Belize Times December 27, 2009

sunday, December 27, 2009

The

The Belize Times

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Belize Times The Truth Shall Make You Free

SUNDAY DECEMBER 27, 2009

Issue No. 4674

$1.00 www.belizetimes.bz

FELIZ NAVIDAD

The holiday Season is always a happy time in Belize. The sight of the lights on people’s homes brightens our neighbourhoods, excites our children and lifts our spirits.

Children fresh out of school for the Christmas Break play happily with their friends and neighbours, excited most by what will greet them on Christmas morning. Everywhere the joy of the season seems to bring out the best in most of us.

In our Christian Churches the Advent Season is marked by the spiritual preparation for the birth of Christ. Those of other faiths prepare for the festival of lights, or other special religious events common at this time of year. Whatever the faith, everyone seems to find reasons to be thankful to our Creator and no matter the religious tradition; the message is always about “Peace” The holiday season also reminds us of our family, friends and loved ones who are no longer here with us.

In some of our homes, their names are still hung up on our Christmas trees and we remember them and believe they are with us always in our hearts and in our minds.

And while we give special thanks for our blessings, many of us are mindful of those whose holiday season will not be merry and bright.

We are reminded of those sanitation workers, who despite their hard work and dedication remain jobless and without pay. We are reminded of the hundreds who have been laid off from their jobs due to the economic recession; of people like Hirian Good, who will spend her first Christmas in years without a job and still mourning her husband.

This Christmas, we are reminded of those who will have to make do without the usual bonus because of the recession.

So many of our people will find this Christmas one of the most challenging ever; they will depend on the kindness of family and friends to see them through the season.

And it is this kindness, this sharing with others and our desire to give to the less fortunate that makes the season of Christmas so special.

It is our desire to ensure that all our children wake up on Christmas morning and find presents under the tree.

And for those of us who are

Christians, it is the significance of the babe in the manger, the promise of the birth of our saviour, our hope in this miraculous birth, which makes the season of Christmas so special.

Es nuestro deseo de asegurar que todos nuestros niños despierten en Nadbidad y encuentren regalos debajo del arbol Y para aquellos de nosotros que somos Christanos es el significado del niño en el pesebre, la promesa del nacimiento de nuestro Salvador, nuestra esperanza en este nacimento milagroso que hace la temporada navideña tan especial.

Our hope is built on the idea that Love is more powerful than hate, that peace will prevail and that together we can overcome the challenges of our day. This message is carried in all the carols we sing, spoken at all our Churches and each time we gather together to share a meal with family and friends.

And so on behalf of my Party, the People’s United Party, and together with my wife Rosanna and our sons Daniel, Johnny and Andre, I wish you all the compliments of the season.

May your true, true Christmas be filled with peace, joy and laughter, but most of all may all our hearts be filled with hope and love.

Feliz Navidad.

Christmas in Corozal Bay

Gregorio Garcia Jr. handing over 1st Place Trophy to Team Veterans

Merry Christmas

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The Belize Times

WHAT IS A BELIZEAN CHRISTMAS?

If a tourist walked out of the tourism village and asked you about Belizean Christmas, what exactly would you say?

Perhaps you can tell them about the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas in Belize. More specifically, if you were from the north of the country you could tell them about relleno, special tamales and ice cream. If you are from the south you could talk about Cheri Kanari and all the great foods served at our Garifuna Christmas events. In the City you may tell them about Christmas dinner, rum popo and the Holy Redeemer Christmas Bazaar. Those from the old Creole Villages may talk about brukdown music and about the bun fire where game meat is roasted and the entire community can come out to be merry. And all Belizeans can talk about “bottle pan table, draw di cork.”

From a spiritual perspective, Christians who make up most of the population will speak about the importance of the religious celebration of the Birth of Christ. Like many of our neighbourhoods, you might speak about the shepherds in the fields, Santa at the North Pole or even Carolling by bus, which seems to have replaced the walk about carolling. Redemption, rejoicing, feasting, singing, humility and the look on the faces of our children on Christmas day, should all form a part of our answer.

Of course there are also those personal explanations which carry those colourful ‘Belizeanisms,’ like “bruk pocket Christmas” which is an indication that there is no money or extra money to spend this year. Or about the Granny who personally supervises the making of the black fruit cake.

For many the smell of a fresh coat of paint, varnish on the shiny new table or on wooden floors and of course that smell of the ham roasting in the oven would complement the personal side of the explanations.

And yet to really explain a Belizean Christmas to a tourist you would also have to talk about that other side of the story, one he or she would be very familiar with. That part of the story which tries to reconcile all these wonderful emotions and memories with the frenzied commercialization that comes along with season.

Nowadays, older folks balk at the amount of money being spent on things which in days gone by people used to do for themselves. Whoever paid someone $1000 to dress a Christmas tree or put lights up on a house? When did Belizeans start to buy rum popo rather than take the time to make it themselves?

And as for the turkey - well that used to be a rite of passage for Belizean women who would learn from their mothers how to prepare the Christmas turkey. Today, Christmas has become a burdensome expense on too many of our people.

What ought to matter most, and especially in a Christmas Season when the nation is in an economic recession, is not the gifts and the paint and the ham and turkey, but we should draw from the holiday season the feeling of hope. Hope that together we can and will recover in the New Year, hope that together we can stop the violence in the streets and that peace will prevail.

Any tourist can relate to this kind of message, and while is always fun to tell them about our songs like “Good mawnin miss lady” and about our “Old Fashion Christmas,” we must never forget that in all of this, the season provides us a time for renewal and a time for peace, hope and for joy.

We at the Belize Times thank you our patrons and our sponsors for your support and wish you and your family a Holiday Season of peace, love and hope.

sunday, December 27, 2009

Out Spoken

UDP Sweet Deals?

Dear Editor, Please allow me space in your newspaper to express my views in the following article.

At the last sitting of the House of Representative on Friday December 11th, P.M. Barrow went on a tirade to berate and humiliate former P.M. Musa for making secret deals with Lord Ashcroft. He then compared himself and his Ministers to be accountable, transparent and above board. He was also very descriptive in presenting a scene where former P.M. Musa was seen at a private gathering with a silly grin on his face, while Lord Ashcroft had him cornered against a concert wall pointing in his face in a threatening way.

Little did P.M. Barrow know that this very scene would be played out within minutes after the House adjourned by one of his Ministers. This was in the person of non other than the Hon. Rene Montero playing the part of Mr. Musa. Instead of having a silly grin on his face, he looked more lie concerned and frightened hog against the concrete background. Playing the part of Lord Ashcroft was Jules Vasquez. Instead of pointing in the Hon. Montero’s face, it was a microphone that was pointed in his face.

On a more sober note, what I found to be disturbing is that with the overwhelming opposition to this deep sea joint venture, the Hon. Montero could not satisfy the public when he was asked by Jules Vasquez if he could categorically state that these Jamaican fishing boats would not be allowed to fish now and hereafter in our waters. Instead, what the Hon. Said was come next March 2010, he would assign a managing team to put place rules to regulate and monitor deep sea fishing in our waters. This statement raised more questions then answers.

1. Are the Jamaicans, Koreans, Venezuelans, Japanese and hell knows who else’s fishing fleets temporarily put on hold until March 2010?

2. What was it that convinced the Jamaican fishing fleet to travel all he way to Belize with fishing gears designed for shallow water fishing?

3. It is strongly rumored that large sum of money was paid out. Did the Jamaicans paid people in high places, so much so, that they came ready to fish?

While we cannot prove that money was passed, it would be very difficult for this government to convince John Public otherwise. Let’s not forget that there exist documents to prove that a certain minister in this present administration who was at this time a civil servant, once stole twenty- two (22) hogs from Central Farm. When the P.M. George Price did not entertain him in his shameful and dishonest practice, he had to pay back for the hogs.

I would like to end by asking all Belizeans to let’s put pressure on our area representatives, who in turn will have no other choice but to put pressure on our area Rene Montero to scrap this deep sea joint venture or else they, the area representatives will have to face the wrath of their constituency.

Respectfully, Paul Robinson

No Water in Billy White Dear Editor, I write on behalf of the Village Council of Billy White village. It’s been more than a week since we have not had potable water in our community. There is a fleet of heavy duty machinery working near our village constructing a bridge that is close to the main water supply to our village. Billy White has a water system which is managed by our Water Board and supervised by the Ministry of Rural Development. Our Water Board and Village Council have tried to locate the cause of the problem but to no avail. We believe that the heavy duty machinery has broken the main line. We have and I have personally requested the supervisor of the job who works for Lopez Construction to please fix the problem but they refuse to listen.

The Christmas season is upon us and we have no water to drink, wash our clothing or for other purposes. I have personally requested from the Ministry of Works in Santa Elena, Cayo to kindly supply us with some water but they refused and use the excuse that the river water is dirty. At least it could be used for washing clothes. The Ministry of Rural Development seems not to care or do not want to bother the contractor. They must, however, understand that water is a necessity. For the entire week I also tried contacting the area representative, Mr. Elvin Penner and he does not answer his telephone. Our village needs its water desperately. If water is being diverted due to a broken main line caused by the construction company, it means that the water is being wasted and we will still have to pay for the electricity costs to pump water because the pump at the river is working. The water just does not reach the village.

I can be reached in Billy White at 824-3360.

Benjamin Cano Chairman

THE BELIZE TIMES EDITOR

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TYPIST

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sunday, December 27, 2009

The Belize Times

If Da Noh Soh…

Basic English for dummies…

You can call him an idiot, a moron, a dodo-bird or a complete nincompoop.

You can even call him intellectually stunted, foolish, barely coherent, illiterate or plain dumb. What you should never call him is intelligent or competent. In deference to the first lady second wife, we’ll just call him ‘mi bally.’ Today Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega was on television giving his Christmas message.

One of his PR persons needs to be fired forthwith. Gaspar Vega is not meant to do that sort of thing. He doesn’t sound very good…really. Might give people listening the impression that our country is being run by a bunch of dimwits. Me and the staff at the Belize Times decided that we’ll pool our meager resources and get the DPM a copy of Basic English for Dummies. We can’t promise that we’ll stick around to sing carols or drink eggnog, but that gift will be delivered early Christmas morning, courtesy your friends in the PUP…If Da Noh Soh! It’s the law…stupid!

And speaking about stupid, Gapi has a notice in the latest gazette in which he is taking away one single lot. The reason he gives is that he is acquiring it for a public purpose. What the hell kind of public purpose would one lot serve? The Attorney-General has been heard to remark far and wide that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Lands is a very stupid man who just can’t seem to understand that you just can’t go taking away people’s land for no

reason whatsoever. Sedi said he is tired CEO in the Prime Minister’s office, so it’s of trying to explain what is right and still being kept all in the family…If Da wrong and legal to Gapi, cause the man Noh Soh! seems to have no sense whatsoever…If No thank you…

Da Noh Soh! Can you speak Hebrew?

Then again, who’s the AttorneyGeneral to talk about stupid? He is the man who just basically told Guatemala that our borders don’t really mean anything, that they are artificial anyway and we are all one people. Shouldn’t surprise us anymore what Sedi does.

Just the other day he signed a document with the government of Israel. When asked about the details of the agreement Sedi didn’t seem to really have a clue.

Well no wonder…the document which Sedi signed was written completely in Hebrew. So up to now, nobody really has a clue what we promised to Israel. That’s a scary thought…If Da Noh Soh!

