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Definitely not all the news that's fit to print - and definitely not on a daily basis.  But, we'll try to update frequently about things like road conditions and significant events affecting the area - sometimes even gossip - maybe.  Let us know if you have anything to add.  But, we retain full editorial discretion over information on this page. 

Placencia 2007 News Placencia 2006 News Placencia 2005 News Placencia 2004 News Placencia 2003 News

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11 October 2005:

Dennis Wade.  Dennis Wade (born 1939), husband of Gloria (Westby) Wade, died Friday morning.  The wake was held on Saturday night and burial was Sunday morning following a church service at St. John's Memorial Church.  Mr. Dennis will be greatly missed by the entire Placencia community.

Cocoplum Resort:  Great Belize Productions (the developer) has submitted an EIA requesting approval for development of a resort that includes a 100 unit condominium structure, 110 residential lots of a 1/2 acre each, 48-suite hotel, staff housing for 75 people, 25-slip marina, excavation of 525,000 cubic meters of dirt and sand, and associated structures.  At full occupancy, the resort will house almost as many people as Seine Bight and Placencia Villages combined, and will use almost as water from the local water system.  (No one knows much about the local water supply, other than it comes from an underground artesian spring in the Maya Mountains.  And no one has a clue about how much water is there - definitely a problem given the number of developments either approved or waiting for approval.)  If approved (and we assume it will be), Cocoplum Resort will be located at False Bight (near the old rehab center) north of Seine Bight.

Land Grab:  Local residents are extremely upset about what is being characterized as a land grab by the Area Representative, Rodwell Ferguson.  The land involved is that previously promised to Placencia Village by the Government of Belize for Placencia Village's second land expansion to provide homes for local residents who do not own property in the Village.  Also of great concern (both locally and internationally) is a proposal by the national government to allow any portion of the Placencia Lagoon that is 6 or fewer inches deep to be filled without a permit.

Restaurants:  The Purple Space Monkey has re-opened for breakfast and lunch only until November when it will resume dinner service.  The Barefoot Beach Bar re-opens today.       

Veterinary Clinic:  The Placencia Village Council has given its approval for the Placencia Humane Society (PHS) to build a permanent clinic on a portion of the Community Center property.  PHS is currently obtaining bids from contractors and will begin raising funds to construct the Clinic in November.  For more information, contact Marcia Fox (mariposa@direcway.com) or Mary Toy (mtoy@destinationsbelize.com).

18 August 2005:

Bobby Gilbert:  A wake in Placencia Village will be held tonight (Thursday, 18 August 2005) and funeral services tomorrow (Friday, 19 August 2005), for 26-year-old Robert "Bobby" Gilbert, a native Placencian, and the victim of an apparent domestic dispute involving Bobby and the brothers of his common-law wife, "Mel" Moody. 

Many members of the Placencia community, including Bobby's half-brother, Chris Lewis, believe Ms. Moody was also involved, but police have refused to investigate this allegations, publicly stating that the case had been closed because of the confessions of Miss Moody's brothers.  Chris Lewis publicly discussed the conduct of the Belize police department on national Belize news on Channel 5 on Wednesday evening, 17 August 2005.  Miss Moody's brothers have been charged and released on their own recognizance. 

Bobby was murdered some time late Friday evening, 12 August 2005, or early Saturday morning, 13 August 2005.  His body was found Saturday morning near Manatee Inn with multiple stab wounds and indications of a strong blow to the head.

Bobby is the son of Pearl Cabral Lewis of Placencia, and Robert Gilbert, Sr. of Scotland.  Bobby is survived by his 3 children, his brothers Dermin Shivers, Terence LeMay and Chris Lewis, his grandparents, Hortense and George Cabral, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. 

