Belize Times 100214

The

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

The Belize Times

1

Belize Times The Truth Shall Make You Free

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2010

Issue No. 4680

$1.00 www.belizetimes.bz

Tighten Up!

Mo Haad Time Di come!

Prime Minister Dean Barrow told Belizeans on Wednesday that the worst is yet to come and without the usual confidence one expects from the leader of a country, he asked the nation to have “understanding” and to be “patient.”

In what will go down in history as one of the most abysmal press conferences ever held in Belize, the Prime Minster stood before the nation and said: “The upcoming fiscal year is going to be the hardest of the UDP term.”

He went on to say that the numbers were not good. “The Financial Secretary and his team, I don’t want to blame poor Joe for everything, tells me that we are looking at a deficit of about $60 million.”

For Belizeans the numbers not adding up mean nothing in the face of their everyday reality. The rising cost of basic food items; the fear of losing their jobs and the unceasing crime and violence, are evidence of the fact that things are not adding up in Belize.

In the business community the number of Belizean business persons who are one step away from bankruptcy increase by the day.

The lack of any real stimulus to help small

businesses and those in the agro productive sector has led to an ever increasing lack of confidence by bankers and investors. The amount of mortgage foreclosures published in the newspapers increase on a weekly basis signalling the difficulties faced by Belizean families to meet their basic needs.

At the same time, the 60 million dollar shortfall in government revenues can only lead to further cuts and a decrease in government’s services. To make matters worse, the fear that the Prime Minister will resort to an increase in taxes is also increasing.

And the nightmare, doomsday scenario is the ongoing consideration of the return of the Killa Vat – GST hiked to 15%!

There is only the hollow promise that things will get better. There are only Barrow’s words, and Barrow words alone, that things will get better. There is no plan, no strategy, no nothing. Barrow failed to prepare and so we must now be prepared for failure.

He could not even offer a single idea for closing the deficit gap. Who wants to (Continued on page 31)

Disrespectful, Facey & Hopeless correction: not $2m

Those were only a few of the adjectives used to describe Dean Barrow’s performance at a press conference held on Wednesday morning at the Radisson Hotel. In typical bembe form, Dean Barrow displayed his lack of statesmanship and unprofessionalism when he poked fun at a journalist and

said “he dah noh di one when Chendo box?” The audience and listeners across the country were stunned by Barrow’s disrespectful and brazen admission that one of his UDP candidates (now Ambassador to Mexico) had violently assaulted a Belizean journalist.

Then came the question that all (Continued on page 31)

. . . r e h et g o T e m o C

According to Ms. Lois Young Barrow in a letter to the publisher of the Amandala newspaper, her daughter Deanne did not collect $2m for representing Government in the Wester Haven case, but rather, she made under ¼ of a million dollars. If that is the case, the Belize Times is happy to correct the record.

If the Prime Minister of Belize were more open and transparent, we would have been able to print the exact amount of money that

Ms. Barrow had billed and was paid for in respect of that particular case. Despite being questioned on countless occasions on radio talk shows and at a press conference on Wednesday, the Prime Minister still has not told the Belizean public what his family has been making.

The people of this country have a right to know how much of their tax dollars is being paid in legal fees to the Barrow family by the Barrow Government, which to date remains undisclosed.

It's Time For The PUP!

2

The Belize Times

Life Haada out ya, but be patient, have understanding

“The hardest of the UDP term is the upcoming year, I need to ask the Belizean people for their understanding” Prime Minster Barrow When they were in opposition the UDP posted a sign on top of their headquarters that said “life haad out yah!” When the elections drew near that sign was replaced by one that said, “Imagine the possibilities.” In his usual glitter, the Prime Minister spoke on Independence Day 2008 of bright blue sky and a future of possibilities.

Two years into his term, the great promise that Belizeans will realize the possibilities have been changed and this Prime Minister, who termed his victory in 2008 as the People’s victory is now asking even more of the Belizean, telling everyone to be patient and understanding.

For an outsider listening to this Prime Minster come before his nation begging for patience and understanding they would never believe that this man is the same person who stood and boldly proclaim that he would bring down the cost of living “no matter what!” When the entire world was at the drawing board looking for solutions to an economic crisis that was raging on he challenged the odds, or was it stupidity?

During Wednesday’s four minute State of the Nation Press Briefing PM Barrow said that his government was shackled by the global crisis, by the super bond and by a “crippling debt burden.”

The records will show clearly that Mr. Barrow was fully aware of the economic crisis long before he took the oath of office. A good leader would have come to office with a plan to manage such a situation.

As for the super bond, why hasn’t he offered a better plan?

Belizeans would forgive him if he came to them and said that although he voted in favour of the Super Bond in 2007 he now has a better way, but has a better solution to the problem been found? And as for the crippling debt, well this administration continues to borrow and add to the debt.

Dean Barrow did not find any worse a situation than what Mr. Musa had to deal with in the last years of his administration, but ask any Belizean who is not a “FoB” and they will tell you, that two years ago their lives were much better than it is today.

Something that was clearly missing from the PM’s special press briefing last Wednesday was any mention of his much proclaimed “stimulus package.” Where is the report on how the stimulus was working? How is the stimulus helping people to get back to work?

How has small business benefitting? Has the stimulus assisted our farmers and other local producers in any way? Unlike in other places, here in Belize there is not a single talk of the so called stimulus.

Because there is no stimulus!

Indeed this comes as no surprise to us here at the Belize Times, after all our Party Leader and the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. John Briceño said it as far back as last March during the House debate, he asked: “Where is the stimulus? Where is the package?”

Today all the Prime Minister can boast of is $150,000 to fix a few broken streets and a programme for young people that was to have ended at Christmas.

What is of greater concern however are the complete defeatist attitude of this Prime Minister and his circle of Dodo Birds. With the diplomatic corps present, with his cabinet and all of his most senior management in the room, the Prime Minister could not muster one word of encouragement, not a single assurance that everything is going to be all right. There was no call to “hold hope high!” No talk of brighter tomorrows, no consolation that a plan was being devised or perhaps the team of high priced advisers in the Ministry of Finance were hard at work hammering out a strategy. Instead the people got excuses, the blame game and talk of the past. As for solutions, well the best he could offer was tighten your belt.

A new sign is required at the UDP Headquarters, it should read: “Under Barrow and the UDP life no just haad out ya, Life haada out ya!”

Sunday, FEBRUARY 14, 2010

Elrington Was Right!

All GLITTER But No Substance

It’s been 2 years with Dean Oliver Barrow as Prime Minister. So how are he and his UDP government doing? He came to power promising prosperity, good governance, respect for our environment and no more corruption. He asked us to imagine the possibilities. Now let us look at the UDP’s 2 year progress report.

Crime: It is pathetic that the Prime Minister took so long to finally react to the depressing state of affairs in the country with violent crimes. And what is more pathetic is that he only reacted with a statement because the recent incident hit close to him. He stated “ The child is the stepdaughter of my driver so it produced in me a painful sense of having to deal in a fairly immediate way with this terrible depressing reality”. So basically, only until he was connected to one the victims (and there have been so many) he decided to speak up.

But in finally speaking, he didn’t say anything concrete. Just a lot of words about he is pleased with Commissioner Jeffery, pleased with the Minister of National Security and believe they are doing the best they can.

Buckle up Belize, we are in for a bumpy ride with this crowd if this is all the leader can say or do to combat crime. Speeches, words and more speeches and words are all that he has.

Economy: After several months of declaring officially that the country is in a recession (several months late and no news to public who have been feeling the pinch for much longer) , he and his government still have no real plan to stop the hurting. They promised a fuel price not to exceed $7, then $8 and then-well, the people stop hoping because fuel prices continue to climb not decline. He promised greater share of the Oil revenues and now we learn we are losing millions and he has no intention of doing anything about it because in this case the agreement he negotiated was made public not secretly. So basically, in the case of BTL he is only upset that the agreement was made in secret and that is the real reason why he nationalized it. With the high interest rates at banks, all he can say is he just doesn’t know if any better situation can be arrived at. But he did say in one of his radio interviews that they will need to look at the tax regime so Belizeans…..

Buckle up as more taxation are on the horizon and the ride will get even bumpier.

Environment: PM Barrow and his UDP government have made it clear that they are not into conservation or protection of Belize’s natural resources or the varied non-government organizations who work to protect them. He sees no issue with cancelling co-management agreements only to give it to cronies of the UDP who have no experience in natural resource management. He sees nothing wrong with signing a secret agreement to allow for dam speculation in the country’s highest level of nature reserves. He sees nothing wrong with seismic testing in Sarstoon Temash National Park despite the damage it is causing to the ecosystem there. He has demonstrated that he does not really care if Jamaicans or anyone else for that matter can arrive in country for plans to rape our fisheries. No urgency on the matter of our barrier reef being put on the in-danger list of the UNESCO’s world heritage site.

Corruption: This is where PM Barrow has shown his most hypocritical trait. He has granted all large, public government litigation matters to his wife, his daughter and in their absence already to his own company. Million dollar lawsuits are being handled by the Barrow family. How can PM Barrow even begin to understand the poverty and crime situation in Belize when he clearly is living large and far removed from the reality of what Belizeans have to deal with everyday?

Frequently flying all around, purchasing million dollar vehicle for the PUC, allowing Government to use stolen vehicles (what an example he sets), allowing our borders to be referred to as artificial, defending the incompetence of his ministers only so he doesn’t have to deal with anything and only getting upset when the Mayor of Belize City public insults him.

No, he doesn’t come down hard on the Mayor for the poor state of affairs of city administration or the audit results of the City Council but basically because she made him look bad in public.

He is a good talker but that’s the beginning and end of it. I guess “Crazy Glue” is not so crazy after all. Barrow is all glitter and no substance.

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

The Belize Times

If Da Noh Soh…

Lois, Lois, Lois

This columnist would like the Roman Catholic Church as well as the Anglican Congregation to please send us a copy of the application or petition that you have to submit to Rome or to Canterbury for the Canonization of a Saint.

are the Foreign Minister. Because he is well aware that his days are numbered, friends near and far tell us that the minister has in mind something of a his own bucket list. Last week it was dinner

“New Rule” Phillip Willoughby should no longer put his face on television because he has no credibility and people are onto his tricks, we just hope no one connected to him was involved in the recent, recent "underdepositing" money scandal at City Hall. “Accurate” “New Rule” Zenida Moya needs to stop posing with other people’s money. No one, not even the UDP supporters want to see Z posing between a donor and a recipient

3

Here at If da no so we like Sharon Marin, we believe she cuts no slack on anyone and so it came as no surprise to us when she “scold” Melvin Hulse Wednesday morning on the WUB. You see Melvin wouldn’t shut up, not even for “Boots” who was trying to explain why he has not been able to fix the Lords Bank and Ladyville roads. While Boots stumbled over words like “cognizant,” Flippin in his usual rude and disgusting ways kept interrupting. Sharon had no choice but to put him in check and handle him like the child he is and say to him: “behave yo self!” If da noh soh...

Weh Di Grada Deh? The way Barrow lauded praise on his first wife and second lady would make anyone believe she was destined for sainthood. That is anyone except the second wife, first lady, who must have flung the radio clear across the room when the PM was condemning every attorney in the country at the expense of his Lois. Lois is the savoir of Belize and the one who led the ACB, it was Lois who did all that pro bono work for the Unions, Lois was the champion of all civil organizations. Lois is the only lawyer who didn’t sell out to the “ungodly” and as if that was not enough, Lois took a cut in her Social Security Stipend. The one thing Mr. Barrow did not say about the first Mrs. Barrow was how much tax payer dollars have been paid out to Lois and or her law firm. Lois! Lois!

Lois! Hum, aren’t they supposed to be divorced? If da noh soh...

with Kaddafi in Tripoli, next we hear of a possible trip to Harare, Zimbabwe and then on to Pyon Gyang for tea with Little Kim. Who is paying? We suspect tax payers of course and who’s in charge at the Ministry? We here it’s the Imperial Band. If da noh soh...

Tek Dat Patrick There is a good old saying that sometimes less is more. Will somebody

where money is concerned. We fraid she underdeposit it. Of course we wish “Fudge” a speedy recovery.

“New Rule” Laad no mek Belizeans hear “Boots” say he “have fu be real” again! The last

Whichever is Cheaper?

While we still do not know how much money Lois and or her law firm made in the first two years of the Barrow Administration, we know it has to be in the millions. Of course the Prime Minster makes no apologies

for how much money Lois made from government, but when it comes to the issue of putting the criminals behind bars; when it comes to finding the resources to bring criminals to justice, we are going to remind you what he said when asked about our forensic capacity to gather evidence against the criminals: “whatever is cheaper.” So I hope all those people who are victims of crime and violence understand that when it comes to Lois, it is sainthood, where justice is concerned it is about cheaper, there is no shame in his game. If da noh soh...

Sedi’s Bucket List Here at “If da no so” we know that Barrow has to juggle his deck of cards soon. Sadly the deck is full of all jokers, so whatever hand is played it won’t make a difference to Belizeans, except if you

please pass this message on to Minister Patrick? This super minister dared to speak out of turn and had to be put in check by the Boss Man. Now Po Minister Patrick, who was caught in left field when the Union demanded their much needed raise of pay, told Jules that the raise was “in the pipeline.” He said, “We know the cost of living out there is high and we know that it is indeed a difficult time to survive, so it is imperative that we sit down and dialogue and come up with something that is agreeable to both sides. We are not running away from that.” “No” so said the “Chief ” who gave Patrick permission to say any raise is in the Pipe Line? Two days later the Chief said to Amandala “we don’t have the money, Punto final” dat means no raise fu teachers. Tek dat Patrick. Next time, think befo yo talk bawi. “If da noh soh...”

New Rules This week we borrow from Bill Maher something that is a popular segment from his show “Real Time,” and in return we will allow Bill to use our "If da noh soh..." on one of his shows, so here goes:

time he got “real” the FIU told Boots that he couldn’t deposit more than $10,000 in a single transaction without reporting it even if it is for “fixing pool tables.”

"New Rule" John Saldivar needs go on a diet. If he is going to wear a suit in the house, he needs to lose weight. We can’t survive

another House Debate with what we saw last year. And while we are at it, Ministers have to stop getting their wives to fight their fights. We are tired of hearing the wives attacking ministers for their husbands. Who would have thought that the day would come when Lois would go after Sedi and Dianne go after Penner? And by the way, Minsters, what happens in cabinet should be confidential, it should not be a part of pillow talk. If da noh soh...

Filipin Behave

Last we heard, a Public Works officer was being held for questioning over the missing grada. Boots can’t account for the grada, Cadet can’t find the grada, he done give up, saying it went to Guatemala, but our sources tell us that di grada is right here in Belize and instead checking up on the driver, they ought to be investigating along the old Maskal Road where we are told it was last seen headed in the direction of Bomba. If da noh soh...

It takes a thief

Everyone is thinking that someone at City Hall know whe fu find missing money, like a good detective. Some powerful people managed in two hours to conduct a complete investigation, get confessions and recover missing funds from the City’s money. Wow! This is fast work. No forensic science needed here, but den again, as my granny used always says, “It takes one to know one.” “If da noh soh...’