Big Momma got a dose of her own nasty medicine on Sunday at the PGIA. Seems the PM re-entered the country but there was some snafu at the office and the driver was late. So there’s the PM tapping his foot impatiently while he waits, and some poor soul trying to help

PMS

$1million fence…

Have you passed around the Marion Jones complex lately? You have…well then you’ve seen the fence which is going up around the compound. That fence will cost Belizean taxpayers a little more than $1million dollars. You read that right…$1 million for a fence. People are starving right now and the economy is in recession and we’re paying $1million for a fence. And that’s because the work on the actually facility hasn’t even started yet. Hell, what’s wrong with our priorities? Word is that the contractor is close family to Miss Wallace who is the

Dean Barrow is the Prime Minister of Belize. The high rank of that office requires him to behave in a dignified and decent manner. The Prime Minister is also leader of the Government in the House of Representatives. That position also demands that its holder conducts the business of the House with decorum, good manners and restraint. These basic rules of office seem to have escaped Mr. Barrow. Since his appointment as

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calls the sour-faced one. So she jumps in the Infiniti and hightails it to the PGIA, lights flashing and brakes squealing as she pulls up in front of the PM. She jumps out of the vehicle and panting and breathless and says…can I give you a lift, Boss? So Dean looked down his nose at her and says…that’s okay, I’ll just wait for my driver. Ouch for Big Momma.

She hung her head, jumped back into her Infiniti and drove very slowly away.

Nobody likes you, Big Momma, can’t you tell…If Da Noh Soh! PM Barrow has been behaving like a thug, like a brutish buffoon.

At the last sitting of the House, Barrow brought the honourable house into disrepute. In response to legitimate issues raised by the Opposition he ranted and raved like a cornered animal frothing and foaming like a rabid dog. Instead of responding in an informative and measured way, like a prime minister should, the nation was treated to an obscene spectacle more appropriate for the mind addled UDPs who gather at Brads.

Whatever may be the reason for Mr. Barrow’s continued vulgar behaviour Belize has heard and seen enough. To Mr. Barrow we say - if you have anger issues; get counselling! If you should be on medication; take the pills as prescribed! If you are on something chemical, get off it immediately! Whatever your personal problem may be, Belize is sick and tired of: PRIME MINISTER SKETEL!

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The Belize Times

sunday, December 27, 2009

The Whip The Night Before Christmas Desde el Ecritorio del Lider del Partido

Mensaje Navideño Del Honorable John Briceño

Líder del Partido Unido del Pueblo La época navideña siempre es una temporada feliz en Belice. Las luces que decoran los hogares por las vecindades invariablemente avivan a los niños y nos realzan el ánimo.

Los niños, recién salidos de vacaciones para las fiestas navideñas y de fin de año, juegan felices con los amigos por toda la vecindad y esperan con ansias lo que les traerá la navidad. Parece ser que la felicidad y el ánimo de la estación destacan lo mejor de todos nosotros.

Para los cristianos este período es una preparación espiritual para el nacimiento de Jesucristo. Los de otras convicciones se preparan para el festival de luces u otros eventos espirituales que se comparten en esta época del año. En realidad, sin importar la fe, todos encuentran una razón por la cual estar agradecida con el creador y siempre la tradición religiosa es una de paz.

Esta época también nos hace recordar a los seres queridos y amigos que ya no están con nosotros. En algunos hogares siempre se les recuerda colgándole sus nombres en el arbolito de navidad y los recordamos siempre con la certidumbre que permanecen con nosotros siempre en nuestros corazones.

Y mientras damos gracias por todas las bendiciones, muchos estamos consientes que esta época no será feliz para todos. Nos recordamos de los trabajadores de sanidad que a pesar de su dedicación y trabajo arduo aún permanecen sin trabajar y sin sueldo. Esta época nos hace recordar a los cientos de trabajadores que han sido despedidos por la recesión económica, recordamos a gente como la señora Hiram Good

quien va a pasar su primera navidad todavía desconsolada por la muerte de su esposo.

En esta navidad también nos recordamos de aquellos que no obtendrán el aguinaldo por eso de la recesión. Muchas familias dependerán de la gentileza de familiares y amigos este año ya que esta época traerá consigo muchos desafíos. Sera esta bondad y el deseo de compartir con los más desafortunados que hará esta navidad muy especial.

Es nuestro deseo que todo niño beliceño se despierte l a m a ñ a n a d e n av i d a d y encontrase regalos bajo el arbolito.

Y para aquellos que somos cristianos, es el significado del niño en el pesebre, la promesa del nacimiento de nuestro Salvador y nuestra esperanza en este nacimiento milagroso que hace la t e m p o r a d a n av i d e ñ a t a n especial.

Nuestra esperanza se basa en la creencia que el amor es más poderoso que el odio, que la paz prevalecerá y que juntos enfr entar emos los grandes desafíos de cada día.

Este mensaje es el que se lleva en todos los cánticos de esta época, es el que se predica en nuestras iglesias y el que compartimos cada vez con la familia y amigos cuando nos reunimos a comer.

Y así de parte de mi partido, el Partido Unido del Pueblo, junto con mi esposa Rosana y mis hijos Daniel, Johnny y Andre, les ofrecemos felicitaciones de la temporada y que su verdadera navidad sea una llena de paz, alegría y risas. Pero en especial deseamos que sus corazones se llenen con esperanza y amor. ¡Feliz Navidad!

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the country Only ministers were happy, drunk with the rum of their bounty.

Their bank accounts were fat by the millions from dope, In hopes of a bribe, even Santa Claus they would grope The ministers’ children were nestled all snug in their beds, Visions of deprived children shaking with cold come to my head.

Their mamma her baby in old towels gives it a wrap, Santa the fable is for Ministers children, for unprivileged ones it is crap.

Down by the street I heard a lot of chatter, I opened the door hoping Santa would bring me a platter.

Hungry as hell to the gate I ran in a dash, It was only a drunken minister again in a crash.

The Turkey with double breast on Barrow’s table is one big show to the children of the poor not even the bones shall he bestow.

I imagine the bembe toasting and twafting, talking as usual, loud and unclear To all the little ministers drunk as hell with their hands full of beer.

Present all the thieving elves of cabinet as usual liad and slick, Christmas has opened my eyes, with this pack we are getting the stick.

More hungry than wolves the bunch of hooligans they came, And baldy congratulated, and shouted, next year we must do more of the same!

"Now drunky! Now Slicky! Now, Chancey, Now Vicious Oh, tilapia! oh, Stupid! Oh Neto, Oh anwar! Oh Louse Fleece BTL till it scorch! To all of you That is my call!

Now dash away! Dash away! To us bring it back all!"

Meanwhile, us the poor, this mob has left us to dry, They have no heart, alone they are eating up the pie.

Christmas is here for the rich and chosen few, For them alone are the toys, food, drinks and Santa too.

You see bembe and all his ministers gone aloof Their prancing and pinching is the proof.

We lost our head, last time around, Next election we’ll get them bound.

They came dressed all in fur, but were wolves head to foot, They promised all kinda thing, all they did was drop us bukut Of all the sins of bembe what has taken me more aback, Is his claim that this red Christmas is bright and all on track His words-how they glitter! His deeds are lone jerry!

This geek is so bleak, this bembe so liad, it is so scary!

He takes our jobs and for Christmas promises snow This goof is no common pig, he is a sow.

He says everything is cool and laughs from underneath, Beware to Guatemala he and his foreign minister want to bequeath He has a broad face of brass, this big smelly sowbelly Things could be better, heck, just give it some wellie!

Red ministers are chubby and plump, they are taking care of self, And I cry now when I see, for I voted for them and spited myself!

A got no job, nothing to eat and much less a bed, Bembe and his government really no care if I am dead.

Santa won’t be coming for Barrow did not do his work, There ain’t going to be a happy Christmas thanks to this jerk.

We can only hope and pray the banks on us won’t foreclose, And that in the new year no new taxes Bembe will impose!

Friends, for Christmas all I can hope to have is some gristle, And In the honour of the lord shall say a prayer from my missal.

By then our ministers will be satiated, drunk and out of sight, Happy Christmas to all ministers, and to the rest of you just good-night!..

All the children the blues and the reds They now know Santa is dead Thanks to Barrow they not even have bread Toys will not come no matter how many tears they shed It is all so sad under the reds……

sunday, December 27, 2009

The Belize Times

UDP Politics as usual

Victimization…

For the past three weeks PUP soldier and co-host on Vibes Radio’s morning show Vaughan Gill has been targeted by the Belize Police Department. Sources from within tell us that their political bosses have issued strict instructions. Seems like Carlos Perdomo has the crime situation under control, since he can waste valuable resources to do ‘dutty’ work. When the Agent was arrested this past Friday, it was by no less than two members of Special Branch who are usually involved in more lofty Police work than a common street search. Word is also coming out that other PUP soldiers are being targeted and will be under attack by the Police Department in the days ahead, courtesy of orders straight from the top. Hell, it’s not hard for the Police to throw a bullet into somebody’s yard and then miraculously ‘find’ it a little later. That’s an automatic trip to ‘Ramada,’ no bail granted. It’s no far stretch to imagine political victimization by the UDP – they’ve perfected it during this term. But now they’ve taken it to another level, where they’ll use the Police and the system to deliver some sort of bogus ‘justice,’ UDP style. Word to PUP soldiers, yours truly included – keep out of trouble in the days ahead and check all ways before crossing the streets, so to speak. The UDP is nothing nice and will stop at nothing.

Can’t handle the truth…

The thing is that Dean Barrow et al can’t handle the truth.

The Belize Times and Vibes Radio have been dishing out the truth in big, heavy, nasty castor oil-like doses and that doesn’t rest too well with those guys. They haven’t been able to sue because, well, you can’t sue anyone for telling the truth. Things are bad in Belize for everyone but the Barrow family and FoBs (Friends of Barrow). This bunch is scurvy, incompetent, negligent, brazen, arrogant, shady and just plain stupid – but they don’t like being told that. Can’t really blame them, but it’s the truth. The question needs to be asked – how far will they go to gag the mouths of those PUP soldiers who are in the trenches spreading the information day in and day out. They’ve already gone out of their way to use the Police Department to carry out their dirty work. What’s the next step, Mr. Barrow?

How far are you prepared to go to silence the voices raised against you?

Artificial borders…

Foreign Affairs Minister Sedi Elrington is under serious attack for some, shall we say ill thought out comments as regards the Belize/Guatemala situation. According to Mr. Elrington, the border between Belize and Guatemala is ‘artificial’ and basically we’re all just the same people – “Belizeans and Guatemalans are one, with the same aspirations and desires.” Hmmm! And this is the man we have spearheading the campaign to protect our territorial integrity. Seems like we may need to rethink that

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there strategy! So anyway, after basically stating on the record and in public that we and Guatemala are just one big family (hell, who needs borders, anyway…viva Cerveza Gallo) Saint Sedi says that we’re just not intellectual enough to understand what he meant. Can you believe that s@#t? Anyway, I’m not too sure that the man in charge of international relations has all his screws intact – in fact, I’m sure he doesn’t. Forgive me if I’m wrong, but isn’t this the very same man who told us that we had to act now to resolve this Guatemala thing by going to the International Court of Justice. I seem to remember that very same man saying that it was either that, or we would have to pick up the gun and go to war. So, just how did we get from ‘picking up the gun and going to war’ to ‘we’re all one and the same, same aspirations and dreams, all buddy-buddy.’ Word is that Sedi won’t be around too much longer. You can take that to the bank.

Gotta be kidding…

The other day Prime Minister Dean Barrow was on television lambasting Mayor Zenaida Moya, saying that all these handouts and sweetheart deals to Z’s family and friends would not be tolerated. Man, I almost gagged at the hypocrisy of the bald-headed devil. I thought it couldn’t get any worse than that.

