Monday, August 31, 2009

San Pedro captures 'Best Chef Title' at Taste of Belize 2009

Victor Nal, Chef at Sunset Grill restaurant in Ambergris Caye proved to be the 'Best Chef' in BTB's 8th Annual Taste of Belize Culinary Competition which took place at the historic Old Belize grounds in Belize City. Bartenders, amateur/professional chefs and bakers went head to head putting their culinary skills to test.
Minister of Tourism with Chef of the Year, Victor Nal
Tracy Taeger-Panton with second place chef of Hamanasi resort
Platters on display...yummm!
Second place professional chef at work
Teresita Choco, Cake Decorator of the Year
In the end of a tough day of battle, San pedro shun through the entire event. Victor Nal of Sunset Grill restaurant took home the grand prize for 'Chef of the Year 2009', whilst Teresita Choco representing Casa Pan Dulce in San Pedro took the award for 'Best Cake Decorator'.











Friday, August 28, 2009

San Pedro Vehicle Moratorium still in effect

Vehicle Moratorium in place
Since July, the Ambergris Caye Traffic Control Committee (ACTCC) implemented a moratorium on the importation of any vehicle (other than golf carts) into the island. The moratorium is to last for a period of six months and will end in January 2010.
According to ACTCC Chairman Councilor Severo Guerrero, Sr. this was found to be necessary since at the moment there seems to be an oversaturation of vehicles on Ambergris Caye. During the period that the moratorium is in effect, Councilor Guerrero commented that they will be able to properly determine the exact number of vehicles on the island based on their respective types. “To my knowledge,” he explains, “there has not been a proper accounting as to how many vehicles are on the island. This is what we need to do. Update the system to accurately decipher how many vehicles are here at any given time.”
Candelaria Saldivar Montero, Transport Commissioner at the Department of Transport in Belmopan explained that according to ACTCC Act SI 125 of 1996, ACTCC is the body authorized for the importation of vehicles on the island. As such, ACTCC can hold a moratorium for any given period of time.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Taste of Belize slated for Saturday!

The eighth Annual Taste of Belize will be held on Saturday at Old Belize. The event is the Belize Tourism Board’s signature culinary event aimed at highlighting excellence in the culinary arts, by promoting the food and beverage sector of Belize's tourism industry. Coordinator Raymond Mossiah told LoveFM more.
Raymond Mossiah: Coordinator, Taste of Belize
We will be having a lot more Belizean food. We will also be having some beach games that are going to be very exciting, but the main focus of the event is going to be to showcase Belizean talent and to encourage our locals to get involved in this profession because it is a very lucrative profession. This event is usually held by itself and usually at a different time of the year; earlier on in the year. However, this year we decided to integrate it into the September celebrations. Participants are going to be competing in the professional chef competition, the young professional chef competition, the bar tending competition as well as the cake decorating competition. For the bartending competitions we have elimination rounds to determine whether you will reach the finals. Likewise for the professional chef competition we will have two eliminations rounds and that will determine if you will reach the finals. For the cake decorating competition as well as for the young professional chefs there is only one round; that is primarily because of time constraints because our day is very packed.”
Chef Competition
Every year Professional Chef’s from top hotels and restaurants enter the competition to win the coveted title of chef of the year. The competition also welcomes apprentice chefs and individuals who enjoy making and decorating cakes. The main purpose being to encourage locals to get involved in the culinary art as it is a relatively high paying career. Mossiah says that those who attend can expect nothing but the best in Belizean food and entertainment.

Raymond Mossiah: Coordinator, Taste of Belize
In terms of the food that will be available at the buffet we will have pebil, shrimp seviche, cow foot soup, rice and beans and stew chicken. There will also be cassava bread, bean dip, potato pound and a salad bar that will have different types of salads. What the chefs will be preparing is going to be available for the general public. During the day and even at night when there is the finals for the professional chef competition we have chef’s preparing four dishes; two are for judging and one is for display. If you are lucky you can get a small sample of the dish that the professional chef’s actually prepare. We have the patriotic song winner performing as well as the carnival song winner and we have some of the carnival song winner and we have some of the carnival revelers that we are getting as entertainment as well. People need to know that this event is usually sold out so it is a very popular event and they need to get their tickets early.”

Cake Decorating

The all day event will start at nine in the morning and will run until about nine-30 in the night. Tickets are available for 35 dollars at the Belize Tourism Board’s office on Regent Street.


Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Just another day in Paradise...

Snapshots were taken from above a three storey building on a warm sunny morning on La Isla Bonita..... wish you were here!

Come on in, the waters fine!

