Belize Times November 1, 2009

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The

The Belize TimeS

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Belize Times The Truth Shall Make You Free

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2009

Issue No. 4666

$1.00 www.belizetimes.bz

ANOTHER BABY DIES… Death Toll in Public Health System Mounting Russell Faber & Judith Moody mourn their lost son

2004 Landcruiser (private plates) and 2010 Landcruiser (government issued) driven by Minister of Health Pablo Marin

BNTU Scolds Patrick Faber

Re: Remarks to the Media regarding BNTU and the Teaching Service Commission, etc.

On Wednesday, 28th October, 2009, Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education and four senior officers of his ministry (MOE), met with the Council of Management of our Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU); after which a Press Release was issued. This RELEASE, reflected our mutual agreement to move our Education System forward in a positive and constructive way, by addressing the many and wider issues related to our Education Act and Rules and by agreeing to time-lines for further countrywide consultations and legislation.

The Council of Management of BNTU thus considers the remarks made by the Minister to certain sectors of the media as quoted below, as very unwarranted, untimely and disrespectful; especially in light of the confusions, distortions and in many cases, genuine concerns of many of our teachers and stake-holders in education.

Quote by Minister: “Whether or not we have a Teaching Services Commission is not up to the union to decide. The people of this country elected a government and if the Ministry of Education which is the body that is to set policy decides that we are going to have a Teaching Services Commission then that is really what it is.”

Many of the proposed changes in our Education Act and Rules, including the proposed Teaching Service Commission, its Appeals Tribunal, School Discipline and School Safety, among others, are just being clarified and posted on the Ministry’s (MOE) website (www.moes.gov.bz); or are yet to be fleshed out.

BNTU as an organization and partner in education understands her role in our Belizean society and in the development of our people and country. BNTU’s agenda is about moving our education system, our people and nation forward. It’s also about transparency, accountability, productivity and social justice.

We understand that the job of the Legislature and the Executive Branch of Government is to define policies, but, in the interest of good Industrial Relations, and as the Education Act and Rules state, many of these policies must be done in consultation with other partners in education; including the union.

The BNTU advises the Minister of Education in the interest of good working relations, to desist from unnecessary and disparaging words which are only counterproductive to strengthening the working relationship and on addressing the many challenges in Education.

In Education, Jaime Panti National President BNTU

As we go to press tonight, word reaching the Belize Times is that another couple is grieving the death of their newborn child, and claiming that negligence in the public health system is the cause.

Today the young mother, Judith Moody and her common-law-husband Rudy Faber told the media that they feel that their newborn son, who would have been named Alexander Russell

Faber, would still be alive today if he had received proper care from medical personnel. Moody gave birth to her son on Saturday at the KHMH, and on Sunday the baby was cleared to be taken home.

The couple says that two days after, on Tuesday, the baby started having difficulty breathing and they rushed him back to the KHMH. That was when their nightmare allegedly (Continued on page 35)

Close Call for Boots…

Gunman Sends a Message!

According to reports, yesterday morning a man walked up to the driver of Minister Boots Martinez and asked for the Minister. He allegedly was not satisfied with the answer from the driver, Michael Sutherland, and took out a handgun and fired three shots at a 2007 Nissan Maxima belonging to Boots. The incident happened in the Reggae Street Area of Port Loyola, and the perpetrator has allegedly been identified as Kevin Sutherland.

According to Minister Martinez, he has no business either personal or public with the gunman, and has no idea why Sutherland would shoot up his vehicle. The Minister also claimed in an (Continued on page 35)

A Belizean Hero Passes

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The Belize TimeS

LIFE IN A TIME OF RECESSION When the Prime Minister announced last week that the nation was in a recession it had to have been an extremely painful moment.

After all just eight months earlier he was talking about the better days which were ahead for the nation. In his budget speech for 2009/2010 he even used Greek Mythology to express his optimism when he said: “once again Prometheus is free to fly.”

So what happened to that optimism? Eight months into the financial year Belizeans are told that the country is in a recession. There was no glimmer of hope, no promise of possibilities, there was no talk of recovery any time soon, and worse, there seems to be no plan that will help the nation weather the storm, so that when the recession is over the country would be in a position to move forward instead of trying to catch up.

For many Belizeans the Prime Minister’s announcement merely confirmed what they already knew, and for sure many had started to adjust their spending habits. Indeed this assumption finds merit in the fewer number of Belizeans engaging in luxury spending, vacation spending and the like. Clearly they do not have the disposable income to engage in spending on new vehicles, weekend travels and so on. Even the number of women going to hair salons to have their hair done has reduced, according to some in the industry. The reason for this is because there is no disposable income for such activities.

During a time of recession it is expected that consumers will spend more responsibly--be more frugal. How the Belizean consumer chooses to spend his income will first be dictated by the cost of food and other important expenses such as utilities. Each additional dollar spent on food items, or each additional dollar spent to pay for electricity, water, rent or mortgage, is a dollar less in savings, or a dollar less to put aside for other important matters like health care or education.

Smart thinking parents will not spend on luxury commodities or even consider investing in such things as purchasing shares in a telephone company. What this all means is that consumer spending will have a tremendous effect on how long the nation remains in recession.

If consumer spending remains down for too long in the Belizean economy, an economy where government depends so heavily on revenue from taxes, and if the productive sector cannot find the needed capital for investment, then government will have to find a way to generate income to meet its expenses. There is only one place Government will be able to find that new money and it is from taxation. The question then is not whether taxes will go up, but when, and by how much.

The Hon. John Briceño, in an interview on Love FM said he told the Prime Minister in March that his stimulus package wouldn’t work; that his budget was off by $100 million. The Prime Minster announced a budget shortfall of $90 million. It may very well be that this newspaper will soon be able to echo similar sentiments when the Prime Minister has to come before the nation to tell Belizeans that even after adding $1 tax on fuel, that he will once again be raising taxes on the Belizean people. What is for sure is that everyone can forget about that promise to eliminate income tax for anyone earning less than $650 per week.

THE BELIZE TIMES EDITOR

Mike Rudon

DESKTOP PUBLISHER

Lucilo E. Alcoser

OFFICE SUPERVISOR

Dear Editor, Please allow us space to voice our discontent and extreme disappointment with the response gotten from the San Pedro Town Council and in particular Mayor Paz. Ever since the chaos and confusion has ensued with the water taxis (with no apparent solution in sight), many families have been displaced economically more than ever before.

With an unleveled playing field, no healthy competition can prevail and one of the casualties of this disparity is us, La Isla Bonita Taxi Association.

With the clash of the water taxis and the changing of docking piers, a host of approximately 17 taxi members have nowhere to park or call a base to operate from.

With deep concern we went to visit the Town Council and were finally able to secure a meeting with the Mayor. To our dismay, the Mayor and her councilors displayed nothing but indifference, almost to the point of saying.

“It’s your problem, not mine.” Her entire tone and attitude was one of being tired of dealing with these problems. She even went further to imply that this is the reason that she tries to ‘disappear’ from the island every weekend simply to forget and avoid these problems.

With the cold and callous response from the Mayor we are finally beginning to realize that perhaps this third term which Mayor Paz and her councilors are serving is simply a period of just sitting back and relaxing as everything has been accomplished in the last two terms - or so they believe.

It’s a time to just relax and enjoy the perks of being an elected person.

We from the association have no other recourse but to approach the media to voice our dilemma and bring out to light these grave injustices being done to us and countless other families displaced with this water taxi fiasco.

We will not stop fighting for our just cause until justice prevails. In closing, we are of the firm belief that we will live in a democratic country, henceforth approaching the media and using the benefits of freedom of the press.

Sincerely Isla Bonita Taxi Association: Gilberto Alamilla, President Julio Carillo, Vice President Dorothea Pineda, Secretary Conchita Flota, Treasurer Rene Orellana Jose Cawich Glen Turner Gerardo Reyes Roque Teck

Printed & Published By The Belize Times Ltd. #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize Tel: 224-5757 Editor: 671-8385

PRINTER

Oscar Obando

Vilma Wiltshire Miguel Chu Ramiro Joel Olivarez

Questions to Ministers 1

Now that the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance has finally been forced to admit that the economy is in recession, would he be willing to share with Belizeans his administration’s plan to take Belize through this crisis? Can the Prime Minister say if he even has a plan to get us through the next months in one piece?

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Would the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance say how he justifies spending $160,000 on a new vehicle for his Minister of Health just days before he stood before the nation and informed us all that the economy is in recession and there are dark days ahead?

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Would the Minister of Health please say just how many dialysis treatments could have been paid for out of the $160,000 which was paid for his brand new Landcruiser Prado? Would the Minister also be willing to say how much he paid for his former Government Landcruiser which now carries private plates?

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Would the Minister of Education please say if he will pay a visit to express his condolences to the family of Charles Good, since he is the one responsible for the man’s death?

Would the Minister of Education also say if his government will offer any assistance to the Good family in their time of financial hardship and grief ?

Rachel Arana

PRINTING/PERSONNEL SUPERVISOR

Doreth Bevans

San Pedro Town Council Negligence

TYPIST

Fay Castillo-Mckay

Out Spoken

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Belize TimeS

If Da Noh Soh…

Shyning a light on Dean…

In 2008 Prime Minister of Belize Dean Barrow was one of three

CARICOM regional leaders who got an audience with then US President George Bush at the White House in Washington D.C. By all accounts, or I should say by Barrow’s account, the visit was a stunning success. But aha, we all know by now that Barrow is the master of deception. What the bald headed one didn’t tell us is that he made a monumental gaffe while meeting with then President George Bush. According to reports reaching this eager-eared columnist, instead of discussing matters of importance to Caricom and to the nation Barrow decided to use his allotted time to ask President Bush for a pardon for his son Shyne. Can you imagine that? For his stupidity Barrow allegedly took a tongue lashing from Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson, who had to remind him in just what capacity he was representing the region. But hell, seems like Barrow IS a legend and power only in his own mind, cause both his plea to President Bush for a pardon and his letter to New York Governor Patterson were ignored. And the other thing is, Barrow shouldn’t be attempting to use his position for his personal agenda, because he sure as hell hasn’t done that for anybody else who may have needed his intervention. More on this next week…If Da Noh Soh! Moving on up…

Can you believe that there were actually people who fell for Finnegan’s bull that his loving nephew Shyne who holds multi-million dollar music contracts in the US was going to move into an expansion he is building on Goldson Avenue? Well, the joke’s on you. Straight from the airport, Shyne rented an entire floor at the Radisson Fort George Hotel. TEK DAT. So Uncle Finnegan came up with a doozy

of a story to explain that, saying that Shyne was traumatized by his time in prison and just wanted privacy… lots and lots of privacy. And now the news is that Shyne is moving up, up , up, to the penthouse suite of the posh and luxurious Renaissance Towers,

where he will take up residence.

That’s funny on so many levels…not the least of which is Prime Minister Barrow’s low regard for the man who owns Renaissance Towers, Luke Espat, who is now saying that he and the PM’s son are very close. But the more interesting question is – what about the expansion to Finnegan’s house. When he was accused of using money from the Venezuela funds to finance that expansion, he was quick to say that it was being built with money from Shyne. So now that Shyne is moving on to different pastures, it would be extremely interesting to hear what old fart has to say. Venezuala money anyone…If Da Noh Soh! Minister of Health & Milk The Minister of Health just got back from an official visit to Rio de Janeiro and proudly claimed that he had brought back what he called

a milk bank. Well, imagine how medical staff laughed at him when they found out that it was just a refrigerator where they could store milk. Damn, it scares me to think that these people actually go abroad to represent us. And the part that’s not so funny at all is that it seems that in our health system, the babies are dying before they even have need of the milk…If Da Noh Soh! Living the good life…

Big momma is living the high life right about now…you better believe that. Fancy rides, ‘special friends’ high up in the Ministry of Natural Resources…she got it made. There I was, minding my own business near to the CEO’s home when I had to get out of the way of a Mirab truck making a special delivery. No biggie, I got out of the way so I

wouldn’t hinder progress. But being the curious sort, I noticed what I thought was a traffic officer directing the truck and made my way over to engage in conversation. As I got closer, I thought it strange that the traffic officer wasn’t in uniform, but figured, what the hell...they probably

don’t make uniforms that size, so I’ll excuse it. But lawd have mercy… imagine my surprise when I got close enough to notice that it was Big Momma directing the traffic in front of the CEO’s home. Boy, did I get out of there in a hurry, cause she scares the hell out of me. For most of us life is haad out ya, but for Juliet Thimbriel and her special friend, these are the best of times…If Da Noh Soh! No wonder he’s smiling…

I came across an article in the Guardian, which is required reading if you’re a chronic insomniac like myself, by the way. It showed a smiling Gaspar Vega, Minister of Natural Resources, and spoke in glowing terms about the amount of land transactions which have been

processed. About the only thing missing was the name of those special persons who claim that they can provide ‘unlocking’ services for any

land transaction which has become mired in bureaucracy for whatever reason. The Berges brothers have been heard to claim this special skill.

So has Salva in the West. As we understand it, the ‘unlocking’ comes with a small ‘consideration’ attached, so we say again, no wonder Gapi is smiling..If Da Noh Soh!

Hypocrite of the Week

It seems almost redundant to name the Minister of Everything, Prime Minister Dean Barrow as the hypocrite of the week yet again, but the fact is that he works so hard to achieve that status that it would be almost a disservice to the fellow if we didn’t recognize him for his amazing talent of duplicity in word and action.

This week the Prime Minister is in our thoughts and in this column primarily for his role in the untimely death of a Belizean patriot, Charles Alexander Good.

Good passed away early Tuesday morning alone on a bed at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. He died from stress-related complications after his wife, Hirian Good, was fired

by Minister of Education Patrick Faber. In February, after the UDP was elected to office, the Prime Minister

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of this nation swore an oath to all Belizeans, regardless of political affiliation. He swore to serve all manner of men without fear or favour.

When Minister of Education Patrick Faber stood up in the honourable House of Representatives and stated without shame that he had fired single mothers and the elderly solely because of their political affiliation with the PUP, the Prime Minister forgot his oath and callously supported his Minister of Education by referring to those who had been fired as just ‘collateral damage.’

When the Minister of Education Patrick Faber stood in front of the nation and stated without shame that Hirian Good had been fired just because of her support for the People’s United Party, the Prime Minister had not a word to say. He forgot his oath to serve all Belizeans without fear or favour.

Much of the blame for the death of Charles Alexander Good rests on the shoulders of Dean Oliver, because he had to power to stop Patrick Faber’s victimization of Belizeans.

Because of the hypocrisy of Dean Oliver, then, a good man has died – a man who could have taught our Prime Minister much about integrity, pride, honour and standing up for what is right.

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The Belize TimeS

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Rumble in the BTB… Looking at the travel and tourism industry in Belize today, one would never know that it is one of the most important pillars in the Belizean economy. There is a complete lack of focus and vision being exhibited by the people who are running this very important industry today. When the PUP took over the management of the people’s affairs in 1998, tourism was generating just over a $100

employees are claiming that the job requires somebody with higher qualifications than just brownnosing. In fact, a source told the newspaper, there are no tears being shed for Panton by the majority of employees.

Tourism in Belize needs a new BLUEPRINT, one that will take the industry forward and that will provide growth and diversification in a responsible manner. It is obvious

Vacancies exist for 6 positions on the Belmopan Constituency Executive Branch.

Any person interested in filling these vacancies please contact the PUP Secretariat at 670-9969 or Diane at 665-7414

Tracy Panton

million dollars. However, when the PUP left office in 2008, the industry had ballooned to over $600 million dollars, a remarkable feat in just 10 years. The hard work by the PUP to build up the industry has all been eroded in just less than 2 years by this UDP government.

Today the tourism in Belize is going through one of its worst periods since the industry started up in the sixties. Unofficial reports are that the tourism industry in Belize is facing double digit declines in revenues and arrivals. When you talk to tourism stakeholders today, one thing is repeated over and over: ‘the industry is in disarray.”

To make matter worse, there is an ongoing battle raging between the unofficial Minister, Mike Singh and the Legal Minister, Hon. Manuel Heredia. Information coming to this newspaper is that the fight between Mike Singh and Minister Heredia ended up at the Prime Minister’s doorsteps this week. This occurred after the Board of Directors for the Belize Tourism Board unanimously agreed not to renew Tracy Panton’s contract as Director of Tourism.

According to people close to the BTB action, Minister Heredia does not want Mike Singh to be the CEO in the Ministry of Tourism and blames Singh along with Santino Castillo for orchestrating the move to get rid of Panton. This long standing dispute between the tourism heavyweights is now wide open for everyone to see and it is all about Tracy Panton. Word coming out of the BTB is that the Minister has gone to bat for Panton because she ‘treats him like a king and pampers to his every whim,’ but longtime

Mike Singh

from the lack of vision coming out of the BTB that Laura Esquivel, Lindsay Garbutt and Anthony Hunt are not up to the task. There is a need to devise a comprehensive marketing strategy for tourism and not just an advertising one. There is need to improve the infrastructure that is needed for the private sector to succeed. There is need for a hotel development strategy which would aide investors who are serious about putting their money into Belize. The industry cannot continue to operate with a national occupancy that hovers around 30 percent. There is also a need for a renewed effort to train our people. We all know that service in Belize needs major improvement.

Finally there is a need for an incentives program that would reward those people who are serious about conducting their business in a responsible manner. If the people who are running the tourism industry today do not realize that there is a plethora of destinations that are cheaper, have better service and have better infrastructure, then Belize is up the proverbial creek without a paddle. Belize has all the natural assets needed to turn Belize into an even more remarkable tourist destination. The problem lies with those at the helm of the industry.

There is a saying in Belize: Every fowl has its Sunday!!! Well this Monday after the decision was made on Sunday, one of the most conniving and devious fowls in the pen got her day. Let’s see where this fowl ends up, maybe PACT this time? Or with a lucrative consultancy maybe? Who knows, only time will tell?

Deadline for applications is Friday, November 13, 2009.

Public Consultation Notice For Astera Retreat Development EIA Lodgment and Public Consultation Notice The General Public is hereby advised that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Astera Retreat Development, a proposed residential community development project to be located immediately west of Punta Negra Village, Toledo District has been submitted to the Department of the Environment (DOE).

The EIA will be reviewed by the National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC) before a final decision is taken by the DOE. The General Public is hereby informed that the EIA will be available for public review at locations mentioned below and to submit their comments on or before November 24th, 2009, to the Department of Environment at 10/12 Ambergris Avenue, Belmopan; Fax: 822-2862; Tel: 822-2542 or E-mail: envirodept@btl.net.

Kindly be informed that a Public Consultation for the EIA will be conducted on November 16th, 2009 at 6:30 pm at the Sports Complex in Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District.

The General Public is invited to attend the Public Consultation.

Copies of the EIA may be perused at the offices of: Punta Negra Village Council, Punta Gorda Town Library, the Department of the Environment and at the DOE’s website: www.doe.gov.bz.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Belize Times

UDP Politics as usual

Charles Good dead at 62…

On Tuesday morning at around 4:55am Belizean patriot Charles Good passed away alone at the KHMH. His wife had gone home with the kids to help them with their homework and to put them to bed. She was called at 4:00am and told that her husband wasn’t feeling well. By the time she got to the hospital at about 5:00am her husband had already passed away. Charles Good was a man who spent his entire life serving our nation and protecting our sovereignty.

He spent his last days defending his wife and family and all those who have been victimized by the United Democratic Party. Charles Good and his family were disrespected by the government. Charles Good was disrespected and roughed up by the armed forces. Even now, the memory of Charles Good is being disrespected by the media which has just brushed by the story and moved on. The story of Charles and Hirian Good deserves more than that. All right thinking Belizeans should come out to honour Charles Good as he is laid to rest this Saturday…he was a true Belizean hero!

Remember Atanacio…

As the family of Charles Good prepares to lay him to rest, the tragedy brings to mind another case – that of cane-farmer Atanacio Felix Gutierrez. He was shot by law enforcement officials on February 2nd, eight months ago, after Prime Minister Dean Barrow ordered the troops to do whatever it took and to use whatever force necessary to move the cane-farmers. In the course of standing up for his rights, Atanacio Gutierrez was shot in the head.

