Sunday, March 29, 2009
BE ONE WITH BELIZE
A beautiful travel presentation on Belize. "Mother Nature's Best Kept Secret"
Thursday, March 26, 2009
YOUNG BELIZEAN MAN DEPENDS ON TEXANS TO STAY ALIVE

Wednesday, March 25, 2009
VIEW FROM CROOKED TREE VILLAGE
Monday, March 23, 2009
PLAY BALL

Friday, March 20, 2009
NEW VILLAGE COUNCIL IN CROOKED TREE VILLAGE

The Role of the Village Council
We all know that life in a Belizean village is a heavenly experience in which the neighbors are always friendly, exotic fruits are everywhere (mangos, mamie, cashew), fresh fish readily available, (crana, tuba, baysnook) and prime game meats (deer, gibnut, armadillo) adorned every table and the hardest decision you have to make is whether to relax after sunset in the company of cashew wine, berry wine or a cup of black tea. Of course, anyone who has actually spent much time in the villages knows that just below the tranquil surface of every rural community lies grave differences over things like money, crime, religion, sex and, of course, politics.
It can be argued that the heart and soul of Belize lies not in its cities and towns, but in the villages. Approximately half of Belize's population live in rural areas and with the National Association of Village Council and the Village Council Act, together these tools gives local councils more power, so that Village leaders can bond together to advance their common interests.
Village Councils, armed with the Village Council Act (VCA) have been given a great deal of authority and responsibility. Because of this act, Village Councils are responsible for the administration of the village.
The council, not just the chairman or an officer, are the first point of contact for anybody wanting to conduct business within the community or the village. They are in charge of the financial matters and are responsible for public property, for sanitation improvement and management, for fighting crime, the maintenance of streets, roads, and infrastructure and advancement of economic opportunities. The entire council has a wide range of responsibility, which also includes responsibility for land within the village and the surrounding village areas. So, with the Village Council Act, villages are equipped with a law to insure that people in the villages have a voice in the conduct of their affairs.
In addition to the VCA, there is the National Association of Village Council, which is actually mandated by the Village Council Act. Where individual Village Councils may have difficulty speaking for themselves, they can be spoken for by the District Association and at an even higher level, by the National Association. So it really represents a coming together of the voices of all of the villages, speaking through their District Associations, and their National Association.
Each Village Council serves a three year term of office.
Now this brings us to the situation that has been festering in Crooked Tree Village for the past two years. The Village has been without a council because of the elected officers’ differences with the chairman. You cannot have the chairman and the officers working to counteract each other; it’s just not going to work and in the end, who is going to suffer? The people and only the people! Politicians will argue day and night, but if the people do not get together and work out their differences, the village can lose economic opportunities. The people of Crooked Tree Village have put their trust in electing a council, a democratic process, and the Village Council is suppose to reflect their interest as to what is best for the village.
Crookedtreeans did not give up and on Sunday, March 15, 2008 with the District Association Officer, Mr. David Wade in attendance, a by-election was held for the election of new officers. The new officers have now pledge to work with the Chairman of the Village, Mr. George Guest and the remaining councilor Mr. Dione Crawford.
The new officers are: Mr. Rudy Crawford, Mrs. Sherolyn Webster, Mr. Denvo Gillett, Mr. Edwardo Ortega, and Mr. Churchill Gillett. They will serve out the remainder of the three year term, when new elections will be held on April 1, 2010.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
VIEW FROM CROOKED TREE VILLAGE

Sunday, March 15, 2009
EARTH HOUR: DO YOUR PART FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

Friday, March 13, 2009
CROOKED TREE VILLAGE ROAD PROJECT UPGRADE





Friday, March 6, 2009
BELIZE ALL OVER

Endangered species such as marine turtles, West Indian manatees, American marine crocodiles and a vast population of birdlife live in relative harmony along the barrier reef, avoiding the visitors and being carefully watched by conservationists who are keen to protect the reef's natural habitat and spectacular beauty.
Half Moon, located at the southeast corner of the Lighthouse Reef, is home to 4000 red footed Booby birds, and hundreds of Frigate birds. The island and the surrounding waters, was the first reserve to be established by the Natural Parks System Act of 1981 and are completely protected by the law. It's a National Monument and a World Heritage Site.
There's an observation platform in the middle of the bird sanctuary, and in the spring you'll see the fluffy Booby Bird chicks that seem larger than their parents! Bird enthusiasts will enjoy dozens of other species that inhabit the sanctuary. Bring your binoculars!
Besides birds, Half Moon Caye is home to huge hermit crabs that scuttle around the underbrush. For a demonstration of animal camouflage, try to spot the Wish Willy and Iguanas lying still in the branches of the Ziricote trees. Some of the iguanas are five feet in length, and don't worry, they're harmless, and keep to themselves.
Half Moon Caye has two distinct areas. The western side consists of dense Ziricote and Gumbo forest. This is the main animal/bird sanctuary and covers 30 acres. The other 16 acres has wide open sandy beaches scattered with palm trees.
Half Moon Caye is the perfect stopover for honeymooners - it's hard to believe there could be a more romantic place on earth! The area is also excellent for snorkelers since the dives sites are located close to shallow reef formations. If you are planning on a visit, keep in mind conservation and preservation when you dive and snorkel among the corals and sponges that are in an almost virgin state.

