 HAPPY 51th. WEDDING ANNIVERSARY  On July 14, 1974, we were married in Dangriga at the Sacred Heart Church. The reception was held at the Pelican Beach Resort. Our Anniversary brings back many happy memories of not only that day but also of the many years we have spent together. Other than those memories, we have four wonderful children, fourteen amazing grandchildren, and six adorable great-grandchildren. A Happy 51st Anniversary to us both. GRACIAS A DIOS MONUMENT  Dr. Anderson at the ‘Gracias A Dios Monument’ accompanied by soldiers of the Belize Defence Force, May 2025. The ‘Gracias A Dios Monument’ is a significant border marker. It marks the Southwestern border between Belize and Guatemala and is located at Gracias a Dios Falls which is on the Sarstoon River that forms part of the international border between Belize and Guatemala. It was erected after the exchanges of Notes between the British and Guatemalan Governments in 1931. Boundary Commissioners had first visited in 1860, the year after the 1859 Wyke-Aycinena Treaty in which Great Britain and Guatemala signed a boundary treaty which defined Belize’s borders as from the Rio Hondo to Sarstoon. The treaty was signed 30 April 1859 by Pedro de Aycinena, Guatemalan Foreign Minister, and Charles Lennox Wyke, British Chargé d'affaires and Plenipotentiary to Guatemala. Both Guatemala and Britain ratified it, and it is still a legally valid treaty. Two stone cairns were erected, one at ‘Gracias A Dios,’ the other at Garbutt Falls on the Belize River; these mark the border between Belize and Guatemala. To the west of Garbutt Falls is the town of Melchor de Mencos (Guatemala) and to the east is Benque Viejo del Carmen (Belize). Belize’s border was determined to begin at the mouth of the River Sarstoon in the Bay of Honduras thereafter proceeding up the mid-channel thereof to Gracias a Dios Falls, then turning to the right and continuing by a line drawn direct from Gracias A Dios Falls to Garbutt’s Falls on the River Belize and from Garbutt’s Falls due north until it strikes the Mexican frontier where there is the Aguas Turbias Border Marker. A survey was carried out opening the line from Gracias A Dios to Garbutt Falls. Several stone cairns that were erected along the route remain today. Near the mouth of the Sarstoon River there is Sarstoon Island which is part of the Toledo District. The island is mostly mangrove swampland, is uninhabited, and it covers approximately 0.68 square kilometres. According to the Wyke-Aycinena Treaty of 1859, “any islands which may be found [within the Sarstoon River] shall belong to that Party on whose side of the main navigable channel they are situated.” In 1860, commissioners for British Honduras (now Belize) and Guatemala surveyed the Sarstoon River and found that the river’s current predominantly passed to the south of the island, making Sarstoon Island part of the territory of British Honduras. Sarstoon Island has been a focal point of the Belizean–Guatemalan territorial dispute, with Guatemala recently making claims to the island   MISS UNIVERSE BELIZE  Isabella Zabaneh has been named Miss Universe Belize 2025 and will be travelling to Thailand to represent our country of Belize. She was born in Dallas, Texas, to an American mother and Belizean father but has lived in Belize since she was two months old. At age fourteen, she won the Miss Independence Contest. During her reign, she co-founded ‘Project Royalty’ with her mother—a nonprofit that started by providing free prom and pageant gowns to girls in need. The organization has since evolved into a support network for young women. Academically, she has a Bachelor’s degree in ‘International Studies’ and is currently pursuing a MA in ‘Professional Communication.’ She is also a model. As she represents Belize in the international arena, we wish her the best and know that she will represent us impressively and that she will carry our entire nation’s support with her. The 2025 competition featured five remarkable young women: Monisha Hyde, Imani Jex, Hope Panton, Libny Rodriguez, and Isabella Zabaneh. Monisha Hyde earned the title of First Runner-up, while Hope Panton placed as Second Runner-up. Hope Panton was also named Miss Photogenic, and Imani Jex was awarded Miss Congeniality  Monisha Hyde is a Pharmacist, Rotarian, Health & Education Advocate, is involved in Gun Violence Prevention, and is a Fitness Enthusiast. She overcame a young life faced with poverty and violence by focusing on health and education. Through her campaign ‘Books Over Bullets, she promotes education over violence and offers mentorship, scholarships, and safe spaces. She views education as a key tool for breaking cycles of violence and poverty, and advocates strongly for youth empowerment. As a Rotarian, she participates in impactful community projects; she is the upcoming Community Service Director for the Belmopan Rotary Club. Her accomplishments show that with belief and determination, anyone can overcome adversity and achieve their dreams
