San Pedro Daily
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Ambergris Caye, Belize Wednesday July 25, 2007 Belize's only Daily- Seven Days a Week |
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BELIZE COAST GUARD SERVICE ENHANCES
CAPABILITIES
The Belize Coast Guard
Service has
embarked on a
series of activities to enhance its capabilities.The training aims to
prepare the service in areas of search and rescue, and hurricane
eventualities.General Cedric Borland, shares with us what’s happening
this week.
General Cedric Borland “We are enhancing our diving skills as well.We should be sending off four individuals to do some dive training locally in order to prepare us for underwater search and rescue but we continue to work particularly in the area of safety.We know that in the coming months when the tourism season increase,there will be a need for search and rescue and so we are diligently working on that right now.” Marion Ali:Love FM “What aspects of searching and rescuing are you looking at?” General Cedric Borland “We are looking at information that’s being passed to us in regards to search and rescue.The thing is,in the past,the information takes long to come to the coastguard for us to respond and so we want the general public to have immediate access to the coastguard where search and rescue is concerned.The fact of getting out,there where these people are,that needs to rescue.We have also been working closely with the Belize Defense Force to provide air searches for us where search and rescue is concerned.And the next aspect of rescue is actually is recovering people from the water or properties from the water for that matter;whether it be surface or sub-surface,we’re working on that as well.” We asked General Borland how able the Coast Guard Service is to rescue people stranded on the outermost cayes, such as Turneffe in the event of an impending hurricane. General Cedric Borland “We consider ourselves well prepared for the hurricane season.I mentioned we have equipment,we have eight vessels and they’re all up and running.We have been working closely with NEMO in order to get our plan in to place.Our particular responsibility would be first,to look at the evaluation of the islands and cayes and we have been working with NEMO is that regard and also with the emergency committees at Caye Caulker and San Pedro in supervising the evacuation.The next aspect again is search and rescue-during and after the storm.And then the next aspect of our responsibility is supporting the relief supplies and the relief effort after the storm has passed.” Marion Ali:Love FM “Let’s say somebody is stranded in Lighthouse Reef,Turneffe,how would you go out and actually rescue those people?” General Cedric Borland “Well we have plans in place to rescue these people or to recover these people.We will have boats stationed at Caye Caulker and San Pedro,in addition to boats at our base that will be able to respond to these calls.Our base right now is Ladyville and they’re using the river to access the sea.We think at this time,that is suitable for us because we’re also protected in that area from the sea surges or storms.” We also asked whether our local fleet has received any recent donations of vessels or equipment. General Cedric Borland “We have been working very closely with the US in regards to increasing our capacity.First of all,we’re looking at constructing a base out at Kalabash Caye for an operational base.We’re hoping that the construction for that will commence late this year or early next year.The next aspect of capacity building is we expect to be receiving fast boats from the US as well and that should come online about May or June next year.We will be sending up about fifteen people to be trained to operate these vessels.It runs about 60-65 mph.They should be pretty good.” The Coast Guard Service was commissioned in 2005 and receives assistance from the U-S Coast Guard. Read More Counterfeit Colgate
Toothpaste
Further to press release
dated 25th of June 2007, on Contaminated
Toothpaste, on the market under the label “Colgate”, the Ministry of
Health says that Health Canada is warning consumers not to use the
counterfeit product falsely labeled as Colgate Fluoride
Toothpaste Maximum Cavity Protection.
Ongoing testing has resulted in preliminary evidence of a further, potentially harmful bacterial contamination. If confirmed, the presence of this bacterium could pose a serious health risk. The Ministry of Health therefore advises anyone who suspects they may be in possession of counterfeit toothpaste to discontinue use immediately and to discard the toothbrush. The toothpaste tube should be sealed and placed in sealed bag. Hands should be washed after handling the tube. The product should also be kept out of reach of children. The Ministry of Health also informs the public that the search for and confiscation of this product is on-going. Everyone is therefore urged to notify the nearest Public Health Department Office in the districts or the Ministry of Health of any suspected counterfeit toothpaste. The public is also encouraged to make reports at the nearest Public Health Office or to the Ministry of Health in Belmopan at 822-2325 if any suspected “Counterfeit toothpaste” is found. Read More From The Publisher
Amandala Crack
cocaine addiction is considered a crime in Belize. So crack addicts are
treated as criminals. Crack addiction, however, is a psychological and
chemical illness which should be considered a medical problem rather
than a legal one. Crack addicts have little control over what they do.
They are in the grips of a plague which is much bigger than they are.
Crack addiction is a great curse in the streets of Belize City. The crackheads make walking in the streets an adventure which is usually unpleasant, when it is not actually provocative or alarming. The quality of Belize’s daily community life has deteriorated so drastically over the past two decades, most Belizeans have despaired to the point where everybody who can afford it, tries to “bolt” on weekends and holidays. As it is now, it is very difficult to differentiate among beggars, crackheads and criminals. The crackheads are all three of the above, while a beggar is a beggar and a criminal is a criminal. If there was some way we could take the crack addicts out of the mix, then we could better assist the beggars and more effectively punish the criminals. If you identify a problem, then I suppose you should offer a solution. The only immediate solution I can think of is for the Government of Belize to construct a clinic where crack addicts would be confined while an attempt is made to take them off the chemical dependency. Read More NOTICES/LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
"Every cloud has a silver lining", and mine is shinier than ever! On separate occasions in the past 4 weeks I had some of my possessions stolen from me. I hastened to remind myself that these were only material objects, all of which are easily replaceable. I also boosted myself with the fact that I'm happy and I'm healthy. However, when my mobile phone was snatched in the street it seemed like the last straw, and I just sat down and cried. Then my silver lining got really shiny, and that was created by my friends. You guys have surprised me in more ways than one and really made me realize just how lucky I am. There is nothing that can replace you, and I am truly grateful that you all are in my life. THANK YOU TO THE WHOLE GANG! You all know who you are! and you have made me feel terrific! All the best, Cindy THOUGHT
OF THE DAY
The most successful people are those who are good at plan B. |
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