The
Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE BELIZE TIMES
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Belize Times The Truth Shall Make You Free
Judge... Jury... Executioner SUNDAY APRIL 11, 2010
Issue No. 4688
$1.00 www.belizetimes.bz
Was Jermaine Mangar Set Up?
As we g o to press, public speculation is growing that Detective Constable Jermaine Mangar is just a casualty of an elaborate set up by fellow officers in a conspiracy which may lead all the way up to the top of the department. That speculation grew legs with the revelation this week that Mr. Barrow and his Commissioner of Police Mr. Jeffries may not have been exactly forthcoming at a press conference last week Thursday. At that media briefing, the leader of the nation played judge, jury and executioner when he announced that Mr. Mangar was the criminal master mind behind ever y single
robbery in recent memory, including the Scotiabank Spanish Lookout heist which left one man dead. Mr. Barrow assured business owners that they could sleep easy as there would be no more robberies because of the arrest of Mr. Mangar, and other disciplinary actions to come within the department. Just days after, the Police Press Officer stated unequivocally that this was not the case, that Mr. Mangar was in no way connected to the Scotiabank heist. At around the same time early this week, the man in charge of the bank robbery investigation, Senior
(Continued on page 31)
15% GST by JUNE?
The Belize Times received reliable reports late today that the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance is seriously contemplating raising the General Sales Tax another 2.5% for a total of 15%. That move, we understand, would come in the form of a Supplemental Budget presented sometime in June. Sources we spoke to in the Ministry of Finance were tight-lipped, but we did receive confirmation that there is concern that the raise of 2.5% in General Sales Tax will not return Mr. Barrow’s anticipated windfall in revenue. While those sources would neither confirm nor deny that a supplemental budget is in the works, a source as the General
Discord at Harmonyville
Sales Tax department told us that they had sought an audience with the Prime Minister’s Budget Team prior to the presentation of the budget, but were denied so had absolutely no input in the increase in GST. That source told the Belize Times that because of the nature of the tax, GOB only retains about 1/3 of what is paid in. Most definitely a raise of 2.5% would not be enough to bridge the deficit in the budget, stated the source. If the reports are true and Mr. Barrow raises GST to 15% in June, it is believed that per IMF recommendations, the next move will be retrenchment of public officers.
Just as Mr. Barrow played judge, jury and executioner in the case of Mr. Mangar, it appears that he has now assumed the role of Minister of Everything and Leader Omnipotent by giving away private land to 800 squatters in Cotton Tree at mile 41 on the Western Highway. Media reports indicate that Mr. Barrow met with the defacto leader of the group of squatters Nigel Petillo and gave him permission to parcel out 1-acre lots to 800 persons. The land in question is allegedly privately owned by a Chinese national who is reported imprisoned abroad. Apparently it does not matter that there is a legal process in place for the government to acquire land for a public purpose. By all appearances, it does not matter that squatting on land which is privately owned is illegal. It seems that none of the processes of law apply when Mr. Barrow waves his magic wand and issues a declaration. The situation in Cotton Tree arose out of the Hon. John Saldivar, who is the area representative of Belmopan, sending a few of his supporters to claim land on
the 1300 acre parcel at mile 41. Those few persons turned into a mass exodus, which resulted in Saldivar turning tail and running to Cabinet for help. Cabinet issued a cease and desist order which was roundly ignored by ‘new landowners’ at mile 41 who cleared their land and began to put up fences complete with barbed wire. At last count, reports indicate that about 2500 applications were received by Petillo for parcels of land. Minister of Natural Resources Gaspar Vega has been mute on the issue throughout. The move by the squatters has highlighted the deficiency in his ministry in dealing with real land issues for Belizeans. Mr. Vega shows no such inadequacy when it comes to handing out large parcels of land and even cayes to UDP cronies. It is common belief that a ‘gift’ placed in the right palms can resolve even the most complex land issues and open doors previously sealed shut. The many Belizeans who rushed to acquire their portion of the jewel at mile 41 have obviously not been privy to this special treatment. (Continued on page 31)
Are YOU Better Off Today?
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Questions to Ministers
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THE TIME FOR EXCUSES IS GONE...
In the political quiet of the Easter Weekend the Prime Minister held a press conference to make an announcement about crime, revealing that the Police Department had set up a sting operation that resulted in the arrest and very likely the interdiction of a number of rogue police officers. Those on the list included police officers of numerous ranks, from members of the constabulary and leading even as high as some senior members of the Belize Police Department. The entire press conference was interesting, not only for the fact that the Prime Minister would make such an announcement on Holy Thursday, when Belizeans were focused on the long weekend, but also that he would do this without his National Security Minister at his side. The absence of Minister Perdomo resulted in speculation that perhaps the Prime Minister was tired of him and of his inability to curb the crime situation. After the political bruising that the government took during the House Debate from the Hon. Cordel Hyde’s breakdown of the budget cuts in National Security, it comes as no surprise that there was a need for some action on the part of Government. In his presentation the Hon. Cordel Hyde provided an analysis of how much Government planned to spend on law enforcement and crime prevention. His convincing argument exposed the Barrow Administration’s lack of a serious commitment to addressing the increasing levels of crime and the causes of crime, especially in crime ridden areas in Belize. He pointed out where spending would be reduced in the Ministry of National Security, including programmes to help disadvantaged youths, south side policing efforts and so on. He also made the point that the one place where there was going to be an increase in allocation was in the Prisons, questioning the government’s priority when it comes to dealing with crime. As a result of his presentation, which exposed the Government, the Prime Minister in wrapping up the debate said that he would revisit the budget for the Police Department, which meant he may put back what was cut from the last budget, which in our opinion was not enough to deal with a problem that is already out of control. Considering the fact that Minister Perdomo in his presentation during the BudgetDebate did not seem at all disturbed by the fact that his ministry and especially the police department budget had been reduced, it is understandable that the Prime Minister would not want to be seen in public with his National Security Minister. After all that has transpired since the Prime Minister’s Holy Thursday Press Conference, it seems as if the Minister of National Security may end up with the last laugh after all. Since he was not present for a press conference which as it turns out was nothing more than spin, he cannot be blamed for what has become yet another embarrassing moment for the Prime Minister and his Commissioner of Police. The media reports and investigations are now revealing that there are now conflicting reports coming out of the Belize Police Department. Worse than that, there is a clear contradiction of the facts that were stated by the Commissioner and supported by the Prime Minister and what was reported by the Police Press Officer. This is an embarrassing situation and is creating even more problems for an already beleaguered police department. Already polls are showing that overwhelmingly Belizeans lack confidence in the Police Department. These conflicting reports will only add to the growing lack of confidence in the Police and in the Government’s ability to keep Belizeans safe. The Hon. Cordel Hyde is right, the time for excuses are over, a Party that once had all the answers have now become the government and so they must do more to protect our citizens. The Prime Minister cannot afford to miss the mark when it comes to crime. Belizeans are already nervous about their personal safety. The Barrow administration has run out of excuses, the people are clearly fed up and tired of being afraid. The next likely step could very well be people taking up arms to defend themselves and their property. When a government cannot protect its people from danger, it means that they have failed to carry out their responsibility to the nation.
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Would the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance please confirm or deny rumours that because of a lack of consultation there was an error in calculating the increase in GST? Would the Prime Minister then be able to say if there is any truth to the report that he intends to raise GST to 15%? Would the Minister of National Security or the Prime Minister or anybody who can be willing to explain the foul up and contradictory reports given out at last week Thursday’s press conference? Would any of the above be willing to tell Belizeans what is the real truth? Would the Minister of Foreign Affairs please say why a Protocol vehicle using taxpayer funded fuel was dispatched, complete with driver, to take the Hon. Minister of the Public Service on Easter Holiday in Playa del Carmen? Would the Minister of Foreign Affairs not agree that at a time when Belizeans are being asked to tighten their belts that is completely wrong? Would the Minister of Tourism please confirm or deny rumours that he has also been placed on the short list for retrenchment slated for just after village council elections?
This week we decided to deviate just a bit from our usual hypocrite of the week because the truth of the matter is that there are some members of the UDP motley crew who are guilty of so much more than mere hypocrisy. In this issue we couldn’t help but pay keen attention to our friend from Belize Rural North, Mr. Castro, who seems to have somehow discovered the gold at the end of the rainbow. His discovery of that gold, coincidentally, came about shortly after the United Democratic Party won and he was named Minister of State in the very lucrative Ministry of Works. Before elections, residents of Belize Rural North remember Mr. Castro driving around in an old Land Rover, a man of monumental
arrogance but humble means. Those days are long gone. Now Mr. Castro’s arrogance is matched only by his newfound wealth. Today Mr. Castro can boast that he sponsors a 10-man cycling team, the Clear the Land team. That’s no mean feat, considering that bikes cost in the region of $10,000 each (conservatively speaking). Add in equipment and training and the sponsorship of this team is running upwards of $100,000. We didn’t add in the gas used by the vehicle which trains the riders, because Castro uses his government vehicle and we are paying for the gas. And that’s just the cycling team. There is also Clear the Land Cable and Clear the Land Boutique and Clear the Land heavy equipment rental and Clear the Land Real Estate Company and Clear the Land Resorts and Clear the Land Tours and Clear the Land Tilapia Ponds and Clear the Land Road-works. We probably missed out a couple but we’re sure you get the picture. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that something is very, very wrong with this picture. Perhaps when the Prime Minister deigns to lift his head out of the sand he could go smell around his Minister of State to see if he catches a whiff of corruption. For our viewpoint, the smell emanating from the recently wealthy dread would knock him off his feet. It is time for the Prime Minister to keep a commitment he made and enforce the unjust enrichment act. His problem is that if he does that, the likelihood is that a very hefty portion of his colleagues would have some serious questions to answer. So while we can wish it so, it won’t happen.
THE BELIZE TIMES EDITOR Mike Rudon
DESKTOP PUBLISHER Lucilo E. Alcoser
OFFICE SUPERVISOR
Fay Castillo-Mckay PRINTING/PERSONNEL SUPERVISOR Doreth Bevans BILLING/COLLECTIONS Henry Mortis
PRINTER Oscar Obando OFFICE ASSISTANT Roberto Peyrefitte
Printed & Published By The Belize Times Ltd. #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize Tel: 224-5757
Editor: 671-8385
TYPIST
Rachel Arana
Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE BELIZE TIMES
If Da Noh Soh…
The Easter Bunny… Minister Pig was living high off the hog this Easter weekend, thanks to the Belizean Easter Bunny’s tax dollars. You probably didn’t know this, but fatty travelled to Playa del Carmen in Mexico for his long weekend. That’s his thing and nobody cares. But what we do care about is the revelation that fatty travelled there courtesy of a Ministry of Foreign Affairs Protocol vehicle and driver. So while Minister Pig was partying like its 1999, we were
footing the bill for the ostentatious fellow. That’s some serious s@#t. We’ve just been told that things bad… really, really bad. We’ve just been told that things are going to get worse. We’ve just been hit with new taxes because of the Barrow taxation budget bukut. Now Minister Pig wants to join his bald-headed buddy in giving us the shaft, sans Vaseline. Why the hell should we have to pay so that the fat one can profile in Playa del Carmen, government vehicle and driver at his disposal 24hrs. Seriously, Minister Pig, that is wrong on so many levels. There are people starving out here because the government says it is broke and can’t do anything to help. We’d really like an explanation…If Da Noh Soh! What the Hell? It’s quite bad enough that the fat one travelled to Playa del Carmen on our tax dollars…but there’s more. Word just coming in is that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Protocol staff was also babysitting a low-level Ambassador in Placencia – God only
knows why. By the time the gentleman finished partying GOB had been stuck with a bill in the region of $8000 for a couple days over the weekend. There’s something fundamentally wrong with that. A hell of a lot of people in Belize don’t even make $8000 for the whole year but now we’ve got a pay that so some Ambassador can make merry down south. It’s not like the Minister of Foreign Affairs will be able to shed any constructive light on this diplomatic gaffe. He still hasn’t explained why the head of protocol in Belize was dispatched to pamper and powder the PM’s son during a recent private multi-million dollar deal…If Da Noh Soh! Candles in the Wind… Very reliable word is that two Cabinet ministers, a fat fellow and a runty fellow, were seen swaying
dreamily to the tunes at an Elton John concert held over the long weekend in Chichen Itza, not too far from
Playa del Carmen, by the way. These two heathens have been romantically linked before, but we have yet to get photographic proof. Speaking from a purely personal point of view, I hope we never do. Anyway, we understand that when Elton John started belting out ‘The Way You Look Tonight,’ the fat fellow was so overcome that he attempted to take off his untidywhities to throw up on the stage and had to be restrained by security. Guess the fat frowsy fellow felt that what happens in Mexico stays in Mexico… not so my friend…If Da Noh Soh! Hilberto on the move… We’ve been wondering why Pablo is looking a little uncomfortable lately. Some of us thought that maybe he hadn’t figured out how to turn down the temperature on the heated seats in his new Land Cruiser Prado. Anyway, we’ve figured it out thanks to the amateur political sleuths working undercover in the UDP camp in Corozal. For some time now we’ve been saying that Hilberto Campos has
been fingered by the Prime Minister as the replacement for the electrician/ bozo/minister of health up north. We managed to confirm that report this past week as the casino Mayor worked to form his committee which will in his mind take him to ministerial glory. The thing is that he’s been having quite a bit of problems getting anybody to join. Everybody’s been telling him that it would be a waste of effort because after the disaster of the UDP, ain’t no chance in hell that anybody who runs for the UDP will win the next general elections. No worries, Pablo…you’ve got a second career and there will always be bulbs that need changing… If Da Noh Soh! Scrapping for the crumbs… The power-hungry bums in the UDP are jostling and pushing for position in the party even as the nation crumbles around them and Belizeans starve. The way things are going, you’ve just gotta believe that there’s not much left to fight for, but maybe the idiots just aren’t seeing the writing on the wall. As we’ve reported before, miniDean wants to be PM, so he’ll throw his hat into the ring for deputy leader. That’s confirmed. Mini-Dean has also used all his feminine wiles to enlist
the support of his buddy Minister Pig (remember the romantic tryst at the Elton John concert?). Those wiles must have been considerable (yuck) because Minister Pig, who has aspirations for leadership himself, has apparently decided to settle for running for Chairman of the UDP where he hopes to follow the dainty footsteps of the current Chairman. Minister Quitar from up north has said that he ain’t going nowhere and the little ‘negrito’ better step off. Minister Quitar has been solidifying his support
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was very conspicuously absent when the police department and PM made their huge announcement on Thursday (which turned into an April Fools prank by the way). In an interview sometime
last week, Mr. Perdomo indicated that Mr. Crooks is all right by him, even though he is wanted by authorities for heinous sexual crimes against a female minor. Hell, said Mr. Perdomo, what Crooks did in his personal life has nothing to do with his professional life. Okay, then, Mr. Perdomo. If you say from the, shall we say, more Hispanic so…If Da Noh Soh! sector of the UDP (remember the Who gets the nod? junket in San Pedro?). Erwin has been Last week we broke the news that quiet and speculation is that he is more concerned with the lucrative aspects the Chief Justice had been put on long of his portfolio (payable now) than leave effective immediately, in a move any power struggle in a party which meant by GOB to take him off the ain’t going nowhere fast. Look out for bench with haste. But the CJ said – it…the announcements will be coming not so fast – you can’t do that. Now word is that the CJ will work out the soon…If Da Noh Soh! rest of his contract but will then be Crooks in Belize… How many times have we told you that we might not have documented evidence to prove what we’re saying, but we sure as hell know it’s the truth? Since last week our agent at Vibes has been saying that fugitive from justice Harold Crooks is very likely in Belize. Well, just yesterday Radio Jamaica reported that while it was first believed moved by Mr. Barrow, who has already that Crooks had run to Bermuda, (very prematurely) informed the Bar Association of his decision. We also reported on a short list of candidates which Mr. Barrow has compiled for the post. We’ll go one step further and tell you that one candidate is ahead of the rest and is about to be given the nod. For his years of dedicated service (said tongue in cheek if you don’t catch that) Mr. Sosa is about to be rewarded. Look out for the announcement soon…If Da Noh Soh! reports now indicated that he could Nemencio’s woes… be in Belize. We told you so. See, Oh how the UDP bunch in the the evidence is clear that if you have friends in high places, there ain’t a law field is crying as they try to gather back enforcement agency that can touch supporters to contest village council you in Belize. Just look at Saint Sedi’s elections. Ain’t it ironic how after they nephew Hubert who is wanted by US won elections they ignored all and law enforcement authorities for home sundry and now need to go with hat invasion and kidnapping. Hubert is in hand to beg pardon. Take the lesson here partying like he doesn’t have a Jack - this is a sign of things to come. care in the world. In fact, his biggest Up north, UDP area representative gripe is that the Belize Times keeps Nemencio Acosta is so hated in the bringing up his situation. Other than villages that the UDP higher-ups had that, he apparently can’t be touched. to bring in David Akierman to try to Since Crooks is apparently such a organize the UDP slates in the area. good friend of our top political players Thing is that Nemencio is pissed off in government he should have even at the fact that Akierman is intruding better strings, so hell, why not come on his turf and so he is trying to put to Belize to soak up the rays while together some slates of his own. the Jamaican authorities stumble all Nemencio might be intoxicated around looking for you? If Da Noh most of the time, but in his coherent moment he realizes that his head is Soh! in the noose just like his dodo-bird colleague Pablo Marin. There’s a wind Two the hard way… Hell, maybe Mr. Crooks was even of change blowing in Corozal…If Da in the company of Mr. Perdomo, who Noh Soh!
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, April 11, 2010
l o ñ a p s nE
E
EL TIEMPO DE LAS EXCUSAS YA PASO...
