7 News Belize

Concerns Deepen for Missing Girls
posted (February 4, 2011)
Police are tonight asking for the public's help in the case of Janessa Jones - who was found dead three weeks ago in the Belize River. Anyone who believes that they may have information in helping to solve this crime is asked to contact the nearest Police Station or call 922TIPS.

And there is also very serious concern for the whereabouts of 16 year old KHADISHA SARAGOZA, a student who has been missing for two weeks. KHADISHA was last seen wearing a yellow skinny jeans pants, a black blouse and a pair of black sandals. Investigators are appealing to the public to please come forward with any piece of information that they believe would be vital and can assist in locating KHADISHA SARAGOZA. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of KHADISHA SARAGOZA is asked to contact the nearest Police Station or call 922TIPS.

And you can also call that hotlines if you see 23 year old Miguel MAtus, a convicted killer who escaped yesterday. He is on the run, headed south and crime stoppers is offering a reward of a thousand dollars for information leading to his recapture….


Tablada Gets A House

Twenty years ago, just the mere mention of the word Tablada in the streets of Belize City could inspire fear in even the most hardened criminals. Indeed, Sargeant Gilbert Tablada ruled the streets with an iron first, or at least a hardwood cane.

But advancing age and tough times have left the once feared officer on hard times - living in a house with major structural problems.

Now he's gotten some relief as I found out today…

Jim McFadzean Reporting
The old decrepit structure the retired Police officer, along with his wife called home stands alongside the newly built home, a testament to the many years the Tablada's have had to weather the spoils of mother nature.

Ret'd Sgt. Gilbert Tablada, Recipient of new home
"This house that I am living now - i had to set bucket here and there and everywhere plus it leans. I was hoping for a new one, this is beyond repair so I had to get out of it."

The 77 year old Tablada who dedicated 27 years to the civil service told Seven News he'd come under hard times and while his cries for help rang hollow in the ears of the politicians, it was Hand in Hand Ministries and good corporate citizen Sol that answered his prayers.

Ret'd Sgt. Gilbert Tablada, Recipient of new home
"I glad that Hand in Hand Ministry is right here to help the poor of the poorest and in a short time. In 4 days this house is up like this. Four days that work fast and good. They are very professional. There are still good people in the world."

Hand in Hand Ministries has become a Godsend for many like the Tablada's, and because of the support it gets from the private sector, dozens more are expected to benefit this year.

Jim McFazdean
"I know there is no discrimination when it comes to who qualifies for this type of project because the last one was to a very young couple and here Mr. Tablada is a retired person."

Bernard Panton, Director, Hand in Hand Ministries
"Yes, again the criteria for us is the elderly, single parent, people living with or without aids and that more or less the regular criteria."

Jim McFazdean
"SOL is now involved with this project. What kind of reception are you getting from the business community?"

Bernard Panton, Director, Hand in Hand Ministries
"I think we are doing very well and SOL has been aware of our program for quite some time and I think they wanted to start a long time ago, now the opportunity has come and so we have had other organizations like some of the banks, like we had Atlantic Bank, we have Belize Bank, we have Scotia Bank that has built with us before. We have some of the schools, SJC have built with us and so we are getting a good reception from the local community."

Hand in Hand Ministries says it expects to build up to 22 similar homes this year. The two room wooden structure was financed by Petroleum giant, Sol, and built with volunteer help from its staff and family members.

Joe Habet, General Manager, Sol
"Last weekend myself along with our staff came out to work on this house for Mr. Tablada. To be honest we did not choose Mr. Tablada, Hand in Hand Ministries did. We choose a recipient but we are so happy that he as a recipient because as a kid we all have memories of Mr. Tablada serving this country heart and soul, so it was really a pleasure for us to know that he is a recipient of this house. Last weekend like I said we were all out here - our staff on Thursday and Friday and we completed it on Saturday. So now we are formally here to do a blessing of the house and hand it over to Mr. Tablada and I hope he certainly enjoy his new home."

The home was built at a cost of Fourteen Thousand dollars and come fully equipped with utility hookups and bathroom with modern conveniences.



Dara Does Honour To Bob

Dara Robinson is having his annual Bob Marley Birthday tribute concert this weekend and he's asking for your help. He says the as it has for the past six years vibes will be positive in memory of Marley, but it's the spirit of giving to his feeding program that's more important…

Joel "Dara" Robinson
"I tell people that Bob Marley said this and he always touch me. He said that his life is not important if we can't help a lot of people, he said if he can't help plenty of people then might as well he don't live. So when I celebrate Bob Marley birthday, I will not just celebrate his birthday as birthday because knowing him he hardly matter about that. You celebrate it and do the work of Bob. this is important to me, when you I collect can foods and thing out here because this goes to some of the same kids that are in the feeding program family and I reach out to many people otherwise who are suffering and that is easy for me to find because on a daily basis I deal with people. Like I say if I receive rice and beans and thing, I hold them for my feeding program and then the can food - I go around and share that. The entertainment part of it - for me it's easy because it's a clean conscious reggae show, it won't be anything slack, nothing out of the ordinary. It's just for people to out and listen to many of Bob music and others and just deal with togetherness and peace and love. But its Bob Marley day so trust me, you will get a lot of Bob Marley music and I demand from all my selector from my band to keep it clean and I will make sure that that happens. My event will not have anything "gangsterious", nothing with slackness and thing, we are not disrespectful, we don't disrespect any police or anybody it's just to come out and enjoy and togetherness. But this is my passion; I want the food because the food goes a long way."

It all happens tomorrow Saturday the fifth at MCC tennis court, near to MCC grounds from about 4 pm.


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