Just another day in Paradise...life's a beach!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

GOB plans to take over BTL from Ashcroft

A recent ruling in favor of British billionaire Lord Michael Ashcroft by the London Court of International Arbitration in ongoing legal wrangling between the majority shareholder in the nation’s monopoly telecommunications company and the Government of Belize prompted a special sitting of the House of Representatives today. Following a wave of legal back and forth over a special accommodations agreement signed by the former Musa administration allowing Ashcroft to withhold business tax if Telemedia did not get a certain rate of return on its investment Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced government’s intention to assume control of the company.


Prime Minister Dean Barrow
A bill for an Act to amend the Belize Telecommunications Act number sixteen of 2002, to provide for assumption of control over telecommunications by the Government in the public interest; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. I have a statement that I have written, Mr. Speaker that I wish now to read upon the introduction of this bill. Let me at once say that the long title is quite clear and what the government is doing by way of introducing this measure is preparing to take control of the company formerly known as Belize Telecommunications Limited, and currently going by the name of Telemedia.”
While the introduction of the bill came as a surprise to the opposition and the public Barrow said the move on the part of his administration to disclose the motive on such short notice was done deliberately considering how powerful a legal contender Ashcroft is.



Prime Minister Dean Barrow
This was a national interest piece of legislation because the owner of Telemedia, Michael Ashcroft, is as powerful as we all know that he is; the time notice that he would receive of this legislation the more opportunity he would have had to try to frustrate the process. This would be to try of derail the process. In those circumstances we had to move in the fashion that we did.”
Most of today’s session was centered around Ashcroft’s dominance in Belize’s telecommunications industry. In his address however opposition party leader Johnny Briceno expressed concerns over the nationalization of Telemedia with specific reference to countries that have done the same with other local companies.

John Briceno: Leader of the Opposition
I know many would say well here we have Venezuela and we have Bolivia and Russia that we can bring as examples where they decided that they were going to nationalize the petroleum industry. But I think that they are at a certain advantage over us when it comes to us. And I say that because when it comes to Venezuela for example, they are pumping three million barrels of oil everyday and it is something that the rest of the world will have to deal with. Bolivia also has billions of gallons of natural gas and Russia with all the natural resources that they have, they are big players. They can afford to take on some of these fights unlike small countries like ourselves. When we take on these fights I think that we can have serious repercussions outside of Belize.”
Briceno’s concerns albeit legitimate were met with indifference from UDP ministers.The Government of Belize is moving to acquire the ninety-four percent interest in Telemedia held by Ashcroft and although GOB’s position is that it doesn’t recognize the special accommodations agreement it is up to the Supreme Court to decide what the cost of the buyout will be.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
In assessing compensation the court cannot take into account any accommodation agreement that contains provisions that are contrary to law. In a sense that is self evident but it perhaps is not as clear as it aught to be since the tribunal in London clearly did not get it. Once you remove the accommodation agreement if the court agrees that that accommodation agreement always was void or illegal contrary to public policy I think that the compensation becomes more reasonable. The value of the company becomes something that we would be more readily able to handle.”

According to P.M. Barrow government’s acquisition of the company will be momentary as those shares will be made available to the Belizean public. The Senate will sit in special session tomorrow to review the bill before it gets passed to law.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

1st Fly Fishing (Catch & Release) Tournament in San Pedro

Thursday, August 20th - Saturday, August 22nd, 2009. Belize's first fly fishing tournament date has been set to coincide with the best fishing for a grand slam of tarpon, permit and bonefish in and around Ambergris Caye, Belize.
Where: Ambergris Caye in Belize is surrounded by some of the best flats saltwater fly fishing in the world. Not only are the fish here but the weather is perfect for sight casting to the 3 grand slam fish we all seek. This tournament also offers a excellent reason to bring the whole family to Belize to enjoy the other tournament activities as well as the great diving, Maya ruins and more.

Why: The primary objective for hosting this tournament is to gather data on our local population of the 3 grand slam saltwater fly fishing fish as well as providing a great way to gather fly fishers from around the world to compete. All proceeds are going to local charities and to further the protection of the 3 grand slam fish. Please join in and help promote sustainable sport fishing in Belize.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Cheap High and dry Lots in New Sub-division on Ambergris Caye!

For an unbelievable cheap price of $14,800BZe or ($7,400USD) YOU can purchase a piece of property on the number one tourist destination of Belize, Ambergris Caye. Grand Belize Estates if offering these lots for a limited time and plans to access the area by road is being constructed. Whether intended for business or personal use, purchasing one or more of the lots offered by Grand Belize is the smartest move you'll make. Click to play video or contact us at our sales office for a FREE TOUR of the area.