He left behind a widow and six children. Prime Minister Dean Barrow has yet to offer his condolences to the family. Government has yet to offer any assistance to the widow and her six children. Despite repeated pleas for a commission of inquiry or at least some sort of investigation, there has been no response from this cold and uncaring Government. So I guess we shouldn’t expect the Prime Minister of this nation to pay a visit to the widow Good anytime soon. Some people just don’t have any heart. It makes me wonder why he wanted the job of leading the nation in the first place. Didn’t the Prime Minister realize that leading the nation meant serving the nation?

Let’s talk about crime…

This week the Police released their statistics on crime and, no surprise to any, the head honchos over at national security still want us to believe that all is well in this glorious UDP utopia. Apparently all the murders and home invasions and jacking and shooting and knifing and robberies and rapes are all just a ‘perception.’ A lot of things happening today would be funny if they weren’t so serious. On Love FM the other night, they ran the story of the ‘lower’ crime statistics, and the story immediately after was the Principal’s Association talking about how crime is completely out of control. The business community is crying out for help, mothers are crying on the news every night, Belizeans are afraid to walk the streets after dark – even in our homes we are not safe. But the UDP says we are living in a good country and so all that must be figments of our imagination. Hell, the Police can’t even keep Carlos Perdomo safe. His office was broken into recently.

And he says crime is down. What will it take for the UDP to get the sense? Our streets are already stained with blood. What more will it take?

Tropical Storm Ida… As I write this, Ida is a tropical storm crossing over Nicaragua.

The forecast is that the storm will weaken over land but very likely strengthen as it gets back over open water. If it veers a little to the east of its forecast track, it could hit Belize, either as a tropical storm or a hurricane. As it is, the prediction is for heavy rain over the next few days. Those rains have already started. Something that comes

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immediately to mind is this – every time there is more than a day of sustained rains in the south, the Kendall Bridge and the Middlesex Bridge become impassible.

This means that the south will be entirely cut off from the rest of the country. I would hope NEMO is taking all that into consideration, but judging from past performance I’m a little worried about how NEMO will handle any sort of disaster. See, Belizeans never used to worry about tropical storms none, but under the UDP seven lives were lost during tropical storm Arthur two years ago in June. So forgive me if I express a distinct lack of confidence. Another thing comes to mind. Those who want to criticize the past PUP administration should be very cognizant of something – under the PUP there were at least three early disasters – Hurricanes Mitch and Iris and Tropical Storm Chantal and Hurricane Dean late in the PUP term. The recovery from these storms was nothing short of phenomenal. The destruction in the wake of these disasters left Belizeans wondering if the nation would ever recover. But recover we did. Compare that to the UDP recovery from Tropical Storm Arthur. Today, more than two years after the Kendall Bridge was washed away, there is still no adequate bridge at Kendall. Image that…!

GOB’s priorities…

The Minister of Health just took ownership of a brand new late model Landcruiser Prado valued at $160,000.

This was done just a couple days before Prime Minister Dean Barrow got up and told the nation that our economy is in recession and there are dark days ahead.

The Minister of Health took possession of his vehicle at a time when our public hospitals are without even the most basic equipment or medical supplies.

Epidemics are crippling our workforce at an unprecedented level.

Children are still dying in our hospitals. Patients with renal failure cannot access dialysis because the treatment is too expensive and the government says it is broke and can’t subsidize anymore. So how can the Prime Minister explain this vehicle at a time when learned people are saying that we are experiencing the worst times every? Am I the only one who thinks that the priorities of this government are a little, or actually a whole lot skewed?

He just doesn’t know…

A longtime Good Samaritan and Belizean stalwart visited my office this week to tell me a story. She told me how she was walking in the Mahogany Street extension when she saw two children in a yard, dressed in ragged clothing. They were trembling.

But, she told me, it was an extremely warm day. So she went up to these children and their mother came out and explained that the children were hungry because they had no food to eat. So our Good Samaritan went to the nearby grocery and got two pack bread and some milk and returned to the home. She said that she almost cried as she watched the children pounce on the food. The little that was left was eaten by the mother, who was also hungry. As the children ate, they stopped trembling. The story brought tears to my eyes. As we continued our conversation, the Prime Minister of this nation entered our thoughts, and while I tend to be very uncharitable in my comments on Dean Oliver, my companion offered another opinion. He just doesn’t know, she said. He just doesn’t know. After she left I thought about it and realized that it is true. The Prime Minister does not know how it feels to be so hungry that you tremble. He does not know how it feels to go to bed hungry and wake up hungry. He does not know how it feels to live with no hope and no knowledge of where the next meal or money is coming from. See, our Prime Minister lives in a mansion by the sea. He just built a huge expansion on his home. He can fly around the world with nary a concern and wear Armani suits and buy diamonds for his new wife. His bank account is bulging at the seams.

Dean Oliver Barrow does not realize how people are living out here.

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PARTY PAGE

The Belize TimeS

Marshall's Convention

Sunday, November 8, 2009

THE BLUE MACHINE

Independence Hall October 31, 2009

Party Leader in Orange Walk North

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Meeting of the ODS November 4, 2009

Unity = Strength

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Belize TimeS

Guest

ditorial

AN ADMISSION OF FAILURE It took Prime Minister Barrow seven months to recognize that the economy of Belize was in recession. After more than a year of the UDP Government’s mismanagement which drove the Belizean economy into a tailspin, with a credit squeeze and a hostile environment for private sector investment in the country resulting in massive unemployment and crime-ridden neighbourhoods, the Prime Minister still did not get it.

His government’s agenda was consumed with hate and meanspiritedness to jail his political opponents and to victimize PUP supporters out of their jobs.

And despite the fact that the handwriting was on the wall, certainly by the beginning of this year, that the state of our nation’s wellbeing was deteriorating rapidly, the Prime Minister boldly proclaimed in his March 2009 Budget Speech, that Belize would escape the global economic crisis “with minimum discomfort.”

He announced with much fanfare and applause from his Ministers and UDP representatives in the House, that there will be a GDP growth this year of between 2.5% to 3%.

This, he said would come about from higher production in agriculture and fisheries, higher petroleum output and a substantial boost in electricity from the new co-generation plant at Tower Hill.

Well, according to the Statistical Institute of Belize the June 2009 External Trade Report shows that the Prime Minister was wrong on all counts. Banana export earnings – down by $7 million; Papaya production – down; sugar production about the same as last year with earnings slightly better due to improved world market price. The Fisheries sector was as bad as last year and petroleum production took a nosedive with export earnings down from $108 million to a dismal $43 million.

The problem for Belize is that this government was not ready to govern. Since February 2008 they still behave like a wild and reckless party in opposition. The problem is that now however they have their hands on the levers of power. They control the purse strings.

And instead of taking the necessary steps to mitigate the effects of the crisis and to put in place the structural reforms necessary for an economic recovery, the Prime Minister and his Ministers have carried on living it up and indulging in wasteful and extravagant expenditures.

In fairness to the Prime Minister that is exactly what he said he would do. Recall his words in the Budget Speech when he presented his much vaunted expenditure program: “This, Mr. Speaker is where – we go for broke.” … Today the government is broke and they will have no alternative but to cut back on expenditure.

It’s either that or raise taxes. And he must know that to raise taxes in a recession is to add insult to injury.

This is where we are today. Revenue from Customs duties and GST is down by 9.4% - over $35 million. Taxes from local oil production – down by $10.4 million. Tourism overnight visitors down by 5%. Inflation up to 6.4% average with food prices up over 13% and the overall value of exports showing a sharp decline from $428 million in 2007 to $318 million in 2008 and now further down to $258 million in 2009.

It is a dismal picture of an economy on the rocks. It is a dismal picture of failed government. Last Thursday October 29 the Prime Minister finally admitted his failure.

Of course true to form, he searched around for others to blame for his failure. If it’s not the PUP, it’s the tax collectors who will have to be investigated by some of his Ministers. It was not my fault, said Mr. Barrow – blame the officials at the Statistical Institute of Belize. You can even blame the many high-paid experts I have. But don’t blame me, said the Prime Minister.

How pathetic!

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The

Whip

Non semper erit aestas Hard time is coming to this nation The baldy one has declared recession I h e a r d o n r a d i o h i s g l o o my d i s s e r t a t i o n O f g r e a t i g n o r a n c e g ave t h e i m p r e s s i o n

He is all mix up the poor soul The free zone has gone foul B u t a c o m p a n y o f m e x s g o t t h e s we e t s H e g ave t h e m c o n t r a c t f o r f i x i n g s t r e e t s No tourist no come They fraid fi gun T h e y b e t t e r s t ay h o m e Dis da no fun B a l d y p r o m i s e a p a ck a g e Seen none of it so far Heard him on the radio D i s y a t i m e we g e t t h e s a u s a g e Pe o p l e l o s i n g t h e i r h o m e Left, right and centre Hard times has come L o n e t o r t i l l a s a n d p e p p e r. .

Grandma in the states H a r d t i m e ke t ch h e r t o o So no money for us mates Te l l m e b a l d y, w h a t d e we d o ?

Ta l k a b o u t b o r r ow S o yo u c o u l d s p e n d Te l l m e M r. B a r r ow Yo u n e ve r s t o p t h e t r e n d Lord got mercy B a l d y t h i n k s t h e b oy f r o m c u s t o m s Doing hanky panky G a p y w i l l e va l u a t e, a i n’t t h a t g r u e s o m e P u t t i n g t h e r a t t o m i n d t h e ch e e s e. .

G a p y c o u l d s wa l l ow t h e b r e e z e Baldy got no idea, got no sense H ow s l i p p e r y g a p y h a s c u s t o m s f l e n s e d S ay s t h e b a l d y t h i n g s g o t o u t o f h a n d Fo r wo r l d e c o n o my h e d i d n o t u n d e r s t a n d M o r e l i ke h e n e ve r h a d e n o u g h b r a i n s To p r e p a r e f o r t h e s e a s o n o f h e av y r a i n s This baldy man is no good He has messed with our food N ow h e c o m e s a n d s ay A l l we c a n d o i s k n e e l a n d p r ay T h i s a i n’t n o b o u n t i f u l s u m m e r It is all the fault of the baldy bummer H e d i d n o t p r e p a r e f o r t h e d ay s o f r a i n A n d h a s u s a l l n ow d ow n t h e d r a i n

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the company named

“MOST FINEST LIMITED” has been dissolved and struck off the international Business Companies Register with effect from the 1st day of November, 2009.

The Belize Bank Limited Registered Agent

8

The Belize TimeS

Notions ...Of Heroes and Cartoons

BY Apathy Many may consider me a cynic, and I have to admit that nothing much surprises me in this world we live in. Even less inspires me. But certainly there is much on our television that amuses me. Daily, all across the country multiple murders, breakins, robberies and assaults have become the norm instead of the news. It would seem that, like me, much of our society has become jaded and barely even notice the atrocity of the crimes committed.

But wonders never cease - or maybe I am not the cynic I believed I was, as I was quite unpleasantly surprised at the most preposterous news piece that I have seen to date and there have been plenty. To seek to idolatrize even the most common criminal returned home in disgrace; deported from another country unwanted there because of crimes committed and time served, really is a disservice to our society. To receive the cast off of the white men as if they were heroes coming home in glory instead of convicted criminals banished in disgrace is absurd. I might add here that they didn’t come of their own free will but were unceremoniously ejected and are here because they have no other choice. Are these the heroes that our people need? Is this the best that we can come up with?

If so, then maybe we deserve our just rewards. Must we glamorize the exact gang lifestyle that so many problems have brought us?

It is all well that one has sought self improvement but let us not fool ourselves - it is notoriety that rappers have and it is directly because of their relationship to gangs, their glorification of

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violence and their lifestyle. To make this infamy seem appealing to young impressionable minds, to allow them to believe that this kind of living is attainable is folly pure and simple. Please, let us not forget that a rose by any other name is still a rose.

A hero is defined as a person who commits an act of bravery or who has shown an admirable quality such as great courage or strength of character. Recently I have had the privilege and indeed the pleasure of meeting such a person. No, he is not on television, he has no video credits or albums to his name, but undoubtedly possesses such great courage as would put to shame so many of us that dare to complain about the trivial tribulations we face in our daily pursuits. That without the crutches of drugs, self pity or foolish excuses he faces life head on even with its sometimes seemingly insurmountable obstacles looming ahead of him. Faced with serious health issues, he chooses to live with quiet dignity and pride, facing whatever may come with serenity and peace of mind even when a lesser person in the same situation would have crumbled. This person humbles me and teaches me how to live even as he dies. That is courage and strength of character, doing the right thing even when the TV cameras are off. But these virtues are not the stuff that makes great news, it doesn’t beget good ratings, it’s boring - it neither glitters nor shines. So for now we are stuck with phony heroes… cartoon characters, but I believe the people of this country won’t for long be fooled and will soon realize that there are real heroes out there, and that you can’t always believe what you see on TV news.

I think that it’s high time that we extol real virtues like honesty, integrity and dignity. In their absence, let’s not feign or profess to possess false merits or try to force a fairy tale ending out of what clearly is a tragedy not an odyssey. The morale of the story must be to tell it like it is, don’t sugar coat it don’t romanticize it; don’t try to make it what it is clearly not. If you’ve made errors in judgment in the past by all means correct them but don’t go around trying to make yourself out to be a shining example fit to be emulated by our youth.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Belize Youth Movement Independence Hall, Queen Street Belize City, Belize C.A Telephone 501-223-3476/670-1015

The Belize Youth Movement is holding its Annual Conference on Saturday the 28th November 2009 starting at 10:00 A.M at Independence Hall in Belize City.

This is to elect new officers for its National Executive Council. Based on the Constitution of the People’s United Party each Constituency branch is required to have 3 delegates as Representatives in this annual conference to elect new officers. The following posts which will be up for nomination and election are President, Vice- President. Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, and Chief of Staff, also one Representative from each District.

Deadline to submit (A) applications for persons interested in these positions is the 16th November 2009 (B) Also each Constituency must submit the names of their 3 delegates that will be attending this National Meeting at the People’s United Party Headquarters, Independence Hall, Belize City also by 16th November 2009.

Yours Sincerely, David Castillo President Belize Youth Movement

BOLTON CONSULTING LIMITED (“The Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102(8) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that BOLTON CONSULTING LIMITED. has been dissolved and struck off the Register of IBCs as at 1st day of November, 2009.

CITITRUST INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Registered Agent

LAMOIL TECHNIQUES LTD. (“The Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102(8) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that LAMOIL TECHNIQUES LTD. has been dissolved and struck off the Register of IBCs as at 30th day of October, 2009.

CITITRUST INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Registered Agent

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Belize TimeS

9

Food for Thought The Betrayal of Duckrun III

Ismael Perez – Chairman, Duckrun III The village of Duckrun III in the Cayo North East Division of the Cayo District has been a quiet, peaceful and ("dry") village - dry in that there have been no liquor establishments in the village until recently. The youth in the village have taken football as their recreation and sporting activity despite the fact that we have no usable football field. This is because a football field established by then standard bearer of the PUP Mr. Orlando Habet along with our village council was closed down after the elections of February 2008 by Mr. Elvin Penner, area representative. Although we are aware that some of our young people do go to have their drinks in other villages and in the major towns, such practices have not occurred in the village proper because the people of Duckrun III have requested not to have a bar established in the village.

Since August of 2009 one Mr. Jose Anibal Molina moved from Selena Village to reside in our village where he has a property and opened up a bar despite the fact that the villagers are against it and despite the fact that the Village council and myself have not approved a license to be granted to Mr. Molina. It is stated in the Village Council Act that the chairman of the village council must sign the application before the District Liquor Licensing Board can approve and grant a liquor license.

Since this new establishment has opened we now have bar fights, young boys under the age of 16 years drinking on the streets and having their parents' normal lives disrupted by their actions. One weekend some school aged children were drinking on a Sunday and could not go to school the following morning.

In September of 2009, I reported the matter to the police in Spanish Lookout and sent a letter to the officer in charge of the San Ignacio police station informing them of the 'illegal bar" in the village. I also went to visit with the chairman of the Cayo Liquor Licensing Board, one Mr. Elias Juan who informed me and assured me that they had not granted a license to Mr. Molina.

This past Saturday night October 31, 2009 some young men were drinking in that same bar owned

by Mr. Molina and a fight ensued in which machetes and farm forks were used as weapons. Indeed our entire village’s peace and tranquility are now at stake. On Monday morning I decided to make another attempt to investigate how it was that Mr. Molina could open a bar in our village without approval of the village and the Liquor Licensing Board. I decided to meet with Mr. Molina and visit his place. He then did present a Liquor License

which he said he obtained through Mr. Elvin Penner, since he was told that he did not have to check with me because I am a PUP chairman and that it is the area representative that makes the decision. The license certificate for Mr. Molina was signed by Mr. Elias Juan, chairman Liquor Licensing Board, San Ignacio, for the period August 1, 2009 to January 31, 2010.

I spoke to a police officer who told me that there was nothing they could do because the owner, Mr. Molina had a legally signed license and that the police enforce the law only if the owners do not have a license to operate.

I must mention at this point that I have also reported the matter to NAVCO, the National Association of Village Councils which promised to do an investigation into the matter but have not visited

my village as yet. I also reported this matter to the leaders of the Spanish Lookout Community so that hopefully they can have some influence over Mr. Elvin Penner and his decisions but it seems as if it is to no avail.

It seems as if we are operating not under a Belize Constitution and Belize laws anymore but under a UDP law which is not too kind to nonUDP and the law of the day seems to contravene all social, political, religious and human order. I appeal to all Belizean citizens to take note of how we are living today, how we are being treated with disregard and how our families and especially our children are being destroyed by the government of the day.

JOINT VENTURE AVAILABLE

10

The Belize TimeS

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Food for Thought Dark Days Here…Darker Days Ahead…

Last week Thursday at his overdue quarterly press conference, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Honorable Dean Barrow finally admitted that the country is in the throes of an economic recession on account of the global financial crisis. The Statistical Institute of Belize had said as much since the second quarter of 2008, yet he and the Governor of the Central Bank of Belize Glenford Ysaguirre were adamant that we would emerge safe and sound.

Both got it wrong.

Despite his public admission, we have that sinking feeling that Barrow is not coming clean with the facts surrounding the recession and painting the true picture. While some of the negative forecasts may not come through, its full extent cannot be determined at this time as it is still unfolding. We, however, do not need him to tell us that that things are going from bad to worse in a hurry. It is the everyday reality that is eroding our quality of life and making us distraught because we cannot find work.

It should be noted that an increasing number of family members who, in the past, had no reason to be part of the workforce, are hitting the streets in search of jobs to subsidize their family’s declining incomes so that they can weather the economic hurricane as best they can. This includes housewives, children, and the elderly, whose household income earners, not so long ago, provided the comfort of a middle class lifestyle. Thanks a lot, Barrow.

Sadly, the likely outcome of this new reality may be an increase in exploitative child labor that may have a profound negative impact on these children’s intellectual development and their physical and mental well being.

An alarming amount of girls and a surprising amount of boys are “keeping” sugar daddies and mamas or are getting caught up in our thriving commercial sex trade that is fueled by tourism to put food on the table or to cover household expenditures.

That is why it is difficult for us to believe Barrow when he claims that the International Financial Institutions such as the Caribbean Development Bank will provide project inflows to the country to get the economy moving again. It is clear that he omitted the fact that the crisis has resulted in a global credit tightening that is making access to loans more costly and difficult to access, and that investors have become more risk averse and unlikely to invest in developing countries.

This may result in either increased taxes by the government or reduced expenditure or both depending on how bad it gets for the government.

Nonetheless, we should get ready to sacrifice even more as we will soon have to pay more of our hard earned money into the national treasury. Just now as Barrow admitted, government revenues are falling and will continue to fall as its collections are not meeting projections.

For that reason, one way to bridge the burgeoning fiscal deficit is for the government to tax us literally to death.

And with the economy contracting and revenues declining, this unimaginative government is on the fast track to massive retrenchment and wage freezes. And Christmas is not too far away now. Hundreds of public officers may soon find themselves unemployed as

their predecessors did not too long ago courtesy of former Prime Minister Right Honorable Doctor Manuel Esquivel and Barrow. It does not bode well that Esquivel is Barrow’s chief financial advisor today.