New Leadership Critical
“Rogue cops!” screamed the news on Thursday 2nd April 2010. The Prime Minister at a hurriedly called press conference claimed that they had irrefutable evidence that a “gang of rogue police officers” were committing a spate of crimes in different parts of the country including the robbery of Scotia Bank in Spanish Lookout, Cayo. The Prime Minister further claimed that other police officers were already arrested with more arrests to follow. The following week on Tuesday April 4, 2010, Belizeans found out that the Prime Minister misspoke or as some would say, put his foot in his mouth! Detective Constable Mangar was taken to court and given a much lesser charge than that of a criminal mastermind – a charge which suggests only that he was involved in planning a crime which was never committed. To confuse matters even more, a press release from the Police Department stated that “P.C. Mangar was a possible suspect” but when the Acting Press Officer Sgt. Fritzroy Yearwood was asked by the press, he said “no”, P.C. Mangar was not involved in the Scotia Bank robbery. Senior Superintendent Paul Wade from Cayo also stated the P.C. Mangar was not involved in the Scotia Bank robbery. So who is telling the truth? Is it the Prime Minister and those top officials in the Police Department? Is the brief from the Acting Press Officer wrong? Is the Officer in charge in Cayo, a Senior Superintendent of Police and the man leading the investigation of the Scotia Bank hold up, wrong? While Belizeans may not know at the moment, they unanimously agree that something has gone terribly wrong in the Belize Police Department. The relationship between the Police Department and the public has never been ideal; Belizeans have complained about police brutality, police soliciting bribes, or police officers being just lazy and sloppy in their work. Unfortunately over the last year and a half Belizeans have become more alarmed at the level of unprofessionalism in the Police Department. Of late there have been many more reports and accusations against the police; at the same time, there is this feeling that crime is getting completely out of control. In August 2008, I made a statement in the National Assembly alerting the government about the crime situation. We as the opposition made it absolutely clear that this was not a political issue and we in the PUP were willing to help. We pointed out that there was a lack of leadership from within the Ministry of National Security and made ten suggestions which could be arranged into three areas: strengthening the police department, strengthening the prosecution branch and strengthening our fight against poverty. Unfortunately Minister Carlos Perdomo, the Minister of National Security’s reaction was at best childish. Instead of listening, he attacked, he took none of our suggestions seriously and instead he issued personal attacks and made references to Orange Walk as “Rambotown”. Despite all the press conferences and changes within his ministry, Minister Perdomo continues to fail miserably. He changed his CEO, replaced his Police Commissioner and moved people all over the place. All this and still we have seen no improvement. They brought in Mr. Harold Crooks to do a thorough review of the Police Department and make recommendations. Mr. Crooks, who is now a fugitive in Jamaica, made 167 recommendations, and a panel was assembled to look after the implementation. To date no one can tell you whether any of these recommendations were effective. The appointment of Mr. Crispin Jefferies as the new head of the police department came as a surprise to many, since Mr. Jeffries was near retirement. Commissioner Jeffries is known as a man of little words and much action. During the protest marches against the PUP government, he was the go to man. He was the man who did his best to keep law and order even at the point of endangering his life. While many questioned his style of policing, no one questioned his commitment to the police department. Jeffries, people say, is best on the ground; he is one of the nation’s top operations man. His job as Commissioner is not an easy one. The Belizean people have lost confidence in the Police Department; the situation is made worse when you hear stories of police brutality, “killer cops”, police protecting “drug lords” and corrupt cops. Each day many good police officers put their lives on the line to serve and protect Belizeans and we are grateful for their service. We stand with those honourable men and women. It is clear that the Police Department needs a new Minister and new leadership from outside the department to reorganize and strengthen the institution. The next time the Prime Minister calls a press conference to discuss crime let us hope he get the facts right and provides a formula for meaningful results.
En la tranquilidad política del fin de semana de Pascua el Primer Ministro celebró una rueda de prensa para hacer un anuncio sobre el crimen, revelando que el Departamento de Policía había establecido una operación encubierta que resultó en el arresto y muy probablemente la condena de un número de policías deshonestos . En la lista se incluyen agentes de policía de filas numerosas, de los miembros de la guardia civil y preeminente, tan altas como algunos miembros de alto rango del Departamento de Policía de Belice. En la conferencia de prensa todo era interesante, no sólo por el hecho de que el Primer Ministro realizo el anuncio el Jueves Santo, cuando los beliceños se habían centrado en el fin de semana largo, sino también que iba a hacer esto sin su ministro de Seguridad Nacional a su lado. La ausencia del ministro Perdomo dio lugar a especulaciones de que tal vez el primer ministro estaba cansado de él y de su incapacidad para poner freno a la situación de la delincuencia. Después de esta aparición con los moretones políticos que el gobierno tomó durante el debate de la Cámara por parte del Honorable Cordel Hyde, desgloso a los oficiales administrativos los recortes presupuestarios en Seguridad Nacional, que no era ninguna sorpresa que había una necesidad de alguna acción por parte del Gobierno. En su presentación, el Excmo. Cordel Hyde presento un análisis de la cantidad que el Gobierno prevé gastar en hacer cumplir la ley y prevención del delito. Su argumento convincente expuso a la Administración Barrow, la falta de un compromiso serio para hacer frente a los crecientes niveles de delincuencia y las causas de la delincuencia, especialmente en las zonas asoladas por la delincuencia en Belice. Señaló que el gasto se reduciría en el Ministerio de Seguridad Nacional, incluidos los programas para ayudar a jóvenes desfavorecidos, en el extremo sur, los esfuerzos policíacos y así sucesivamente. También señalo el punto de que el único lugar donde iba a haber un aumento en la asignación fue en las prisiones, cuestionando al gobierno, la prioridad de los oficiales administrativos cuando se trata de hacer frente a la delincuencia. Como resultado de su presentación, al finalizar el debate, el Primer Ministro dijo que volvería a examinar el presupuesto del departamento de policía, lo que significa que puede poner de nuevo lo que fue cortado del último presupuesto, que en nuestra opinión no fue suficiente para hacer frente a un problema que ya está fuera de control. Teniendo en cuenta el hecho de que el ministro Perdomo en su presentación durante el Debate del presupuesto no parecía en absoluto preocupado por el hecho de que su ministerio y en especial el presupuesto del departamento de policía de que se había reducido, es comprensible que el Primer Ministro no quiere ser visto en público con su ministro de Seguridad Nacional. Después de todo lo que ha transcurrido desde el Jueves Santo en la rueda de prensa ofrecida por el Primer Ministro, parece como si el Ministro de Seguridad Nacional pudiera terminar con la última risa después de todo. Puesto que él no estuvo presente en una conferencia de prensa que, como resulta que no era más que girar, no se le puede culpar por lo que se ha convertido en otro momento embarazoso para el Primer Ministro y su Comisionado de Policía. Los informes de los medios de comunicación y las investigaciones están revelando que en la actualidad hay informes contradictorios que salen del Departamento de Policía de Belice. Peor que eso, hay una clara contradicción de los hechos que fueron expuestos por el Comisionado y con el apoyo del Primer Ministro lo reportado a la prensa oficial de policía. Esta es una situación embarazosa y está creando más problemas para un departamento de policía ya hostigado. Ya las encuestas están mostrando que la inmensa mayoría de los beliceños no tienen confianza en el Departamento de Policía. Estos informes conflictivos sólo se sumarán a la creciente falta de confianza en la Policía y en el Gobierno y la capacidad de los oficiales administrativos para mantener seguros a los beliceños. El Excmo. Cordel Hyde tiene razón, el tiempo de las excusas por parte de los que una vez que tenía todas las respuestas se han convertido en el gobierno y por lo que deben hacer más para proteger a nuestros ciudadanos. El Primer Ministro no puede permitirse el lujo de perder el camino cuando se trata de la delincuencia. Los Beliceños ya están nerviosos por su seguridad personal. El gobierno de Barrow se ha quedado sin excusas, la gente está claramente harta y cansada de tener miedo. El paso siguiente probable podría muy bien ser que las personas tomaran las armas para defenderse a sí mismos y a sus bienes. Cuando un gobierno no puede proteger a su pueblo del peligro, significa que han dejado de cumplir con su responsabilidad con la nación.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE BELIZE TIMES
UDP Politics as usual
We are messed up… Imagine this. The leader of the nation gets up in the spotlight on Thursday and tells the nation that in a brilliant feat of exceptional police work coupled with a timely checkpoint, a major crime ring has been shattered in one fell swoop. Business owners must sleep easy in their beds, said the Prime Minister, because this crime ring which was responsible for every robbery in recent memory is no more – justice has been meted out. Then we find out that it was all just a lie. We expect all the wrath of the heavens to descend on this so-called criminal mastermind when he appears before the Court. Mr. Barrow said he did it, after all. Imagine then our surprise when this gentleman is hit with two relatively minor charges for a robbery which was allegedly in the planning but never did go down. What’s up with that? How about the bank heist in Spanish Lookout where a guard was killed? If Mr. Barrow says he was responsible for that one, why wasn’t he charged for it? What about all the other robberies that Mr. Barrow credits to this modern day Dr. Evil? Why wasn’t he charged for those? Something stinks for sure…big time! Something stinks in Barrow-dom! A vaguely worded press release from the Police Department late Wednesday evening attempted unsuccessfully to extricate Mr. Barrow from the mess. But taking the press release for what it’s worth, it’s only made matters so much worse. If we are to believe the amateur spin doctors, the Police Press Officer (suddenly turned Acting Press Officer after he contradicted Mr. Barrow) spoke out of turn. If we are to believe those same spin doctors, the officer in charge of the investigation of the robbery in Spanish Lookout was somehow not informed that the man who planned said robbery (again according to Mr. Barrow) was in custody. How bogus is that? Seriously, that’s just a crock of s#@t. Mr. Barrow must think we’re really stupid. Somehow, some way Mr. Barrow miscalculated big time on this one. I predict this one is going to hurt. Please explain… Please excuse the lack of lofty initials after my name – got no S.C. or Q.C. or any C to speak of, but I’d like an explanation if any learned person out there would help. See, as I understand it, there was a supposed plan to rob Chon Saan in the making. That robbery never did happen. Nobody even got near to the premises. Anyway, certain policemen are alleging that detective constable Mangar was the mastermind behind this robbery which never did happen. So Mr. Mangar is arrested for his supposed part in planning this robbery which never did happen. Conspiracy they call it. And Mr. Mangar is remanded because there was a firearm involved in the conspiracy to commit this robbery which never did happen. That makes no sense to me. I wish somebody would explain.
Shoot to Kill? Let me first say that I’ve left the Commissioner out of most of this recent hellish situation with the Police because I’m sure he is already taking a licking because Mr. Barrow came out looking like a liar in front of the nation. There’s no need for us to bash him at this point, though we reserve the right to do so at any other time. But we’d like some clarification, please. I almost imagine that at that same press conference I heard Mr. Jeffries say something to the effect that when confronting alleged criminals on the streets the police department has now adopted a shoot to kill policy. Hold up there, Wyatt Earp, we need to hear just a little more about this plan to turn the city into the OK Corral. Don’t get me wrong – we don’t believe in coddling criminals and we didn’t support Mr. Barrow begging gang leaders to please, please behave. But we need to know exactly what you have in mind. See, if memory serves there was a big stink just recently where policemen were fingered as the triggermen in a couple murders and apart from that there have been quite a few allegations of unjustifiable lethal force used recently. We’d like to know just what you meant, Mr. Jeff. Spell it out for us please. Why was Mr. Perdomo missing? Minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo was very conspicuously and as it turns out fortuitously absent from Thursday’s press conference.
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The conspiracy theorist in me wonders if Carlos is not smarter than we think. Could it be that Mr. Barrow was neatly set up? By now everybody knows that Mr. Perdomo’s head is placed neatly on the chopping block to be sliced off. By now everybody knows that Mr. Barrow has been in meetings with Mr. Saldivar to offer him the portfolio. Seems to me that Perdomo’s absence was just a little too timely! Seems to me that Perdomo used Barrow’s monumental ego and love of the spotlight to set him up to look like a buffoon in front of the nation…it worked! Good going, Carlos. I’ve got new respect for you but don’t let it go to your head.
Thank you Ernesto… I was listening to Love FM’s morning show a couple days ago and heard a comment from Ernesto Vasquez which made my day. Ernesto was breaking down GOB’s whopping increase in GST in succinct and crystal clear fashion. He said plainly that contrary to what Mr. Barrow is claiming, the increase in GST will not increase the spending power of Belizeans but rather will decrease it. It’s a bad tax, plain and simple…a tax that will negatively affect the poorest of the poor in Belize. Ernesto’s comment is one that is being mirrored in all sectors across Belize. Everybody is speaking out against Mr. Barrow’s new taxation regime which will cripple the Belizean people. My only wish is that all these organizations would have been so vocal before the new taxation regime was implemented. Everybody knew what was going to happen and the Opposition People’s United Party for some time has been forecasting exactly what happened. All this hullabaloo now is just so much dust in the wind. Mr. Barrow has done what he wanted. His colleagues on the government side have pounded their chests and beat on their tables. Too little way too late for the Belizean people! The Sly One at Work… We’ve been predicting for some time now that this situation at mile 41 is going to blow up sooner rather than later. Close to 2,000 Belizeans are attempting to squat on some privately owned land by mile 41. It is an exodus which is the fault of UDP area representative John Saldivar who was flexing in Cayo South. When it got out of control, Saldivar ran to Cabinet which immediately issued a cease and desist order. Nobody listened to that order worth a damn and the claiming continued. It is a no win situation for the UDP. They can’t allow the squatters to stay because it sets a bad precedent for the rest of the country. If this goes through then Belizeans all over this nation can identify a piece of privately owned land which nobody seems interested in and can set up shop, to hell with the legality of the matter. But the UDP can’t rough up the squatters cause there are almost 3,000 of them and that translates to a hell of a lot of votes which the UDP cannot afford to play around with right now. So the master of the game steps in. Mr. Barrow goes to Mr. Petillo and says, okay buddy, you are in charge but here’s the deal. Of the 3,000 applicants for land only 800 will get and you have to be the one to break the news to the unlucky 2,200 or so. So far we’ve still not heard anything about the illegality of just squatting on land with is legally and privately owned. We do know that there is a process which government must satisfy before it can just acquire land on a whim. Whichever way this goes, Mr. Petillo should realize that he’s dealing with a devious sucker and when you sup with the devil it is advisable to use a long spoon. Just our two cents – Mr. Petillo just got shafted but probably doesn’t even realize it. Just plain embarrassing… Somebody should have a word with the Mayor and tell her that she is an embarrassment to Belize and should try to stay out of the limelight as much as possible. First it was the cross-country, when she turned to launching into the opportunity to give a state of the city address. You want my summary of the state of the city, Madam Mayor – it sucks. It is filthy, crime ridden and infested with money-eating rodents who have made their home in City Hall. Just look around, Mayor! Anyway, that was bad enough, but then the Mayor was in the news again receiving the Queen’s Baton. I almost fell out of my chair when I heard her refer to Delhi as a country which has so much in common with Belize. You idiot, Delhi is a city in India, not a country. Jeez. You’ve heard about the total package of brains, beauty and competence? Well that’s not the case here. We’re stuck with the antithesis of the total package.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
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Sunday, April 11, 2010
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Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE BELIZE TIMES
Tourism: Game Change or Game Over?
“The tourism industry, in particular, will benefit from special marketing effortools headed by a new high powered Director, and the continuing efforts to lower airline fees and attract new carriers”- - excerpt from PM Dean Barrow 2010/2011 Budget Speech It is no secret that the tourism industry has been struggling for some time and in the 2 years of a UDP government it has not gotten any better. The press conference held this week to “introduce the New Director of Tourism” further validates this point. Ms. Seleni Matus indeed has a wealth of experience over the past 10 years but it is all in NGO work and as a project manager and the language she used in her media interviews ( “game changer” action plan, monitoring indicators and framework of broadening partnerships) is typical of her NGO training. After decreased arrivals, decreased occupancies, termination of employees, low
CEO Mike Singh
Director Seleni Matus
BTB Chair Lindsay Garbutt
New Faces but Same Old Tricks
profit margins, an overtaxed tourism environment, those in the business of tourism are looking for more than a “kumbaya” moment and more than just fancy talk. It is even more disheartening to learn that (in addition to the fact that Ms. Matus is a straightforward political appointee who neither applied for the job nor has the tourism management
or marketing experience) she will not be in country full time until July. She is doing courtesy visits, press conferences, the media circuit but then she leaves and as we understand the BTB will fly her in from time to time between now and July….perhaps this is what the PM Barrow meant by “high powered”. For an economy and an industry that does not have
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financial resources readily available, it is amazing that the industry continues to be given the shaft: first with taxes and now with an absent Director of Tourism, a political appointee with very little experience in Belize’s tourism industry. But, political appointees such as Ms. Matus, handpicked by CEO Mike Singh, are accustomed to sweetheart deals that allow her such frequent flyer privileges. According to sources her package is quite hefty and one that came at the expense of the Deputy Directors who all received a salary cut. The new Chairperson of BTB, Lindsay Garbutt, also has something in common with the new Director of Tourism (other than being UDP supporters). He too has worked for Conservation International as a Project Manager while Ms. Matus was doing work for Conservation International in Belize. Both he and Ms. Matus are friends of this Washington based NGO, although none have any proven results for Belize from this alliance. Mr. Garbutt was also the former Executive Director of Friends of Nature, an NGO once located in Placencia. It is widely known that while he held the post he came under much scrutiny for operating without transparency by allowing all engines for the NGO’s boats to be purchased from his Suzuki marine business, being paid a very lucrative package as an Executive Director of an NGO and he was mostly absent from duty for his personal business affairs. So now he and Ms. Matus are at the helm of the BTB with oversight by the shrewd businessman, Mr. Mike Singh who is involved with the Belize Yacht Club (among other things), a hotel that is not even a member of the Belize Hotel Association or in compliance with hotel license regulations. A very interesting mix: not one of them has any substantive or significant tourism management experience. So much for the priority of tourism, right! Finally, for these new marketing strategies that the PM referred to, there isn’t any. When interviewed, Ms. Matus referred to “penetrating the European and Canadian markets”, “looking at our Central American neighbors”, “coming up with an action plan”, “rebranding the Belize tourism product,” “doing more internet and social network marketing” , “conversion of cruise passengers to overnight tourists” and CEO Mike Singh referred to “one meeting with Alaska Air”. Sounds familiar? All these things have been said, recommended and tried from both former PUP and UDP governments…nothing new. Same old games! Tourism is serious business and needs more heads in beds not more frequent flyer miles for the chosen handpicked UDP supporters at the helm of BTB. With the millions of dollars invested and the thousands of people working in the industry one would think that the Prime Minister and his government would take tourism more seriously.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Police Do a Complete 180 Degree Turn
Six days after he was first detained for a series of alleged armed hold-ups police arrested and charged Police Constable Jermaine Mangar, 25. Last Thursday when Prime Minister Dean Barrow and Police Commissioner Crispin Jeffries announced their great discovery and breakthrough of a ring of cops who were involved in organized crime they were positive that there was sufficient evidence to nail at least one of the officers, described by Jeffries and Barrow as the "mastermind" behind the crimes, and by now everyone knows they were talking about Mangar.
