Belize August 16, 2015

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SCAN HERE

16 AUG

The Belize Times THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

Established 1957

The Truth Shall Make You Free

16 AUGUST 2015 | ISSUE NO: 4958

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

UDP & Guatemala AGAINST Belize e z i l Be

Dean Barrow

Sarstoon Island

Pg. 3 “The ICJ is not the only option”

Pg. 2

Grenade planted at Police HQ? Pg. 15

Guatemala

John Saldivar

Belizean family murdered in Florida, U.S.A Pg. 23

Did El Chapo Land in Belize?

Dorla Pitts

Starlette

Myke Kelly Jr.

Pg. 16 Suspected drug cartel helicopter found near border with Mexico

Belize near bankruptcy, says new report Pg. 23

NO TO SEDI, NO TO ICJ

16 AUG

2015

UDP & Guatemala AGAINST Belize

GOB refuses to provide security to patriotic Belizeans travelling to Sarstoon Island Belize City, August 13, 2015 This UDP Government has completely sold out to Guatemala.

For the first time in independent Belize’s history, the Government of Belize has openly surrendered control of Belizean territory to Guatemala. Sarstoon Island is located on the south end of Belize’s territorial map. “From proud Rio Hondo to old Sarstoon”, says the Belizean national anthem, but thanks to the UDP Government, Sarstoon is now controlled by Guatemala’s military.

The UDP Government feels compelled to inform the Guatemalan military before it does anything on Sarstoon Island, even if it is just to carry out a coast guard visit.

When the Guatemalan Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales visited two weeks ago and spoke lies and false excuses for his Government’s opposition to the building of a military base on Sarstoon Island, Belize’s Foreign Minister and main accomodationist, Sedi Elrington, just nodded in agreement and allowed the high-level propaganda to weaken Belize’s stance before international observ-

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THE BELIZE TIMES Said Musa, Eamon Courtenay, Godfrey Smith, Senator Lisa Shoman, and later Assad Shoman.

Now the UDP Government and Guatemala have banded against Belizeans. None of them want Belizeans on or near Sarstoon Island, it appears.

One by one, UDP Ministers are coming out telling Belizeans to stay away from Sarstoon Island. They point to a secret UDP Cabinet position. No one knows what Cabinet discusses or decides anymore. It has probably signed away more than we know to Guatemala.

e z i l e B Sarstoon Island

Guatemala ers. It took Prime Minister Dean Barrow, who was once Belize’s Foreign Minister under the Esquivel regime, two weeks to speak out and agree with a powerful statement of clarification and strong rejection put out by all former People’s United Party Ministers of Foreign Affairs: former Prime Minister Rt. Hon.

The UDP Government, through its Foreign Minister Elrington and now Minister of National Security, John Saldivar, have told a group of Belizean patriots, known as the Belize Territorial Volunteers (BTV), that their visits to the island are discouraged and at their own risk.

Saldivar confirmed on Wednesday

night that he recognized that the Government has a duty to protect its citizens, but no such thing will occur for the BTV group who will be travelling to the island this coming Sunday to asset Belize’s territorial sovereignty over the island.

“The area is under dispute,” pointed out Saldivar.

He added that his Government will not be held responsible if there were to be any confrontation with Guatemala’s military.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, four members of the BTV group came under aggression by Guatemala’s military during a trip to the island to do preliminary work ahead of Sunday’s visit. The group said that the Guatemalan military attempted to rope and tow their vessel, similar to what transpired in March when a BTV group had travelled to the island.

In that incident, an entire boat occupied by Belizeans were intercepted by armed Guatemala military while on Belizean waters and towed into Guatemalan waters by force. Belize’s security forces had failed to provide security, putting the lives of the Belizeans at risk. The group of Belizeans were taken to the coastal community of Livingston where they were kept against their will for an overnight.

While visiting Belize, Guatemala’s Foreign Minister disrespected the gravity of the incident when he claimed that his military officials were “assisting” the group of Belizeans.

Elrington had claimed to have sent an official letter of protest to the Guatemalan Government over the unjustified and illegal acts against the group of Belizeans, but there is no official record that such did occur.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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2015

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2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

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EDITORIAL

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Crisis After Crisis

elize as a nation is at a cross-roads in its young history.

Never before, since Independence, have there been so many crises upon crises facing our country. In all the major index/indices there is evidence a plenty of the steady decline and erosion that is taking place.

Never in our history has a bank closed its doors. The Royal Bank of Canada was sold and became the Belize Bank. But the news last week that 1st Caribbean was packing up and leaving was not just unexpected, it was a shock. The news came against the disturbing development that Belize Bank and then Atlantic Bank had lost their correspondent banking network overseas. Meaning, no financial and international banking transactions can be done through those two banks. Now the closing of First Caribbean leads to another such loss of commercial and overseas financial activities. Heritage is like a village bank. Holy Redeemer Credit Union and St John’s Credit Union bigger than Heritage.

It is no consolation to hear that tiny local Heritage Bank will buy some of the assets and take over some of the customers of First Caribbean Bank. Heritage has no correspondent banking contacts overseas.

These developments are unfolding even as the Belize government has been ramping up unsustainable levels of borrowing, now reaching towards four billion dollars. This coupled with a recklessly spending spree, all to satisfy the ego and unbridled ambition of a man seeking desperately to win a third term as Prime Minister. He is more important than the country apparently.

We do not need Moody’s rating agency, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund or Wall Street to tell us that it is just a matter of time for the bottom to drop out of our economy.

Just a matter of time.

But it is the pattern of gross mismanagement of the Guatemalan issue that is plunging Belize into uncertainty and ruin.

No government has acted so irresponsible and out of character with the national mood, than the UDP government.

Belize as a nation had reached the stage where Guatemala had agreed to reduce its so called claim to the sole issue of sea access.

Claiming Belizean territory was no longer a viable option for Guatemala, until Dean Barrow and the UDP became government.

No sooner had Mr. Barrow become Prime Minister in 2008 that he proceeded to take liberties with the people of Belize on the Guatemala issue. That same year 2008, his government signed the now-infamous compromis, secretly committing Belize to going to the I.C.J. Mr. Barrow did this without consulting the people of Belize. In his disdain for democracy, and flushed with his new found position of Prime Minister he refused to notify the National Assembly and hold a debate on such a huge national issue.

It was the first time Belizeans were hearing that the government had agreed to go to the International Court of Justice on “any legal claim against Belize relating to land and insular territories and to any maritime areas….”

Just like that. No prior public information; no public consultation.

No draft of the question to be decided by the I.C.J. The high and mighty Prime Minister had struck a blow for Gua-

temala and a blow against Belize.

It was a bold and arrogant decision by the new Prime Minister.

Since then he has treated the Guatemala issue as something only he and his Foreign Minister have the right to make decisions on. Both of them are on the public record that because they were elected, they do not need to consult the people on what they are doing and what decisions they are making.

Despite public assurances, the Prime Minister breached his own commitment to Belizeans that he and his government would stay neutral in the I.C.J matter. He announced that he and his government would support going to the I.C.J. He then got the UDP party to pass a resolution during a national convention in Corozal to support going to the I.C.J. Since then, Guatemala has repeatedly taken the high ground in relation to its unfounded claim to half of Belize.

While straddling the diplomatic high-ground, Guatemala has also successfully tested and proven the weakness of the government and its ability to hold principled positions. Guatemala declined to remove Belize from its passport. They declined to take responsibility for their citizens looting and raping Belize forests and conservation areas.

On every matter with Guatemala the government has appeared incompetent. Worst our government has become appeasers and accomplices.

Forty Belizeans were forcibly towed from the Sarstoon River over to Livingston on an alleged minor infraction that the boat captain had made a wrong turn in the river. Belize did not protest this hostile and unwarranted overnight detention of its citizens.