Meanwhile, teachers and those public officers, who are lucky to keep their jobs, may not see a salary increment anytime soon. The government desperately needs to bring under control its wage bill that has been expanded unnecessarily by lucrative contracts and perks to political lackeys. In addition,

politically unconnected teachers and public officers may become more susceptible to worker exploitation as they will be unlikely to object to absurd demands such as unjustifiable transfers in order to keep their jobs.

We should brace ourselves for worsening crime and violence, if that is possible, as increasing u n e m p l oy m e n t coupled with the out of control cost of living will push more people below the poverty line, and as a result push more

people into a life of crime to survive.

Hungry stomachs tend to wreak havoc on rational thinking, causing the affected to find whatever means possible to vent their frustrations. It is the stark reality that many more people will be murdered and become victims of robberies and home invasions.

Expect domestic violence to increase as well.

To be blunt Barrow, we did not all underestimate the effects of the crisis on the economy. How could we when our backs have been against the wall since early 2008. So, we could not be the ones hiding our heads in the sand. That would be you and your highly touted financial experts. And what is scary is that the worst has not yet been felt.

Still, the government has not presented us with the economic measures that it will put in place to mitigate the impact.

Imagine that.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Belize TimeS

11

Imagine the Possibilities?

. . . w o n k e w w no

MORE

Nepotism

MORE

Hungry Belizeans

MORE

Debt

MORE

Crime

MORE

Unemployment MORE Firing

MORE

Poor Belizeans MORE Hospital Problems

MORE

Taxes

MORE

regulation MORE

MORE

Wasteful Spending

Corruption Constitution Tampering MORE

s k n a Th

Mr. Dean...

See you in

2013

12

The Belize Times

Police officer shot over the weekend

San Ignacio, Monday, November 3, 2009 Dimas Pinelo, a Belize Police Department constable was shot around 7:00 p.m. last Saturday night on the Calla Creek Road in Cayo, in what is believed to be a resurgence of the banditry in that area by Guatemalans coming across the border.

Pinelo was reportedly part of a four-man squad riding in the pan of a borrowed pickup truck that was accosted by four armed and masked men all dressed in black, while they were reportedly responding to reports of criminal activity.

Pinelo, who was transferred to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, is in a serious but stable condition, and is expected to recover from the wound to his right shoulder.

All English speaking Caribbean countries are in a recession

Belize City, Monday, November 2, 2009 The Economist Intelligence Unit, a respected think tank, says economic conditions in the Caribbean will get worse before they get better.

Its analysis of economic indicators in the region show that tourism’s performance is weak, remittances are not picking up, consumers are borrowing and spending less, unemployment is rising and government budget deficits are widening.

The Unit says that given these dynamics it estimates that there will be continuing recessions in 2009 in all the countries in the English-speaking Caribbean with the exception of Dominica. Dominica has a relatively low reliance on tourism and is enjoying a construction boom thanks to fiscal stimulus measures funded mainly by donor aid.

In 2010, the EIU says growth will remain negative in some countries and even in those that begin to recover expansion will be very weak.

Belizean arrested in Mexico with 36,000 counterfeit pesos

Belize City, Monday, November 2, 2009 A Belizean was busted with 36 thousand counterfeit pesos in Mexico last week Wednesday. The Diario de Quintana Roo reports that 19-year-old Manuel Eduardo Martinez – a Belizean of Corozal and Mexican Javier Martinez Vidal, 39, of Quintana Roo attempted to pay for services at the Hotel Ucum in Chetumal with the fake money.

The hotel called the Mexican State Police who told the newspaper that the duo had allegedly paid for the services of a prostitute with 800 counterfeit pesos.

They also claim that the pair led police to their hotel room where they found 98 – two hundred pesos bills, 36 – five hundred pesos bills, 4 Belizean five dollar bills, and 20 Belize dollars.

According to the newspaper the men confessed that they bought the money in the Corozal Free Zone from one Jose Luis for $4,000 Belize dollars. The men remained detained pending charges. In Mexico counterfeiting is a crime punishable by sentences of up to 15 years imprisonment.

Smart says Barrow is lying

Belize City, Monday, November 2, 2009 Speednet, the operators of the Smart telecommunications service apparently feel PM Barrow crossed the line when he discussed private negotiations involving BTL and Speednet. Mr. Barrow at his press conference last week revealed what he apparently considered were salacious details related to interconnection and lease agreements of BTL towers. Barrow claimed that the agreement had not been approved by the PUC, and that they were anti-competitive, and therefore illegal. He said Government would challenge them in Court.

Speednet has issued a press release criticizing Barrow saying: among others thing that: “The comments made by the Hon. Prime Minister were unfounded, and in the opinion of Speednet, clearly intended to negatively influence public opinion against Speednet in order to create a competitive advantage in favour of the now Government controlled Belize Telemedia Limited.”

The release defends the 2004 interconnection and tower lease agreements, indicating that not only were they agreements negotiated by private companies but also that the interconnection agreement was submitted and approved by the Public Utilities Commission, contrary to Barrow’s assertions.

Speednet argues that the 15 year interconnection license given to them is standard, because it is meant to safeguard customers from prolonged interruption of services. As to the Prime Minister’s complaint that the $1,000 rental of 18 BTL towers is too low and should be increased to $5,000, Speednet challenged that the pricing is ordinary because players in the industry view the duplication of networks as an inefficient use of valuable resources in an industry that is capital intensive.

Speednet also clarified that the rental fee which they pay is reflective of the bulk of towers rented, and fair and reasonable in comparison to the fees paid by Speednet to non-Telemedia tower owners.

Cecil “Chubby” Reneau is the new Chairman of the Marshalls

Monday, November 2, 2009 A new Chairman of the Marshalls’ National Service Corps was elected over the weekend at Independence Hall in Belize City.

On Saturday, October 31 delegates from 29 constituencies from around the country met to hold elections for the Chairman’s seat for the Marshalls’ National Service Corps, an arm of the People’s United Party. Two members of the PUP vied for the position, namely, Leni Jo Usher and Cecil ‘Chubby’ Reneau. Votes were cast by way of ballot and the final count was Reneau with 43 votes while Usher received 36 votes.

Prior to the delegates casting their votes in the weekend’s elections, the Chairman of the PUP announced that the Chairman’s seat is the only one being

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Compiled by the Vibes Newsteam contested as the other posts each had only one candidate. The Vice-Chairman of the corps is now Robert Cadle, while the Treasurer is Jesus Sosa. Dorla Vaughan is the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary is Maurice Martinez.

It should be noted that this coming Saturday, November 7, the United Women’s Group will be meeting at Crocland’s Resort for their annual conference.

The UWG is another arm of the People’s United Party currently being headed by Gina Tillett as president.

BTB Executive and Financial Directors contracts not renewed

Tuesday, November 3, 2009 A letter to industry stakeholders obtained by Vibes News confirms that the contracts of Belize Tourism Board Executive Director, Tracy Taegar-Panton, who has held that top post for a more than ten years, and Evan Tillett, the Director of Finance, and which expire at the end of the year will in fact not be renewed.

Both have been told to go on vacation immediately which will carry them through the end of their contract on December thirty-first.

In the letter Taegar-Panton confirms that her contract has not been renewed and gives no indication why but industry sources say that Taegar-Panton may have run afoul of the political executive in the Ministry of Tourism.

Did Corozal housewife commit suicide?

A housewife of San Narciso Village in the Corozal District may have committed suicide last Friday night. According to a local newspaper, 39 year old Antonia Campos told a patron in a bar that said she was having domestic problems and wished to die. Campos then reportedly got up from her seat and ran onto 4th Avenue and right into the path of a car driven by Nigel Sanker.

Campos suffered severe facial and head injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Corozal Hospital. The body has been transported to the KHMH where a post mortem examination is scheduled for today.

EP Yorke female student nation’s top CSEC performer

Belize City, Wednesday, November 4, 3009 5 female students are the top performers in the annual CSEC results.

Athina Swasey of Edward P Yorke was the top student in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. Swasey obtained eleven Grade Ones in her subject exsaminations, and in addition to being this year’s Most Outstanding CSEC Candidate, Swasey also achieved first place subject awards in Human and Social Biology and English B. Virginia Hsu, of St Catherine’s Academy tallied the second highest scores, attaining ten Grade Ones in her subject examinations.

Stacey Karyn Grinage of St John’s Junior College was the most outstanding candidate in the May-June 2009 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE). She is also the winner of the Belize Scholarship for this year. Grinage obtained grade twos in six subjects and achieved first place subject awards in History Unit 2, and Sociology Unit 1.

Other outstanding CSEC candidates for National Awards are Leonie Eileen Magdaleno of Stann Creek Ecumenical College, as well as Lila Estephan and Lilian Lai-Fung Shen both of St. Catherine Academy.

The National Award Ceremony will be held later this month.

Another home invasion

Belize City, Tuesday, November 3, 2009 Police report that they are investigating a home invasion which occurred last weekend in Ladyville. William Tennyson, 58, reported that whilst at home along with his aunt, an eighty one year old retiree, at about 8:15 pm on Saturday, October 31st he was accosted by a Creole man who placed a knife on his throat and ordered him to open the front door grill. He complied and another Creole man with his face covered entered. The complainant was then taken upstairs to his aunt’s room where the men demanded and received cash, and escaped with an assortment of jewelry and cell phones.

CFE Cancels Guaranteed Power Supply to Belize

Belize City, Wednesday, November 4, 2009 The Belize Electricity Limited announced in a press release this morning that its Mexican power supplier has canceled its guaranteed power supply contract.

The release reads: “Comisiόn Federal de Electricidad (CFE) has advised Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) that it is cancelling the guaranteed power supply contract (Firm Contract) with BEL, due to Force Majeure reasons. This contract was to expire in December 2010.

“CFE has stated that their generation capacity has been significantly limited, as a result of problems with gas availability, generation equipment and shortfall in hydroelectric production.

“While CFE canceling of the firm contract is due to Force Majeure reasons, they are proposing to negotiate a new contract to provide up to 50 MW of economic and emergency energy to Belize. The rates under this new contract are expected to be higher than they were under the former contract.”

BEL maintains that there is sufficient local generation to meet Belize’s energy demand without supply from CFE. It says that since CFE’s initial notice in April, advising that it needed to suspend guaranteed power supply to Belize through to September 2009, BEL has been able to maintain power supply to Belize by relying on local generation sources, including the hydroelectric facilities at Belize Electric Company Limited and Hydro Maya Limited; the heavy fuel plant at Belize Aquaculture Limited and BEL’s own Gas Turbine Unit.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Belize Times

Tots badly burned in Cayo fire; family now homeless

Belize City, Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Two young children were badly burned in a fire on Monday night in Georgeville Village, Cayo District.

Reports allege that 14 year old Bridget Martinez was left home alone with her 3 year old and 5 month old sisters. Her mom Audrey Martinez says that around 8:30 she went to her cousin’s house next door and in what seemed like only a split second after that, the fire started.

She dashed home but by then the fire had already engulfed the house. Besides the injuries to her daughters Audrey Martinez and her 10 children are now homeless and have lost everything.

It is believed that the fire was caused by faulty electrical wiring.

The family needs help and anyone who wishes to assist can contact Audrey Martinez at 620-1609.

She also needs help in locating the father of her children Alford Castillo. He is reported to be somewhere in Belize City.

National Security Minister’s office burglarized

Belize City, Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Caribbean Shores area representative and minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo was in the news recently over a piece of land that he took from a single mother, a constituent of Minister Michael Finnegan. Today the news is that someone broke into the minister’s constituency office over the weekend, right across from the lot he had taken from Ms. Jerguson, and stole the minister’s computer and accessories.

This is the second time that the Caribbean Shores constituency office has been burglarized in recent months, and as with nearly all other such reports, Minister Perdomo seems unable to do anything about it.

Police arrest six for weed, three for gun, ammo possession

Belize City, Wednesday, November 4, 2009 According to the police press release for today, the police have arrested and charged six persons in four separate incidents for possession of marijuana.

On Tuesday, Police arrested and charged Sandra Thompson and Patrick Flowers with drug trafficking after discovering 11 ounces of weed during a search of their Belize City residence.

Similarly they report that yesterday they arrested and charged Mathew Alexander Gonzales of Corozal Town after a search was conducted on him which led to the discovery of nearly a pound of suspected cannabis.

Police report that yesterday they detained Gildon Rivers of Belize City after a search of his bag at a vehicle check point in Benque Viejo Town yielded four and a half pounds of weed.

The further report that after searching a house in Orange Walk occupied by Honduran nationals Victor Moralez and Jacinto Sorto, they decided to detain both pending charges after finding 3 ounces of marijuana.

Police are investigating an alleged carnal knowledge report by a 12 year old minor who reported that in the month of July 2009 a male person of Orange Walk Town had sexual intercourse with her. The suspect has since been detained pending investigation.

Police also report that they’ve arrested and charged three men on weapons and ammunition possession charges.

Police have arrested and charged Steven Edward Stults, American national of Cayo District, with kept prohibited firearm and kept prohibited ammunition after they conducted a search on his residence which led to the discovery of a 45 caliber automatic pistol along with 6 live rounds. They have also arrested and charged Isaguias Mai and Urbina Chan, both of Cayo District with Kept Firearm without a Gun License and kept ammunition without a gun license after they a search of Mai’s residence led them to the discovery of a 9 millimeter pistol with 33 live rounds, 5 expended shells and 2 slugs.

Charlie Good to be buried Saturday

Belize City, Thursday, November 05, 2009 The family of the late Charles Good has announced that they are dissatisfied with the conclusions drawn by Medical Examiner Mario Estrababran from his autopsy of his body yesterday.

Dr. Estradabran has certified the primary cause of death as “Neurogenic shock” secondary to acute pancreas hemorrhage, diabetes type 2, hypertension and chronic heart disease. He also listed the time of death as 4:55 a.m.

Good’s widow this morning said that the family is dissatisfied with Dr. Estradabran’s inability to properly answer their questions regarding her husband’s condition and what impact his being brutalized by the police on September 23rd may have had on his death.

Charles Good constantly complained of pain after being roughed up by the squad of policemen. He had received two major surgeries, including a heart bypass operation, in just the past three years, and was still recovering from a massive stroke.

His widow Hirian Good has also announced that funeral services for the late Captain Charles Alexander Good, Retired, will be held on Saturday, November 7th at St. Joseph’s Church in Belize City starting at 10:00 a.m., after which his body will be transported to San Ignacio, Cayo District for interment.

Shooting up of minister’s car raising questions

Belize City, Thursday, November 05, 2009 A report that Minister of Works and Port Loyola area representative

13

Compiled by the Vibes Newsteam Anthony Boots Martinez’ private vehicle, a 2007 Nissan Maxima, was shot up by a supposedly irate citizen yesterday morning on Reggae Street in Belize City is giving rise to many questions.

According to Martinez his driver Michael Sutherland was approached by one Kevin Sutherland who shot the vehicle three times because he could not meet with the minister.

Boots claims that Kevin Sutherland is not one of his constituents and they do not transact any business that would result in that kind of violence.

He also claimed that the police had advised that the matter be treated as a civil one, and so far there are no reports that Kevin Sutherland has been arrested or is even wanted by the police.

It is the third incident involving Boots Martinez and shots being fired over the past few years.

Coyes et al money laundering case adjourned to November 9th

Belize City, Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Yesterday the case with the million dollar money laundering case against the Coye family, their business Money Exchange International and employees continued in Magistrate’s Court No. 3 before Magistrate Kathleen Lewis.

The Financial Intelligence Unit, which brought the charges against the Coyes made a request to the court to amend the charge sheet to now reflect changes in line with the revised Money Laundering and Prevention Act, which is now the Money Laundering and Terrorism Act, that came into effect after the charges were initially brought.

Attorney Dickie Bradley, who represents Jude Coye, Michael Coye and James Gerou, completed his submissions yesterday morning. In an interview afterwards Bradley maintains that none of the statements presented as evidence against his clients had anything to do with the charges against any or all of the defendants. He had previously described the prosecution’s case as mainly quantity but no quality.

He said that of the 86 statements tendered into evidence only one, Shaun Oliva’s, makes any accusation. He called her accusations in the statement unsubstantiated by any report by the Central Bank or any other relevant authority.

In the afternoon attorney Arthur Saldivar, who represents Marlene and Melanie Coye, also made submissions on behalf of the defendant, again highlighting what he termed the complete lack of evidence to substantiate the charges.

The case was adjourned until November 9th, when attorney Anthony Sylvestre will make submissions on behalf of Athlee Matute and Dietrich Kingston.

The Financial Intelligence Unit’s case is being presented by attorneys Antoinette Moore, Mikail Arguelles and Tricia Pitts. They have tendered 86 statements as evidence that included statements by persons whose identities had been purloined from the Belize City Council Traffic Department database, attesting to that they had neither sent through or received money from a Moneygram agency the Coyes operated on Central American Boulevard.

There were also statements by CIB Chief ASP Julio Valdez and Sergeant Bernard Reyes, who carried out the police investigation, assorted F.I.U. personnel and former Money Exchange International Country Coordinator Shaun Oliva.

The Coyes et al were variously charged with money laundering after nearly US$1.5 million was discovered stashed inside a suitcase in one of the bedrooms during a search of their home on Johnson Street in Belize City on New Year’s Eve last year.

The case has attracted wide attention, and even more so after Dean Fuller, the manager of Omni Networks Limited was arrested and charged on Monday, July 13, 2009 with laundering $6.5 million as part of the scheme. Omni directors and shareholders include Dean’s wife Diana Fuller, sister Susan Fuller, as well as the CEO of the Ministry of Tourism Michael Singh, who is also the brother of UDP chairman Doug Singh, and Ruth Esquivel, the daughter of former Prime Minister and UDP Party Leader Manuel Esquivel.

The court records show that Fuller is accused of being “engaged, directly or indirectly, in transactions involving property to Wit: $6,588,702.21 that is the proceeds of crime or knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe the same to be the proceeds of crime” between October ninth, 2007 and January first, 2009.

It is the third time that the Singhs have been linked to a company under investigation for money laundering. In February 2003 it was reported that Doug Singh was the registered agent for a Canadian owned international business company called Goldman and Stein that was being investigated by US authorities tracking the transfer of large sums of money.

On July 21st, 2004 Belize Transportation Agencies Limited was stripped of its authority to conduct Western Union money transfer business by the Central Bank of Belize. In a press release the following month BTALCO’s General Manager Mike Singh confirmed that his company had halted operations as a result of a Central Bank investigation.

Of note is that the appointment of and acceptance by the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit, Attorney Marilyn Williams to an ethics committee of the United Democratic Party by its chairman Doug Singh has raised more than eyebrows.

Her colleagues before the bar in particular are saying that the blatantly partisan appointment is not befitting of her official government position as FIU director, but erodes public confidence in the integrity and independence of office.

The defense attorneys are also on record as saying that when the money was seized and counted in front of witnesses, it totaled some $1.64 million, but on the charge sheets and other court documents that sum has been reduced to $1.54 million and so far there have been no explanation as to reason for the difference, or any accounting for the difference.

14

The Belize Times

Sunday, November 8, 2009

DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION Agriculture and Industrial Program The Development Finance Corporation ("DFC�) is pleased to announce the resumption of lending under its Agriculture and Industrial Program (Development Sectors) effective November 16, 2009. Loans are available at an affordable interest rate of 12.75% which attractive repayment terms. Financing is available in the following areas:

Agriculture Transportation Agro-Processing Forestry Manufacturing Mining Services Commercial Fishing Microenterprise Development

Interested parties are invited to visit the nearest DFC office during the hours of 8:00 am to 3:30 pm, Monday to Friday, for further information.

Residential Mortgages and Student Loans are also available!

DFC looks forward to assist you in your development finance needs!