CAYE CAULKER
Caye Caulker is a small island village (5 mile long) located one mile west of Belize’s Barrier Reef. The population of the island is approximately 1300 and has a distinct Mestizo Mayan culture, and several other cultures; the Garifuna, the Creole and Mennonite are all represented here. English, Spanish and Creole are the lingua francas.
In terms of tourism, Caye Caulker is second only to San Pedro, but it still retains a small island charm. The town is still very intimate, except at Easter and Christmas time when native Belizeans descends on the island for holidays.
If you think you’ll get bored here, think again. The adventures are endless!
The most popular attraction is snorkeling and what better place than at the world’s second largest barrier reef! For day trips, there are tour operators, with lunch included. The most popular trips are Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley where you can get up-close with sea turtles, Moray Eels, stingrays and of course, swimming with Nurse Sharks.
You can book these tours and trips with Ragamuffin Tours on the island. And if your pleasure is more leisurely, they also offer a three-day sailing adventure to Placencia Village in Southern Belize.
Are you getting hungry yet? Well, there’s lot to eat and drink to fit every wallet. You can splurge with freshly grilled seafood, Belizean dishes or better yet, for the budget-conscious traveler, hamburgers, tacos and burritos can be had for as little as BZ$2.00.
If you are wondering how you will get to this island, well wonder no more. You can fly in from the Belize International Airport or the airstrip in Belize City. A round trip ticket cost Bz$140 and flights depart every 2 hours.
Most people come by the way of water taxi or Ferries that run every few hours from Belize City. The 45 minutes trip cost Bz$15 each way and the last boat leaves the island at 6 p.m.
Getting to Placencia is either by road or air. If you have the time, driving is very picturesque and most of the roads are in good conditions.
Wondering what you can do in Placencia? It’s the perfect place for relaxation! Everything on the peninsula is calm and stress-free. Main Street is simply an elevated walkway, one mile long, and it’s listed in the “Guinness Book of World Record” as the narrowest street in the world. You can find a number of accommodations, restaurants and gift shops along the walkway.
Placencia is world renowned for its offshore fishing and because the world’s second largest barrier reef is just offshore, snorkeling and diving are excellent. The phenomenal blue waters are perfect for water sports like kayaking and sailing or you can hire a boat to the near-by Laughing Bird Cayes, a National Park.
There are numerous tour guides in the Village that can take you to nearby nature attractions like the Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve, Maya Ruins or exploring the Monkey River.
Belizeans from all walks of life descends on the peninsula for its annual Lobster Fest, held in June. The festival is filled with music, games, and Belizean beers and of course, food-- lobster in every form imaginable.
Accommodations range in prices from the very luxury resorts up the coast, to the inexpensive bed-and-breakfast inside the village. Restaurants are in abundance and seafood is amazingly fresh.
So, come on! Let’s go to Placencia and kick off our shoes!!
Welcome to Crooked Tree Village, a neighborhood of friendly people!!
Believe it or not, Crooked Tree is actually an inland island. It is surrounded by Revenge Lagoon, Northern Lagoon, Western Lagoon and Spanish Creek. Crooked Tree is located 33 miles north of Belize City and two miles off the Northern Highway, connected by a one mile causeway.
Crooked Tree has become known as a wildlife sanctuary and its annual Cashew Festival. The sanctuary is managed by The Audubon Society, after the Forestry Department, in 1984, declared the area protected under the Wildlife Protection Act. The sanctuary is home to the famous “Jabiru Stork”, the largest bird in the Western Hemisphere. The Jabiru has a wing span of 10-12 feet and is listed as an endangered species. Around the lagoons you will find many other birds feeding on the abundant food resources that the lagoons provide; the Great Egrets, Kingfishers, Ospreys, Black Hawks and many others. The entire area is a must for international birders.
The traditional way of life for the Villagers has always been hunting, fishing and farming. When the area was declared a protected sanctuary, the Villagers viewed it as a declaration of war, as they felt that their livelihood and lifestyle is being threatened. A compromised was reached with the Audubon Society, whereas, the Villagers were allowed to hunt and fish on a “needs” basis to meet their domestic demands.
The Cashew Festival is an annual celebration of the harvesting of the Cashew Nuts and is held the first weekend in May. The festival started with one man’s vision, Mr. Rudy Crawford who initially thought that his Village could be self sustaining. The festival is a community event to market their local products from the Cashew crops and includes roasted cashew nuts, cashew wine, cashew jam, cashew cake and an assortment of local delicacies. Preparing the nut is a very lengthy process which requires a lot of patience. It is roasted over an open fire, after which it is broken from its outer shell and roasted in an oven. Because it is so time consuming, it makes it very expensive on the open market.
Here’s a list of visitor’s information and sanctuary rules from the Audubon Society.
Entrance fees are Bz$2 for nationals and BZ$8 for non-nationals.
Opening hours are 8 a.m-4:30 p.m.
To help maintain the sanctuary's pristine condition, we ask that all visitors observe the following regulations.
Please register at the visitor's center. Please do not harm or capture any animals or birds. Please do not collect or remove any plants or trees. No fishing or hunting for non-nationals. No firearms allowed. Do not litter and please leave trash in bins provided.
Please stay on the trails and boardwalks. Bring sturdy shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent and plenty of water.
No matter what time of the year you visit, Crooked Tree Village is a pleasant experience with friendly people and natural beauty.
Monday, March 2, 2009
VIEW FROM CROOKED TREE VILLAGE


