As Belize celebrates a phenomenal win for offshore oil exploration, we are being recognized the world over for our astonishing decision to ban oil exploration.
We stand in solidarity with Oceana, Belize in saying “NO!” to offshore oil. Read more about this landmark decision to protect the Belize Barrier Reef and strengthen marine conservation worldwide.
This is just a small snippet of what saying “NO!” to offshore oil drilling can do for protected areas.
It’s been more than six since Belizean poker pro Badih “Bob” Bounahra secured a place at the prestigious “November Nine” final table of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event 2011. Bounahra started at the final table in sixth place with almost 20 million chips accrued since day one. It was only Bounahra’s second World Series of Poker event that he played in that year, with the other being a $1,500 buy-in side event. For Bounahra, playing the WSOP Main Event was only a hobby; it was anything but business to him.
Nevertheless, once he had secured a place in the November Nine, things suddenly became serious indeed. Playing for millions of dollars of life-changing prize money, Bounahra was thrust into the spotlight, with the nation of Belize talked about on a global platform. Prior to the 2011 Main Event, Bounahra ran a wholesale grocery business and he stated publicly before the November Nine that becoming the Main Event champion would help him to ease off on the business front.
Disappointingly, Bounahra’s world championship dreams were eventually shattered when he became the third player to leave the final table in seventh place. The first four hours of final table action saw zero eliminations before a flurry of three eliminations in just 40 minutes. Bounahra, who was one of the most popular figures among the live audience at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. Bounahra wasn’t one for making a fashion statement at the poker table nor was he one of the most colorful characters at the 2011 final table, but what he lacked in charisma, he more than made up for in his poker play.
In all fairness, the odds were stacked against Bounahra from the word go at the final table. He was the only poker amateur at the table who was looking to become part of a select group of nonprofessionals, including Greg Raymer, Robert Varkonyi and Chris Moneymaker; each of whom upset the applecart and won a Main Event world championship. The latter’s success was known as the Moneymaker Effect, kick-starting the online poker “boom.” Bounahra was short stacked at the point of his final hand at the final table. He shoved all-in preflop with a marginal ace-five offsuit and was called by Czech pro Martin Staszko who also had an ace with a higher kicker, which eventually sealed Bob’s fate.
Bounahra’s seventh-place finish secured him an enormous $1.31 million payout in only his second ever winning at a WSOP event. The Belizean became the second Central American to cash out at the Main Event final table, with Costa Rican Humberto Brenes being the first man to achieve the feat. Since then, Bounahra has earned an additional $220,000 in tournament poker earnings, achieving his second-best cash out in June last year, finishing fifth in a $3 million guaranteed tournament at The Venetian in Las Vegas, scooping $158,515 with only a $3,500 entry. With nearly $2 million in total winnings, it’s fair to say that the game of poker has treated Bounahra well.
There’s no doubt that the Belizean is happy to continue playing poker as a hobby rather than a career. He’s only played one poker tournament in the last six months, finishing in 41st place in a $2 million guaranteed tournament at the Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open. It’s always heartening to see amateurs capable of defying the odds and outlasting those that grind the poker tables day in, day out. People like Bob are an inspiration to us all.
And if you are not yet experienced for such tournaments, then goldenaxe casino will be a great option to gain experience in this game.
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Most business owners try to operate on a need-to-know basis and enlist the services of a lawyer only when absolutely needed. Sometimes, this can be more of a detriment as many issues can be avoided if the advice of a lawyer is sought out in the incorporation stages of your business.
It’s important to lay the groundwork for business from the get-go. Seek out a lawyer or firm that has:
One such firm that meets these criteria is Magali Marin Young & Co. They are a full-service, Belize-based law firm specializing in commercial transactions, real estate and litigation. They are known for the diversity of their practice, their no-nonsense legal services based on deep knowledge of the law, meticulous research, and an eye to meeting the ever-changing commercial and litigation needs of their clients.
Whether you’re looking to make a potential financial investment, enter into a partnership, invest in real estate, or simply opening a business with your spouse, it’s always a wise idea to seek legal advice from the onset to avoid any future litigation or unnecessary taxation. Be sure to have all necessary documents with you when meeting with your lawyer and have a clear idea of what you wish to discuss to avoid wasting time and money.