DFC – YOUR PARTNER IN DEVELOPMENT

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Belize TimeS

15

COURT NEWS Computer Repairman Found Guilty of Theft

Frank Conorquie

BELIZE CITY, Wed. Nov. 4, 2009 Frank Conorquie, 50, a resident of #32 Corner Amara Avenue and King Street charged with the theft of a laptop computer, was found guilty of the charge by Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie on Monday, November 2. Chief Magistrate McKenzie fined him $1,000 and told him that if he does not pay the fine

by December 2 he will serve 1 year.

She also ordered him to pay $5,000 in compensation in installations of $500 per month to the owner of the computer, Vernadelle Bailey, 54, a teacher at Gwen Lizarraga High School.

Conorquie had to get somebody to sign a bond guaranteeing that the compensation would be paid in order to get his release. Because he could not find anybody to sign the bond, he was taken to prison.

Bailey said that she g ave Conorquie the computer to repair and Conorquie promised to return it after 2 days. Conorquie testified and admitted that Bailey gave him the computer to fix but after he fixed it the computer only worked one week then it shut down. Conorquie said he gave a friend, Nunez, who worked at GS Com, the computer to fix and since then he has not been able to locate Nunez. He said he only knows that Nunez lives in Orange Walk but he does not know exactly where. He admitted that he gave the computer to a friend to fix.

Chief Magistrate McKenzie in her summation of the evidence said that it was Conorquie’s responsibility to return the computer to Bailey and because he did not do so he was guilty of theft. Conorquie has a similar case of theft of a cell phone that was allegedly given to him to fix for which he is to appear in the #6 Court for trial on Monday, November 9.

One Charged For Burglary of Black Orchid Lounge

BELIZE CITY, Wed. Nov. 4, 2009 Lance Grinage, 19, a laborer of #6633 Police Street who is one of two persons the Police believe broke into Black Orchid Lounge and stole $33,570 worth of items, was charged with burglary when he appeared in the #1 Magistrate’s Court on Monday, November 2. Alvin Flowers, 28, a construction worker of Burrell Boom charged jointly with Grinage, is still at large.

Grinage pled not guilty to the Lance Grinage charge. Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie offered him bail of $6,000, The burglary occurred which he met. She adjourned his case between October 20 and October until December 2.

21. Douglas Thompson, the owner

of Black Orchid Lounge located in Burrell Boom, reported to the Police that the items that were stolen included $25,000 worth of assorted jewelry; one grey combination lock safety box that has a value of $1,000; one HP laptop computer with a value of $2,400; one Canon digital camera valued at $1,600; two Black Berry cell-phones valued at $1,700; Two LG cell-phones with a combined value of $800; one Batman cell phone valued at $400; $200 US currency; and assorted phone cards valued at $170 Belize currency.

The Police investigated the burglary and their investigation led them to Grinage and Flowers.

16

The Belize TimeS

Sunday, November 8, 2009

COURT NEWS Couple Charged With Drug Trafficking

BELIZE CITY, Wed. Nov. 4, 2009 Two persons, Sandra Thompson, 23, of #12 Kelly Street and her boyfriend, Patrick Flowers, 23, a resident of Dean Street, were charged with drug trafficking for 318 grams of cannabis when they appeared yesterday in the #5 Magistrate’s Court. Thompson pled not guilty to the charge. Flowers said he was guilty with an explanation. His explanation was that he went to Thompson’s house early yesterday morning and he saw the front door open. He denied having any knowledge of the cannabis being in the house.

Because he was saying in effect that he was not guilty, Magistrate Albert Hoare entered an equivocal plea of not guilty. He offered each of them bail of $5,000 which they met.

Thompson’s explanation of Flowers’

Sandra Thompson

guilty plea was that he wanted to plead guilty to keep her from losing her job.

She said that when the Police came to her house yesterday morning they found a bullet at the front door and they told

Seven Times Convicted Thief Sentenced To 15 Months

Patrick Flowers

her that they are not going to charge her for it.

The cannabis, the Police reported, was found in the bathroom.

Marlon Flowers

2009

BELIZE CITY, Wed. Nov. 4,

Marlon Flowers, 33 a.k.a. “Bado” an electrician of #88 West Street who stole a bicycle and threatened to shoot the person who had it, was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months yesterday in the #2 Magistrate’s Court after Magistrate Dorothy Flowers found him guilty of theft and using threatening words. The sentence of 1 year was for theft and the 3 months was for using threatening words.

T he incident occur red at around 6:30 a.m. on June 20, 2009. The complainant, Lavern Thompson, testified that she borrowed a beach cruiser bicycle, valued at $200, from Delwin Soberanis and she went to visit a friend. She said she parked the bicycle in an alley that runs off New Road and as she was going up the stairs to her friend’s house she heard a noise.

She testified that when she turned around she saw Flowers, who she has known for quite some time, stealing the bicycle. She said when she hollered at Flowers he threatened to shoot her and he rode away.

Flowers testified and denied that he committed the offences. He called his mother as a witness but in her testimony she did not say anything that would have established his innocence.

The conviction of theft was Flowers’ seventh.

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Sunday, November 8, 2009

The

The Belize TimeS

Belize Times l o ñ a p s E n E

DOMINGO NOVIEMBRE 8, 2009

Issue No. 4659

$1.00

La Traición de Duckrun III Ismael Pérez - Presidente, Duckrun III El pueblo de Duckrun III, en el noreste de Cayo División del Distrito del Cayo ha sido tranquilo, pacífico y ( "seco") pueblo - en seco que no ha habido centros de licor en el pueblo hasta hace poco. Los jóvenes de la aldea han usado el fútbol como su recreación y actividad deportiva, a pesar de que no tenemos campo de fútbol utilizable.

Esto se debe a un campo de fútbol establecido por el entonces candidato de el PUP, el Sr. Orlando Habet junto con nuestro consejo de la aldea fue cerrado después de las elecciones de febrero del 2008 por el Sr. Elvin Penner, representante de la zona. Aunque somos conscientes de que algunos de nuestros jóvenes van a tomarse bebidas alcohólicas en otras poblaciones y en las principales ciudades, tales prácticas no se han producido en el pueblo porque el pueblo de Duckrun III ha pedido que no tener un bar establecido en el pueblo.

Desde agosto de 2009, un tal Sr. José Aníbal Molina pasó de residir en la aldea de Selena a residir en nuestra aldea, donde tiene una propiedad y abrió un bar. a pesar de que los habitantes del pueblo están en contra y a pesar del hecho de que el consejo de la aldea y yo no aprobamos una licencia que se conceda a Molina. Se afirma en el Acta del Consejo de aldeas en que el presidente del consejo de la aldea debe firmar la solicitud antes de que la Junta de Distrito de venta de bebidas alcohólicas pueda aprobar y conceder una licencia de licores. Dado que desde que este nuevo establecimiento ha abierto ahora tenemos peleas de los bares, los jóvenes menores de 16 años bebiendo en la calle y el hecho de tener una vida normal con sus padres, se interrumpido por sus acciones. Un fin de semana algunos niños en edad escolar estaban bebiendo en un día domingo y no podían asistir a la escuela a la mañana siguiente.

En septiembre del 2009, se informó del asunto a la policía en Spanish Lookout y envié una carta al oficial a cargo de la comisaría de San Ignacio en la que se les informaba del "bar ilegal" en el pueblo. También fui a visitar al presidente de la Junta de la venta de bebidas alcohólicas en Cayo, un tal Sr. Elías Juan, quien me informó y me aseguró que no había concedido una licencia para el Sr.

Molina.

El pasado sábado por la noche 31 de octubre 2009 algunos jóvenes estaban bebiendo en ese mismo bar propiedad del Sr. Molina y se produjo una pelea en la que los machetes y los rastrillos fueron utilizados como armas. De hecho la paz de nuestro pueblo entero y la tranquilidad están ahora en juego. El lunes por la mañana decidí hacer otro intento de investigar cómo fue que el Sr. Molina podo abrir un bar de nuestro pueblo sin la aprobación del pueblo y de la Junta de venta de bebidas alcohólicas. Decidí reunirme con el Sr. Molina y visitar su lugar. A continuación me presentó una licencia de licor que dijo que él obtuvo a través del señor Elvin Penner, ya que se le dijo que no tenía que consultarme a mí porque soy un presidente PUP y que es el representante de la zona que toma la decisión. El certificado de licencia para el Sr. Molina fue firmado por el Sr. Juan Elías, presidente de Junta de Licencias de Licor, San Ignacio, para el período agosto 1ro, 2009-enero 31, 2010.

Hablé con un policía que me dijo que no había nada que hacer porque el dueño, el Sr. Molina ha firmado una licencia legal y que la policía hacer cumplir la ley sólo si los propietarios no tienen una licencia para operar.

Debo mencionar que a este punto que he informado también de la cuestión a NAVCO, la Asociación Nacional de Consejos de Aldea, que prometió hacer una investigación sobre el asunto, pero no han visitado mi pueblo hasta el momento. También informe de este asunto a los líderes de la Comunidad Spanish Lookout, así que esperamos que puedan tener alguna influencia sobre el Sr. Elvin Penner y sus decisiones, pero parece como si es en vano.

Parece como si no estamos operando bajo una Constitución de Belice y las leyes de Belice más sino en virtud de una ley UDP que no es muy buena con los no-UDP y la ley del día parece ser contrarias a todos los sectores sociales, políticos, religiosos y de orden humano. Hago un llamamiento a todos los ciudadanos de Belice a que tome nota de cómo estamos viviendo hoy en día, la forma en que estamos siendo tratados con desprecio y como nuestras familias y especialmente nuestros niños están siendo destruidos por el gobierno del día.

www.belizetimes.bz

17

The Truth Shall Make You Free

El Bejuco El ministrito samba Le gusta viajar le gusta bailar. Le encanta el pasodoble. Le gustan todas las cosas dobles, doble casa: grande y chiquita.

Por supuesto doble vehículo de gobierno. Doble señora… mismo nombre.. y Ambas chatitas…

Y últimamente con doble boleto y doblemente acompañado viajo hacia Brasil, a pedir ayuda para el ministerio de salud…

Y después de doble gasto, firmo un acuerdo (doblemente firmado también para traer copia) la cual fue sellada con un par de tragos de whiskey (doble) Trajo doble promesas y doblegado rindió informe al gabinete de gobierno…

“Nos ayudaran”. Dijo, “algún día…Y en muestra de ello me regalaron un refrigerador (de doble estante) para meter la Leche.”

Inútil ministrito de salud y leche Tanto gasto, y que chasco, nada mas una refri se pesco.

Ay ministrito, mas barato hubiera salido comprarlo en courts y bien nuevecito.. y con todo y leche…

Pero la samba bailo hasta que la colita le dolió. Muchos lugares conoció y hasta al corcovado llego donde el gran Cristo redentor miro. Por cierto le gusto, aunque en doble fuera mejor en voz alta pensó.

Para los necesitados de diálisis nada se logro, para mejorar los hospitales todo se le negó. Ni yo tengo dos carros el brasileiro le alego...

Mientras el ministro se paseo otro bebito ya se murió. ¿A quién culpara? …al rato lo decidirá… o quizá nombre otra comisión de investigación de aquellas que ya parecen canción…

Faltan las medicinas y para él no es problema, faltan equipo en los hospitales, eso para el no es dilema, no llega a comprender que él es el anatema.

Por las mañanas se levanta y su única preocupación es cuál de sus carros abordara, de tin marin de do pingüe el viejo o el nuevo… ¡el nuevo fue!

Y como lechero en su carro blanco de su nueva casa tempranito se salió….

Las nuevas nuevas ¡Que le balearon el carro a Boots!!!, paga tu yerba si quieres tu mate, hermano…

Este Shyne cada vez me cae mejor, aviéntate. Que si yo pudiera también me alquilo el penthouse…porque eso de vivir con el tío ruin que te mandas y en Goldson street ¡uff!

El pelón nombrara a su vice PM Gapi Margarito para presidir un comité del gabinete que estudiara el funcionamiento de las aduanas….. Únicamente: jajajajajajajajajajjajajajaja ¡Si el siempre se ha ganado los frijoles haciendo eso!

El ministrito de salud y leche tiene esta gran fijación de un banco de leche materna (las ve dobles). Va a sacarle la leche de todas las mamas y la pondrá en su refri que le regalaron en Brasil. Con dos casitas ya está que el solo lo lleno …. Ayayay ministro lechero…..

18 18

THE TheBELIZE BelizeTIMES Times

November 8, 2009 Sunday, November 8, 2009

No

Discurso por Excmo. John Briceño Jefe de el Partido Unido d

San Pedro, Ambergris Caye - Jueves, 05 d

Siempre es un placer estar aquí en el Cayo Ambergris.

También es un privilegio estar con los miembros de la Cámara de Comercio de Ambergris Caye, una asociación de personas talentosas y dedicadas que trabajan para el desarrollo sostenible de esta preciosa isla y para nuestra nación.

Me siento honrado por su invitación para dirigirme a su encuentro y espero que nuestro intercambio sea beneficioso. Igualmente espero darles algunas ideas acerca de cómo veo el papel del gobierno en el desarrollo de nuestra Nación.

El pasado jueves el Primer Ministro anunció que estamos en una recesión económica. Al hacerlo, declaró que todos nosotros subestimamos los efectos de la crisis económica mundial en Belice. De hecho, esta mucho más alejado de la realidad de lo que cree, ya que tan pronto como desde hace un año nos han estado diciendo que las cosas no se pintan bien para Belice. También ustedes, que están al frente de esta recesión y han sentido el peso de la misma, han estado expresando desde hace meses, que las cosas no están bien en la industria del turismo y en Belice.

Esta revelación tardía por parte del Primer Ministro es suficiente para debilitar nuestro espíritu, sin embargo, no debemos permitir que esto suceda, sino que debemos aprovechar esta oportunidad para fortalecer nuestra decisión de tratar de encontrar soluciones a los problemas que nos afrentan, mientras que al mismo tiempo debemos mirar hacia el futuro con optimismo.

Así que hoy aquí en el Blue Water Grill, digo que debemos insistir en que el gobierno desempeñe su papel en la solución del problema o que se quiten del camino y dejen que aquellos de nosotros que tenemos la capacidad y el coraje hagamos lo necesario y que nos pongamos a trabajar en solucionar el problema.

Yo creo que las respuestas a nuestros problemas se pueden encontrar aquí en nuestro mismo pueblo. Tenemos la capacidad para restaurar nuestra economía a una posición de crecimiento, pero necesitamos un liderazgo valiente y decidido.

En primer lugar, no hemos llegado a este punto, únicamente como resultado de la crisis económica mundial, sino también por el fracaso de nuestro Gobierno para planificar, su venganza cruel; su incapacidad para encontrar formas creativas para estimular el crecimiento de la economía, su bloqueo del departamento de tierras; el estrangulamiento de la economía de Belice y su falta de comunicación. Todos estos factores jugaron un papel importante en la erosión de la confianza de los inversionistas en Belice.

Ahora me doy cuenta que no son una audiencia imparcial y que no me invitaron aquí para uno de mis discursos del PUP, por lo que pido me perdonen si me pongo un poco político, pero estoy enfadado por esta situación, porque cualquier cosa que frena nuestro desarrollo nacional es un obstáculo para nuestra capacidad de proporcionar oportunidades para los beliceños, especialmente los más pobres en nuestras sociedades.

Permítanme afirmar algunos hechos básicos. En los 10 años de gobierno de mi partido, la economía de Belice creció entre 6 y 8 por ciento, con la última cifra registrada en 2008, el comienzo de la crisis mundial, del 3,8 por ciento. Pasamos cerca de mil millones de dólares en educación, 400 millones de dólares en carreteras, que proporcionan agua y electricidad a más de 90 aldeas y expansión de nuestro producto turístico en cada distrito de Belice. Y lo hicimos todo durante el tiempo en que tuvimos que recuperarnos de 4 tormentas en 5 años, mientras que los precios del petróleo se deslizaron por encima de $ 18 por barril a más de $ 120 por barril. Había una escasez mundial de alimentos y la guerra en Irak.

Entonces, ¿cómo podemos pasar en una economía que el crecimiento experimentado a uno que está a punto de experimentar un crecimiento negativo?

Bueno hemos llegado hasta aquí debido a una serie de factores, sí, el factor externo desempeñó un papel importante. La crisis económica mundial, que sólo el Primer Ministro parecía haber subestimado, ha causado un efecto en nosotros, porque nuestra economía es pequeña y dependiente del comercio internacional. Entonces, ¿qué sucede con las economías de nuestros socios comerciales tendrán un efecto en nuestra economía local.

Otra razón para el estado de la economía es el pobre desempeño económico en la recaudación de ingresos, que es por $ 30,5 m una disminución de 9,4 por ciento. La mayoría de esto es causado por la disminución drástica de las importaciones, que bajó un 21,2 por ciento. Más significativa es la Zona libre, donde las importaciones han disminuido en un 38,9 por ciento, a sólo 114 millones dólares, lo que equivale a una disminución de 42 por ciento. Y así, tengo que preguntar: ¿Qué medidas se han adoptado para abordar este problema? Estas cifras son para los dos primeros trimestres, de modo que ¿qué podemos esperar para el resto del año?

Luego está la cuestión de la confianza. No estamos enfocados en hacer las cosas que son necesarias para estimular la actividad en el sector productivo. Lo dije en marzo durante el debate sobre el presupuesto que teníamos que concentrar el gasto en el sector productivo.

No hace ningún bien real para nosotros tener 415 millones de dólares en el banco, mientras que los beliceños que siguen luchando porque no hay nuevos puestos de trabajo, sin nuevas inversiones, y no de desarrollo. Cuando no hay capital de inversión, no podemos crecer económicamente.

También hemos llegado hasta aquí debido a la naturaleza vengativa de este gobierno, que han pasado después de tantas personas en la comunidad empresarial, prácticamente declaró la guerra a tantas personas en el sector agrícola, desde los cultivadores de arroz a los productores de hortalizas. En las industrias más importantes en este país al encontrar una lucha continua entre el gobierno y los productores. Desde los agricultores de hortalizas, a las personas en las telecomunicaciones, la batalla en los salarios. Todas estas peleas continúan siendo causa de la erosión en la confianza de los inversionistas.

Y luego está el paro en el Ministerio de Recursos Naturales, donde Vega y sus asesores han prácticamente destruido el mercado inmobiliario y, como tales inversiones por azar ignorando los títulos de propiedad, evitando que la gente pague sus impuestos sobre la tierra, y en general

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Sunday, November 8, 2009 November 8, 2009

TheTHE Belize Times BELIZE TIMES

1919

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matan las inversiones a través de los bancos comerciales, que ahora tienen miedo a prestar, sobre la base de una hipoteca social.

Lo que se refiere al sector del turismo, ya sé que es un hecho que actualmente estamos experimentando una de las peores épocas de declive económico de nuestro país se ha visto jamás. Lo que esto significa es que el turismo, una industria que proporciona uno de cada cuatro empleos y más de 600 millones de dólares en ingresos por un total de 25 por ciento del PIB, también está experimentando un descenso significativo. Lo que significa es que todos nosotros estamos luchando por mantenernos a flote.

Siendo yo mismo un hombre de negocios entiendo como sus límites de sus cuentas bancarias deben estarse estirando hasta el límite sobre todo en los últimos meses.

Mis amigos desde los ataques terroristas en los EE.UU. no hemos visto a tantos meses de descensos consecutivos en la industria del turismo. Lo que más me preocupa es que no parece haber ningún plan para sacarnos de este lío.

No estoy implicado en el turismo como muchos de ustedes hoy aquí, pero sé que es un hecho que existe una copia significativa en nuestra economía en su conjunto de esta industria muy importante, así que lo que afecta el turismo nos afecta a todos.

Según los informes de BTB, las llegadas de turistas se redujeron en un 8,6% de Enero a Julio. Después de hablar con la gente en la industria, estoy convencido de que la disminución del turismo es mayor. Y si el descenso del 8,6 por ciento es válido para enero-julio y agosto, septiembre y octubre, que tradicionalmente son los mese mas lentos en el negocio, entonces el próximo informe que saldrá definitivamente va a ser peor.

Belice necesita un nuevo plan para el turismo, que llevara a la industria adelante, mientras que fomenta la diversificación de la industria en una manera responsable.