Send your letters to the editor to:
mike_rudon@hotmail.com
But on Tuesday when Mangar was finally escorted to the Magistrate's Court and charged, the offenses listed were: Attempted Robbery and Conspiracy to Commit Robbery. These are in connection with the alleged plot to rob Chon Saan Palace Restaurant on Kelly Street. But Man-
gar's common-law wife, Cassie Usher is not convinced police have a shred of evidence against him. In addition, she says over a dozen people can offer testimonies that he was not where police placed him in the collection of marked monies in the police sting operation. Said Usher,
“someone from the streets set up my husband and they are working with the senior officers from the Police Department." Usher has in her possession letters signed by Commissioner Jeffries and addressed to Mangar for good work in the past. And now almost in a fashion of retraction, the Police Press Officer issued a very carefully worded press release late this evening in which it stated that at the press briefing last Thursday..."it was made mention that a police officer who is believed to be directly involved with a series of robberies in Belize City is also believed to have some involvement in the robbery at the Bank of Nova Scotia, Spanish Lookout Branch. Detective Constable Jermaine Mangar was detained on Thursday, 1st April, 2010 and charged over the weekend in connection with the robberies in Belize City. The investigation into the Bank of Nova Scotia robbery is ongoing." The release continues that "Senior Superintendent Paul Wade, Officer Commanding, Cayo Police Formation, commented on the ongoing investigation and stated that PC Mangar was not involved. However, Mr. Wade was not made aware of other developments in Belize City related to the activities of PC Mangar and the suspects in that investigation." Meanwhile, since the Spanish Lookout robbery which ended up in the shooting death of unarmed KBH security guard, Stephen Lopez, cops have arrested and charged six men and a woman. Those charged are Juan Salazar for abetment to commit robbery, Michael Rodriguez for conspiracy to commit robbery and failure to prevent a felony. Frank Edwards faces a charge of murder upon Lopez, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. Austin Monguia, Ervin Fernandez, Lewis Hernandez and Isolina Perez have also been arrested and charged for handling stolen goods. Police have recovered almost $40, 000 and are looking for Gabriel Salazar, Alexander Edwards and Benjamin Peters. Salazar, a Guatemalan by birth, is from Melchor de Mencos.
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Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE BELIZE TIMES
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THREATS TO FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS
For small open economies like Belize, foreign direct investments (FDI) are a major contributing factor to aid in a country’s economic development. Belize’s investment policy framework is a relatively open one which allows for the easy flow of FDI through the establishment of wholly-owned foreign firms. During the post-independence era significant levels of FDI flows into Belize contributed to the development of key sectors within the economy, with tourism, agriculture, transportation and energy sectors being the main beneficiaries. It is important for one to note that which underpins the attractiveness for foreign investors to invest in Belize, is investor’s confidence. This essay will examine how this most important factor is being delimited at such an alarming pace that it may result in Belize becoming an investor’s destination of last resort. This is especially so with the most recent passage of the Supreme Court of Judicature (Amendment) Act of 2010. In the pre and post
independence era in Belize, FDI played a significant part in the development of the major industries and export sectors in Belize, namely, the sugar industry, citrus, energy and tourism sectors. During the period 1984 to 2003 FDI inflows into Belize averaged US$21.23M per annum. Data for the most recent years shows increases in capital and financial flows with 2008 recording US$109M, although this is inclusive of remittances from abroad. Majority of the foreign investments have been going into the energy sector for oil exploration and drilling in addition to funds being invested in real estate and tourism oriented projects. Nonetheless, with the onset of the global financial and economic crisis one can anticipate a reduction of inflows recorded for 2009 to decline. Therefore, although capital formation may be challenged by the global economic environment, the national environment now plays an even more important role as Belize competes along-side other developing and emerging markets
in the world. Investor’s confidence has been waning and continues to be tested as government policies and action give rise to major concerns of how investors can engage in Belize. In 2009 Belizean’s saw the nationalization of the Belize Telecommunications Limited (BTL) as a significant move by government in taking decisive action that did not render the public’s interest paramount, but rather exercised government’s power for its special interest. Most recently, with all eyes and ears on the budget that was presented and passed, on March 25, 2010 government introduced a Bill to amend the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, chapter 91 of the Laws of Belize. The swiftness and manner in which the legislative amendment was introduced, only reflects the government’s objective in attempting to ensure that the judiciary is limited by the law to such extent that it would favour government as a party to any possible dispute in the courts. The amendments to chapter 91 addressed specifically the enhancement of and penalties for criminal contempt of court. It is so written that in the case of natural persons or juridical persons, whether in Belize or elsewhere, can be held liable for directly or indirectly advising, facilitating or encouraging the commitment of an offence of contempt of court. The penalties are so exorbitant that individuals found guilty of contempt can be fined a minimum of $50,000 up to $250,000 with an additional fine of $100,000 daily for each day the offence continues. In the case of legal entities whether corporate or incorporated, fines range from a minimum of $100,000 to $500,000 with an additional fine of $300,000 daily for each day the offence continues. A second important aspect of the amendment is the fact that for legal entities, partners, shareholders, directors, managers, advisors and secretaries can be held guilty of the offence of contempt if the legal entity was so found guilty. It is for these individuals to prove to the court that the offence was committed without their knowledge. Thirdly, the act of contempt can be tried, judged and punished regardless if the offence was committed in Belize or outside of the country. This provision therefore, grants the Supreme Court extraterritorial jurisdiction. If the Court grants an injunction that restrains the continuation of commencement of any arbitral
proceedings whether in Belize or outside Belize, any award made can be wholly void by the Court. Lastly, the Act seeks to take effect retroactive to any injunction of contempt issued before these amendments. The implications of the above noted legislative amendments are far-reaching and especially so for foreign investors that choose Belize as a destination for their investment ,due in main, to the apparent strong legal framework and rule of law that exist. However, with such draconian measures being put in place investors may be wary of wanting to engage in economic activity and investments that can be subject to any legal challenge and by extension, liable of contempt, which can occur as a deliberate act or one of omission. The passage of such a piece of legislation ought to have been consulted upon with stakeholders to ensure that potential investors are not now viewing Belize as a country with a strong-armed government that may stifle investment and by extension development. The challenge is therefore, how the government rationalizes to the populace the need for such penalties and restrictions when there are far more pressing development issues that require attention. In light of government’s limited ability to swing the pendulum of economic activity in highgear, FDI remains a critical component that can ensure that demand is created and sustained so as to realize positive economic growth in the medium to long term. Once again the question is really where is the captain of the ship of State taking us? Is it that Barrister Elrington may be right in saying that in the hand of this captain we are heading for a shipwreck on the reef. Gwyneth Sydney Nah Send comments to GwynethNah@gmail.com
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, April 11, 2010
A Complete Cluster____!
By: Mike Rudon Jr. A press release issued by the press section of the Belize Police Department has in an obscure manner attempted to throw an invisibility cloak over the Prime Minister and to a much lesser extent the Commissioner of Police for their short-lived and ill-fated moment in the sun last week Thursday. Both men beamed like sunflowers and put the Cheshire cat to shame as they spoke of a brilliant police plan which foiled an attempted robbery and broke the back of a so-called criminal ring – a rogue officer orchestrated underworld network which was responsible for every single brazen robbery in the past weeks. The police officer/ kingpin/ringleader had even been the brain behind the robbery and murder in Spanish Lookout, said the duo. You can all sleep easy tonight for justice has triumphed, said Mr. Barrow. But it was all just a lie. In a newscast early this week, the police press officer contradicted the top cop and the big cheese, stating that Mr. Mangar, the so-called criminal mastermind, was not connected to the Scotiabank Spanish Lookout robbery after all. Then an interview with the OC Cayo, Senior Superintendent Paul Wade was brought to light. Sr. Supt. Wade whose department is in charge of the investigation into the Spanish Lookout robbery revealed that there was absolutely no connection with any so-called policeman led criminal ring – no connection at all. He had no idea what the interviewer was talking about. And then, Mr. Mangar, the criminal mastermind who Mr. Barrow and Mr. Jef-
PM Dean Barrow
fries claimed was the brain behind every big robbery in recent days was taken to Court and charged. But no, he was not charged for the murder and heist in Spanish Lookout. He was not charged in connection with any one of the many robberies he is supposed to have orchestrated. Nope. Mr. Mangar was slapped with two charges for an alleged conspiracy to rob Chon Saan Palace – a robbery which never happened; a robbery which some man who was caught at a checkpoint claims was in the works. That’s it. Who knows what was in Mr. Barrow’s mind when he stood in front of the nation and lied. Perhaps he was given some sketchy information by the Commissioner and desperately in need of some good news for a people increasingly disenchanted and frustrated by his administration he made a leap of faith but fell flat on his face. Perhaps he knew there was no connection but
Minister Carlos Perdomo
decided to say so anyway to give people some hope that something, anything was going right. Who knows what goes on in the great cavernous depths of Mr. Barrow’s mind? But that doesn’t really matter. There is nothing Mr. Barrow can do now to change what was done. We are messed up. That’s the word in the streets and the word on the airwaves, the word in the open and the word behind closed doors. This latest cluster____, to speak conservatively, is hardly a bolt from out of the blue. People knew things were messed up a long time ago. But Mr. Barrow standing up in the limelight and being smack dab in the middle of said cluster____ has brought the point firmly home – you know what, Mr. Barrow and the UDP are really the problem. From end to end of the crime spectrum, we are absolutely, completely but hopefully not irrevocably messed up. Our law enforcement officials can’t
process scenes of crimes adequately or preserve the chain of evidence properly. Investigators just can’t seem to get their routine down pat, leaving gaping holes in the process from arrest to Court date. We’ve got no forensics lab or proper ballistics testing facility, so we can forget about closing cases that way. Our prosecutors lack training and are overworked and under resourced. And if on the very rare chance there would still be a chance to get a conviction for murder with all those factors in play, we won’t. See, the police can’t protect us from the criminals, so witnesses are developing sudden cases of selective amnesia. Hell, who can blame them. Oh, maybe it should be mentioned here that with all the deficiencies in national security and the glaring need for more training and more resources and more facilities, Mr. Barrow decided in his budget to cut the allocation to the Ministry of National Security. In fact, he cut the allocation to the Police Training School by $1.5M. There’s no accounting for that. At least no sensible or ration accounting, that is. And now this! Like we needed anything else to dampen our spirits and open our eyes to the utter hopelessness of our crime situation while Mr. Barrow is at the helm. Ain’t no way that the Prime Minister can bury his head in the sand on this one; no way that a few ambiguous words on a press release can make amends. Mr. Perdomo’s absence was fortuitous in this instance, but that won’t save him either. We’re in big, big trouble. We are messed up – really messed up.
Mr. Barrow says he paid his ex-wife Lois $1.5M because she's special
Then cut the allocation to the Police Training School by $1.5M
YOUR PRIORITIES ARE SUSPECT, MR. BARROW
Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE BELIZE TIMES
No Leadership to Be Found Anywhere…
The sensational revelation that a rogue police officer was allegedly the mastermind of a criminal ring that was responsible for a string of armed robberies countrywide, particularly the Belize City Social Security Board, the Belize City branch of Courts, and the deadly Spanish Lookout Scotiabank heists that netted hundreds of thousands of dollars, while other officers may be involved in murder for hire was another hit to the embattled leadership of the Minister of National Security Honorable Carlos Perdomo. At the same time, Perdomo’s absence as well as that of his Chief Executive Officer the former Deputy Commissioner of Police Alan Whylie at the head table at last Thursday’s press conference that detailed how the Police Department busted up the criminal ring and put one of its very own behind bars perhaps reveals that the Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow has now placed all his fate in the Commissioner of Police Crispin Jefferies to ratchet up the administration’s fight against crime, and that he finally has had enough of the incompetent Perdomo, who has been fluttering in the wind for much too long. But to put it bluntly, Barrow himself has displayed abject leadership in the fight against crime
ComPol Crispin Jeffries
and has failed to inspire confidence that he has the inclination, will, or that he can develop effective strategies and policies to support the police’s operational efforts. Since he took office, no serious progress has been made in the fight against crime. This has resulted in most of us living in fear and being terrified to leave the false security of our very homes. Yet to date, no one has been held accountable for the failure to reduce crime, particularly the intolerable murder rate. Instead, Jefferies, who is way past the mandatory retirement age, was given another one year contract despite his heavy handed policing methods that has turned many law abiding citizens against the very persons who are tasked
VACANCY NOTICE PROJECT OFFICER, COMMUNICATION OFFICER (NO-2) The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is seeking qualified Belizean Nationals for the position of Communication Officer in the Belize Country Office.
Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Programme Coordinator and in close coordination with the programme team, the successful applicant will be accountable for technical support and assistance in the design, formulation, management, execution, monitoring and evaluation of a behaviour and social change strategy, plan of action and programme activities in support of the country programme:
Specifically the successful applicant will: •
Spearhead the development, management and facilitation of a strategy to get children’s issues into the public domain and a programme communication strategy, plan of action and activities for strategic communication and promotion for social and behaviour change in support of country programme delivery. • Provide technical support and assistance in the research, development, pre-testing, and production of culturally relevant communication materials. • Develop and enhance strong partnerships with community groups, leaders and other partners in the community and civil society for promotion of participation in social and behaviour changes supportive of programme goals. • Develop training materials and activities to build capacity for participatory and behaviour change communication. • Facilitate coordination and provide technical support to government counterparts and other partners in the development and strategic use of communication for social development. • Exchange findings, experiences, lessons learned and new methods with partners using culturally relevant communications platforms. • Contribute to the budget planning and ensure the compliance and the optimal use of funds allocated from communications across programme areas.
QUALIFICATION and COMPETENCIES Education
• University degree in the Communications, Communications for Development, Social and Behaviour Change Communication or any of the social/behavioural sciences, (Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Health Education) with emphasis on strategic communication planning for behaviour development, social mobilization, participatory communication, and research.
2.Knowledge and Work Experience
• Minimum of five years relevant professional work experience in the planning and management of social development programmes with practical experience in the adaptation and application of communication planning processes to specific programmes. • Knowledge of current developments in the fields of: communication theory, motivational psychology, adult learning theory, indigenous media, community organization and participation, strategic communication planning, behaviour analysis, formative research and evaluation of communication interventions. • Computer knowledge, skills and practical experience, including internet navigation and social media. • Fluency in English; knowledge of Spanish an asset.
Core Values and Competencies
Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, Integrity, Communication, Working with People, Drive for Results, Formulating Strategies and Concepts, Analyzing, Relating and Networking, Persuading and Influencing, Entrepreneurial Thinking. Please visit our website http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_apply.html to access the Personal History (P11) Form to be sent by e-mail with a detailed résumé to belize@unicef.org, attention: Operations Officer, no later than 15 April, 2010.
UNICEF OPERATES IN A HIV RESPECTFUL AND SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT & IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
PM Dean Barrow
to protect them. As the country’s top cop, Jefferies has hardly made any difference and is as accountable as his boss Perdomo for the failure to reduce crime that has led to the police losing ground to criminals. Perhaps Barrow cannot let go of Jefferies yet because he has little confidence in the ability of the other top ranking officers to lead the attack against crime. But this is clearly unacceptable because we cannot continue with what has spectacularly failed. The unprecedented lawlessness, particularly the wanton murders, poses the greatest threat to our safety. While the majority of the murders are committed in South Side Belize City, the killing fields are national. No community is immune or safe today. This has caused national outrage and engendered a sense of crises, yet it seems that the administration has failed to hear our cries and to realize that the crime situation is growing worse. Honestly, its response has been disappointing and disheartening. Perhaps the unprecedented lawlessness wreaking havoc in the country may be arrested through greater cooperation between the badly traumatized citizenry and the police. Clearly, there are persons out there with valuable information about criminal activities who can share it with the police in order for prosecutors to convict perpetrators of crime. But that will not happen anytime soon because there is a wide gulf that exists between most of us and the police that has led to a lack of trust that continues to stifle the police’s efforts to effectively combat crime and apprehend criminals. Although we are fearful of the criminals, we would twice about confiding in the police. It seems that far too many of our officers are friendly with known criminals. And as Jefferies admitted last week, there are rogue officers, who purposefully mislead fellow officers in their efforts to solve cases. We do not want to have our safety compromised by telling the police what we know, particularly when it seems that criminals operate with impunity in our country. As a result, prosecutors frequently have difficul-
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ty proving their cases and have watched people they know to be guilty walk free. With the evidence that officers are involved in criminal activity, the lack of confidence in the police will only get worse. Jefferies’ revelation only proved what most of us have suspected for some time now - that the Police Department is corrupt and that this corruption permeates all levels of the Department, including the High Command. Clearly, too many officers enjoy lifestyles that are inexplicable given their own meager incomes. Moreover, there is the perception that too many of our officers are not honest, truthful, fair, and dedicated to the rule of law. To be fair to Jefferies and Barrow, both declared at last Thursday’s press conference that they will not tolerate rogue officers in the ranks of the police. However, both appeared to have been grandstanding to assuage our fears and gave the impression that crime would be down now that criminal ring was foiled. But until their talk turns into tangible action that reassures us, particularly in the crime-ridden communities, that they are serious about ridding the ranks of rogue officers, we will not trust the police. This is not to say that there are not hardworking and honest officers in the Department. Nevertheless, we are becoming frustrated at Barrow’s inability to respond effectively to the serious threats that crime poses to our society. Also, he needs to keep in mind that the failure of Perdomo and Jefferies to reduce crime is as much his responsibility as theirs. By failing to remove them from their posts despite their spectacular failures, he agreed that they were doing a good job. Come to think of it, the greater responsibility rests with him because he failed to be at the forefront of an effective campaign to attack crime in the country. Editor’s Note – This article was written before it was revealed that the proclamation at the police press conference was nothing more than a sham to lure Belizeans into a false sense of security and a belief that our government can do something right. Sadly, we are even more certain now that that is not the case.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Barrow Shocks the Nation
Saturday, Apirl 3, 2010 Just when Belizeans thought they had heard everything that could go wrong with a lacklustre Police Department, the bomb was dropped on April Fool´s Day, of all days. Prime Minister Dean Barrow and his Commissioner of Police Crispin Jeffries called a press conference to do more than just confirm what many people had known for a long time now - there are rogue, corrupt cops in the department who have a hand in some of the nation´s most pronounced crimes. Well that confirmation came with on Holy Thursday at the conference at the Police Department´s Racoon Street building where Barow and Jeffries painted a picture so vivid that it brought shame to the department. There is not only one, but a ring of police officers who have evidently masterminded the recent and deadly heists in the country, particularly the vicious and fatal attack on the Scotiabank Spanish Lookout branch and the Social Security robbery on Princess Margaret Drive, Belize City two weeks before. In Jeffries´ own words, police “stumbled upon a ring being led by a very unscrupulous criminal minded police officer. That police officer from the information we’ve gathered so far may have a hand in the incident in Spanish Lookout and in the incident at Social Security, may have had a hand in several other incidents in Belize City.” The shocking details began to unfold during a sting operation in the Saint Martin de Porres area on Wednesday night when at a police traffic checkpoint cops intercepted a vehicle with three ¨¨suspicious characters¨¨. Two of the persons were taken into custody
Jermaine Mangar
but one fled, leaving behind a gun. But the two in custody revealed enough details that led cops to set up the sting operation, and that was when they caught Police Constable Jermaine Mangar of the Crimes Investigations Branch ¨red handed¨. His two partners in crime admitted to police that they had planned an attack that same night at Chon Saan Palace Restaurant on Kelly Street and that Mangar would have been notified when the heist was complete to pick up his share of the proceeds. But of course that never happened. Senior Supt. Blackett launched the sting, in which police had the two detainees communicate with Mangar and then radio in a false report as though the robbery had occurred. Once on the phone with the detained men, Mangar agreed to meet with them underneath a wooden house around the corner from Chon Saan on Baymen Avenue where he would pick up his share of the stolen monies. And he bought it hook, line and sinker. He was nabbed moments after he arrived in a white taxi to collect his share, all
vul·gar
PM Dean Barrow
marked notes that had been given to his accomplices as part of the sting operation. But while police have charged Mangar, they are also zeroing in on a few other cops ranging in ranks from constable to corporal to inspector, who they believe are in on the recent organized crimes along with Mangar. Barrow admittedly said that while the ring was broken, ¨there are police officers that the evidence makes pretty clear were also involved...those persons will at the very least be suspended... whether the kind of evidence will be forthcoming to be able to convict those additional officers is a matter that has to wait until the investigation is completed. But I am satisfied, based on what Mr. Broaster and Mr. Blackett told me, that there is enough to make it clear that none of these officers can remain in the Belize Police Department.” He also committed to ¨reorienting some of the spending priorities¨´ to improve the operations of the department. Barrow also said that a trained attorney from the Attorney General´s
[vuhl-ger]
–adjective 1. characterized by ignorance of or lack of good breeding or taste: vulgar ostentation. 2. crude; coarse; unrefined: a vulgar peasant.
