Melina is being coached for the pageant by Mr. Malcolm Hitchcock of Fido's Courtyard and began her training on Wednesday. Miss Diaz is the daughter of Ilda Guerrero Diaz of San Pedro Town and Ruperto Diaz.

    Queen contestants have also been confirmed from the countries of El Salvador and Honduras but the actual names of the participants have not been revealed as yet.

     Committee members have also generated much needed income in the past week. Bowen & Bowen and Belize Tourism Board (BTB) have both pledged $10,000 cash plus services for the gala event. BTB will provide Tourism Police for the festival and assume the expense for their food and accommodations. Belize Electricity Limited has tentatively pledged a combination of cash and prizes totaling $5000. This is to be confirmed at a later date.

    The committee met Wednesday evening to discuss the list of entertainers being considered at this time. These will be announced in next week's edition. Cultural entertainment from Guatemala and Mexico will be provided and the committee awaits contact from the remaining Mundo Maya countries.    

    Sponsorship is needed to make this festival a success. Cash sponsors are preferred, but anyone wishing to donate anything, financially, through services or product, may contact Melanie Paz at Amigos del Mar, 2706 or Gach Guerrero at Amigo Travel, 2180. Sponsorship categories and benefits are as follows: Grand Sponsor - $25,000 donation of cash or a combination of cash and services. Grand sponsors will have a street banner hung in a prominent downtown location one week prior to the Festival. Additionally, their company logo will appear on the sleeve of the official Costa Maya T-shirt, be printed on all tickets and will also be displayed at the festival grounds. The company will receive prominent media recognition before and after the festival, a booth to display product at the festival, and twelve festival passes. Diamond Sponsor - $10,000 donation of cash or a combination of cash and services. Diamond sponsors will have a street banner hung in a prominent downtown location one week prior to the festival, a company logo displayed on the backside of the official T-shirt, prominent media recognition before and during the festival, a booth to display product at the festival, and eight festival passes. Platinum Sponsor - $5,000 donation of cash or a combination of cash and services. Platinum sponsors will have a street banner, their logo displayed on the backside of the official T-shirt, mention on radio and in print media, and six festival passes. Gold Sponsor - $2,500 donation of cash and/or services. Gold sponsors will receive radio coverage and mention in the media, and four festival passes. Silver Sponsor - $1,000 donation of cash and/or services. Silver sponsors will be acknowledged in the print media and receive two passes. Bronze Sponsor - $500 donation of cash and/or services. Bronze sponsors will be acknowledged in the print media.