No podemos perder de vista porque los visitantes escogen Belice como un destino turístico. Ellos vienen aquí porque hemos logrado posicionarnos a nosotros mismos como un destino lleno de aventura y cultura. La gente paga en dólares para este tipo de experiencia. Con esto dicho, es fundamental que encontremos una manera de desarrollar nuestro sector de la noche a la mañana, mientras que la obtención de beneficios de aumentar el turismo de cruceros. También tenemos que encontrar una manera de aumentar la ocupación hotelera nacional, el 40 por ciento de ocupación no es aceptable, si hemos de ser sostenible.

Por el lado de desarrollo, tenemos que mejorar notablemente la infraestructura del país de una manera que beneficie el crecimiento del turismo y el desarrollo. Tenemos que luchar contra la delincuencia y mejorar la seguridad pública.

En el área de control de calidad, necesitamos capacitar a nuestra gente en la forma de ofrecer servicios de primera clase. Tenemos que crear un programa de incentivos para aquellas personas que toman en serio la realización de sus negocios de manera responsable. Por último, tenemos que ser mucho más creativos en la forma de promover Belice, tomando ventaja de los distintos tipos de medios de comunicación.

Aquí en la isla, tenemos que abordar seriamente el desarrollo constante y asegurar que se haga de una manera sostenible. Si vamos a hacer esto en serio debemos considerar un sistema de control y manejo de desechos para la isla. Tenemos que ampliar la vivienda. Tenemos que abordar seriamente la delincuencia en San Pedro, y tenemos que invertir más de los impuestos que genera San Pedro de nuevo en la isla.

El potencial de crecimiento para el turismo es grande y los beneficios positivos que puede aportar a nuestro país en términos de generación de riqueza, creación de empleo y la diversificación económica depende de qué tan interesados estamos en colocar al turismo como una prioridad nacional. Si vamos a competir y tener éxito en esta industria, a continuación, todos tenemos que tomar en serio, especialmente los que establecen las políticas y toman las decisiones.

Mis amigos que se han recuperado de las peores situaciones: el miedo al terrorismo, crisis sanitarias, catástrofes naturales, cada vez más altos precios del petróleo y las fluctuaciones en el tipo de cambio. Muchos de ustedes pueden recordar la devastación causada por el huracán Keith. Estábamos de regreso en nuestros pies dentro de tres meses.

Con perseverancia, trabajo duro, y el apoyo del gobierno los San pedranos soportaran esta tormenta y en unos pocos meses la isla estará de vuelta en el crecimiento sobrepasando los records de llegadas e ingresos.

Señoras y señores, yo amo a Belice, sé que muchos de ustedes hoy aquí se mudaron aquí porque el amor a Belice también. Todos queremos ver a este país avanzar. Todos queremos ver a la nación llegar a los niveles de desarrollo que todos sabemos que son alcanzables.

Creo y han dejado claro a la gente en mi partido que tenemos que ser el tipo de organización política en Belice que se basa en el mejor interés de todos, especialmente para los más pobres entre nosotros. Queremos construir comunidades donde nuestros niños puedan crecer fuertes y tener acceso a la atención sanitaria de calidad. Donde pueden ir a la escuela y aprender, y donde pueden jugar en la seguridad de sus hogares y patios de recreo.

Podemos construir este tipo de sociedad en toda esta nación, podemos proporcionar desarrollo y las oportunidades para nuestra gente y proteger y preservar nuestro medio ambiente y podemos hacer de Belice un gran ejemplo en nuestra región.

Tenemos las soluciones a los problemas que aquejan a esta nación, y estamos haciendo el tipo de reformas en nuestro Partido se asegurará de que los beliceños podemos volver a tener confianza.

Quiero hacer un llamado a todos ustedes en la Cámara de Comercio de San Pedro para que se unan a las de nosotros y con otros que creen en el potencial que este país tiene para ofrecer y desempeñar su parte en el desarrollo significativo de Belice.

Gracias por su atención.

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The Belize TimeS

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Imagina las Posibilidades? … s o m e b a s i s a r o ah

?

MÁS

Nepotismo

MÁS

Crimen

MÁS

Deuda

MÁS

Injusticia

MÁS

Desempleo

MÁS

Regulación

MÁS

Pobreza

MÁS

Problemas en los Hospitales

MÁS

Hambre

MÁS

Manipulación Constitucional

MÁS

Impuestos

MÁS

Derroche de Gasto Público

MÁS

Despidos

MÁS

Corrupción

s a i c a r G

Señor Barrow

Nos Vemos en el

2013

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Belize Times

21

NATION BUILDERS

ADOLFA GARCIA

Elizabeth Pridgeon People have acknowledged Ms. Adolfa Garcia’s contribution to Belizean society for decades, but it wasn’t until recently that the Women’s Issues Network (WIN-Belize) officially recognized all Ms. Adolfa’s contributions through the publication of their book dedicated to like-minded ‘Bembe’ women. The adjective ‘Bembe’ conjures up images of women of a certain stature and strength who in the past refused to be confined by middle class, patriarchal moralists; ‘Bembe’ women sought careers, actively participated in sports, and initiated demonstrations and petitions to promote human rights for the betterment of Belizean society. Ms. Adolfa Garcia is the quintessential ‘Bembe’ woman, and undoubtedly deserving of the title ‘Nation Builder’.

Ms. Adolfa was born, raised and educated in Yo Creek village in the Orange Walk District. The cultural heritage of the village may be considered a blessing today, but in the early twentieth century, the orthodox yet antiquated patriarchal social structures ensured that women were often beaten, abused, denied fundamental human rights and forced to live as inferior to their male counterparts for their entire lives. It is no surprise, therefore, that Ms. Adolfa

grew up in a family where beatings were commonplace, and domestic abuse dictated the health and happiness of Ms. Adolfa’s entire family.

Despite the hardships posed within the household, Ms. Adolfa displayed a strong character and praise-worthy morals from an early age. When she enrolled in the village school, Ms. Adolfa immersed herself in education and found her passion in life. She fought for the continued privilege of an education through persistently ensuring that all her household and yard chores (such as washing and grinding maize) were completed before the school day commenced: only by awaking in the early hours of the morning could Ms. Adolfa guarantee that she would still be able to complete her duties and be permitted to attend classes. Dedication and enthusiasm for schooling (particularly in a girl) was almost unheard of at the time, and Ms. Adolfa admits that perhaps some people viewed her as an eccentric young child, but her enthusiasm persisted.

At the age of 13 years, when all of her peers had already completed schooling in the village, Ms. Adolfa was still attending classes in the hope of gleaning greater knowledge. Seen as a willing, obedient and hard-working girl, the management board for the school

offered Ms. Adolfa a job as a school monitor, which enabled her to continue attending classes while she worked. She remembers nostalgically that she would always arrive before the expected time, and would hurry in her work in order to be able to pay full attention once the classes began. Earning a stipend of $2/month was an added bonus for Ms. Adolfa, and she remembers clearly how she spent her first pay-cheque on purchasing a pair of local-made chanclas for herself.

When Ms Adolfa turned 14 years old, a transfer teacher arrived at the school in Yo Creek: a Garifuna man. At the time, this teacher had the unenviable position as the first black teacher in the village, and he met with significant racist resistance from villagers. Ms. Adolfa, however, saw beyond his colour and was grateful merely for his presence and his ability to continue teaching in the school. Forming a working relationship, this teacher than recommended Ms. Adolfa as a pupil teacher and shortly afterwards Ms Adolfa moved to Orange Walk to teach alongside the nuns at La Inmaculada Primary School.

Ms Adolfa spent several years studying and learning whilst also teaching at the town’s school, and she persistently declined proposals to marry local men (despite her family frowning upon her hesitation and the perceived dishonor of her younger sister marrying before her).

Social stigma and expectations mattered little to Ms Adolfa, and she immersed herself in books. In her second year of study, she was awarded a book prize for her skills in mathematics, and she all but devoured the Complete Works of Shakespeare she received, finding a passion in ancient drama too.

However, Ms Adolfa’s remarkable educational progress was interrupted by the premature death of her mother, aged just 40 years old, in 1945. One of her mother’s last wishes was that Ms. Adolfa marry a particular village man in Yo Creek, and not wanting to deny her mother’s death-wish, Ms. Adolfa was married on 20th May 1945, just a few months after her mother’s death.

Exactly a year to the day later, the first of six children was born to Ms. Adolfa.

However, the marriage was wrought with problems, not least because Ms. Adolfa’s husband had a catastrophic weakness for alcohol, and was as equally abusive as her father had been. She quickly realized that she couldn’t live her life fully without being happy, and therefore her marriage threatened to cost her dedication to her country, church and profession; she made a resolve that as soon as the children were old enough, she would leave her husband and regain her former happiness via independent living.

And this she did, and she has never looked back. She immersed herself in teaching, she prepared students and teachers for scholarships, she organized

nationwide debates for her local team, she created the Yo Creek sub-library (the first of its kind) and she perpetually sought to better herself and her students.

She voluntarily enrolled in educational summer vocation courses at Central Farm, learning various subjects including animal husbandry and horticulture.

Simultaneously, she evolved spiritually and politically into the proactive, national treasure that she is today.

She tirelessly campaigned alongside the PUP for Belizean independence, and claims she was the “happiest woman in the world” on 21st September, 1981.

However, her political persuasion never interfered with her professional career, and she even remembers rallying against her very own party during a demonstration to improve the standards for members of the Teachers Union! “The Lord gave me a mouth to talk” is a mantra of Ms. Adolfa which perfectly surmises her outgoing personality. Ms. Adolfa never forgot the difference between right and wrong, between morally acceptable and morally inexcusable, between ethical and unethical, and for this strength of character, she has been a stalwart and dependable member of Belizean society for decades.

Since her official retirement in the 1980s, Ms. Adolfa has further developed the spiritual aspect of her character, and has dedicated herself to the advancement of her community through the St. Francis Prayer Centre. She donated a part of her residential land towards the creation of the religious meeting centre, which now attracts a growing congregation from the local community.

She has also initiated a monthly feeding program for underprivileged children in her neighbourhood, which donates food and clothing to those most in need through the support of various local charities and donors.

And yet, despite all this remarkable biography of Ms. Adolfa, she still maintains that she is not worthy of praise, because everything she does is because of the Lord’s instruction. Ms. Adolfa was enthusiastic throughout her youth and early adulthood, and she remains endearingly energetic in her old age, determined to continue offering as much as possible to her local society and her fellow countrymen. The admirable qualities that Ms. Adolfa represents are hard to find among today’s youth, and her zest and vigour for improving the lives and opportunities of other Belizeans is what makes her unique in today’s decaying and self-destructive society.

Ms. Adolfa’s unflinching determination and ambition made her the successful role-model that she is today, and it can only be hoped that the younger generations appreciate her value – and all she represents – and learn from her in order to better their own lives and their own impact on a positive Belizean future.

22

The Belize TimeS

Sunday, November 8, 2009

VOICES Village

from the

XAIBE

community park as it will be used for beneficial purposes that will further unite residents. The long-term goal is to also create a pavilion in the centre of the park that will act as a performance stage and a place from which to deliver community speeches.

Despite these hard times, residents of Xaibe are striving to improve their standard of living, and to encourage the younger generations to stay in the village as opposed to seeking employment and futures elsewhere. With limited support from the current national administration, and decreasing job opportunities on a national scale, it can only be hoped that the

government will begin to make amends by reversing the current economic crisis and empowering the community to further realise their ambitions for the village of Xaibe. Until then, it is understandable that numerous villagers feel neglected and have striven to promote the status and services of Xaibe without the financial support of the government or other outside organisations. Determination and dedication are common sentiments in Xaibe, which continues to give hope that, for this village at least, the future may have a happier ending than many other places in Belize.

FOR SALE

By Order of the Mortgagee Elizabeth Pridgeon Just over a month ago, the village of Xaibe in Corozal celebrated the 59th birthday of the PUP wholeheartedly, warmly embracing the visit by the Party Leader, Hon. John Briceño, and members of the Party Executive. The village has the appearance of a flourishing hamlet, bustling with activity, and always well maintained and carefully kept. However, despite the emphasis on appearance and community solidarity, there are many underlying issues that are cause for concern at present.

The 2000 Census recorded 1254 residents of Xaibe village, but the village continues to grow and now takes up several square miles of land, neatly divided into relatively decent-sized residential lots.

The village boasts a well-maintained school, numerous grocery shops, a hardware store, a cybernet cafe and a swimming pool-cum-bar with intentions of opening a golf course and tilapia farm on site (although sensible members of the electorate are well advised to steer clear of the latter, as the landlord holds a misplaced grudge against the PUP and is quite venomous in his rambling political soliloquies).

The village as a whole has repeatedly voted the PUP village council, headed by the enigmatic Luciano Noh, for over 6 years and community affairs have – according to nearly all residents – worked well under the current council.

However, as is the case throughout Belize, finances are getting tighter and employment opportunities scarcer, and villagers from Xaibe are not immune to ‘feeling the pinch’. Shop-keepers complain of heightened competition between vendors, a situation made worse by the overall decreasing demand for goods as more villagers are forced to rely on contraband Mexican goods solely to be able to provide for themselves and their families as inflation continues to afflict rural communities throughout our country.

The majority of villagers made their wealth during the climax of the sugar cane industry, and villagers are grateful to the past economy for having provided houses and land which, in today’s tight times, would be impossible to acquire.

However, the labour force of Xaibe today has forcibly become more fluid, adjusting to new industries and job vacancies that will at least provide a bare minimum salary, such as at the nearby Fruta Bomba papaya farm, and in the retail and service industry in the Free Zone and border Casinos. For those who have not been

able to secure employment locally, many have left the village to join more promising tourist industries in the Cayes and elsewhere in the country, although the current economic crisis is warranting many of these to suffer un- (or under-) employment too.

Regardless of the financial hardships experienced by most of Xaibe’s residents, there is still an admirable level of community solidarity and cooperation within the village. The latest objective, adopted by an active volunteer group of 10 people, is the creation of a community park adjacent to the school.

This movement has received unwavering support from nearly all community members, and villagers have contributed time and resources to assist in the first stages of this project. Already, land has been cleared and a trail prepared for the construction phase of the walkway, envisaged to follow the circumference of the park. The village has a remarkable (and well organised) record of fundraising for the community park; initiatives have included a fair, a 5-aside marathon, the sale of BBQ, a talent show, tombolas, the sale of donated food and drink, and a grand raffle of the latest SMART phone. There is no doubting that the park is something wanted – and needed – by community residents, and with local donations exceeding $1000 in profit, and the repeated volunteering of almost 30 village men to clear the land for the site, it could be presumed that the park is now well on the way to completion.

However, the village was forced to make an unenviable decision, after the NGO Humana People to People promised financial support and were then not forthcoming in actually donating it. The village chairman, speaking on behalf of the village group, announced last month that the village would no longer depend on Humana People to People for support, and they had informed the NGO that they wanted no more communication with them. There is a little uncertainty as to what triggered this decision, although villagers continue to fundraise, and the group recently purchased a bulk load of second hand clothing in order to re-sell and generate further funds to be used once the creation of the park re-starts.

It is rare that a grassroots village group is as proactive and successful as in Xaibe, partly because of divisions and discrepancies that invariably arise and divide the movement. In Xaibe, however, residents remain as unified and supporting as ever, which further advocates the fact that any such village deserves to have a

MYRNA HARRIS of c/o Belcove Hotel, No. 9 Regent Street W., Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Mortgage made the 15th day of May, 2009, between TREASURE ISLAND MANAGEMENT LIMITED of the one part and the said MYRNA HARRIS of the other part recorded in Deeds Book Volume 13 of 2009 at folios 763 – 812 over the property described in the Schedule hereto; and the said MYRNA HARRIS 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 MUSA & BALDERAMOS of 91 North Front Street, Belize City, Belize District, Belize, for and on behalf of the said MYRNA HARRIS.

SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being the Northern Portion of Grant No. 15 of 1902 containing 75 acres more or less, situate at Gallows Point on the Eastern Portion of Drowned Caye, approximately 7 miles East of Belize City, Belize District; bounded and described as follows on the North and South by a portion of the said Grant, on the East by the Caribbean Sea and on the West by lands now or formerly National Land. It is more particularly described as follows: Commencing at a point located 625 feet more or less from a concrete pillar labeled P2 on Entry Number 10712 Register Number 20 that said point being the North Western Corner of the said Block thence in an Easterly Direction on a Bearing of 90°19’46” for a distance of 993.0 feet thereabout to point located sixty six (66) feet more or less aback from the Sea Coast thence in a South Easterly Direction Meandering along the Sea Coast thence in a South Easterly Direction Meandering along the Sea Coast for an approximate distance of 5251.0 feet more or less to a point thence in a Westerly Direction on a Bearing of 227°13’54” for a distance of 5875.0 feet back to the point of Commencement TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 19th day of October, 2009.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for MYRNA HARRIS

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Belize TimeS

23

Finding Your Money-Maker!

BY KEISHA MILLIGAN Yvonne Thompson has always been a great cook and after being encouraged by one of her friends, she decided to make some money and make Belizeans happy doing what she loves. It’s a win-win situation, and she told the Belize Times more about how she became one of Belize’s entrepreneurs when we spoke to her on location on Central American Boulevard, just past the Cuello’s Store after the stoplights on Vernon Street.

She always loved cooking, and Thompson says that she would always cook a lot of food which she just ended up giving away. So one day one of her friends suggested to her that she could cook the same amount of food and sell it instead of giving it away. Her friend’s rationale was that she cooked a lot anyway, and since the food was so tasty, she would definitely be able to attract

customers and keep them coming back.

Thompson liked the idea, and began selling food in front of the Port Loyola Library all the way up Central American Boulevard. She was there for about 6 months and later moved to where she is today.

She has been there for a little over a year and a half, which means that she

has been in the food business about two years.

Her specialty is Belizean food, but her menu changes from day to day. Among the dishes on sale you’ll find rice and beans, white rice, stew beans, stew cow foot, cow foot soup, fish, pigtail, chicken and beef with okro. You can get macaroni salad, potato salad or coleslaw.

When it comes to preparation, Thompson does most of the work at night, and then wakes up at 5:00am to start cooking. At 10:00am she can be found on location selling until around 4:00, 5:00 in the evening time.

The normal price of food is $6 and $7, but Thompson is not known for turning back hungry customers who are a little down on their luck and only have $5 in their pockets. Chances are you’d still be able to get a nice plate of healthy, delicious Belizean food. Yvonne said that she also cooks for functions and can be contacted at 621-1602.

She encourages Belizean to do their ‘own thing.’ It beats working for people, especially in these hard times. Find something you are good at and love doing and make it your money maker, she told us with a contented smile on her face.

CHABELOS FRUIT & VEGETABLE SHOP

Elizabeth Pridgeon fully vetted to ensure that quality and For years, the Chabelos family has standards are maintained throughout tended their own farm on the outskirts the various lines of produce in the of Orange Walk, specializing in various chile and sweet peppers, beans, avocados and tomatoes alongside various fruit varieties such as melons, oranges, tangerines, mangoes and watermelon.

Nine years ago, they decided to increase production in order to supply their own shop, which opened on Baker Street in Orange Walk in the same Millennium year.

This shop has been a trading hubbub ever since, for wholesale vendors and retail buyers of a variety of fresh produce. The family business is maintained by Mr. and Mrs. Chabelo with the support of their student sons (when they are not at college), but the opening hours are sufficient for double the staff numbers: Chabelos Fruit & Vegetable Shop is open from 6 am until 9pm six days a week, and even opens for a few hours on a Sunday between 7am and 2pm. The hard-working couple doesn’t even break during the lunch hour, ensuring that Orangewalkenos can always buy whatever fruit and vegetables they require, at a time that suits them. Any produce that is not grown on the family farm is care-

shop. The Chabelos also intend to expand their home-grown selection over the coming seasons, to include potatoes and onions, both of which they believe would beat competitors’ prices to ensure beater deals for their customers.

For the past two years, the establishment has also become a retail outlet for Caribbean Chicken and Eggs and the latest enterprise is the sale of fresh shrimps. Other long-standing produce on sale includes local honey, coconut oil from Sarteneja (from whom the couple believe to be the best coconut oil producer in the region) and more exotic fruit, including imported apples, grapes, plums and guavas. And there is

always a cold supply of water and soft drinks on the premises for sale.