29 June 2005:  

• Atherly Update:  Channel 5 reports that Marcus McKenzie is the owner of the skiff that collided with the boat on which Clifford Atherly and Neil Atherly were passengers.  (See 28 June 2005 posting below.)  McKenzie has been detained by police in Independence, but McKenzie claims he was not on the boat when it collided with the Placencia boat.  However, McKenzie has yet to tell police who was on his boat.
• Placencia Poetry:  The Placencia Peninsula Arts Association (PPA) and St. John's Memorial Anglican Primary School in Placencia Village have published a book of poems by Standard 5 and Standard 5 students titled, Innocence in Poetry.  Front cover art is by Grayson Sierra and back cover art is by Omar Sierra, both sons of Chelo Sierra, owner of Omar's Restaurant and Guest House in Placencia Village.  The book is available at area gift shops for BZ$10.
  
  A sample:

Friendship

I just wanted to say
There are none like you . . .
You say things that I care about . . .
You do things that matter. . .
You make a difference to me . . .

You make a difference
To other people too
And I know for a fact,
If you were not here
I would not like the world
Quite as much as I do now.

To my dear friend Lizzy

                                                                by Sherina Garbutt

28 June 2005:  Clifford Atherly, and his 5-year-old son, Neil, drowned in the Placencia Lagoon Saturday night, 25 June 2005.  As of yesterday afternoon, only Neil's body had been recovered, despite two days of searching by area divers and boat owners.  Mr. Atherly grew up in the area (we understand Monkey River), but moved to Miami some time ago.  He was visiting the area with his 4 children. Mrs. Atherly remained in Miami.

At approximately 10:30 PM, a boat chartered by Mr. Atherly was returning to Placencia from the football game in Mango Creek when it was struck by a boat speeding the other way toward Mango Creek.  Six of the 10 people aboard the boat bound for Placencia were thrown into the Lagoon when the two boats collided.  The boat headed toward Mango Creek did not stop, but continued toward Mango Creek at what witnesses reported was a high speed.  Manuela Ayuso and William Usher, two of the passengers aboard the boat, are employees of LoveFM, in the Placencia area to cover this weekend's Placencia LobsterFest.

The boat that struck the Placencia-bound boat has not been identified.  Neither boat had any lights, and no one was wearing life jackets.

23 June 2005

Sustenance:  This is stuff I forgot to add to the recap on 15 June 2005.

• Olga's Grocery.  Olga and Babe sold or leased their store near the dock to Jimmy, a young Chinese man who is now operating the store, which now offers a LOT more selection, including meats by Running W, more frozen foods, pretty much more of everything, with a lot more variety.  (They even have Grey Poupon mustard in large quantities.
  
  Olga is now operating the old Placencia Grocery store on the main Placencia Road across the road from Blue Lagoon Apartments.  Olga is attempting to offer a more "gourmet" selection of food, and often has items such as Blue Cheese, canned asparagus, frozen peas, frozen pizzas, canned hearts of palm, bulgher wheat, whole nuts (pecans, almonds, etc.), soy products, etc.  She'll try to get anything you ask her to, so if you'll be here long enough and don't see something you want, ask.
   
• Sunrise Restaurant.  Sunrise Restaurant is also now being leased by a Chinese businessman, and the restaurant now offers a mixture of Creole and Chinese foods.
   
• The Shak.  A new restaurant across from BJ's Restaurant on the main Placencia Road serving fruit smoothies, fresh salads and items such as soy burgers (which are quite good, by the way).
   
• Unnamed Restaurant.  A new restaurant, which doesn't seem to have a name, has opened on the Main Road near the turnoff down to Manatee Inn.  Creole menu.
   

15 June 2005

Ruthford H. Westby.  Ruthford Westby passed away this past weekend in Belize City. Cause of death was prostate cancer.  The wake will be held this evening across the Sidewalk from Westwind, and the funeral is tomorrow morning at St. John's Memorial Church. 

Resorts, Hotels and the Like. 