Then I happened to be watching news tonight when I saw the PM’s Christmas Message. It was sick…plain revolting. The Prime Minister sat there in all his prerehearsed, tele-prompted glory and said – ‘This is for me the most special time of the year…a time to reach out not only to family and friends but to the needy and the stranger on the street…’ I think hypocrisy should be against the law and the penalty should be public flogging. Dean Barrow would be flogged without mercy. After a year of Dean Barrow’s family and friends gorging and snuffling and sniffling at the public trough, he can talk about reaching out to the needy. After paying his ex-wife millions of taxpayer dollars while poor Belizeans cannot put food on the table; after guaranteeing that his son is placed in a lucrative position at BTL even though he has absolutely no qualifications; after appointing his brother a justice of the Court of Appeal and giving his sister the contract to clean all government departments and giving his daughter the opportunity to be Belize’s youngest millionaire at taxpayer expense – Dean Barrow has the unmitigated gall to talk about ‘not reaching out to family and friends..’ Of course this is the most special time of the year for Dean Barrow, because he can sit in his seafront mansion and reflect on how much his family has benefitted at our expense and because of his largesse. Dean Barrow must be feeling very special indeed. Too bad the rest of us are not feeling the same.

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The Belize Times

Sunday, December 27, 2009

sunday, December 27, 2009

The Belize Times

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OUTLOOK AND CHALLENGES FOR BELIZE IN 2010

As we near the end of 2009 it would be remiss to not look back at the year that was - this is primarily because in the spirit of the Christmas season one becomes reflective and this columnist too will be availing herself of the opportunity to look back at the possibilities that were never to be and to look forward to better things for next year. 2009 was a year filled with successes for the few. Most Belizeans felt the brunt of the global financial and economic crisis as it rushed to our shores unabated. This manifested itself in many ways: output was dismal which resulted in an overall economic contraction; credit was tight as household incomes reduced and the financial sector’s response was unapologetic; unemployment by all unofficial counts increased due to the overall decline and inflation and price levels only started to dwindle in the latter half of the year.

Thus, for many Belizeans the previous achievements of supporting their sustainable livelihoods were severely compromised. As one’s asset base was challenged, by not being able to pursue continued education; seek access to affordable health care; realizing reduction in income; and the erosion of political capital within the social landscape. For most Belizeans the setback was greatest for those who had to lose their assets such as businesses, real estate and homes. So, for the benefit of Belize and her people it is imperative that the outlook for 2010 is one that is premised on Government ensuring that the interest of the Belizean people is placed in the forefront of all

their undertakings. A snapshot of what that economic outlook for 2010 can be is hereby presented.

It is expected on all accounts that economic growth will be sluggish and slow to recover as any sustained recovery is predicated on international trade flows.

In this light economic output or Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth would be premised on the following: Oil production will be the main driver, with oil prices predicted at remaining between US$70 – US$80 per barrel. It is expected that Belize’s production and sales will increase.

Other productive sectors such as farmed fish and shrimp their performance is contingent on continued access to and investment of capital to ensure their competitiveness in the market.

The banana industry will be challenged by the removal of tariff preferences into the European Union, but the scope for expanded production remains viable.

The sugar and citrus industries which have been plagued by management challenges need to ensure greater coordination and commitment to the longevity of the industries.

The tourism sector is expected to lag behind the productive sectors, as its recovery and improved performance is contingent on the pace of recovery in the US and Europe.

Lastly, Government’s commitment to engendering investors’ confidence will influence the rate of attracting foreign direct investment into

the economy.

With the recovery expected to be uneven and conditions for sustainable growth fragile within the global economy, Belize’s position must be anchored in its economic and political commitment to regionalism. Therefore, Government is tasked with ensuring that policy formulation is concrete and congruent with Belize’s development objectives.

Participating and reaping the benefits of this regionalism can only be realized if Government is driven by the productive sector. It is foolhardy to expect the current Government to lead with any vision.

Thus, it is incumbent on the private sector organizations for both the productive and services sectors to avail themselves of the market access and benefits available under the CARICOM Single Market

and Economy; Economic Partnership Agreement between CARIFORUM and the EU; CARICOM – Canada bilateral agreement and closer to home the Partial Scope Agreement between Belize and Guatemala. The productive sector is called upon to organize and be the driving force to lead Belize’s recovery efforts.

As all Belizeans look forward in anticipation to the New Year the challenge is to pray that 2010 will be a better year for all. The hope is that for the benefit of all, Government will be humbled enough to hear the heartbeats of the people and their call for a higher quality of leadership for 2010. No more rhetoric; as Belize’s development cannot wait!

For 2010 readers are invited to suggest topics of interest for this column. Send comments to GwynethNah@gmail.com

8

The Belize Times

sunday, December 27, 2009

hard hitting

TOURISM: Weh Deh Happen?

Last week was the last for the Director of Tourism, Mrs. Tracy Panton.

So who is the new Director of Tourism? After all, this is the industry which as the Prime Minister of Belize has stated is significant as it accounts for thousands of jobs and is the industry that contributes the most to the foreign exchange earnings of the country.

Well, for something as important as Tourism, it is unfortunate that as we approach the end of what has been a “down” year – in arrivals (both overnight and cruise), in hotel tax revenues, in construction of new hotel developments and tourist operations, in new markets- there is NO DIRECTOR OF TOURISM. What exactly is the situation?

Well, Mrs. Panton left on Friday and by all indications the nonrenewal of her lucrative contract is welcomed. The Acting Director of Tourism will be Mrs. Shakira Tsai, the Director of Marketing.

This is not welcomed because marketing of the country under her tenure has been unproductive and unimpressive.

It is widely rumored that both the Registrar of Hotels (Lloyd Enriquez) and the Director of Product Development (Laura Esquivel) have applied for the position of Director of Tourism.

The Registrar of Hotels by all indications has been doing an adequate job in that post, one that is critical since it is principally responsible for inspecting and licensing hotels, collecting hotel taxes, strengthening of the system to collect such taxes and assessing those hotel operators who do not report accurate tax information.

It is these dollars that drives the marketing and product development budget and now with a Ministry of Tourism that is poised to be rebuilt, it is these dollars that will have to contribute to that entity’s operations as well. So should he get the position, there will be a huge void created in the engine that drives the activities of the Ministry of Tourism and the Belize Tourism Board.

What about Ms. Esquivel?

She is neither academically nor professionally qualified to be at the helm of the BTB overseeing the work of the HR/Finance, Marketing and Product Development and working in close collaboration with the Registrar of Hotels. Let’s not forget Ms. Esquivel is a part of the Belize City Council, the same council that has been embroiled in finance and human resource scandals since it was first elected.

Ms. Esquivel sitting as a Councilor has not demonstrated her skills in

helping to prevent the disasters that unfold almost weekly now at the Council yet she is expected

Then, there is still the matter of her sitting as a councilor while she works at the BTB. Shouldn’t to be managing a major artery of statutory institutions have a policy the only industry that brings in the most foreign exchange earnings? that persons employed cannot hold

political office because it only runs the risk of the person paying far more attention to his/her political constituencies than that of her job…quite the case with Ms. Laura Esquivel.

So, 2010 is only a few days away and this country, symptomatic of the Government, does not have a sense of direction or a Director of Tourism. What a mess!

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sunday, December 27, 2009

The Belize Times

hard hitting

9

The Worst Christmas Ever…Thanks to Mr. Barrow!

In 2009, Belizeans became convinced that Prime Minister Honorable Dean Barrow is not a man of his word and that he simply cannot do right by the people. In the run up to the 2008 General Elections, the then Leader of the Opposition like a knight in shining armor promised us that he would lower the crippling cost of living “no matter what” if elected. To date, that has not happened. But we could have surely used any kind of financial relief this year after the country’s economy contracted on account of the global financial meltdown, causing the majority of us to pinch and to save every cent from paycheck to paycheck just to stay afloat financially.

Almost two years after taking office, PM Barrow, who is also Finance Minister, has done little to mitigate the out of control cost of living that causes the prices of everyday items to rise without warning, eroding our purchasing power. That comes as no surprise. Still, it is outrageous that he only finally admitted that the economy is in the throes of a recession in November. Meanwhile, if his response to our financial dilemma remains inadequate, there will be more people than

ever before, including members of the middle class with their fixed incomes, who after paying their bank notes and utility bills monthly have little for anything else, who will end up on skid row.

A n d we must face the fact that things will not get better and that life will not return to normal in 2010, but that the New Year will be fraught with greater economic hardships.

It is clear that PM Barrow is not being forthright with the facts surrounding the country’s economic troubles. Just now, the government is operating with a burgeoning fiscal deficit and to make matters worse, its revenue collections are not meeting its budgeted projections.

In other words, the government is flat broke and it has nowhere to turn for a bailout. For that reason, we should get ready to part with even more of our hard earned money via crippling taxes to replenish the

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national treasury.

Another sure way for the government to offset its revenue shortfall is to bring its wage bill that it has expanded recklessly with lucrative contracts and perks such as sports utility vehicles and fuel to its political lackeys under control. While there is evidence of a looming retrenchment as a drastic belt tightening measure, in the meantime, public officers and teachers, who are working for peanuts, will not receive a salary increment anytime soon to help with the out of control cost of living. But this is unconscionable when the public purse is being used to pay PM Barrow’s ex-wife Lois Young millions of dollars in legal fees to do the work of our crown counsels.

Nonetheless, it is paramount that PM Barrow places the out of control cost of living that has caused our incomes to come under pressure since he took office at the top of the political agenda in the New Year,

and that he comes up with viable ways to mitigate its damage that does not include taxing us to death.

But we will not hold our breaths.

It is clear that he has never been about satisfying the people’s needs or helping the downtrodden, but more about the privilege of a select United Democratic Party inner circle and their ability to abuse their positions so that they can rule us like modern day feudal lords, whose power should never be challenged or questioned.

The majority of us will find little enjoyment at all in the holiday season, as we are consumed with worry as we try to figure out where the money for our next meal is going to come from or how we are going to manage to keep the utilities on for another month. This is stressful because we cannot spend any money on spreading Christmas cheer this year even to our children, without putting ourselves in more of a financial mess. What is more, there are those of us who are out of work and are struggling to hold on to their homes until we can find one.

Thanks to PM Barrow’s bungling of the economy, this is the worst Christmas that many of us will ever have.

10

The Belize Times

sunday, December 27, 2009

The Year That Was… A Political Review

2009 was a most tumultuous year and one that most observers will agree was a far better year for the Peoples United Party than 2008, and far better for them than it was for the UDP. More troubling though, it has proved to be the worst of modern times for the people and nation of Belize.

It would be too much to ask any one person to “review” all the events of 2009, so I will attempt to put it within the broad perspectives of politics and the economy, and try to conclude by saying what it may mean for the outlook going forward.

The year started with the holiday season a mere respite from the political stirrings of a municipal elections campaign even as Said Musa and Ralph Fonseca had been arrested the month before. In retrospect it is now obvious the strategic timing of the arrests.

By mid-year the charges against Fonseca would be dropped and Musa would be exonerated by a ruling by the Chief Justice.

In January the Barrow administration had brought suit against two former ministers in the former PUP government after it had been forced to drop charges and other efforts against Joe Coye. By August

the suit would be dismissed almost stillborn by the Chief Justice but the determined persecution of PUP supporters would continue at all levels and to all degrees.

By mid January the PUP had announced its slates and was soon mounting a surprisingly spirited campaign, especially in Belize City and Orange Walk Town, and the results reflected this.

Less than a year after its most devastating defeat and even though its leadership was still very much divided, there was the sense that the PUP was regaining popularity. Or to put it another way, less than a year into its term, and even with the PUP not regarded as much of a threat due to dissension, it was clear that the UDP was rapidly losing the popularity it had ridden to victory in the General Elections.

And while the UDP did go on to sweep all the municipalities in the election early in March, its margins of victory had been narrowed considerably in nearly every polling area.

Perhaps more damaging is that the PUP’s persistent campaign of exposing rampant corruption and mismanagement at the Belize City Council was to reverberate throughout the year, culminating with the unprecedented arrest and charges being laid against a serving mayor.