Ministry will be assigned to prosecute the case to ensure that it doesn´t flop in the court system. Meanwhile, Jeffries added that no serving police officer would be on holiday for the Easter since the department will be on alert to deter crime over the holidays. In addition, he had some strong warnings for the criminal element who insist on carrying on their ruthless acts: “Íf they are confronted, we will have to speak to people in the court system thereafter because they will be shot and killed when they are caught. There is no doubt in my mind that if they can operate with impunity, we will have to respond in similar manner. We don’t want any of that but it is necessary to safeguard the citizens.” The latest robbery in which a business establishment occurred took place on Tuesday when two armed men entered the Courts Belize Limited´s main branch on the Northern Highway and handed one of the cashiers on the second floor a note demanding money. They got away with $1,500 from only one cash register and calmly walked out of the building. But the Courts management believe that up to four men acted as part of the heist because two more suspects waited in a parked blue Toyota Corolla and after the hold-up they proceeded up the Northern Highway. Police are also reviewing surveillance tapes that caught the robbery in progress. It is also quite possible that the corporal whose name had been called a number of times in the shooting murder of Christopher Galvez on December 22, 2009, may have been a part of the ring since Jeffries said he had been in communication with elements of the ring.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE BELIZE TIMES
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Mr. Barrow Promised - Lower Taxes - More Spending Power - Lower Utilities - Better Health Care - Lower Fuel Cost - Cheaper Education - Lower Cost of Living - Lower Crime
Mr. Barrow Delivered - Higher Taxes - Higher Utilities - Unprecedented Crime - Higher Cost of Living - Higher Fuel Cost - More Costly Education - Health Care in Shambles
Thanks for NOTHING - Mr. Barrow!
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Car dealer Acquitted of Manslaughter of his Common-law
Ken Young
BELIZE CITY, Wed. April 7, 2010 Ken Young, 34, a car dealer who was charged with manslaughter by negligence in connection with the fatal shooting of his common-law wife police constable Myrna Lopez, was acquitted of the charge today in the court of Justice Herbert Lord. The jury of 6 women and 3 men deliberated for about 3 ½ hours before it arrived at its verdict, which was not unanimous. It was in the proportion of 7 to 2. The incident occurred on April 1, 2006 at Grace Bank, located off Mile 21 on the Northern Highway. Young, Lopez and Lopez’s two children drove to Grace Bank to spend a day. While they were there they witnessed an altercation over a card game that was
being played under a shed. During the altercation one of the persons involved drew a machete and Lopez took it away and threw it in Young’s vehicle. The prosecution, represented by Crown Counsel Christelle Wilson, had sought to prove that when Young drew his licensed 9mm pistol, the gun accidentally fired as he struck one of the persons involved in the altercation on his head. The prosecution further tried to prove that the bullet struck Lopez in her chest and killed her. Lopez’s daughter and son who were 13 and 12 years old respectively at the time, testified as eyewitnesses for the prosecution. Young gave a statement from the dock in which he admitted that he struck one of the persons involved in the altercation with his pistol. But he claimed that it was not his gun that fired. Dr. Mario Estradabran, the forensic pathologist who did the post-mortem examination, testified that the bullet entered Lopez’s chest and made its exit through his lower back. Young’s attorney, Arthur Saldivar, had entered a no case to answer submission when the prosecution closed its case but it was not upheld by Justice Lord. After the shooting Young tried to drive Lopez to the hospital, but he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a lamp post at mile 19. Lopez, however, was already dead.
UNDP/Agriculture Enterprise Development for Rural Belize Project BID NOTICE Invitation to bid for the procurement of the following items: 1. Automatic laser level control with horizontal plain (AED Item1) Quantity: One Location: Irrigation and Drainage Unit Acculine Pro Electronic Self Leveling Dual Grade Horizontal Rotary Laser Level or equivalent Acculine Pro 16ft Aluminum Rod or equivalent Acculine Pro Aluminum Tripod or equivalent 2. Drying Oven (AED Item 2) Quantity: One Location: Central Farm Gravity Convection Drying Oven Size: 3.2 cu. Ft. Temperature Uniformity: +/- 2oC @ 100oC Power: 115V/230V, 60Hz External Temperature Display Temperature Range: 15o C to 250o C 3. Tanks for Water supply macro structure (AED Item 3) Quantity: Four Location: Central Farm Type: Poly Tanks (Plastic) Capacity: 5,000 US gal each Inlet Size: 3" Outlet Size: 3" With tank fittings BIDS can be for one item or all three items. Bids should be delivered to the UNDP/Belize Office at the address below during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday and no later than 9th April 2010. Bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked “AED Item 1, AED Item 2, AED Item 3 or AED All 3 Items”. Addressed to:
Environmental Programme Analyst UNDP Belize Constitution Drive Belmopan Phone: 501-822-2688 Fax: 501-822-3364 E-mail: diane.wade@undp.org
Note: Bids must be delivered to the above office on or before 5:00 p.m. on 9th April 2010. Late bids shall be rejected. Please note that if you are not selected, a response will not be given.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Car Theft Attempt Foiled By Alarm
Donovan Clarke
BELIZE CITY, Wed. April 7, 2010 Donovan Clarke, 21, resident of Woodpecker Avenue in Ladyville, was charged with attempted theft and damage to property when
he appeared yesterday in the #1 Magistrate’s Court. Clarke pled not guilty to the charges. Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie offered him a bail of $3,000 which he met. She adjourned his case until June 15. The incident occurred on Good Friday, April 2. The complainant, Dalja Chan, 48, who resides at 9A Princess Marg aret Drive, re por ted to the Police that she saw when the culprit pushed his hand through the gypsy w i n d ow o f h e r b u r g u n d y c o l o r Toyota Camry car that was parked in front of her house. The culprit drew back his hand and ran when he heard the alarm of the car go off. He was apprehended by the Police shortly afterwards. The damage was to the handle of the door on the right side of the car.
Cop & Criminal Charged With Conspiracy to Commit Robbery & Attempted Robbery
Jermaine Mangar
BELIZE CITY, Wed. April 7, 2010 Reports by Prime Minister Dean Barrow and the Commissioner of Police Crispin Jeffries of a ring of dirty and corr upt police officers ended up with only one detective constable, Jermaine Mangar, 25, being
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charged yesterday. Mangar, who the Police alleged was the culprit caught in a sting operation, was charged jointly with known criminal Jermaine Palacio when they appeared yesterday in the #1 Magistrate’s Court. Manger and Palacio were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted robbery. T hey pled not guilty to the ch a r g e s. T h e C h i e f M a g i s t r a t e, Margaret McKenzie, explained to them that the Court could not offer them bail because of the offences. She remanded them into custody until May 6. Mang ar was re presented by attorney Dickie Bradley. The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 31. It is alleged that Mangar and Palacio attempted to rob Chon Saan Palace, located at the corner of Nurse Seay and Kelly Streets.
It’s been days since the Kendall Bridge was washed away. How much longer must we wait for a new bridge, Mr. Prime Minister?
Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE BELIZE TIMES
Errol Haynes Busted With Homemade Silencer
Errol Haynes
BELIZE CITY, Wed. April 7, 2010 Errol Haynes, 25, a.k.a. “Butchie”, a businessman of a Buttonwood Bay address, was charg ed with three offences when he appeared yesterday in the #1 Magistrate’s Court. Haynes was charged with possession of a controlled drug, drug trafficking and possession of a prohibited sound suppressor. Arthur Young, 35, was
charged jointly with Haynes but he was not arraigned because he is still at large. Haynes pled not guilty to the charges. Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie remanded him into custody until June 30. The incident occurred on Saturday, April 3. The Police responded to a report of a gunshot being fired at a home on Damselfish Avenue in Ladyville. When they arrived at the house they were unable to enter at first but they forced open the door. The police reported that when they entered the house they saw Haynes coming out of the bathroom and when they searched the bathroom they found 12.7 grams of cannabis and 92.1 grams of crack cocaine in the sewerage bowl. The police also reported that they found a metal pipe which they believed was a homemade silencer and they found a metal lathe, some pipes and some tools. The police reported that they also found Young’s identification card, his driver’s license and social security card. The police searched Haynes’ vehicle and reported that they found $598.75.
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Price Charged With Burglary and Assault
Leon Price
BELIZE CITY, Wed. April 7, 2010 Leon Price, 25, an unemployed man of South Street, who allegedly entered the house of his girlfriend as a trespasser and beat her and her
76 year old grandfather, was charged with burglary and three other charges when he appeared yesterday in the #3 Magistrate’s Court. The other charges were assault, using threatening words and resisting arrest. Price pled not guilty to the charges. Magistrate Kathleen Lewis offered him bail of $3,000 which he met. His case was adjourned until May 11. The incident occurred at around 1:30 am on Good Friday, April 2. Price’s girlfriend, Shakera Blease, who resides at #3 Sixth Street, King’s Park, reported to the police that Price entered her house as a trespasser and she and her grandfather caught him hiding inside of the house. She said Price beat her and her grandfather and escaped from the house. Police, however, apprehended him shortly afterwards and took him into custody.
Three Charged With Money Laundering and Failure to Declare $60,000 US Currency
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY The Central Bank of Belize, the statutory body responsible for fostering monetary stability, especially the stability of the exchange rates and the promotion of credit conditions, is seeking to recruit an Economist.
The Central Bank is interested in persons with background in the following areas: • • • • •
Economics Economic forecasting Monetary economics Statistical analysis Macroeconomic management
Sidney Ellis
The successful candidate will be expected to conduct/assist in economic research projects, engage in economic analysis, assist in the formulation of monetary policy,. Produce economic forecasts and produce/contribute to reports generated by the Research Department.
Applicant should possess: • • • • •
A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from a University of international standing with emphasis in any of the above subject areas; Excellent writing and communication skills; Strong quantitative , analytical and computer skills; Results oriented focus with good interpersonal skills and Working experience in an economics related position would be an asset.
The remuneration package is commensurate with qualifications and experience. Applications together with curriculum vitae, copies of transcripts and certificates must be submitted by Monday, 12 April 2010 to: Director Human Resources Department Central Bank of Belize P.O. Box 852 Gabourel Lane Belize City BELIZE Email: cbbhrd@btl.net Ref: Economist Website: www.centralbank.org.bz All applications will be treated in strict confidence.
Scott Stringer
BELIZE CITY, Wed. April 7, 2010 Three persons, two men and a woman, were charged with money laundering and failure to declare $60,000 US currency when they entered Belize on Good Friday, April 2, when they appeared yesterday in the #1 Magistrate’s Court. They are Sidney Ellis, 37, an
Visit Us Online at: www.belizetimes.bz
Julia McCord
auto dealer of Curl Thompson Street; Scott Stringer, 31, a car dealer of 207 Perez Road and Julia McCord, 23, an unemployed woman of #207 Perez Road, Ladyville. They pled not guilty to the charges. Chief Magistrate Marg aret McKenzie offered each of them bail of $20,000 which they met. Their case was adjourned until July 21. They were represented by attorney Dickie Bradley. Police reports are that the three defendants were in a Ford Expedition that Ellis was driving when they were intercepted at a police checkpoint in Sandhill at Mile 19 on the Northern Highway. The police reported that when they searched the vehicle they found the money in two boxes. The police say they believe that the three defendants entered Belize from Mexico through the northern border in Corozal.
PUP Think Tanking Sessions Every Thursday, Independence Hall at 7:30pm
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Caricom hungry for US development assistance
The United States in the post-World War II period has been the major economic partner of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), as is evident in the flows of trade, investment, tourism and migration. Within this economic relationship, US trade policy has an important impact on the economic growth of Caricom countries because it provides preferential access to the US market for exports from eligible Caribbean countries. We believe strongly that the economic development of Caricom is in the national interest of the United States because it is a foundation for peace, democracy and development in the region and a partial antidote to drug trafficking and transnational crime. The US is the largest trading partner of Caricom, although its share of the region's trade has declined due to diversification. US-Caricom trade takes place within the framework of the Caribbean Basin Trade Promotion Act (CBTPA), which is in force until September 2010. The CBTPA allows imports from Caricom to enter the United States free of duty. We have taken note of the fact that Caricom has written to various members of the US House and Senate indicating its support for a bill -- S2978 -- sponsored by senators Ron Wyden (Democrat-Oregon) and Bill Nelson (Democrat-Florida) to extend the duration of the CBTPA to September 2013.
The governments of Caricom have argued that the continuation of preferential market access will be beneficial to their economies. Of course, market access by itself is not a panacea, but is an opportunity and one which Caricom, unfortunately, has not made the best use of. Like the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union it should be supported by development assistance. Renewal of the CBTPA, we suggest, should be accompanied by US development assistance, in order to ensure maximum benefit to both sides. It is worthy of note that the US development assistance to Caricom countries, with the exception of Haiti, has declined from the mid-1980s. The United States should significantly increase its development assistance to Caricom countries to support trade. Such assistance would help the countries to bounce back more quickly from the serious adverse impact of the global financial crisis on their small vulnerable economies. The decline in US aid, it is also important to emphasise, has been accompanied by the rise in importance to the region of economic aid from Venezuela and China. Where there is increased aid, there is increased trade and increased influence. We believe that US development assistance should also focus on improving the international competitiveness of the private sector. There are private sector synergies between the United States and Caricom which are yet to be brought into existence to the benefit of both their economies. Linking local firms and US corporations through joint ventures and corporate alliances would increase trade and investment. The United States should, in collaboration with the governments and private sectors of Caricom countries, provide a pool of funds for encouraging corporate collaboration.
CSME to increase public education for niche markets GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- The CARICOM Secretariat has launched two consultancies to increase CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) awareness among targeted stakeholders and to enhance its public education programme. The projects seek to deepen the knowledge and understanding of regional integration, particularly the CSME. The consultancy firm, European Profiles has been contracted by the CARICOM Secretariat and will conduct an analysis of the prevailing conditions in rural communities as it relates to produce for sale, infrastructure and constraints in Belize, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname. This activity is scheduled for four months wherein the firm will develop CSME messages based on the research findings. The aim is for the messages
to resonate with members of the rural community. This will be combined with a public education strategy to ensure that messages created are distributed via the media. European Profiles is also facilitating the production of a booklet on Social Security within the CSME; a television advertising campaign; the implementation of a CSME Public Education Impact Assessment; and the development of CSME messages and seminars for High Schools. These are scheduled for execution within six months. The projects which are funded by the Ninth European Development Fund (EDF) Caribbean Integration Support Programme (CISP) form an integral part of measures to facilitate CARICOM Member States in discharging their obligations within the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Jamaica placed at top of no-go destinations JAMAICA has been placed at the top of a list of no go destinations for gays according to a press release issued by Cheapflights UK, a travel agency website. “Believe it or not, there are still several places in this modern world where being gay is actually illegal and can result in abuse and even arrest in some cases,” the release stated. The list is of no go destinations completed by Fiji, Poland, Nicaragua and Mauritius. Buggery is against the law in Jamaica
and is punishable by a sentence of no more than 10 years at hard labour. Despite reports from local and international gay groups that gays are persecuted in Jamaica, police blotters indicate that the majority of murders involving gays are the result of lovers’ quarrels and not homophobic attacks. The website listed the top five destinations that are welcoming to gays as the US cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans, Amsterdam in Holland and Provincetown in Massachusetts.
Putin, Chavez sign energy, defence deals in Caracas
Venezuela and Russia bolstered bilateral ties during a visit to the South American country by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, signing dozens of accords in a range of sectors, most notably defence and energy. At the end of the ceremony in which several of the agreements were inked, leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who first took office in 1999, hailed the increase in bilateral co-operation with Russia during his presidency. “Vladimir Putin has helped shape a multipolar world and has contributed to the end of unipolar hegemony,” the leftist leader and staunch critic of United States foreign policy said. He added that both countries agree on the need to work for “the end of empires, so that a new world of progress, of social happiness, a world of peace emerges.” “Russia and Venezuela are on that path and we’ll be more united every day,” the Venezuelan leader said. Putin said the goal is “to make the world more democratic, balanced and multi-polar” and highlighted the different accords signed on Friday, including ones regarding joint oil ventures in the vast Orinoco Belt of eastern Venezuela, particularly the Junin 6 block. He said in that regard that an agreement was reached on the payment of US$1 billion by a consortium of five Russian firms
for the rights to help develop Junin 6. During the ceremony, Putin delivered Chavez an initial down payment of US$600 million. The Russian premier said that the boost given to bilateral relations by his first visit to Venezuela paves the way for “full co-operation” as an “antidote to global economic crises.” The different agreements signed on Friday covered a range of sectors, including energy, defence, infrastructure, transportation, technology, agriculture, education, culture and industry. The United States Geological Survey said earlier this year that the Orinoco Belt contains one of the world’s largest recoverable oil accumulations with an estimated 513 billion barrels of technically recoverable heavy oil. Both governments also signed several memoranda of understanding for the construction of gas and oil tankers; studies for the installation of an electricity plant; and co-operation in energy-planning projects. Venezuela is suffering a severe electricity crisis that has led to forced cutbacks in consumption and prompted the government to make the entire Holy Week a national holiday. Chavez has acknowledged a lack of timely investment in the electricity sector, but mainly blames the crisis on drought conditions resulting from the El Niño weather phenomenon.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
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THE BELIZE TIMES
LIVING ON BARROWed TIME
Let’s start by making the observation that Human Rights attorney from Dangriga, Antoinette Moore has been placed on the payroll of the FIU. This, although the FIU already has two attorneys on staff and in violation of the Law the Attorney General’s personal law firm Pitts & Elrington are lawyers for the FIU. Mrs. Cynthia Pitts, the new Ombudsman has so far failed to condemn the widespread abuse of human rights being done by the government and its agencies. There is also a Human Rights organization in Belmopan but if speech is silver their silence is golden for the government. Lands, Customs, Police, Immigration Departments are wallowing in corruption and abuse of their positions. Never in the history of Belize have things been so bad. Police beatings, police shootings, police engaging in criminal activities and widespread unprofessional behavior. Even the policeman working at the FIU has come under scrutiny for sudden wealth. He is alleged to have acquired a new van and expanded the size of his house all on a policeman’s salary. The behavior by Prime Minister Barrow in calling a sudden press conference last Thursday is most suspicious. He announced that his police agents – read Broaster, Blackett, Wiltshire, Lee Mark Chang – had uncovered a ring of police officers who were
behind the recent sensational robberies. Barrow had been down this road before. Shortly after becoming the worst Prime Minister Belize has experienced, Barrow publicly launched an attack against Senior Superintendent Chester Williams vowing to the nation, that Williams will lose his job. Sure enough Barrow’s minions rushed to obey their master. Williams was demoted and transfer. The then Solicitor General (unlike the present one) stood up for principle and wrote that Ministerial interference was the reason for the demotion. This was following a Supreme Court ruling declaring Barrow’s action illegal. Williams found himself in other troubles. His fellow officer, one Edward Broaster who had been promoted from Inspector of Police to Director of CYDP decided to flip. Suddenly he abandoned
CYDP and was masterminding an important investigation. He obtained statements from fellow police officers with the name of an execution team of policemen. They had assassinated Jermaine Fuentes and buried his remains on the Coastal Road. Investigation even led to the findings of a skeleton. After all the hoopla everything went cold. Fast forward to the All Fool’s Day Press Conference by Prime Minister Barrow on 1st April, 2010. What fools the Prime Minister took Belizeans for. Here he was announcing he had uncovered a criminal ring of police officers ranging from Inspector through Corporals to Constables. The Prime Minister thanked CYDP Broaster for the great work in this much needed distraction. You see, burdensome taxes came into effect on the 1st April.