Belize-based pilot sets positive example.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is recognizing Arthur John Hoy Jr with inclusion in the prestigious FAA Airmen Certification Database.
The database, which appears on the agency’s website at www.faa.gov, names Hoy Jr and other certified pilots who have met or exceeded the high educational, licensing and medical standards established by the FAA.
Pilot certification standards have evolved over time in an attempt to reduce pilot errors that lead to fatal crashes. FAA standards, which are set in consultation with the aviation industry and the public, are among the highest in the world.
Transportation safety experts strongly recommend against flying with an uncertified pilot. FAA pilot certification can be the difference between a safe flight and one that ends in tragedy.
The FAA recently announced that is it increasing the qualification requirements for co-pilots who fly for U.S. passenger and cargo airlines. These requirements mandate additional minimum flight time and training, as well as aircraft specific training.
“Safety will be my overriding priority as Secretary, so I am especially pleased to mark my first week by announcing a rule that will help us maintain our unparalleled safety record,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in a press release. “We owe it to the traveling public to have only the most qualified and best trained pilots.”
According to the FAA, the new regulations stem in part from the crash of Colgan Air 3407 in February 2009. An investigation of the crash revealed that pilot Renslow, had failed three “check rides” (the flying equivalent of driver proficiency tests) and may not have had adequate training to respond to the emergency leading up to the crash.
The FAA offers a variety of pilots licenses and certificates, each with a different set of privileges. These levels include Student, Recreational, Sport, Private, Commercial And Airline Transport Pilot.
Pilots with a student pilot certification are not permitted to fly solo and are barred from carrying passengers. Sport pilot certificate holders can not carry more than one passenger and are permitted to only fly light-sport aircraft during the daytime.
The highest level of certification is the Airline Transport Pilot Certificate (ATP), which is required to fly a commercial airliner.
To obtain Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, pilots must possess a commercial pilot license, have more than 1500 hours of experience in aircraft and be at least 21 years old. However, pilots with an aviation degree can qualify for the certificate with just 1,000 hours.
Pilots obtaining an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate must also pass an exam covering air law, general aircraft knowledge, flight planning, meteorology, navigation, instrumentation and other important topics.
Pilots are required to pass a physical examination administered by a FAA-authorized medical examiner.
There are a number of medical conditions that the FAA considers disqualifying, such as Bipolar disease, cardiac valve replacement, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus requiring hypoglycemic medications, disturbance of consciousness without satisfactory explanation of cause, epilepsy, heart replacement, Myocardial infarction, permanent cardiac pacemaker, personality disorder that is severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts, psychosis, substance abuse, substance dependence, transient loss of control of nervous system function(s) without satisfactory explanation of cause.
Pilots are required to report to the FAA’s Security and Investigations Division any alcohol-related vehicle actions, such as an arrest, administrative action, driver license suspension.
The FAA has reason to be concerned in general about alcohol use by pilots. Recently, a 48 year-old American Eagle pilot was forced from the aircraft cockpit after airline employees smells alcohol on him. The pilot, Kolbjorn Jarle Kristiansen , subsequently failed a breathalyzer test and was arrested.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s Airmen Certification Database contains the following listing:
UniqueID: A4251292
FirstName: Arthur John
LastName: Hoy Jr
Street1: 37 Gibnut
Street2:
City: Belize
State:
Zip:
Country: BELIZE
Region: SO
MedClass: 1
MedDate: 022011
MedExpDate: 022012
Source: Aviation Business Gazette
“Pink eye” is a term that may sound scary, but this common eye problem typically is easily treated and, with a few simple precautions, can often be avoided.
Anyone can get pink eye, but preschoolers, schoolchildren, college students, teachers and daycare workers are particularly at risk for the contagious types of pink eye because they work closely with others in the classroom.
Here are the essential facts about pink eye (conjunctivitis) that you should know:
Pink eye — also called conjunctivitis — is inflammation of the thin, clear covering of the white of the eyeand the inside of the eyelids (conjunctiva).
Although the conjunctiva is transparent, it contains blood vessels that overlay the sclera of the eye.
Anything that triggers inflammation will cause these conjunctival blood vessels to dilate. This is what causes red, bloodshot eyes.
