The National Basketball Team of Belize won bronze medals for the country in the XI Central American Games that was held in Nicaragua this month.

The victory represent the first medals for Belize at the games.

According to a release from the Belize Basketball Federation (BBF), Team Belize played their hearts out and held on to close out a 63-58 victory over Honduras to secure the medals.

“While the team was shooting for gold, this achievement against tough competition is encouraging for the BBF’s National Team Programme. Head Coach Milton Palacio, former NBA, Euroleague and Team Belize standout player, has pledged his commitment to continue the process of rebuilding the National Team Programme in developing young players and coaches going forward, and in preparation for the upcoming international basketball competition cycle,” the release from the BBF states.

In February 2018, the first round of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) AmeriCup competition will commence and will see the participation of Team Belize.

The FIBA AmeriCup competition marks the launch of a new competition and Olympic qualifying format, being adopted by FIBA which features a new “home and away” structure for international play.

This new format allows exposure of Team Belize and the country in each round, and permits  fans with the best opportunity to provide maximum support when Belize host its opponents at each stage of play. The availability of the soon to be completed Belize Civic Center, with FIBA approved specifications, is therefore considered very timely.

The BBF is a non-profit organization which relies solely on contributions and assistance from the private sector and the public at large for their programmes.

On behalf of Chabil Mar Management and Staff, we extend congratulations to team Belize for winning bronze medals in Nicaragua.

Belizean Roward Garel has won the title of Caribbean Adventure Ambassador of the year for 2017 with 1975 votes, according to a release from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).

Garel who was born blind is known for using this disability to undertake extraordinary feats. For example, he is the only visually impaired person to ever climb Victoria Peak, the second highest mountain in Belize that stands at over 3,000 feet above sea level.

He has also trekked 74.6 miles from Belize’s western border to Belize City in 5 long grueling days under the hot sun and has dived the world renowned Blue Hole, one of the top diving spots in Belize and the world.

His efforts have been dedicated exclusively to raising funds for the Belize Council for Visually Impaired (BCVI) and has not only increased public awareness of the services offered by BCVI, but the organization has also been able to expand its services to visually impaired people throughout Belize.

For the Caribbean Adventure Ambassador title, Garel went against Jake Kelsick of Antigua & Barbuda (1, 471 votes), Jeremie Tronet of St Vincent & the Grenadines (896 votes), Courtenay Bushman Rooks of Trinidad & Tobago (542 votes), and Mario Rigby of Turks & Caicos Islands (387 votes) who made it to the top five!

“We love the work that you do and we hope that you will continue to spread the spirit of adventure throughout the Caribbean,” the CTO said to all contestants.

On behalf of Chabil Mar Management & Staff, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Garel and the other contestants in the Caribbean that entered the competition.

The planet celebrated World Toilet Day on November 19, and many people in Belize decided to contribute pictures, stories, and information on social media about the restroom facilities found throughout the country.

As a rural country, many homes in Belize are very simple, and that includes the bathrooms of their houses. While the word “outhouse” often conveys a sense of horror to some people, they are quite prevalent in certain areas of Belize, including on beautiful offshore islands.

In areas where there are no municipal sewer networks, outhouses are often a viable choice. And while they conjure up images of insect-infested, smelly, and uncomfortable toilets, outhouses can often be a very “green” and pleasant way to dispose of human waste.

Many villagers in Belize live in simple homes and their lifestyle has changed little over the centuries, including their restroom facilities. But when constructed and executed properly, the simple outhouse can efficiently recycle human waste in a sustainable way.

For outhouses that serve the public, mixing waste with organic material renders everything odor-free. Furthermore, the mixture can then be composted and returned to the soil, a very “green” alternative to relying on toxic chemicals and expensive portable toilets that are often used in wealthier countries when municipal sewage connections are not available.

Of course, not every home or business or resort in Belize uses outhouses. Many homes, hotels, lodges, and resorts have ordinary, modern flush toilets just like you’d find in the United States or Canada. And while these offer visitors an accustomed comfort, waste disposal is an integral part of protecting and conserving nature.

Since gaining independence in 1981, Belize has made tremendous strides in improving infrastructure, including sewage lines, flush toilets, and water treatment plants. But in rural, isolated, or offshore locations, sometimes the best option can be a simple outhouse, relying on nature’s bounty to do the recycling and composting in a way that has functioned well for thousands of years.

Visitors to Belize can expect adventure, and part of that experience is seeing and using different kinds of bathrooms, including outhouses. But instead of fearing what it might entail, visitors should keep an open mind and realize that sometimes, an outhouse is safer, cleaner, and more efficient than a modern flush toilet.

Chabil Mar resort is located on the Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize. Chabil Mar has luxuriously appointed beachfront villas, all of which come with modern bathroom facilities.