Even water rates went up (water is now a Government Department). The government needed a distraction from their disastrous mismanagement of the country. Two years of UDP has brought the economy into crisis. Crime is the most frightening reality facing Belizeans; rape, robbery, murder, home-invasions and jackings are the daily diet on the news. After a few days of this shocking revelation Belizeans have seen through the Prime Minister’s evil machinations. His distraction lasted through the Easter but when the holidays faded so did the foolishness Barrow had participated in what maybe turned out to be a big lie. Even the foolish Carlos Perdomo will see that something was wrong with this Hollywood type plot. In the midst of all this distraction not a word had been said about the high cost of living. The Belize National Teacher’s Union has publicly stated that the cost of living in Belize has gone up by 33%. That has to be the worst news and all that has been happening under the UDP. The arrogant Mr. Barrow’s decision not to allow Chief Justice Conteh to continue serving has been one of the casualties of the distraction. The worse thing that could happen to Belize has just started to happen, that there will be no justice coming from the courts. There is a frightening situation that Barrow took this country to just under two years.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Harnessing the Brain Trust of the PUP and Belize…
Carolyn Trench-Sandiford Party Chairman I never for one moment believed that the journey to Belmopan and to create a new Belize would be easy to chart, much less navigate. History records the heroic efforts of our forefathers and mothers who, against all odds, crafted a blueprint for us, the Constitution of our party, which continues to be our foundation, our political bible, and one that we must live if we are to maintain our course. However, it is up to each generation of leaders to inspire, to lead by example, to offer a coherent vision and to point the way forward, anchored in our beliefs, but based on the current and emerging landscape to which we must respond. This requires building on the courage and successes of those who came before us, and using their mistakes as experiences to learn from, remembering at all times that to err is to
be human, and just as importantly, to encourage the broad participation and contributions of all levels of the party and society, such that the deliberative nature of our democracy serve us on this journey. PUP Think Tanking was conceived within the context of the Road Map to Belmopan and creating a NEW BELIZE. Its objective is to be a forum for discussion, information sharing and solution searching on issues, concerns and challenges confronting our party and nation, such that consensus can be forged on the way forward. The goals are simple. Firstly, to re-orient the party to being visionary and one of ideas and solutions, Secondly, to be a source of information from which the party could draw to guide the formulation of our position and policy papers and manifesto in preparation for governance. And finally, to have a broad tent approach to solution searching
and to creating a space and an opportunity for the engagement of any person concerned about the growth and development of Belize. The first PUP Think Tank session was held on January 28, 2010 and the topic was “Why We Are Poor”. This was as a consequence of the statistical data coming out of the Country Poverty Assessment Report that stated that poverty in Belize had increased from 33% in 2002 to a stratospheric 43% in 2009, with 143, 276 persons living below the poverty line, and an additional 14% or 46,648 vulnerable to becoming poor, representing a total of 189,924 persons or an astronomical 53% of the population of Belize. We discussed this state of affairs from all angles, including the way we are governed, the socio-economic and political environment, the legislative and institutional limitations and our history of colonial-
ism and slavery to name a few, and defined strategies that we must engage in to reverse this trend. Since then, topics have included the Audit Inspection Reports of the Belize City Council, the Budget Procedures and Processes, and whether it is working for us, the 2010-2011 National Budget and the Crime Situation. After a two week Easter Break, we will resume Think Tanking on Thursday April 15th, 2010 at Independence Hall at 7:30 pm. Perhaps though, the most remarkable feature of the PUP Think Tanking is the cross section of persons attending the sessions. This in itself, bring the issues, the concerns, the perspectives and even the solutions from varying optics, and when they converge, it is simply remarkable. One of the best examples of this was the session on crime. The contributions were from a mother’s dilemma in disciplining a child, particularly in a single parent family. It was from the academician, who forwarded the argument that women contribute significantly to the antisocial behavior of young men. According to him, the socialization process of the young black male begin with experiences of violence from their entry into the school system through corporeal punishment by women teachers to their adulthood through relationships with women. You could imagine the revolt by the women present. It was also from the defense attorney and former prosecutor, who lamented on the weak and severely handicapped Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, to the non-respect for authority by the defendants and their cynicism with the system. As well, it was from a former deputy commissioner of police, who pointed to the corruption within the police department, the lost of trust and confidence, and the lack of resources, to that of teachers and community activists, who spoke of crowded classrooms and poor living environments. And of course, the voice of inner city youths, who spoke graphically and candidly of survival techniques of young women and men on the streets, who because of the lack of family, government and community support, have had to resort to gangs, prostitution and criminal behavior as a way of life. Their contributions represent the brain trust of the party and the country. It says that we must make every effort to nurture it, to harness it and to utilize it. For only so can the revolution continue….and only so will we be able to create a NEW BELIZE, which will bring to all Belizeans a better life and a just share of the national wealth……
Send your letters to the editor to:
mike_rudon@hotmail.com
Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE BELIZE TIMES
Insert C C
D Insert D
THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE BELIZE TIMES
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Chávez y Mujica firmarán hoy Centroamericanos descartan renovación del acuerdo de suspender negociaciones con la UE suministro petrolero Centroamérica no tiene en su agenPor su parte, el jefe negociador de
Uruguay tiene una deuda de 524 millones de dólares por la compra de petróleo a Venezuela, en el marco de un acuerdo firmado en 2005 que determinó que el petróleo venezolano sería vendido un 75% al contado y que con el 25% restante se formaría un fondo que permitiera aumentar las importaciones uruguayas a Venezuela. El presidente de Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, anunció que firmará hoy en Caracas con su homólogo de Uruguay, José Mujica, la renovación de un acuerdo que garantiza el suministro de petróleo venezolano a ese país. "El petróleo uruguayo está aquí", subrayó Chávez en breves declaraciones a los periodistas, en momentos en que Mujica colocaba una ofrenda floral ante el sarcófago del Libertador Simón Bolívar en Caracas, en el primer acto oficial de su visita a Venezuela. Uruguay tiene una deuda de 524 millones de dólares por la compra de petróleo a Venezuela, en el marco de un acuerdo firmado en 2005 que determinó que el petróleo venezolano sería vendido un 75% al contado y que con el 25% restante se formaría un fondo que permitiera aumentar las importaciones uruguayas a Venezuela. Mientras esperaba la salida de Mujica del Panteón Nacional y que se dirigiera al palacio presidencial de Miraflores, Chávez adelantó que la renovación de ese acuerdo permitirá a Uruguay seguir recibiendo "30.000, 35.000, 40.000 millones de barriles diarios que alcanza su consumo, frente a los 20 millones de Estados Unidos". El gobernante venezolano añadió que también suscribirá con Mujica otros "acuerdos muy importantes", entre los
que mencionó sin dar más detalles uno de compraventa de alimentos y otro de tratamiento de desechos en defensa del medio ambiente. Chávez también expresó su interés en que Uruguay modernice sus refinerías para que pueda procesar el crudo pesado de la Faja del Orinoco, en el centro oriental de Venezuela. Al margen de esos acuerdos, subrayó Chávez, la visita de Mujica "está arropada por un manto de afecto profundo, de hermandad". A su llegada ayer, Mujica remarcó en alusión al Ejecutivo de Chávez: "Yo no conocí ningún Gobierno en América Latina que hubiera sido portador de la generosidad para con nosotros que tuvo esta sociedad y este Gobierno". "Estamos en Venezuela porque tenemos que agradecer a Venezuela; ningún Gobierno ha tenido la solidaridad y la aceptación que hemos tenido en este país, ninguna potencia mundial nos ha prestado ni un peso", añadió. Chávez y Mujica firmarán hoy nueve documentos en un acto que se efectuará en el Teatro Municipal de Caracas, tras lo cual concluirá la visita oficial del gobernante uruguayo.
da la suspensión de las negociaciones de un Acuerdo de Asociación con la Unión Europea (UE), pese a las diferencias que mantienen en varios aspectos, dijeron hoy negociadores que asisten a una reunión en San Salvador. "Podemos seguir negociando hoy, mañana, pasado mañana, hasta mayo todos los días, a todas las horas, para lograr lo que sí queremos, (que) al final de esto debe salir un excelente acuerdo", declaró a periodistas el viceministro salvadoreño de Cooperación para el Desarrollo, Jaime Miranda. El funcionario, que asistió hoy a una reunión preparatoria de Centroamérica para la próxima ronda de negociaciones, prevista para el próximo 19 de abril en Bruselas, también aclaró que la fecha propuesta del 18 de mayo para la firma del acuerdo no es un plazo inamovible. La UE ha planteado la posibilidad de que el acuerdo se pueda firmar durante la Cumbre de la Unión Europea con América Latina y el Caribe, que se celebrará el 18 de mayo en Madrid.
"Lo de la firma se ha puesto una meta, pero no significa que necesariamente tiene que ser en esa fecha. El problema no es el tiempo, lo que nosotros tenemos que hacer es tener un excelente acuerdo que sea en beneficio de Centroamérica", aclaró el miembro del equipo negociador salvadoreño. "El Gobierno de El Salvador no se quiere casar con una fecha, queremos casarnos con el mejor acuerdo", complementó.
Honduras instalará Comisión de la Verdad
Registran playas del DF más de medio millón de visitantes
A una semana de su inauguración, las nueve playas artificiales instaladas en diferentes puntos de la ciudad han sido visitadas por más de medio millón de cap i t a l i n o s , informó el secretario de Salud del Distrito Federal, A r m a n d o Ahued Ortega. Ent revi s tado antes de la inauguración de las instalaciones del Hospital Ajusco Medio en la d e l e g a c i ó n Tlalpan, aseveró que las medidas adoptadas para verificar la calidad del agua de las playas están funcionando. Incluso, como ejemplo del cuidado de la salud en las playas el funcionario del gobierno capitalino señaló que en dos de éstas han limitado la entrada de la gente. De eso se trata, de que si no hay calidad del agua no entren. En las dos ocasio-
nes advertimos esto con la empresa que trata el agua y a las tres horas éstas estaban nuevamente abiertas sin ningún problema, detalló. Ahued Ortega dijo que no pasa nada, que no se ha registrado infección alguna, sino sólo resbalones, raspones y accidentes leves que pasan en cualquier lado. Respecto al número de visitantes de las playas artificiales, consideró que 'se dice fácil, pero eso habla de la necesidad de la gente de acudir a estos lugares. Así que considero que ha sido un éxito'. En otro asunto, el funcionario reiteró su llamado a la población a no consumir alimentos en puestos callejeros, para evitar problemas de gastroenteritis debido a que el calor provoca la descomposición más rápida de la comida.
Costa Rica, Roberto Echandi, consideró que no sería conveniente levantarse de la mesa de negociaciones antes de lograr acuerdos en los temas sensibles. "Si queremos que Europa nos dé concesiones dónde es que se buscan esas concesiones: en la mesa", dijo a periodistas, al asegurar que levantarse de la mesa sería contraproducente para los intereses de Centroamérica. Además, dijo, Europa empezó a dar "señales positivas" en el marco de las conversaciones, como atender los intereses exportadores de Centroamérica. "Ellos ya nos han dicho que están dispuestos a atender temas tan delicados y que son muy sensibles para ellos como el tema del azúcar, del banano, del atún, de la carne, del arroz", sostuvo. Aseguró que Costa Rica es "optimista" frente a la negociación, aunque admitió que "no es fácil", y subrayó que "Centroamérica está a un paso de dar un ejemplo al mundo, porque (...) sería la única región del mundo que ha podido negociar con Europa como bloque". Resaltó que en la ronda de negociación que se celebró del 22 al 26 de marzo pasado, los negociadores europeos prometieron hacer consultas sobre algunos de los pedidos centroamericanos para abordarlos en la próxima reunión. "Eso es lo que es clave de la próxima ronda que viene: si están las concesiones y podemos buscar el balance, pues cerraremos; si no están las concesiones y no está el balance, pues obviamente nadie va a cerrar", puntualizó.
El gobierno hondureño se apresta a designar a dos miembros internacionales de la Comisión de la Verdad para investigar lo ocurrido antes, durante y después de la destitución del presidente Manuel Zelaya en junio de 2009. "Uno de los representantes internacionales es de nacionalidad canadiense", dijo el canciller Mario Canahuati. No señaló quién será el otro personaje. Descartó que el ex presidente mexicano Vicente Fox estará en el organismo, cuyo nombre surgió cuando el presidente Porfirio Lobo integró la comisión hace dos meses. El canadiense Michael Kergin, ex embajador en Cuba y en Washington, y la peruana María Amadilia Zavala Valladares, representante ante la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA) y ex presidenta de la Corte Suprema de Justicia, son los candidatos más fuertes para integrar la comisión.
El coordinador de la Comisión de la Verdad, Eduardo Stein mencionó al canciller canadiense como uno de los miembros que ha confirmado su participación, aunque se negó a dar mayores detalles porque el presidente de Honduras, Porfirio Lobo Sosa no se ha pronunciado al respecto. Por otro lado, aseguró que la jurista peruana no ha confirmado su participación en este cuerpo representativo, por lo que se podría nominar a otra persona. El grupo, que podría comenzar sus funciones el 29 de abril, estará encabezado por el ex vicepresidente guatemalteco Eduardo Stein. Como miembros hondureños del grupo figuran la rectora de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH) Julieta Castellanos, el ex rector de la institución Jorge Omar Casco y Sergio Membreño, secretario técnico. La creación de la comisión hace parte del Acuerdo Tegucigalpa-San José firmado en octubre de 2009, por las delegaciones de Zelaya y del entonces presidente Roberto Micheletti, a fin de superar la crisis política causada por los hechos de junio pasado. Su finalidad es conocer cómo se dio la destitución de Zelaya en el país y para que no se vuelvan a producir más estos hechos desestabilizadores en Honduras. Canahuati indicó que la labor la lleva a cabo con el apoyo de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA), que expulsó a Honduras de su seno luego del denominado golpe contra Zelaya.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, April 11, 2010
After holding consultations across the country, we’ve still been unable to come up with even ONE POSITIVE THING which this UDP Government has done for the country since February 2008.
So we decided to ask YOU. What has this Barrow Administration done for YOU since it took office more than TWO YEARS AGO? Name one thing… JUST ONE!
????????????????????
Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE BELIZE TIMES
In February of 2008, the UDP under Dean Barrow promised to – Ease the cost of living by lowering electricity rates and telephone rates. It is now April of 2010, and the people of Belize are still waiting patiently… In February of 2008, the UDP under Dean Barrow promised to – provide greater spending power by reducing GST and reduce fuel costs by replacing RRD with a lower flat tax. It is now April of 2008, and the people of Belize are still waiting patiently… In February of 2008, the UDP under Dean Barrow promised to – create a minimum of 5,000 new jobs in the tourism industry. It is now April of 2010, and the people of Belize are still waiting patiently… In February of 2008, the UDP under Dean Barrow promised to – ensure private sector prosperity by achieving an economic growth of at least 6% per annum. It is now April of 2010, and the people of Belize are still waiting patiently… In February of 2008, the UDP under Dean Barrow promised to - build 1,000 quality, affordable houses annually. It is now April of 2010, and the people of Belize are still waiting patiently… In February of 2008, the UDP under Dean Barrow promised to – increase crime detection, successful solving and prosecution of offenders by installing a fully equipped DNA-testing facility. It is now April of 2010, and the people of Belize are still waiting patiently. In February of 2008, the UDP under Dean Barrow promised to – offer shares in a National Oil Company to ordinary Belizeans so that the masses could have a personal stake in the national petroleum wealth.
It is now April of 2010, and the people of Belize are still waiting patiently…
MR. PRIME MINISTER – HOW MUCH LONGER SHOULD WE WAIT?