The opportunity to own a piece of Ambergris Caye is YOURS!!


Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Chetumal and Belize agree to promote sea and land connections

The additional run is being done by San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi
Belmopan, 17 August 2009.

The Embassy of Mexico informs that on 15 August, the Mayor of the of Othon P. Blanco (Chetumal), Mr. Andres Ruiz-Morcillo, and Minister of Tourism, Civil AviaciĆ³n and Culture, Hon. Manuel Heredia, signed a Letter of Intent in order to promote the construction of a road between San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, and Xcalak (within the Municipality of Othon P. Blanco), Mexico. The objective of the Letter of Intent is to boost the tourism industry in the Chetumal Bay and the north of Belize, including Ambergris Caye. In particular, Mexico and Belize will seek to connect San Pedro with Xcalak (Mexico) and Mahahual with a road, from where an already existing access will make possible the connection with Chetumal or Tulum and Cancun.
The document was signed before the undersecretary of Tourism of the state of Quintana Roo, Mr. Armando Alvarez-Gonzalez, the director of the Port Authority of Quintana Roo, Mr. Javier Zetina-Gonzalez and the Ambassador of Mexico, H.E. Luis Manuel Lopez-Moreno.
Likewise, the Mayor of Othon P. Planco announced the project of a water taxi, which will link Chetumal and Xcalak with Belize. The future water taxi would depart from the “Muelle Fiscal” –the Customs Dock Facility in Chetumal- with a stop at Sarteneja and San Pedro and arrival at Xcalak. The run will be operated by the Belizean company San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi. This service will allow visitors from Chetumal to travel to San Pedro and Xcalak and from there to visit Mahahual and Chinchorro (Mexico). It will also allow Belizeans to travel easily from San Pedro to Chetumal. The new water taxi will benefit the local population on both sides of the border, it will boost the tourism industry and it will promote the economic development of the border area of Belize.
In Chetumal, Mexican officials boarded the boat for the familiarization trip, which showed the route of the upcoming water taxi service. They travelled to Sarteneja, where Hon. Heredia hosted them and the signing of the Letter of Intent took place.
Embassy of Mexico to Belize - Press Office

Monday, August 17, 2009

Stunning Waterfront Villa for sale!!



Contact us at our Sales Office 226-3232 for a Viewing at NO COST to YOU!! AmbergrisProperty.com - Buyer's Advantage Real Estate

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Beachfront Bargain Condo!



Prime South area lot for sale by Owner on Ambergris Caye



Friday, August 14, 2009

Martime Taxi Service to and from Belize/Chetumal activated!

The Maritime Taxi Service between Chetumal and Belize will take off this Saturday, August 15th, which should detonate tourism growth in the South of the State of Quintana Roo, said Andres Morcillo, Mayor of Othon P Blanco municipality. "This is the result of negotiations with the neighboring government. Beginning Saturday, Belizean entrepreneurs will operate the first maritime route for the transport of toursim that will cover the circuit between Chetumal's Fiscal dock, Sarteneja, San Pedro, Xcalak which should last approximately one hour.
Belize investors discovered the potential in the Chetumal Bay and the service should generate endless benefits for families in the south of the state"... "Belizeans will now have mopre access to the state. This new service should detonate tourism growth in the Chetumal and the Costa Maya. without a doubt the benefits should soon be seen. This will give a boost to the ecotourism plans for the Chetumal Bay in the near future," ended Andres Morcillo.


Thursday, August 13, 2009

Gorgeous sunny day on La Isla!

For all our friends, fans and visitors....here is a teaser of what you are missing out on. Pictures were taken between Bottomline dive shop and Holiday Hotel beachfront. There is no place like it and once you visit once, you won't want to leave. Come for a week, stay a lifetime! Your Belizean adventure awaits! Yu betta Belize it!!
Tranquil Thursday morning...
Seas are relatively calm, sun is shining, great day for fishing!

What are ya waiting for?!


Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Coastal Living Dubbs Hol Chan as 'Top 10' snorkeling destination

In the July issue of the very popular Coastal Living Magazine, underwater photographer and adventurer, Tanya Burnett-Palmer shares her favorite places to sightsee beneath the waves.
"Hol Chan Marine Reserve,
Belize One of the western Caribbean’s great delights resides roughly 20 minutes by boat from Ambergris Cay. On my first visit, I was mesmerized by dozens of nurse sharks, jacks, stingrays, and grunts cavorting with snorkelers over turtle grass and reefs. Here, I have swum with the most substantial wild fish―normally only seen by scuba divers―in only 6 to 10 feet of water.On-site secret: Float from the feeding area to the shallow reefs and discover a dreamlike setting of sun-dappled coral and tiny reef denizens. Keep an eye out for: eagle rays. On more than one occasion I’ve been thrilled to see a majestic spotted eagle ray soaring through the reefs.When to go: all year, but check cruise ship schedules to avoid the busiest times; holchanbelize.org."