Conjunctivitis can have several causes (see below), but many eye doctors use the term “pink eye” to refer only to viral conjunctivitis, a highly contagious infection caused by a variety of viruses.
The primary types of conjunctivitis, based on cause, are:
Read more about types of conjunctivitis.
No surprise: the primary symptom of pink eye is an eye that has a pink appearance. Other symptoms of pink eye depend on the type of conjunctivitis you have:
As you would expect, the treatment of pink eye depends on the type of conjunctivitis you have:
Often it can be difficult to tell the type of conjunctivitis you have by symptoms alone (or if some other eye problems or underlying health conditions are causing your symptoms).
Conditions associated with conjunctivitis include other eye infections, dry eyes and blepharitis. Also, bacterial conjunctivitis sometimes can lead to very serious eye problems such as a corneal ulcer, potentially causing permanent vision loss.
For these reasons, anytime you develop red, irritated eyes, you should call your optometrist or ophthalmologist immediately and schedule an eye exam.
If you wear contact lenses, remove your lenses and wear only your glasses until your eye doctor has had a chance to examine your eyes.
And if you choose to wear eyeglasses more frequently to reduce your risk of pink eye, consider high-index lenses and anti-reflective coating to make your glasses thinner, lighter and more attractive, and to eliminate distracting reflections in the lenses. Also, photochromic lenses can reduce light sensitivity associated with pink eye and protect your eyes from harmful UV radiation and high-energy visible blue light both indoors and outside. Ask your optician for details.
Read more about pink eye treatment.
Now that you know the basics about viral pink eye and other forms of conjunctivitis, what can you do to protect yourself and your kids from it?
Here are 10 simple precautions you can take to significantly reduce your risk of getting pink eye:
If you know you suffer from seasonal allergies, ask your doctor what can be done to minimize your symptoms before they begin.
Despite these precautions, you or your child still may develop pink eye. If the problem is contagious pink eye, be considerate of others and do your part to keep the infection from spreading.
If your child is affected, tell his or her teacher about the infection so extra steps can be taken to sanitize the classroom or day care center. Also, keep your child home until the contagious stage has passed.
Your eye doctor can let you know when you or your child can again mingle with others without risk of spreading contagious pink eye — usually about three to five days after the diagnosis.
And remember: Because a red or pink eye can be a symptom of many different types of eye problems — some that can be quite serious — make sure you consult with your eye doctor.
Source: All About Vision
Earlier this month, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue revealed the finalists of their open-casting model search: Allie Ayers, Olivia Jordan, Iyonna Fairbanks, Camille Kostek, Haley Kalil and Tabria Majors.
More than 5,000 bikini babes applied, and these finalists will be shooting beachside in Belize this month for the mag’s 2018 Swimsuit Issue.
But, even though only one lovely lady will win her own spread in the 2019 issue, there was no cattiness at their Post photo shoot because they bonded over one career woe: Agents have told them all that they weren’t thin enough to make it big.
“We have become a little sisterhood,” Camille Kostek tells The Post. “We all have the same mission — to showcase women of all colors and sizes.”
Brian Zak | Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for SWIMMIAMIThis gorgeous redhead has a few different titles to her name. Kalil was crowned Miss Minnesota in 2014, graduated with honors in biomedical sciences from St. Cloud State University that same year, and went on to work as a lab tech.
“I love encouraging women to pursue careers in science,” Kalil, who’s from Excelsior, Minn., tells The Post. Though she eventually wants to return to school to become a physician’s assistant, she says she felt “boxed in” working in a lab. In 2016, she decided to harness her fashion chops and now works as a bridal consultant in Charlotte, NC.
She used to be most famous for marrying Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Matt Kalil in 2015, but now he’s the one playing the supportive spouse for his rising-star wife. “He’s been there with me every step of the way,” Kalil says. “He even helped me put together outfits for this press tour — he says he’s my stylist.”
Brian Zak | Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for SWIMMIAMIIn a parallel universe, Jordan envisions finding her Zen. “My aspirational self would be a yoga teacher that teaches on the beach, and that’s all I’d need in the world,” Jordan, who’s based in LA, tells The Post. “But I’m not calm enough for that.”