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Sunday, April 11, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE BELIZE TIMES
chy! The signs are everywhere, if you choose to see them. I’m not a cycling fanatic or enthusiast and believe it or not had no clue who had won the CrossCountry Cycling Classic. In fact, if you ask me (and even if you don’t I’ll tell you anyway) I’d say that cyclists are nothing more than an inconvenience on the highway and a hazard to motorists. But anyway, this morning I heard that the winning cyclist, a Guatemalan I believe, was stoned with a bottle as he circled the By: Mike Rudon Jr. I was talking to a friend over the week- roundabout entering the city. What kind end and that fool dared to use the word of s#@t is that? Seems like we don’t give ‘anarchy’ while speaking about our pre- a damn anymore about law and order or cious little jewel in the Caribbean/Central America. Anarchy, said I – you’re out of your mind…not Belize, never, UNTHINKABLE! Eager to prove my point I turned to Mr. Webster for help – something I haven’t done since college days – and found out to my chagrin that I was the fool. My friend was absolutely right. According to Mr. Webster, anarchy is the absence of any form of political authority – CHECK; political disorder or confusion – CHECK; the absence of any cohesive principle – CHECK or the absence or non-recognition of authority and order in any given sphere – CHECK AGAIN. Well, hell. There is anarchy in the jewel, no doubt about it. Who’d have thunk it? As I write this, citizens of this previously pristine gem are being told that a spate of brazen and violent robberies in the past weeks was orchestrated by several of those who swore an oath to protect and serve. We are being told that in the next few days more policemen involved in this criminal undertaking will be punished. Imagine that. This shocking revelation comes on the heels of serious and very credible allegations that other members of the police department were trigger-men in at least two murders recently. And all this at a time when the department is being rocked by scandal after scandal! How can we be asked to trust any member of the police department after this? There is utter and absolute lawlessness within the police department. Anarchy for sure! There is lawlessness on our streets. Killers walk among us with apparent impunity. Bloody murders are no more a thing of the dark hours between dusk and dawn. Our people are being gunned down in broad daylight on busy streets on almost a daily basis – no worries in the world. When the police do turn up a gunman or two, they sit in the system until their day in the limelight when they more often than not walk grinning down the steps of the court. Either the scene appeared to have been processed by kindergarten kids with a science play-kit, or the chain of evidence is bumbled by our own local keystone kops or the prosecution is hopelessly ill-prepared and inadequate or the witnesses are suddenly struck mute. You take your pick – the end result is the same and the cycle is never ending. Our justice system is in shambles. Total anar-
even right and wrong. Over the weekend I stopped at a grocery store in Hattieville. The parking lot was jam-packed with motorists stocking up for the days of revelry. Liquor was flowing off the shelves like manna to a damned soul. I stood there for a while (reveling in my fledgling sobriety) and watched quite a few people staggering to their cars with beer bottles clutched in their hands or already lifted to their lips. The thing is that nobody bothered to hide what they were doing, despite the fact that drinking and driving should be taboo and some of them were clearly past their rational thought and coordination threshold. Did I mention that the Hattieville Police Station is located right across the street from this store? And did I mention that there were a couple police officers in uniform in said parking lot at the time doing their own thing? Nobody seems to give a damn anymore. A couple weeks ago weeks ago I was on the Northern Highway and drove past a roadside bar/restaurant. A Customs & Immigration vehicle was parked outside and a Customs officer was sitting on a bench outside drinking a beer. I passed back a couple hours after and the same guy was sitting there drinking a beer, not a care in the world. The only difference this time around was that there were about six empty beer bottles in front of him. He didn’t give a damn, and nobody else seemed to either.
21 It’s the same everywhere you look, from the bottom to the top. There is a general sense of lawlessness, an absence of any cohesive principle and sure as hell there is no political authority. Mr. Barrow is proof positive of that. As the leader of this country he should provide a sterling example for all to follow. He does provide an example of sorts – like standing up in the House of Representatives and calling a member of the opposite bench a jackass, or hurling insults across the floor like a petulant schoolchild. Hey, if the leader of the nation can behave like a common thug, then obviously it’s okay, right? So that’s where we stand today? With all that’s been happening, I think it’s safe to say that we’re a nation not on the brink of anarchy, but a nation cowering in the grips of full-blown anarchy. It’s in the streets and in our homes and in the hallowed halls of Belmopan. Faced with the lack of political guidance and a nation lost in disorder and confusion, there is a general sense of lawlessness. Nobody seems to give a damn about law and order – from the child riding up-stop to the drunk splashing his way to his vehicle in front of the Police to the criminals emptying their clips into human flesh in broad daylight to the politicians behaving like our nation is their personal fiefdom to Mr. Barrow flouncing like a menopausal fishwife. We’re in serious trouble here, Jack. Nobody seems to give a damn anymore.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
S
PON DI GULLY Shoot to Kill
By anthony sylvestre Maybe it’s just me, but didn’t the Commissioner of Police Crispin Jeffries last Thursday at his pre-Easter Crime Press Conference along with the Prime Minister, gave the order for Belizean policemen to shoot and kill criminals on the spot? Well, he didn’t use those exact words, but that’s the essence of what he said. And more importantly, the Prime Minister did not rein in the Commissioner from his bravado, Mavado like talk. The Commissioner’s exact words [thanks to channel 5] were: “The criminal element is very brazen, very aggressive and we will have none of that without us having similar and proportionate response and the proportionality will be that if we are confronted we will have to speak to people in the court system because they will be shot and killed when they are caught. There is no doubt in my mind that if they can operate this way with impunity we will have respond in a similar manner.” So it is, after the tumultuous unceasing killings, jacking, robbing, raping, extortions, violence linked to drug trade and total disregard for law and authority, the top cop (endorsed by the top man) has finally found the answer to all this crime and violence: kill ‘dem criminals on the spot.’ Let it not be said that this is in defense of criminals. But surely, it cannot that the new edict/policy of the police department is to shoot and kill criminals on the spot. Surely, more brainpower must exist in the Police Department and indeed the Ministry of National Security to offer a more realistic and doable crime fighting strategy. Of course, those who live in these communities dubbed “special police area” will tell you that the police department has had an unwritten policy of shoot to kill for some time and indeed over the years several young men have died in consequence of this policy. This then makes this decree by the Commissioner so outrageously insane. Now, of all times, how can the police top brass and the Prime Minister be seen to be endorsing vigilante justice? One would have thought that with all that has been happening, now more than ever there is a need to convince the citizenry of the need to respect law and authority, not to disrespect it or take the law in your own hand. One would have thought that at a time like this, when the police (by the Commissioner’s and the Prime Minister’s own admission) is infested with criminals who use misguided
D E
young men to carry out contract murders, such a policy is absolutely insane. One would have thought, that at a time like this, when confidence in the police department is, understandably low, such a policy will only breed civil war between badmen and police. And besides, there is posted on the walls of police stations an extract from the Police Standing Order, which is supposed to guide police officers in the use of firearms. It states: “When a Police firearm is used in any way whatever against another person and as a result that person or another was injured or assaulted or alleges that he was assaulted, the firearm will be surrendered to a supervising officer at the first available moment and treated thereafter as an exhibit. The weapon should be preserved for ballistics and forensic examination in every case. “It must be clearly understood that the use of firearms unless in self-defense or in defense of another, is a use of excessive force and punishable under the criminal code and the discipline regulations. “Supervising officers are to ensure that when issuing firearms to police they are reminded of the limitation as to their use in public work and are to report on irregularities or improper handling of firearms whether or not there is a complaint by the public.” So then, the existing police standing orders as well reveal the folly of this new policy of shoot to kill; not to mention the egregious unlawfulness of such a policy. It will be said that the criminals don’t respect law and authority, that they take the law into their own hands, that they unleash mayhem on the general citizenry and that therefore they should not be afforded the rights and protection of law abiding citizens. The argument is a very persuasive one, especially in times like these. And indeed, when a society gets sick of violence and gets desperate, police death squads usually pop up. The trend has been shown globally, whether it be in Brazil, the Congo, United States, Spain or Guatemala. It has been shown too that extra-judicial killings (for that is what the Commissioner wittingly or unwittingly has called for) does not cure the problem. Nearer to home, in the land of Harold Crooks (of Crooks Report infamy) the police have and continue to operate with “impunity” when they carry out raids in garrison communities in Jamaica with the upshot oftentimes of sustained gun-battle with the police and the gunmen in the communities. Far from abating crime, or fostering police community relationship, this policy has had a regressive effect with respect to fighting crime. Violence, murder and mayhem continue to rule. No one will deny the need or urgency to act on part of the police to get crime under control. But really, do we want to be creating another breeding ground for murderers who will kill with impunity and who will answer to no one? That is the state of affairs this new shoot to kill policy will create.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
J. A. Rebel
THE BELIZE TIMES
UP
More San Pedro Shenanigans
There is an impression on La Isla Bonita that only the governing municipal bodies on the mainland are corrupt and abusive of public funds. Well it not so! Time and time again we have pointed out that there is evidence of corruption and abuse at the San Pedro Town Council. Did anyone wonder why is it that the Mayor of San Pedro Elsa Paz never allows anyone to look at the real financials at the Town Council? The answer is crystal clear - she is afraid to show the public how much hustling is going on inside the Council. Thanks to our friends that we maintain inside the San Pedro Town Council, we have been able to get a glimpse of the irregularities, corruption and the hustling of public funds within the San Pedro Town Council. We at the Times not only managed to take a glimpse of the books, but we manage to pull out a few gray hairs from the horse’s back. Let’s start first with the Mayor’s assistant. He has made good for himself off public funds at the San Pedro Town Council. Since Mayor Paz took office in her first term, former journalist Felix Ayuso was elevated to the post of Mayor’s Assistant. Ayuso is on a monthly salary of $2800.00. Sounds quite good, right? Well get this, Ayuso only works 3 days for the week which makes it a total of 12 days a month. Yes, that is right! The books show that anytime Ayuso works outside the three days of the week (8 hours per day) he collects $27.78 per extra hour. In some instances Ayuso collects as much as $31.26 per extra hour. The records reveal that in many instances Ayuso works an additional day (outside of the 3 days) and collects overtime for that day. In any given week Ayuso is paid between $420 and $541 just in overtime. Records show that the best of times for Ayuso is the month of September when he pulls in over $2000 in overtime. No wonder Ayuso can afford to drink everyday, thanks to the taxpayers and the green light given to him by the Mayor of San Pedro Elsa Paz. And wait until you take a look at what the Administrator is making from overtime; apparently the new way to hustle at the San Pedro Town Council. Records show that Patricia Verde, the Town Administrator is not only handsomely paid, but is also in the overtime business. Ask anyone in the Town Council and they will tell you that Verde has a normal routine. Almost daily Verde strolls in to work somewhere around 10:00 AM in the morning, walks out for lunch by 11:45 AM, returns to work by 1:30 PM in the afternoon, leaves on most occasions at 3:30 PM in the afternoon on a daily errand, returns by 4:10 PM and leaves by 5:00 PM in the evening. Verde is actually shortchanging her employer about three hours and forty minutes a day; ask those that observe her every move and they will confirm it. But a closer look at the records reveals that Verde is on a salary exceeding $3200.00 monthly; $830.00
weekly to be exact. Records obtained show that anytime Verde work outside of her normal schedule (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Mon to Fri) she charges $36.30 overtime per hour. Like Ayuso, Verde’s best months are February and September where she collects over $417.00 in overtime on any given week. Then we turn to the San Pedro Town Council Chief Foreman Samuel Gonzalez. Not only is Gonzalez exploiting the endangered animals
in North Ambergris Caye, but he is exploiting the San Pedro Town Council as well (or taxpayers to be more accurate). Gonzalez is currently on a salary of $2000.00 monthly, but in many instances records show that Gonzalez’s overtime triples his salary. The hunter (Gonzalez) works for 8 hours daily from Monday to Friday; that’s a minimum of 40 hours per week. Records at the San Pedro Town Council show that weekly Gonzalez claims at least 40 hours of overtime paid at $16.68. Gonzalez is the Town Council’s employee that claims the most in overtime for which he is paid by the Mayor’s office. Records at the San Pedro Town Council reveal that Samuel Gonzalez is hustling nothing less than $667.20 weekly in overtime alone. If one would calculate how much Gonzalez pulls in, it would amount to about $35,000.00 annually in overtime alone. Ayuso is the Mayor’s right hand, always ready to come out in her defense when necessary. It is clear now why Ayuso is so touchy about the Mayor receiving interviews in regards to the finances; he fears being exposed as one of the Mayor’s highly paid cronies. Now it is evident why Verde is always
23 tight lipped and denies requests to see the books. No wonder Gonzalez can say he is ready to retire. All three are sanctimonious and pretend to be honest and non-political. Guess what you guys better not go down that road because there is much more to come; things that are even more revealing. All the wasteful spending approved by the Mayor indicates the high level of irresponsibility in the management of taxpayer funds. No wonder the financials at the San Pedro Town Council indicate that there is almost $6 million dollars in the debts. Do you know why the Mayor is all too ready to allow all three to collect exorbitant overtime? We’ll leave that for another time.
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meg·a·lo·ma·ni·a [meg-uh-loh-mey-nee-uh] –noun
1. Psychiatry. a symptom of mental illness marked by delusions of greatness, wealth, etc. 2. An obsession with grandiose or extravagant things or actions.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Strictly Personal Barrow is bogus!
by glenntillett@yahoo.com Oil prices have spiked sharply over the past ten days and despite a small decline to US$86.74 per barrel as I write this, most of the talking heads (experts) on CNBC and on the internet are saying that US$100 is likely in the short term. Coupled with the just imposed 25% increase in the General Sales Tax and the 12.1% increase in water rates it will also mean a sharp jump in the cost of goods and services as the inflationary consequences of these factors kick in. The seemingly inexorable rise in fuel prices over the past year has almost wiped out the respite and memory of the fall from US$147 per barrel oil and nearly $12.00 per gallon gas at the pump, and we may not have recovered from the effects of historically high inflation. That huge blow knocked a Belize economy that was struggling but still buoyant into decline and then recession. We may have bitten the bullet when the elevator plunged down faster and lower than the escalator ride to the peak, and just in time because the first tsunami waves from the world economic earthquake had only just appeared onshore. B e l i z e ’s e c o n o my d e c l i n e d in the third quarter of 2008 as stratospherically high oil prices had sledge-hammered the economy into submission. The high growth of the preceding years had started to dampen in 2007 due to the deleterious effects of the loss of Williamson and Nova, coupled with the damages from Hurricane Dean and Tropical Depression Eight and the three-year and continuing escalation in energy prices. The economy had proven resilient to that point though, as continued high foreign direct investment, the advent of multi-million dollar investments in new telecommunication systems by both BTL and Smart, increasing oil production (and prices), and the onset of construction on the Vaca Falls hydroelectric facility and the Belcogen co-generation electricity plant helped to offset. But nothing could shield us forever from high oil prices, the single greatest inflationary multiplier. The economy rebounded in the fourth and last quarter of 2008 as oil prices plunged, banana and shrimp production and prices bounced, and a citrus bumper crop appeared. By October, however, the rest of the world was beginning to report the damaging effect of an economic
storm the likes of which the world had not seen in a hundred years. The Barrow administration still on a spending spree that would have done any drunken sailor proud, “poohpoohed” the warnings. Having historically bayed at the former PUP administration’s storm damage estimates as exaggerated, the UDP administration also fell all over itself to declare storm damage to be far less than 10 million dollars. It wasn’t until he actually met with other leaders at the Summit of the Americas that Dean Barrow realized that there was something going on called the world economic recession and that it was blowing like an untrammeled gale through other economies. He decided then that he could handle it through his version of a “stimulus package.” Most of us thought it was far too little, too late and was more evidence of his lack of understanding than anything else. As the economy began to lose ground early in 2009 he did nothing other than to announce his “cure all” “stimulus package.” He never took it seriously and if we’re to judge by the last two budgets, he still doesn’t. After a year of decline Barrow still seems disinclined to accept that we are in serious and worsening economic straits. Despite having seen how soaring oil prices ravaged what was a far healthier economy, he seems instead to be waiting for another fortuitous turn of events to rescue us. My assessment of the status quo is this. Historically the New Year’s to Easter months used to be our “mawga” season but in our restructured economy around these times we would get a tremendous boost from the tourism high season and the sugar and citrus harvest. I don’t have any figures but the tourist, sugar and citrus seasons all had their share of problems this time around, and the evidences of my senses is that an economy in the doldrums may have hoisted sail but is still waiting for the breeze. D e a n B a r r o w ’s e c o n o m i c stewardship has been that of an inexperienced captain who has dammed the torpedoes and pushed full steam ahead with a disastrous-toinvestment “quitar” policy. I estimate that the Barrow Administration may have “quitared” thousands of parcels of lands, or otherwise extorted tens of millions of dollars from land owners who were accused of having “underpaid” for their property and could only avert the threat of “quitar” by paying into both g overnment coffers and the pockets of the socalled “agents”. And certainly the yet unpaid bill for the expropriated majority shareholding of Belize Telemedia Limited starts by all accounting at three hundred million and could yet triple that. The passage of the odious Supreme Court of Judicature (Amendment) Bill 2010 has no doubt scared away any sensible but brave soul who may have been willing to risk money in Belize. Where, I wonder, will job creation and economic growth now come from? Just last month Belize’s business
Sunday, April 11, 2010
sector representatives said: “In a survey conducted by the Belize Chamber of Commerce in March of 2010, businesses were reeling from the effect (of the recession). Of the sample, sixty percent (60%) indicated that they had to borrow from a financial institution in the past year to cover recurrent expenses. Forty-Five percent (45%) have had to downsize and reduce staff in the past year, and roughly ninety-five percent (95%) indicate that the cost of doing business has increased in the past year.” Now throw in 25% GST tax increase, 12.1% water rate increase,
likely increased electricity rates, soaring oil prices, continued evidence of endemic police corruption, escalating violent crime, and oh, “The Colorado State University hurricane team said the Atlantic season will produce an above-average eight hurricanes, four of them major. In its latest revised forecast, the team, founded by pioneer William Gray, also predicted a 58% percent chance of a major hurricane tracking into the Caribbean.” Isn’t that a forecast for things getting worse? You do your own forecast. You decide for yourself if Barrow is on the ball or bogus.