The Miss Universe Belize Crown The current Miss Belize Universe’s crown was created by Inga Woods-Waight, an engineering student, glass blower, and STEM Advocate; STEM is a Belize-based program that supports educational activities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The glass crown, adorned with delicate gold accents, draws inspiration from the captivating beauty of Belize’s national flower, the Black Orchid. The Miss Universe Belize Organization explains: “Five intricately crafted black orchid-shaped flowers embellish the crown, reflecting the rich diversity and allure of Belize. The clear glass symbolizes clarity of purpose and vision while the gold accents represent resilience and strength. This piece serves as a wearable art, embodying empowerment, grace, and the unique spirit of Belizean identity.” (From an article by Zoila Palma Gonzalez) For a history of Miss Universe Belize Queens, please go to the link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Universe_Belize  Publishers Note: We were unable to publish our May and June Newsletters as we were away from our office, happily in Belize. If you know someone who would like to receive our monthly Newsletter, please have them go to CONTACT at our website and send us an e-mail: http://jabirubooksbelize.com Please note that our Newsletters are also published on our FaceBook page at: https://www.facebook.com/JabiruBooksBelize Thank you for forwarding and sharing this Newsletter BOOKS WRITTEN BY DR. HENRY W. ANDERSON Add these great books to your personal library for your reading pleasure in 2025  Are you looking for novels, short stories, poems, you will find nowhere else, a book like CUBES that explores USA Society, books that will take you from the depths of space to the eye of a hurricane? Or, perhaps, you would like to sail with the sea captains of Belize as they face violent storms, ghost ships, and specters on lonely islands. The great Sisimito Series invites you to live an unforgettable adventure within the pristine jungles of Belize, the dangerous world of Sisimito and the Jungle folk, the magnificent city of Ox Witz Ha and the Maya Civilization. Soon to be published is Dr. Henry W. Anderson’s latest book, I Dream of Obwaandi’eyaag (Pontiac), Buffalo and Prairies, which brings to you the mythology, battles, and struggles of the Indigenous Nations of North America in an outstanding adventure. Dr. Henry W. Anderson’s books are available as E-books and Print-on-Demand at store.bookbaby.com (BookBaby Bookshop), recommended, and other worldwide retailers: For store.bookbaby.com, go to: https://store.bookbaby.com/profile/jabirubooksbelizecom Please visit our website at http://jabirubooksbelize.com Soon to be published: SISIMITO V - THE FALL OF YAXCHÉ; The final book of the extraordinary Sisimito Series. I DREAM OF OBWAANDI’EYAAG (PONTIAC), BUFFALO AND PRAIRIES. BOOK ONE. INFORMATION/LINKS The works by Dr. Henry W. Anderson are available at the libraries of the Belize National Library Service and Information System. For more information, please go to: https://www.bnlsis.org/ Once on the website, you may go to ‘Public Library Catalogue’ then to ‘Subject;’ select ‘Author’ and put in Henry Anderson; or use the link below to go directly to Dr. Anderson books: https://bnlsis.mlasolutions.com/m5/catalog/(S(tsaodaxofc2mvp3zhpl4wwt2))/Default.aspx?internal=1&installation=LeoBradley Dr. Henry W. Anderson books are also available as E-books and Print-on-Demand at store.bookbaby.com (BookBaby Bookshop), recommended, and other worldwide retailers: Other E-Book Retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Vearsa, Kobo, OverDrive, Copia, Gardners Books, Baker & Taylor, eSentral, Scribd, Ciando, hoopla, Playster, and many more. Other Print-on-Demand Retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell’s and thousands of other stores and wholesale bookstore catalogs like Ingram and Baker & Taylor, around the world. For store.bookbaby.com, go to: https://store.bookbaby.com/profile/jabirubooksbelizecom Visit us at: https://www.facebook.com/JabiruBooksBelize Visit our website at http://jabirubooksbelize.com 
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