This in turn resulted in her fighting back, calling the Prime Minister and her Party Leader names publicly and then, so far successfully suing to continue to be counted among the membership ranks.

The PUP campaign had also accurately pointed out that the Belize City Council was broke, and had been bankrupted by mis-management and corruption, again culminating with sanitation workers striking

and demonstrating in front of City Hall for the wages they had earned.

The Barrow administration for its part, at the first meeting of the House of Representatives had tabled and passed an amendment to the Belize City Council bylaws with respect the fees for the collection and disposal of garbage accumulated by commercial establishments in an effort to “solve” the city’s garbage problem. They end 2009 by calling for an additional tax on household garbage.

The Barrow administration for its part was also to pass an amendment their media sycophants dubbed the “Zenaida Moya Bill,” giving onto itself the authority to appoint a financial overseer for any municipal government. It is now obvious that rather than being prescient, it was more of a case of trying to close the stable after the horse had bolted.

Quite possibly in any other year this would have been the major political story of the year but no, not by a long shot. This Dean Barrow administration and his UDP were to outdo even themselves.

By February the economy was being rocked by a strike in the sugar industry which culminated with the Barrow administration shooting several cane farmers protesting at Tower Hill, killing one. Dean Barrow has

yet to express regret for the loss of life or to offer condolences to the widow and children. In fact in less than a week after the incident he flew to the United States to get married.

Barrow’s “I don’t have a clue” attitude towards Belize’s worsening economy, went beyond his manifest unconcern for the plight of caneros. By this time the continued weakening in our agro exports, sugar, citrus, papaya and banana, had already been eclipsed by concerns about a rapidly worsening international economic climate, decreasing remittances and foreign investment, declining tourism revenue, increasing capital flight and increasing litigation at home and abroad.

The story broke in January that the airport management company Newco had filed a multi-million dollar against the Government of Belize. GOB was soon to lose the suit but that story soon paled in comparison to the year’s biggest story, the forcible takeover of Belize’s largest and most lucrative private company, Belize Telemedia Limited.

All told the Barrow government now has Belize in jeopardy of being liable for almost an astonishing $1 billion in debt and the prospect of nearly limitless litigation because he decided to expropriate BTL to bring an end to multi-million dollar

judgments and litigation.

Despite every sign that economically Belize had already taken a decided turn for the worse, and was worsening rapidly, Dean Barrow and his financial experts continued to pooh-pooh the reports of impending economic devastation.

In his budget presentation Barrow

instead raised taxes and tried to masquerade his Capital III spending program as a “stimulus package.” Just returned from the Summit of the Americas, he apparently had “borrowed” the term from newly elected US President Barack Obama.

The enormity of the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance’s ability to mis-

(continued on page 11)

sunday, December 27, 2009

The Belize Times

11

The Year That Was… A Political Review

calculate can be neatly summed up in his imposition of what he called a one dollar per gallon gas tax, and his promise made in the House of Representatives on March 6, 2008.

Barrow told the nation: ““The increase we are proposing is only $1.00 per gallon on gasolines and diesel. This amounts to less than one half of the taxes that were removed over the last year alone. It will still keep diesel at below the $6.00 per gallon mark, and gasoline at below $7.00 per gallon mark. Butane, on which there is no tax, will not be affected. In doing our calculation we were guided by best estimates of where the acquisition costs for the refined products will be over the next year. If for any reason these turn out to be significantly higher than the experts predict, it is my promise that we would then come back and take off as much of this dollar increase as would put things back in alignment for the Belizean people.”

At the time Barrow had formulated his plan, a gallon of regular gas was retailing for $5.22 and just two days before that

House meeting on March 20, it had spiked to $5.73. By April 1 it had shot up to $6.99 and Barrow was already backtracking on a clearly spelled out promise. Today the price of regular gas per gallon is just about $9.00 per but the tax remains.

The year is replete with stories of the Barrow administration’s miscalculations, incompetence and corruption.

In March Barrow sacked a Cabinet minister, Marcel Cardona, for daring to speak out against a secret contract, a sweetheart insider deal signed by Cardona’s CEO, one of Barrow’s personal favourites.

Again in any other year this would’ve been one of the biggest stories of scandal and corruption but it was soon eclipsed by the goings-on at the Belize City Council and then the Ministry of Health and the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital.

A revolt by the doctors and other staff at the institution forced the prime minister

to appoint a tribunal commission of inquiry into the allegations of mismanagement and

corruption. We end the year awaiting the commission’s report, but the drama has been playing out since May when at a press conference Leader of the Opposition and PUP Party Leader John Briceno gave voice to the allegations.

The goings-on at the Ministry of Health/KHMH have over-shadowed a failing public health system and the deaths of seven children therein amidst allegations and charges of incompetence and negligence. Certainly the decision by the Barrow administration to approve the purchase of a $160,000 SUV for the

Minister of Health, complete with heated seats nonetheless, seems grotesque, an incomprehensible reward for monumental incompetence?

The story that highlights and exemplifies nearly all the political goings-on is perhaps the story of Charles and Hirian Good. Almost every week since the 2008 General Elections there have been reports of the victimization of acknowledged and suspected PUP supporters either through the cancelling of their leases or the taking away of their jobs and other economic opportunities.

The so-called independent media has turned a blind eye to these allegations and protestations no matter how obvious the cries and lamentations. In August of 2009, however, a story appeared that they could not, no matter studiously they tried, they could not ignore.

On August 3rd, Hirian Good, 38, was dismissed from her job as a school warden at Trinity Methodist Primary School, a job at which she had toiled with distinction since September 2006.

Two weeks later in interviews with the media Mrs. Good was able to produce several certificates of appreciation and merit that were testament to her excellence.

Her tale was simple and straightforward. She had received her letter from her immediate supervisor, and she had climbed the rungs of the ladder of authority and responsibility seeking the reason for this callous and unwarranted act.

Ultimately she had been told by the Minister

of Education himself that he had decided to dismiss her so he could give her job to one of his supporters.

An incredulous media then interviewed the Minister who unabashedly confirmed

her story. It should have died there but Hirian is married to Charles Good, a man of

formidable presence and lifelong experience as a military leader.

Together the Goods began to protest the injustice with a determination and courage long unseen in social or political intercourse in this country. Through inclement weather, hostile taunts and threats, police intimidation, lies, blandishments and imprecations they stood their ground publicly in front of no less an august institution than the Supreme Court of Belize day after day, week after week.

On Tuesday, November 3, Captain Charles “Charlie” Good, Ret. died at the KHMH, his family believes from the injuries he received after being rough up by the police the month before. He had undergone two major operations in the previous two years and had never fully recovered. In his death Charlie Good has inspired a spirit of (continued on page 12)

12

The Belize Times

sunday, December 27, 2009

The Year That Was… A Political Review

resistance among the Belizean people that is becoming more and more apparent with each passing day.

Hirian Good’s suit against the Government of Belize has been accepted by the Supreme Court and a full hearing is

widow and her four school age children.

Her plight and Charlie Good death are now

scheduled for early next year. No amount of money, though, will soothe the grieving

a lightening rod and rallying point.

We began 2009 with the PUP

seemingly on the ropes and the UDP the triumphant victors, their star seemingly inexorably ascending. We end 2009 with the many headlines of the issues arisen throughout the year still reverberating through the national psyche along with the names of 93 murder victims as well as several notables who have passed away - Oscar Ayuso, Dwayne Davis and Ricardo Magana, among others.

Along with the controversies such as the land grabs and quitars, import licenses, Boledo

giveaway, etc, the scandals of missing money at Treasury, Border Management, Beltraide, and National Security, and the declining economy, we end the year feeling even less secure with the rampant and growing incidences of armed robberies, kidnappings, murders, and home invasions. We end the year knowing we are worse off than when we started.

What will 2010 bring? What else can 2010 bring?

To paraphrase Betty Gable’s famous movie line: Re-tighten your seat belts, it seems we’re in for an even bumpier ride.

sunday, December 27, 2009

The Belize Times

13

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The Belize Times

sunday, December 27, 2009

Party Leader John Brice単o & The People's United Party (PUP) Family wish all Belizeans at home and abroad a happy, peaceful, and blessed Christmas with friends, family and loved ones and all the best in the New Year 2010.

PUP

sunday, December 27, 2009

The Belize Times

15

COURT NEWS British Man and His Guatemalan Common-Law Wife Convicted Of Cannabis and Immigration Charges

BELIZE CITY, Tues. Dec. 22, 2009 Stuart Hall, 28, a British freelance writer, and his 21 year old Guatemalan common-law wife Sheyna Velez, 8 months pregnant, both pled guilty to possession of 18 grams of cannabis when they appeared yesterday in the #2 Magistrate’s Court. Senior Magistrate Dorothy Flowers fined each of them $800 and ordered them to pay forthwith.

In default of payment they will serve 6 months.

When they left the #2 Magistrate’s Court their troubles were not over yet.

They were taken to the #4 Magistrate’s Court where they were both charged with failure to comply with the conditions of their visitor’s permits and failure to produce their visitor’s permit. Magistrate

Stuart Hall

Aretha Ford fined them $1,000 for each offence and ordered them to pay forthwith. In default of payment they

Sheyna Velez

will serve 1 year.

The couple was busted yesterday morning. A team of Police and

Immigration officers went to Sea Breeze Guest House where they met Hall and Velez. The Police searched apartment #5 where the couple was staying but they did not find anything. But when the Police searched behind the backseat of Hall’s car that was parked in the yard they found 18.5 grams of cannabis.

Hall and Velez were asked by the Immigration officers to produce their visitor’s permit but they did not do so.

Immigration records revealed that the couple entered Belize on September 11 via the sea port in Punta Gorda. They were given visitor’s permit allowing them to stay for 1 month in Belize. But when their permits expired on October 6 they did not renew them.

Building Contractor Charged With Burglary and Aggravated Assault

Dean Perez Sr.

BELIZE CITY, Tues. Dec. 22, 2009 Dean Perez Sr., 43, a building contractor residing in Rancho Dolores Village, was charged with burglary and aggravated assault of an indecent nature when he appeared today in the #5 Magistrate’s Court. Perez pled not guilty to the charges. Magistrate Albert Hoare offered him bail of $5,000 and adjourned his case until January 21, 2010.

The prosecution had objected to bail on the grounds that burglary has become prevalent and the defendant is a neighbor of the complainant and he might interfere with the witness if granted bail. Perez’s attorney, Lionel Welch responded by saying that the offences are those for which bail can be granted.

The incident occurred on Friday, December 18. According to the allegation Perez entered as a trespasser the dwelling house of Rosalind Joseph with intent to commit rape on her 17 year old daughter Kaylee Joseph. Perez is also alleged to have indecently assaulted the teenager while he was in her bedroom. But sources say the charges were fabricated by the teenager because a member of her family saw Perez in her bedroom with her.

16

The Belize Times

sunday, December 27, 2009

COURT NEWS One Charged For Hattieville Robbery BELIZE CITY, Tues. Dec. 22, 2009 D a r r i n g t o n L a u r i a n o, 2 3 , who was recently released from prison after having ser ved 6 months, was put back behind bars yesterday when he appeared in the #1 Magistrate’s Court and was ar raigned on a charge of robbery. Lauriano pled not guilty to the charge. Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie explained to him that the court could not offer him bail because the offence was committed with a firearm. She remanded him into custody until January 22, 2010.

The robbery occurred at around 1:00 p.m. on Thursday,

Darrington Lauriano

December 17 in the windmill area of Hattieville located at Mile 16

on the Western Highway. Ottoniel Pech, 28, delivery man for Quality Poultry Products, reported to the Police that he and his sideman were delivering chicken when they were approached by two persons, one of them armed with a firearm.

Pech said the gunman pointed his pistol at him and stole his pink Motorola cell phone valued at $300.