Chabelos is the place to recommend to people from all walks of life: from people with an extra shilling in their pocket who want to buy the smallest of snacks, to wholesale purchasers heading to Belmopan market, to tourists looking for a taste of Belizean fresh flavor, to the lady next door looking for an unusual ingredient for her Sunday soup. Chabelos is open such flexible hours, with parking space directly outside its central premises, and most important of all, a fine array of some of the most choice produce in town, all at reasonable prices.

24

The Belize TimeS

Big dreams and a big heart…

BY KEISHA MILLIGAN She just opened her business, ‘Kelsey’s Fast Food,’ two months ago, but Kelsey is someone who has big dreams and a big heart. She spoke with the Belize Times as she moved around her small kitchen along with her two workers, Myrna Montero and Elsa Salazar.

According to Kelsey, she worked as a housekeeper for many years, but decided that it was time for a career change. She wanted to do her own thing, and since she’d always had a talent for preparing ‘fast food,’ she decided to make that her venture.

Her shop, located just across the street from the gas station on Freetown Road, sells things like fry gachos, regular gachos, great dogs, salbutes, tostados, panades and chicken burgers. Panades are three for a dollar, salbutes and tostados are a dollar each, a chicken burger

sells for $2.50 and gachos are $1.25.

She also provides breakfast and the shop is open at 6:30 every morning from Monday to Saturday. The shop is closed at 7:00p.m.

For breakfast she offers fry jacks, tortillas, sausage, cheese, eggs and stew chicken with natural juices and horchata. She has a small area with two tables and eight chairs if you would like to sit and eat. She also soft drinks for sale.

They all do team work in the shop so that the work load is lighter.

Myrna kneads the flour dough for the gachos, great dogs and fry gachos. Kelsey makes the tostados, salbutes and the panades while Elsa makes the garnaches and keeps the place spotless.

You can place your orders at 662-5116 or visit the fast food shop at #154 Freetown Road.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Your friendly neighbourhood poolman…

By: Keisha Milligan It is not your everyday Belizean profession, but it is a decent profession and one that George William Alvarez is determined to make a success.

The Belize Times spoke to the man behind Ark Swimming Pool Maintenance and Services at his home at #14 Welch Street in Belize City, and he told us that he knew practically nothing about pool maintenance when he got started, but he was determined to learn.

Alvarez registered his business officially in 2005, but started dealing with pools way back in 2001. That is when he, a fisherman all his life, saw an ad in the newspaper for a caretaker for the pool at the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). Even though he knew nothing about caring for pools, he made his way over to YWCA and filled out the necessary applications. When he got the job, he was trained properly about how to care for and clean pools. He worked there for about seven months before he stopped and went back to full time fishing. Two years later, though, he was able to get jobs from two pool owners and started cleaning their pools. The quality of his work was noticed, and eventually friends of his original clients began requesting his services. During that period the fishing business had deteriorated and

things were extremely bad financially, so he decided to make pool cleaning his career.

Today Alvarez maintains 8 pools on a weekly basis, and he has 4 others which he cleans every two to three weeks. He cleans not residential or commercial pools, but also the portable ones. There are many people who would put them up and get rid of the water after one use, but that water can be cleaned and reused, explained Alvarez. One of the most important components of a pool is water and we must preserve as much as we can, especially in these hard times.

His price varies, depending on the size of the pool, the work needed and the location. According to Alvarez, he can take care of just about any problem, including plumbing, fixing pumps, testing the water and cleaning it.

He encourages people who want a pool to budget for cleaning and maintenance, as the construction of the pool will not be the only expense.

He works from Sunday to Sunday and can be contacted on his cellular phone at 604-1169. It doesn’t matter where in the country the job is, he’ll go.

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25

The Belize TimeS

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Los Finados: COROZAL CENTRAL PARK TAXI UNION A Dying Culture Isabel Vasquez Elderly Belizeans are increasingly concerned about the dying culture of Los Finados, which used to represent two crucial dates in the Christian calendar: All Saints’ Day (1st November) and All Souls’ Day (2nd November).

The remembrance was coined as ‘Los Finados’ here in Belize, as it represented a blend of Christian and pre-Colombian practices. Several generations ago, nearly every Maya-Mestizo would recognise the celebration, and conduct rituals and offer prayers to help the deceased on their journeys to heaven. Traditionally, the first day was devoted to children and childless adults, whilst the second day was dedicated to adults who had deceased and who perhaps required a little assistance with salvation in the afterlife.

Mass was always well attended around Los Finados, as were various prayer sessions in private houses; aside from these memorial practices, homemade beeswax candles were lit on gravestones and the deceased’s favourite food was prepared and offered. Alongside the actual events of Los Finados, domestic altars were especially well maintained around this time, and often candles were lit for the entire eight days of remembrance.

Today, the affair is on a much smaller scale than before, which is causing great distress among elderly sectors of society who consider this offering to be crucial for assisting the dead in their ascension into heaven. Admittedly, a few people still leave candles on gravestones, whilst others create a makeshift altar in their homes as a mark of respect for the dead. However, the most critical part of the offering – the extravagant dishes of food – is now almost extinct, even among those who continue to celebrate Los Finados. Several reasons are stipulated for this, although perhaps the most pitiable is the widespread complaint that the substantial financial investment required for Los Finados is no longer available as the Belizean economic downturn continues to hit its residents. Those families who religiously prepared relleno, escabeche or other culinary ‘treats’ for their deceased loved ones a generation or two ago no longer have the resources to buy extra food, except that for solely nutritional purposes, and preparing platters of food that will never be eaten is no longer an imaginable reality.

The bottom line is that the unique cultural heritage of Belize is being eroded because of economic disaster and administrative mismanagement. Whilst various UDP officials are wallowing in extravagance and luxury, why must so many Belizeans face such financial hardship that they can no longer perform long-standing religious ceremonies that have been passed down through the generations? How many other national traditions will be lost before the citizenry realises that the cost of the current administration is far more severe than merely dollars and cents? What we are losing is not just economic stability, the ability to afford a few luxuries, and the time to devote ourselves to things other than work; we are losing our history, our heritage and the one thing that makes us unique from any other nation: our Belizean-ness.

Elizabeth Pridgeon The Corozal Central Park Taxi Union is the oldest union of taxis in Corozal town, dating back more than forty years.

Today, its members are made up of 8 local taxi drivers, who staff the headquarters and provide taxi services six days a week, from 6am until 10pm.

The daily service extends beyond this too, as advance bookings are available offering 24 hour taxi services throughout the region.

President of the Union, Mr Joseph Hamilton, is proud of the service the Central Park taxis offer: the majority are air conditioned vehicles in good running condition that are owned by experienced and reliable drivers. It is likely because of this that the Union has an excellent reputation, and boasts an exemplary record of satisfaction among customers.

The union continues to offer service with a smile, despite the growing competition from commercial village mini-buses,

which are increasingly filching the trade that traditionally belonged to the union.

The Central Park union members continue to offer reasonable services, however, of $5 anywhere within the borders of Corozal Town, and on the odd occasion that a customer is a few dollars short for a longer journey, they are usually generous

enough to waiver the excess charges.

Taxi drivers are some of the service providers that are being the hardest hit during the current recession, but at least the optimism and cheerful disposition of old can still be found at the Corozal Central Park Taxi Union, giving hope to all its customers.

2 ½ Miles Northern Highway, Belize City, Belize.

Telephone: 280-1000 Fax: 280-1010, Email:info@speednet-wireless.com

______________________________________________________________________ PRESS RELEASE THE SMART CHALLENGE

The Guardian Newspaper, in its November 8, 2009 issue sensationally headlined “Over 10,000 make the switch to BTL.” This headline is false. It is a clear attempt by the Government controlled Telemedia to smear its competitor SMART and to totally misrepresent the facts.

Based on the reports generated by our system, Smart is convinced that the numbers are far less than 10,000. SMART publicly challenges the Government controlled Telemedia to publicly disclose the true number of subscribers that have switched.

SMART also refutes the suggestion that Telemedia does true per second billing. The truth is that they continue to charge their international calls in intervals of 15 seconds and roaming calls in intervals of 60 seconds. SMART, on the other hand, charges per second on national, international and roaming calls. We challenge the Government controlled Telemedia to prove otherwise!

With regards to comments on the unreliability of Smart’s service it must be underscored that our quality parameters surpass all standard industry indicators; for example our call completion within our network stands at 98.5%. However, our competitor has repeatedly and continuously engaged in unethical and unprofessional business and marketing practices using this issue. And to suggest that the sound quality of Digicell is superior to that of SMART is baseless since both operators use leading mobile technologies to provide services.

Customers have benefitted from the aggressive competition between the two companies. This attests to the irrefutable fact that SMART has led the way in creating a true competitive environment in the industry. By offering true value for money to its customers, SMART has maintained a strong and growing customer base which to date stands at 90,000 subscribers.

Our customers can continue to expect our regular, innovative and trend-setting promotions and services that give them more value for money! In the coming weeks our customers can look forward to exciting and new promotions.

---End---

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Belize TimeS

26

Belize #1 Sports Page

DHC Excellence wins 2009 Harrison Parks Champion of Champions cricket tournament B u r r el l B oom Vi l l a ge, October 31, 2009 Double Head Cabbage Excellence CC swatted Lord’s Bank Sunrise CC 197 – 62 in Game 3 to win the 2009 Harrison Parks Champion of Champions tournament in Burrell Boom Village on Saturday, October 31.

Man of the Match Emmanuel McFadzean led the Excellence attack hitting 4 sixes and 3 fours to score with 51 runs before he was caught. Burk Howard also made a good stand, batting 2 sixes and 4 fours to score 36 runs before he was caught out. Opening batsman Marlon “Camala” Nicholas hit a six and a four to score 20 runs before he was out. Sydney Martinez hit 2 fours to score 15 runs before he too was caught out. Young Kenny Broaster hit 1 four for 12 runs before he was given LBW, while E. Nicholas hit 2 fours for 10 runs before Tyrone Bood bowled him out. Excellence captain Percy Flowers hit 9 runs before Dean Perez Sr. bowled him out.

Sylbert Martinez added 6 runs

before he was caught and Isson Charles hit 2 fours to score 10 runs and remain Not Out. The Sunrise bowlers John Flowers, Dean Perez, and Tyrone Bood had taken 3 wickets each, but had given up 27 extras along with the 170 runs batted by Excellence to total 197 runs.

Sunrise got no chance to equal this score when they came to bat as they were outgunned by the Excellence bowlers. Percy Flowers took 1 wicket for zero runs, dismissed another batsman for 4 runs and sent in Edison Parks for 10 runs. Marlon Nicholas dismissed one batsman for zero runs and took another wicket for 1 run. Kenny Broaster took 2 wickets for 8 runs, while Orson “Big Dawg” Flowers took 2 wickets for zero runs. Only Troy Stevens managed to score 24 runs before he was stumped, and the Lord’s Bank eleven were all out

for 62 runs, including 11 extras.

Mrs. Vincent Parks announced the individual awards, presenting the Man of the Match award to Emmanuel Mcfadzean.

Emmanuel had also hit the Most Sixes to win another award as the Best Bat. Dean Perez Sr. won Best Bowler award; he took 10 wickets in the tournament. The Man of the Tournament award went to Edison Parks, who proved himself the best all-round player in the championship series.

Gwen Lizarraga girls win 2 back to back to lead CSSSA basketball Belize City, October 30, 2009 Defending 3-peat national basketball champions, the Gwen Lizarraga High School girls got on the good foot towards another championship with back to back wins in the Belize City high schools basketball competition organized by the Central Secondary School Sports Association CSSSA at the Belize City Center on Friday.

Last Monday the competition began with the Gwen Liz girls having a blast for a 64-2 win over the Nazarene High School girls. Glenda Torres and Sheryn Nunez led Gwen Liz with 21 pts each. Team captain Candice Neal added 7pts, Deandra Coote tossed in 3 buckets for 6pts and Adreanna Meighan chipped in 3 pts.

Kenya Brown added 1 more bucket.

On Friday Sheryn Nunez led the Gwen Liz girls with 30 pts as they ran over the Pallotti High School girls 58-9. Team captain Candice Neal hit 2 long treys as she scored 14 pts, while Adreanna Meighan added 7pts, Glenda Torres tossed in 2 more buckets and Deandra Coote added one more. Pallotti’s Alicia Davis hit one free throw; Vicky Zelaya added a bucket and Janelle Pott and Yanera Cayetano dropped in a long trey each.

In Friday’s first game, the Wesley College girls posted a 22-14 win against the Anglican Cathedral College girls. Anna Pinto and Kelsey Roches led with 6pts each, while Zelyse Tucker tossed in 2 buckets in money time. Latifah Sutherland, Melissa Williams and Genae Samuels added 2 pts each for the win. ACC’s Shantel Lambey hit 3 long treys to lead the ACC girls with 11pts while Kaylie Bailey added a bucket and Rashawn Perteau scored 1 free throw.

On Tuesday, the Pallotti girls had won their first game 39-23 over the St.

Catherine Academy girls. Vicky Zelaya led the Pallotti girls with 23 pts and SCA’s Kursha Pollard responded with 2 long treys as she led SCA with 21 pts,

but she was all alone. Pallotti’s Shenelle Lord, Leann Garbutt and Khadejah Wilson added 4pts each to the score, while Alicia Davis and Yanera Cayetano each tossed in a bucket for the win.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Belize TimeS

27

Belize #1 Sports Page

Hummingbird Elementary girls & St John Vianney boys win Belize City volleyball finals

Belize City, November 2, 2009 The Hummingbird Elementary School girls and the St. John Vianney RC School boys have won the Belize City primary schools volleyball championships organized by the National Sports Council at the Belize City Center on Monday.

The Hummingbird Elementary School girls won the championship final against the

Belize Elementary School girls in 3 sets, taking the 1st set 25-21. The BES girls won the 2nd set 25-12, but the Hummingbird girls took it away 15-13 in the 3rd set.

The Hummingbird Elementary girls had qualified to the finals by knocking out the Holy Redeemer RC School girls 25-11 and 25-2 last Monday.

T he BES girls also qualified to the finals by eliminating the St. John’s Anglican School girls 2515 and 25-9 in the semifinals last Friday.

They had moved up to the semifinals by eliminating the Ebenezer School girls 25-7 and 25-2 last Tuesday.

The St. John Vianney RC School boys won the championship final against the Hummingbird Elementary School boys in 3 sets. The Hummingbird Flyers had taken the 1st set 25-22, but the St. John Vianney

boys came back to win the 2nd set 25-19 and dominated the 3rd set 15-8.

The St. John Vianney RC School boys had eliminated the St. John’s Anglican boys 25-15 and 25-21 in Friday’s semifinals.

They had made it to the semifinals by taking down the Stella Maris School boys 25-16 and 25-18 on Wednesday and the James Garbutt Seventh Day Adventist School boys 25-16 and 25-19 last Monday.

The Hummingbird Flyers entered the finals by eliminating the Central Christian Assembly School 25-22 and 25-18 last Friday.

Gwen Liz boys win 3 in CSSSA basketball - Sadie Vernon, SJC & ACC win 2 each

Belize City, October 31, 2009 The Gwen Lizarraga High School boys are hunting a championship with 3 back to back wins in the Belize City high schools basketball competition organized by the Central Secondary S ch o o l S p o r t s Association CSSSA at the Belize City Center o n M o n d a y.

Defending national champs S a d i e Ve r n o n Technical High School boys have won 2 so far as have St. John’s Colleg e and Anglican Cathedral College boys.

T he Gwen Liz boys romped to a 82-60 win over the winless E.P. Yorke High School boys on Monday. Gwen Liz’s big center Matthew Young shot a monster 33pts, ramming home an alley-oop dunk and played big D in the paint. Akeem Trapp hit a long trey as he added 22pts, Sherwin Garcia followed suit with a trey as he added 15pts, while Raheem Flowers drove to the rim for 6pts. Ian Grant, Dale Tillett, Bryton Meighan and Darnell Lopez added a bucket each.

Hanson Crawford led the E.P. Yorke counterattacks with 22pts, Terique Gabb hit 3 long treys for 17pts and Trevor Mcfoy tossed in 9pts. Josiah Brown added 4pts, Tyler Myvett hit a trey, and Kevin Franklin, Carlos Rudon and Gabriel Taylor added a bucket each The Gwen Liz boys had outlasted the Excelsior boys 62-51 for their 2nd win last Saturday. Matthew Young top-scored with 27 pts, Akeem Trapp added 15pts – 11 from the charity stripe, and Sherwin Garcia hit a trey to chip in 7pts. Kurtis Lamb answered with 4 treys to score 26pts for Excelsior.

Matthew Young had also scored 30pts when the Gwen Liz boys bounced the Tubal Institute boys 66-55 in their 1st win last

Thursday. Sherwin Garcia had hit 2 treys as he added 24pts.

The Tubal boys bounced back from that loss to hand Wesley College boys their 2nd loss 52-44 last Saturday afternoon.

Defending champs Sadie Vernon boys posted their 2nd win in a72-53 blowout of the Nazarene High School boys last Friday night. Kachief Thomas scored 22 pts, Aaron Cooper added 11pts, and Landon Reneau was good for 10pts. Alejandro Baptist had drained in 2 long treys as he responded for the Nazarene boys with 23pts.Albert Cuellar added 11pts, Anthony Neal drained in a trey to add 5pts, while Kadeem Courtenay added 2 buckets and Avery Gordon chipped in 2pts.

On Monday the Sadie Vernon boys opened the tournament with a 99-51 win over the Anglican Cathedral College boys, Kachief Thomas leading the way with 4 treys as he scored a season high of 37 pts. Aaron Cooper dropped in a trey as he added 17pts, and Landon Reneau added 12 pts. Shawn Stevens answered for A.C.C. with 15pts, while Deron Sanchez dropped in a trey as he and Shaquille Smith each added 9pts.

The A.C.C. boys bounced back to post their 1st win 64-49 over the E.P. Yorke boys last Thursday, Justin Usher leading with 18pts, while Travis Bernardez added 14 pts and Raheem Franklin hit 2 treys to add 12pts.

The A.C.C. boys followed up with a 2nd win 75-63 over the Excelsior boys on Monday, coming back from a 10-19 deficit in the 1st quarter. Justin Usher hit a trey as he led with 23 pts, Shawn Stevens also drained in a trey to add 11pts while Raheem Franklin scored 13pts. The Excelsior boys had led 33-32 at the half time break and 51-45 at the end of the 3rd quarter, powered by Kurtis Lamb who hit

3 treys to score 32 pts. Unfortunately the rest of his team was in single digits.

The St John’s College boys posted their 2nd win in a 71-43 blast of the Ladyville Technical High School boys on Saturday. Devin Daly hit a trey to lead the SJC boys with 19pts, Brandon Castillo followed suit with a trey to add 18pts and Kendis Williams scored a trey also as he chipped in 12pts. Raheem Staine chipped in 7pts, while Khalil Enriquez, Uhuru Mckoy, Kingsley Eusey, Henry Tsai added a bucket each, Tariq Middleton eliverin the coup de grace. Russell Staine led Ladyville with 14pts, Fitzgerald Alvarez added 12pts, and Jael Ottley dropped in 2 treys for 8pts.

The SJC boys posted their 1st win 61-58 over their arch-rivals, 3-peat national champs, the Wesley College boys last Wednesday. Devin Daly led with 12pts, Henry Tsai added 9pts and Kendis Williams, Raheem Staine and Brandon Castillo each added 8pts. Wesley’s Vince Young had responded with 18pts, while Rahyme Sacasa and Moguel each chipped in 7pts.

The Excelsior boys had posted their 1st win 6037 over the Ladyville Technical High School boys last Wednesday.

Kurtis Lamb was certainly no ‘lamb to the slaughter’, top-scoring for E xc e l s i o r w i t h 19pts, Shawn Pascacio and Lloyd Leslie each added 9pts. Jael Ottley led the Ladyville’s counterattack with 14pts, and Fitzgerald Alvarez chipped in 8pts.