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE

at www.belizetimes.bz ~ POST YOUR COMMENTS ~ VOTE ON ARTICLES ~ CHECK OUT A PDF VERSION OF THE PAPER With over 2 million hits per month we are the most visited newspaper website in Belize

4

The Belize Times

from the desk of the party Leader

It’s time to "feel di oil” “Clearly the populace, the electorate, wants to be certain that this country will get the full benefit of the oil industry; we’ll get (to the last penny), (our) just desserts.” Dean Barrow 2007 “The oil belongs to each and everyone of us and we deserve to receive the benefit of this industry by ensuring local participation, grassroots participation.” Hon. John Saldiver UDP manifesto launch 2008 “I have no-absolutely no- intention in the current circumstances of unilaterally breaking contractually arrangements that govern the BNE situation...” Prime Minster Barrow February 2010.

The Prime Minister of Belize has become the ultimate flip flopper!

Belizeans can all remember that as Opposition Leader Mr. Barrow constantly attacked the PUP government for what he called a one-sided agreement that was signed with Belize Natural Energy (BNE), the only oil producing company in Belize.

In the 1998 PUP manifesto, the PUP declared that if there was oil in Belize: “we would find it.” After 50 years of searching and digging dry wells, Belize discovered its first commercially viable oil field in 2005 during a PUP administration.

It is only after this discovery that Belizeans started to pay closer attention to our infant oil industry. Many questions were asked including: whether the government was prepared to mange this new industry? Does the foreign company now “own our” oil? How will Belizeans benefit?

As a government we realized that there were many things we had to do if the industry would benefit Belizeans today and in the future. This is why we brought in experts from all over the world to advise us, to review and update legislation and strengthen the petroleum department.

Among the many things, we found out that in 1998, was the fact that the previous UDP government erroneously amended the income tax law and as such allowed oil companies to pay business tax at 1.5 percent of gross revenues or pay a 25 percent income tax on net profits. After many discussions, objections and screaming from the oil companies, the PUP government amended the income tax law to tax oil companies at 40 percent.

Despite all our efforts, Mr. Barrow was the head cheer leader in the chant that Belizeans needed to get a bigger share of the oil revenues. He went so far as to claim that when elected, the UDP government would nationalize the oil company and make shares available to Belizeans.

Of course that was then and this is now. Once Mr. Barrow became the Prime Minster, he started to sing a different tune! He introduced a windfall tax on BNE and set the threshold at $US90.00 per barrel. All the experts, including Mr. Louis, the Petroleum Financial expert from Trinidad and Tobago, advised him that the threshold was set too high, but he refused to listen. One year later he announced that not a single red cent was collected from this tax, he said: “the much vaunted windfall tax never materialized, but ‘sic transit gloria.’”

During Wednesday’s press conference, the Prime Minster once again reiterated that he would not touch the BNE agreement. All of a sudden, the Prime Minister has to respect the contracts that were signed, something he had a problem in doing with so many other contracts and land titles given to poor Belizeans.

While the Prime Minister should be recognized for respecting the contract, he can also show a serious commitment to ensuring that Belizean get their fair share by considering the following: 1) The Prime Minster should reduce the windfall tax from $US90.00 per barrel to $US60.00 per barrel.

2) Introduce the Resource Rent Tax that would allow BNE to earn reasonable profits and the extra profits would be share with between BNE and the Belizean people.

3) Conduct an in-depth audit into BNE ‘s financial statements to ensure that expenses are not over inflated in efforts to reduce revenues paid to Belize.

At Wednesday’s press conference, the Prime Minister asked for “patience and understanding”. After two years at the helm of government, the Belizean peoples’ patience and understanding is running thin. The Prime Minister must stop his flip-flopping and ensure that we get our just share of the oil revenues.

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

Out Spoken

The Arrogance of the Prime Minister!

February 10, 2010 The Editor The Belize Times Queen Street Belize City Dear Mr. Editor, I thought I had seen it all with respect to the arrogance of this Prime Minister. But today on the news, as the media reported on the Press Conference, it was evident that the arrogance of the Prime Minister has reached an all time high. The display of his arrogance only pales in light of the flaunting of his nepotistic practice during these last two years.

Imagine he went as far as to say he will not apologize for the payments done to Lois Young Barrow for work done on behalf of the government.

I hope Belizeans are aware that these payments are above the million dollar amount and this is only for a short period. More is yet to come!

Who does the Prime Minister believe he is fooling when he tries to justify why Ms. Lois Young Barrow gets all the GOB cases? Because she did pro bono work during the past administration and she worked diligently to bring down the PUP government she thought was corrupt…is that a reason for her to get all the jobs from GOB? Was the Order of Belize not thanks enough? So Mr. Prime Minister, if that is so, then what your exwife did was not Pro Bono work…that was work done with an intention to charge in the future. In the financial world we would say that payments were present valued or booked for the future, perhaps Ms. Lois Young Barrow was trading in the futures market. What we know now is that she is collecting balloon payments for all the “Pro Bono” work she did for the ACB (which we now know stands for Association of Cronies of Barrow).

What a joke they all played on the Belizean people!

Belizeans continue to hope that we will hear about this issue in the following weeks from the private sector organizations, the Unions, the NGO’s, the media, and all those individuals that usually know everything.

Certainly they are aware that Ms. Lois Young Barrow….the saviour and the great philanthropist (according to her ex-husband) never participated in a tendering process to get all this work from government. Perhaps the Contractor General could give us some insight into the procedure to be followed for the provision of goods and services to any government department and if the work given to the ex-wife followed this procedure.

I am one of many Belizeans still waiting for the transparency, accountability and good governance promised by the UDP in their manifesto. Or should I say, maybe I just imagined these possibilities?

Sincerely, Vonetta Williams

THE BELIZE TIMES DESKTOP PUBLISHER

EDITOR

Lucilo E. Alcoser

Mike Rudon

TYPIST

OFFICE SUPERVISOR

Rachel Arana

Fay Castillo-Mckay

PRINTING/PERSONNEL SUPERVISOR

Doreth Bevans

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

Editor: 671-8385

PRINTER

Oscar Obando

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

The Belize Times

UDP Politics as usual

Barrow’s Big Loss Everyone knows that the Mr. Barrow has a special love affair with Belizean who live abroad; nothing wrong with that as long as he is first concerned about those of us stay and work this land, pay our takes and build Belize. Of course when you look at the people who get awards from this UDP Administration like the Order of Distinguished Service and the Order of Belize, many of these recipients are a part of that old Brooklyn or London crowd.

We also know that in his office most of his advisors are people who left Belize and are now coming back after contributing to the development of other nations.

When Belizeans heard about the UDP agenda for Reform they really expected to see a lot done on the side of governance. Everyone agreed that term limits for the PM was a good idea, what we did not expect was that that would be it. You see the real reform Barrow wanted was to bring back that old NIP crowd and put time in the House of Representatives and the Senate. But like the idea of spying on innocent Belizeans and invading our privacy, Belizeans said hold on Barrow, not so fast. Once again he finds his plan stopped dead in its tracks. Perhaps if the PUP did not fight we would not see the day when this PM would be withdrawing his proposal to have dual nationals serving in the National Assembly and that once again the people showed a vote of “No Confidence” in the Prime Minister’s so called reforms.

“Patience and Understanding”?

What is the matter with this Prime Minister? How can he come before this nation and ask the mothers and fathers, brothers, sisters and girl friends who mourn the death of their innocent loved ones shot down on their jobs and in their homes to be patient? How can he ask a father who must now live with his innocent seven year old daughter’s being made a cripple by a stray bullet to be “patient and understanding?

After two years of a government with no plan, a government that has victimized 100’s of Belizeans; after taking away so many people’s land; after doing nothing to help those sanitation workers who were laid off, this Prime Minister is asking for “patience and understanding?”

People expected to realize the possibilities, we expected to feel the oil; we expected a government where not even the smell of corruption would be tolerated.

Most important, we expected a government that would deliver on those promises to create jobs give our children new textbooks and grow the economy.

Sorry Mr. Barrow our patience have long ran out and we get di sense long time, your Administration is out of ideas, you have no plan and you offer no leadership.

We can’t wait for 2013, and whenever you get tired of carrying the burdens for the Dodoo birds around you, bring it on, cause we ready, because dis da wah one term government!

State of the Nation Anyone who expected the usual fancy footwork when Barrow faced the media on Wednesday got somewhat of a surprise. Delroy Cutkelvin at the start of the press conference stepped up to the microphone and announced that the Prime Minister would be presenting the State of the Nation. Well what we got was 3 minutes of excuses. So if you want to know what is the state of the nation, you simply have to go to www.belizetiems.bz and read what the Leader of the Opposition had to say about the state of the nation during his press conference, but in a nutshell Barrow simply supported the Leader of the Opposition’s assertion that the nation is in a mess.

Public Service Woes If you are a public officer these days you have nothing to celebrate. First the cost of living has gone up, according to your leaders, by 30 percent. Second you now know that there will be no raise of pay at this time because as the Prime Minster said, “there is no money, Punto Final.” If this is not enough to spoil your weekend, here is what we found out about your situation. According to the Report on the Hon. John Saldivar’s countrywide Consultation Visits to Government Office, your working conditions will not improve anytime soon.

For those of you who work at the Golden Haven Rest Home, be happy you don’t have to live there. According to the report, “There are a number of health and safety concerns which must be addressed as a matter of urgency. A small sample of the concerns include: snakes and flooding.” If you happen to work at the Ministry of Agriculture or in the Magistrates Courts in Toledo, or at the Customs in Belize City, well you get to work among rats, fat, disease infested rats.

If you work in these places you are still ahead of those at the Post Office in Belize City, the Dangriga Magistrates Court and at the Punta Gorda Hospital where the working environment is “hazardous.”

After two years of the UDP, not only are our bridges collapsing and our roads breaking up before our very eyes but things are falling apart everywhere. Our government buildings are also being neglected. It is time for Minister John Saldivar

5

to stop all the eating and drinking and fix the problems in his ministry if he expect any promotion when the PM reshuffles his cabinet.

Works Worries It is easy to make fun of the runaway grada, but this is serious. An important piece of equipment valued at over $300,000 was driven miles across this country undetected by anyone in authority. To add insult to this situation, the CEO in the Ministry of Works immediately jumped out there to say that the equipment was seen in Guatemala. How could such an expensive piece of equipment leave this country undetected?

We hear that trucks for BNE carry tracking devise so they can know where they are at any given time. Considering the millions spent on vehicles each year should this not be something that all government vehicles have on them.

When this administration could approve $2 million for a special truck to check for frequencies, shouldn’t $300,000 equipment for the Ministry of works, which usually work in remote areas have some kind of device to track them?

Once again, the tax payer must come to terms with the fact that in these worst of times, we manage to lose expensive equipment and we must be consoled by the fact that once again it is the man at the bottom of the food chain who is expected to take the fall for this.

Cayo UDP leaders Vindictive as ever New from Cayo is that Montero is very concerned over the way residents in Georgeville feel about him.

In the last election, he won in that village and as can be expected from Montero, he abandoned these people completely. Like Buena Vista and the other villages in the Spanish lookout area Montero would wish for nothing more than a redistricting of this area. It is rumoured he is requesting for a redistricting because he is worried that Dan di Man will take all those villages in the next election should he decide to run in Cayo Central.

Of course Cayo people will never forget that when Montero was an officer in the Ministry of Agriculture he had a serious incident with some pigs at Central Farm, Cayo people have the report.

What did Penner do this time? Reports are that Mr. Tomas Quewell of Santa Familia threatened to get advice from his Mayan friends in the north and south to help him fight to protect his lands, which are under threat. As if that was not enough, it is rumoured that they also want to take away the land belonging to Tomas Quewel's nephew, claiming it is for public purposes. But these powerful UDS’s have a problem, you see the area they are dribbling over include lands belonging to UDP supporters. Those UDP’s in Billy White betta open their eyes quick.

The songbird also informed us that Penner is looking longingly at the park and the newly constructed bridge in Santa Familia, it is a good thing that Rotary, who donated and installed the park equipment, was able to put their sign and take ownership of the park project, cause we know how much these people enjoy cutting ribbons. Worried about Penner’s desires, people in Santa Famila are now asking BNE to please hurry and do the same since they paid for and constructed the bridge in their community.

Questions to Ministers 1 2

3

4

5

Will the Minister of Health please inform the nation of the validity of the statement from the Galion Inquirer which said that “reports of horrifying conditions in Belize’s hospitals including three patients having to share a single bed,”? And will the Minister also say if the allegation that adults are sharing beds with children in our hospitals is in fact true?

Will the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance please say if he will support the proposal to raise the cost of water by 17 percent? And will the Prime Minster deny that this will be reneging on his manifesto promise to bring down the cost of utilities?

Will the Minister of Health please inform the nation how many cases of dengue were diagnosed in 2009?

Will the Minister of Agriculture along with the Minister of Health please inform the nation of the number of confirmed cases of bovine rabies in the north of Belize?

Will they also inform the nation as to the measures taken to prevent the spread of this and to inform the public?

Will the Foreign Minister please inform the nation of the purpose of his trip to Lybia?

6

party page

The Belize Times

pup national executive meets

EVENT

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

THE BLUE MACHINE

Diary of Events DATE

PLACE

TIME

Meeting with Chairpersons of Units

Saturday, February 13

San Ignacio Town

Budget Consultations

Tuesday, February 16

Orange Walk Town

7:00pm

Thursday Think Tanking

Thursday, February 18

Independence Hall

7:30pm

ANNOUNCING

PUP National Consultations on 2010/2011 Budget (Coming Soon Dangriga)

We Are The PUP

NA

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

The Belize Times

7

COPING WITH POVERTY IN BELIZE

The results from the Belize’s Country Poverty Assessment report for 2009 alarmed many. It is to be noted that in addition to the 43% of the population classified as poor, there are a further 14% of households who are deemed vulnerable to poverty. Therefore 57% or more than half of all households are either poor or susceptible to being poor.

This piece will examine what are some of the effects of poverty in Belize and what coping strategies families employ to sustain their livelihoods. The analysis will be undertaken using a sustainable livelihood approach.

A sustainable livelihood approach is one of many theoretical frameworks used to examine how individuals behave under different conditions and the different elements of the livelihood system defines the context within which individuals make their living. A livelihood comprises the capabilities, assets and activities required for a means of living. A livelihood is sustainable when it can cope with and recover from stresses and shocks and maintain or enhance its capabilities or assets while not undermining the natural resource base (DFID, 1999).

to people’s access to the political system; and financial capital (savings, loans, credit, etc.). For most people living in South-Side Belize City, their capital assets are minimal with human capital being the most valuable asset, but maybe compromised by ill-health and the lack of policies directed at enhancing this asset meaningfully. For those who own their homes then land is an advantage to them, of course this is made more challenging by the excessive cost that is incurred to make the real estate in new areas accessible and the potential of reduced values due significantly to crime and drugs. The social capital that exist for many households are individual connections to gangs and neighborhood groups, which has been one of the most capitalized on assets that many individuals use to make and sustain their livelihoods. Physical capital for some remains a missing element, as electricity is shared between households, there is no existence of proper streets and Londonbridges are common place. Political capital is also low, as people’s involvement in the political system is constituted by a highly dependent relationship on area representatives to meet household needs.

This approach assesses an individual’s assets against their vulnerabilities. It is an approach that was developed and promoted by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID). This framework provides a context within which to examine how policy influences can best meet the needs of the poor.

The constituents of South-Side Belize City were pointed out in the CPA as a geographical area where significant levels of poverty exist in Belize. The vulnerability context for these Belizeans are the conditions which would determine the life opportunities for an individual. This context also addresses issues that individuals have no influence over, such as the economic conditions, climatic shocks, seasonality and population growth. Capital assets are all assets and resources that an individual or household has to make use of to make their livelihood; these include human capital (individuals and their skill sets, education and health), natural capital (land), physical capital (infrastructure, water, electricity, telephone), social or cultural capital (cultural norms, social networks, membership of formal/ informal groups, etc.); political capital, is a sub-set of social capital and refers

Financial capital for many is simply nonexistent. Most people survive from one pay check to another, for those in formal employment.

