be they businesses or individual borrowers, are assured privacy and confidentiality of the arrangement and expect no less. [Read more...]

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Miss Guatemala Wins Miss Belize Costa Maya Pageant 2010

August 6, 2010 By Belizean Leave a Comment

Miss Guatemala Gabriela Asturias wins Belize Costa Maya Pageant 2010Miss Guatemala Gabriela Asturias has won the 19th Miss Belize Costa Maya Pageant 2010 held this Friday on Ambergris Caye, Belize. The beauty pageant kicks off the annual town fair that features cultural events, a fair and music and dance performances by local and visiting artists.

The Belize Costa Maya Festival is a multicultural event on Ambergris Caye for a week of celebrations that run the gamut of dance, music, pageants, food and drink.

Celebrating their ancestral Mayan cultural roots, the Belize Costa Maya Festival Belize is the event of the year on this island off the coast of Belize that derives most of its income from tourism.

This year’s winner 25 year old Gabriela Asturias lists her occupation as Social Communicator and says her hobbies are dancing and reading. She is 5 feet five inches tall and her measurements are 34 – 24 – 25.

Described as a pageant to remember, Miss Guatemala took the stage along with seven other contestants from Belize and other Central American countries – all of them wowing the crowd and judges with their grace, elegance, charm and cultural costumes. In the end it was Miss Guatemala who impressed the judges the most with her fluent answers and stunning presence. Miss Asturias also won the title of Best Cultural Costume.

Miss Nicaragua Claudia Trejos took second place and and Miss Panama Yosibell Sanchez Espino finished third. Picture courtesy Ambergris Today.

Filed Under: Entertainment
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