Indeed, the Tulsa, Okla., native has no plans of slowing down soon. In 2015, she was crowned Miss USA and is currently pursuing an acting career, having already appeared in films such as “Hot Tub Time Machine 2,” as well as Lifetime’s TV show “Unreal.”
The blue-eyed beauty also says she’s done some foot-modeling gigs on the side. “My feet are my favorite part of my body,” Jordan says. “[They’re] also a source of good energy. When I tell my feet they look great, the rest of my body feels great, too.”
Trying these different career paths has taught her to love herself: “Confidence is a side effect of always putting yourself out there,” she says.
Brian Zak | Tabria MajorsMajors had no desire to be a model until an agency scouted her on Instagram in 2014. When she left her nine-to-five job as a movie production assistant in LA to pursue modeling full-time in 2015, she took on a side gig as a maid to support her new career.
“Modeling is an expensive career when you first start — you have to invest in yourself and pay for photo shoots and maintain your appearance,” Majors, who’s from Nashville, Tenn., tells The Post.
“When I told people at modeling jobs that I was working as a maid they looked at me with disgust.”
But her hard work has paid off.
Majors cleaned her last home a year ago, and now she shoots for brands such as Forever 21 and is producing a podcast called “The Thick,” in which she talks about her experiences being a plus-size woman of color and interviews other women about body confidence.
Brian Zak | Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for SWIMMIAMIWhen Ayers was growing up, she saw modeling as a way to escape the small-town doldrums of Oklahoma City. “It’s stereotypical, but I wanted to see my name in lights,” Ayers tells The Post.
The pressure to be thin took a toll on the spunky Ayers, who says her waist and hip measurements turned agents off, and she quit modeling to enroll in college at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where she earned her degree in health sciences.
Her father, a real estate investor, taught her how to flip houses to make money on the side, and also how to work with her hands.
“I learned how to purchase a house, and I stained my own floors — it was a really good learning experience,” she says.
Now that she’s back on the fashion scene, she’s hard at work developing her own size-inclusive swimsuit line set to launch early next year.
“I’ve just been sitting at a sewing machine for hours,” she says. “After modeling, this is my biggest priority.”
Brian ZakAs a young girl, Kostek always wanted to be in front of the camera, but she thought that there wasn’t a place for her in the modeling world. “I idolized Victoria’s Secret models, but when I would walk the runway, my legs weren’t as tall or thin as those women,” Kostek, who’s from Killingworth, Conn., tells The Post.
Becoming a New England Patriots cheerleader in 2013 helped her appreciate her strong, toned legs.
“You perform for hours in front of 70,000 fans weekly in a two-piece uniform,” Kostek says. “Confidence is an essential quality of being a successful cheerleader.”
She also gives a shout-out to Ashley Graham, the first plus-sized model to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2016. “Seeing her made me realize there’s a place in the modeling industry for me, too,” she says.
Brian Zak | Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for SWIMMIAMIEven though Fairbanks is now a security guard at a chemical plant, she didn’t always know how to defend herself.
As a kid in Cincinnati, her classmates made fun of her because she had dreadlocks. “They’d say I had snakes in my head,” Fairbanks says.
And when she first got into modeling in her teens, an agent told her that she had to cut her hair short.
“It made me cry,” Fairbanks says. “But my mom has always been in my corner — she says hair can grow back, and to not beat myself up over it.”
But now, she says, she’s learned how to embrace her natural texture. And as a red belt in tae kwon do, she knows how to stand up for herself.
She hopes to use SI’s platform to inspire other women who look like her. “[Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue] is embracing diversity like no other, and I want to be a part of it,” she says.
Source: NewYork Post
The amendment to the misuse of drug bill was officially signed into law.
The bill was introduced in parliament in August by the government of Belize and is to “decriminalize the possession of cannabis in amounts not exceeding ten grams, to provide for the imposition of monetary and non-recordable penalties for the possession of cannabis in such amounts occurring on school premises, in specified circumstances, to decriminalize the smoking of cannabis on private premises.”
On October 25, 2017 , at the Senate, senators debated the pros and cons of marijuana usage in Belize.
NGO Senator Osmany Salas referred to the fact that countries decriminalized marijuana but provided counselors for their youths in cases of drug abuse. Salas elaborated that Belize does not have adequate rehab facilities to deal with the issues that decriminalization may have in our society.