Police detained Lauriano the following day. Police say Lauriano was positively identified as one of the robbers. The second suspect is still at large. The cell phone has not been recovered. Lauriano was charged with murder but he was acquitted of the charge in 2008.

Scotty Sentenced To Two Years for Molesting 10 Year Old Child

Lionel Scott

BELIZE CITY, Tues. Dec. 22, 2009 Lionel Scott, 52, a.k.a. “Scotty”, a laborer of Raccoon Street Extension charged with aggravated assault of an indecent nature on a 10 year old girl, was sentenced by the Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie after he was found guilty of the charge.

T he incident occur red on December 9, 2009. The girl, who testifi ed en camera, said she was walking on Raccoon Street Extension on her way to buy at a grocery shop when Scotty invited her into his house. She testified that when she went into Scott’s house he kissed her on her breasts and fondled her vagina. There was no evidence that Scott offered the child money.

A relative of the child testified that she went to Scott’s house and caught him fondling the child. Scott took the witness stand and gave a sworn statement. He did not admit or deny he committed the offence.

He said the child lied when she testifi ed that she has known him for about one year. He said he has only known the child for about one month.

It was Scott’s first conviction.

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The Belize Times

sunday, December 27, 2009

sunday, December 27, 2009

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SHOWER CURTAINS SHOWER CADDY BATHROOM SET TOWEL SETS BATH MATS LAUNDRY BASKETS

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The Belize Times

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Sunday, December 27, 2009

The Belize Times

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The Belize Times

Sunday, December 27, 2009

sunday, December 27, 2009

The Belize Times

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NATION BUILDERS

MS MARIA LUISA CODD

Elizabeth Pridgeon The Belize Times’ Nation Builders is a weekly feature, focussing on a selection of altruistic, motivated and inspirational women who have made a positive impact on the development of Belize. This week, it is with regret that our Nation Builder is recognised posthumously, having passed away on Sunday, 13th December aged 88.

Ms Maria Luisa Codd, who endured an often turbulent path throughout the course of her life, never let her faith waver, and thus despite personal hardships and str ug gles, she found the inner strength to harness her experiences and give strength to others. This she did whole-heartedly, during decades of service to Belize, as a mother, a Pastor, a teacher, a school principal, a midwife and a nurse, among many other things.

Maria Luisa (who later became better known as Mary Louise) was born to Belizean parents, temporarily in the Republic of Honduras, on 4th January, 1921. Aged twelve years old, upon the premature death of her mother, Mary Louise returned to Belize to live with her maternal uncle.

Having settled into Belizean life over the course of several years, she met and fell in love with Edward Roberts, with whom she bore three children: Aurelia, Phillip and Eleanor. When Edward enlisted in patriotic efforts during the Second World War, Mary Louise was left to raise her children alone, but that didn’t stop her from continuing to participate fully in the course of national development. In fact, the unexpected hardship and solitude encouraged her to open her heart more fully to the Lord as she became a part of the congregation of the Church of Nazarene, which was to change her life forever.

By 1951, Ms Mary Louise was noted as a Godly inspiration among her peers, and she was commissioned to serve as itinerant Pastor to a newly establishing church in Arenal (Cayo). It seems that two years in this role helped her find her vocation, following in Jesus’s instructions to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:16); shortly afterwards, Ms Mary Louise relocated to nearby Benque Viejo del Carmen to spread the word of the Lord whilst assisting in the Nazarene clinic and teaching in the town’s primary school.

Another two years later, Ms Mary Louise once again relocated, this time returning to Belize City, where she officially adopted her two-month old niece, Ena. Now with four children to maintain, Ms Mary Louise continued to support her family through fulltime employment, and she willingly

accepted a job transfer to Mount Hope, where she served both the church and the school, as Pastor and Principal, for three years. During this interlude, Ms Mary Louise worked closely alongside the Reverend Juan Guerra, with whom she later married and bore a son, Paul Prescott.

In the immediate years after the matrimonial union, Ms Mary Louise worked alongside her husband developing the Nazarene church in Sarteneja, and acquiring a passionate group of followers. During this time, Ms Mary Louise realised that rural communities were in dire need of medical assistance and professional care, and so she returned to Belize City to study and train as a midwife.

Upon qualification, Ms Mary Louise promptly relocated to Crique Sarco (Toledo), later moving to Punta Gorda hospital to perform midwifery at the district centre. Here, she acquired sufficient experience and knowledge to be sufficiently qualified when the post of midwife and nurse arose at the Crooked Tree Nazarene Mission, which she accepted alongside her role as Pastor.

By the 1970s, officially single once again, Ms Mary Louise devoted much of her time to the “Millhollen” children’s home in Ontario (Cayo), which was established by Belize Faith Missions to educate, train and care for children in a Christian environment. Here she fulfilled a variety of roles, including care-giver, advisor and pastor, and was a fulltime residential member of staff for over five years.

Over the years of service that Ms Mary Louise offered to Belize, she touched the lives of literally thousands of Belizeans: from orphaned children to nursing mothers, from hospital patients to spiritually ‘lost souls’; young and old, rich and poor, black and white all benefitted from Ms Mary Louise’s ability to enrich others’

spirits, and provide hope in times of bleak adversity. And this is not to mention the hugely beneficial impact she had on her extensive family over the course of her life, of whom children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren remain in Belize today.

In 1981, Ms Mary Louise

emigrated to the United States, where she enrolled in Manual Arts College and then continued serving her local community in the capacity of Certified Nurse Assistant within Los Angeles’ private health care sector.

Always a ‘giver’ to society, Ms Mary Louise worked until the hearty age of 75, when she was forced to retire for personal health issues.

It was only over the course of the past four years that Ms Mary Louise really suffered debilitating health conditions. For this reason, her life was celebrated (as opposed to her death being mourned) at a burial service for her on Saturday, 19th December at the RosedaleAngelus Cemetery in Los Angeles, where she is buried alongside her son, Phillip, who predeceased her over two decades ago.

Even during absence from her beloved Belize, Ms Mary Louise was never forgotten by all those whom she had helped, and there is no doubt that, similarly in the peace of death, Ms Mary Louise – and her charitable work – will never be forgotten.

Maria Luisa Codd 1921-2009 Rest In Peace

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The Belize Times

sunday, December 27, 2009

VOICES Village

from the

SAN(COROZAL) ROMAN

Elizabeth Pridgeon Unlike in the past, when several hundred yards separated San Roman from its neighbouring villages of Santa Clara and San Narciso, today the boundaries are somewhat blurred. There are continuous contentions as to the demarcations of the village, and even as to the legitimacy as the village as a separate entity (as opposed to being a twinned village with Santa Clara), but most villagers insist that San

Roman is as independent and unique of its neighbouring villages as ever before.

San Roman has a fluctuating population of around 1000 residents, although even this is hard to confirm or officiate because of the contentious boundary issue. It is also famously home to Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico, which attracts students from across the Orange Walk and Corozal districts due its educational reputation and curricula foci.

The establishment of Escuela Mexico in the 1980s was a major breakthrough for the village, as until then it had nothing in particular to attract people to its boundaries. Following the provision of government land for the purpose, however, more people moved to the area, and several local villagers found employment as teachers, administrators and secretaries, which helped assist with the financial scope of the village.

On top of these advantages, the sheer numbers of students who shop in the local store during break times has also complemented the village’s former source of income.

For many years, the major employment sector for the villagers was sugar cane, but following the closure of the Libertad refinery, and latterly with the excessive increase in production costs, many people have abandoned this mainstay industry for other, more profitable, alternatives. Perhaps the greatest employer of San Roman residents today is the Commercial Free Zone at the Santa Elena border with Mexico; villagers have jobs as shop-assistants, clerks, book-keepers, clerks, casino workers and waitresses throughout the Free Zone.

Whilst this has been a financial blessing for the village, it hasn’t come without its social inflictions: the working shifts in the Free Zone are often tediously long with anti-social hours, and many children return to empty homes after

the political council in the village is the role of religion, and San Roman hosts a range of religious factions, including Catholic, Adventist, Protestant, Evangelist and visiting Jehovah Witnesses. Semana Santa is perhaps the most celebrated time in the year, with high participation

deities with the upcoming agricultural season. Since his health declined, Mr Marin handed over the responsibility (and the honour) of leadership to his counterpart in Patchakan, although several men from the village continue to attend the annual event.

in the annual procession of the cross.

Independence celebrations in September also give reasons for villagers to unite in the parade, but other than those two occasions, there are no particularly special dates in the village calendar, unlike in former years, when the northern Mayan celebration of Primicia was organised by elders of San Roman. In fact, until two years ago, villager Mr Lorenzo Marin was a leader for the group of males who would head into the bush and conduct ancient traditional ceremonies to acquire the support and assistance of the Mayan

San Roman is a village oozing with culture and heritage, but the increasing moder nisation of the population (particularly through the opportunities opened up via employment in the Free Zone) is seeing a rapid decline in the ancient traditions of the village. Perhaps, under the leadership of a more active village council following the upcoming elections next year, some of San Roman’s unique culture can be salvaged and reinforced to ensure that its history – and its unique qualities – is not lost forever.

school, meaning that they are neither catered for nor supervised until late at night, which has obvious implications for homework and behavioural issues. For others whose parents (especially mothers) work in the Free Zone, grandparents are often enrolled to assist with childcare duties, but villagers believe that the increasing lawlessness of the local youth is largely because parents are absent and grandparents are unable to discipline the

boisterous youth.

Serious issues, though, such as unemployment and serious crime are not of such grave concern in San Roman as in other villages, as people are alternatively occupied; San Roman is remembered by many, however, as being a village that once was plagued with problems of crime and even drug abuse, particularly in between cane seasons where agricultural workers found little else to do than drink and involve in mischievous acts across the village. There were murmurs of discontent and increasing lawlessness in the first few weeks of December this year, however, when those villagers who still rely on sugar cane as their principal source of income were desperately awaiting news of the opening of the BSI factory at Tower Hill. For many, being forced to stretch their final savings for longer than anticipated as the opening of the season was delayed, was an intolerable sufferance and some were even unable to cope with the pressure without indulging in antisocial behavioural patterns.

More optimistically, however, is that now the season is open, the village is once again as active as ever, with cane farmers hurrying between their land and Tower Hill, commuters travelling to the Free Zone for employment, and small businesses within the village enjoying constant trade. It is a symbol of the freeflowing cash in the village (because of the high percentage of employed workforce) that several grocery stores (also selling hardware, toys and kitchen supplies), a bar, a restaurant, several individual food vendors, a tortilla outlet, and even a pastry shop are all well patronized.

Villag ers of San Roman are relatively proactive without the encouragement of the authorities, which is lucky considering the current village council is not particularly active according to many villagers. More influential than

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The Belize Times

Sunday, December 27, 2009

sunday, December 27, 2009

The Belize Times

The Devil’s Workshop

BY KEISHA MILLIGAN Over ten years ago, a park was built in the Queen Square division in the hope that the children in that area would have some type of recreation on weekends and in the evening times after school. Today that park serves no purpose, except as a running ground where the kids can play catch because there is nothing else there for them to do.

There is not even one bench in the park. There are three pairs of stumps where three benches used to be. The

grounds of the park are bumpy and scarred by potholes filled with water.

There are two bars for swings, but only one swing is up and you can see where somebody tried to tie it up so that the children could use it. Of the six swings that were once there, only that one makeshift swing remains.

Even the swing bar is broken and the slide is missing with only the steps in evidence.

I can recall some kids playing in the park a few weeks ago. Because they have no swings, no slide and were tired

of playing chase, they were actually playing football without a ball. It was a very sad sight. One child was in a stooped position and the other posed as if he had a football in front of him.

He moved his body and kicked his foot, in the motion of kicking a ball and as he did that, you would almost think that the other young boy saw the ‘ball,’ because he jumped forward, throwing his body to the ground and acting as if he had just stopped the ball from entering the goal.