Structure and processes are what determine how households can access and use their assets. These structures include government ministries and agencies alongside non-governmental organizations within the community.

The process on the otherhand is the rules by which individuals must operate by in order to access and enhance their capital assets. For many young individuals the process through which to access their capital assets has been to utilize their social capital that exists with their involvement in gangs and informal activities. Individuals and households then develop strategies to organize their day to day survival which can derive many outcomes. The feedback loops shows how the outcome of individual strategies affect the livelihood of others within the communities. Livelihood strategies adapt to deal with shocks such as violence and the prevalence of crime.

For some of the young men and women in South-Side Belize City, the increased incidences of crime are all associated with the outcome of their livelihood strategies employed. For those who

seek to further their education their human capital is greatly enhanced.

The deprivation or lack of financial capital significantly constrains people’s livelihoods.

The increase in violent crimes and attacks on individuals over the last few weeks is a reflection of the desperation people are experiencing in trying to sustain themselves and their families.

The reliance for many on their social networks in gangs has been the only strategy employed to provide for their households. While, for others their involvement is more a coping mechanism to placate their vulnerability or state of poverty. As poverty is characterized by the deprivation of resources, capabilities, choices, security and power necessary for the enjoyment of an adequate standard of living and other civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights (United Nations Committee on Social, Economic, and Cultural Rights, 2001).

Set within the context of a sustainable livelihood approach it is not so difficult to analyze what are the components that requires urgent attention by policy makers, if the lives of our people will be so transformed as to move them from the margins of poverty to a better place. The argument

that is always advanced is that we lack the financing to make the requisite inputs; yet time and again we see our Belizean resources being used in ways that does not enhance the livelihoods of our citizenry. The capital assets of many continue in freefall, as structures, institutions and processes employed are increasingly not sufficiently responsive to the needs of the poor. Our leaders have and are giving fuel implicitly to the emergence of creative ways by which disadvantaged and vulnerable people are leveraging their livelihoods. As agents of the people, elected representatives are tasked and mandated to provide the required inputs in all areas to ensure that all our livelihoods are sustained.

South-Side Belize City comprises of many electoral divisions one of which the Prime Minster represents, so it begs the questions where are the results.

Send comments to GwynethNah@gmail.com

PUP Think Tanking Sessions Every Thursday, Independence Hall at 7:30pm

8

The Belize Times

The

Whip

No artificial thing The real thing, bad economy deh pan di binge, right so , loud and clear the Prime Minister declared, nobody to blame he said.

Dis yah hard time no artificial , da di real thing, everybody to take the licking, everybody will feel the fricking.. 60 million hole in the budget, man he flub it..

No we can’t look at him and say he squandered, but you can be assured he is just simply incompetent, impotent and decadent..

Not so long ago he said to the nation that he could get us out of stagnation, but now this man is heading us to starvation.

When he won the election, he was in great elation and he made this fabrication that no more than two years and he will raise the salary of the workers, but two years later the man di shirkers..

Says Government broke, patience and understanding he di invoke.

When in his state of the economy he spoke, man everybody take him for joke, because fi pay Lice he no broke, fi pay e spawn, and all dem pawn the dollars he find, he no give a damn… face it, only his kind is getting all the rind.

He got di face a brass fi say that Lice deserve more than li’ piece for she has served the nation pro bono in the ACB Seems to me that was investment because now she getting bullet payment from the taxes of you and me…

Poor Lice she got to do the government job, but that has happened because the PM purposely fob the SG from his duty so that Lice can make her booty…

Everyone must understand this government is about family business, dis da lone corruption, dis da lone deception…

Hear that Lice is saying first daughter did not get paid in the millions, she only paid her something like quarter million… get the sense Ms Lice it is not about the money, honey. It is all about the nepotism, about all that favouritism that Lice and her progeny are sucking through daddy’s tyranny…

Liad Barrow says his legal firm gets no job from government, ah the little worm, we can confirm his law partner worked side by side the Lice representing Telemedia, therefore then the firm did get its little slice.

Ay man ,you make it sound like Michael Ashcroft owns the Legal Bar association, what do the honourable members have to say about your abuse of tongue in making such vehement asseveration…

Illustrious members of the bar that come from your Political Party, can certainly not take with pleasure an excuse so paltry for not sharing all the litigation, for that makes them either Aschcroft owned or totally incompetent, or not as good a lawyer or wife that Lice is or has been.

It looks like it is all about reward for a broad, this nation can illafford. We got a DPP man, let him do his work, you have him in Belmopan working like a clerk, but if his duties he di shirk, then send him home, dis ya issue you just can’t burke… take this advice, you just can’t have ex wife di get all the spice, all a we need fu eat we li rice, just like Lice, one little slice for all a we will suffice…

You have given Belizeans two long years of hardship now you give us your commitment for three more years of your gyp. Brother you di trip. We di suffer like we got the pip, we tired a your quip, your mind di flip, no question about it up to date you got the worst rulership. We can only take so much whipping, we cannot go far without eating, truly, truly di time di come fi get unruly, you have become sully…

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

Sunday, FEBRUARY 14, 2010

The Belize Times

AND SO IT CAME TO PASS…...

If nothing else transcends the lines drawn in the divide that defines Belize’s political landscape, performance does. The colourful language, descriptively applied with accompanying animation by political adversaries commenting on each other, and all the accompanying theatrics also help to mark the contrast.

In fact, these comments become iconic in the local political vocabulary, and from time to time, are recovered not only for expediency, but also as a topic in a conversation, for they are guaranteed to coerce a good laugh.

While each person may have a favourite, often influenced by one’s political persuasion, some do have that ability to transcend partisan politics, those special gems, with that unique characteristic is distinguished from all others, and transcends mere humor and is seen to be prophetic, and perhaps one of the most remembered comments in the political annals of Belize, was that made by the Hon. Hubert Elrington about his former political colleague and now nemesis, the Hon. Dean Barrow, during the 1993-1998 term of the United Democratic Party, when he aptly described the Hon. Dean Barrow as all glitter and no substance.

And so it has came to pass…

In his two years as Prime Minister of Belize, the PM’s speeches have been known to be colourful and flowery, punctuated with the right choreographic gestures, often remnicent of a consummate Broadway performer, or something fit for the Oscars. His words have been forceful, and at times dripping with just the right measurement of the superiority complex ingredient.

His vocabulary unparalleled, projecting intellectual mastery, unlike the depravity displayed by members of his cabinet. But where has this led us? What has

this done for Belize?

According to the Prime Minister, we have done relatively well.

This is what he said with typical Barrow gestures yesterday at his State of the Nation press conference. Pausing at the right moments, bending demonstrably to the side, and then sighing audibly when in terms of what to expect, he also said at various voice pitches,“This is going to be an extremely difficult year and we are going to have to ask people to make sacrifices.”

But how does the Prime Minister define relatively well?

Is it by the shriveling of economic activity for three consecutive quarters [by 2.2 percent, 1.9 percent and .2 percent respec-

tively], the shrinking of domestic exports by 20 percent, and the reduction of government revenue and imports by 50 percent in the Corozal Free Zone?

Is it by the rise in unemployment from 8 percent to 14 percent; the burgeoning fiscal deficit of $60 million and a ballooning debt burden out of control, which have all led to a whopping 10 percent increase in poverty rate in two years, and which DNA’ed 32,000 persons poorer, with 46,648 at risk of becoming unwilling residents in poverty land?

9

Does relatively well translate into the indiscriminate murdering of our children, our sons, our fathers and brothers in the streets, while he and his cabinet colleagues and politically appointed CEO’s twiddle their thumbs in their fancy garments, are chauffeured in late model SUV’s, and fly first class around the world?

And is it relatively well, when our health care system is no longer safe, our public service is disillusioned and only first families and close friends and confidants with the right genetics are able to eat from the public purse, while the masses must salivate in hope?

And so it came to pass, for if we strip away the propaganda, the grandstanding, the self pontification and the demagoguery, we will find that in reality, the Hon. Hubert Elrington was indeed prophetic, for undoubtedly, it is certainly all glitter and no substance…but it sure isn’t something to laugh about…for if Hubert was right on this one, perhaps he is also right on his other prediction that “Belize is heading straight for the reef.”

CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE at www.belizetimes.bz ~ POST YOUR COMMENTS ~ VOTE ON ARTICLES ~ VIEW OUR PHOTO GALLERY ~ CHECK OUT A PDF VERSION OF THE PAPER We are the most visited newspaper website in Belize

A Public Service Message Courtesy of The Belize times.

10

The Belize Times

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

m s i t o Nep nep-o-tism [nep-uh-tiz-uhm] -noun

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Belize

Upon winning a landslide election in 2008, Prime Minister Dean Barrow has been perceived as practicing nepotism by Making his Ex-Wife Lois Young Barrow the Attorney of the Government, gave his son Anwar Barrow and his Ex-Wife Lois Barrow special seats on the board of directors in the recently nationalized Belize Telecommunications Limited, and gave his daughter Deanne Barrow a position of attorney representing the government in a number of cases. All this was done within the short 2 year period that he has been Prime Minister of Belize

Favoritism granted to relatives or close friends, without regard to their merit.

Nepotism usually takes the form of employing relatives or appointing them to high office.

Definition found in: The American HeritageŽ New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright Š 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Lois Young Barrow

Anwar Barrow

Deanne Barrow

Denys Barrow

Former Wife Social Security Board Chairman BTL Corporate Secretary UN Ambassador Designate Defacto Solicitor General Order of Distinction

Daughter Admitted to the Bar without LLC (Legal Education Certificate)

Son Belize Telemedia Limited Board of Director Eyes and ears of his father Tech (Text) Savy Loanshark with a license

Brother Appeals Court

FOR THE BARROW FAMILY THESE ARE THE BEST OF TIMES

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

The Belize Times

Corruption Watch SUBJECT: AUDIT INSPECTION JULIET THIMBREL HOUSING PROJECT - $80,000.00

Date: July 29th, 2009 During the course of the 2009 Audit Inspection of the Housing and Planning Department, Belize City, four (4) Accounts Payable Invoices which totaled $80,000.00 were observed paid in respect of Ms. Juliet Thimbrel Housing Project located at #5 Hibiscus Street, Belize City as illustrated below –

3. The first three (3) payments which totaled $25,000 were made payable to Contractor, Mr. Michael Ortiz, in respect of labor and material costs on Ms. Juliet Thimbrel’s House. The SmartStream Invoice indicated that the three payments were in respect of an $80,000.00 home improvement loan approved by the Minister of Housing.

5. Further inquiry and perusal of documentations presented for inspection revealed that the following vital information were not provided:a. Salary confirmation letter, deduction order and/or collateral b. Inspection reports by Building Supervisor 6 a. Estimate of repairs submitted by Mr. Michael Ortiz which amounted to $40,325.30 c. A loan statement from an unidentified financial institution in respect of one Hester Thimbrel as at December 31, 2008 which showed an outstanding balance of $40,833.81 7. Is therefore appeared that $40,833.81 of the $80,000.00 loan was in respect of loan refinancing as per statement from the financial institution on file. However no confirmation was obtained from the Ministry to substantiate that Ms. Thimbrel paid the funds to the financial institution.

8. How the remaining $39,166.19 in public funds was spent could not be established as a physical inspection of the works was not done and no record/document produced to substantiate such expenditures.

DISCUSSIONS WITH THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING OFFICIALS 17. Discussion – Mr. Noel Harvey, Director Housing and Planning, 18th March, 2009 a. Mr. Noel Harvey confirmed that only a faxed copy of Ms. Thimbrel’s approved application was received by him from the Minister of Housing and Urban Development. b. Furthermore, He claimed that these four payments were processed at the Ministry of Housing hence he was not aware of the transaction details.

18. DISCUSSION – MRS. ROASLIE GENTLE, CEO Ministry of Housing, 23rd March 2009 a. Mrs. Gentle informed the Inspecting Audit Officer that she did authorize Ms. Thimbrel’s loan. She revealed that there was a correspondence from the Belize Social Security Boar with an outstanding loan balance $40,833.68 for Ms. Hester Thimbrel, the mother of Ms. Juliet Thimbrel. b. Mrs. Gentle further explained that Ms. Juliet Thimbrel’s home improvement loan from the Ministry of Housing was to refinance her mother’s loan with the Belize Social Security Board. The remaining balance of the $80,000.00 housing loan was to carry out some repairs on said house.

Conclusion:: Based on the records presented for inspection and observations made it appeared that there was non-adherence to established payment and operational practices of the Ministry of Housing. A project file was not maintained which should have had all requisite information including inspection reports, client acceptance information, mortgage/loan agreement, salary confirmation and deduction order.

11

12

The Belize Times

- A PAID AD -

Sunday, FEBRUARY 14, 2010

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

The Belize Times

13

COURT NEWS 26 year Old Woman Charged With Burglary And Harm For Allegedly Beating Of 16 Year Old

Sherae Robateau

BELIZE CITY, Tues. Feb. 9, 2010 Sherae Robateau, 26, one of two sisters who allegedly went to the house of Marcia Bowen, 16 and beat her was charged with burglary and harm when she appeared yesterday in the #6 Magistrate’s Court.

Robateau pleaded not guilty to the charges.

She was released on a bail of $5,000 and her case was adjourned until March 31.

Her sister, Shantel Robateau, is still at large.

The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 7.

Bowen, who resides at 20 Sittee Street, reported to the police that she was walking at the corner of Sittee Street and Nargusta Street when she was attacked

by Sherae and Shantel.

Bowen said she ran and she managed to reach her house.

But, according to Bowen, Sherae and Shantel who were pursuing her, entered her house and beat her in front of her mother, Sharlene Foster.

After she reported the incident to the police, Bowen was given a medico-legal form by the police and she was taken to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.

The doctor who examined her and treated her classified her injury as harm.

Alleged Child Molester Remanded To Prison

Enrique Pandy

BELIZE CITY, Wed. Feb. 10, 2010 A case of sexual abuse of a 5 year old female child was brought to light yesterday when Enrique Pandy, 33, an employee of Transport Department, was charged with aggravated assault of an indecent nature.

Pandy was arraigned in the #5 Magistrate’s Court.

No plea was taken from him because the case will be tried on indictment.

Also, Pandy was denied bail and he was remanded into custody until February 15.

The incident occurred on June 1, 2009.

Police reports are that Pandy fondled the child’s private parts.

Another report is that two other persons sexually abused the child by carnally knowing her on a day separate from the first incident.

According to reports, the police are searching these persons to charge them with carnal knowledge.

In other court news, Joel McGregor, 20, a fisherman of Hattieville, was charged with burglary when he appeared in the #7 Magistrate’s Court on Monday, February 8.

McGregor pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecution objected to bail on two grounds.

One of them was the prevalence of the offence and the other was that the defendant has two conviction one for burglary and the other for theft.

Magistrate Ed Usher upheld the objection and remanded McGregor into custody until March 10.

The incident occurred on January 23 in Hattieville.

Elijah Gordon, 58, a security guard at Youth Cadet Corps., reported to the police that his house was burglarized and 2 DVD players and 150 assorted DVD were stolen.

Construction Worker Sentenced To 2 Years for Firearm And Ammunition Charges BELIZE CITY, Tues. Feb. 9, 2010 Marlon Curtis Usher, 21, a construction worker of 16 Arlington Drive charged with keeping a firearm and ammunition without a gun license, pleaded guilty to both charges when he was arraigned yesterday in the #7 Magistrate’s Court.