A Guatemalan military boat, allegedly drifting for miles, even with a companion Guatemalan boat, ends up on top of our southern reef and the Belize government does not demand compensation for reef damages.

Just when Belizeans thought the insults from Guatemala were becoming as unbearable as the capitulation of our government, we learnt that our coast guards were confronted and told by the Guatemalan military to leave Sarstoon Island. Trying their best to be brave, the Coast Guards stood their ground only to receive instructions from the Prime Minister to leave.

The Opposition People’s United Party has been more than patient with the government. The Opposition cannot be accused of seeking to exploit the government’s weakness and incompetence. But at the rate the government is mishandling the matter; there is a duty on the Opposition to state its position.

Hon. Francis Fonseca has gone on record that he will not support the government incompetent handling of the I.C.J issue. This followed lengthy and careful consultations within the ranks of the party.

Non-stop mismanagement of the Guatemala matter has led the Party leader to further discussion on the issue. As a consequence the Party Leader will formally announce a major new policy on the way forward with Guatemala.

That policy involves a paradigm shift in the life of our life of our country. Belize is an independent, sovereign nation with its own territory. Our survival and our future as a young nation are under threat; from Guatemala and from an arrogant and incompetent Prime Minister.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Belize’s Money = UDP’s Money?

Belize City, August 12, 2015 It is now clear to be seen that the UDPs are quite comfortable using tax payer dollars to pay for their political work.

Mayor Darrell Bradley gave his political runman in Caribbean Shores, Omar Burns, a nice, cushy

Darrell Bradley

job over at the City Council. Technically speaking then, Burns should answer to taxpayers since we are paying his salary right? Not so!

For the last two months Omar Burns has been seen in and out of the elections and boundaries office on a daily basis taking in voters to transfer for his boss, the Mayor.

That would be all fine, if, of course Burns was being paid from the personal account of the Mayor.

But that is not the case. Tax payers are paying the salary for Burns. He is not on special leave from the Belize City Council.

As a matter of fact, he

Sedi Elrington

Foreign Affairs “Protocol” vehicle outside Elections and Boundaries office

Robbers target business

on Freetown Road

Belize City, August 13, 2015 Belize City Police are investigating a robbery that occurred at M Business Solutions, a business establishment on Freetown Road.

The owner reported to the Police that around 3:30p.m on August 11th, two male persons entered the business office and robbed her and her staff of jewelry, electronic items and assorted ID cards all to a total value of $7,280.00.

The men then locked them in the bathroom and escaped.

VACANCY A vacancy exists for a Shop Assistant at Amy’s Shop located at 34 Vernon Street.

Contact 632-1799.

takes people to transfer while wearing his Belize City Council uniform.

It was highly speculated that the Mayor would be using the Council’s money and resources (tax payer dollars) to fund his campaign. We just did not expect the eediot would be doing it so boldly and brazenly.

But the use of public funds for UDP political business doesn’t end with the deceitful Mayor. On any given day, Sedi’s “Protocol” Ministry of Foreign Affairs vehicle can be seen pulling up to the Elections and Boundaries office. Again, tax payer dollars are being used to pay his driver and filling up that gas-guzzler.

Is this the new norm in Belize? Is it now officially ok for our tax dollars to fund the campaign for the UDP? We, the people, say hell no! Their days are numbered!

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2015

Citco employee Omar Burns doing the mayor’s political work

16 AUG

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

WOMAN IN THE HOUSE

By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

BEAUTIFUL GRACIE ROCK After Sunday lunch with my mother and other family members, we headed up the Philip Goldson Highway, through the Burrell Boom Road, and unto the George Price Highway towards the hills of Gracie Rock, one of the nine communities of Belize Rural Central.

Earlier in the morning, it was Mass at Our Lady of the Way RC Church. It was excruciatingly hot and humid at the start of the service. I was sitting in my usual pew and perspiring. I wondered if it was only me or whether indeed the humidity was way up. I saw various persons wiping with small towels and fanning away with the hymn sheet or church bulletin. Al-

most as soon as Father Leslie started his sermon, a torrential downpour almost drowned out his words, even though there is a functioning public address system in the church. The roof of the church is of zinc, and the sound of the rain thereon was quite a sound to experience.

We arrived at Gracie Rock near the Sibun River around 2:30 pm. It was clear that the Gracie Rock area had not had any rain at all, almost incredible, since it surely poured in the Eastern section earlier.

The Sibun is still green and crystal clear, an early ‘mauger’ season, I think, before more rains come later this month and in September. Various families were enjoying the river, lounging around in the water, and

watching the children play. There are many spots along the river where it is shallow enough for whole families to swim, and many people take advantage of nature’s bounty.

Visits with several families were very enjoyable. One has a very rural, almost a jungle experience. It is no wonder that the Gracie Rock area has remained popular with Belizeans and tourists alike. But I think, relatively few. Majestic large trees, bamboo and other foliage provide the amazing greenery. The young people who are experienced swimmers choose the deeper spots in the river, while parents with little ones go to the shallow areas. I am told that walking tours and Land Rover tours are available for foreign visitors and others who want to share the pleasures of Gracie Rock, surrounded as it is with lush and verdant hills.

About two months ago we joined the Samuels family for their reunion downriver. It was a great sight to behold, as family members young and not so young played games and climbed up and down the steep bank side to cavort in the cool waters of the Sibun.

Today we walked across the Hammock bridge. On the other side we met and brought small gifts for several residents, including members of the Staine, Usher, Brakeman, Hemmans, Jeffords,

07 7 Hoare and Maskall families. We were very grateful to receive avocado pears and large breadfuits, generously gifted in return by the families.

We couldn’t leave without stopping in to hail ‘Ms. Larry.’

Laurel Young, a longtime resident of Gracie Rock, still cooks up her mouthwatering rice and beans, gibnut, hiccatee, and other game food dishes. She and her son Carlton charge a small fee for vehicles to enter their compound. It is well worth the cost, as there is delicious creole food available, a small cash bar, and picnic tables where visitors and Sunday afternoon bathers can relax away from the hustle and bustle of city life and in the gorgeous setting that is riverside Gracie Rock.

It seems to me that not a great many Belizeans know about the pleasures of Gracie Rock. It is still somewhat of a secret. Huge crowds are not yet going there.

But I think that with good planning in order to benefit Gracie Rock natives, small farming and tourism enterprises can be encouraged so that more Belizeans and tourists from abroad will be able to participate in its micro economy. There is great potential, but the bounty of Beautiful Gracie Rock must be made to enure to the benefit mainly of its residents.

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Of this and that…

FOR SALE Belize is gone. Far gone. Look at the road sides. There are more “for sale” signs than mangoes. There was a tourist from Mexico. He thought “for sale” was a kind of restaurant.

Lawd. I ketch mi shame.

PROOF Things bad. Look at the newspaper. Everybody and their granny are losing their house. It is a shame. The newspapers are full. Murders cannot even get space again. Amandala was full. It had 20 pages of families.

Families and children who lose their home. Twenty. The whole newspaper was only 56 pages.

This is too many people. Landless. Hopeless. Embarrassed. Where is the dignity?

BANKRUPT Belize is doing bad. Nothing no di go on. Petro tiyad a gi wi now. Well, one more elections. One more bribe.

CHESTER, BOY Chester Williams is a police. He loves uniform. He loves TV. He has to get respect. He is now a big time lawyer. He could be making big bucks. He chooses to be a cop instead. He wants to be the top cop.

Compol, mi seh.

That is good. Belize has no Commissioner of Police now. None. You can tear down Maya sites. Sell Belizean passports to terrorists. Whatever you want.

You could be a UDP minister and sell drugs. A “dur”. Wait. You could beat lady. A UDP minister who beats lady. You could commit treason. Sell Belize out. Sell us out to Guatemala.