They Are Listening To You! BELIZE AUDUBON SOCIETY 41st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Invitation to attend and
NOMINATIONS CALL The Belize Audubon Society is holding its 41st Annual General Meeting on Saturday 17th April 2010 at 9:00 am at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. Elections will be held for the Board of Director. Eight director positions are to be filled for a 2-year term. Voting members of the Society are invited to make nominations for any of the above positions by submitting the nomination with biography, by letter, to the Nominations Committee, Belize Audubon Society, PO Box 1001, Belize City, and email to executivesecretary@belizeaudubon.org or by telephone 223-5004. The nominations must be received no later than April 9th, 2010. Please be advised that according to the Articles of Association, we cannot accept nominations from the floor at the AGM. To be eligible, persons must have been a member for at least 1 year and must be in good standing. • 8 positions are available namely: 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Treasurer, 1st Secretary and 2nd Secretary and 3 directors. Our members’ presence at our AGM is of utmost importance. We look forward to seeing you there. Contact:
Anna Dominguez Hoare Executive Director Telephone:223-5004/4987/4988 Fax: 223-4985 Email: executivesecretary@belizeaudubon.org
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Wow! No. Not again. This year’s Cross Country garland has eloped, riding off in the cradling handle bars of a foreigner just like ten of its last twelve siblings. Trust me, not one Belizean is going to be turning the pages of their Simon Quan calendar for the next three hundred and eighty days with any hope that come next year, the cross country trophy will be at an address within walking distance of the Swing Bridge. No. No. No. And no matter how much on Monday night James protests to the contrary, “Jah” seemed to have been only over the wheels of foreigners, pretty much the same way He used to be on the side of the bigger army in Machiavelli’s days. I mean I felt tricked. It felt exactly the same way, I felt on the morning of Friday, February 8, 2008. Yap, the garland is gone, this time in the same foot beaten path where xateros, menacingly wave over-worked machetes in front of toothless smiles. As the Guatemalan champion rolled over the finish line, he won our contempt by mockingly performing “handless capers” just seconds before descending into a volatile Belizean crowd. I realized then that Perez was really saying: “this was like taking candy from a baby”. I was livid. I was absolutely furious despite the heavy doses of positive-perspective pills being shoveled down our throats by the forward thinking radio commentators who did their best impression of nation counseling. Some were preaching the gospel of next year retribution with empty conviction while some unconvincingly glorified preventable mediocrity. Don’t get me wrong, brethren, it was an exciting race and the coverage has gotten better, but as many disappointed Belizeans kicking the Memorial Park dirt said: “dis dah lone simpilniss”. In fact, Quinton Hamilton gave the “baddis” quote of the 2010 Cross Country Cycling Classic when he said dryly: “I think I did better during the race but nobody wants to hear about during the race, people want to hear about the finish.” Done seh it, big man! Oh, the trauma of it! Imagine the average Belizean who woke up early on a holiday morning. This surely is no small feat, save for the performance enhancing inspiration of finally being able to shake off the drug-less goma of Good Friday with an ice cold Belikin. All our hopes were up. It was propped up higher by the contagious enthusiasm of the commentators; the natural high that the Cross Country induces on our patriotic consciousness; a four year drought and the alien composition of the lead bunch as they plunged into city limits. Picture perfect: a mouth watering fifteen thousand dollar
THE BELIZE TIMES
purse, Belize’s number one and number three ranked riders, the twenty mile pampering of a local boy and a three minute lead on the main peloton. The only other thing missing was a partridge in a pear tree. But as “Bolve” likes to say, it is not reality, it is actuality and in the rabbit hole of actuality a Guatemalan trespasses on what should be the exclusive pride of Belizean heritage, spoils and toil. No one will dispute that the Annual Cross Country Cycling Classic is the evaporating watering hole for patriotism and national pride. Because of this race, one can argue that cycling is the undisputed national sport. But the race cuts deeper than just a high-spirited Easter conversation topic and entertainment spectacle. No, it is the esteemed extension of Belize’s riding culture. Truly, like other countries with bicycle cultures such as Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, China, Bangladesh and Japan, more than thirty seven per cent of our population ride bicycles daily. For many in Belize riding bikes is equally a compliment to our small geographic size and a burden of our third world restraints. A car is still an expensive luxury in Belize; like it or not. All Belizeans can identify with the challenges of the riders on Holy Saturday. Why? Truth is, most of us still ride, greasing up our pants foot while peddling but cycling is given a noble edge by the Annual Cross Country Cycling Classic. My fondest childhood memories are connected to bikes, I would “teck chance” and push off on my Grandfather’s black English Roadster, knowing full well that the old drum brakes would screech so hard, I would be discovered and tambran whipped. But the ride was always worth it because we had no high definition tv’s and Playstation 3s. So the race and its glory are as personal and meaningful as the nostalgia of bugle blowing and shaved ice. As I listened and watched on Saturday, my bright-eyed childhood expectations, became doused with actuality. I realized we have a huge “truck back posse”. What do I mean? Brandon Cattouse said something that I verified to be the norm with Belizean riders in the Cross Country, even for the over praised Marlon Castillo. Brandon said: “I am not disappointed because this is the fourth Cross Country I’ve ridden and the first
PUP Think Tanking Sessions Every Thursday, Independence Hall at 7:30pm
I’ve finished..” Huh???? At that rate I understand why we only have a Belizean winning every five or so years. Now I am no Press Cadogan but that percentage is not a good one. What false hope we have when from a total of ninety five riders who started the race only twenty nine Belizeans finish it. In actuality the true ratio of foreigners to local riders is twenty nine to seventeen. Yap, only two of the foreigners did not finish the race and if you want to know how they placed, last I checked there were only two Belizeans in the top ten. Now dat dah just shame!!! There is enough substance, or lack of substance, to have three parts to this discourse but in Belize constructive criticism of athletes has to be sugar coated to diabetic levels of “pet and powdering”. So I will end by asking for three things. One, will this ditsy government put together a national team. Hey Penny boy, all you need to do is pick up the phone, call Uncle Fidel, ask him to train and host nine riders in Cuba for eight months, and let the Belize Government pay a stipend to the families of these national riders. Look at it this way Penny boy, just don’t buy two of those fancy new trucks that you guys mash up every year. Two, we need to pressure this moronic government to not build million dollar fences around the Marion Jones Stadium but instead to fix the darn track and bleachers. It is flat out unsafe to have riders sprinting into a crowded street of
Sunday, April 11, 2010 excited or annoyed spectators. Additionally, finishing the race in the stadium makes it more spectator friendly. Finally on that point, finishing “da Track” allows the Association to generate revenue by charging an admittance fee at the gate. And three, to my Belizeans, unu stap fight up and mek di farinah dehn win nuh. Belizeans deh wid Belizeans outside of the race, why you guys cannot be united in the race? Belizeans are so passionate about your superstardom and your entitlement to the garland that the private sector, put up over thirty thousand dollars in sponsorship and prizes, unu do a ting no, please? I say this and I say it loudly, no team is bigger than the country. As we patch our wheels and egos for next year remember: Que viva Belize!!!
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Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE BELIZE TIMES
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Miguel Perez wins 2010 Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic
Belizean cycling enthusiasts groaned as Team Sugar City Starz’ Guatemalan import Miguel Perez won the 2010 annual Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, and they resigned themselves to wait another year for a Belizean to win the coveted garland of roses in this most revered of Belizean athletic events. Perez set no new record, but he still had the fastest time, clocking 6:09:22 on his 142 mile ride from the starting line in front of Leslie’s Imports on the Western Highway to the Constitution Park in San Ignacio and back to the finish near the Memorial Park in Belize City. For his efforts, Perez claimed the $5,000 1st prize, the champ’s trophy offered by the Belize Tourism Board, the winner’s garland of roses from Florasol, a trophy offered by the O’Brien family in honor of 4xCross Country champ Jeffery O’ Brien, the Altreith Smith Memorial trophy offered by the Smith family, a trophy offered in memory of Ludrick "Bunio" Smith and a course at Galen University valued at $750. As Belizeans asked themselves why a Belizean could not have won the race, we must recognize that the Cross Country is a grueling test of strength, determination, patience and endurance; it is not for the faint of heart and victory does not always go to the swiftest of foot. It is not the horse who takes the lead, for blood will tell: of the 95 riders who started, only 46 finished. The Cross Country is also a contest of strategy, and Perez was the consummate strategist, humbly sitting back in the middle of the pack, conserving his energy while other eager, younger hearts rode off to win the early station prizes. Even on the return leg, when he had bridged the gap from the main peloton to the lead breakaway, Perez made no bid for the lead, content to sit behind the leaders and let them do the work of breaking the wind, while he drafted along in their slipstream. When Team Santino’s Mexican import Hector Hugo Rangel made his breakaway from the lead group at St. Matthew’s village, in a bid to help his Belizean teammate Greg Lovell win the garland, Perez made sure to tag
along, again tucking himself in behind the wheel of Team Subaru’s John Delong of the USA to conserve his strength, but remain in contention. Perez watched humbly as Rangel won 17 station prizes over the next 32 miles, like a beggar waiting at the banquet for some crumbs to fall his way. It was not until he was certain that he had exhausted his rivals’ energy that Perez made his move at mile 8, and when he attacked none of the other 3 riders in the lead group, not Rangel, nor Delong nor Lovell, could keep up as Perez tore off down the road, sweeping 13 station prizes worth over $3,200 as he rode on his solo flight to the finish line. As he passed the Gwen Liz taxi stand, some unsportsmanlike hooligan threw a bottle on to the pavement in a vain hope that it might cause a puncture in Perez’s tires, but it was not to be. Others from the second breakaway caught up to the other leaders, and it was Team Zamir’s Venezuelan import Wilmer Bravo Isaga who rode across the finish line 43 seconds behind the leader to win the $3,000 2nd prize, a trophy offered by Channel 5, the Altreith Smith Memorial plaque from the Smith family and a course at Galen University valued at $750. The Belizean favourite, Team Zamir’s Marlon Castillo, also caught and passed Lovell, but Castillo chose not to help John Delong catch Bravo, so when John Delong rode across the finish line a minute and 33 seconds behind Perez, Castillo was hard on his wheel to take 4th. Delong took home the $2,000 3rd prize and a trophy offered by Esso Standard Oil and Barrow and Company and one course at Galen University valued at $750. Castillo claimed the $1,000 4th prize and a trophy offered by the Development Finance Corporation. Greg Lovell rode in solo 4 seconds later to win the $800 5th prize and a trophy offered by the Belize Social Security Board, while Rangel took the $600 prize for 6th place and a trophy from Belize Roadway Construction. Donizetti Aburto Vasquez of the Mexican Depredadores team from Chetumal Quintana Roo, is a familiar name in Belizean cycling circles as he had ridden in several Orange Walk criteriums and he made several attacks to win 7 station prizes on the outbound leg, and he still had the legs to finish 7th, two minutes behind Perez to win a $400 prize and a trophy.
Perez’s teammate and countryman Luis Santizo rode in 12 seconds later to win the $300 8th prize and a trophy offered by Steve Benedict Auto Sales Inc. Delong’s teammate, the 2004 and 2005 Cross Country champ Chris Harkey, won the $200 9th prize from Heusner's Professional Dentistry, and he was followed by 3 other riders from the 2nd breakaway that included Team Zamir’s other Venezuelan import Gil Cordoves who rounded out the top 10 to claim the $150 10th prize from Heusner’s Dentistry. Team Santino’s Mexican import Carlos Manuel Hernandez won the $100.00 11th prize from B.N.E. and American Anthony Taylor claimed the $100.00 12th prize and a trophy from Quality Poultry Products. Team Benny’s Megabytes’ Byron Pope finished 13th to win a $100 prize and trophy from the Weekend Warriors Cycling Club; Bravo’s and Castillo’s teammate Quinton “the Baddest” Hamilton took the $100.00 14th prize and a trophy from the Weekend Warriors Cycling Club, and Lovell’s teammate Leroy Casasola edged out 2006 Cross Country champ Shane Vasquez in the sprint for 15th place. Of the 19 foreign riders who began the race with 76 Belizeans, 10 finished in the top 12, and 12 in the top 20. Orange Walk’s son Eduardo Reyes had made a name for himself as a junior rider for the Smart Speednet team, but now riding his first Cross Country for Team Santino’s, he won several station prizes on the outbound leg, and was first across the Hawkesworth bridge at the halfway point to win some $875 in prizes, and he remained in contention on the return leg taking more prizes up to the Roaring Creek Police Station, but by this time his energy was spent and he finished in 42nd position, just ahead of Masters’ riders Luigi Urbina and Kenneth Butler who brought up the rear.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE BELIZE TIMES
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FC Belize rules Caribbean Motors Cup football - bombs Hankook Verdes 3-0
FC Belize is still No. 1 in the 2010 Caribbean Motors Cup football tournament leading the Belize Premier Football League standings with 22 pts from 7 wins and 1 draw after bombing Hankook Verdes 3-0 at the Norman Broaster Stadium on Saturday night. The winning goal came from a strike by Jerome Archer in the 18th minute of play, and Jerome “Jaro” James scored a 2nd goal in the 31st minute to lead 2-zip at the half time break. James embarrassed the Verdes’ goalie with a 3rd goal in the 80th minute for the 3-0 win. The Belize Defence Force are still No.2 in the BPFL rankings with 22 pts after they blasted the San Pedro Sea Dogs out of the water 2-zip at the Ambergris Stadium on Sunday. Gilroy Swazo scored the winning goal in the 38th minute to lead 1-zip at the half, and Clifton West sealed the 2-0 win with a 2nd goal in the 67th minute. The Paradise/Freedom Fighters delighted their hometown fans with their 3rd win, 1-0 over BRC Blaze at the Toledo Union Field on Saturday night. Wilmer Garcia scored the winning goal in the 32nd minute to lead 1-zip at the half, and the Freedom Fighters locked up shop to keep the visitors off the scoreboard and secure the win, which kept them at 6th in the rankings.
Georgetown Ibayani is No.5 in the rankings when Shanaiah Corozal gave them the go-head to their 4th win when they forfeited their scheduled match at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium on Saturday night. Shanaiah Corozal did no better at the Ricalde Stadium last Wednesday night, when FC Belize had posted their 6th win: a 3-1 victory over Shanaiah. Brian Martinez scored the winning goal for F.C. Belize in the 1st minute of play and Delroy Andrews added a 2nd goal in the 20th minute of play to lead 2-zip at the half time break. Hernan Mossiah scored Corozal’s only consolation goal in the 67th minute, before Jerome Archer made doubly sure of the win with a 3rd goal for FC Belize in the 82nd minute. The BDF recovered from a 1-0 deficit to upset the Paradise/ Freedom Fighters 2-1 at the M.C.C. g arden on Wednesday night. Ralph Flores scored first for the Freedom Fighters in the 39th minute, but Orlando “Lichy” Jimenez delivered the equalizer in the 46th minute, and scored the winning goal in the 81st minute. Hankook Verdes is ranked No. 4 after posting their 5th win 2-0 over BRC Blaze at the Nor man Broaster Stadium on
Wednesday night. The BRC squad was desperately seeking their first win and while they failed to impress the scoreboard, their defense shut out the Verdes’ attacks to keep it a nil-zip ball game up to the half time break. Edon “Yellowman” Rowley drew first blood for Verdes in the 60th minute, and Julian Maldonado iced the win with a 2nd goal in the 85th minute. The San Pedro Sea Dogs rank No.5 with 13 pts after posting their 4th win: 3-0 when they visited Georgetown Ibayani at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium on Wednesday. Tonbra Akpobodor
scored the winning goal in the 21st minute of play and Jacinto Pinelo scored a 2nd goal in the 27th minute for a 2-zip lead at the half time break. Honduran import Olvin Serano iced the win with a 3rd goal in the 65th minute. The competition continues with the BDF hosting Georgetown Ibayani at the M.C.C. garden on Sunday, while BRC Blaze will host Shanaiah Corozal at the FFB field in Belmopan, Hankook Verdes visit the San Pedro Sea Dogs at the Ambergris Stadium and the Paradise/Freedom Fighters host F.C. Belize at the Toledo Union Field.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
The
THE BELIZE TIMES
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ñ a p s E n E
Si No Es Así…
El Conejo de Pascua... El Ministro cochino estaba viviendo como rey este fin de semana de Pascua, gracias al dinero del conejo de pascua de los impuestos Belicenos. Es probable que no lo supiera, pero el gordito viajó a Playa del Carmen, en México, para su fin
de semana largo. Eso es lo suyo y a nadie le importa. Pero lo que sí importa es la revelación de que el gordito viajó a la zona libre cortesía del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, en el vehículo de protocolo y con conductor. Así, mientras el ministro cochino se fue de fiesta como si fuera 1999, nosotros estábamos pagando la factura por el hombre ostentoso. Eso es una grave m@ # %^a. Nos acaban de decir que las cosas están malas... muy pero muy malas. Nos acaban de decir que las cosas van a empeorar. Hemos sido golpeados con nuevos impuestos debido al bukut de Barrow del presupuesto fiscal. Ahora el ministro cochino quiere unirse a su amigo calvo y al darnos el bukut sin vaselina. ¿Por qué diablos tenemos que pagar para que el gordo ande desfilando en Playa del Carmen, con vehículo del gobierno y con conductor a su disposición las 24 horas?. En serio, ministro cochino, esto está mal en muchos niveles. Hay gente muriéndose de hambre aquí, porque el gobierno dice que está en quiebra y no puede hacer nada para ayudar. Realmente nos gustaría una explicación... Si no es así…! ¿Qué demonios? Es bastante malo que el gordo viajó a Playa del Carmen con los dólares de nuestros impuestos... pero hay más. Nos acaba de entrar la noticia de que el personal de protocolo del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores también anduvo de niñera de un embajador de bajo nivel en Placencia - Sólo Dios sabe por qué. Al momento que el caballero fiestero había terminado la fiesta había cargado una
cuenta al GOB por un total de más o menos US $ 8000 por un par de días el fin de semana. Hay algo fundamentalmente malo en ello. Demonios, un montón de gente en Belice ni siquiera gana US$ 8000 para todo el año, pero ahora tenemos que pagar por lo que el Embajador parrandeo el fin de semana en el Sur. No es como que el Ministro de Asuntos Exteriores será capaz de arrojar alguna luz sobre este constructiva metedera de pata diplomática. Él todavía no ha explicado por qué el jefe de protocolo en Belice fue enviado para mimar al hijo del primer ministro durante un reciente acuerdo privado multimillonario... Si no es así…!