• Casa de la Siesta becomes Chabil Mar Villas.  Remember the controversy over the dock?  Well, the condo development has been completed, as has the dock, Belize Expeditions (owned by Mark Howells, also owner of Lamanai Outpost Lodge) is managing the villa complex.  Rates range from US$235 for a 1 bedroom/1 bathroom Seaview Villa in the summer, to US$605 for a luxury 2 bedroom/2 bathroom Oceanfront Villa during the peak Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year and Easter holidays. 
• Zeboz becomes The Placencia Resort.  Huh?  Well, that's what they're calling it now. 
• Colibri House and Colibri Villas are not the same place.  For some unknown reason, both the BTB and the Belize Registrar's Office allowed the owners of Colibri Villas to register this name, even though Nicoletta and Stefano had long, long ago registered Colibri House for their home and 1st floor rental apartment.  Colibri House is a beach apartment in Placencia Village.  Colibri Villas are two first floor units in a large private beach home near Turtle Inn.  Make sure you know which one you're renting, and can tell your cab driver, because they're confused.  (As are we regarding why this was allowed to happen.)
• Crow's Nest Rental House is not related to the Crow's Nest Bar.  The Crow's Nest Rental House is next to the Captain's House near the northern end of the Placencia Sidewalk.  The Crow's Nest Bar is located behind the Mooring's dock in Bakader.  (I guess we must have run out of names in the area.)
• Casa del Sol.  New exterior paint job, beautiful furnishings upgrade - substantial increase in rates.
• Laru Beya.  More new condos next to Robert's Grove.  Don't know much about them.  Heard they were supposed to open for rentals this fall.
• Turtle Inn/Robert's Grove.  Completely booked for Christmas/New Year's already.  Robert's Grove has opened Robert's Caye for business.  (A very small caye with four cabanas and a dining cabana, all built over the ocean.)  Turtle Inn hosted Mrs. Bill Gates and minions a couple of months ago while Big Bill was out deep sea fishing.  Big Bill, Mrs. Big Bill and retinue sailed the cayes on one of two very big Big Bill boats for several weeks.  A second Big Bill boat transported Big Bill's private sport fishing boat and his helicopter. 
• Lydia's Guesthouse.  Lydia also now has a large 3-bedroom second floor unit for rent on the Placencia Lagoon.  Brand new, fully furnished, huge shower, tiled bath and floors, HUGE flat roof with awesome views.
• Maya Lodge.  Private rental home also located on the Lagoon, beautiful roof-top deck, large great room/kitchen, 2 bedrooms/2 baths, private dock.
• Others.  Another condo development is planned between Turtle Inn and Chabil Mar Villas (f/k/a as Casa de la Siesta, in case you've forgotten).  Supposedly 40 units.  Construction has started on Sunset Pointe, another condo development located south of Sugar Reef.  3 buildings, 4 units each building.

Food and Drink.

• Crow's Nest.  Finally opened new bar and restaurant next to the Moorings in Bakader (see more info above).  Owned by Alvin and Maria Cabral, who are also the owners of Southwater Resort in Bakader.
• Yoli's.  Brand new bar, with food by Merlene's Cafe.  Also located in Bakader, just in front of Merlene's.  Built out over the water, great views and breezes.  Becoming the new local hang-out.
• Sugar Reef.  Like the Phoenix, Sugar Reef has arisen from the ashes, and is again open in the evenings.  A little later than planned, and the roof seems to be leaking a bit, but better late (and wet) than never, we guess.
• Barefoot Beach Bar.  The place to be in Placencia on Sundays from 5 pm - 10 pm, with live music and dancing on the beach.  Good sandwiches, garnaches, wraps, nachos and other beach fare.
• Maya Beach Hotel Dining Room.  Reasonably priced California-style cuisine by Ellen and John Lee.  Very popular with the Maya Beach and Plantation crowd.

Tours and Activities.  

• Jungle Walk Tours, owned by Carrie Larsen, closed its doors after Larsen left Placencia claiming physical and emotional harassment of her and her daughter by her former business partner. 
• Whale Sharks.  April and May saw the return of the whale sharks at Gladden Spit.  The Fine Living Network visited Gladden Spit in May to film the whale sharks there.  (We hope they saw some.)

Placencia/Seine Bight Village Boundary Dispute.  The Placencia Village Council seems to have acceded to the demand of the Seine Bight Village Council to extend Seine Bight's boundaries south all the way to Serenity Resort, giving Seine Bight Village almost total control over the Peninsula, from Serenity, north to Riversdale.  Placencia Village Council members did not provide much information about why they agreed to the Seine Village Council demands, other than to say that Seine Bight had evidence of a previous Garifuna settlement in the Serenity area, while the Placencia Village Council had failed to acquire or offer any evidence of Placencia Village's claim to northern boundaries ending at Robert's Grove.  The whole thing is stupid anyway, since the entire Peninsula needs to be governed by one entity so that the entire Peninsula can be managed, not exploited.