Nothing no wah happen to you. Nothing.

Police? Police busy di study Broaster. Busy di kill people in police custody. Busy extorting people.

Chester. Listen. Compol? That is a big job. Police is in a mess. First thing you need to do. Do now. You need to go see Ya-ya. Then Bracket.

Then get a bus. Go pick up Penner, Grijalva, Castro, Faber, King, Barrow, and Elrington. Leave Vega, he needs a mobile fi he one.

P.S. BBQ and basketball sound like one day belly full though. Less talk.

Less TV. More results. Just saying.

PALM IT OUT You cannot serve two masters.

God and Mammon. Someone needs to look out for the poor. In hard times, the poor get chanced. They get robbed too. Why do you think we go North Side?

Rich go to their safe. The middle class go to banks. The regular people find credit union.

We cannot go to banks. Some not even Miss Jane could help.

16 AUG

THE BELIZE TIMES

Our bank is the pawn shop. Phone.

Land. Car. Fan. Name it. It has to get “palmed out”. We have to eat. Easy cash is like water on a dessert. But we are getting robbed.

The law is clear. Only 4% interest.

Maximum. Highest. Yet all the pawn shops are breaking the law. Taking our things. Like johncrow. Some of them have 21% interest rates. Criminal.

What wickedness!

The good book warns. It says: as you do to the least of the brethren so you do to Him. Well, unnu di chance God. DUPPY VEX Sedi….what worse can he do?

Lots more. This is not funny again.

Sedi please roll out! Leave. We can give you a shinny object. Go play with that.

We can find you a round room. You can go sit in a corner. Or we can play a game. Who keeps quiet for five years wins.

Stop di bavv. Sedi stop it.

Mr. Price and Mr. Goldson will tek turns di pinch your toe.

Barrow cover your toe too.

BELIZE BAD LUCK There are 50,000 gambling games in Belize. Everyday there is a new one.

Boledo is one thing. A bit of lotto, some pitty pat under the house bottom. But this is too much.

Who owns all these gambling things? Where is Pastor Wade? Scott Stirm? Burn a fire fi these things. Bring the light. Bring it to the darkness.

Only UDP have gaming license.

Proof? Ask Mr. Vega. Ask Anwar. It is open politics. Naked politics. There is a new one in town. They want your name and address. Why? They can only advertise on Wave Radio. Why? Nobody fool. We see the games.

Games that only UDP cronies win.

MONEY EVIL

Grinage. He is having the best week ever. But…but… sound like he cut his staff throat. He will have problems.

He does not have their back. None at all.

Lol… He throw unu under the bus. Ouuucch. Careful how you choose. Don’t choose politicians over public servants. Politicians come and go. Co-workers can sink you. Kick you off the high horse. Leak information.

Cook your goose.

Custom officers flex big. Ball hard. Customs is the number one envied job. At least for us public servants. Everyone wants to be customs. Every police wants to transfer.

Every second class clerk wants to go to customs.

Some officers hustle hard. Nothing wrong with that. We have to eat.

But some go too far. Check the houses. Check the cars.

Customs is the ministry of finance. Dean Barrow controls that. I hear there is a lady. Her real name is Sister B. You have to talk to her.

She hires all Customs officers. I hear she is a UDP. Lots of people are vex with her. She does not care. She run things.

The UDP cut customs paycheck.

They cut it in half. 40% to 60%. Customs please go talk to this Sister B lady. It is the UDP fault. It is her fault.

She is bigger than Dean Barrow. Sort out that thing.

Sort it out. Sort it out now. Look at this. If you cut customs pay by half, they will take it out on the public.

Sorry for you and your little bag from Melchor. Tiger in our shirt. Problem for our lee $10 worth a thing.

Sort it out quick. Customs will tek it out pan we. Bad fi we. Good fi the UDP importer from OW. He can trick the computer. We cannot trick the customs at Santa Elena.

SONG COMPETITION The national song competition sucks. Hold on. Not the artist. The competition.

There is confusion. Confusion me seh. All the songs are carnival songs.

The lyrics says Belize three times. The instrumental is carnival. The tempo is carnival. The judges are lost. They reward soca. Soca is not Belizean. No matter how you change the words.

Punta is not Trinidadian no matter how you change the words. Rock and Roll is not Belizean no matter how you change the words.

A punta song will never win. A bruk down song will never win. It is like we hate ourselves.

You confused? Ask yourself one question. What does Belizean music sound like? Can’t answer? Exactly why competitions like this are off track.

Big up the artists. But the competition sucks.

Everything is about money. Money is about money.

One bank opens. It should be a national bank. Tell me a single Belizean you know that owns that bank. Name one. Your friend. Sister, brother, aunt.

Name one.

Come to think of it. Who owns that bank?

National? That is just a name. We get weh di duck get.

One bank opens. Barrow and the UDP say it is National Bank. Belize gets blacklisted. No US dollars. We are scolded. Scolded for money laundering and trafficking. More banks get LOVE HURTS black listed. Another bank closes. A UDP tries to buy the bank. Or buys the No disrespect. Love FM has been bank? This no sound like coincidence. around. They are national. They have a Follow the money. morning show. It was hot. It was interesting. You had Ernesto. You had Nuri.

CUSTOMS FIT You had Carmen.

Now, it is boring. Boring bad. What What an este! UDP is provoking went wrong, Rene? customs. Bad idea. Respect to Mr. The UDP sue unnu. The UDP win.

2015

Some DFC thing where Love FM people get trick. But right after that unnu drop da water.

It is like Radio Belize again. Colonial thing. Whistling while Rome di burn down.

You say the bright side? What is the bright side of genocide? Southside slaughter. Belize Watch? When every night we watch Belize di go to the dogs! Raise your flag and win?

But no flag on Sarstoon Island!

Come on Rene. Or unu fraid?

Belize and beyond…It is time for “tuff” Love...

PESKY BELIZEANS UDP is annoyed. The group of people called “Belizeans” is bothering them. There is a group of Belizeans. They are called the Territorial Volunteers. They want to visit a part of Belize.

UDP lone bad talk them. They encourage Guatemala. Guatemala lie on them. Insult them. Kidnap them.

The UDP smile. They will not protect them. Imagine that! The Government will leave Guatemala to deal with them. What? No BDF. No Police. No respect? It is like the BTV is going to another country. A country where the UDP have no say.

How the UDP no ketch shame face? I don’t know.

The UDP sing. “Shu, Belizeans don’t bother me.”

B-I-B-L-E It is the best book ever. One stop.

Otis Redding, R. Kelly, Chris Brown and Trey Songs are late. E. L. James is late. Songs of Solomon was long before 50 Shades of any color.

Grey too.

Check this from the book of Songs of Solomon. Right in the Bible.

“By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth.” 3:1 “I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.” 3:4 “Stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.” 3:5 “Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins.” 4:5 “How much better is thy love than wine!” 4:10 Lesson? Go read unu Bible.

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THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES

2015 2015

Belizean Beauty

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2015 2015

11 SPORTS 11

THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES

Unitedville Rebels enter softball playoffs as #1 Camalote Village, August 9, 2015 The Unitedville Rebels United have an 19 win - 1 loss record as they entered the Cayo Softball Association’s women’s softball playoffs as the top team.

The Rebels will take on the No. 2 seed Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy (15 wins, 5 losses) when the playoffs kick off at the Joan Garbutt Stadium in Esperanza Village on Sunday.

Camalote Spokane, the No 3 seed will take on the No.4 seed, Esperanza Wolverines, and since the playoffs will be according to the Paige system, the loser of this game will be eliminated, while the winner will then challenge the loser of the Rebels vs Roaring Creek game.

