Belize Times 100516

Sunday, May 16, 2010

The

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Belize Times The Truth Shall Make You Free

The UDP is IMPOTENT on CRIME! Briceno tells Barrow – ACT NOW! SUNDAY MAY 16, 2010

Issue No. 4693

The Opposition People’s United Party today issued a strong release on crime, calling on the ‘government to act immediately by re placing the Minister of National Security and to make drastic changes in the Command of the Police Department.’

The PUP also called on the Prime Minister to immediately ‘work out a comprehensive plan to reverse this situation.’

As the Belize Times goes to press, the son of Belmopan Mayor Simeon Lopez, prominent basketballer Aubrey Lopez is the latest victim of the bloodshed, shot dead on Belize City streets on Wednesday night. Earlier this week, a seven year

More Money Missing… says Singh!

Under the leadership of Mayor Zenaida Moya, the UDP Belize City Council has been riddled by allegations of corruption and mismanagement of funds. The latest such revelation is alarming, while not at all surprising.

The issue at hand has to do with some very serious allegations that monies that have been paid by market vendors towards their outstanding balances cannot be accounted for in the accounting books at City Hall.

And that admission was made by none other than the Councilor responsible for markets, Kevin Singh.

Singh has admitted publicly that while the vendors, who are now temporarily located at the Pound Yard lot, have in the past paid towards their outstanding bills for the rental

of stalls, the outstanding balance has not decreased!

Councilor Singh explained that during the Council's last term, the price of market stalls had gone up from $125 to around $250 each per month but then it was brought back down after the vendors complained of the high price. But their bills had gone exceedingly high and they needed to clear them. So the vendors started to pay more than double to try and close the gap. But surprisingly that gap has remained the same, a total of $174,000, according to the Councilor.

To make matters worse, he said when he went in to the Accounts Section at City Hall two weeks ago he discovered another problem - that the Council (Continued on page 35)

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old girl was shot in the leg as she sat innocently on her sofa inside what was supposed to be the safety of her home. Over the weekend, four persons lost their lives – a youth at the hands of Police in Caye Caulker, a young Chinese mother in Cayo as she tended her store and two victims of decapitation in the village of Buena Vista down South.

S i n c e D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 , f ive persons have been killed by officers of the Police Department, and in two other murders there are allegations that Policemen pulled the triggers.

These murders join the spate of murders and other violent crimes (Continued on page 35)

Ashcroft’s Close Friend is New UK Foreign Secretary

One of the first appointments by the New British Prime Minister David Cameron was to name his Foreign Secretary. The man picked for the job is close friend of Lord Michael Ashcroft, William Hague.

Mr. Hague no doubt will be well aware of the strained relationship between Belmopan and Lord Ashcroft. Whether this will have an effect on Anglo Belize relationship is left to be seen; however it is no secret that the relationship between the Prime Minister and the Lord (Continued on page 35)

Veteran Teacher & Baller Gunned Down

The teaching and basketball worlds in Belize are mourning the great loss of one of their own as gun violence on Belize City’s streets has claimed another life.

Veteran basketball point guard for the Belmopan Bandits, Aubrey Lopez, son of Belmopan Mayor, Simeon Lopez, was killed execution style sometime after 11:00 pm on Wednesday, by a group of young men who apparently held him up after he left the school compound of E P Yorke, where he has been a (Continued on page 35)

Are YOU Better Off Today?

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, May 16, 2010

OutSpoken NO MORE! The stench that is once again coming out of City Hall has nothing to do with the garbage problem that has plagued city residents as a result of this Zenaida Moya run council. This stench, which started in 2006 when she first took office, is coming from yet another financial scandal involving City Hall - the latest involving the fees paid in to the council by market vendors at the temporary market in Belize City.

Considering all the scandals involving “under-depositing;” the recent issue at the Belize City Traffic Department; the introduction of special legislation to rein in some of the unethical practices at City Hall (dubbed the Managing Mayor Moya Bill) and the arrest of Moya for theft, it would be expected that the Belize City Council would do all possible to keep things clean and transparent. It is now clear that this UDP City Council is incapable of even the slightest bit of propriety.