I looked at them and even though I could not stop smiling because of their vivid imaginations, I could not help but feel anger at the lack of opportunities for the ‘children of tomorrow.’

This is a park located in the Prime Minister’s Division and it has been neglected. Neglecting this park means that the children in this area are also being neglected. If they don’t have positive things to occupy their minds, then they will get involved in mischief or worse. We all know that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.

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An Intolerable Situation

BY KEISHA MILLIGAN For over a month, the garbage has not been picked up from specifically one street in the Queen Square Division - Armadillo Street.

The area residents have had to resort to taking their garbage to other areas to have it collected or pay someone to take out the garbage accumulated throughout the week.

Just last week, while talking to a neighbor as we tried to ‘dodge’ the dirt truck, she informed me that the driver claims someone threatened him from the area and therefore he will not come back on that street to collect garbage. That could not be true, I told her. Everyone on the street would now suffer because of what one person said to him.

The garbage truck, number 21, would go as far as Queen Square Primary School and turn back. Once a neighbor begged them to come for her garbage and when they did, she had to pay them and they still left one of her bags.

As far as I believe though the gripe must have been when a group of people were paid to chop out the park and piled the garbage on the outer portion where other residents would also put their dirt. They came one day and refused to move the other garbage that was placed there by the area residents and even though the residents begged them, they did not move it. That was the last time they came through that area.

The garbage that was stock piled from cleaning the park is also still there and has not been moved. The big rats can be seen running freely across the street. It is plain nasty and very unhealthy.

Besides the garbage situation in Queen Square, there is a pothole problem. In fact, one hold near the park is so large that vehicles don’t want to drive through it and use the park as a street to reverse, having no other option.

The people of Queen Square need urgent intercession by their Area Representative who also happens to be the leader of the nation, Dean Barrow. They have been neglected for too long.

sunday, December 27, 2009

The Belize Times

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El Honorable John Briceño y la familia del Partido Unido del Pueblo (PUP) le desean a todo beliceño aquí y en el extranjero una Feliz y Bienaventurada Navidad junto a su familia y seres queridos. ¡También se les desea un Prospero Año Nuevo!

PUP

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The Belize Times

sunday, December 27, 2009

Belize #1 Sports Page

Tex Mar United stops San Felipe Barcelona 2-1 in Belize Bank Superleague 2nd final Independence, December 19, 2009 Tex Mar United survived to take the 2009 Belize Bank Superleague football championship finals to a Game 3 at the MCC garden on Sunday, after stopping San Felipe Barcelona 2-1 at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium on Saturday night.

Ashley Torres, Dion Burgess and Arnold Torres led the Tex Mar offensive, supported by midfielders Wilmer Garcia, Robert Muschamp and Gabriel Ramos, pressuring the visitors’ defensive line anchored by Hipolito Andrade, Cesar Rosales and Carlos Cawich and testing goalie Darrel Novelo.

The San Felipe squad for its part was in no mood to tolerate any Tex Mar resistance - they were there to take home the championship, and took the game to the Tex Mar boys from the getgo.

Oscar Ascevedo and Kenny Witzil led San Felipe’s attacks, backed up Josue Flores, Christopher Hendricks, Jorge Ruano and Joel Padron at midfield, and it was all the Tex Mar defensive line of Bernard Linares, Wilhelm Coe, Kishane

Pech and Brent White could do to keep the game to a scoreless draw up to the half time break.

The San Felipe defense goofed in giving up a penalty 8 minutes into the 2nd half and Wilmer Garcia converted as Tex Mar took a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute. Christopher Hendricks had led the San Felipe comeback, tying the score at 2-2 in the first final, and now he led the charge on goal that caused Bernard Linares to body him off the ball, and again the referee ruled penalty.

Hendricks converted with ease to tie the ball game at 1-1 in the 58th minute.

San Felipe introduced Harvey Cruz and Damian Ku to beef up their offensive line as they strove for the game winner, while Luis Torres relieved Arnold Torres. Dion Burgess had been trying to score the winning goal but his first try was no challenge for San Felipe goalie Darrel Novelo, and he tried again when he connected with a corner kick for shot on goal, but again Novelo was up to the challenge. Burgess was finally lucky on his 3rd try when he finished a play by Ashley Torres to blast the ball past Novelo into the back of the net in the 68th minute.

The San Felipe boys tried to equalize again, but the Tex Mar defense hung tough to secure the win.

Belize Elementary girls win 2 in primary schools basketball - St Luke’s leads 4-0

Belize City, December 17, 2009 The Belize Elementary School girls won their 2nd game in the Belize City primary schools basketball competition, while the undefeated St. Luke’s Methodist Primary School girls rule the competition with their 4th win at the Belize City Center last Thursday.

On Tuesday, the St. John’s Primary School girls won 2-0 over the Queen

Street Baptist School girls; Ashley Bailey scored the winning basket for St. John’s Primary.

The St. Martin de Porres School girls won their 3rd game by default, when the St. Mary’s School girls were a no show for their scheduled game.

On Wednesday, the Belize Elementary School girls posted their 2nd win 6-4 over the Holy Redeemer

RC School girls. Balika Meighan top scored for Belize Elementary School with 3 points; while Shanice Neal and Courtney Duran scored 2 points each for Holy Redeemer School.

On Thursday, the St. Luke Methodist School girls posted their 4th back to back to back win: 13-2 over the St. John’s Primary School girls. The top scorer for St. Luke Methodist School was Indira Cayetano with 5 points while Ashley Bailey scored 2 pts for St. John’s Primary School.

The Queen Street Baptist School girls picked up their 1st win 8-0 over the St. Mary’s School girls; the top scorer for Queen Street Baptist School was Briana Belisle with 8 points.

sunday, December 27, 2009

The Belize Times

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Belize #1 Sports Page

Stella Maris & Caye Caulker boys rule primary schools basketball 4-0

Belize City, December 17, 2009 The Stella Maris School and Caye Caulker Government School boys rule the Belize City primary school basketball competition, each with 4 wins at the Belize City Center last week.

On Tuesday, the Caye Caulker School boys picked up their 3rd win 19-16 over the St. Ignatius School boys. Allan Coc top scored for Caye Caulker School with 8 points while Sydney Bradley top scored for St. Ignatius School with 9 points.

The Trinity Methodist School boys posted their 2nd win 24-6 over the Grace Primary School boys. Elwin Pollard top scored for Trinity Methodist School with 14 points while Julian Perriott led Grace Primary School with 4 points.

The St. Luke’s Methodist School boys outlasted the St. John Vianney RC School boys: 18-15. Chaves Garbutt and Shane Nolberto scored 6 points each for St. Luke’s Methodist School; while Tyrek Myvette led St. John Vianney School with 5 points.

The Holy Redeemer School boys won 23-16 over St. John’s Primary School.

Jordan Usher top scored for Holy Redeemer School with 9 points, while Malik Francisco added 7 pts and Jover Lopez chipped in 3 pts.

Akeem Forbes top scored for St. John’s Primary School with 11 points; while Dean Lewis and Shawn Philips each tossed in a bucket.

On Wednesday, the Queen Street Baptist School burnt the All Saints’ School: 25-12. Jahron Myvett top scored for Queen Street Baptist School with 9 points while Rayvon Jones led All Saints’ School with 6 points.

The Buttonwood Bay Nazarene School boys picked up their 1st win 29-17 over the St. Ignatius School boys. Ricardo Pavon top scored for Buttonwood Bay Nazarene School with 21 points while Keimar Nicholas led St. Ignatius School with 8 points.

The St. Martin de Porres School boys won 20-13 over the Queen Square Anglican School boys. Clency Lopez top scored for St. Martin De Porres School with 12 points while the top scorer for Queen Square School was Devaun

Zuniga with 8 points.

The Stella Maris School boys posted their 4th win 25-20 over the St. John’s Anglican Primary School boys. Jamal Cherrington top scored for Stella Maris School with 16 points; while the top scorer for St. John’s Primary School was Akeem Forbes with 10 points.

On Thursday, the St. Mary’s School boys won 21-14 over the Belize Elementary School boys. Steven Goff top scored for St. Mary’s School with 10 points while Zachary Usher top scored for Belize Elementary School with 9 points.

The Grace Primary School boys won 25-13 over the All Saints’ School boys.

Rasheed Adolphus top scored for Grace Primary School with 14 points while Dedrick Ramclam led All Saints’ School with 6 points.

The Caye Caulker School boys posted their 4th back to back to back win 3228 over the Central Christian School.

Charles Hinks top scored for Caye Caulker School with 10 points; while Anfernee Brooks top scored for Central

Christian School with 17 points.

The St. Martin’s De Porres School boys posted their 3rd win 30-9 over the Holy Redeemer School boys. Clency Lopez top scored for St. Martin de Porres School with 16 points while K’lon Augustus led Holy Redeemer School with 5 points.

Belize Chess Club holds Family Chess Day Belize City, December 20, 2009 Fifteen young chess players from around the country came out winners when the Belize City Chess Club hosted a Family Chess Day in collaboration with the Belize National Youth Chess Foundation (BNYCF) at the St Joseph’s School in Belize City on Sunday.

In the 10 years and under age category, 9-year-old Ivan Pixabaj from Silk Grass village, Stann Creek district won 1st place, with 5 wins. Kareem Jenkins, 9, of the Cayo Chess Club, won 2nd place with 4 wins. Justin Chacon, 10, took 3rd place with 3 wins, while Omar Pulido, 10 took 4th place and Stephan R. won 5th place.

In the 11-12 years age category, 12-year-old Ivor Pixabaj, from Silk Grass village, Stann Creek district won 1st place, with 5 wins.

Belize City’s 11-year-old Dwayne Rodriguez won 2nd place with 4

wins; while 12-year-old Dolores Sho of the Stann Creek district won 3rd place with 4 wins. Jason Argueta of Belize City won 4th place and Montel C. placed 5th with 3 wins.

In the 13 years and over age category, Alfred Awe of the Supreme Pawns Ecumenical Chess Club from the Stann Creek district won 1st place with 5 wins. Belize City’s 16-year-old Juan Vernon took 2nd place with 4 wins, while 13-year-old Christian Burns won 3rd place, Javier Lisbey, 13, placed 4th and 13-year-old Akeem Jenkins of the Cayo Chess Club took 5th place.

The players who were eliminated in the early rounds entertained themselves painting and sculpting in clay with art materials provided by tournament organizers, and prizes were also awarded for the best paintings and best clay sculptures. Good sportsmanship awards were also presented in each age category.

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The Belize Times

Strictly Personal Barrow is bogus!

by glenntillett@yahoo.com I am not surprised my co-host Vaughan Gill was “busted” over the weekend - that is arrested and charged, and now faces the distinct possibility of having to stand trial.

We ended 2008 with several prominent members of the Peoples United Party facing indictment and having been brought up on charges that were nebulous at best. It should therefore be no surprise that we end the year with the persecution continuing.

You could see this one coming and I expect any day that it will be my turn. As I wrote in this space a few weeks ago, the level and types of threats against my person has been increasing, and I take it seriously.

People like me, Vaughan Gill, Mike Rudon, and indeed anyone who is public in their criticism of the Barrow administration are targets for their vindictiveness and there is little they will not do to shut us up.

This is the third time in less than a month that the police have been after Vaughan. It is the third time they’ve tried to arrest him and cart him off to jail on a Friday.

I hope the people over at the National Perspective are also taking notice. I include them in this cautionary essay because I know that there are some who think that because they have been critical of the current PUP leadership that they may get a pass from the Barrow administration. Believe me, they may not go out of their way right now but if the opportunity presents itself they’ll take advantage of it.

This is the worst of times for the majority of Belizeans. We are in the midst of a cruel recession at a time when half of the population is being denied their basic right to own land or have employment opportunities in the public sector.