The Nazarene boys posted their first win 58-33 over the E.P Yorke boys last Tuesday.

Alejandro Baptist scored 25pts, Albert Cuellar and Avery Gordon each added 8pts and Kadeem Courtenay scored 6pts. Terique Gabb answered for E.P. Yorke, with 11pts, while Hanson Crawford had 8ps and Josiah Brown chipped in 5 pts.

28

The Belize TimeS

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Sober CLASSIFIED

Reflections

Patrick Faber & the UDP Killed Charlie Good…

I don’t really care about the fancy, convoluted medical terms which can be found on the autopsy report of Charles Good. To me that’s neither here nor there. I don’t give a damn about the clinical causes of the death of this man as determined by a medical examiner on the payroll of the Police Department and the Government of Belize – those cold words mean nothing to the family of Charles Good whose foundation has been taken away from them. On Tuesday morning, sometime between 4:00am and 5:00am, Charles Good passed away in a hospital bed at the KHMH, and his widow Hirian Good put the blame squarely where it should be placed when she stated – ‘Patrick Faber turned me into a single mother.’

If the arrogant SOB Minister of Education Patrick Faber had not taken it into his head to fire Hirian Good, an exemplary school warden, because she is a supporter of the People’s United Party, Charles Good would still be with his family today.

Patrick Faber stood in front of the nation and admitted that he had fired Hirian Good because she was a PUP, and he needed to make space for his cronies. He stood in front of the nation and related how he humiliated Hirian Good when she went to Brads to ask him why he had fired her when her record as a school warden was excellent.

Patrick Faber didn’t care that he singlehandedly destroyed a family. He didn’t care about the fact that Hirian Good was the sole breadwinner for the family, and that her four children were to go to college. He couldn’t have cared less about the fact that he took food off the table of the Good family out of simple political spite and malice. Patrick Faber won’t shed a tear over the fact that he ultimately is responsible for the death of Charles Good. He won’t shed a tear over the misery and desolation he has caused. But you mark my words – before too much time has passed, that SOB will cry a river, because if there is any consolation to be had by those who grieve, it is that the world is indeed round and Patrick will pay, and pay dearly for what he has done.

I met Charles Good only after he started his protest. He made it a point to seek me out to say ‘thank you’ because he had heard me express support for the stance he had taken in support of his wife. He struck me immediately as a quiet but resolute man. If I had harbored any doubts about the depth of his convictions before I met him, they were dispelled

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within minutes. After that meeting, I knew that when Charles Good stated that he was prepared to die for his cause, he meant every word. I never expected it to get to that, but in the end, Charles Good did die for his cause – for the cause he took up in support of his wife, in support of his family and in support of all those who have been victimized across the country.

I have said it before and I will say it again in any forum anytime anywhere – Patrick Faber and the UDP are responsible for the death of Charles Good and for the destruction of his family structure. While Patrick Faber was ‘the hand that held the knife,’ Prime Minister Dean Barrow could have stayed the blow. He who pledged faithfully before God to serve all manner of men without fear or favour could have and should have instructed his Minister of Education to rescind his act of political victimization and to hire back Hirian Good. He didn’t. He simply didn’t give a damn. And now Charles Good is dead.

His widow, Hirian, claims that her husband died with no regrets, stating only that if he could have given his life in service of his country, then he could do the same for his wife, his family and all those who had been victimized.

Belize is a different nation - a lesser nation today without the presence of a man like Charles Good.

I am not a man who usually wishes bad things for others, because the world is a dismal enough place, but I’ll make an exception this time.

I wish on Patrick Faber all the pain and suffering which he has inflicted on the Good family.

A mass will be held for Charles Good at the St. Joseph Church at 10:00am on Saturday, November 7th, after which the body will be taken to Cayo for burial. The widow has requested that no BDF or Police personnel be present in uniform. It is my hope that her wishes will be respected.

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LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES Notice is hereby given that Ramon Ernesto Villanueva is applying for a SHOP LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated at “Rene Store”, #75 Cemetery Road, Belize City under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Wen Lin Guan is applying for a SHOP LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated at “Run Kee Saloon”, #25 Water Lane, Belize City under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Bao Quan Zhang is applying for a SHOP LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated at “Yang’s Shop”, #40 Racecourse Street, Belize City under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Wen Hua Chen is applying for a SHOP LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated at “Honey Shop”, #2838 corner Raccoon and Curassow Streets, Belize City under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Tsai Yu Yun is applying for a BEER LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated at “Lucky Grocery”, #30 Iguana Street, Belize City under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES

Notice is hereby given that Qiao Hong Liu is applying for a SHOP LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated at “Su Yuan Shop”, #44 Gibnut Street, Belize City under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Jui Liang Huang is applying for a SHOP LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated at “Chun Liang Bazzar”, #953 Pinks Alley, Belize City under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition.

Notice is hereby given that Zong Ming Wei is applying for a SHOP LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated at “Liang Liang Grocery Shop”, #4252 Croton Street, Belize City under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Dora Aguilar is applying for a RESTAURANT AND BAR LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated at “La Pasadita”, Cotton Tree Village, Mile 44 Western Highway, Cayo District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Karl H. Menzies is applying for a Renewal of a PUBLICAN GENERAL LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated at “Karl H. Menzies Co. Ltd.” #104 Barrack Road, Belize City under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Felipe Ewan is applying for a RESTAURANT LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated at “Felipe Ewan’s Restaurant”, Second Street North, Corozal Town under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Rosalva Gutierrez is applying for a MALT AND CIDER LICENSE to be operated at “Rosalva Gutierrez Beer Place”, Santa Rita Layout, Corozal Town under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Teodora Vellos is applying for a PUBLICAN SPECIAL LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated “Teodora Vellos Bar”, Finca Solana, Corozal Town under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 198.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Belize Times

Strictly Personal

Cocytus, Patrick and Dean, Cocytus

by glenntillett@yahoo.com The plight of Charlie Good’s widow and family has touched me deeply and as much as I would rather write about the already bad and worsening national economy I feel I must continue to publicize their cause.

This week Charlie died at 4:55 a.m. Wednesday morning at the Medical Ward of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, according to the medical examiner who conducted his autopsy Dr. Mario Estradabran, due to “Nuerogenic Shock” brought on by “Acute Pancreas hemorrhage, Diabetes type II, Hypertension” and “Chronic Heart Disease.”

Those of us who knew Charlie and saw him a few times over the past three months could see that the strain of his campaign for justice was taking a severe toll on his health and I feared, as he did, that he wouldn’t make it. His deterioration after being physically abused by a squad of police officers on September 23rd was marked, and he complained of being in pain nearly every time I spoke to him after that.

He had suffered a serious stroke three years ago and had subsequently undergone heart bypass surgery and hernia surgery. When you add in the fact that he was 62, and had diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and apparently pancreatic problems; he wasn’t in the best of health to say the least.

I hate to think that the physical punishment he had received at the hands of the police may have tipped the scales against his continued sur vival but I can’t rationalize otherwise. During the time Charlie had to brave the elements to carry his protest to the world, he also had to endure several bouts of verbal abuse and threats from elements of the

Visit Us Online at: www.belizetimes.bz

United Democratic Party who had been sent to intimidate him.

Consider also that he and his family had to endure often doing without because of the singular fact that their income had been so severely curtailed when the missus was deprived of her job. Surely that too contributed to his health problems.

I was surprised last week when Charlie complained bitterly about his treatment at the hands (and feet) of the police; the lack of solidarity from the men and women in the armed forces, many of whom he had trained or soldiered with, and the short shrift the Minister of National Security and the Cabinet of the Government of Belize had given his complaints.

I was shocked by the tenor of his words as he expressed the sense that he had been betrayed and the fatalistic note he sounded when he declared that he would take his protest to another level if only God would spare his life just long enough for him to find some strength.

Charles Good is a true Belizean hero, but he declared he would not accept a military funeral complete with the honours of pomp and circumstance. This military man who had served without question and had willingly risked life and limb to defend us died bitter at being treated so badly. He was very angry that he no longer had the strength to set right the wrongs that were being visited on him and his.

It tore him up to watch his family being destroyed by the victimization that is now the hallmark of the policy of political tribalism promoted and perpetuated by this UDP Barrow administration. And it is tearing me up to similarly watch a woman and her children thrown to the wolves of poverty and misery, and the winds of despair.

I am hopeful that Charles and Hirian Good’s attorneys file a wrongful death suit on his behalf because that is the only way we may yet get some answers to the questions such as who ordered the police to do what they did. We may never know why but we can figure out the political motive.

A few weeks ago I wrote that there must be a special place in hell for people who take bread out of the mouths of mothers and children.

That special place according to Dante’s Inferno is level 9, Cocytus, the deepest level of Hell, where the fallen angel Satan himself resides. I hope they’re busy preparing a space for Patrick Faber and this Dean Barrow administration.

29

PUBLIC AUCTION SALES: PROPERTIES

Belize City; Vista del Mar, Belize District & Santa Famalia, Cayo District

BY ORDER of the Mortgagees, Messrs. Alliance Bank of Belize Limited, Licensed Auctioneer Kevin A. Castillo will sell the following properties on Site on Tuesday the 10th November 2009 at the following times:

1.

At Parcel No. 981 Consuelo Street [Off Peter Seco St.] Lake Independence, Belize City at 10:00 am:

REGISTRATION SECTION Lake Independence

BLOCK 45

PARCEL 981

(Being a two bedroom concrete bungalow dwelling house [25 ft. X 38 ft.] and lot with frontage on the Haulover Creek on Consuelo Street, Lake Independence in Belize City, the freehold property of Mr. Daland Francis Jones)

2.

At Lots Nos. 1414 & 1415 Vista del Mar, Belize District at 11:30 am:

REGISTRATION SECTION Vista del Mar

BLOCK 16

PARCELS 1414 & 1415

(Being two vacant adjoining properties each containing 625 square yards situate in Vista del Mar, Belize District, the freehold properties of Mr. Wilson Lee)

3.

At Lot No. 157 Santa Familia Village, Cayo District at 1:30 pm:

ALL THAT LEASEHOLD lot piece or parcel of land situate in the Village of Santa Familia in the Cayo District described as follows: On the Northeast for 30.340 metres by a Street; On the Southeast for 41.775 metres by Lot No. 156; On the Southwest for 27.437 metres by a Street and On the Northwest for 54.741 metres by Lot No. 158 containing 1323.802 Square Metres as shown on Plan No. 1897B at the Office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. (Being a concrete bungalow dwelling house and lot situate in the Village of Santa Familia in the Cayo District, the leasehold property of Mr. Millard Tun)

TERMS: STRICTLY CASH

KEVIN A. CASTILLO TELEPHONE 224-4473 E-mail: kevinacas@yahoo.com

30

The Belize Times

S

BELIZE WATER SERVICES LIMITED SECOND WATER PROJECT - BELIZE

PON DI GULLY Searching for answers…

By anthony sylvestre Either the criminals have become as facey as this UDP government, or it’s a case of ‘a new way for someone to send a message that they want to see [you],’ as UDP Minister Boots Martinez put it, but whichever way you take it, the shooting up of Boots’ private ride speaks volumes about the dangerous times we live in. I mean, who would have thought that in peaceful, loving Belize, in such a short time after attaining Independence, we would have gunmen committing these lawless criminal vigilante acts against Ministers of Government. And to think, this came only a couple days after the Minister of Police had his constituency office burglarized. If it weren’t so serious, it would be a laughing matter- the Police cannot even protect their own boss from crime.

The shooting up of Boots’ vehicle, though, is more sensational and out of order than the break in at Perdomo’s office because of the audacity of someone brandishing a weapon and callously firing shots into a Minister’s vehicle, not knowing or caring if the Minister was seated in the vehicle. The truth is, though, that both these acts reveal a frightening mentality that permeates the society.

I am tempted to say that this is a case of the chickens coming home to roost and that the lawlessness of many in our society and the increased lawlessness of criminals in general, is directly attributable to the UDP. I am tempted to say that it can be attributed to the UDP’s unapologetic, by any means necessary, rude bwai approach used to topple the previous government.

That same attitude we saw Kenny Morgan display in the House of Representatives back in December, 2004, when he threatened: “You lucky I don’t have a grenade; the same raucous behaviour that was exhibited back on November 12, 2007, when almost the whole UDP Belize City Council (Mayor and all) descended on to Freetown Road with their chainsaw man to take down the PUP sign which read “PUP HIRE, UDP FIRE”; and of course, that same attitude whipped up by Barrow in the April, 2005 when he called for sustained civil disobedience and proudly boasted that “I would be happy to admit to playing a part in everything”. But, like I said, I will refrain from saying it is so.

What is certain, however, is this pervasive criminal mentality is wreaking havoc in our society. And it is not only

D E

amongst the violent criminals, to be sure.

The same deviant stuff which drives them drives the white collar criminals.

But something has to give, right?

So, I was searching for answers the other day and happened upon this writer Robert Bateman. He explained that the real reason for crime is not economics but a philosophical shortcoming in our society. There are three areas of North American philosophy which he attributes to the rise in crime in Western societies: the celebration of disrespect and the encouragement of ruthlessness; the destruction of meaningful work in order to have higher profits and greater efficiency; and thirdly, the transformation of our young people into market targets who main role in society is to be self indulgent consumers.

And Bateman does make good points.

It is that same ruthlessness (no regard for the life of that other person) which is extolled and encouraged in violent movies and which is a murderer’s manifesto that is encouraged in the financial markets, producing billionaires like Merdoff.

When you think about it, you have to be extremely ruthless to steal the life savings of millions of people as Merdoff did. In both cases, the violent criminal and the white collar criminal have destroyed lives and families.

Similarly, meaningful, decent-paying jobs for poor and low income people are almost non-existent. And this economic depression certainly won’t help much, but will exacerbate the already haad times.

The dignity and self respect which usually comes with decent employment and which steers a man away from a life of crime will only further fizzle in these economic crises. In times like these, people have to “hussle”. And as you know, that is when a person’s dignity and self respect get tossed aside more often than not.

So too, our young people are bombarded with television programs which condition them to be into themselves, into sex without love and to settle scores with gun and violence.

Is it any wonder then, that our crime fighting strategies have been inadequate!

The points made by Bateman mirror those of the 1992 Crime Commission.

That work, although 15 years old, clearly still has relevance and applicability to our 21st century crime problems.

The young man who shot up Boots’ vehicle, of course, may disagree that his reason for doing that had anything to do with television influencing him or his need for a meaningful, decent paying job.

But, he could sure help Patrick Faber and Carlos Perdomo, who met with youths last weekend to get solutions to the crime situation in Belize. In the meantime, while the Police search for the young man so he can have a one on one with Faber, Perdomo and Boots of course, the other members of the UDP Subcommittee on Crime should take a read at that Crime Commission Report.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Consultancy Services for Design and Construction Supervision

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The Government of Belize (GOB) has secured a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) towards the cost of the Second Water Project – elize and intends to apply part of the proceeds of this loan to eligible payments under the contract for which bids are invited in this Notice. GOB will execute the project through Belize Water Services Limited (BWS), and a Project Manager within BWS will be responsible for the day-to-day management of project activities. BWS shall be the Executing Agency for the project.

BWS is now seeking to engage consultants for the design of the foundation/ bottom for Wilson Street Reservoir and construction supervision for same and reservoir erection together with the installation of five miles of 10” diameter PVC main along the Burrel Boom Road. The procurement of these consulting services shall be subject to the provisions of the loan agreement.

BWS now invites the submission of technical and financial proposals from eligible firms interested in undertaking this assignment.

Consultant firms shall be eligible for procurement if: (a)

in the case of a body corporate, it is legally incorporated or otherwise organized in - and has its principal place of business in - an eligible country and is more than 50 per cent beneficially owned by citizen(s) and/or bona fide resident(s) of eligible country(ies) or by body(ies) corporate meeting these requirements;

(b)

in the case of unincorporated firms, the persons are citizens or bona fide residents of an eligible country; and

(c)

in all cases, the consultant has no arrangement and undertakes not to make any arrangements whereby any substantial part of the net profits or other tangible benefits of the contract will accrue or be paid to a person not a citizen or bona fide resident of an eligible country.

Eligible countries are CDB Member Countries.

Submissions will be assessed based on technical competence, qualifications and experience, regional experience on similar assignments, financial capability, the extent of prior commitments, and proficiency in English. Submissions should include corporate profile, descriptions of similar projects completed within the past five years, and curriculum vitae of key personnel. Consultants should have experience in Civil Engineering including but not limited to foundation and structural design, engineering and geotechnical survey, tender preparation and evaluation, contract preparation and negotiation, construction supervision and project management.

The Proposals must be submitted in triplicate to the first address stated below no later than 1500 hours on Monday, December 7, 2009.

Simultaneously, one copy should be sent to the second address below. The sealed envelopes containing the submissions should include the name and address of the applicant and should be clearly marked: “Proposal for Consulting Services Second Water Project - Belize”. All information must be submitted in English.

BWS reserves the right to accept or reject late applications or to cancel the present invitation partially or in its entirety. BWS will not be bound to assign any reason for not short listing any applicant and will not defray costs incurred by applicants in the preparation and submission of the proposals.

Applicants will be advised in due course of the results of their application.

1.

Chief Operating Officer Belize Water Services Limited #7 Central American Boulevard Belize City Belize District BELIZE, C. A. Tel: 501 222 4757 ext. 269 Fax: 501-222 4238 Email: coosec@bwsl.com.bz

2.

Procurement Officer Project Services Division Caribbean Development Bank P O Box 408, Wildey St. Michael BARBADOS, W. I. BB 11000 Tel: 1 (246) 431-1600 Fax: 1 (246) 426-7269 Email: procurement@caribank.org

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Belize Times

THINK ‘BOUT IT

A PROMISE I CAN’T KEEP

I know I promised that as soon as gas prices reach $9.00 I will remove my burdensome extra tax of $1.00 additional on top of the taxes I already have on gasoline prices. But shucks can’t you see I’ve messed up the economy, I’ve busted the government budget, there is a huge deficit of SIXTY MILLIONS DOLLARS which is an embarrassment to me. So batten down and tek uno lik because I’m not removing my burdensome $1.00 per gallon on gasoline.

If uno nu like it stop driving uno vehicles…by Dean Barrow, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

SHARON FRASER

Magistrate Sharon Fraser offered bail to a Guatemalan national. The Guatemalan had been in jail for over a hundred days. The Supreme Court in two separate judgments this year has taken a strong stand for the liberty of persons who are languishing in prison when they could be offered bail. Justice Lucas and Justice Legall have been championing the Constitutional rights of persons who are charged but not tried and held in prison unjustly.

Sharon Fraser is a former public officer prior to pursuing legal training at the University of the West Indies. She is considered the next in line to become Chief Magistrate as the UDP government will not wish to promote the Senior Magistrate for party political reasons.

But, (there is always a but) the UDP government is attempting to subvert Sharon Fraser’s legitimate expectations based on her seniority and qualifications by bringing in two more foreign Magistrates.

It’s a dirty shame, but (there is always a but) what did you expect from the UDP?

What the UDP doesn’t expect from Sharon Fraser is that she will fight back for her right. But they may have an unpleasant surprise because Sharon Fraser knows the law and is a fighter.

CHARLIE GOOD

Our condolences to the wife and family of Charlie Good.

One of the decent things for the government to do is to find employment for Mrs. Hirian Good.

In the words of the Godfather of Soul – James Brown – “It takes a man or a woman to say I’m sorry, but a fool to walk away.” There must be at least a man (there is no woman) in Cabinet who is man enough to know that Mrs. Good has suffered enough from losing her job and it’s time to give her back her employment.

DWAIN DAVIS

Our prayers are with Dwain and his family following his medical condition on Thursday morning which has left him hospitalized and in a critical condition.

Dwain is a quiet, unassuming but highly competent public servant.

His record of service is an impeccable one. In an effort to assist the UDP City Council and its embattled Mayor who was being handcuffed and straitjacketed by the UDP government; Dwain tried his best to keep the City Council afloat by utilizing funds to see that the employees and suppliers were paid by the otherwise bankrupt City Council. That others may have abused the Council’s

inadequate procedures is another story.