Roaring Creek’s Leyandra Guy strikes out 4 batters for 18-2 win

Esperanza Wolverines’ Olivia Miralda

Camalote’s Shanae Williams scored 1 run

SQ Stars Mega, Leopards, C-Ray BEL, BTL Scotiabank & Cycling Bengue win volleyball games Club Youth Summer Races Results

Scotiabank win vs FCIB Belize City, August 8, 2015 The SQ Stars Mega, Bengue veterans, Scotiabank, Belize Telemedia and Belize Electricity Limited all enjoyed wins in the 2015 Belize District Volleyball Association’s B division competition at the Belize Elementary auditorium over the weekend.

Games results Leopards vs. S.Q. Stars Ultra 25-23, 23-25, 18-6 Bengue vs. UB Jaguars - 2624, 21-25, 15-9 SMART Bombers vs. S.Q. Red Dragons - 25-16, 12-25, 19-17 BEL Powersockets vs. First Caribbean Bank - 25-19, 25-22 SQ Stars Mega vs. SQ Stars Ultra - 25-17, 25-13 Jaguars Cubs vs. SMART Bombers - 25-20, 25-18 Belize Telemedia’s vs. First Caribbean Bank - 25-8, 25-10 SQ Stars Mega vs. Belmopan Mystics - 25-0, 25-0 (Win by forfeit) Bengue vs. Jaguar Cubs - 2517, 25-23 Scotiabank vs. F.C.I.B. - 25-17, 25-14

Scotia’S Arthur Neal hammers FCIB

Scotia’S Michael Hernandez trick FCIB

9th August, 2015 The C-Ray Cycling Club camp continued with a one day race on Sunday 9th August at 1:30 pm on Princess Margaret Drive, in front of Marion Jones. Participants took part in 8 different categories and the results are as follows: Tiny Mites (3-5yrs MALE) 1st – Jayden Tillett Tiny Mites (3-5yrs FEMALE) 1st – Kaylee Garcia Tiny Mites (6-8yrs)

1st – Raymond Singh III 2nd – Devin Major 3rd – Kofi Smith 4th – Damine Myles 5th – Shandee Franklin Female (under 10yrs) 1st – Mya Bennett MALE Category C (9-12yrs) 1st – Derrick Brown 2nd – Daejon Myles 3rd – Keon Staine Category B (13-15yrs) 1st – Nashen Ysaguirre 2nd – Shawn Codd 3rd – Shaquire Tillett Category A (16-18yrs) 1st – Nashen Ysaguirre 2nd – Kaydine Pinello 3rd – Shaquire Tillett Open Mountain Bike/Beach Cruiser 1st – Dylan Belisle

Category A, 16-18 yrs

Tiny Mites, 6-8 yrs

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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PUP Marshalls support PUP Leader Francis Fonseca Fonseca. The Marshalls record their full confidence in the leadership of Hon. Francis Fonseca, as well as our entire leadership.

We call on all our leaders to

PUP Marshalls President Stephen Latchman holds discussion with members of the vital arm of the Party

Belize City, August 7, 2015 Members of the PUP Marshalls Service Corps from throughout the country met at the historic Independence Hall on Thursday August 6th 2015 to discuss some of the serious political issues affecting our country as well as our great Party.

Concerns were raised and discussed over the recent actions of some of our area representatives and standard bearers. Those present strongly felt that at this time of the country’s political history, where our democratic fabric is so fragile, there should be unity among all arms and forces of the party to tackle some of the problems affecting Belizeans.

Some of those problems including the ongoing attacks on our sovereignty by Guatemala and the UDP Government’s weak defense and security of our territorial sovereignty, the increase in poverty, homelessness, crime, the inability of many to access affordable health care, as well as the rise in domestic violence and violence against senior citizens and children.

The PUP Marshalls joined hands and

voices in appealing to all our 31 leaders to come together in unity, to fight the tyranny of the UDP Government, and for a better quality of life with social justice as its main pillar for all Belizeans.

In speaking to the President of the Marshalls, Stephen Latchman, he discussed the essence of last week’s meeting: “As an important Unit of the Party, we join and lend our voices to the many thousands of disenfranchised grassroots supporters who are depending on us as a party to form the next Government. We consider and know that our rich political history as a party has recorded us as one of the oldest, and of recent, one of the most visible and active arms of our great party. We say this not to seek fame, but to remind our leaders that we have served under the able leadership of the late great Father of the Nation, Right Honorable George C. Price, the Right Honorable Said Musa, the Honorable John Briceno and now under the able leadership of Hon. Francis

march Forward in unity. Unity is strength.”

The Marshalls will continue its work throughout the country.

Forward in unity.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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2015

Did El Chapo Land in Belize?

Suspected drug cartel helicopter found near border with Mexico

Orange Walk District, August 7, 2015 Did fugitive Sinaloa drug cartel leader, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, land in Belize to continue his great escape from Mexican authorities? That’s the question in the minds of many Belizeans after a mysterious helicopter encroached into Belize’s airspace and landed in the north-west Mennonite community known as Blue Creek.

This occurred on Wednesday, August 5th, but Police authorities did not make it public until two days after, on Friday August 7th, adding to the scepticism and controversy.

Authorities report that they had received information that a helicopter had been circling Belizean airspace near the border on Wednesday. They immediately deployed security personnel, authorities said. When they arrived in the vicinity, they found the landed aircraft without occupants.

Inside the aircraft, the Police found blue plastic containers for fuel.

The seats had been removed to make space for extra containers.

The aircraft, identified as a Bell 407 model Helicopter, was dark-tinted.

It’s only marking was a serial number painted on the outside, spelling out “N607AZ”. But authorities believe the serial number may have been altered to conceal the proper identification.

It appears that authorities had little time to carry out a thorough investigation. The aircraft was immediately flown by BDF pilots from the site to the Belize Defence Force Airwing base, and is now practically considered the military’s belonging.

BDF Commander, Brigadier General David Jones, reported that his pilots are trained to fly Bell 407 helicopters so it was easy for them to manoeuvre.

Jones believes that the reason there were many fuel containers in the aircraft was to allow it to refuel in air for long distance travel. This is how the drug cartel moves its product in long distances. “…we suspect that it was used for illegal activities,” he confirmed.

Nevertheless, public remarks by the Minister of National Security John Saldivar indicate that the Barrow Administration will be claiming the suspected drug-cartel helicopter as Government-property. Saldivar spoke with strange and suspicious confidence that no one will be claiming the vessel.

This is a politically-motivated election-driven move that could have very serious consequences.

The BDF has had no access to helicopters ever since the British Army Training Unit (BATSUB) pulled out of the country in 2010. Following the murder of Danny Conorquie in September last year and the public outcry that followed, Prime Minister Dean Barrow promised that the Government would be acquiring two aircrafts, but it appears e-bay has been giving his administration great difficulty with the purchasing and they now have to depend on the drug cartel to gift them one. The hasty move is meant to cover up their incompetence.

There could be dire consequences and heavy security repercussions for the country as a result, and as the BDF Commander admitted, “… there is the possibility that someone may come and claim it”. The real questions then are: who is that someone? And, is the Government prepared to put the people of Belize in such risk?

“El Chapo” Guzman, the most wanted of all Mexican drug lords, continues on the lam after escaping a maximum security prison in Mexico on July 11, 2015. Authorities say he could be hiding in Mexico, or any of the Central American countries including Belize where the Sinaloa cartel networks are well-established.

The suspected drug helicopter that landed in Belize now sits cozily at the BDF’s air-wing base. Pic on right: “El Chapo” Guzman

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and roundabouts do not show good value for money.

Other areas that could have seen good use of this money would have been Education and Healthcare. As we speak, hundreds of young students are roaming the streets begging for money to help buy books, clothing and other school supplies; many will be going to school hungry.