Magistrate Ed Usher sentenced him to 2 years for each offence.

He stipulated that the sentences

Marlon Curis Usher

are to run concurrently because Usher saved the court time when he pled guilty and he has no previous conviction for firearm or ammunition offences. As a result, Usher will only serve 2 years.

The incident occurred around 11:45 a.m. on Friday, February 5.

The police were on mobile patrol on Casear Ridge Road when they spotted Usher riding a bicycle.

They stopped Usher for a random search which resulted in the discovery of a .25 Beretta pistol with 5 rounds of .25 calibre ammunition.

The Beretta was in the front pocket of Usher’s pants.

When asked if he had a license for the firearm Usher said, no.

So he was detained and taken into custody.

The firearm and ammunition were labeled as exhibits.

Visit Us Online at: www.belizetimes.bz

14

The Belize Times

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

COURT NEWS Young And Leslie Remanded To Prison On Firearm And Ammunition Charges

Arthur Young

BELIZE CITY, Tues. Feb. 9, 2010 Arthur Young, 35 , who was freed on a charge of murder yesterday, was back in court that same day charged with keeping a firearm and ammunition without a gun license, 2 counts of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and failure to report to the police, being a deportee.

Young, who was represented by attorney Arthur Saldivar, pleaded not guilty to the charges when he was arraigned by magistrate Ed Usher.

Magistrate Usher explained that the court cannot offer bail because of the firearm and ammunition charges.

He remanded Young into custody until March 10.

The charges except for failure to report to the police, are in connection with an incident that occurred on Saturday night, January 20, at Celina’s Bar area in Ladyville.

The police have alleged that it was Young who handed a 9 millimetre

with

Abraham Leslie

pistol with 16 rounds in its magazine to Abraham Leslie who was pursued by the police.

When the police attempted to arrest Young he allegedly resisted arrest and assaulted two police officers, Corporal Glenford Gonzalez and Police Constable Valentine Young.

The charge of failure to report to the police given to Young because he did not report to the police’s Central Intelligence Unit on Friday, February 5.

The police reported that they retrieved the firearm from an abandoned lot in the area.

Leslie, 23, a resident of Ladyville, was also charged with keeping a firearm and ammunition without a gun license.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared yesterday in the #6 Magistrate’s Court.

He was remanded into custody until March 22.

CYDP Supervisor Charged With 2 Counts OF Handling Stolen Goods BELIZE CITY, Wed. Feb. 10, 2010 Anthony Morris Jr., 32, a supervisor at CYDP Youth program was charged with 2 counts of handling stolen goods and 1 count of a mischievous act when he appeared yesterday in the #7b Magistrate’s Court.

Morris pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He was released after he met bail of $3,000.

His case was adjourned until March 18.

The charges of handling stolen goods are for several tools that were stolen from Universal Hardware, located on New Road, during a burglary which occurred between 5:15 p.m. on January 28 and 7:30 a.m. on February 4.

The tools included one blue Makita circular electrical saw, one blue Makita cordless hammer drill, one four stroke British cutter and one red Homelite straight shaft trimmer. The total value was $4,870; the property of Mennonite businessman Corney Deuck.

The police reported that they

every Wednesday night 8pm to 10pm

Vibes Radio 90.5 FM & 102.9 FM

recovered the tools from Morris later the same day.

However, a pellet gun and 3 boxes of pellets which were also stolen have not be recovered.

The charge of mischievous act was because Morris allegedly gave police a false report about the stolen goods.

Housewife, 21 Remanded To prison For Allegedly Pointing Firearm At neighbor

jazz vibes

Dolores

Anthony Morris

Thiffara Waight

BELIZE CITY, Tues. Feb. 9, 2010 Thiffara Waight, 21, a housewife of 3B Waight Street who allegedly pulled a firearm on her neighbor Bernadette Eqwauter, 476, was charged with aggravated assault when she appeared yesterday in the #6 Magistrate’s Court.

Waight, who was represented by

attorney Bernard “BQ” Pitts, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Magistrate Sharon Fraser explained to her that the court cannot offer her bail because of the nature of the offence.

She remanded Waight into custody until March 23.

The incident occurred around 10:35 a.m. on Thursday, February 4.

Eqwauter, an office assistant of 2 Fairweather Street, reported to the police that she was in her yard when she got into an argument with Waight.

She said Waight who was outside, went inside her house and returned with a firearm.

Eqwauter said Waight with the firearm in her hand told two children to get out of the way, so she can shoot her and she called her a bitch.

Eqwauter said Waight pointed the firearm at her and she became fearful for her life.

She said she ran inside her house and called the police.

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

The

The Belize Times

Belize Times l o ñ a p s E n E

DOMINGO FEBRERO 14, 2010

Issue No. 4669

$1.00

www.belizetimes.bz

15

The Truth Shall Make You Free

Irrespetuoso, Descarado y Desesperanzador

Esos fueron sólo algunos de los adjetivos utilizados para describir el desempeño de Dean Barrow durante su conferencia de prensa celebrada el miércoles por la mañana en el Hotel Radisson. En su típica forma Bembe, Dean Barrow mostró su falta de habilidad política y la falta de profesionalismo cuando se burló de un periodista y dijo que ¿no es este el mismo al que Chendo de dio un puñetazo?

El público y los oyentes de todo el país se vieron sorprendidos por la admisión descarada y la falta de respeto de Barrow de que uno de sus candidatos del UDP (ahora embajador en México) había asaltado violentamente a un periodista de Belice.

Luego vino la pregunta que todos habían estado esperando ansiosamente: "¿Cuánto esta su ex esposa ganando?" Por enésima vez en el registro, el Primer Ministro de Belice eludido la cuestión, fingiendo como si él no sabía la respuesta de millones de dólares. Pero lo que reveló acerca de su ex esposa hizo suficiente daño. Barrow declaró que no tenía absolutamente

ninguna disculpa y fue más lejos al decir que lo que sea que Lois Young Barrow está haciendo "bien vale el precio", ya que ella era la líder del ACB ya extinta. En otras palabras Belice, Dean Barrow, confesó en la radio nacional que Lois Young Barrow, su ex esposa, está siendo generosamente recompensada por su activismo en su grupo de apoyo al UDP. Clásicamente Barrow, clásico descarado.

Por último, y lo más importante, la conferencia de prensa del

miércoles demostró a toda la nación, que le ha tomado exactamente dos años a Barrow para oler el hedor procedente de un gobierno plagado y asediado por el nepotismo y la incompetencia. Por último, Barrow ha ido en record a admitir que su Gobierno no va a ninguna parte. Y, en su típico modo depresivo y oscuro, Barrow no hizo ningún reparo en declarar que "el próximo año será uno de los más difíciles de el periodo del UDP". La pregunta sin embargo es difícil ¿para quién?

Hace apenas una semana, el periódico The Guardian publicó un título que declaraba "Dos años de éxito". Pero lo que el editor de The Guardian no pudo añadir a este título fue la frase "para la familia de Barrow".

De hecho, para el resto de nosotros, en los últimos dos años han sido los más duros, más difíciles y más difíciles en la historia de nuestra joven nación, rica en reservas de petróleo, recursos naturales, y un producto turístico sin precedentes en este hemisferio. Sin embargo, nuestro Primer Ministro y su abigarrada colección de Ministros

tristemente no puede encontrar las respuestas y ofrecer las soluciones que el pueblo de Belice necesitan tan desesperadamente.

La verdad es que no hay ninguna razón para que los beliceños deban seguir sufriendo de esta manera. Sí, hemos cometido un error al votar por los candidatos sin talento, pero sufrir esta tortura no era ciertamente lo que se esperaba.

Sr. Barrow debe dejar de centrarse en las riquezas de su familia y comenzar a centrarse en los gritos de la nación. ¡La gente necesita empleos!. ¡Los Beliceños demandan vivir en una sociedad más segura! ¡Necesitan alimentar a sus hijos! ¡Ellos necesitan que el Ministro de Educación detenga la cancelación de becas y que empieze a emitir las nuevas! Si Barrow no puede cumplir con estas cosas fundamentales entonces, él tiene que empezar a prepararse para unas elecciones anticipadas, porque no hay forma por un demonio que el pueblo de Belice va a tolerar tres años más de abusos, de nepotismo y de un gobierno incompetente.

16

The

The Belize Times

Belize Times ol

ñ a p s E n E

La vida esta dura aquí afuera, pero sea paciente, sea comprensivo

"Lo más difícil del término del UDP será el próximo año, tengo que pedirle al pueblo de Belice por su comprensión" Cuando el Primer Ministro Barrow estaban en la oposición, el UDP tenia un letrero en la parte superior de su sede, que decía "la vida esta dura aquí afuera!" Cuando se acercaban las elecciones esa sena fue reemplazada por una que decía: "Imagine las posibilidades." En su brillo habitual el El primer ministro habló el Día de la Independencia del 2008, de un cielo azul brillante y un futuro de posibilidades.

Dos años después de su mandato, la gran promesa es que los beliceños nos daremos cuenta de que las posibilidades han cambiado y esté Ministro, quien calificó su victoria en 2008, como la victoria del pueblo, ahora está pidiendo más de Belice, diciendo a todos que sean pacientes y comprensivos. Para un extraño que escucha a este Primer Ministro pidiendo paciencia y comprensión a su país, nunca iba a creer que este hombre es la misma persona que se puso en pie y proclamo audazmente que iba a bajar el costo de la vida "no importa qué!" Cuando el mundo entero estaba en la mesa de dibujo en busca de soluciones a una crisis económica que hacía estragos. él desafió las probabilidades, o ¿era estupidez?

Durante cuatro minutos el miércoles, durante la conferencia de prensa sobre el estado de la nación, el PM Barrow dijo que su gobierno está maniatado por la crisis global, por el súper bono y por una "carga de deudas." Los registros muestran claramente que el Sr. Barrow era plenamente consciente de la crisis económica mucho antes de que él tomó el juramento del cargo. Un buen líder habría llegado a la oficina con un plan para manejar esa situación. En cuanto al súper bono, ¿por qué no ofreció un plan mejor? Belice le perdonaría si él se acercara y les dijera que si bien votó a favor de el súper Bono en 2007, tiene ahora una mejor proposición ¿pero ha encontrado una mejor solución al problema? Y en cuanto a la deuda agobiante, esta administración sigue prestando y añadiendo a la deuda.

Dean Barrow no ha encontrado una situación peor de lo que el Sr. Musa tuvo que enfrentar en los últimos años de su administración, pero pregúntele a cualquier en Belice que no es un "FOB", y le dirán, que hace dos años sus vidas eran mucho mejor de lo que son hoy. Algo que claramente hizo falta en la información que se ofreció a la prensa el pasado miércoles por parte del Primer Ministro fue cualquier mención de su paquete tan proclamado de "estímulo". ¿Dónde está el informe sobre cómo el estímulo esta trabajando? ¿Cómo el estímulo va a ayudar a la gente a volver a trabajar? ¿Cómo se benefician las pequeñas empresas? ¿Ha asistido el estímulo a nuestros agricultores y otros productores locales de alguna manera? A diferencia de otros lugares, aquí en Belice no se habla de ningún estimulo, Debido a que no existe un estímulo!

De hecho, esta no es ninguna sorpresa para nosotros aquí en el Belize Times, después de todo, nuestro líder del partido y líder de la oposición, el Excmo. John Briceño dijo que ya en marzo pasado, durante el debate en la Cámara, le preguntó: "¿Dónde está el estímulo? ¿Dónde está el paquete?"

Hoy, de todo lo que el Primer Ministro puede presumir es de $ 150,000 para arreglar unas cuantas calles rotas y un programa para los jóvenes que debería haber terminado en Navidad. Lo qué es de mayor preocupación sin embargo, es la actitud derrotista completa de este primer ministro y su círculo de pájaros Dodo. Con el cuerpo diplomático presente, con su gabinete y todos sus administradores de alto rango en la sala, el Primer Ministro no pudo reunir una palabra de aliento, ni una sola garantía de que todo va a estar bien. No había ningún llamado a "mantener la esperanza alta" no hablo de un futuro brillante, ningún consuelo que el plan se estaba elaborando o tal vez que el equipo de asesores de altos salarios que tiene en el Ministerio de Hacienda estaban trabajando duro creando estrategias.

En cambio, la gente solo consiguió excusas con su juego de la culpa y de hablar del pasado. En cuanto a las soluciones, lo mejor que pudo ofrecer era apretar el cinturón.

Es necesario colocar otra sena encima de la cede del UDP que diga; "Con Barrow la vida no solo esta dura aquí afuera, la vida esta mas dura aquí afuera!"

Sunday, FEBRUARY 14, 2010

El Bejuco Tiempos duros

Este primer ministro se ha vuelto loco, y no muy poco, los buenos tiempos se han terminado, eso ha dictaminado en su conferencia de prensa sobre el estado de la economía, en una sala del mejor hotel lleno de gente mensa que le aplaudían y le aplaudían y ni siquiera entendían lo que les decían… ¿Cuales buenos tiempos señor primer ministro? Si a puro frijolito y tortillas con chilito y quesito happy cow la hemos pasado los últimos dos años…

Y como si fuera cosa de chiste dice que nos amarremos los pantalones porque la cosa comienza a ponerse fea este año… ¡Dios mío, yo sin cincho y con panza de vaca flaca gracias a la recesión, de plano andaré con las trusas zagueando! ¡Buenos tiempos los de la familia Barrow! Con los milloncitos que han sifonado de las arcas del gobierno definitivamente han contribuido al déficit de 60 millones del presupuesto nacional.

Durante los dos últimos años lo único que el Primer Ministro ha demostrado sin lugar a duda es de que es un gran hombre de familia. Tiene tan gran aprecio por los valores de la familia que Una y otra vez lo ha demostrado dándole chamba y facilitándole trances a todas sus mujeres y vástagos…

Mientras tanto los demás nos hemos de morir de hambre que aquel que le importa. Aun la promesa electoral de aumento de sueldos para los maestros y los servidores públicos se ha quebrantado.

Dice el jefe pelón que los mayores triunfos de su gobierno en estos dos últimos años han sido las obras de los ministerios de obras públicas y de educación.

Pero dos años después el puente Kendall, vital para la ruta hacia el sur del país, no ha sido repuesto y hoy por hoy jamás ha habido tanto escándalo, tanta falta de disciplina, tanta frustración y tantas faltantes en el sistema educativo. Solamente el 43% de Los maestros del nivel primario están titulados y a nivel de secundaria únicamente el 30 porciento están calificados.

Esto es el caos. En dos años realmente nada se ha logrado.

Del horrendo ministerio de salud pública el pelón ni siquiera se atrevió a hablar.

Y de los inservibles Ministro y Ministerio de Seguridad Nacional que a pesar que no hay grandes logros, son un ministro y ministerio que trabaja arduamente….

Y dice el perturbado que vienen malos tiempos…

El siniestro

Que pelón más siniestro Ha sido mal ministro Como líder no es diestro Los primeros dos años Solo han hecho daños Nos llenó de engaños Ahora viene pidiendo comprensión Del pueblo no quiere tensión Quiere otro año de bendición El ha sido la maldición No tiene decisión Nos trajo la recesión Hoy viene sincero A decir que ya mero Estaremos como boleros La cosa sigue peor Puede ser mejor Hay que cambiar color La única solución A esta situación Es la revolucion

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

The

The Belize Times

Belize Times ol

17

ñ a p s E n E

Si No Es Así…

Lois, Lois, Lois Esté columnista desea que la Iglesia Católica Romana, así como la Congregación Anglicana por favor, nos envíen una copia de la solicitud o petición que tenga que someterse a Roma o Canterbury para la canonización de un santo.

