SAN PEDRO DAILY, March 31, 2012,Belize,news,features,newspaper, information,resource,Caribbean,Ambergris Caye,San Pedro,Caye Caulker,

Liquor Licensing Board
Takes Strong Stance

The complaints in San Pedro have mostly been about terrible conditions of streets, and dust and poor beaches and dirty areas, but lately they have been about bars. The complaints are about noise pollution in some bars that are not sound proof, late opening hours and lately also the fact that prostitution is rampant and blatant in many bars on the island.
One caller to the radio morning show lamented: “I am disgusted that I am taking my children to school in the morning and we bump into these three prostitutes, half naked and drunk making a dirty scene right in front of their bar. My children have to put up with this and I must give explanations to them.”
“But this and many other irregularities are going to stop,” said Jennie Staines, Chairperson of the San Pedro Liquor Licensing Board. She explained that the committee, which includes the Mayor, is going to make some dramatic changes to solve these problems that have been plaguing San Pedro for ages.
“People will get mad at me, but I will do what the law and the act stipulate,” she added. According to Jennie, the Liquor Licensing Board will demand that all bars with loud music systems be sound proof or they will be shut down if they do not comply. They will also see to it that not all bars repeatedly get extensions to open to very late hours. All bars must close down at midnight as is the law. Extension permits are a privilege and will be issued on special occasions, but not an automatic and constant procedure.
As to the issue of widespread prostitution, Jennie explained that the committee will need the cooperation of the community and neighborhoods where these brothels are located. They are asking for letters with neighborhood signatures be submitted to the Board. Of course, the issue must be proven and that will be a matter to be taken by the Licensing Board.
And to prove that they are dead serious, Jennie and the Board have issued a release informing all grocery stores and supermarkets that hold liquor licenses that they shall NOT be allowed to open for business on Good Friday. Restaurants may open for that day, but they shall not be allowed to serve liquor to any patrons. Failure to comply with the law and this request shall result in closure of the business license.
On Good Friday all discotheques, night clubs and liquor establishments shall remain closed and only open for business until 9p.m. Again failure to comply will carry stiff penalties. Jennie claims that already she is not a popular person with some of the business establishments, but she is determined to make things right now. The positive news is that the San Pedro citizenry is in full support of Jennie and her committee. Hopefully we will get things right this time around.
Ambergris Today

Man shot by cop gives his version of shooting incident

The Caye Caulker man, who was shot by police following a raid early Thursday morning, is speaking out. Three small parcels of marijuana were found inside the house, occupied at the time by three persons including, twenty-five year old Tyson Williams; whose name was reported by police as Tyson Rodriguez. The police also reported that Williams was shot after he attacked a cop with knife while being pursued. But today, News Five received a call from Williams who is still hospitalized at the K.H.M.H. and he wanted to give his version of what transpired. The K.H.M.H. did not allow us to do the interview at the hospital, but Williams spoke to us via phone. He admitted to having a small amount of weed and running from police, but he says he was unarmed when he was shot from behind.
Via Phone: Tyson Williams, Shot by Police
“I had a portion of weed in a bag, like five dollars weed in an ideal bag. I had dat eena my cargo pocket so weh happen is the officer searched me and came up with the bag ah weed. He told me he would charge me for possession of marijuana, blah blah blah. So I try pacify di matter and tell di man give me a run. You understand me? Both of them was inside the house so I was thinking maybe I could talk him out of it. Anyways, he tell me he noh di give me no run, mek I go wait outside until dehn done een deh. So what I did, when I reach pan di verandah I run downstairs and I run through the neighbor yard. When I run through the neighbor yard, he was like a hundred yards or two hundred yards from me cause I spaced him. Ih fire wah shot right den but ih miss. I met one of my acquaintance on di road and I asked him if I could jump on his bike. He tell me yeah mein so I jumped on his bike. Di bike had one ah dehn part to di front weh yoh put groceries, one ah di basket. So I jump pan di bike and I start ride but when I start ride, I mi di ride wid too much speed and chain came off. When di chain came off, I jumped off di bike and try put on di chain two times but noh work. So I throw down di bike and start run den I si di police deh behind me pan ih bicycle and ih di come. So I start run and I bang down wah lane, I tek wah right and while running, I hear wah gunshot and I fell on di ground.”
Delahnie Bain
“I’m sure you’ve heard by not that the police are saying that you were shot because you pulled out a knife and attacked one of the officers.”
Via Phone: Tyson Williams
“This is the reason ma’am why I am calling and trying to confirm my side of the story because if I had a knife, then why would I get shot in my back? that police that shot me, he was the only police around me at the time and he wasn’t even close to me. He was about two hundred yards and a half away from me when he shot me on a bicycle while I was running.”
Delahnie Bain
“Why did you run in the first place?”
Via Phone: Tyson Williams
“Because ah di weed ma’am.”
Delahnie Bain
“So you just didn’t want to face the charge?”
Via Phone: Tyson Williams
“Dah dat right deh ma’am. I neva want—first of all right miss, I deh dah Caye Caulker fi bout two months. I noh get eena no kinda altercation wid police or no altercation wid nobody; I stay out ah di way. I gone deh fi try find wah job and try hold off myself fi mek dis di happen to me and now dehn di try come wid dis cover up.”
While Williams maintains that he did not have a knife, police issued a report saying that the weapon as well as the officer’s service revolver were recovered from the scene and labeled as exhibits.
CH5

NOTICE

Radios For NACNW Police Patrol - To show appreciation for the fine job they have been doing the members of the North Ambergris Caye Neighborhood Watch (NACNW) voted to find a way to purchase at least two radios for the police who patrol the area.
A BBQ fund raiser will be held this Saturday, March 31, across from the old Beach-N-Kitchen (just before the Palapa Bar). Manny will be grilling the chicken and members of the NACNW board will provide beans, coleslaw, potato salad and chocolate cake. Beer and soft drinks will be ice cold and available for purchase. All throw-away eating containers will be eco-friendly which means bio-degradable.
The event is multi-purposeful; 1) raise funds to buy much needed equipment for the police, 2) meet and get to know your neighbors, 3) pay annual membership dues and 4) nominate people for the 2012 board of directors.
Food will be served starting at noon and at 2:00 there will be a very brief meeting. Immediately following the meeting the raffle will be held.
The new Officer in Charge, Vienie Robinson and Corporal Sharmane Young, who supervises the police substation, and all other patrol persons have been invited to attend so we can become better acquainted.
Annual dues are $50 for an individual, $100 for a household and $250 for a resort. If you are available to help with this project or have questions please call either Marilyn at 226-2050 or Harriette at 662-9808.

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South Ambergris Caye Neighbourhood Watch is hosting a family beach day fundraising event this Sunday, April 1st starting at 11:30am thru til 4:30pm just south of Athens Gate. There will be a barbeque chicken platter and dessert available for $20. Rum punch, beer and rum drinks sold for $5 and soft drinks and water $2. We will have a scavenger hunt, tombola, fish pond game, horseshoes, Chinese Auction, raffles and live music with Gino. Great prizes are up for grabs! Come and join the fun and support a community organization.

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SP Library Children Easter Program
The dates are April 2,3,4, 2012.
Children ages 7 - 10. Time 10:00 am to Noon and 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Stop by the library to sign in, Limited space.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer
and richer experience
Eleanor Roosevelt

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