Parents are forced to genuflect at Caribe. And I would ask you, would the feet of Ministers and caretakers that have a consequence on Belize in order gain any assistance while and the rest of the Caribbean? Defimany young girls are forced to surnitely yes! We say that with humilrender their dignity in order to conity. With the eighteen countries of tinue their education. This is a story Petro Caribe the possibility of the that someday will come to light and petroleum minister on the conthe true extent of this Petro Caribe dition of payment of one percent atrocity will be disgraceful and diffifor twenty years that forms part of cult to come to grips with. Half that the agreement, it would affect the story has never been told! economy of this country.”

Last Wednesday August 5th, the The Chavista regime which has Karl Heusner Hospital Authority isheld power in Venezuela since 1999 sued a release stating that “due to a seems to be losing its grip of late. spike in emergency cases, the hosSince the death of Hugo Chavez in pital will suspend all non-emergency 2013, things have not exactly been surgeries”. The hospital authority rerosy for his successor Nicolas Maduvealed that because they must see ro. Public frustration has steadily been patients from all across the country, rising as extreme shortages of basic it puts them above capacity and as a consumer goods have plagued the result do not have enough beds for country. Inflation has skyrocketed and patients. This now, after the governat last check, Maduro’s approval rating ment elected instead to spend Pethad dipped to a dismal 23 percent. ro Caribe money on building a chapSince the beginning of 2014, protests el on the hospital grounds. I imagine this is so that patients can go in there and pray that a bed becomes available Should Venezuela change government and the Petro before they succumb to Caribe initiative come to a halt, then the flow of money their illness. In April, a will reverse; nothing coming in and payments story broke exposing conditions at the Western Regoing out! With Belize right now seemingly degional Hospital where the pendent solely on Petro Caribe for subsistence, kitchen area was infested you can be sure that we would be far up that with rats. The Northern Regional has long been proverbial creek with not a paddle in sight. plagued by scandals and incompetence while the and civil unrest have become everylegal strong-arming of the two utility Southern Regional is another hellday occurrences in the oil rich nation companies; the cost of which is yet to hole of vice and corruption. Hospiand the risk of a violent overthrow be realized. We could also have been tals and health centers complain of the government remains a strong using some of this money to train our regularly about shortages of medpossibility. Maduro himself recently people in petroleum geology so that icine and supplies with which to issued a statement saying that “We we could eventually do our own oil perform basic procedures. Doctors are facing a coup d’état against deexploration and refining. Did not the and nurses remain underpaid and mocracy and the government that I Prime Minister himself promise to unappreciated while political cronies preside over.” build an “oil refinery in the time that it tour the world at our expense. For Maduro claimed that fascist took to do so”? The fact of the matter a few, Petro Caribe is a wonderful groups are using civil liberties and is that we have squandered most of blessing; for the majority, it will be democracy as a tool to overthrow his this loan and the few cement streets one hell of a curse! government. He has also accused the United States of plotting against him and of funding his opponents. As a result, he has requested of the Venezuelan parliament, “The power to legislate by decree” in the face of what he describes as “threats by the US government”. To say the least, things in Venezuela do not look promising as far as Petro Caribe is concerned.

The flow of the Petro Caribe money into our government’s coffers to this point has been one way; everything going in. Belize was given a twoyear grace period before any payment on this loan was due to start, but that period expires this year. Should Venezuela change government and the Petro Caribe initiative come to a halt, then the flow of money will reverse; nothing coming in and payments going out! With Belize right now seemingly dependent solely on Petro Caribe for subsistence, you can be sure that we

Reid Early Elections

By G. Michael Reid Despite the Prime Minister’s pledge that the general elections will not be held this year, few people believe that he will hold true to that promise. Of course, that would be nothing new, since the man has a well established track record of breaking promises. Popular speculations are that Mr. Barrow will announce the date for elections during his Independence Day speech on September 21st. By law, there has to be a thirty day period following the announcement leaving pundits to believe that the actual date will be sometime in November.

There are several reasons why a November Snap Election would seem likely, the least not being a connection to the Petro Caribe monies. The Barrow government has been floating high, but almost exclusively on this Petro Caribe buoy. The waters ahead however, are churning wildly. On December 6th, the people of Venezuela will go to the polls to elect a new government and the outcome of that election will have huge implications for Belize. The Prime Minister knows this and if he wants to achieve that “third term” with which he is so obviously obsessed, he will need to attempt it before the results of the Venezuelan elections are announced.

In a recent interview, Venezuelan Ambassador to Belize Yoel del Valle Perez Marcano revealed that: “In case the opposition wins by whatever means not only will it affect the congress of Venezuela but also our political [ties] for solidarity and cooperation with our brothers of the Caribbean, including the Petro Caribe program. And I said it yesterday to a government official, the first victim of a coup attempt would be Petro Caribe. It won’t be revised or studied. The first thing that a government that wants to do a coup attempt is to eliminate the decisions on international cooperation agreements that have been signed

by President Nicolas Maduro and the most affected would be Petro

would be far up that proverbial creek with not a paddle in sight.

Many believe that instead of pouring all the money from Petro Caribe into concrete streets and political gimmicks, the government should have been putting this low interest loan to better use. Like maybe developing some types of industries. This would not only have created jobs but would have also allowed us to sustain ourselves in the long run. How long have we heard talk of a milk factory or fruit canning factory? How about re-opening a sewing factory? With the Police, BDF, Coast Guard, all government departments and every primary and secondary schools using uniforms, the market is definitely there for such a venture. Instead of facilitating a foreign takeover of our sugar industry, government could have subsidized our local farmers and assisted them in assuming ownership. In the citrus industry, foreign owned Banks Holding Limited has been holding the Citrus Growers Association (CGA) at ransom for years but has recently expressed a desire to sell out to the local growers. Instead of pouring Social Security money into this cesspool of crisis, the government could have used Petro funds to assist CGA in their bid to nationalize the company. It stands to cost us a hell of a lot more for our il-

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2015

For Sale

By Order of the Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Mortgage made the 29th day of June, 2011, between ROBERT JACOB of Elridgeville Village, Toledo District, Belize of the one part, and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 15 of 2011 at Folios 1327- 1392, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. THE SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Block No. 41 (5.037 Ha or 12.447 Acres) situate along the Punta Gorda/San Antonio Road, Elridgeville Area, Toledo District and bounded and described as shown by Plan No. 11 of 2011 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 29th day of July, 2015.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

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BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

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Early pregnancy test may predict miscarriage and chance of twins August 12, 2015 HOME tests can tell you if you’re pregnant – but what if they could also reveal if you’re expecting twins, or likely to miscarry? Using algorithms to predict the outcome of a pregnancy based on the proteins in a woman’s urine could make this a reality.

Pharmacy kits today can tell a woman if she’s pregnant and how far along she is, but many uncertainties remain. Three-quarters of miscarriages occur in the first three months of pregnancy, and many women refrain from sharing their news until after this time. But that may change, thanks to a test developed by MAP Diagnostics in Hertfordshire, UK. “We want to inform parents of their potential success of having a healthy child,” says the firm’s founder, Stephen Butler.

The test analyses the proteins in a woman’s urine, and can predict the chances of a successful birth, a miscarriage, or pre-eclampsia, as well as whether a woman is pregnant with twins.

The test was inspired by IVF. Traditionally, the healthiest embryos are chosen by eye for implantation in women undergoing this treatment.

Newer approaches remove a cell from each early embryo and use a genetic test to screen for abnormal chromosome numbers or genetic mutations linked to poor pregnancy outcomes, but these tests are expensive, invasive and can get it wrong.

Non-invasive approaches are the way forward, says Francisco Domin-

NASA buys $490 million Russian rides to ISS as funds fall short guez at the IVI Foundation in Valencia, Spain, who has also been trying to use proteins released by embryos to predict their health.