La forma en que Barrow elogió a su primera mujer y segunda dama haría creer a alguien que estaba destinada a la santidad. Es decir nadie, excepto la segunda esposa, primera dama, que debe haber arrojado la radio al otro lado del cuarto, cuando el PM estaba condenando a todos los abogados en el país a expensas de su Lois. Lois es la salvadora de Belice y quien dirigió al ACB, fue Lois quien hizo todo el trabajo pro bono para los sindicatos, Lois fue la campeona de todas las organizaciones civiles. Lois es la única abogada que no se vende a los "impíos" y como si eso no fuera suficiente, Lois corto su estipendio del Seguro Social. La única cosa que el Sr. Barrow no podía decir acerca de la primera señora Barrow fue la cantidad de dólares de dinero de los impuestos del pueblo que han sido pagados a Lois y / o a su bufete de abogados. Lois! Lois! Lois! Hum, ¿no se supone que deben estar divorciado? Si no es así ...

Cual es más barato?

Aunque todavía no sé sabe la cantidad de dinero que Lois y su bufete de abogados a hecho en los dos primeros años de la Administración de Barrow,

sabemos que tienen que ser millones.

Por supuesto, el Primer Ministro no se disculpa por cuánto dinero Lois hizo del gobierno, pero ¿que pasa cuando se trata de la cuestión de poner a los criminales tras las rejas? Cuando se trata de encontrar los recursos necesarios para llevar a los criminales a la justicia, vamos a recordar lo que dijo cuando se le preguntó acerca de nuestra capacidad forensica para recoger pruebas contra los criminales: "lo que sea más barato". Así que espero que todas aquellas personas que son víctimas de la delincuencia y la violencia entiendan que cuando se trata de Lois, es la santidad, donde la justicia está en cuestión, es lo más barato, no hay vergüenza en su juego. Si no es

así ...

La lista de cuando patee la cubeta

de Sedi.. nuestro: "Si no es así ... " en uno de sus Aquí, en "Si no es así, es casi así" shows, así es que aquí va: sabemos que Barrow tiene que hacer "Nueva Regla" malabares con su baraja de cartas Phillip Willoughby ya no debe poner su rostro en la televisión porque

pronto. Lamentablemente sus baraja están llena con todos los comodines, así que cualquier mano que se juegue no hará ninguna diferencia para los beliceños, excepto si usted es el Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores.

Debido a que es consciente de que sus días estáncontados, sus amigos cercanos y lejanos nos dicen que el ministro tiene en mente algo como su propia lista de cuando patee la cubeta.

La semana pasadafue la cena con Gaddafi, en Trípoli, al lado se habla de un posible viaje a Harare, Zimbabwe, y luego a Pyon Gyang para tomar el té con Little Kim. ¿Quién paga? Tenemos la sospecha que los contribuyentes, por supuesto, y ¿quien está a cargo en el Ministerio? Aquí oímos que es la Banda Imperial. Si no es así ...

Toma esto Patrick Hay un viejo dicho que dice que a veces menos es más. ¿Quien puede por favor, pásele esté mensaje al ministro Patrick? esté súper ministro se atrevió a hablar fuera de turno y

tuvo que ser puesto en jaque por el jefe.Ahora el pobre ministro Patrick, quien fue capturado en el campo de la izquierda cuando el sindicato pidió aumentar su tan necesitado salario, el le dijo a Jules que el aumento esta "en la tubería.", "Sabemos que el costode la vida es alto y sabemos que es un momento verdaderamente difícil para sobrevivir, por lo que es imperativo que nos sentamos a dialogar y llegar a algo que sea aceptable para ambas partes.

No estamos huyendo de eso "." No ", declaró el" Jefe ", ¿quien le dio permiso Patrick para decir, que el aumento estaba en la tubería? Dos días después, el Jefe dijo a Amandala "notenemos el dinero, punto final" eso significa que no hay aumento para los profesores . Toma eso Patrick. La próxima vez, piensa antes de hablar. "Si no es así ..."

Nuevas reglas Esta semana hemos prestado algo de Bill Maher, un segmento popular de su espectáculo "Real Time", y en cambio le permitiremos usar un segmento de

no tiene credibilidad y la gente no cree en sus trucos, sólo esperamos que nadie relacionado con él estuvo involucrado en el reciente escándalo, de dinero en el Ayuntamiento. "Preciso" "Nueva Regla" Zenaida Moya tiene que dejar de posar con el dinero de otras personas.

Nadie, ni siquiera los partidarios del UDP quieren ver a Z posando entre un donante y un receptor cuando se trata de dinero. Tenemos miedo que lo vaya a hacer ³underdeposit². Por supuesto que le deseamos a "Fudge" una pronta recuperación.

"Nueva Regla" Dios mío no nos hagas a nosotros belicenos tener que oír a "Botas", diciendo que "tenemos que ser realistas" de nuevo! La última vez que fue "real" le FIU le dijo a botas que

no podía depositar más de $ 10.000 en una sola transacción sin presentar una declaración incluso si es para "reparar mesas de billar".

"Nueva Regla" John Saldivar necesita ponerse a dieta. Si va a usar un traje en la casa, él necesita perder peso. No podemos sobrevivir otro debate en la Cámara con lo que vimos el año pasado. Y mientras

estamos en ello, los ministros tienen que dejar de que sus esposas peleen sus peleas. Estamos cansados de escuchar a las esposas de los ministros atacando por sus maridos. ¿Quién habría pensado que el día vendría cuando Lois iría a atacar a SEDI y a Dianne a atacar a Penner?

Y, por cierto, ministros, lo que sucede

en el gabinete debe ser confidencial, no debería ser parte de la charla en la recamara.

Flippin Compórtate Aquí, en si no es así.. nos gusta Sharon Marín, creemos que no acepta nade de nadie y por lo tanto no fue una sorpresa para nosotros cuando "regaño" a Melvin Hulse el miércoles por la mañana en el show WUB. Usted vera.

Melvin no se callaba, ni siquiera para "Botas", que estaba tratando de explicar

por qué no ha sido capaz de arreglar el camino de Lord¹s bank y los caminos de Ladyville. Mientras Botas tropezó con palabras como "consciente", Flippin en su forma habitual grosero y repugnante lo interrumpía. Sharon no tuvo más remedio que ponerlo en jaque y manejarlo como el niño que es y le dijo: "compórtate bien!" Si no es así ...

Donde esta la niveladora?

Lo último que supimos, es que un funcionario de Obras Públicas fue detenido para ser interrogado por la niveladora que hace falta. Botas no puede

dar cuenta de la niveladora, cadette no puede encontrar la aplanadora, se dieron por vencidos y nos dijeron que se la llevaron a Guatemala, pero nuestras fuentes nos dicen que la aplanadora está aquí en Belice y en lugar de estar investigando al conductor, deberían de hacer la investigación a lo largo de la antigua carretera Maskal donde se nos dice que fue vista por última vez en la dirección de la Bomba. Si no es así...

Se necesita un ladrón Todo el mundo esta pensando que alguien en el Ayuntamiento sabe cuando encontrar el dinero perdido, como un buen detective, algunas personas de gran alcance pudieron en dos horas llevar

a cabo una investigación completa, y obtener confesiones y recuperar los fondos robados del dinero de la Ciudad. ¡Wow! Esto fue un trabajo rápido.

Ninguna ciencia forense fue necesaria, pero de nuevo, como mí abuela solía siempre decir, "Se necesita un ladrón para atrapar a un ladrón." "Si no es así ..."

18

10

The Belize Times

Sunday, FEBRUARY 14, 2010

WAYS BARROW COULD BALANCE THE BUDGET

1. Fire the firm of Lois Young and Company and use the services of the Solicitor General instead 2. Stop giving tax breaks to UDP cronies 3. Cut down on the Ministerial vehicle fleet 4. Stop subsidizing Belize City and Town Council Mismanagement 5. Stop the useless spending on spy-mobile and other espionage equipments 6. Stop awarding sweetheart contracts to SOBs, FOBs and ROBs of Dean Barrow 7. Crack down on the blatant Ministerial hustling 8. Collect lawful taxes due from all goods flowing as contraband from the Free Zone, the Northern and Western Border of Belize.

9. Collect the $80,000 from Juliet Thimbrel, the $90,000 that Zenaida Moya over paid herself and the extra legal tax breaks granted by Councilor Leila Peyfreitte.

10. Conduct a forensic audit of the Housing for the Poor and recover all misappropriated funds

Why is this vehicle camping out on Eyre Street, just outside the office of the Leader of the Opposition?

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

The Belize Times

19

NATION BUILDERS TEACHER IDOLLYN ADOLPHUS Elizabeth Pridgeon Teacher Idollyn Adolphus has, for the past 27 years, dedicated herself to the Ontario Christian School (under the umbrella of Belize Faith Missions), based in the village of Ontario along the Western highway, situated just a few miles west of Belmopan. For the past seventeen years (of the 27 years total service), Ms Idollyn has been one of the most proactive and productive Principals the school has ever known.

To r e a l l y u n d e r s t a n d t h e dedication that Ms Idollyn has shown, it is necessary first to appreciate the setting in which she works.

Ontario Christian School was the most successful and long-standing project to have been initiated by Rev. Millhollen and his wife when they first came to Belize in 1958. Their vision was to establish a community that would not only live according to Christian principles, but would actively minister these principles throughout the district too. The Millhollen’s had numerous visions that they fulfilled: firstly, their Church (latterly renamed as the Millhollen Memorial Tabernacle) grew to have one of the biggest congregations in its area; secondly, the residential home they created for elderly members of the community was well patronised and became a leader in its field during its years of existence; and thirdly, the school and former children’s home grew from supporting a handful of adolescents, into being a major player in the district’s educational sector.

Today, Ontario Christian School, under the leadership of Ms Idollyn, educates 386 students between the ages of 3 and 14 years, from a catchment radius spanning between Belmopan and San Ignacio. While the school continues to be considered as falling beneath the Belize Faith Missions organisation, it is now also part-funded by the Government of Belize, and local fundraisers are also necessary to support in-house initiatives. Thus projects such as the Feeding Program, created by Ms Idollyn to cater food for the most needy students, are self-funded by weekly “Glad Rag” days, which collects sufficient funds to buy the ingredients and cook the food for the Feeding Program every Tuesday and Thursday.

Ms Idollyn has captured the respect and admiration of hundreds of parents, staff and management officials in her twenty-seven years at the school, through various programs that she has initiated to promote the betterment of the school. When Ms Idollyn first arrived, the exterior of the school was somewhat drab and dreary, and was housed principally in the church building itself. Today, the entire school premises are brightly

devoted Pentecostal Christian, and she believes that all the blessings the school has received during her term as Principal are a result of God’s blessings, rather than her own hard work and determination. It can only be concluded that God has indeed blessed Ontario Christian School with a Principal such as Ms Idollyn for so many years, and by extension He has blessed Belize with someone who has so altruistically striven to build a firm basis for the future generations of Belize. This week’s Belize Times’ Nation Builder is a most deserving Ms Idollyn Adolphus, for her ongoing contributions to the education sector of Belize, and more specifically, in her capacity as Teacher and Principal at Ontario Christian School. painted and eye-catching to the visitor, which is no small feat now that the school uses nine classrooms and a computer lab. Furthermore, outside the classrooms is now a wellfurnished park for which Ms Idollyn worked hard to acquire the donations of extensive playing facilities including monkey-bars, see-saws, swings and climbing frames. Another major change that has occurred through Ms Idollyn’s influence is the introduction of a school unifor m for pupils of Ontario Christian School, and more importantly the acquisition of donations from congregations in the United States for those children whose families were unable to purchase uniforms. The safety of the students has always been a principal concern of Ms Idollyn too, and when she saw the opportunity of acquiring a fence around the perimeter of the premises, alongside encouraging the Ministry of Works to create a speed-bump on the road outside, she avidly fought for both, and was successful. Never one to shy away from applications and proposals, Ms Idollyn can also be credited with acquiring the funding for the plumbing which transformed the for mer latrines for students’ use. Another proposal which Ms Idollyn wholeheartedly undertook was to seek funding for a computer lab, and computers to equip the lab; needless to say, Ms Idollyn never leaves a project incomplete, and the school now hosts one of the best 22computer labs in the district.

Ms Idollyn never anticipated working at the Ontario Christian School, but a chance encounter with the initial founders directed her to a new career and a new lifepath – which has proved to be one which Ms Idollyn certainly does not regret. However, at the end of June, Ms Idollyn will be retiring from her post of Principal at the Ontario Christian School, and she will be sadly missed by students, parents and staff alike. Following a lifetime’s career in

the education sector, however, Ms Idollyn’s retirement will be far from a time to rest and relax, as she has already committed to another administrative job at a primary school in San Ignacio town, where she lives. After so many years dedicated to children in her care, one might wonder how Ms Idollyn plans to ‘reward’ herself.

Far from it, it seems: Ms Idollyn is a

CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE at www.belizetimes.bz We are the most visited newspaper website in Belize

20

The Belize Times

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

VOICES Village

from the

YO CREEK

Elizabeth Pridgeon Five miles along the San Antonio road to the west of Orange Walk Town lies the well-known village of Yo Creek.

the proposals ready for implementation under the new government – a plan which never reached fruition with the UDP at the wheels.

Whether

Yo Creek succeeds in numerous areas in which other northern villages fail. The people of Yo Creek have a sincere pride in their village, and even those few who have emigrated out of the village in recent decades have, in most cases, maintained properties in the village with the ambition of ultimately returning to their native village. Yo Creek youth have an excellent level of higher education, with the vast majority of primary school graduates continuing on to high school in Orange Walk, and a significant proportion of those graduates ultimately graduating from Sixth Form, and obtaining degrees at national and international universities. And perhaps most significant of all, in these times of urban terrorism raging in Belize, Yo Creek has sustained its reputation as a peaceful and safe village for its residents; in fact, unusually for such a bustling village, many villagers leave valuables and property outside unlocked doors overnight, and awake to find nothing has been tampered with. Whilst this may be usual in isolated villages such as Consejo, it is far less common in villages which are on a major trading and trafficking route.

The road which passes through the centre of Yo Creek was once considered one of the most used roads in the Orange Walk district, taking people to onward villages of San Lazaro, Trinidad, August Pine Ridge, San Felipe, La Union and Blue Creek to the west, and San Lorenzo, San Antonio and Santa Cruz directly to the north. The irony is that now, in the current state of disrepair in which the road remains, many commuters (including the occasional bus) prefer to use the improved BSI sugar road network, rather than relying on the public roads. Villagers believe that the PUP sourced financial funding for the repair of the San Antonio road between Orange Walk and Yo Creek, and left

the diversion of traffic will adversely affect Yo Creek is as yet unknown, but the repair of the road is an essential requirement of villages in the immediate future. Until now, Yo Creek has often been the envy of nearby villages for its ability to secure funding and services before its neighbouring communities: electricity was introduced to the village in 1975 under the encouragement of Minister Lupe Pech (who was a great promoter of Yo Creek as a recipient for services and provisions); running water was introduced as early as the 1960s and the village today is proud to boast some of the best maintained village services across the north (including the Yo Creek Educational Computer Center and Internet Cafe, a stylish community centre and well cared for public parks). In fact, the Catholic Church is so impressive and well maintained that it hosts perhaps the most popular northern village ‘Stations of the Cross’ procession on Good Friday, attracting hundreds of participants and observers from all over the district.

