Guava Limb canoe wins Ruta Maya River Challenge

The “Slim & Trim like a Guava Limb” team of 15-year-old Danny Cruz Jr, and 19-year-olds Javier Guardado and Andres Cabb won the 24th annual Ruta Maya River Challenge, a gruelling 174-mile, four-day paddle down the Belize River from the Hawkesworth Bridge in San Ignacio to the Bel-Can Bridge in Belize City to capture the coveted Kinich Ahau trophy and the grand first prize. Danny began paddling the Ruta Maya as a Junior in 2017 when he was 9 years old, and he has matured to win it all!

Along the way, they had won a $50 station prize at the Young Bank ferry and the $250 first prize as the 1st Men’s canoe to complete the first stage of the race to Banana Bank in 4:58:04, 3 minutes 39 seconds ahead of the 12 times defending champions - Team P.A.C.T. The PACT men took over the lead on the 2nd day to win the $250 in prizes at Bermudian Landing in 4:50:40; while Gauva Limb men won the $200 prize at Willows Bank and a $75 prize as the 2nd men’s team to finish the 2nd stage in 4:50:41. PACT led again on Day 3, sweeping $150 in station prizes to Burrel Boom, where they won a $600 prize as the first canoe, clocking 4:55:54, while “Guava Limb” was only a second behind to win the $75 prize in the men’s division. On the 4th and final day, “Guava Limb” was first across the finish line, beating the Koop Sheet Metal team by a half a boat-length.

Males

1st “Slim & Trim like a Guava Limb” - Javier Guardado, Danny Cruz Jr, Andres Cabb – 18:18:36

2nd Koop Sheet Metal - Christian Lopez, Carlos Linarez, Enrique Cruz –18:19:21

3rd Team P.A.C.T. - Amado Cruz, Daniel Cruz, Jerry Cante – 18:23:02

Females

1st Belize Coast Guard “Born Strong” - Dana Alford, Gianni Gomez, Diana Velasquez - 22:28:28

2nd Fitness Elites – Narissa Shaw, Mildred Calderon, Rosa Montero –24:16:26

3rd “Canooe Belize It – The White Girls Passed You” - 31:03:44

Family Adventure

1st Santander Sugar Group – Jonathan Giron, Gerson Girson, Jermaine Sutherland – 18:51:47

2nd Audubon Green Guardians D-Pest – Rudolph Sho and his sons Rhuan and Roel – 18:53:21

3rd “Fast Forward” 19:47:51

Mixed

1st Galen Eagles – Sheffan Hemmans, Roxanna Lemus, Michael Moreno –19:43:04

2nd SeaSure Stars - Avis Guydis, Gustavo Pott and Jermaine Sanchez –20:28:18

3rd “Canooe Belize it” - Dustin Reyes, Chelsea Reyes, Berrisford Reyes –21:14:52

Masters

1st Hells Bells - Leroy Romero, Dave Newton, Luis Martin – 20:18:36

2nd BTB Vincent Guydis Canoes – Bob Vincent, Chris Guydis, Gwnme Hayman – 21:14:44

3rd “Everyting Aarite” - Mike, Scotie and Mikie - 21:22:55

Intramural

1st University of Belize Black Jaguars 1 – Alex Sosa, John Myvett, Kirk Williams – 21:33:15

3rd University of Belize Black Jaguars 2 – Keane Gillett, Elton Henderson, Brent Dubon – 16:27:48.

Pleasure

1st “Environ-Men” - Pernell Flowers, Sandeep Betancourt, Sergio Lopez20:12:18

2nd “Weh Dem Deh” - Miguel Guerra, Daniel Harris, Jesus Cruz – 20:22:48

3rd “Si Wi Yah” - Mario Recinos, Jason Carrillo, Dean Harris – 21:56:08

C-2

1st “Flick” - Ostim & Kurt – 20:59:38.

2nd Universal Hardware – Jimmy Donis, Josue Giron – 21:07:32

3rd BATSUB/RF&G Life “Turtle Express”: Pierre Obando, Zuner Hernandez – 21:24:42.

Youngest paddlers

Two father and son teams shared the honor of having the youngest paddlers in the race: 11-year-old Thomas Searle of the Sea Sports team “Watt A Ting” paddled with his father Michael Searle and uncle Johnny “Watt” Searle: 22:17:06, while 11-year-old Leon Lord Jr paddled with his father Leon Lord Sr and Angel Ramos of the Ladyville Old Road team.

All teams won $50 station prizes for being the first team in their respective categories to pass a given station, and at the end of each stage, the top 3 in each category won a $100 first prize, a $75 second prize or a $50 third prize.

Tender For The Supply Of Food Items And Household Sundries To The Belize Defence Force Fiscal Year

Continued from page 22

Sauce (MARIE SHARP) (10

5 FEB 2023

Public Notice

Lodgment of an EIA Report and Public Consultation For

Cockroach Caye Ltd.

For the construction of a Private Residence at Cockroach Caye – Turneffe Atoll

The General Public is hereby informed that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for a Private Residence to be located on Cockroach Caye – Turneffe Atoll, within the Belize District was submitted to the Department of the Environment (DOE) by Cockroach Caye Ltd. The EIA report will be reviewed by the National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC) before a final decision is taken by the DOE.

The General Public is therefore advised that the EIA will be available for public review from February 28th to March 14th, 2023. The public is invited to submit their comments in writing before March 19th, 2023 to the DOE at the DOE address of 7552, Hummingbird Highway, Belmopan or to email envirodept@environment.gov.bz or eiaunit@environment.gov.bz, or by link: https://forms.gle/9niygtTNsWvGPSau5

The EIA-Report and its annexes can be reviewed, free of charge, Mondays to Fridays, during the normal working hours of (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM) at the Leo Bradley Library (BZ City), Port Loyola Library (BZ City), the Caye Caulker Library, and the San Pedro Library. The EIA report and its annexes are also accessible on the DOE’s website at the following link: https://doe.gov.bz/environmental-clearance/

Kindly be informed that a hybrid public consultation for the EIA will be held on March 23rd, 2023, commencing at 6:30 pm at Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel. An online link will be provided near the date (March 23rd, 2023)of the Public Consultation.

The public is invited to participate in-person or virtually to this public consultation to express their concerns and/or provide comments/input to the DOE regarding this proposed project activity.