Belize Mennonites: News

     A sudden freak thunderstorm yesterday morning swept through Indian Creek village, a community of Old Colony Mennonites in Orange Walk, southwest of Shipyard. Building roofs were ripped off, roads and pastures were temporarily under water, and several heads of cattle were struck by lightning and died. There are no reports of personal injuries or fatalities.

   Western Dairies headquarters in Spanish Lookout   Four Garifuna women from Stann Creek District in southern Belize are accusing Western Dairies ( a Mennonite-owned dairy parlor) of racism and unfair treatment after being suddenly terminated from their respective departments when new management was installed. According to them, their letters state the termination but not the reasons for it which has left them visibly upset and claiming that the issue stems from racial discrimination . Their situation was broadcast live on Facebook by the mayor of the town who promised to fully investigate the matter.

     On Friday evening there was a fatal accident on the Iguana Creek Road, near the Rig Parts business establishment. Based on witnesses a vehicle drove out on the main road onto the path of an oncoming motorcycle causing the collision. The motorbike driver was rushed to the hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. The victim is a resident of DuckRun 1 village.

     Mennonite businessmen from Orange Walk were the victims of an armed assault in BlackMan Eddy Village, near Spanish Lookout by the Iguana Creek junction. According to a report the Mennonites stopped to refuel their vehicle during which time unkown men approached them and demanded money. One of the victims attempted to flee but was injured from shots fired at him by one of the robbers. He then complied and handed over a bag of money containing several thousand dollars. The robbers then escaped.

      The government of Belize imposed a new law last week on house builders and transporters ; they can no longer move houses in the daytime. Transportation of houses on public roads can only be done between 9PM and 4AM. Notably this might lead to a higher cost for the customer but in the end the buyer has no choice. Based on reports, police sometimes clashed with the Mennonites who are the major house builders in the country; some cops insisted it be done at night then at night other cops complained that it should be performed only in the daytime which has caused some Mennonites no end of headache. Finally the government made up its mind.

     Last week a woman in Spanish Lookout was attacked and severely stung by Africanized honey bees, also known as "killer" bees. According to the daughter, her mother had been hunting for a lost pet when she was attacked. More than a hundred stings were found on her after she was rushed to the hospital. Fortunately she survived and is now home under strict orders to rest and recover.   Africanized "killer" bees travel in swarms and are much more defensive in protecting their colony than the regular European honeybee. They attack in swarms, are easily irritated by friction, vibrations and strong scents such as perfume, bug spray or aerosol paints. Although rare that a person will die from their stings, they have been known and observed to kill domestic animals such as dogs and cats.

     There was a traffic accident on Center Road, Spanish Lookout today afternoon between a 4-door pickup and a motorcycle. The motorbike driver was injured but as of this moment we do not know to what extent.