There is no doubt that Yo Creek is changing. The proportion of families dependent on the sugar cane industry is fast declining, as are the numbers of outsiders who reside in the village during the sugar cane season to assist with the menial task of cane cutting. The number of agricultural plantations and farms owned by villagers is declining, as are the productive yields of village farms. Today, the surplus fruit, salad and vegetable products which are produced in Yo Creek are no longer sufficient to sell on the wholesale markets of Orange Walk, and most people simply sell to passing trade from their property entrance.

Yo Creek, traditionally a Mayan village with an ancient history, has over recent decades become noticeably more Mestizo in ethnicity, and today it is estimated that less than 10% of the village population can converse in Maya. However, despite this change, several residents of Yo

and has been at the forefront of the village’s cultural revivalism. It continues to be very active today, and having already worked together to produce a production chain for maize tortillas, and having learnt various baking and cake decorating methods, they are now undergoing a project to learn how to produce their own hammocks, which will complement the dwindling sources of income for villagers.

Part of Yo Creek’s fame as a cultural hubbub is from its preparation of traditional food dishes, such as pibil pork, tamales and tacos. At least three village families have thriving tacos industries in Orange Walk, and it is a common occurrence for village-produced tamales to be collected by townsfolk and taken to Orange Walk on a Saturday lunch time, as they are considered far superior to the town’s version. Thus the only thing that threatens to undermine the success of the village is the fact that people are discouraged from visiting Yo Creek because of the terrible state of the village access road from Orange Walk.

For a village that has achieved so much, and has been such an exemplary model Village in Belize City, where they were of development to nearby communities, widely considered one of the best it is pitiable that the government are neglecting them in repairing this most cultural performances country-wide.

The Women’s Group of Yo Creek is key resource. also altering the dynamics of the village, Creek are actively pursuing cultural revivalism among younger generations to preserve their Mayan ancestry. One such village ‘maestra de cultura’, Ms Felicita Cantun, was recognised in 2009 as a Belize Times’ Nation Builder for her tireless efforts in teaching people of Yo Creek cultural dances, and then arranging public performances across the country to promote the Yo Creek Mayan heritage. The Yo Creek performers were, at one time, a regular feature at the To u r i s t

Sunday, FEBRUARY 14, 2010

The Belize Times

21

22

The Belize Times

Sunday, FEBRUARY 14, 2010

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

The Belize Times

23

Belize #1 Sports Page

Sunrise clips Western Eagles 135-94 in SMART Harrison Parks cricket

Team Sunrise of Lords Bank walloped Western Eagles of Rancho Dolores 135 94 when the SMART Harrison Parks Cricket Competition began at the Lords Bank Oval last Saturday. Man of the Match was Tyrone Bood led the Sunrise eleven

with 21 runs, while Sunrise’ Kenroy Roca took 4 wickets. Western Eagles’ Jermaine Pook batted in 19 runs and Dirk Sutherland bowled 3 wickets.

Four time national champions Brilliant of Crooked Tree easily outshone Bright

Star 196 - 57 in Sand Hill. Man of the Match Varon Westby led the Brilliant attack scoring 39 runs and Howell Gillett bowled 4 wickets. Edwin Seguro batted 13 runs and bowled 4 wickets for the Sand Hill Eleven.

Ber lan of Ber mudian Landing schooled Brave Union 118 -117 with 4 wickets to spare in Burrell Boom. Man of the Match Charles Stamp, Jr. scored 13 runs and bowled 5 wickets for 28 runs.

Lamont Russell, who has been capped for the U 19 Belize National Cricket Team, scored 30 runs for Berlan. Isson Charles scored 42 runs and Beris Ford took 1wicket for 14 runs for Brave Union.

Wicked Eleven of Flowers Bank sank Saillows 204 to 118 in St Paul’s bank. Man of the Match Shelton Robinson top scored with 57 runs for Wicked Eleven, while Shane Robinson and Darren Rhaburn took 3 wickets each. Robert Casasola scored 31 runs and took 4 wickets for Saillows.

Unfinished Business won with

7 wickets in hand against RG One Love. The Man of the Match, Andrew Armstrong, scored 29 runs and Albert Dominguez took 3 wickets. Oral Vaccaro of RG One Love batted 10 runs and bowled 2 wickets.

Surprise of Lemonal won handily over Kolbe Strikers with 9 wickets in hand. Herbert Banner, another sparkling member of the U 19 Belize National Cricket Team, scored 19 runs for Surprise to become the Man of the Match.

The competition continues on Saturday, February 13 when Sunrise will visit Excellence in Double Head Cabbage, Reggae Boys take on the 3 time champs Wicked Eleven in Flowers Bank, Western Eagles visit Easy Does It in Lemonal, Bright Star challenges Brave Union in Burrell Boom, Kolbe Strikers face RG One Love in Sand Hill, Berlan visits Brilliant in Crooked Tree, Surprise hits the road to Biscayne for some Unfinished Business, while Saillows of St. Paul’s Bank will rest.

CJC girls win 2010 ATLIB Northern football The Corozal Junior College girls won the Association of Tertiary Level Institutions of Belize (ATLIB) Northern regional football championship hosted by Centro Escolar Mexico Junior College at the Santa Clara field on Sunday.

The Muffles girls won the opening game 2-0 win against the Wesley Junior College girls from Belize City; on a strike

by Zaira Bustillos in the first half, and she scored a 2nd goal in the 2nd half.

In Game 2, the CJC girls drilled the Belize Adventist Junior College girls 5-0 ; the winning goal coming from a strike

by Yasmin Cob in the 10th minute and Patricia Espinoza added a 2nd goal in the 15th minute to lead 2-0 at the half time break. Patricia scored a 3rd goal in the 30th minute, completed her hat trick with a 4th goal for CJC in the 35th minute, and she scored her 4th goal in the 37th minute for the 5-0 win.

In Game 3, the host Centro Escolar Mexico girls ran over the Wesley girls 3-0.

Cianni Castaneda executed a free kick

for the 1st goal, and added a 2nd goal before the break. Marineli Medina came dangerously close to making it 3-0 when she launched a missile with deadly intentions, but she was denied by the sticks as the ball rebounded back into play, where it wa double your fun, double your pleasure for Larissa Correa and Stephani Carrera who both made contact to blast in the 3rd goals for the 3-0 win. Cianni Castaneda could have made it 4-0, but she too was denied by the sticks.

In Game 4, the Muffles girls left tire marks all over the Belize Adventist girls as they romped to 5-1. Ruby Mai outran the B.A.J.C. defenders to score the 1st goal, but Tanisha Innis also outran the Muffles defense embarrass Muffles’ goalie Carla Stamp with the equalizer. Vanessa Sho scored Muffles’ 2nd goal, and Yasmin Moh added a 3rd with an assist from Ruby Mai. Goleadora Zaira “Hannah” Bustillos scored 2 more goals after the break for the 5-1 win.

In Game 5, the CJC girls were bogged

down in what seemed like a scoreless draw with the Centro Escolar Mexico girls, until Adrienne Kuylen surprised CEMJC’s goalie Evangeline Aruno with the winning goal in the 39th minute.

The CJC girls won championship in penalty shootout after CJC and Muffles were tied with 2 wins each and on goal average each with 6 goals in favour. CJC’s Sandra Martinez, Varsha Clarke and Patricia converted their tries, but Muffles’

1st first kicker shot wide of the goal, and CJC’s star goalie Keilin Sanchez stopped 2 shots to shut out the Sugar city girls and become No. 1.

The CJC girls and Muffles Junior College girls will represent the North at the Association of Tertiary Level Institutions of Belize (ATLIB) national football championships to be hosted by Ecumenical Junior College at the Carl Ramos Stadium on Sunday, February 21.

Belize Adventist Junior College men win ATLIB Northern football

The Belize Adventist Junior College men won the Association of Tertiary Level Institutions of Belize (ATLIB) Northern regional football championship hosted by Centro Escolar Mexico Junior College at the Santa Clara field on Sunday.

In Game 1, the Corozal Junior College

men won 2-1 over Muffles Junior College; on strikes by Josean Kay and Orlando Castillo, while only Abisei Cervantes scored a consolation goal for Muffles.

In Game 2, the San Pedro Junior College men left tire marks all over the Wesley Junior College men in 9-0 stomping

with Hilberto Caliz scoring 5 goals. Caliz scored the first 2 goals, Ricardo Meza added the 3rd and Isaac Guerra – the 4th, Caliz the 5th and 6th, Elvis Castillo – the 7th and 8th and Caliz added the 9th.

In Game 3, the BAJC men came back from a 1-0 deficit to win 3-1 over the Muffles College men. Jose Quinonez scored first for MJC in the 19th minute, but in the 2nd half, BAJC’s Aaron Mesh scored a hat trick for the 3-1 win.

In Game 4, the St John’s Junior College men won 1-0 over the hosts, Centro Escolar Mexico Junior college, on a strike

by Amir Arnold.

In Game 5, the BAJC men won No.1 in their group by goal average after struggling to a scoreless draw with the Corozal Junior College men.

In Game 6, the Centro Escolar won 3-0 over the San Pedro Junior College men in the sixth game of the day. Jason Herbert had connected with a header to finish a corner kick for the winning goal and Yancy Ek placed a free kick perfectly beyond the

goalkeeper’s reach to make it 2-0 before intermission. Remijio Chable, racing up the left flank, set table for Jason Herbert to add a third goal for the 3-0 win.

In Game 7, The S.J.C.J.C. men won their group by a 5-0 victory over the Wesley Junior College men. Marshall Nunez scored the 1st winning goal in the 4th minute of play, Amir Arnold added a 2nd goal in the 40th minute, Kyle Castillo scored a 3rd goal in the 50th minute; Ron Nicholson added a 4th and SJCJC goalie Armand Luna converted a penalty for the 5-0 win.

In Game 8, the BAJC men won the championship vs the St John’s Junior College men who took 2nd place when Edmar Petillo scored the winning goal in 2nd half for the 1-0 win.

The BAJC men and St John’s Junior College men will represent the North at the Association of Tertiary Level Institutions of Belize (ATLIB) national football championships to be hosted by Ecumenical Junior College at the Carl Ramos Stadium on Sunday, February 21.

24

The Belize Times

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

Belize #1 Sports Page

SCA girls win 2010 CSSSA football

The St Catherine’s Academy girls won the 2010 central secondary Schools Sports Association (CSSSA) football championship final 2-1over the up to then undefeated Gwen Liz High School girls in Game 2 of the finals at the M.C.C. garden on Monday, February 8.

Leera Alvarado and Leann Murray led the SCA girls attack supported by Aimee Vasquez and Katherine Maradiaga on the wings and with the help of midfielders Kursha Pollard and Christiane Rodriguez at midfield.

Jaslyn Cadle led the Gwen Liz attack supported by Jersha Estrada and Anastasia Waight and Ashanti Gill and with the help of midfielders Jamieka Meighan and Tashiera Bowen at midfield. Jaslyn Cadle scored the 1st goal for Gwen Liz in the first half, and the Gwen Liz defenders: Candice Neal, Kiera Dawson, Faith Mejia and goalkeeper Oleisha Myles shut out the SCA girls to hold on to their 1-0 lead up to he half time break.

The SCA defense led by Diedra Gill, Ashley Pelayo, Inga Woods and Aaliya Williams shut down Gwen liz in the 2nd

half with goalie Carlisia Petillo handling all challenges, while Kursha Pollard razzledazzled her way through the Gwen Liz defenders to score 2 goals and secure the championship for SCA. The two teams had struggled to a scoreless draw in the first final last Friday evening.

Jersha Estrada had led Gwen Liz to a 1-0 win over the Pallotti High School girls in the semifinals last Tuesday. Kursha Pollard 2 two goals as she led the S.C.A. girls to a 2-0 win over the No. 2 seed, the Wesley College girls in the semifinals.

The Wesley boys did better than their schoolmates, eliminated the No.2 seed, the Ladyville Technical High School boys in Wednesday’s semifinals. Michael Perera converted a penalty for Wesley, but Denroy Mccord equalized 1-1 for LTHS in the 2nd half, then Keenan Lopez scored a 2nd winning goal for Wesley’s 2-1 win.

The undefeated Tubal Institute boys had eliminated the Sadie Vernon Technical High School boys 8-0 in last Tuesday’s semifinals, but struggled to a 0-0 draw with No.3 seed, Wesley College boys in Game 1 of the finals on Monday night.

Team Belize draws 3-3 with Peten in Women’s

Team Belize drew 3-3 with a Peten selection in a female football friendly match in Las Flores, Peten on Saturday January 30.

Noemi Magana, Rhonda Hernandez, and Sheriann “Baby” Tracy led the attack with the help of midfielders Miriam Villamil, Lynette “Panchy” Gabourel, and team captain Kaya Cattouse. The Peten girls gained a 2-0 lead in the 1st half, but Rhonda Hernandez put Belize on the scoreboard with Belize’s 1st goal, and Kaya Cattouse tied the ball game at 2-2 by converting a penalty..

The Peten women regained the lead 3-2 with a 3rd goal in the 2nd half, but substitute Zeferelle Monima entered the

Club Atletico & Griga Eseini win thru to FFB U-19 finals

Corozal FC & Griga Eseini win thru to FFB U-16 finals

The Corozal F.C. takes on Griga Eseini U-16 in the Football Federation of Belize national under-16 football championship finals at the FFB institute in Belmopan on Saturday The Corozal U-16 FC advanced to the finals by a 3-1 win over the Las Flores Wildcats at the Goal Project on Saturday, February 6. Urbano Rivero scored the winning goal past goalie Walter Avelar, and a Las Flores’ defender deflected a shot by Leonardo Jones into

his own goal to make it 2-0. Leonardo added a 3rd goal to give Corozal a 3-0 lead at the half timebreak.

Las Flores’ Erick Gonzalez and Anivar Alvarenga tried to equalize with the help of Edgar Galdamez and Lincoln Lopez on the wings and Andres Melgar, Christian Orellano and Luis Fernandez and at midfield, but coud not get by Corozal’s defenders Kenroy Roches, Adan Maldonado and Edle Pineda in the first half. Anivar Alvarenga scored on goalie Luis Chi for the Wildcats’ only consolation goal late in the 2nd half.

Diedron Mossiah replaced Denis Charley, Patrick Garrido replaced Leonardo Jones and Manuel Coc entered the ball game for Jesusito Williams as the Corozal squad struggled to regain the initiative, but the Wildcats’ defenders Ivanni Castellon, Misael Iglesias and Ceferino Manon locked up shop, allowing no more goals. The long whistle sounded to a 3-1 victory for Corozal.

The Griga Eseini also advanced to the finals by a 3-1 victory over Guinea Grass Bad boys at the Carl Ramos Stadium on Sunday afternoon, on goals

by Byron Chavez, Jose martinez and Shanti Castillo.

ball game in the 2nd half and delivered the equalizer for 3-3 final score.

The Team Belize defenders Kendra “Peaches” Goff, Margarita Aguilar and Shadalee Ho locked up shop to help goalkeeper Ermine Ferguson hold the Peten women to the 3-3 draw until the final whistle.

As Team Belize prepares for the UNCAF Central American women’s football championships to be held in Guatemala in April 19-25, where they will play Nicaragua and El Salvador, the team will participate in tournament in Merida with several Mexican team, they will travel to Merida on February 17 and return home on February 27.