Monday, August 10, 2009

Taste of Belize slated for August 29th!

The Belize Tourism Board invites you to the 8th Annual "Taste of Belize" competition. An All Day Extravaganza with food, gamesand Belize's finest culinary talent! at Old Belize Adventure Cultural and Historic Centerat mile 4 1/2 Western Highway, Belize City. On August 29th, 2009.

Jose O'campo, Chef of the Year 2008


Come join us a competitor in the following categories:
Professional Chef
Young Professional and Apprentice Chef
Bartender
Cake Decorating

OR,

get your tickets for the Daytime and/or Night time events:
DAY: Spend the day at the beach with the family and watching the exciting daytime culinary competition for Young Professional & Apprentice Chef and the first 2 rounds for Professional Chef! Ticket prices also includes: access to the beach and waterslide AND entrance to the Old Belize Museum. Events start at 9:00 a.m.
NIGHT: Savor a tasty buffet with entertainment during the final competitions for Cake Decorating, Bartending and Professional Chef. Events starts at 7:00 p.m.
Get your tickets Now! Day: $10.00 BzeNight: $35.00 BzeDay/Night: $40.00 Bze


Saturday, August 8, 2009

Dock Street Gallery Inaugural Opening today!

Linda Mikulich is proud to announce the official opening party this Saturday evening Aug 8th of the Dock Street Gallery.The show will feature 4 exclusive artists of Belize. Wayne Hammon Sculptor, Jose Cantos Sculptor, Paul Stevenson Glass artist and Linda Mikulich Painter/ glass artist. They will be serving Locally made Sangria and munchies while celebrating this new venture. Linda's goal for the gallery is to find and launch artists that are of high quality and unknown here in Belize.
Paintings by Linda...
Sculpture by Jose Canto...
Wayne Hammon one of a kid piece...
None of the artists are featured in any other galleries or shops on the island. Sculptures (Raku) is NEW for the island, at least that in clay.If you are here in Belize this Costa Maya weekend, come join the fun and enjoy exceptional art. Three of the four artists will be here for you to meet and talk about their works! Hope to see you there! Art is Life, Life is art. Doors open from 5pm to 9pm! Take that prized possession or memento home!

Friday, August 7, 2009

Miss Nicaragua takes Costa Maya Crown!

Miss Maritza Rivas, Nicaragua

Maritza Rivas representing the gorgeous country of Nicaragua won the hearts of the judges with her galant personality, poise, and overall beauty. Rivas bested seven other contestants from Mundo Maya countries including Belize, Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico and Honduras. Rivas also won the National Costume segment. Stay tuned for a recap of the pageant in video. To be uploaded shortly....




Thursday, August 6, 2009

Be one with Belize Part 4!

The Ancient Maya! Just click play...


Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Mexico and Belize's 1st Annual Shrimp Fair

Mexico is having its first international shrimp fair and it coincides with Shrimp Week celebrated from August eight to the fourteenth. The two-day event, which will be held in Chetumal, Quintana Roo on the fifteenth and sixteen of August, is expected to boost the exportation of shrimp to Mexico from Belize, Honduras and Guatemala. The exhibition is expected to attract a large number of investors who are looking for markets and services in the industry. On display will also be technology involved in the farming process and samples of the crustacean available at different aquaculture farms. At a press conference held at the Mexican Institute in Belize City today, officials from various sectors in Quintana Roo said the fair will also include cultural exchanges from participating countries.

According to the Ambassador, fifty percent of the shrimp produced in Belize at farms such as Royal Mayan Shrimp Farm and Belize Aquaculture Limited is bought by Mexico. (as Reported by Channel 5 News)

Monday, August 3, 2009

Costa Maya beauties have some 'Fun unda di sun'

Girls lounging...getting some sun
Miss Belize strikes a pose

One of many group shots... Onboard SEAduction courtesy of SEAduced Adventures
Miss Honduras works the camera...
smile ladies...
Miss Panama.....

Miss Costa Rica and Miss Nicaragua
Curtains for the anticipated Reina de la Costa Maya goes up on Thursday night, August 6th at 7pm. Get your tickets today! Available at all particpating stores. $25 per adult or $100 for season pass.