Water.  The owners of Zeboz, er, The Placencia Resort, have petitioned the national government for a permit to supply water to Maya Beach and The Plantation areas via water piped in from an underground artesian spring across the Placencia Lagoon.  Let's see, then they'll have electricity, water -- maybe they'll even get a phone system up there some day -- that is if the BTL mess is ever straightened out.

Laughing Birds.  According to rangers at Gladden Spit, ten Laughing Gull nests were found at Middle Silk Caye.  The return of these birds to the their traditional nesting grounds on the cayes off Placencia has been encouraged for many years.  Therefore, Middle Silk Caye will be closed until the birds have fledged.  Hurray!

Eloy Cuevas.  The Belize Audubon Society awarded Eloy Cuevas of Monkey River the James A Waight Award for his work in promoting sustainable fishing practices and alternatives to commercial fishing in southern Belize.  Eloy is one of the area's premier fly fishing guides.

Spear Fishing Controversy.  Recently, a controversy erupted about spear fishing in the Placencia area, and whether or not it's legal in Belize.  Purportedly, the government intended to make spear fishing with anything other than a Hawaiian sling illegal.  However, somebody just never got around to finishing up the paperwork, so the only thing we know is illegal related to spear fishing is the taking of any marine product with a spear gun of any sort while scuba diving. 

However, according to the Practical Guide to Good Practice:  Managing Environmental Impacts in the Marine Recreation Sector, by The Center for Environmental Leadership in Business, a publication of the Coral Reef Alliance:

An overall decline in reef fish in coastal environments has been linked to spear fishing and over consumption of marine resources, and studies have shown that spear fishing can negatively impact populations of reef fish such as Nassau grouper (already endangered in Belize) and various types of parrotfish.  According to critics, spear fishing is too effective as a method of harvesting certain types of reef fish.  For example, because parrotfish rest within the reef at night, they are an easy target.  Spear fishers also often target the largest fish on a reef, thus drastically reducing the reproductive capacity of particular species in an area.

Therefore, while it may not be "legally illegal" in Belize, we ask visitors to the area not to  fish with anyone who is using a spear gun, and not to engage in this practice themselves.

Before You Build.  Placencia Village Council Notice to all Residents and Contractors

l       Anyone who intends to construct any structure must first obtain a building permit from the P.V.C.

l       A full structural plan must be submitted, one month before the construction is planned to start.

l       Anyone who carries out any construction without the Council’s consent will be issued a Stop Order and will be dealt with by the Government of Belize

l       For further information please contact us at 523-3396 or email placouncil@btl.net 

8 March 2005

Policing the Peninsula.  At the last Placencia Village Council meeting held on 2 March 2005 at the Placencia Community Center, local residents expressed displeasure at the level of police services provided to the Peninsula.  Concerns included non-responsiveness of the police, lack of communications among the police themselves, breaking of laws by the police (overloading pickup trucks with passengers in the pan, speeding on the roads and in the Lagoon, among other things). Commissioner of Police, Carmen Zetina, was present at the meeting, and promised to try to resolve some of these issues within 6 weeks.  He asked for a special public meeting near the middle of April to allow local residents to provide feedback on whether police services were improving.

Medical Care for the Peninsula.  Dr. Moreno, the doctor responsible for overseeing health care services in Stann Creek also attended last week's Placencia Village Council meeting.  Dr. Moreno reported that the Cuban doctor would be on vacation in either June or July and that health authorities were trying to find a substitute doctor for that month. 