The Club Atletico F.C. of Belmopan takes on Griga Eseini U-19 in the Football Federation of Belize national under-19 football championship finals at the FFB institute in Belmopan on Saturday Club Atletico won 1-0 over Toledo FC at the FFB field last Saturday afternoon. The Toledo U-19 squad came to Belmopan hunting a win, and defenders Ricky Muschamp, Yusef Vernon and Devin Velasquez broke up the attacks and returned the ball to Lucio Chuc, Venancio Xuc, John Lucas and Norman Buddna Jr at midfield to renew the attack.

Toledo’s Franz Vernon Jr, Andres Makin and Ervin Che won a penalty, but Club Atletico goalie Orlando Galdamez stopped Makin’s try for the conversion.

Toledo’s goalie Delmar Parham was putting in a yeoman’s work with save after save, but even he could not stop David

Madrid’s shot for the winning goal before the half time break.

L i n c o l n Bejerano and Henry Recinos entered the ball game for Brian Samayoa and Wilson Ramirez in the 2nd half to help the Atletico defenders Sean Maas and Luis Avalos hold on to

the 1-0 win.

The Griga Eseini U-19 squad drilled the Corozal U-19 FC 4-1 at the Carl Ramos Stadium on Sunday.

Corozal’s Eduardo Corea scored in the 9th minute, when the wind helped him on a corner kick that beat the Griga goalie Gamboa.

Tito Flores equalized in the 13th minute when Corozal goalie Howard West fumbled Abraham Chavez’s shot and Tito Flores blasted it the rebound into the net. Tito Flores sc ored the wining goal in the 16th minute.

Abraham Chavez drilled a 3rd goal past 2 defenders, but he and Corozal’s Jezes Cano would get yellow card cautions before the break.

Corozal’s top striker Michael Whittaker was ejected with a red card.

The home team scored a 4th goal for the 4-1 win and they advanced to the finals with a 6-4 goal aggregate.

25

The Belize Times

Costa Rican president-elect Laura Chinchilla wins in a landslide Laura Chinchilla is Costa Rica’s first woman to be elected President.

Her victory marked another political triumph in the storied career of outgoing President Arias.

Chinchilla, who was Arias' vice president, pledged to continue his style moderate free-market policies.

Costa Rica "got on the right path four years ago and now is the moment to stay the course," Chinchilla said during a recent debate. "It's not the moment for some change that will take us down a road we don't know."

In an interview the President elect said that “Relations with the rest of Latinamerica must be based on a respectful, frank, open dialogue with the purpose of adding efforts in solving the many real problems concerning the region’s citizens,”

Honduras Will Get Aid from the World Bank

On Wednesday the World Bank reported that it would restore development aid to Honduras. The bank froze aid after a coup that toppled President Manuel Zelaya last June. The bank’s managing director, Juan José Daboub, said at a news conference in Tegucigalpa, that the bank would restore a planned loan of $270 million and add $120 million in new credit, for a total of $390 million. The World Bank restored the loans after last month’s inauguration of a new president.

Last Month 230,000 people died in Haiti’s Earthquake

More than 230,000 Haitians died in last month’s earthquake. Communications Minister Marie-Laurence Jocelyn Lassegue said the toll was not definitive but another 300,000 were injured.

The latest figure of those reported as dead does not include bodies buried by private funeral homes in private cemeteries, or those buried by their own families.

Grenada should get financing from The International Monetary Fund for financing under one of the Fund's lowinterest programmes. The proposed loan of US$13.8 million is under the IMF's Extended Credit Facility.

The IMF facility is aimed at

assisting countries with chronic balance of payments and debt difficulties. The terms for these IMF loans are much less onerous, than the standby facility that was just negotiated between the IMF and Jamaica.

Grenada to get IMF loan

Caribbean citizenship for Sale

The Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, said he is against the sale of Caribbean passports, however the selling of economic citizenship as a revenue raiser for Caribbean countries is being debated Cayman Islands, Premier McKeeva Bush, seems to have an opposing view to that of Prime Minister Gonsalves. Mr. Bush is proposing that the region offer a new category of permanent residency to a limited number of people whose net worth exceeds $10 million.

The holders will be expected to pay a fee of $1 million and spend some time in the Islands each year.

Sunday, FEBRUARY 14, 2010

Chávez Gives Contracts to Big US Oil Companies CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela shifted strategy towards foreign oil and awarded contracts to Western oil companies.

Chevron, the American oil giant, led a group of companies that won one of the concessions. The United States remains the largest consumer of Venezuelan oil despite the deterioration of political relations over the last decade.

Facing a decline in oil revenues, Mr. Chávez is now ready to work out a deal with Western oil companies that would allow them back in Venezuela.

Western oil companies want to get back into Venezuela, hoping to increase their access to the Orinoco Belt, in southern Venezuela.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the Orinoco Belt has one of the

largest petroleum accumulation in the Americas, containing an estimated 513 billion barrels of recoverable oil.

Chevron and Repsol are expecting to increase Venezuela’s oil production by about 400,000 barrels a day, a crucial amount for the long-term economic viability of Mr. Chávez’s government.

The Chavez Government relies on oil for more than 90 percent of its export income.

A week after a police sergeant was arrested on reasonable suspicion of supplying guns and ammunition to an illegal weapons shop, four more members of the police force have been arrested.

Investigations continue following the seizure of 19 guns and almost 11,000

rounds of ammunition on Munster Road in eastern St Andrew..

This time three members of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) and a constable in the Jamaica Constabulary Force are being accused of breaching of the Corruption Prevention Act.

Four members of Jamaica’s police force arrested

Sunday, FEBRUARY 14, 2010

The Belize Times

Why Barrow forgot to tie his camel

At his last press conference, the Prime Minister quoted an old Arab proved which says: “trust in God but tie your camel.”

When it comes to BNE and the revenues government should collect, the Prime Minister either can’t tie or hasn’t realized that the BNE camel got away.

He claims the he must respect legally binding contracts and so his hands are tied. What he doesn’t want to tell the Belizean people however is that all governments retain the right to tax!

In 1998 when the UDP government inadvertently amended the income tax act, allowing the oil companies to pay either the business tax at 1.5 percent on gross revenues or pay 25 percent corporate tax, it was the PUP government that had to correct this. The new PUP Government amended the Income Tax Act to tax oil companies at 40 percent, a decision Mr. Barrow, supported but claimed needs to get more oil

revenues.

As Prime Minister, Mr. Barrow introduced a new tax on oil companies, which he calls a windfall tax.

Despite all advise from the experts, that his $90 threshold was too high, he pushed on saying that this would allow Belize to get its “just share of the oil revenues.” The windfall never materialized because the $90.00 was set too high and to date Belizeans have not gotten a cent

from this windfall tax.

Presently BNE is claiming that over 60 percent of their gross revenues are expenses. The Prime Minster claims that the government is finally planning to conduct an audit by our Tax Department to verify whether these numbers are correct.

No disrespect to our auditors, but every oil expert will tell you that auditing an oil company is a complex exercise. Many oil companies operate through several companies offering ancillary services to themselves. When you look closer at the books you realize that these very oil companies are the real owners of these companies.

Belize Natural Gas Limited is no different. The major shareholders of BNE own the seismic company that works for BNE. The drilling rig is owned by major shareholders of BNE. As an example, when BNE applied for a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), they claimed that it would cost between US

26

$600,000.00 to US $750,000.00 to drill an oil well. This was in 2005.

In 2006, just after the discovery of the oil field, BNE reported that drilling cost had ballooned to as much a US $2 million.

While no aspersions are being made against BNE, it is important that the Prime Minister get the experts to audit BNE’s books.

During his press conference, the Prime Minster boasted that his government had been the first to negotiate the best PSA deals for Belize. He claimed that his government had just approved two PSAs that would result in Belizeans getting “10 percent royalty for oil, 15 percent on production sharing for the first 5,000 barrels and 10 percent for government participation.”

Of course he continues to condemn the BNE PSA agreement signed by the PUP, but conveniently neglects certain facts. Companies have been drilling for oil in Belize for the past 50 years without success. Prior to BNE no one had any interest in coming back to Belize to drill for oil. This is the reason why BNE was able to negotiate for such favorable terms, they were the only game in town and they were the ones who decided to go against conventional wisdom and give Belize another look.

What the Prime Minster also failed to acknowledge, or maybe his Deputy Prime Minister forgot to inform him, was that the PUP government had already started to negotiate with other oil companies, terms that were more favorably than the ones agreed to under the BNE contracts.

In May of 2007 a paper was presented to Cabinet with far better terms than the one the PM recently negotiated. In one instance a company agreed to pay royalties of 15 percent. On the first 5,000 barrels, they would pay 20 percent in production sharing, provide 10 percent government participation and also agreed to lend the government the money to make their investment in the company.

The record speaks for itself. Every PSA signed after the find at the Spanish Lookout oil field in 2005 where a lot more favorable for Belize. Belize is now in a stronger negotiating position.

During his press conference the Prime Minister produced a flyer circulated by BNE showing its revenues and expenses, perhaps in relying too much on BNE’s figures, he is leaving the camel in the care of BNE. The Prime Minster needs to get the fact right, least he once again be consider disingenuous. The other option is that he is a fool. I don’t think he is a fool.

PUP Think Tanking Sessions Every Thursday, Independence Hall at 7:30pm

Sunday, FEBRUARY 14, 2010

The Belize Times

Strictly Personal Barrow is bogus!

by glenntillett@yahoo.com "The UDP therefore proposes a three sixty degree multi-prong strategy for restoring the respect for law and order in Belize. This dynamic and creative three sixty degree approach will enable us to focus simultaneously on the various social culprits and problems in order to execute a sustained full court press attack on each issue, from all angles, in a well planned strategic and synchronized manner which with immediate medium and long ter m courses of implementation will restore the respect for law and order and recuperate our people's confidence in our national system of law and order by initiating a multiple front, simultaneous and energetic engagement of the causes of crime and poverty and existing widespread corruption and on the alarming intensity of criminal activity."

- Carlos Perdomo, UDP Standard Bearer, October 17, 2007 "I want to indicate that together with all this, the UDP government will set up within the first six months of taking officer, a DNA unit at the National Forensics Lab. It seems to me that when we can dispose of $30 million from DFC in one day, when we can give a group of companies almost a $100 million, surely we can find the half a million dollars that's necessary to establish the DNA facility." - Hon. Dean Barrow, UDP Leader, October 17, 2007 Today is Wednesday, February 10, 2010, and as I listen to Dean Barrow in the same room talk about crime fighting as he did 4 months before the last general elections, and two years and two days into his term as Prime Minister, I wonder if there is really anything else that needs be said.

Barrow is bogus. Two years later none of the promises he and his proposed minister of national security made that day have been fulfilled, especially the DNA unit at the National Forensics lab.

Barrow said today that his new 360 degree vision to stem the rising tide of violent criminal activity, (and please note he never once in any way indicated, not even by innuendo that any of these were his minister’s ideas), would consist of firstly expediting promotions to enhance morale among the ranks of the Police Department.

Promotions and confirmations to posts have been delayed without explanation, and Barrow did not bother explaining either.

Dean Barrow well knows that the greatest moral enhancer he could

give our unifor med forces would be to relieve Carlos Perdomo of his command.

I’m glad he did a U turn, 180 degrees and reversed course on the matter of new recruitment. It had been reported that they did not intend to have a recruit class this year but today he announced that they will recruit 100 new officers by the end of March. Here’s hoping that there are 100 Belizeans willing to make the sacrifice but my recommendation would be that they specifically make an attempt to recruit and again attempt an officers’ cadet corp.

I thought that an effort to better coordinate the resources represented by the various anti-gang, anti-drugs antieverything units was a no-brainer but then again, it’s Carlos isn’t it?

Again Barrow announced the regularization of Jeffries saturation strategy of bringing officers from district formations to Belize City. It sounds to me like 12 officers will be rotated into the City on a weekly basis, and I’m sure the guys will be thrilled at the news. It speaks volumes that he did not bother to address the voluminous complaints about the lack of overtime pay or reciprocal time off for these officers. Like I said, they will be thrilled to make the sacrifice.

I’ll be the first to admit that the “stationary mobile” patrol buses sounds a lot to me like an oxymoron, but Barrow may be right that it’s not.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the idea but I wonder if it comes out of their stubborn refusal to consider precinct policing? The former is short-term while the latter is longer term in terms of results analysis. I hope that at least in Barrow’s mind, the former doesn’t make the latter redundant.

The Minister of Finance sought to assure us that he will look for money to spend on improving policing, particularly to improve intelligence gathering and to purchase a couple of unmarked cars. It wasn’t clear if the money will be to pay informants or hire more officers so I’ll resist being snide. I must, however, point out that I see a number of unmarked, unlicensed, fully tinted government vehicles on the streets and roads being driven by persons I believe are in the employ of the Government of Belize.

Couldn’t those be utilized by the Police Department?

And oh, about that DNA unit?

Barrow said it best, and I quote: “I am determined to provide to the security forces either this IBIS, this Integrated Ballistics Information System … or the DNA lab, whichever of them is cheaper … whichever is less expensive … but I am making a personal commitment we will go with one or the other within the next month or so.”

Wasn’t it Simon and Garfunkel who sang that promises are just a pocketful of mumbles?

Barrow the Bogus makes yet another promise. Just as I was thinking that he was finally treating starting to treat the increasing incidents of violent crime as the crisis it is, he reverts to form and promises us that his solution and our salvation lie in more promises.

27

28

The Belize Times

S

PON DI GULLY Two years of Success, he says him.

By anthony sylvestre So after months of saying nothing and doing nothing while Belizeans were being killed in their homes, killed in the streets, losing their jobs, businesses closing down, gas prices continuing to rise above the $7.00 threshold he said would never happen, the Prime Minister finally spoke yesterday. If I understood the Prime Minister yesterday, he was basically telling Belizeans to just expect more of the same mada…ss that abounds right now in the country.

Now, you want to give the Prime Minister some slack. What, after all, he, constitution ally will be deciding our collective destinies for the next three years at least- I hope he doesn’t take that 3 months bratta the constitution gives

D E

But how can anyone seriously have any sense of hope that things will get better or that the whiff of corruption will be cleansed or take the Prime Minister serious when he beats his chest and “make[s] absolutely no apologies” for giving his exwife all the government cases; when he with a straight face try to defend why he won’t revisit the BNE oil contracts; when he tries to blame the Financial Secretary Joe Waight for the $60 million shortfall; or when he says that his colleagues in cabinet when given the chance to look at the budget estimates, will “come up with shaft of brilliance to enable us to get over the hump.”

Barrow’s justification (really and truly it is more hogwash, but…. ) for giving his ex-wife first choice as GOB’s lawyer is unbelievable. Firstly, according to him, just about every other lawyer in Belize is “in the pockets of Michael Aschroft.”

Now the man di tek dis virus thing too far, and obviously thinks Belizeans are fools. Big man, everybody knows that you would only give UDP lawyers the GOB cases. So then, are you suggesting that all the other UDP lawyers, except for your ex-wife and the other two attorneys who were present at the press conference, are in Ashcroft’s pockets? That’s a hell of a thing. You are saying then, that your fight with Ashcroft in public is a farce then?

Then the Prime Minister tried to further rationalize giving his ex-wife the majority of GOB cases to do by saying that she charges at the regular rates of senior counsel and that she use to do a lot of pro bono work when the UDP was in opposition. Now check this out, the man refused to say how much she has made and is making from the public coffers and he refused to say how much she is making as BTL corporate secretary or as the Chair of the Social Security Board.

What happened to this mantra of transparency? And by the way, as a colleague reminded, pro bono doesn’t mean you are to collect later.