If there is one constant theme throughout our political discourse in 2009 it is the continued efforts of the Barrow administration to victimize or otherwise limit the rights of Belizeans who oppose them, especially those they have publicly declared their enemies.

The year started with the holiday season a mere respite from the political stirrings of a municipal elections campaign even as Said Musa and Ralph Fonseca had been arrested the month before. In retrospect it is now obvious the strategic timing of the arrests.

By the end of the month the Barrow administration had shot 5 cane farmers protesting at Tower Hill, one of them fatally. To date the administration has never expressed regret for the loss of life or offered condolences to the widow and children.

The following month when a cabinet minister protested a secret contract signed by his CEO, a Dean Barrow appointee and personal favorite, it was the minister who was demoted.

These are only some of the examples of how this Dean Barrow administration deals

with dissenters. And please note that Dean Barrow does not play favorites, however, with those who are opposed to him – he is an equal opportunity oppressor.

At times like this I keep hoping that like Scrooge in the classic tale A Christmas Carol, the spirits of compassion, of caring, and of love would visit Dean Oliver and like Scrooge manage to shock him to some semblance of respect and common decency.

I keep thinking about the late Charlie Good and I am determined that his sacrifice will not be in vain.

Barrow will never ever express regret over the death of Charlie Good because in his world political expedience trumps his basic humanity each and every time.

Charlie Good stood up for a basic principle – the fundamental right of Belizeans not to be deprived of their means

Sunday, December 27, 2009

of earning their livelihood for no good reason. In particular Charlie Good was standing up for his wife’s right to remain employed in a job she was excellent at, and which she enjoyed.

His wife was terminated from her job simply because Patrick Faber wanted her job to give to one of his supporters. He publicly admitted as much on two separate occasions.

Charlie Good protested loudly and publicly and in so doing embarrassed this administration. He resisted their blandishments and was not deterred by their attempts at intimidation.

I was appalled and more than a little bit frightened as I watched the police, the security forces Charlie Good had helped to build, play cat and mouse with Good and the media in an attempt to grab him and physically assault him. That they succeeded with hardly any outcry from us is to all our everlasting shame.

The lesson I learned from that incident, and indeed from all these incidents over the past year is that this Dean Barrow administration will do anything, will stop at nothing, including murder if it deems it necessary, to get at those whom it considers its enemies.

I repeat, I believe that this Dean Barrow administration will do anything,

will stop at nothing, including murder if it deems it necessary, to get at those whom it considers its enemies.

Just think about all they had said prior to assuming office and the many things they have done since assuming office – the net effect has been to limit protest. Take their proposed constitutional amendments, for example, the net effect would be to limit the rights of citizens and the expansion of the power and authority of the state.

Barrow is bogus and more and more Belizeans are starting to agree that that is a fact. I am worried, though, that as Barrow and the UDP’s popularity continue to wane what they will do to remain in power. They waged a desperate campaign of lies and distortions to achieve power and so far the record shows that they are willing to go to extremes to crush dissent.

It is no wonder that Doctor Herbert Gayle, the criminal anthropologist recently pointed out that we have passed what is called the civil war benchmark of thirty homicides per hundred thousand and blamed political tribalism, the warlord mentality, as one of the factors in the continued surge in violent crime.

It means that even as I wish you and yours the very best for the formerly festive season, I know that my fears easily outweigh my hopes.

2 ½ Miles Northern Highway, Belize City, Belize.

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NOTICE TO SPEEDNET CREDITORS The management of Speednet Communications Ltd. would like to inform the public that it has been notified of the circulation of fraudulent cheques being used to make payments. The public is hereby advised to exercise caution when receiving cheques for payment from non-Speednet (Smart) employees or representatives.

If there are any concerns in regards to acceptance of payment by Speednet Communications Ltd. cheques, please contact our offices at 280-1000 or visit our Headquarters at the Smart building 2 ½ miles Northern Highway.

---END----

Sunday, December 27, 2009

The Belize Times

S

PON DI GULLY D Border E Insecurity Orange Walk North by 5 votes. The sheer panic of Guatemalans invading and having no British troops at the borders to defend us no doubt sent voters in revolt of the PUP. The Guatemalan issue, then, is the single most emotive issue in Belizean politics, capable at any moment to shift the political tectonic plates.

Fast forward to December, 2009 now as the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sedi Elrington has made it known to the world that Belize’s borders with Guatemala is “artificial”. Now dig that? Our Minister

By anthony sylvestre In the summer of ’93 the country of Belize was buzzing with a whirlwind of excitement called the Belize Games. It was a great time to be a teenager and to be a part of history- either as a participant, spectator or volunteer in the first Belize Games.

Young athletes proudly represented their district in the track and field, indoor and outdoor games. The rivalry, camaraderie, exposure and exchanges of talents and cultures amongst the athletes from the Corozal, Orange Walk, Belize, Stann Creek and Toledo Districts were breathtaking.

The PUP was in Government and basking in an incredible popular support of the electorate, after having edged out the UDP in the 1989 elections three and a half years earlier. The Prime Minister at the time, the Right Honourable George Price, on June 1st called snap general elections - a full 15 months before it was constitutionally due.

It was set for 30th June. It caught the Opposition UDP totally unawares. And as was said, Belize was PUP country. The PUP’s campaign slogan was “Building on Success”, a subconscious conjuring of the imaginations of Belizeans of even more impressive developments that were to come with another PUP government. The PUPs were clearly the odds on favourite.

But then the unexpected started to play out!

The British had announced a couple weeks earlier that it would be withdrawing its troops which had remained in Belize for ages guarding, protecting and defending us against the enemy to the West, Guatemala.

Meanwhile, on the western front, political instability erupted in Guatemala as President Jorge Serrano, who in 1991 was the first Guatemalan President to recognized Belize’s sovereignty, had to bolt from that country and seek asylum in Mexico.

So what seemed at the calling of the general elections to be a sure win for the PUP gradually begun to fade.

The panic and fear of Belizeans being invaded and terrorized by Guatemalans engulfed the nation. The UDP which had formed a coalition with NABR immediately began to make inroads in the border constituencies; that is to say, the Cayo and Toledo Districts. The PUP lost 4 of those 6 constituencies. And the PUP lost seven constituencies nationally by less than 50 votes: Collet by 1, Caribbean Shores by 40, Stann Creek by 34, Cayo North by 18, Toledo West by 22, Toledo East by 4 and

of Diplomacy (which really is the art of conveying a rough point in an appetizing manner) has told the world that there is no border separating Belize and Guatemala; and that there is not much difference between the people.

Now for a people who feel so strongly against any type of Guatemalan usurpation of Belize (whether they call it squatting, incursion, settlement in adjacency zone) this comment by of all people our Diplomatic Minister has justifiably incensed Belizeans. We Belizeans are really “touchy” ‘bout this Guatemala issue; our border security is undeniably the greatest issue for us. Without realizing it, Sedi has internationally declared that it is okay for Guatemalans to come and go and do as they please in Belize. The Minister of Diplomacy seems to have forgotten what is the rationale for having borders. Ask any landowner and they will tell you the necessity for there to be boundaries which carves out their space of land. Man, these things are done to prevent people from fighting with each other.

But maybe, just maybe, the Minister views his comment as an ingenious way to end the Belize Guatemala dispute; that what he is trying to say is that if there are no borders between the two countries, then the land mass that is now Belize and Guatemala belongs to both countries jointly.

31 And if both countries own the land jointly, they both have equal rights to use the land in the same way and there then is no need for a dispute. Truth be told, there is a legal principle called joint tenancy where two or more persons can own the same piece of land at the same time and having the same interest. Hmmm! And there we were thinking that the Minister was being idle and dangerous.

But on the real though, the Minister of Diplomacy has exposed our borders to further insecurity by leaps and bounds with his comment. And rather than the Foreign Minister apologizing for the obvious gaffe he made with his “artificial border” comment, he has arrogantly resorted to lecturing Belizeans on how to use the dictionary. The Minister perhaps thinks that we are in Alice in Wonderland and he can give words meanings he wants, even in the face of its obvious contradiction. It reminds me of Humpty Dumpty who in speaking to Alice said: “There are plenty of hard words there. ‘Brillig’ means four o’clock in the afternoon time when you begin broiling things for dinner. … ‘mimsy’ is flimsy and miserable…

“And ‘mome raths’?” said Alice?

“Well a ‘rath’ is a sort of green pig: but ‘mom’ I’m not certain about. I think it’s short for ‘from home’—meaning that they’d lost their way, you know.”

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THINK ‘BOUT IT IN THE CITY OF SORROWS

In the City of Sorrows, capital of the Land of Sad Tomorrows, there descended a curse from the House of Harrows.

Sufferation was widespread across the land.

The people, burdened by mismanagement and malice being stricken in deepening poverty were told of a beast called Recession whose half-crazy sister, Economic Ruin, was seen lurking behind.

And the Pharaoh ordered the already burdened people to batten down.

The people saw where a plague called lice was eating the fat of the land stored up in the Treasury. And the people also saw the children of Pharaoh living in luxury as Prince and Princesses at a time of great hardship.

And the people also saw Pharoah’s favored few given fancy chariots called SUV’s with benefits and privileges.

And the people further saw that the talkers and criticizers of the last rulers now had their tongues silenced with tokens, titles and advertising commissions.

And anger grew in the hearts of the people, for they knew they were once again being betrayed. And their suffering was as great as their anger and hate.

This was at a time when hard hearted killers had not yet transformed to assassins with agendas.

But this is for another chapter, to be told and retold as the tale unfold -in the City of Sorrows being ruined by the family of Harrows.

DJ BUSH JOINS

Popular music magician DJ Bush has joined the long and ever growing list of citizens whose rights have been abused.

If Belize had an effective Ombudsman, or proper Police Complaints Board, such abuses would be few and far between. A decent government would have condemned such rampant and continuing abuse by employees of the government against the citizens of the country.

Since becoming government nearly two years ago the complaints have been pouring into the news-media. Rogue police continue to slap, punch, kick, gunbutt, beat-up, shoot, wound and injure citizens by the hundreds.

According to the government crime is on the decrease. Yeah Right! Well, we guess with nothing challenging to do the Police turn on the very citizens whose taxes pay their salaries.

DJ Bush’s experience is nauseating - a drunken Senior Officer physically beating a cool and humble dude like DJ. Then, to add insult to injury they detain DJ, for overnight.

We strongly advise DJ Bush and all citizens whose rights are trampled by rogue police officers to take legal action in the Supreme Court. Let them pay.

TWO DISGUSTING

Two disgusting events occurred recently.

The first is that a man out of jealously stabbed his woman to death. It was done in front of at least one of the children who tried stabbing the man to save her mom.

Appearing at the Magistrate Court for murder charges to be read, the man said he did it and wants his trial to be held quickly so he can serve his time. Reports are that he left the area and went somewhere else for the murder weapon. He then returned and stabbed-up the woman.

The second event was the verdict in the Supreme Court of a man charged for carnal knowledge. Carnal knowledge is relatively easy to prove. One, the victim, who is usually a minor, had been the subject or object of a sexual act. Two, is the person who did the dastardly deed the accused standing in the Court. The sex part is usually assisted by a medical report.

In the trial in Supreme Court a thirteen year old child gave evidence that when she was eleven years her mother’s boyfriend came home, grabbed her, took her into her mother’s bedroom and had sex with her. The mother returned home to catch her man on top of her daughter. Her mistake was not to grab a machete and chop him up.

The man did not take the witness stand and swear to talk the truth.

The Jury found the man not guilty.

There are many lessons that can be learnt from these two events.

In the stabbing event - trial should not take more than six to nine months.

What is left to investigate? Would not swift justice help to deter other jealous men, and save the lives of many women?