Villagers expressed concern at last week's meeting about difficulties in locating the Village nurse or doctor, especially during emergencies.  According to Dr. Moreno, the contract between the Government of Belize (GOB) and the Cuban government only requires Cuban doctors to work Monday through Fridays, and to be on call during the week for emergencies.  The contract allows the doctors to leave the villages on weekends.  However, if the doctor is still in a village on the weekend, then he or she is obligated to respond to emergencies.  Dr. Moreno also stated that it was the obligation of the doctor and nurse to coordinate their schedules so that they both were not absent from the Village at the same time. 

Garbage

Garbage Disposal.  Placencia Village Council Chairman Glenn Eiley reported at the Placencia Village Council meeting that Placencia Village is still asking the national government to allow Placencia Village to manage the Peninsula dumpsite.  According to Chairman Eiley, GOB failed to plan for management of the dumpsite and has not previously acted on the Village's request, which has resulted in unmanaged use -- and a "mess" at the dumpsite.

Placencia Village Clean-Up.  The Placencia Village Water Board has hired a third person to clean the beaches in the Village.  A big item pickup will be scheduled in the next two weeks, and local residents are asked to deposit large garbage items at the edges of their properties so that the items can be picked up easily for transport and proper disposal.

Placencia Village Land Expansion.  Creation of land for Village residents who do not own property (and cannot afford to purchase property at current market levels) has been planned for several years on the Lagoon side of the Peninsula near Turtle Inn.  However, private parties have become interested in the same property, and the Placencia Village Council is seeking to enforce a previous agreement with GOB concerning the land.  The Placencia Village Council has also formally disputed the right of Area Representative Rodwell Ferguson to appoint a Lands Committee to distribute the land without Village Council approval.  The Placencia Village Council bases its argument on the Village Councils Acts of Belize which gives Village Councils the right to appoint the Lands Committee.

Boundary Dispute.  Formal boundaries were never set for the Villages of Seine Bight and Placencia.  Historically, both Villages have treated what is now the southern boundary of The Inn at Robert's Grove as the northern boundary of Placencia Village and the southern boundary of Seine Bight Village, with residents south of the line voting in Placencia Village, and those north in Seine Bight.  Seine Bight now claims that its southern boundary extends to Serenity Resort because of a Garifuna settlement they claim existed there prior to the settlement of Seine Bight.  Often heated discussions between the two Villages continue.

Tourism.  Godfrey Smith, the new Minister of Tourism for the GOB, held a meeting for local tourism representatives at Kitty's Place on Saturday, 5 March 2005.  Smith identified the major policy challenges he faces as:

• Cruise tourism versus overnight tourism.  Smith acknowledged that the revenue collected by the GOB from hotel taxes far exceeds the revenue collected by GOB from cruise ship passengers, but also stated that cruise tourism was not going to go away, and that a balance by the two needs to be struck through regulations on development of cruise tourism specific attractions such as the Old Belize Museum developed by John Woods.
• Product Development.  Identifying ways to increase in the value tourists receive for their dollar through infrastructure development, training of tourism professionals, niche marketing and comprehensive review of tourism tax structure.

Sewage Treatment.  Several Peninsula resorts last week received an unexpected notice from Ismael Fabro, Chief Environmental Office of the Department of the Environment requiring them to decommission traditional septic tanks and upgrade to package sewage treatment facilities by 3 September 2005.  Resorts such as Kitty's Place and Rum Point Inn were among the resorts receiving the notice.  According to representatives of both resorts, they had no previous contact with the Department of the Environment about this new requirement, and do not have the funds to construct a package plant.  Rum Point Inn estimates the cost of a package sewage treatment plant for the resort to be at least US$75,000.  With interest on business loans in Belize at 16-18%, resorts maintain that this requirement will put them out of business, and that the Department of Environment has offered no evidence that such a requirement is necessary.  All new developments on the Peninsula are now required to install package sewage treatment plants. 

Placencia Village Bylaws.  GOB recently added insult to injury by forwarding copies of three sections of country-wide Village bylaws proposed by the GOB for all villages.  The sections delivered to the Placencia Village Council included one on animal control, one on village markets and slaughterhouses and one on village finances and reporting. 

With the exception of the proposed section on village finances and financial reporting, these proposed sections were completely unresponsive to local issues.  For example, the proposed national bylaw on animal control merely prohibits the keeping of goats, pigs and cattle within villages.  In contrast, bylaws passed by Placencia Village four (4) years ago include a leash law, registration and licensing of dogs, and mandatory rabies vaccinations. 