But I suppose, you have to admit that our Prime Minister is an amazing man. Ah mean, it has to be a specially amazing man who has a deficit of talent in his cabinet who would with a straight face tell the Belizean public that his cabinet colleagues will spew brilliance and come up with ways to plug the $60 million shortfall in the budget. Isn’t this the same cabinet which has been sub-grouped into committees for housing, crime, cost of living, etc, etc, etc. and hasn’t come up with anything tangible, meaningful or helpful to the Belizean public to lessen their pain and suffering?

Everyone knows that there is no brilliance in that cabinet. Barrow made a fruedian slip with that statement. He knows well that what he and his Cabinet has in store for us: it is a shaft indeed, a bukut fi true with the increase in taxes that he will ram on us.

Which now brings me to ponder: why on earth does our Prime Minister, who, in his own words, yields to no one, refuses to take on the oil companies? The least he can do is to give us some oil. Why doesn’t he just tear up the petroleum contracts that the oil companies signed with the previous PUP government. Ah mean, Barrow has ridden the wave of populism so far denouncing and decrying every conceivable agreement and arrangement the PUP government entered into or did.

Sunday, FEBRUARY 14, 2010 So how is it now that he realizes that interfering with binding contracts entered into by the previous administration is “counterproductive and against the interests of the people of this country?” I don’t recall he was bothered by this when he nationalized BTL. So who determines whether these agreements will be legal or binding? He does all of this?

The point is, Belizeans are not redeyed over the “oil money” as Barrow or the oil companies would assert. I think there is common understanding that yes at the time of entering into the contracts with the oil companies, there was a risk factor involved and so the profit sharing agreement reflected that. But now, since there has been stabilization (sounds more like profiteering) for the oil companies, surely, GOB, being sovereign and all that good stuff the Prime Minister is always fond of reminding us of, surely GOB can summon BNE to the table and renegotiate the profit sharing agreement. BNE’s CEO was on the television the other day saying that they are open to that. So, how come our Prime Minister, who yields to no one, will not explore that possibility now, in these austere economic times, when he is already short by $60 million to run the country for the next fiscal year.

And we all know what eventually happens to budgets- you usually spend more than you have. Sounds like we are indeed for “haada times” ahead. We are about to start off the next fiscal year and don’t even have money to cover the basics.

But with all that, the Prime Minister insists that he and his government has done well over the last two years and that there has been two years of success. It’s quite obvious that there are two Belizes in this country. In the country of Belize where the Prime Ministers and SOBs Supporters of Barrow live, it has been two years of success indeed. The rest us can’t say that. But don’t worry about that, Barrow is telling us, we had better just tighten up cause the journey is about to get rougher.

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

J. A. Rebel

UP

The Belize Times

Belizeans taken for a free ride!

On the reshuffle

Last week, the incompetent Prime Minister of Belize told Jules Vasquez on national TV that he is considering a reshuffling of his Cabinet. That statement brought many thoughts to my mind.

As it stands Belizeans are going through enough drama as a result of the incompetence of this UDP crowd. This is an administration that has failed in every way, shape and form, and what is worse is that this government seems to have no solution to any of the problems plaguing this nation.

A Health Minister who is failing miserably!

A Minister of Tourism who has already managed to ruin the tourism industry.

A Deputy Prime Minister who has turned the Lands Department into chaos and is managing a ministry where allegations of corruption are rampant.

An Agriculture and Fisheries Minister who is running a department that is smeared by mismanagement and cronyism.

A nonfunctioning and dead head Minister of Security who seems incapable of fixing the crime problems in Belize.

A confused Attorney General and Minister of Foreign Affairs; A narrow minded, incompetent and confused PM and the list goes on and on and on.

The big question is; which fool will be replaced by which other fool? I sympathize with the PM when I realize that any change will be equivalent to that of exchanging one knuckle head for another. I will not be surprised should the PM decide to bring in his ex-wife (Lice) as minister.

Mayor Paz and San Pedro Town Council Recently I was listening to Mayor

Elsa Paz of San Pedro on the radio saying that she was being accused of corruption. Well that is no surprise to me; they say that birds of a feather flock together. Between Elsa and Zeniada, it is hard who would jump out the bag first.

Mayor Paz seem to find no shame in admitting that her presence on the Liquor License Board does not represent a conflict of interest, even when she and her her brother sits on a Board that issues licenses to her family’s night club. It has been said that their club has not been paying their license. If this is true, what a disgrace! Where is the transparency and accountability? No wonder the Mayor has been crying that the Police in San Pedro are corrupt. They are not Mayor, the truth of the matter is that when the Police tried to enforce the law, you have been known to step in and pull big strings, preventing the Police from enforcing the law.

But the problem goes beyond that, the Mayor has another club by the Lagoon side that is filled with Central Americans girls. As the police pointed out on national radio, not only are they operating illegally, but MAYOR PAZ has intervened on countless occasions when they try to enforce the law.

The proposed 17 percent water increase …

Exactly two years after the UDP was elected to office, an independent expert is recommending a whopping 17 percent water increase on the Belizean people. What is wrong with this government? Can’t they see that as it stands Belizeans can barely put food on their tables? Barrow and his Cabinet of dodo birds need to take a walk on the streets so that the Belizean people can tell them to their faces that “we cant tek it no mo.”

NO PM we cannot and will not take a water increase.

They Are Listening to YOU!

29

30

The Belize Times

Sunday, FEBRUARY 14, 2010

Barrow Bad For Belize

Two hundred citizens murdered.

And. Six deadly grenades thrown in our streets since Barrow became Prime Minister. His response and that of his government has been an incompetence of inactions and lack of any policy. Nothing so exposes the utter lack of leadership that is at the heart of this country’s downward spiral than the future of the Prime Minister to offer any solutions.

Who would have guessed that within weeks of being elected in February 2008 Mr. Barrow amended the nation’s Constitution to take way a fundamental right to go to the Supreme Court when the government attempts to take away a citizens’ land if there is oil beneath it? Whose interest does Barrow represent? The oil industry or the best interest of the people of Belize? Why in God’s name would any Prime Minister take away such an important right guaranteed to everyone in the Constitution.

On the other side of the oil coin, Mr. Barrow having been telephoned by “important” people in Washington and the British High Commission’s

office, found a not so ingenious way of fooling the rest of us. Having no intention of extracting a better deal from the rape of our oil resources by BNE, the master of the games announced a special windfall tax on oil once the price reached ninety dollars per barrel. The tax measure which could have been passed in two days took many months to be tabled in the National Assembly. By the time it became law the price of oil had fallen

way below his proposed ceiling. This despite public recommendations from Hon. Mark Espat and others to place a more realistic ceiling. Barrow it seems had commitments other than to the Belizean people.

Today February 2010, two years after Barrow’s ascendancy to the Prime Minister’s office, not a single accomplishment is visible where our oil resources are concerned. When High School education could have been free for every eligible young Belizean, no such benefit has occurred. When every school could have employed counselors, sporting and cultural facilitators, supported by basketball courts, football fields and equipment; our young remain as neglected as ever before. Such matters are of no importance to Dean Barrow.

Mr. Barrow has no interest in poor people or their problems. All his life he has worked in the service of the rich and well-to-do. When BTL sensed that Intelco posed a small threat by way of competition, it was Barrow leading the charge with almost weekly condemnations and smear of Intelco in his

party newspaper. Whose interest was Barrow serving by destroying a small upcoming telephone alternative?

We are informed that despite public pronouncements to the contrary there are Gazette Notices showing that Barrow’s law firm is still in the employ of Belize Bank.

Should we be surprised that our Prime Minister refuses to have the Banks lower interest rates in the face of the scarcity of money and lack of jobs and opportunities so widespread under his watch?

Should we be surprised that in the face of public outcry and a protest march by his key allies from the zinc fence he will do absolutely nothing against BNE who are multi-millionaires off our oil and whose accounting figures are obviously suspect even to their own investors. His response is that he cannot interfere with contracts signed by BNE. But he can interfere with contracts of ordinary Belizeans, whose titles to a piece of land are being breached with alarming frequency by his Minister of Lands. The unlawful letters sent to citizens say that their “title is no longer valid”, their “lease has been cancelled”.

Employment contracts with supporters of the PUP are broken frequently as victimization has been publicly practiced by Ministers. They have the support of the Prime Minister who has repeatedly said he has no apologies for kicking out humble Belizean from their jobs to make way for his party supporters. This is an open violation of the laws of Belize.

Speaking further of contracts.

We recall how often Mr. Barrow has railed at anything that smacked of secret contracts in the last administration. Yet, when his personal appointee at NICH was exposed for having signed a secret business contract, the NICH Minister who opposed such, was chastised. Indeed, Minister Cardona was removed from Cabinet and Diane Haylock remains at NICH to sign on the dotted line.

Someone needs to tell Mr. Barrow that he is Prime Minister only because of the errors of the last Government.

Efforts by Barrow to remain in office in 1998 were resoundingly rejected by the electorate. His all out move to become Prime Minister in 2003 were soundly defeated by the electorate.

What happened in 2008 had nothing to do with Dean Barrow. If Boots Martinez or the dummy Gaspar Vega was leading the UDP in 2008 they would be Prime Minister.

Mr. Barrow is no leader. He is in love with the position of Prime Minister. He has offered not a single solution to the many problems facing our country.

In the same way Zenaida Moya has broke the City Council, the same way Dean Barrow broke the government. These are the hardest of times for Belizeans.

CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE at www.belizetimes.bz We are the most visited newspaper website in Belize

Sunday, FEBRUARY 14, 2010

The Belize Times

Tighten Up!

(Continued from page 1) bet that he will resort to retrenchment and taxes?

And on the other side of the economic ledger, public officers will not only not get a cost of living adjustment to ease the steep escalation in prices, but there is growing concern that the axe will soon swing. And we all know it

won’t start with the fat salaried contract officers.

Dean Barrow tried to act as though it was good news when he said that fiscal incentives fell from 1 billion dollars in 2008 to just 189 million in 2009, yet still he glowingly forecasted that that number will grow to 500 million in 2010. The fact is that foreign investment has dried up,

Disrespectful, Facey & Hopeless

(Continued from page 1) had been anxiously awaiting: “How much is your ex-wife making?” For the umpteenth time on record, Belize’s Prime Minister dodged the question, pretending as though he did not know the million dollar answer. But what he did reveal about his ex-wife was damaging enough.

Barrow declared that he had absolutely no apologies and went even further to say that whatever it is that Lois Young Barrow is making is “well worth the price” since she led the charge for the now defunct ACB. In other words Belize, Dean Barrow confessed on national radio that Lois Young Barrow, his ex-wife, is being handsomely rewarded for her activism in a UDP support group. Classically Barrow and classically facey.

Finally, and most importantly, what Wednesday’s press conference proved to all the nation is that it has taken exactly two years for Barrow to smell the stench coming from a Government riddled and plagued by nepotism and gross incompetence. Finally, Barrow has gone on record to concede that his Government is going nowhere. And, in typical doom and gloom fashion, Barrow made no qualms in declaring that “the

upcoming year will be the hardest of the UDP term”. The question however is, hard for who?

Just one week ago, the Guardian Newspaper ran a headline declaring “Two Years of Success”. But what the editor of the Guardian failed to add to this headline was the phrase “for the Barrow Family”.

Indeed, for the rest of us, the past two years have been the toughest, most difficult and most trying in the history of our young nation, rich with oil reserves, natural resources, and a tourism product unparalleled in this hemisphere. Yet, our Prime Minister and his motley crew of dismal Ministers cannot find the answers and deliver the solutions that the Belizean people so desperately need.

The truth is that there is no reason why Belizeans should continue to suffer like this. Yes, we made a mistake when we voted for untalented candidates, but to undergo such torture was certainly not expected.

Mr. Barrow needs to stop focusing on his family’s riches and start focusing on the cries of the nation. People need jobs!

Belizeans demand to live in a safer society; they need food to feed their children!

31

remittances have turned to pittances, and now the heretofore growing financial services sector is under threat.

Our single largest foreign change earner, tourism, has been without a captain of the industry at the helm of the Belize Tourism Board for months, and turf wars and personality conflicts have determined that we are assured of yet another lost season of opportunity.

Even if the industry rebounds in other places we can be sure that Belize will be

the last to see those benefits.

He gropes in the dark of his lack of vision, failing to understand that inflation has turned to deflation and the economy plummets from recession to depression.

Fo r o r d i n a r y B e l i z e a n s t h e economic forecast says that things are going from bad to worse. Old Kriol people used to say wi gawn fram grace to grass, and now fram grass to r—s.

Tings haada out ya!

They need the Minister of Education to stop canceling scholarships and start issuing new ones! If Barrow cannot deliver on the basics then he needs to start preparing for an early election, because

there is no way in hell that the people of Belize will tolerate three more years of abuse, nepotism and an incompetent government.

Hypocrites of the Week

They told us to Imagine the Possibilities. They promised us that they would bring down the cost of living no matter what. They said, not even the smell of corruption, instead, they gave us a recession that can come a depression; they gave us broken streets and highways; more

hard time than ever before; killings; murders; and chaos in our streets, and now they are asking us to be patient and to have understanding. For these reasons and for all the failed policies of the United Democratic Party, we declare the UDP administration hypocrite of the week.

32

The Belize Times

Sunday, FEBRUARY 14, 2010

sunday, FeBRUARY 14, 2010

The Belize Times

insert A 33

Mariposa'sKid's Corner “501 KIDS’ CLUB” Color Me

February 14, 2010 will welcome in the next Chinese New Year. The Year of the Tiger!

The New Year is the most important Chinese holiday. It is a fifteen (15) day holiday and is a time of feasting with the family, celebration, fireworks and gift-giving. The Chinese calendar follows a 12-year pattern with each year named after an animal. There are many stories that tell us why this happened. One of the folktales is that the Jade Emperor invited all of the animals to join him for a New Year celebration, but only 12 animals turned up. To reward the animals that did come, he named a year after each of them in the order that they arrived, starting with the Rat, followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (or Sheep), Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

Have you made a Valentine’s Day card for your Mom and Dad? Well, get out your crayons, a sheet of plain paper and glue.

Colour the bear and the heart as well as you can, then ask your mommy, daddy or older sister or brother to cut out the bear.

Fold your plain paper in half. Then glue the bear to the front of one side. You’re almost finished all you have to do now is to write something nice on the inside.

Next, give it to your Mom and Dad.

Want to say Hello?

Email Mariposa at: 501kidsclub@gmail.com

Valentine’s Day Special!

God= Love = Family…

Valentine’s Day is here again! I always felt that it was just for adults but my teacher said that it is a great time to show love to the people closest to us.

What is a family tree? It is a chart and most times it is in the shape of a tree that shows all our relatives starting as far back as you can go.

I did a simple one starting with my great grandparents.

My mom’s grandfather was from Mumbai (Bombay), that is the capital of India; he went to Jamaica as a labourer and fell in love with a Kriol Jamaican woman.

On my father’s side, my grandfather’s family was from China. They also left their home and went to Jamaica to work as labourers. I learnt how my Dad’s mom fell in love and left Jamaica to live in Belize with her husband. Dad and Mom even told me how they met while my Dad was studying at university.

Mom and Dad reminded me that having a family is a blessing from God and that it is important to let the people we love know how much we care on Valentine’s Day and rest of the year.

Do you want to give doing a family tree a try? I had fun and I think you will too!

Insert B 34

The Belize Times

Sunday, FEBRUARY 14, 2010

Sunday, FEBRUARY 14, 2010

The Belize Times

Insert C 35

Insert D 36

The Belize Times

Sunday, FEBRUARY 14, 2010