Month: September 2016

Governor General Sir Colville Young, Belize’s head of state, was on hand at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts in Belize City on September 15, 2016, to award 21 outstanding individuals for their contribution to Belize’s national development.

Every year, the Tribute to Belizean Patriots conveys honors to individuals in Belize, both past and present, as part of the run-up to Independence Day on September 21. Sir Colville Young was joined on stage by Diana Locke, the Director of Immigration, the Police Press Officer, Raphael Martinez, and several members of the Belize Defence Force.

Daniel “Danny” Conorquie, who was killed in the line of duty in 2014, was awarded along with 18 other individuals with Belize’s Meritorious Service Award. Conorquie, who served as a special police constable, was murdered on September 25, 2014, at the police post at the Caracol Archeological Reserve in Belize’s western Cayo District. Conorquie was honored for giving his life to defend the lives of tourists who were at the popular site.

At the Tribute to Belizean Patriots ceremony, two individuals were awarded the Order of Distinction. Benjamin Ho, the Taiwanese ambassador to Belize, and Dr. Jane Usher, matriarch of the Holy Redeemer Credit Union were awarded this prestigious honor for their long service to the country. Ambassador Ho began his career in Belize in 1994 when he served as the Senior First Secretary for the Republic of China and was later promoted to Ambassador.

Dr. Jane Usher, born in 1917, was on hand at the ceremony to accept her award for serving two consecutive terms as a local politician, a cabinet minister, and President of the Senate. Dr. Usher holds the unique distinction of being the individual who embroidered the first flag of Belize. Dr. Usher may be best known for her work in championing women’s rights, serving as the President of the National Women’s Commission. Dr. Usher founded the Holy Redeemer Credit Union in 1944 to offer affordable and accessible financing opportunities for Belizeans.

The staff and management of Chabil Mar extend their warmest congratulations to all of the Belize Patriots, and wish a wonderful and happy Independence Day to all Belizeans at home or abroad on September 21, 2016.

After several centuries of British colonial rule, Belize finally achieved full independence on September 21, 1981. Independent Belize is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and a parliamentary democracy with a proud record of high voter participation and free and fair elections.

At the young age of 19, Simone Biles holds the record for winning the most gold medals in women’s gymnastics in a single Olympics. After her triumphant performance as part of the Final Five during the Rio de Janeiero Olympic Games, Biles is now on tour of the United States to promote her sport.

Biles is proud to have represented the United States, but in a recent interview with the “New York Times”, she spoke about how Belize holds a special place in her heart. Biles is an American citizen but Biles has close ties with the Central American nation via her mother, Nellie Cayetano Biles, who is from Belize. Biles told the “New York Times” that Belize is her second home, and that she tries to spend at least one week every year with her extended family there, usually during the summer.

Biles spoke fondly about both her mother’s home on the mainland and how much she loves staying at resorts in and around the town of San Pedro on the popular island of Ambergris Caye. Biles proclaimed her love for the beach and enjoying activities like swimming, snorkeling, and fishing, remarking on the incredibly clear water that makes it easy to see the colorful abundance of marine life. Biles’s extended family especially enjoy fishing, rising at 7:00 in the morning to head out in the water, each member of the family competing to see who can catch the most fish or the biggest fish.

The Placencia Peninsula

The Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize is a narrow strip of land fronting the Caribbean. Measuring 16 miles in length, it is renowned for having some of the most beautiful beaches in a country with more than 180 miles of them. At the south end of the peninsula is the picturesque village of Placencia, the unofficial capital of the area and the best place to enjoy a meal, do some shopping, or get fishing and diving equipment for a trip out to the nearby Belize Barrier Reef.

Located just a few minutes’ walk from Placencia Village is the  award-winning resort of Chabil Mar. Named from a Maya term meaning “beautiful sea,” the luxury resort has its own lush tropical garden, spacious villas, and a full range of spa and massage services. The Placencia Peninsula and the Chabil Mar resort would be two great places for Biles to visit on her next trip to Belize.

Belize will be going to the Miss Universe 2017 pageant to be held next year in the Philippines. Rebecca Rath, age 22, from Dangriga was crowned as the winner of the Miss Belize pageant held at the Bliss Center in Belize City on Saturday, September 10, 2016. The talented and beautiful Miss Rath topped nine other contestants to earn the long-inactive crown.

Speaking to the press following her coronation, Rath said, “I love Belize with all of my heart, and I am proud to have represented Belize in both sports and tourism. I look forward to representing the country at the upcoming Miss Universe pageant next year.”

Rath has been an active athlete since her youth, playing volleyball since the age of 13. Rath was a member of the national junior volleyball team and also competed in beach volleyball games for Belize both at home and abroad. At age 18, Rath began working for both the Belize Tourism Industry Association and the Belize Hotel Association, earning her valuable experience both locally and abroad while representing her country.

After the pageant, Rath stated, “I’ve always done my best to represent Belize, but getting dolled up for the Miss Universe pageant was in a different league. I did my best to make sure that everything turned out perfectly, and I think it all turned out quite well the way it did. Many people think that a pageant is just about a woman’s outer beauty, but it’s actually about choosing the right woman to represent your country. I am confident that I can do a great job representing Belize.”

Rath is a previous winner of the People’s Choice, Beach Body, and Top Model awards. Rath will represent Belize at the Miss Universe finals in the Philippines in January 2017.

The staff and management of Chabil Mar wish Rebecca Rath all the best of luck in the pageant.

After being rescheduled due to the arrival of Hurricane Earl in August, Belize will host the regional FIVB Men’s World Volleyball qualification tournament in Belize City on September 24-30, 2016. Competing in the regional qualification tournament along with Team Belize will be squads from Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.

The FIVB Men’s Volleyball qualification will be held in a round-robin format with three matches per day, giving fans the opportunity to see a total of 21 games of truly world class volleyball. Teams from the region will start arriving in Belize City on September 22 and the tournament will officially begin on September 24.

The matches will be held daily at 3:00, 5:00, and 7:30 pm. Host Belize will face El Salvador at 7:30 pm local time on opening day, September 24, and will compete at 7:30 on six of the seven nights. At the end of the seven days, the top two teams will progress to the continental round. From there, the top five teams on the continent will head to the World Championships to be held in Bulgaria and Italy.

The management and staff of Chabil Mar wishes all the best of luck to Team Belize.