To date, GOB refuses to review, approve, disapprove or take any action on Placencia Village Bylaws passed by the entire Village and submitted to the national government for approval in 2002

Illegal Netting and Taking of Marine Products.  Despite repeated reports by fishermen and tour guides, the national government has refused to take any action against illegal netting  and the taking of undersized conch and lobster by Honduran and Guatemalan fishermen illegally fishing in the Placencia area.  The Placencia Fishermen's Cooperative has also actively opposed a proposed statute sponsored by the recently appointed Minister of Fisheries, Mike Espat, to grant Belizean fishing licenses to non-Belize citizens.

Friends of Nature.  The local conservation organization, Friends of Nature, is undergoing a reorganization following a recently conducted management audit.  No additional details are available.

16 February 2005

Whale Sharks.  Friends of Nature (FON), a local environmental/conservation organization which manages the marine reserves and parks off the Placencia coast, held a meeting last night (15 February) at the Placencia Village Community Center  to discuss new whale shark interaction regulations with local tour operators and tour guides. 

The primary issue discussed at the meeting is the steady decline in the number of whale sharks seen during the March-June whale shark interaction periods since 1998 as whale shark tourism increases.  According to Lisa Carne, a marine biologist who works with FON, researchers and tour operators speculate that the decline is caused, at least in part, by the number of divers, snorkelers and boats in the whale shark zone during the interaction season.  Therefore, FON has adopted the following regulations for the 2005 whale shark season:

• Dive and snorkel boats will be limited to 1.5 hour time slots, reduced from 2 hours
• Only 4 dive and/or snorkel boats will be permitted inside the prime shale shark interaction area (about a mile in length).  An additional two boats will be allowed in the larger whale shark zone area (an area of about 2 miles in length)
• Time slots for dive and snorkel boats will be determined by a public lottery (no further information such as when the lottery will be held was provided)
  • Time slots are transferable
  • The first time slot begins at 8 a.m., and the last time slot begins at 3:30 pm.  Divers and snorkelers cannot enter the water within the whale shark zone any later than 4 p.m., must be out of the water by 5 p.m., and out of the whale shark zone by 5:30 pm
• Boat captains must attend whale shark certification courses as well as guides and dive masters
• Dive and snorkel guides must brief tourists on regulations before entering the whale shark zone
• Each boat in the whale shark interaction area may carry a maximum of 12 divers and/or snorkelers
• FON has asked the Government of Belize Fisheries Department, which administers the whale shark program, to keep the 2005 whale shark entrance fee at US$15 per person for non-Belizean nationals.  (The GOB has previously announced an increase to US$30 per person for non-Belizean nationals.)  Lindsay Garbutt, executive director of FON, said he had received oral agreement from Fisheries to retain the US$15 per person fee, but had received nothing in writing. 
• Whale shark boats must have ratio of at least 1 dive master for every 8 scuba divers and 1 snorkel guide for every 8 snorkelers.
• Boats carrying whale shark divers and snorkelers are now legally required to have a special license at a cost of BZ$100 per year.  FON has asked Fisheries to waive the fee for 2005.  Fisheries has not yet agreed.
• Regulations that remain in place from previous years include:
  • 10 feet minimum distance must be maintained between whale sharks and divers/snorkelers
  • Whale sharks must be approached by boats at idle speed (not exceeding 10 knots), with idle speed maintained in the vicinity of the sharks
  • Minimum distance between whale sharks and boats if 50 feet
  • Persons conducting whale shark tours must have a valid Belize tour guide license, dive master certification for scuba diving or skin diver certification for snorkeling.
  • Boats used for whale shark tours must be between 23' and 48' in length
  • Any person violating any whale shark regulation may be fined up to BZ$2,000 and/or be subject to imprisonment for up to 6 months.  In addition, tour guides are subject to revocation of their whale shark licenses.
  • In addition to the above sanctions, anyone intentionally touching a whale shark is subject to a fine of up to BZ$10,000
  • Also, any person who damages corals is subject to a fine of up to BZ$10,000 OR value of damage to the coral in an amount not exceeding BZ$1,000,000
• More Whale Shark Info