Government Senator, Aldo Salazar supported the bill by explaining that the negative effects of marijuana stems from habitual abuse.
The bill was signed into law by the Governor General.
Source: BreakingBelizeNews.com
All Seasons Guest House offers the authentic Belizean experience! Located in the tiny fishing village of Hopkins, All Seasons Guest House offers both rooms and cabanas all fully equipped with all the comforts of home. Their themed rooms offer an escape from the norm with inviting colors and exotic accents making you feel as if you’re surrounded by the beauty of nature.
The owners, Gary and Becky Oden, are warm and welcoming ensuring that your stay is as comfortable as it is memorable. Whether you decide to enjoy the great outdoors or simply relax in a hammock on the beach, this is the perfect vacation spot for every traveller.
During your stay at All Seasons Guest House, you can bask in Mother Nature’s best kept secrets by enjoying one of many activities that Hopkins has to offer. From a lazy day of relaxation on the beach to swimming in the beautiful waters along the shore, or snorkelling and diving the Great Blue Hole, or even deep sea fishing and rainforest hiking in the Maya Mountains — there’s never a moment of boredom in this picturesque village.
Be sure to like their Facebook page to stay up-to-date with seasonal discounts and local events to make All Seasons Guest House your next vacation haven.
A new species of tree has been documented in the forests of Southern Belize.
Parasenegalia lundellii (family: Fabaceae) was discovered by plant ecologist Steven Brewer in the pristine Bladen Nature Reserve, which is co-managed by Ya’axché Conservation Trust.
The new species is found in semi-evergreen tropical forests and is restricted to rugged limestone ridges and slopes such as those of the Maya Mountains.
lundellii was first collected by Dr. Brewer in 2002. Recent taxonomic revisions have confirmed that the tree is indeed a species new to science.
Fewer than 10 other individuals of the species have been documented in Belize and Guatemala, implying that the species could be threatened due to its rareness.
In Belize, P. lundellii has been found in the Bladen Nature Reserve, Columbia River Forest Reserve, and Golden Stream Corridor Preserve. This nitrogen-fixing tree is in the same family as rosewood and bri-bri.
Representatives of the species are up to 12 meters tall, with shallowly ridged brown bark. It can be identified from a similar tree known locally as palli by its wide fruit pods and small leaflets that lack stipules.
The species is named in honor of botanist Cyrus Lundell, who first studied chicle in Belize in the 1920’s.
Ya’axché Conservation Trust has been empowering communities and conserving wildlife in southern Belize since 1998. Much of the organization’s effort has focused on researching and protecting tropical broadleaf forests in Toledo. lundellii is the third new tree species to be confirmed in Ya’axché’s reserves in the last year, which is a reflection of the high plant diversity of Toledo forests and indicates the importance of continued research and conservation of these unique ecosystems.
Source: BelizeHub
Images Courtesy: Steven Brewer
International Archeology Day is celebrated on October 21st – that is this Saturday but the Institute of Archeology is commemorating this day with a week of activities. The overall purpose is to recognize the important role archeology plays in our history. Dr. Allan Moore told us more about this observance.
Dr. Allan Moore, Associate Director, Institute of Archeology, NICH
“We decided hey! Why not put it into an archeological week and extend it. Unfortunately not everyone could be involved in this week and for it to be meaningful and kinda get something out of it we decided to take two, three venues, we tried Dangriga but we have postponed that until after so tomorrow we start at Banquitas.”
“Banquitas is in Orange Walk right so they are highlighting a number of what is happening in Orange walk in terms of the history, the culture etc. etc. so we will kinda of support that and augment that with some of the local archeology you know the Quello, the Noh Nul and the Cacabish and the what have you and to show them and highlight what they have in their district. We will have a series of lectures and some exhibits and stuff like that, tomorrow in Banquitas and on Wednesday. On Wednesday evening we pack up and we go to the cayes, we normally don’t go to the cayes but we have to realize and we have to make these guys realize that it is not only the Marco Gonzalez site that they have, they have quite a number of sites out there that they should be aware of that is contributing to their history, their pre-history.”
“It is all about letting us know what we have and let us learn to appreciate it to help us preserve it so that you and I may die but that may continue to going on for your children.”
A series of lectures will also be held on San Pedro.
Source: Channel 7
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