What of the mother stabbed to death? Was there something that could have been done where she could safely have escaped from the control of the jealous man? Is there an effective organization to help battered and endangered women?

The sixteen days of activism has been exposed as an ineffective media stunt with little relevance in helping women in real danger or living in the dark shadows of batterers and potential murderers.

“Men must put themselves in the shoes of battered women.” That would give them a wake up call and make them recoil from their deeds. So we were told by the women’s organizations touting the sixteen days of activism a few weeks ago. It is not so in the real world. Not so in the real world. Men who beat women are sick. They need psychiatric help, professional counseling, segregation from their women, and punishment for the slightest infraction; public exposure and condemnation if they failed to reform.

For child molesters who have sex with minors - these cases should never take two years to reach trial. That is punishing the child and her family twice. Why was a thirteen year minor dragged into Supreme Court only to hear it was all in

vain? She has been raped twice. And guess what to the shame of all these women organizations, there has been not a single counseling session for this unfortunate child and her mother.

SAVE THE SHARK

A Fisheries Department official informed an attorney who told this writer that Guatemalans and Hondurans come into Belize waters and are slaughtering the sharks. This they do to get the fins which are in demand in those countries.

BRAIN DRAIN

Official statistics show that over the last ten years of Jamaicans over the age of 25 years with University education 89,000 stayed in Jamaica, while 291,000 left the island for betterment abroad.

THIS BOOK IS BAD

This long Christmas weekend provides for a rare activity in Belize. Get a book and read.

An excellent read is OPEN VEINS by Eduardo Galeans. Copies are available at Image Factory Bookstore on North Front Street. This book is bad; an eye opener to the exploitation done by foreigners to our people in our region. It is the book Hugo Chavez gave to Barack Obama during the Summit of the America’s. It’s a pity Obama did not find time to read it. If he did he would have ended the unjust blockade America has instituted against Cuba for the past 30 years and would stop the killing of thousands of Afghanistan and Taliban in an unjust war. His country has been pursuing for the past eight bloody years.

Another excellent read this weekend is the Gospel of St. Matthew or the Gospel of Luke. Every home should have a Bible and regular reading should be done. An all time favorite is the Book of Ecclesiastes, in the Old Testament. There are so many words of wisdom therein. Did you know that this is also in the Bible: “A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.” Ecclesiastes Chapter 10 verse 19.

WEBSITES

Information is the key to knowledge. Knowledge is power. Knowledge can make you make money. But remember it starts with information. Here are a few websites that valuable information can be obtained; All Africa.com., Al Jazera., The Nation.com., The Economist Magazine, Jamaica Gleaner, Trinidad Express, New York Times, Newsweek Magazine.com, Grandma.com.(English Edition), New African Magazines,

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The Belize Times

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THE PATRIOT

Night Light

As a child, the smell of the mustard and brown sugar caramelizing on the Sikafi ham was by far my fondest Christmas season memory. Well, maybe, second only to the bragging rights for my finesse in being able to untangle the intimidating coils of knotting Christmas lights that had hibernated in the attic all year long. Lights…Yes, lights are so integral to the Christmas adrenaline rush that it is the only time Southside families will excuse lights being on in the room when no one is in there. The lights illuminate our bliss, and brighten our hopefulness while highlighting our vulnerably festive mood. Mind you, the nippy weather has played its part this year, as well, at a time when our wallets were only warming our rear protuberances.

The Christmas season is a time which trips both the guilty rich and most disadvantaged poor into an innocently childish stupor filled with twinkle eyed anxiety and all the trimmings of fanciful promises. For as long as I can remember, the use of decorative, festive lighting during the Christmas holiday season was the visual fire cracker, the night light flashing, that caroled the season into being. It was surely these hypnotic twinklings that each year lulled the overworked and stressed out masses of this Mosquito Coast, pacifying them that it is okay to take their shoes off and wriggle their toes in the Christmas air.

Although, no Belizean can appreciate the secular roots of festive, holiday –season lighting, or celebratory lighting, the use of lights during winter solstice festivals pre-dates Christianity.

Yet the Christian crossover is flagged by the early Christians who were persecuted for having worship gatherings. A single candle hung in the window signified where worshipers would assemble for Christian fellowship in a community.

Eventually, the practice of using lights in the holiday season was affixed to the introduction of the illuminated tree which became a Christian Christmas tradition in Germany during the Early Modern period. The illuminated Christmas tree took root in the United Kingdom during Queen Victoria's reign, maybe as early as 1832, and through emigration spread to the Americas and Australia.

What seems now, in hindsight, to be a dangerous practice was the reality of these illuminated Christmas trees which was literally the lighting of candles and placing them directly on the tree. There are libraries of ad hoc reasons for the "meaning" of Christmas lights, but most of them are after-the-fact assumptions, and not authentic historical explanations. So while in my continuing readings I can find no definitive reason for this tradition, I personally believe that candles on the tree were originally used to remind the viewer of the starry night on which Jesus was born.

Funny enough what modern parlance considers holiday “lights” were first invented by Edward H. Johnson, the Vice President of, guess what? An electricity company! Yap, this surely does not help to muffle the static of my conspiracy theory nightmares. When I look at Stan Marshall’s bill wrapped in BEL’s gift paper at the height of maaga season next year, I will foam at the mouth to think that an associate of the inventor Thomas Edison and a Fortune

500 capitalist created the string of lights which make my meter spin like a silver Frisbee.

Anyway, electric ornamental Christmas lights are the feel good center of all free spirited Belizeans homes. In fact, it may be the singularly telling sign that Cruffy “di feel di krismus”. We are so hell bent on Christmas revelries, rum drinking and merry making that we not only believe the old adage that “krismus and funeral bring dey own money” but we also live it. Lights say “krismus deh yah” but more importantly that we can afford it.

In the good old days, I would stick my head out of my father’s taxi as he barked at me for being hard ears but understanding that these drives around the city to see the lights was as close as he could come to putting us in a mansion by the sea with a security booth in the front. These light seeing tours were normally in the first week of December, when the lights were fresh and before

that one bulb in the series of lights could mess up the entire arrangement. Today, the vestiges of my childhood traditions which has spilled over as part of my commitment to keep my thumb on the pulse of my people, caused me to get in my car and take my family to awe the thoughtful external displays of decorative lights in the old capital.

This year, however, my trip was just last week, - imagine that!!! - because no one had up lights. It was bad. We went into Kings Park because although no house on my street had put up lights, you are sure to find lights in the affluent neighborhoods of the city. Did I say it was bad? And the kind of bad, I must confess, was annoying. On St. Thomas Street, for example, only two houses had up ornamental lights. The first house was that of a Supreme Court judge, I was told. The second was the family house of Dean Barrow, which I am told, again, is being rented to Boots so he can hide from the people of Port Loyola. Then I went to the Barrow’s rich neighborhood on Seashore Drive, where at the park on the sea side - imagine again - there were only two houses that teasingly bragged with lights apart from his righteous holiness the Prime Minister. One was the house of a rabid UDP supporter and the other was the house of the brother of Zenaida’s de facto Deputy Mayor, Wayne Usher.

As a vagrant once said while look-

33 ing into the lights of one of those red plate ministerial vehicles, “watch ya we ga mouth too!!!!!” The story of the lights is a big one. People in Belize are not living. They are curled up in terror of what will happen next year and how bad it will be under these UDP clots. Things bad!

No one can afford Christmas let alone enjoy it. This Government has given us no reason for good tidings.

Mr. Price, please forgive me this year if I don’t do the patriotic and Christian PUP thing by writing with hope to light up all Belizeans at this time of year.

But I do this because frankly and admitted unfairly, I am tempted to adapt the proven slogan “Don’t blame me I voted PUP.” So I blow my Christmas bugle for only two groups, the masses of voters who were despondent in the last elections choosing to stay home and to my fellow PUP’s. We have had a difficult year, but to paraphrase Mr. Price in his speech at the luncheon: in us and through us, was born the political hope of the people. So my message to you in the words of the American poet Grace Noll Crowell, is “whatever else be lost among the years, Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing: Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears, Let us hold close one day, remembering its poignant meaning for the hearts of men. Let us get back our childlike faith again”.

Season’s Greetings my fellow PUPs!!!

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Sunday, December 27, 2009

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Dean Barrowiness! s u b r o bad f

Economy in Recession UDP Fight with BEL UDP Fight with Chamber of Commerce Telecommunication Industry in Crisis Corozal Free Zone in Crisis Businesses Closed Down Businesses in Receivership Tourism Revenues Down Unemployement UP Industries in Danger

s k n a h T

Mr. Dean...

See you in

2013

Sunday, December 27, 2009

The Belize Times

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The Belize Times

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Sunday, December 27, 2009

The Belize Times

JO-MEL-IN Elizabeth Pridgeon Corozal has an abundance of restaurants and eateries, perhaps none more Belizean than Jo-Mel-In which has been prominently situated at the corner of 5th Avenue and 2nd South Street for over 20 years.

Owned by head chef, Ms Nidia May, the establishment focuses on “Food Delight” specialising in an impressive selection of local cuisine within a pleasant restaurant setting.

Taught by two culinary-talented parents, Ms Nidia found her passion in cooking from an early age and aspired to owning her own restaurant and catering for the local market.

Today, Jo-Mel-In provides food from 6am until 3pm Monday to Saturday, and there is rarely a time when the premises isn’t patronised by clientele.

Ms Nidia has formulated a substantial breakfast menu, with a range of burritos, French toast, pancakes, eggs Rancheros, longanisa, omelettes plus the staple fillers of Johnny cakes, tortillas and fry jacks.

While her breakfasts serve a majority of local workers, her lunch menu is popular with locals and travellers alike, offering various Belizean

favourites (such as rice and beans with stewed chicken, pork or beef, tamales, and pigtail with split peas) alongside other platters such as gibnut, fish sere, and daily specials such as cowfoot soup.

Her menu also excels in the desserts depar tment, offering a selection of home made pudding, pies, bread and tarts. All of these delights can be washed down with freshly prepared drinks, ranging from the staple orange and watermelon juices, and extending to grapefruit, tamarind, craboo and banana. She also offers customers the choice of a juice or a milkshake, depending on their personal preference.

The premises looks set to grow in the future, as Ms Nimia intends to re-open at night serving international cuisine such as t-bone steaks, grilled meats, pork chops and fajitas.

And the secret behind her success?

Ms Nimia is proud to acknowledge that her food is good because it’s made with love. Perhaps it is the loving care that goes into making the food that produces the well-renowned platters that are ultimately served with the sole intention of satisfying customers at Jo-Mel-In.

Party Leader John Briceño meets with Clergy.

Pickstock Exec. Chairman Ed Young spreading Christmas Cheer.

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FAR WORLD TECH Elizabeth Pridgeon FarWorld Tech in Orange Walk represents a new age in technological service and is far more than merely an internet cafe. On the corner of Fonseca and Cinderella streets, FarWorld Tech has numerous computers, all connected to

(starting at $999) and laptops (starting at $1099), making it an excellent place to pick up those extra-special Christmas gifts. ‘At home’ computer installation and repairs can be arranged throughout the districts, and a FarWorld representative can always be relied upon to visit and install a lo-

hi-speed internet, and its central location, new DVD releases, refreshments and reasonable prices make it exceptionally popular with students.

However, owner Silvino Riverol also offers professional website design too, providing competitive packages to businesses and groups throughout Belize. On top of all these services, FarWorld Tech also repairs and services computers and laptops, and sells a range of PCs

cal network or office system too.

FarWorld services far exceed simply an internet cafe, and for people wanting a particular model or make of computer or other equipment (such as printer ink cartridges), no request is too big or too small for Silvino and his team.

Opening hours are 8am until 9pm, Mondays to Saturdays, and 1pm to 9pm on Sundays, aiming to provide quality service and care at a time that suits you!

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