13 February 2005

2nd Annual Placencia Sidewalk Art Festival.  The Placencia Peninsula Art Association did it again, and staged another wonderful arts festival this weekend.  Sixty-two artists exhibited this year, including landscape and portrait artists, wood and slate carvers, sculptors, quilters, drummers, vocal musicians, jewelry and ceramic artists and furniture craftsmen -- not to mention some great food and drink.  The painting on the left is by Belizean artist, Kaaren Shrine.
More 2005 Placencia Sidewalk Art Festival Pictures

6 February 2005

Placencia Pirates FFB A League Champions!  Two goals by Placencia Pirates Lennox Castillo (#15) clinched the FFB's A League Championship for the Placencia Pirates in their deciding game against the Eagles of Orange Walk, with a final score of 2 Pirates, 1 Eagles.  A momentous occasion - the first ever Championship for Placencia!  Way to go, guys!

Changes.

After 20 years of devoted service to Wallen's Market and Wallen's Hardware, Graham Cabral has left to become the new manager of the Purple Space Monkey Cafe in Placencia Village. 

Graham began working for Wallen's at the tender age of 12, and mostly recently was the general manger of Wallen's Hardware.  Graham assumes his duties at the Purple Space Monkey on Monday, 7 February 2005.  Graham also serves on the Placencia Village Council.

Tara Kamelia (Kammie) Westby, general manager of the Placencia Water Board, is also venturing onto new horizons (but she won't say where).  Kammie's last day at the Water Board is Tuesday, 8 February 2005. 

Art.  The Second Annual Sidewalk Art Festival will be held on 12 and 13 February 2005 along, where else, the Placencia Sidewalk.  The Festival, organized and sponsored by the Placencia Peninsula Art Association, will feature over 70 Central American artists, with new works by veteran local Placencia artists Ernest Garcia and Anton Leslie, new to the festival artists Carolyn Carr and  Terrel Gordon, plus budding new local Placencia artists, Omar and Grayson Sierra (ages 15 and 12).  A children's workshop will be held on Saturday, 12 February at St. John's Memorial School, with the children's work displayed on Sunday, 13 February 2005.  The weekend will also feature performances by Punta stars Titiman Flores and Leela Vernon! 

Guatemalan Hand-Carved Masks

24 January 2005

Death:  Miss Nora Leslie (Garcia) died of natural causes early evening in San Ignacio on Saturday, 22 January 2005. 

Civil Disobedience:  This past Thursday and Friday marked an historic event in Belize's history when the unions, teachers and other concerned individuals gathered in Belmopan to protest greatly increased taxes in the face of mounting evidence of rampant corruption in the Musa administration.  Most businesses in Belize City, Belmopan and San Ignacio closed, and water service in Belize City was sporadic, as workers called in sick to add their voices to the protests.  In Placencia, as in other areas outside the Belize City-Belmopan-San Ignacio corridor, only a few businesses closed, and municipal services continued uninterrupted.

Restaurants:

Secret Garden Coffee House:  Opened in December next to Wallen's Grocery.  Really good daily specials for lunch and dinner, plus coffee cakes and other sweets throughout the day.

La Dolce Vita:  Re-opened and serving dinners daily.  Above Wallen's Hardware.

Send email to mtoy@destinationsbelize.com.    Please Note:  Belize (and particularly Placencia) has significant  phone and Internet service problems.  If you do NOT receive a response to your email within 24 hours, please try resending - we HOPE that will get your message through .)

Mailing Address:  General Delivery, Stann Creek District, Placencia, Belize

Phone: 

Belize: 
       Land Line:  523-4018 (from outside Belize dial  011-501-523-4018) 
       Cell:  610-4718  (from outside Belize dial  011-501-610-4718)
       Fax:  Use US Fax (see below)
U.S. Fax or Voice Mail Messages:  1-603-452-4797

Last modified: June 23, 2007

©Mary V. Toy, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006