Embryos secrete proteins that appear in IVF culture medium or the urine of their mothers. Rather than a pee stick, Butler’s test uses a small mass spectrometer, commonly found in hospitals, to identify all of these proteins in urine.

To make their predictions, the team use an algorithm they developed by analysing samples from 121 women who were between 6 and 10 weeks pregnant. By identifying differences in the protein profiles of the samples, the algorithm could work out which patterns seemed to be linked to miscarriage. Their findings were presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology annual meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, in June.

Other algorithms can predict twins, or if the fetus is likely to be carrying chromosomal abnormalities. But before the test is offered widely, the team wants to fine-tune the algorithms. They are planning to analyse around 10,000 samples to improve detection of chromosomal abnormalities that cause Down’s syndrome, for example, before developing a home-testing kit.

A test for miscarriage risk would be useful, but only if it were extremely accurate, says Zev Williams at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University in New York.

“You wouldn’t want a lot of women being unnecessarily stressed or falsely reassured,” he says.

The causes of many miscarriages are a mystery and can’t always be prevented. Still, Dominguez thinks urine-based predictive tests hold important promise. “This is the future,” he says.

Google’s Life Sciences division to build a miniature glucose tracker 12 August 2015 A pin-prick from a finger stick is a daily ritual for about 10 percent of the American population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29.1 million people in the United States have diabetes. In most cases, the condition requires long-term medication and lifestyle changes that are based on the patient’s daily glucose levels. Dexcom, a California-based company known for its diabetes-management devices, has partnered with Google’s Life Sciences division (now a subsidiary of the much-talked about Alphabet) to develop a miniature product line of its existing continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system. The new disposable version of

the slap-on sensor could potentially replace the bulk of blood-monitoring devices.

Dexcom’s current CGM system, which works for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, is a sensor that picks up glucose levels under the patient’s skin. It’s equipped with a transmit-

ter that sends readings every five minutes to a monitor. With about 288 readings through the day, patient-users can see their glucose patterns to

12 August 2015 CAN I get a lift-off? A shortfall in funding for private space-flight firms means that NASA has been forced to pay Russia nearly half a billion dollars to transport US astronauts to the International Space Station, despite frosty relations between the two nations.

When the US retired its space shuttles in 2011, NASA made plans to fly its astronauts on privately developed spacecraft made by the likes of SpaceX. The aim was to start the space-taxi service this year, but US Congress has given NASA about a billion dollars less than it requested for the programme since 2011, and the first launches are now due in 2017.

In the meantime, NASA has relied on Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft to reach the ISS, paying the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) for the privilege.

The Russian annexation of Crimea last year has made this politically more difficult.

NASA administrator Charles Bolden has written to Congress warning that it has been forced to extend its contract with Roscosmos, at a cost of $490 million for six seats on Soyuz spacecraft over the next two years. That works out at nearly $82 million per ride, up from the $71 million NASA paid in 2013.

“While I understand that funding is extremely limited, it is critical that all of NASA’s human spaceflight efforts be supported,” wrote Bolden. make better decisions about their daily routines. The company’s collaboration with Life Sciences is expected to help minimize the size and cost of their sensor system.

Andrew Conrad, who continues to lead Life Sciences under Alphabet, stated that the company’s health-centered operation is “committed to developing new technologies that will help move health care from reactive to proactive.” With

the help of his company’s miniaturization expertise with electronics, the next-generation device could be an affordable bandage-sized sensor that will send real-time glucose updates to a cloud.

While the tiny sensor won’t be ready to monitor levels for a couple of years, for now Dexcom’s paid Life Sciences $35 million in stock with an additional $65 million coming in later as the product line matures.

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REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

No More Mixed Messages: Mexico Bans Free Formula Samples

Government seeks damages from Swiss food giant after banning Maggi noodles for containing unsafe levels of lead.

“In recent months, we had over 2,700 samples of MAGGI Noodles tested by several accredited laboratories both in India and abroad. Each one of these tests have shown lead to be far below the permissible limits,” the statement said.

Nestle India is challenging the ban on Maggi noodles in the Mumbai high court, which is expected to deliver its verdict on Thursday.

Maggi noodles are a hugely popular snack and Nestle’s “two-minute” advertising campaign stressing the ease of preparing the food have made it a household name in India.

The noodles were Nestle’s fastest-selling food item in India, accounting for about 15 billion rupees ($240m) in sales annually.

Nestle India said earlier it would destroy instant noodles worth 3.2 billion rupees ($50m) following the sales ban.

Why 96 million ‘shadeballs’ were just released into the LA Reservoir On Monday, the last 20,000 of a total of 96 million ‘shadeballs’ were rolled into a reservoir in Los Angeles, NPR reports.

The black plastic balls are used as a cheaper alternative to tarps, which would normally be used to accomplish two main goals: 1. keep algae out, and 2. keep the water in.

The balls also help block the formation of cancer-causing agents called carcinogens, which can develop when sunlight reacts with certain chemicals in the water.

The covering of the reservoir’s surface is expected to save about 300 million gallons of water every year, according to NPR, and is part of California’s latest attempt to avoid worsening its ongoing four-year drought.

The total cost for the deployment of the shadeballs amounts to $34.5 million.

According to Bloomberg, the four-inch-wide shadeballs are coated with a UV-light blocking chemical.

They’re hollow and filled with water to keep them from flying away. Each one costs around $0.36 to make.

Sydney Chase, the CEO of XavierC, a company that specializes in the manufacture of those balls, told Bloomberg that she calls them “conservation balls” as they help keep water bodies clean and preserve water.

The balls can also be used in reverse when distributed on toxic waters in order to keep animals out. The balls are also designed not to degrade and are expected to last 10 years before being recycled.

The Los Angeles Reservoir is the latest body of water to be filled with “shadeballs.” Three others are already filled with the floating devices.

The shadeball mania started in 2008 after Los Angeles realized that two of its reservoirs had unusually high levels of bromate, a suspected cancer-causing agent. Since bromate is formed when sunlight reacts with bromide (a chemical found in water) and ozone or chlorine (both of which are used to disinfect water) the city decided to shield the water from sunlight.

The shadeballs were the most convenient and cheapest option and were introduced to the Ivanhoe reservoir in 2008.

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Shopkeepers removed Maggi two-minute noodles from their stores after the ban earlier this year [AP]

India sues Nestle for nearly $100m over food safety

India’s government is seeking damages of nearly $100m from Nestle India for “unfair trade practices” after the food safety regulator banned its hugely popular Maggi noodles brand in June for containing unsafe levels of lead.

The government said on Wednesday that it has filed a suit with the country’s top consumer court, National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), for 6,400 million rupees ($98.6m) in damages from the Indian arm of the Swiss food giant.

“Our complaint is over their unfair trade practices and the court will now issue them notices to hear their response,” G Gurcharan, additional secretary at the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, told AFP news agency.

In a statement on Wednesday, Nestle said the company has “a stringent programme” to test the ingredients in its noodles.

NEWS

Still from a video of the ‘shadeballs’ covering the surface of the Los Angeles Reservoir.

Within an hour of giving birth, a new mom is encouraged to breastfeed her infant, and to continue doing so for months to come. But the pro-breast-feeding stance encouraged by the likes of the World Health Organzation often falls by the wayside when moms head home—especially if they’re given free samples of formula.

That’s why the Mexican government announced Tuesday that it would outlaw hospitals from distributing free baby formula in order to encourage women to breast-feed, the BBC reports.

Formula is still available for purchase in stores and can be distributed for free at a doctor’s discretion if a mother is unable to breast-feed.

Mexico has been slow to adhere to WHO guidelines to restrict formula marketing, which have been honed for more than 20 years. Hospitals and formula companies have a long-standing relationship, with the former receiving monetary compensation for marketing the latter’s product to an eager audience. Formula samples are common in American hospitals as well, although many have stopped handing them out in recent years. New moms are often sent home with what’s known as a “discharge pack” containing free formula and coupons for future purchases. A 2008 study found that American women who were given these supply kits were about 9 percent less likely to breastfeed exclusively for 10 weeks compared with moms who had not received them.