Las velas en el viento ... Nos han llegado comentarios fidedignos de que dos ministros del gabinete, un tipo gordo y el otro chaparro, fueron vistos balanceándose al ritmo de un concierto de Elton John que se celebró el fin de semana largo en Chichén Itzá, no muy lejos de Playa del Carmen, por cierto. Estos dos paganos han estado saliendo antes, pero todavía tenemos que obtener pruebas fotográficas .Hablando desde un punto de vista puramente personal, espero que nunca lo hagan. De todos
modos, entendemos que cuando Elton John comenzó cantando a todo pulmón "La manera que te ves esta noche," el gordo estaba tan emocionado que él trató de quitarse los sucios calzoncillos para tirarlos al escenario y tuvo que ser restringido por la seguridad. Supongo que el gordo creía que lo que sucede en México se queda en México... Pero no es así mi amigo ... Si no es así…! Hilberto en movimiento ... Hemos estado preguntando por qué Pablo se está viendo un poco incómodo últimamente. Algunos de nosotros pensamos que tal vez él no había descubierto la manera de bajar la temperatura en los asientos con calefacción en su nuevo Land Cruiser Prado. De todos modos, lo hemos descubierto gracias al trabajo de los detectives políticos aficionados encubiertos dentro del campamento del UDP en Corozal. Desde hace algún tiempo hemos estado diciendo que Hilberto Campos ha sido indicado por el Primer Ministro como el reemplazo para el electricista / bozo / ministro de la salud en el norte. Nos las arreglamos para confirmar que el informe de la semana pasada de que el alcalde
casino esta trabajando para formar su comité, que en su mente lo lleve a la gloria ministerial. El caso es que él ha estado teniendo un poco de problemas haciendo que alguien se le una. Todo el mundo le decía que sería un desperdicio de esfuerzo, porque después del desastre del UDP, no hay ninguna oportunidad en el infierno que cualquiera que tiene una duración en el UDP va a ganar las próximas elecciones generales. No te preocupes Pablo... tienes una segunda carrera y siempre habrá focos que necesitan cambiar... Si no es así…! Desgajando las migajas... Los vagabundos hambrientos de poder en el UDP se rempujan por una posición en el partido, incluso cuando la nación se desmorona a su alrededor y pasan hambre los beliceños. Por la forma como van las cosas, sólo tienes que creer que no hay mucho por que luchar, pero
tal vez sólo los idiotas no está viendo la escritura en la pared. Como hemos informado antes, mini-Dean quiere ser el más reciente, así que va a lanzar su sombrero en el anillo para ser el líder adjunto. Eso esta confirmado. Mini-Dean también ha utilizado todas sus armas de mujer para conseguir el apoyo de su amigo el ministro cochino (¿recuerda la cita romántica en el concierto de Elton John?). Los ardides deben haber sido considerable (yuck), porque el ministro cochino, que tiene aspiraciones de liderazgo, el mismo aparentemente ha decidido establecerse para postularse para Presidente de el UDP, donde espera seguir los pasos delicados de el actual Presidente. El ministro Quitar de el norte ha dicho que él no va a ninguna parte y que el pequeño 'negrito' mejor se baje. El ministro quitar ha solidificado su apoyo de, digamos, el sector más hispano de el UDP (¿recuerda el banquete en San Pedro?). Erwin ha estado en calma y la especulación es que él está más preocupado por los aspectos lucrativos de su cartera (pagable ahora) que cualquier
el sol mientras las autoridades de Jamaica tropiezan por todas partes en busca de usted? Si no es así…! Dos por el camino difícil... Demonios, tal vez el señor Crooks y el Sr. Perdomo están juntos, porque este brilla por su ausencia, cuando el departamento de policía hizo su enorme anuncio el jueves (que se convirtió en una broma del día de los inocentes de abril por cierto). En una entrevista en algún momento la semana pasada, el Sr. Perdomo indicó que el Sr. Crooks es bueno para él, a pesar de que es buscado por las autoridades por atroces delitos sexuales contra un menor de edad. Demonios, dijo el Sr. Perdomo, lo que Crooks hizo en su vida personal no tiene nada que ver con su vida profesional. Bueno, entonces, el Sr. Perdomo. Si tú lo dices... Si no es así…! ¿Quien le da el visto bueno? La semana pasada les dimos la noticia de que el Presidente del Tribunal Supremo ha sido puesto en vigencia inmediatamente, en un movimiento significado por el GOB, que lo sacara del banquillo con celeridad. Sin embargo, el CJ dijo - no tan rápido - no se puede hacer eso. Ahora la palabra es que el CJ
lucha de poder en un partido que no va a ninguna parte. Búsquelos pronto... los anuncios serán en breve... Si no es así…! Crooks en Belice... ¿Cuántas veces te hemos dicho que no podrían haber documentado pruebas para demostrar lo que estamos diciendo, pero seguro como el infierno que es la verdad? Desde la semana pasada nuestro agente en Vibes ha estado diciendo que el prófugo de la justicia Harold Crooks es muy probable que este en Belice. Bueno, justo ayer Radio Jamaica informó de que, si bien se creía en primer lugar que Crooks se había ido a las Bermudas, ahora, los informes indican que podría estar en Belice. Nosotros te lo dijimos. Véase, la evidencia es clara de que si usted tiene amigos en las altas esferas, no hay agencia que te puede tocar en Belice. Basta con mirar al sobrino de Saint Hubert SEDI que es buscado por las autoridades policiales de los EE.UU. por allanamiento de morada y secuestro. Hubert esta aquí, de fiesta como si no
tiene una sola preocupación en el mundo. De hecho, su mayor queja es que el Belize Times repite continuamente lo de su situación. Aparte de eso, al parecer no se le puede tocar. Dado que Crooks aparentemente es un amigo personal del señor Barrow, por lo que debería de tener aun mejores conexiones, Demonios, ¿por qué no vienen a Belice para tomar
se resolverá el resto de su contrato, pero luego será movido por el Sr. Barrow, quien ya ha (muy prematuramente) informado a la Asociación de Abogados de su decisión. También informó sobre una lista corta de candidatos que el señor Barrow ha recopilado para el puesto. Vamos a dar un paso más y le diremos que un candidato va por delante del resto y está a punto de dar el visto bueno. Por sus años de servicio dedicado (note el tono irónico si no se dio cuenta) el señor Sosa está a punto de ser recompensado. Busque el anuncio pronto... Si no es así…! Los problemas de Nemencio... ¡Oh, cómo el pelotón del campamento del UDP están llorando, ya que tratan de reunir a los partidarios de nuevo para las elecciones de consejo de aldeas. ¿No es irónico que después de que ganaron las elecciones, los ignoraron a todos y cada uno y ahora tienen que ir con el sombrero de perdón en la mano?. Toma la lección Jack - esto es una muestra de lo que vendrá. En el norte, el representante del UDP Nemencio Acosta es tan odiado en los pueblos que los altos mandos del UDP deben de poner a David Akierman para tratar de organizar las pizarras del UDP de la zona. La cosa es que Nemencio esta enojado con el hecho de que Akierman se está entrometiendo en su tierra y por eso está tratando de juntar algunas listas de candidatos a la suya. Nemencio podría estar intoxicado la mayor parte del tiempo, pero en su momento coherente se da cuenta de que su cabeza está en el nudo al igual que su colega dodo-Pablo Marín. Hay un viento de cambio que soplan en Corozal... Si no es así…!
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THE BELIZE TIMES
The
Belize Times ol
Sunday, April 11, 2010
ñ a p s E n E
Políticas UDP, como siempre
Estamos en muy mal estado ... al Sr. Barrow se le enmarco cuidadosamente? A Imagine esto. El líder de la nación se levanta en el estas alturas todo el mundo sabe que la cabeza del centro de la atención el jueves y le dice a la nación que Sr. Perdomo esta colocada cuidadosamente en la en una hazaña brillante de la policía y del excepcional guillotina. A estas alturas todo el mundo sabe que el trabajo junto con un puesto de control a tiempo, un Sr. Barrow ha estado en reuniones con el Sr. Saldívar anillo de la delincuencia se ha hecho añicos de un para ofrecerle la cartera. ¡Me parece que la ausencia solo golpe. Los dueños de negocios deben dormir de Perdomo fue un poco conveniente! Me parece tranquilos en sus camas, dijo el primer ministro, ya que Perdomo utilizo el ego monumental de Barrow que esta organización criminal encargada de todos los y el amor a la atención, e hiso que se viera como un robos en la historia reciente ya no existe - la justicia ha payaso en frente de la nación... ¡funcionó! ¡Muy bien, Carlos! Tengo un nuevo respeto sido impuesta. Luego nos enteramos de que era solo una mentira. Esperamos que por usted, pero no se te suba a la cabeza. toda la ira de los cielos descienda sobre este genio criminal cuando sea llamado ante la Corte. El Sr. Barrow dijo que lo hizo, después de todo. Imagine entonces nuestra Gracias Ernesto ... sorpresa cuando este señor es acusado de dos cargos relativamente menores por Yo estaba escuchando el programa matutino un robo que supuestamente estaba planificado, pero nunca ocurrió. ¿Qué pasa con de Love FM hace un par de días y escuche un eso? ¿Y el robo al banco en Spanish Lookout donde se le dio muerte a un agente de comentario de Ernesto Vásquez, que me alegró seguridad? Si el señor Barrow dice que él fue el responsable de eso, ¿por qué no se el día. Ernesto estaba desglosando el aumento le pusieron cargos por ello? ¿Qué pasa con todos los otros robos que el Sr. Barrow enorme del GOB al GST en forma clara y sucinta acredito a este moderno Dr. Evil? ¿Por qué no se le pusieron cargos por eso? Algo cristalina. Él dijo claramente que, contrariamente huele muy mal de seguro... Definitivamente! a lo que el señor Barrow está reclamando, el aumento del GST no aumentara el poder !Algo huele mal en Barrow-dom! adquisitivo de los beliceños, pero más bien lo Un comunicado de prensa impreciso del disminuirá. Es un mal impuesto, así de simple ... Departamento de Policía a finales de la semana un impuesto que afectará negativamente a los más pobres entre los pobres de Belice. pasada intentó sin éxito sacar a Barrow de la El comentario de Ernesto es el mismo que se está reflejando en todos los sectores de suciedad. Pero tomando el comunicado de prensa Belice. Todo el mundo está hablando en contra del nuevo régimen fiscal de Barrow, por lo que es, lo hizo mucho peor. Si hemos de creer que paralizará al pueblo de Belice. Mi único deseo es que todas estas organizaciones a los spin doctors aficionados, la Policía encargada hubieran sido tan vocales antes de que el nuevo régimen fiscal se pusiera en práctica. de prensa (de pronto se volvió interino encargado Todo el mundo sabía lo que iba a suceder y la oposición, el Partido Unido del Pueblo de prensa después de que contradijo al Sr. Barrow) desde hace algún tiempo ha estado pronosticando exactamente lo que sucedió. Todo habló fuera de tono. Si hemos de creer a los spin esto ahora es sólo algarabía, polvo en el viento. Barrow ha hecho lo que quería. Sus doctors, el oficial a cargo de la investigación del colegas en el lado del gobierno se han golpeado el pecho y golpearon sus mesas. robo en Spanish Lookout fue que de alguna manera no se les informó que el hombre Demasiado poco, demasiado tarde para el pueblo de Belice! que planeó el robo, dijo (de nuevo según el Sr. Barrow) esta en detención preventiva. ¿Cómo es que es falso? En serio, eso es sólo una olla de m # @ %$#a. El Sr. Barrow El Escurridizo en el trabajo ... piensa que somos realmente estúpidos. De alguna manera, Barrow realmente calculo Hemos estado prediciendo desde muy mal en este caso. Predigo que esto va a doler. hace algún tiempo que esta situación en el kilómetro 41 va a explotar más temprano Por favor, explique... que tarde. Cerca de 2.000 ciudadanos de Por favor, disculpe la falta de altas iniciales Belice están tratando de invadir un terreno de después de mi nombre - no tengo ninguna SC o propiedad privada en la milla 41. Se trata de CC o cualquier C de que hablar, pero me gustaría un éxodo que es culpa del representante del una explicación en caso de que cualquier persona area del UDP John Saldívar, que se flexiona en culta por ahí podría ayudar. Véase, como yo lo Cayo Sur. Cuando se salió de control, Saldívar entiendo, hubo un supuesto plan para robar Chon corrió al gabinete que inmediatamente emitió Saan en fabricación, pero el robo nunca ocurrió. una orden de cese. Nadie escuchó la orden Nadie se acercó al local. De todos modos, los que valga la pena y la reivindicación continua. policías que alegan que cierto detective Mangar fue Se trata de una situación de no ganar para el el cerebro detrás de este robo que nunca ocurrió. UDP. No podemos permitir los ocupantes ilegales a permanecer, ya que sienta un Así que el Sr. Mangar es arrestado por su parte, supuestamente por la planificación mal precedente para el resto del país. Si esto es así, entonces los beliceños en toda de este robo que nunca ocurrió. Conspiración ellos lo llaman. Y el señor Mangar fue esta nación pueden identificar un pedazo de tierra de propiedad privada que parece encarcelado porque había un arma de fuego que participa en la conspiración para que a nadie le interesa y puede asentarse allí, al diablo con la legalidad. Sin embargo, el cometer este robo que nunca ocurrió. Eso no tiene sentido para mí. Me gustaría que UDP no puede desalojar a los ocupantes ilegales porque hay casi 3.000 de ellos y que alguien me lo explique. se traduce en un infierno de un montón de votos que el UDP no puede permitirse el lujo de jugar con, en este momento. Así que el capitán del juego Barrow va al Sr. ¿Disparar a matar? Petillo y le dice, bien, amigo usted está a cargo, pero éste es el trato. De los 3.000 Permítanme primero decir que he dejado al solicitantes de tierra sólo 800 lo van a conseguir usted tiene que ser el que les de la Comisionado de policía fuera de esta situación noticia a los 2,200 desafortunados más o menos. Hasta ahora no hemos escuchado infernal reciente con la Policía porque estoy nada todavía acerca de la ilegalidad de la invasión sobre la tierra que es legal y de seguro de que ya está tomando una paliza, porque propiedad privada. Sabemos que hay un proceso que el gobierno debe cumplir antes el señor Barrow se vio como un mentiroso delante de que sólo se pueda adquirir tierras en un capricho. De cualquier modo que esto de la nación. No hay necesidad de que hable de va, el Sr. Petillo debe darse cuenta de que va a enfrentarse con una ventosa tortuosa el en este momento, aunque nos reservamos el cuando cena con el diablo, es aconsejable usar una cuchara larga. Sólo ponemos derecho a hacerlo en cualquier otro momento. nuestros dos centavos - al Sr. Petillo ya lo fregaron, pero probablemente ni siquiera Pero nos gustaría alguna aclaración, por favor. se da cuenta. Casi me imagino que en esa misma conferencia de prensa el Sr. Jeffries dijo algo en el sentido de que cuando se enfrenta a presuntos Simplemente embarazoso ... delincuentes en las calles, el departamento de policía ha adoptado una política de Alguien debería hablar con la alcaldesa y decirle disparar a matar. Espérese allí un momentito, Wyatt Earp, tenemos que escuchar que ella es una vergüenza para Belice y debe tratar de un poco más acerca de este plan para convertir la ciudad en el OK Corral. No me mantenerse en la sombra lo más posible. Primero fue malinterpreten - no creemos en delincuentes mimos y no apoyamos cuando el Sr. el cross-country, cuando se volvió a poner en marcha Barrow le pidió a los líderes de las pandillas que por favor, por favor se comportaran en la oportunidad de dar un estado de la dirección de bien. Pero tenemos que saber exactamente lo que usted tiene en mente. Véase, si la ciudad.¿Quieres mi resumen del estado de la ciudad, mal no recuerdo había un hedor grande apenas recientemente donde policías fueron señora alcaldesa? - Apesta. Esta sucia, la delincuencia señalados como los pistoleros en un par de asesinatos y aparte de que han habido montada y esta infestada de roedores que comen del bastante denuncias de la fuerza letal injustificable usada recientemente. Nos gustaría dinero que han hecho su hogar en el Ayuntamiento. saber exactamente lo que quiso decir, Sr. Jeff. Por favor deletréelo para nosotros. ¡Mire a su alrededor, alcaldesa! De todos modos, esto ya estaba bastante malo, pero entonces la alcaldesa apareció de nuevo en las noticias para recibir el Baton de la ¿Por qué estaba el Sr. Perdomo desaparecido? Reina. Casi me caí de la silla cuando oí referirse a Delhi como un país que tiene mucho El Ministro de Seguridad Nacional, Carlos Perdomo estuvo visible y casualmente en común con Belice.¡Idiota!, Delhi es una ciudad en la India, no un país. Por Dios. ausente en la conferencia de prensa del jueves. El teórico de la conspiración en mí ¿Usted ha escuchado acerca del paquete total de cerebro, belleza y competencia? se pregunta si Carlos no es más inteligente de lo que pensamos. ¿Podría ser que Bueno, eso no es el caso aquí. Tenemos que cargar con la antítesis de todo el paquete.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE BELIZE TIMES
Judge…Jury... Executioner
(Continued from page 1) Superintendent Paul Wade, backed up the words of the Police Press Officer, stating that Mr. Mangar was certainly not a suspect in the Scotiabank heist. To add further credence to their claims, when Mr. Mangar appeared in the Court to be charged, there were absolutely no charges related to the abundance of robberies that the Prime Minister claimed that he masterminded. Instead, Mr. Mangar was charged with conspiracy to commit a robbery and attempted robbery in relation to a so-called plan to rob Chon Saan Palace in Belize City. The sequence of events has left the nation a little shocked and very concerned at what is at best a critical lack of communication within the department and at worst a setup and cover-up of immense proportions within the department. Nobody has quite figured out the role the Prime Minister played in this drama, but it surely has not helped his already ailing credibility. T h e c o m m o n - l aw w i f e o f Detective Constable Jermaine Mangar, Cassie Young, is convinced that her husband was the target of a setup with the participation of players including Director of the CYDP Edward Broaster, Senior Superintendent Blackett and other senior officers within the department. She claims that the entire thing stank from the very beginning, when her husband was arrested. On Wednesday night, March 31, Usher told the Belize Times, her home was searched by officers including Broaster and Blackett. Strangely enough, Miss Usher claims that also on the scene were owner of Chon Saan Palace Lee Mark Chang and the driver of the Prime Minister. According to Usher, they had no warrant but still ransacked the house. She claims that Mr. Broaster tried to
Discord at Harmonyville
(Continued from page 1) The inadequacy of the Minister of Natural Resources paved the way for the leader of the nation, in the previous UDP term not so lovingly referred to as the Minister of Everything, to step in and hand out proclamations. Some questions still remain, though, not dispelled by the wave of Mr. Barrow’s magic wand. By what instrument has Mr. Barrow given Mr. Petillo the considerable authority to decide who gets land and who doesn’t? How will the Ministry of Lands deal with the reality that the land is in fact privately owned? Will the fortunate 800 landowners be able to receive title for their land? Will there be any vetting of the 800 landowners of will Mr. Petillo have the final say? And who will break the news to the unlucky 1,600 hopeful landowners who will be turned back by Mr. Petillo? At the Belize Times, we predict that the mile 41 situation will blow up into an unsavoury mess. Perhaps that was Mr. Barrow’s intent when he put so much authority into the hands of Mr. Petillo. One thing is certain though – if the Ministry of Natural Resources was functioning as it should, and as efficiently as the Minister so consistently claims, there would be no crisis at Mile 41 today. And crisis it is, because everyone knows that the calmest time is before the storm.
get her to leave the house so he could continue searching but she refused, since she was afraid that they would plant something in the house. The behavior of the police during the search has Miss Usher more convinced than ever that it is all a setup and there is no real evidence against her husband. Since that time, said Miss Usher, she has been refused permission to visit her husband. She told us that she was not even allowed to give her husband food and clothing while he was at the Police Station over the weekend. It was only when she visited the Ombudswoman Cynthia Pitts and begged for intervention that she was able to leave the food and clothing for Mangar. It is unclear at this time why UDP political hopeful Lee Mark Chang was involved in the search of Mangar’s home. We are equally confused about the presence of the Prime Minister’s driver. On Tuesday, Mangar was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted robbery. Allegations from those who masterminded his arrest are that they detained a criminal who then turned and fingered Mangar as the head criminal brain, and claimed that a plan was afoot to rob Chon Saan Palace. Reportedly a sting was orchestrated and Mangar took the bait and the rest is history. When Mangar appeared in Court he was refused bail and remanded on the grounds that the attempted robbery was to be committed with a firearm. Attorneys contacted by the Belize Times claim that this is ludicrous, since there was never an actual robbery but only an allegation by a criminal turned police stooge that there was to be a robbery. It is a convoluted, twisted sequence of events which leaves a sour taste in the mouths of many
Belizeans. The Police Department has lost the confidence of the people and something seems to be distinctly off with the Mangar situation. The Prime Minister’s involvement in the matter
31 has certainly not ser ved to make things better, but only to highlight the deficiencies in the Ministry of National Security and in the Police Department.
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Sunday, April 11, 2010