The Museum of Belize has 4 new paintings that it has added to its national collection of artworks produced by Belizean artists.
These new ones come from Belizean American Robert S. Reyes, who grew up in Belize and migrated to the US to establish himself as a painter, and an architect in California. The donations were made with the help of Governor General Sir Colville Young, who is his long-time friend.
NICH and the Museum of Belize held a small induction ceremony for the collection this afternoon. 7News stopped by there to speak with the Museum Director about the importance of a national collection like this one. Here's what he told us:
The paintings have been appraised at a value of $350,000.
General Says Paying Civilians To Play is No Big Deal
Much has been made in certain circles of a 2009 document which recently surfaced showing that the BDF used force monies to pay civilians to play for and coach its Semi-pro football team. Today, the BDF commander says that it's no big deal, really:
Brig. Gen. David Jones, Commander - BDF
"That report that came out was something that happened in 2009. I'm not aware of how much they were paid at that time and so I will not comment on that, but I know the practice has been happening for years were civilians have been recruited into the volunteers and the primary purpose for them was to play on the BDF football team. So, being that they were volunteer soldier, they can do duties but also they are being used to play and represent the BDF on their football team. The BDF team is a moral element for the force. It's a proud moment for the soldiers to have, a football team in the premiere league and it is also important that we recruited other civilian players to play with them, but it is something that the soldiers embrace and they don't have an issue with. I don't really have an issue with it but when we recruited civilians as volunteers, we have them play on the football team, we don't really have an issue with it."
Jules Vasquez
"It is okay, to pay coaches, to pay semipro football players as a part of the BDF payroll?"
Brig. Gen. David Jones, Commander - BDF
"The coaches are not being paid. I don't know what happened previously but I am aware now that coaches are not being paid for now, but I know there is 5 civilian players that are allowed to be a part of the BDF team and those people do get a salary from the team. When I was approached by our officers, they said we will not contend unless we recruit some civilian players, so they approach me with their request and I am fine with the request and I will continue to allow them to be a part of the team."
The BDF team last won the Semi pro title in 2011.
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