But the UDP government in Belmopan sacrificed Dwain Davis in their eagerness to hurt Mayor Moya.

We wish Dwain a speedy recovery.

ELIZABETH PURCELL

A British Crown Counsel who has been assisting the Office of the DPP haa impressed several attorneys in the Supreme Court of Belize. Crown Counsel Elizabeth Purcell has steered TWENTY-TWO CASES through the Belmopan Court of Justice Troadio Gonzalez by both of them working during the summer recess when they should have been on vacation.

The British Crown Counsel has been described as very professional and ethical in her prosecutions. The law requires that prosecutors and indeed all attorneys are to conduct themselves as Ministers of Justice. For prosecutors this means conducting the case against an accused fairly and justly as compared to winning at all costs, be it by foul means or fair. Belizean lawyers tell us the British Crown Counsel holds a high standard and should be emulated.

GERALD GARBUTT

Gerald Garbutt is a warrior. He is a man you would not hesitate to go to war with him on your side. He is as the bible says Thou good and faithful servant.

Gerald was a former important technician at Radio Belize when this country only had one radio station.

Gerald went on to put together his own radio station – FM 2000 which has been acquired and rechristened Positive Vibes.

Gerald was also one of the movers behind the KREM Wednesday night call-in show during his years as technician and manager at Krem Radio.

Gerald has successfully undergone triple bypass surgery in Jamaica where his only daughter is a practicing surgeon specialist. It is a slow and long recovery but if anybody can do it Gerald can.

Big Respect, ‘Raldo!

JIMMY McFADZEN

Jimmy McFadzen has returned to Belize to restart a new life following

his soldiering in the USA. Jimmy was a personality and radio journalist. It is expected he will be functioning back in that field as his voice has been heard on a couple of big time commercials.

Every Belizean who returns and engages in productive work builds and improves our country.

SANTIAGO BAEZA

We are reliably informed that the UDP radio station, Wave Radio through one of its hosts on their scandalous morning show has defamed the character of Mr. Baeza and his family.

There is a recording of the inaccurate and false accusations. Mr. Baeza was been verbally attacked because he has been paroled from Her Majesty’s Prison presently managed by a private company named Kolbe. Wave’s host was saying that Mr. Baeza has committed murder and should never be out of the prison and that it was PUP wickedness that released him in violation of the law. This we are told is utterly false and untrue.

Other things were said about Mr. Baeza which were totally false and untrue. This is also defamation of character which can result in a Supreme Court case and orders for the payment of money for damaging a person’s character.

For the record Mr. Baeza was given time after a jury said he had committed manslaughter, not murder. He is not a convicted murderer. He served over ten years in prison, more than half of his time and the parole law is that a person is eligible for parole once they have served one third of their sentence. The Parole board by law is made up of professional and impartial public officers, and after a process of vetting by the police and other agencies, not – “the PUP.”

JOE NORTH

Joe North is the name of a thing not the name of a person. Fishermen and seamen treat Joe North with full respect. When the winds are blowing from the north it is signaling the coming of cold weather, squalls and strong waves.

In Belize the winds usually come from the east. All year round we get the easterly winds from over the sea moving over our shores.

There was a time in Belize when Joe North started blow the cockroaches

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which lived in our sweaters and flannel shirts would find themselves suddenly evicted as we dash to protect ourselves from the oncoming cold winds.

BOY IS GIRL

Somebody at Channel 7 is a little bit more than curious about a handsome young boy who claims he is a pretty young girl. The student has reportedly been featured no less than three times as a major news story at Channel 7 complete with his/her photograph walking daintily in a cha-cha-cha (slippers) and well attended hair style with bandeau.

The student has admitted that ever since he was seven years of age he was a girl. At high school he is now a full grown girl except he is not wearing dresses as yet. But he had been using the girl’s toilet.

The high school he attends has now kicked him out.

Another male who has been conducting himself as a female at the Ministry of Education has said he/she cannot assist one of his kind (a fellow Belizean) as the school is not under the influence of the Ministry. The young man/young girl says he/she feels like it is him/her alone against the world. That is a pretty lonely place to be.

We thought it a bit sensational to constantly be flashing this person’s picture on Channel 7 television screens.

For one it will ruin the young person’s future and two it may expose him to serious violence given the nature of our society. You are either a man or a woman – that man in a woman body or woman in a man body don’t wash out here.

LET’S SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS

The painful recession that has been biting our angry bellies need to be confronted and every bit of solution can help to ease the pain and punishment being inflicted on so many innocent Belizeans.

Hey, Mr. PM, can’t you reduce interest rates which DFC and SSB and Housing Department are collecting on housing loans. Them 15% and 12% and such are turning out to be killers of those peoples’ dreams. Doing something is better than doing nothing.

NOTICE

TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC This is to inform you that pursuant to the Telecommunications Act – S.I. 110 of 2002, THAT SPEEDNET COMMUNICATIONS LTD. of 2 ½ Miles Northern Highway has applied to the Public Utilities Commission for the use of Frequency Spectrum to provide CDMA Mobile Services throughout the country of Belize.

Location

Frequency (MHz)

Country-wide Country-wide

829.08 – 830.34 Rx; 874.08 – 875.34 Tx 827.82 – 829.08 Rx; 872.82 – 874.08 Tx

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The Belize TimeS 010101010100101010101010101010101010101001 010101010100101010101010101010101010101001 010101010100101010101010101010101010101001 010101010100101010101010101010101010101001

THE PATRIOT

“Barrowed” Identity meteoric fall and eviction to Belize is one that calls for an examination of the relationship between criminal behavior and single parent households.

See truth is, that “cast the first stone” Barrow traumatized both mother and child. Mama Shyne, Francis Imeon Myvette, was an attractive Belizean softballer, who despite her mother’s warning, fell to the wiles of Barrow. After finding out the fact of her pregnancy, Barrow’s abuse became sharper. One bystander recounted that on one occasion in front of Melting Pot, Barrow accosted the young female threatening that if she continued to tell people that the baby was his, he would exact physical harm on her.

Shortly thereafter history notes that he married fellow lawyer Lois Young.

And he remained true to his word, in fact, he “never even look pan dah lee baby”. Left to sleep in the bed that was spread hard, it was Ms. Pearl, mother of Marshall Nunez, who cared for Shyne and his mother until he was almost four, when they lived in a house belonging to Joe Ford. Ms Pearl had to take it on herself to confront Barrow and asked him “Are you Dean Barrow?” His response was “Yes Ma’am” (accounts recall that she felt that he at least had manners), after which she painfully told him “do you know that some days your baby not even have milk?”

Shyne’s evolving mask of names is a telling cry, and a loud indicator of the trauma of a youth whose identity and self perception lacks the secure validation of a recognized Anwar . He was not even registered as “Barrow”. Jamal’s true government tag and birth certificate reads, Jamal Michael Myvette, with the designation of father left blank. In fact reporters note that it was in the US that by instrument of Deed Poll he adopted the name Barrow for himself.

His third incarnation and struggle to create a persona of worth was in adopting the stage name “Shyne Alpo” after he piggy- backed the notorious legendary hip-hop artist Christopher “Biggy Smalls” Wallace. His becoming that persona, as an artist short circuited reality as that identity gave him needed validation.

Sadly, it also ultimately triggered his becoming a convicted felon and deportee.

Family background of offenders has been a central topic in theories of delinquency since the 19th century. More severe psychoanalysis of family sociology indicate that violent criminality and recidivism have all been empirically interlinked to influence criminal behavior.

Although Belize is conspicuously deficient in these kinds of “change checking” studies, a Wadsworth case study in 1979 showed that separation from a parent during the first years of life (between 0 to 4 years of age) was particularly strongly associated with severe offences (robbery, assaults). A study in Northern Finland showed that males who were labelled “ill-fated“(i.e. had experienced a single-parent family in childhood, or whose parents were unemployed or received a disability pension) had commit-

"

The Little Boy Lost by William Blake from” Songs of Innocence and Experience” ``Father! father! where are you going?

O do not walk so fast.

Speak, father, speak to your little boy, Or else I shall be lost.''

The night was dark, no father was there; The child was wet with dew; The mire was deep, & the child did weep, And away the vapour flew.

Two circuses came to town this week, the Russian circus and Shyne.

Not much grassroots fanfare has been tagged to Shyne’s return home.

Even one of the young residents at the Youth Hostel, where Shyne staged his first photo- op and media ‘event’, dismissed any tendency to feed a larger than life hype by identifying the one time star in terms only incrementally more flattering than references to Berne.

But young Ian Wade’s words ring truth in a room filled with young impressionable young men, crowded together on the settee.

“Well I nuh feel no way because he is a Belizean like we and he gaan dah foreign, he gaan do ih lil rapping and he got caught up, just like how we get caught up...”

As Belize climbs higher on the index of violent countries, on the way to hogging top honors to that shameful medal, and we keep shaking our heads in loss as to what is the cause of these increasingly daring, petty and gruesome acts of violence; Shyne stands as the very personification of the psychological plight of at risk Belizean males.

As an embodiment of the damage that identity issues can cause, Shyne’s story is not much different from many of the Jane Usher Boulevard or George Street face-covering accused persons on the evening news. Single parent homes are a Belizean norm; so too are violent males. Absentee fathers are as sure to be an expected ingredient as are firearms in Belize City crimes. Shyne is no exception, as one hip-hop journalist puts it “Shyne has denied acknowledging him [Dean Barrow] as his father. He has good reason too being that his father has publicly stated that Shyne was "unwanted".”

Another mainstream US journalist commented earlier last month “When he is released it is also rumored that he will be joining his father in Belize as part of the first family. If true, this would mark a drastic shift in the relationship between father and son, as it has been previously reported that Shyne was raised by his mother in Brooklyn after his father refused to claim him, an event Shyne confirmed via “Quasi O.G.,” a track on his most recent release, 2004’s Godfather Buried Alive: “Imagine, grow'n up and never havin/Faggot ass pops actin like you never happened.”’

This undeniable rift, or family beef with big poopa Barrow is echoed throughout the graphic bars of Shyne’s lyrics, in fact on another track on that same album entitled More or Less, he in defiance charges “ Father was a jerk, moms had to work, papi had the dirt, And did what any real nigga would do: got in front the stove, now i got this sh** sold…”

Now, despite the ‘ladybird’ versions of a prodigal son reception, which are more accurate as examples of propaganda hyperbole, the case study of Shyne’s

Sunday, November 8, 2009

ted registered crimes more often than other males (9.0% vs. 4.2%) by the age of 22.

In the Cambridge Study of Delinquent Development it was found that parental separation and antisocial child behaviour strongly predicted later criminality. Professor Farrington concluded that offending was only one element of a larger syndrome of antisocial behaviour that arose in childhood and persisted into adulthood. Whether you swear to these figures or not, there is a connection between these two forces. One social scientist argued that single parenting was no excuse but it was surely a “strike one”.

How can Belize as a country climb away from the trap at the bottom of the quicksand which is crime when we fail to address its root cause, taking instead full 360 turns, and when we lack the necessary moral authority to amputate this cancer? Our males are socially inept outcasts and from ‘traditional’ family structures which have caved in from neglect.

Now to the other circus within a cir-

But what gave it away, darn Jules, was Shyne’s unapologetic reversion and commitment to the “gorenography “ and profanity of his music.

"

cus - the one that makes you go “hmmmmm????” When with deflated energy and slumped shoulders missing the prompting of the glitter and substance of Hollywood paparazzi, Shyne scampered off to the Sin City of Belize, San Pedro. Hold up…..whhoooooaaa.

At first it is hard to identify with Reporter columnist, Naill Gillett’s intolerant condemnation of Shyne, stinging with all the vile condescending middle class / royal creole self righteousness. But the child of a single parent home commanded our attention, and that baby could not be thrown out with the bathwater.

Yet Shyne is no fool. He is well advised and well financed. Everything seems like a press event, in fact at times I wondered if I was watching a low budget versio of “Road to Redemption” which is the MTV coverage of convicted gangster rapper T.I.’s one thousand hours of community service. Maybe it was the two hundred dollar fashion accessory draped around his neck (which does not seem to be connected to anything) like a product placement in a blockbuster movie.

But what gave it away, darn Jules, was Shyne’s unapologetic reversion and commitment to the “gorenography “ and profanity of his music. Exposed by his pride tirade about being able to make so much more money in Europe. Huh? That is just as bad as equating being Jewish to African Belizeans in “Stann Creek and Malanti.”

Now let’s say that Shyne, as he rapped about on his Buried Alive album, was still a materialistic unreformed recovering paparazzi addict who was using any means he could to return to the promised land, what would he do? Media covered photo sessions with a few kids, (check) school appearances? (check) Someone is footing the bill for the high powered promoter (check) that he guest appeared with…

Shyne/Jamal/Moses is lost. We just don’t want to be used as a ploy in his insatiable thirst to return to his Jerusalem and the shadow of his former glory. Our youths don’t need glitter and no substance - fi we life done haad out yah.

BY ORDER OF MORTGAGEE NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SELL HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED a statutory body formed and registered under the Credit Union Act, Chapter 314 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, and whose registered office is situated at No. 1 Hyde’s Lane, Belize City, Belize District hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Chargee under and by virtue of a Charge between those hereinafter named and the said Holy Redeemer Credit Union Limited which said Charge is registered at the Land Registry and the Land Titles Unit. HRCU 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 to HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED from whom full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained.

ALL THOSE adjoining parcels of land being Block 20, Parcels 3687 and 3688 situate in Caribbean Shores/Belize Registration Section, TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of LENNA GABOUREL.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Belize Times

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34

The Belize Times

Sunday, November 8, 2009

With Smart The Sky’s the Limit

Since opening in March 2005, SpeedNet Communications has consistently sought to provide the best wireless communication services at the lowest rates with its cellular brand, Smart. With the only 1XRTT CDMA network in Belize, Smart’s focus was on offering customers clear communication, improved mobile data services and better coverage, all at competitive rates. In the past four years, Smart’s continued dedication to quality and innovation has led to stellar improvements in coverage, communication and customer service across the country. Having grown from 5,000 to over 85,000 subscribers over the past 4 years, it is obvious that Belizeans have responded by showing confidence in the relatively young company.

Smart and its customers joined the global community with the addition of international long distance telephone service in October 2005. In September of 2006, SmartNet was launched, giving Belizeans wireless access to the internet anywhere that Smart offers coverage. Additionally, Smart’s Value Added Services such as the Smart Zone, allow customers access to weather updates, the winning Boledo and Lotto numbers, Horoscopes and even the ability to check the definition of a word.

Smart also offers its customers the option of staying in touch under any circumstances with their SOS services that include Call Me, Collect Calling, Please Recharge Me and the Smart Loan feature for customers who run out of credit. Smart has additionally launched international roaming, giving customers the option of taking their phones when they travel with access to SMS as well.

With Smart’s roaming service,

customers can enjoy cheaper rates and per second billing.

With ‘Voice’ the most important part of its business, Smart has committed to providing a variety of options for customers to add credit to their accounts.

Whether customers purchase prepaid cards from agents, showrooms or through special services such as GoMobile, GimmeDalla Agents and Prepaid Cards. Smart also gives customers the option to transfer credit from one phone to the other by utilizing its EZTrans service. Smart continues to work on even more creative and convenient ways to upload credit anytime and anyplace. With five postpaid plans - SmartChoice, SmartSelect, SmartPlus, SmartShare and SmartEnterprise, customers can choose the plan that best fits their communication needs and their budgets.

All plans come with a selection of free features that include Caller ID, Voicemail, 3-way Calling, Call Forwarding and Call Waiting.

Despite its unrelenting focus on service improvement and customer care, Smart has not turned its back on the community which is the reason for the company’s success. Through its continuing support for sports, education, health, culture and the arts, Smart positively impacts the lives of many. SmartCares Program, was

DELTA STORE 91 Albert Street, Belize City Tel: 227-7732

Wishes to inform our valued customers that with immediate effect

MR. LIONEL JONES

is no longer employed with us and therefore not authorized to conduct any transaction on our behalf. he has absconded with collections and reports have been filled with the police.

Criminal and civil actions are in progress. any information to his whereabouts will be greatly appreciated.

initially developed to give support to Belize in times of crises such as hurricanes, fires and floods, customers can help with donations via their phones simply by dialing *ICARE. With full service showrooms in all major cities and towns including Independence, Smart has established a formidable presence in the telecommunication sector.

As Smart grows, it continues to develop innovative programs to meet the needs of its customers.

Understanding the hectic nature of life today, Smart has even improved its website to operate as a virtual office that allows custom-

ers to view, select and buy the phone of their choice via the World Wide Web! Over 85,000 customers have joined Smart for its innovation, better coverage, better rates and its passion for quality service.

Currently our customer base is sending over ten million text messages per month – a significant achievement for what is still a young company. As Smart continues to grow and solidify its financial position many more Belizeans will have the opportunity to join the team in the very dynamic telecommunications industry. With the emergence of Smart, the telecom industry in Belize has gotten extremely competitive which means that customers are benefiting from better rates, innovative services and better coverage. With its solid business model coupled with a dedicated team Smart guarantees that it is here to stay. With four years of growth and development under its belt, the future is bright for Smart and the people of Belize!!!

For Sale

22FT ANGLER FAMILY FISHING BOAT

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Woodfree Backing on All Cushions Chrome-over-Bronze Thru-hulls Welded Aluminum Fuel Tank Full Transom with Bracket and Ladder Self-bailing Cockpit Hydraulic Steering Automatic Bilge Pump Thru-hull Livewell Plumbing and Raw Water Washdown Two Pedestal Seats Two In-floor Boxes with Pumps Two Gunwale Rod Holders Two Recessed Rod Pockets Bow Seating with Storage Anchor Locker Plexi-glass Windshield with Aluminum Grab Rail Horse Power Yamaha 200 Salt Water Edition Fuel Capacity: 120 Galllons

For More Information call 600-4476

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Belize TimeS

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Death Toll in Public Health System Mounting

(Continued from page 1)

started, the couple claimed, as medical personnel couldn’t seem to say what the problem was. Faber says that he was given different diagnoses for the baby’s condition, from pneumonia and diabetes to a blood infection.

This mor ning, baby Russell Alexander Faber passed away, and the reason the couple was left with is a blood infection. But they are not satisfied with that. According to Faber,

doctors should have been able to tell that the baby was not well before they released him from the hospital with a clean bill of health. Faber is also upset because he insists that medical personnel did not seem to know what was wrong with the baby.

Under the United Democratic Party, the death toll in the public health system keeps mounting. Within the past six months, no less than six newborns

have died unnecessarily and under suspicion of negligence or the lack of proper equipment. The public has yet to hear if even one proper investigation has been carried out by the Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Health Pablo Marin has yet to offer condolences to even one family which has lost a loved one unnecessarily.

And while the Minister is silent, the public health system continues to

be plagued by a lack of basic equipment and medical supplies and a lack of morale. And while these crises plague the system, abetted by understaffing and overwork, the Minister has just received a $160,000 vehicle for his use.

Judith Moody and Russell Faber say that they will pursue all their options when it comes to getting justice for their son, Alexander Russell Faber.

Gunman Sends a Message!

(Continued from page 1)

interview with the media that a police officer tried to sweep the entire affair under the rug, suggesting that insurance should be allowed to fix the vehicle and that would be that.

The Belize Times has been asking some questions in Port Loyola which has led us to believe that all may not

be as it seems on the surface of this incident. In fact, sources told us that the alleged shooter, Kevin Sutherland, is very well known by Minister Martinez and could even be classed as somewhat of a ‘business associate.’

The Belize Times also finds it strange that any Police Officer would

attempt to sweep an incident involving a shooting and a Minister under the rug.

It is a well known fact that incidents involving Ministers are handled with kid gloves, and it seems much more likely that the Police would be kicking down the door of Kevin Sutherland than trying to sweep the whole affair under

the rug. Unless there’s much more to this case than meets the eye, that is.

The Belize Times will continue to investigate this shooting. It is important to note that it is not the first time that Minister Martinez has been involved in one way or the other with incidents of violent gunplay.

Who Is Blades Construction?

Inquiring Minds In Corozal Want to Know!

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The Belize Times

Sunday, November 8, 2009