San Pedro Sun

Students of the San Pedro Junior College have organized activities for Earth Hour this coming Saturday, March 27th, 2010. A candle light parade will begin at Boca del Rio at 6:30 p.m. and make its way to the Old Football Field for the main activities at 8:30 p.m.

Earth Hour is now a global initiative. At 8:30 p.m. on March 27th, individuals, communities, towns and cities across the world will turn off their lights for one hour sending the powerful global message that working together we can make a difference and that our voices will be heard on climate change.

For more information feel free to visit the Earth Hour website.  

Corporal Gavin Sanchez was laid to rest after an official police funeral service was held in his honor yesterday afternoon in Belize City. The ceremony was held at the Open Door Ministry Church on Muhammad Ali Street in the Port Loyola area. Magistrate Emerson Banner gave the official remembrance while Corporal Sanchez’s close friend Sergeant Nicolas Palomo gave a personal remembrance. Following the service – there was an official procession to the Lord Ridge Cemetery led by the Lodge Hall, followed by the police marching band. Corporal Sanchez’s flag was draped over the coffin and there was an assembly of police officers from all police formations led by Commissioner Crispin Jeffries.

Corporal Sanchez’s death continues to stir controversy since as reported Dr. Mario Estradabran’s autopsy report concluded that Cpl. Sanchez was shot 9 times – including more than once to the head.

The case file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. In the interim, Sgt. Paulino Reyes has been placed on “administrative leave”.

Photo courtesy Channel 7 News

After having met with the island’s neighborhood watches and other key people, Honorable Manuel Heredia Jr. was presented with a suggestion, one which he hoped to take to Cabinet for recommendation. The suggestion was to implement a requirement at Water Taxis where passengers would have to submit information such as name, place of stay while on the island and how many days the passengers plan on visiting. The intention was to have a manifest of the passengers traveling to and from Belize City or Chetumal, the same way airlines have a manifesto. While granting television media interviews Honorable Heredia was quoted as saying, “Many of the officers that were responsible for taking control of the island that is what they used to do. Times have changed and its regretful because now with the human rights situation and so there are many people that – oh you are taking away the privilege of, in particular when it happens to the Creole descent. That is the first thing you will hear. But again, I feel that if we have to do that, we have to do it because we have to regain our community [...].”