The free formula samples give new moms mixed messages about the best way to care for their baby. WHO recommends that babies be breast-fed exclusively for the first six months of life, with other food incorporated along with breast milk for the first two years. But when health care professionals hand out formula, they’re implying that they endorse its use. As a result, Mexico has one of the lowest breast-feeding rates in Latin America, with only one in seven mothers sticking to the recommended six months. Globally, 40 percent of infants are breast-fed during this time period, putting Mexico well behind the average.

Teen Finds Gold Bar While Swimming In German Lake Authorities have no idea how it got there.

A teenage girl vacationing in Germany discovered a gold bar worth approximately $17,900 while swimming in a lake on Friday, police say.

The 16-year-old found the precious metal about six-and-a-half feet under the surface of the Koenigssee lake, located in the German Alps near the Austrian border, The Associated Press reports.

The gold bar weighs approximately 17.6 ounces, according to reports.

The girl handed her discovery over to authorities. A police diving team combed the lake for other valuables, but found nothing.

Rumors that Nazi gold was once lost in the

lake have circulated in the past, but reports indicate that this discovery “was not connected to the Nazi era,” according to the BBC. The Koenigssee lake has a reputation as the cleanest lake in Germany and is noted for its clear water.

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THINK ABOUT IT AT LAST…A SOLUTION The information that emerged last Monday night on the Channel 5 show is significant and deserves public discussion.

During the conversation between Audrey Matura and Dickie Bradley on the Guatemala issue, mention was made of new alternative. The suggestion coming from Hon. Francis Fonseca is that Belize needs a new paradigm to the current impasse.

The new approach is that Belize should now embark on a new internationalization of its problem from Guatemala’s claim.

We were shown, on the show Monday night, quotations from the foreign media, principally the British Guardian newspaper and the Financial Times of London of September 1978. These excerpts were that whilst attending a Guatemala negotiation in London attended by the British, Guatemala, and the USA, George Price was so angry that he publicly exposed the extent of British and American treachery towards Belize.

The Americans and the British proposed that Belize will give Guatemala two thousand acres of land in the South and the British would give financial aid to Guatemala which in turn would withdraw its claim to half of our country.

Mr. Price along with Lindy Rogers, Vernon Courtenay, Assad Shoman, Said Musa and others kept up their internationalization campaign. This entailed travelling to many countries to lobby for their support for Belizean independence. Belize achieved independence within three years of this heavy pressure from the British and the American.

Fast forward to 2015.

Belize is now once again under pressure to rush to the International Court of Justice (I.C.J.) to “resolve” Guatemala’s claims to our country.

Belizeans are under double pressure because it is their own government working closely with the very nations that have always taken the position that to end Guatemala’s claim they must be appeased with Belizean land.

It is for this reason that Francis Fonseca’s new approach becomes crucial.

Firstly, the new approach could mean that the constitutional opposition is categorically withdrawing from the I.C.J approach.

The PUP would be on good footing to do so at this time.

These issues strengthen the new PUP approach. One, the UDP has reneged on its promise to be neutral and allow the issue to be above party politics. The Prime Minister has personally committed himself, his Cabinet and his party to support going to the I.C.J. Secondly, the sacred duty and commitment to conduct an impartial public education program to the Belizean people has been undermined by government’s one-sided propaganda. Moreover the issue, like the signing of the compromis has not been debated in the National Assembly.

Thirdly, Guatemala has made a mockery of the process. There was to be simultaneous referendum in October 2013, in conformity with the compromis, and Guatemala decided not to proceed. A new date, including an amendment of the compromis to allow it, called for Guatemala to hold a separate referendum on its own. They said it would be October/November this year in line with their national elections. They lied.

No such thing will take place.

So now is a good opportunity for the Opposition to propose to Belizeans that a

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new policy and a new strategy are needed.

Belizeans, quite rightly, are more suspicious than ever before over Guatemala and it’s very serious claim to half of Belize.

Belizeans are also increasingly concerned over the behavior of the UDP government’s handling of the Guatemala matter. It appears the UDP government may have given commitments to the Guatemalans and the British for which they are saying nothing to Belizeans.

It is also likely that as part of the UDP general elections Manifesto, they will include going to the I.C.J as their platform.

If they win the general elections they can rightly claim that that is an acceptable form of endorsement by the electorate and is equivalent to a referendum. The British and Americans will agree. And it’s off to the I.C.J. 1st CARIBBEAN BANK LEAVES First Caribbean Bank is leaving Belize.

This is a blow to Belize’s economy and says a lot about what the future holds, or does not hold.

First Caribbean is an international bank.

It has deep roots in the Caribbean region. It used to be Barclays Bank.

In order not to have panic in the banking system and thousands bank customers hastily withdrawing their savings, the government got Heritage Bank, a tiny local bank to buy the assets of First Caribbean.

When a bank closes its doors it always represents trouble for a small country’s economy.

The economic situation in Belize is dread. The national budget is not able to sustain the country. The decision of the Prime Minister to spend over seventy-million dollars on wage increases in the public sector is considered reckless as it is unsustainable. It is a purely political decision by a power hungry politician hell-bent on winning a third term in office.

The decision to appoint Papa Mena as another Minister on an already top heavy and bloated Cabinet in which everyone is a Minister, underlines the reckless nature of party political decisions over prudent economics. Each Minister and junior Minister cost the nation salaries, vehicles, staff, office, park etc. which is unaffordable.

The recent news of the widening gap between Belize’s exports as against imports is alarming. Exports fell two percent.

Imports gone up twenty percent.

The wholesale abuse of Petro Caribe is creating a false bubble which shall soon burst.

There is an economic train crash coming this way soon. Bear in mind our foreign debt has skyrocketed to a whopping FOUR BILLION DOLLARS. As for workers at First Caribbean, many will now add to the grim unemployment statistics.

SHOCKING Did you see the Special Envoy and the Minister of Youth and Education prancing on television to side-in on the silver medal won by special needs children? Publicity hounds.

But three months after fire burnt out Caroline Hamilton’s house, she is yet to get a dollar from the government.

The mother of three children, and who uses a wheelchair, was crying on the TV news last Friday night. She says she and the children are forced to sleep in the burnt

out building as she has nowhere else to go.

“It’s been a rocky road, but as a strong mother I stand and face my crisis.

Because if I turned my back, what will happen to my children”.

“Ants are taking me over when I am sleeping. I am going through a hard time in my life”.

“I am begging the public once again to please help me- that I could finish my house”.

In the name of God, here is a helpless, vulnerable mother of three, and these heartless UDP politicians on the southside of Belize City are squandering millions of dollars, and a needy person and three innocent children are ignored in the most cold-hearted fashion.

FOREIGN MINISTER Well, it is official. The Guatemalan Foreign Minister has been exposed as telling, not one, but two big lies when he spoke at last week’s government/OAS forum.

He said the reason the Belize Coast Guard was chased off Sarstoon Island in May was because his country had signed with Guatemala that no military base should be constructed on the island. But no such agreement has been signed. All Belize’s Foreign Ministers from 1998 to 2008 have publicly informed that no such agreement was ever signed.

Only the UDP Foreign Minister-Sedi Elrington sat in the presence of the Guatemalan Foreign Minister and said nothing.

Elrington spoke after the Foreign Minister and did not clarify such a glaring untruth.

The same thing happened when the Guatemalan Foreign Minister told a second lie that his nation’s military took a Belize boat of 40 Belizean passengers from Sarstoon River in March and towed it to Livingston, Guatemala for the safety of the passengers.

Sedi sat there and said nothing, nor clarified the truth when he spoke after the Guatemalan Foreign Minister.

The audience, made up mainly of government cronies and flunkies, clapped and cheered as the Guatemala Foreign Minister insulted them with distortion of the truth.

And by the way Guatemala has now taken over the full sovereignty of the Sarstoon Island, which Belize has always controlled for the past two centuries.

IS RUPERT MYLES CHARGED Has Rupert Myles been arrested and charged for destruction to a sacred Maya site in Santa Rosa Village?

If so, did the Police raid his house at 3:00 A.M in the morning and roughed him up? And roughed up his common-law wife the way they did the peaceful and humble Maya villagers?

Has the Prime Minister released a verbal assault, excoriating Myles for flagrantly ignoring and disobeying the several warnings not to bull-doze the entrance to Uxbenka Maya site?

Has the Institute of Archaeology prepared several charges against Myles for an unforgivable and wanton destruction of a priceless treasure and national heritage?

Well! Have they?

Or is there one law for the peaceful Maya?

And another for cronies?

ELECTION IS COMING General elections is coming. Sooner rather than later. Could be September, could be November.

The opposition party better get their act together.

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Remember the issue is the welfare of the people of Belize and the future of the young generation. Get unu act togeda.

INADEQUATE KHMH On Wednesday a caller on one of the morning shows alerted Belizeans that admissions and certain surgeries were on hold at the KHMH. This disturbing freeze has been officially confirmed by KHMH. They say they have been overwhelmed by the number of trauma cases which has been showing up at the hospital.

The government has been in office for seven and a half years. There has been no planning, no management from the Ministry level…it even emerged last two weeks that the government has no intention to pay the hundreds of hospital workers the eight percent wage increase that all other public employees received. We are told prison officers and Port Authority workers are likewise being sidelined from their increase.

KHMH, the main hospital with the biggest population to serve, has been forced to shut down some of its services temporarily because of no expansion, no development, no improvement.

And we see millions upon millions being wasted for cheap party political gains.

CARLOS ESPAT There was no justice for Carlos Espat.

He did not deserve to die like that.

We understand from sources close to the trial that the police investigation was botched when a serial Police injected himself into evidence gathering and beating a confession statement out of the suspect.

That statement which could have obtained a conviction was thrown out of Court as it was not worth the paper it was written on.

We, in this little corner, have railed against this newer ending practice of police torturing and ill-treating suspects in order to get a signature on a confession.

Until the government steps in and punishes rogue police officers for their criminal behavior, the justice system will forever fail us.

LEOPOLD MYVETT A few weeks ago, television news showed the family and friends of 29 year old Leopold Myvett taking strong issue with the Police.

The Police shot and killed Mr. Myvett in Hope Creek and claimed he was running from them, then stopped, turned and pointed a gun at a group of policemen who fired and killed him.

It is a strange story but it is their version.

The family has said there were witnesses and the policemen on arrival started their aggressive behavior with guns drawn. No eyewitnesses agree with the Police version.

At the postmortem, the Police refused to allow any family members to witness the autopsy or see where their loved one had been shot.

Doesn’t that speak for itself?

JAMAICA Jamaica obtained its independence on 6 August 1962. Our congratulations go to our sister country and to all Jamaicans in Belize who we know are proud to be from Jam-down.

The Honorary Counsel for Jamaica here in Belize is Attorney Nick Bujon.

16 AUG

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

Belizean family murdered in Florida, U.S.A Belize City, August 13th, 2015 A Belizean woman and her pregnant daughter, 37 year old Dorla Pitts and 18 year old Starlette, and the teenagers’ 19 year old boyfriend, Myke Kelly Jr., were found dead inside their home located at 3500 block 21st Street Southwest in Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers, Florida.

The triple homicide was discovered

by Pitts’ co-workers who came by the house to check on her, after she had not reported to work at the hospital where she was employed.

Once inside, they first discovered traces of blood and then the victims’ bodies. They found Starlette’s one year old daughter crying inside the house.

Investigators have not revealed

UDP VICTIMIZATION The UDP was created to combat VICTIMIZATION Definition of Victimization-: TO REFUSE GOODS AND SERVICES TO THOSE WHO DO NOT AGREE WITH YOU THE UDP ARE WORSE THAN THE PUP EVER WERE! LOOK FORWARD TO A LIST OF THE TOP VICTIMIZERS IN THE UDP ... DON’T VOTE FOR THEM! Paul Rodriguez - A FOUNDER

VACANCY: One bedroom apartment in West Landivar. Semi furnished. Very affordable.

Contact 610-4304 and 670-2333.

VACANCY: A Cashier is needed at Amigo Mini Mart located on 19 West Collet Canal.

Should be Male, 30-35 years. Serious inquiries only.

VACANCY: Western Paradise Village is seeking the services of a General Maintenance person. Contact 668-4276.

Brian Hyde, held for questioning

what was the cause of the deaths as they carry out their investigations.

The Police have detained one person of interest. 19 year old Brian Hyde, a recent Belizean immigrant to the United States, was stopped by the Police in another located and detained for driving without a valid license. Upon further investigations, Police linked Hyde to the murdered family.

Officials close to the case have not said whether or not they have connected him to the scene, however a Pitts family member says Hyde was living in the home. He had moved to Florida from Belize seven months ago. Belizean authorities say he is wanted for questioning in a burglary that occurred

Belize near bankruptcy, says new report Belize City, August 10, 2015 A report published this week by financial media, 24/7 Wall Street, has listed Belize among seven countries that are near bankruptcy.

Belize is included in the list for its high debt and sluggish economy. Along with Belize are Jamaica, Argentina, Greece, Belarus, Venezuela and Ukraine.

Puerto Rico would have been on this list, but this week they announced that they would default on their debt obligations.

The report notes that Belize’s debt is 75.7% of its GDP. This debt does not include Petrocari-

CARTOON

be loans nor the over $600 million owed for the Government’s ill-advised takeovers of the Belize Telemedia Limited and Belize Electricity Limited.

In June, a report by Moody’s referred to the BTL and BEL liability as the gorilla in the room for Belize’s debt and economy.

Moody’s held that Belize was possibly staring at “unsustainable public debt” and even perhaps the need for another costly debt restructuring in 2018, if its predictions that the Government will not be able to meet the step-up coupon payments for the restructured bond and

23 in Belmopan December 2014.

He has been charged and arraigned in Court for the traffic penalty. While he is being held on $2,500 bond, sources close to the investigation say he is also being questioned in the triple murder.

The murders have shocked the community in Lehigh Acres as well as Pitts’ family in Belize, the Hyde family in Roaring Creek. Pitts is described as a hardworking mom who loved her life and family. Her daughter Starlette was also six months pregnant. She was working and completing her studies.

Kelly was described by his family as a loving boyfriend.

Pitts is the sister of Russell Hyde, whose wife was killed during an attempted hit on his life in front of the Guanacaste Park in May of this year.

Hyde was driving slowly through the construction zone at the Belmopan/ Roaring Creek junction, when a gun man appeared and fired shots at his vehicle carrying passengers inside and on the pan. His wife, Roselie Galvez, was fatally injured in the attack. No one has been arrested in relation to that murder. Days later, two men closely linked to Hyde were found dead. Their bodies had been mutilated.

The triple murders in Lehigh Acreas have left community residents scared.

The Police have had to do their best to ensure the neighbors that the community is safe.

added liabilities.

Moody’s also warned that the extravagant spending style for political/ electoral purposes expected by the Barrow Administration as election nears will only increase the “risk of fiscal slippage”.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow, who is also Belize’s Minister of Finance, has completely tuned out these critical reports. His administration has yet to discuss or respond to the reports and continue to claim that thanks to the Petrocaribe loans the economy is alive.

24

THE BELIZE TIMES

16 AUG

2015