This latest scandal involves the monies collected for rent from the vendors at the makeshift market on Cemetery Road. According to one of their own, Councillor Kevin Singh, the vendors at the temporary Market were supposed to pay $125 monthly towards their arrears; however they were being made to pay $10 per day or $310 monthly towards their arrears. Yet the records at City Hall shows arrears for the vendors increasing instead of decreasing and no one could account for the monies collected, even though receipts were issued to the vendors indicating that they have been paying.

Singh claims that officials in the financial department at City Hall told him that the monies collected may have been going into the wrong account and as such could not be identified in the system.

He said, “I went to check and I couldn’t find out where the money was going.” This gross mismanagement of funds, not to mention the fact that the money cannot be accounted for, is unacceptable, more so for a council well into its second term.

Of course this latest scandal comes as no surprise to anyone, since Mayor Moya and this UDP City Council continues to be mired in financial scandals, incompetence, neglect, bad management practices, disunity and overall corruption.

It was only weeks ago that Central Government had to step in and halt what looked like a sweetheart deal that would involve selling off the park at Newtown Barracks. This is just one example of the deals certain members of this Council have apparently been making.

From contracts for hauling land fill to the renting of overpriced heavy duty equipment, everything at City Hall seems to involve a hustle.

Compounding the already bad situation, this broke council clearly lacks the capacity to develop any real plan to manage the City’s finances. With inadequate oversight and no regard for proper accountability to the residents of the City, Zenaida Moya and the Belize City Council have completely destroyed the Council and as a result have abandoned the City. Every service, including proper collection and disposal of garbage, maintenance of streets and drains has fallen into neglect. It is a gross dereliction of their duty. Yet this Mayor Moya makes time to call for a summit on Crime. It was appropriate for Jules Vasquez of Channel 7 to comment that she can’t even pick up the garbage, yet wants to be calling a summit on crime. What should have been obvious to the Mayor are the unending scandals at City Hall involving missing taxpayers’ money, something that in and of itself is criminal. Moya and her team should do us all a favour and resign.

The Prime Minister once referred to a previous administration as a ‘kleptocracy;’ surely he must now be hanging his head in shame when the largest UDP run municipality continues to behave like the real kleptomaniacs? What was that line again? “No watch me, watch yu self !”

Ask the Right Questions The Editor, For some time now, a mediocre contributor in the name of Jamil Matar from Orange Walk has been trying to analyze the inner workings of the PUP in his weekly scribble at the Guardian.

He rephrases commentaries from the so called faction of the old guard engaged in discrediting the party leader.

What Jamil Matar should ask himself is, am I better off now than 2 years ago? He should rack his brain with this question and analyze if his steady income every fortnight has the same buying power since the 25% GST increase. When he goes to the old capital and walks from the bus terminal to downtown does he do it with ease or with fear that he might be a victim of a stray bullet, since his incompetent minister of national security seems impotent on crime.

He should look in the mirror and ask himself if it is just for the minister of lands to cancel leases from hard working Belizeans and assign it to members of his family and friends.

Or fill each vacancy in the Ministry of Natural Resources with family members - isn’t this nepotism of the highest order?

He should ask his dread bally how come “natty dread” has acquired so many assets in less than two years. Or the electrician minister - when will heads roll since the commission of inquiry’s report into the KHMH did reveal that there were irregularities.

If you ask him to mention any accomplishment in the last two years since his despotic government took the reins of Belmopan; he would probably tell us that one of the PM’s son was made a member of the board of directors in BTL and the other appointed musical ambassador of Belize. But the biggest accomplishment would come in favor of his colleague from Orange Walk Central who is now ambassador to Mexico and who has brought no significant contribution to Belize but openly boasts of having served Escabeche to dignitaries in Mexico City is an accomplishment.

In conclusion I would like to borrow a phrase used in the house of representative and tell Jamil Matar “no watch me… watch you self.” Don’t go throwing stones at the PUP when the UDP’s glass house is about to shatter. You see, your government will be a One Term Government and you can take that to the bank.

Sincerely, RUSTIC

Sunday, May 16, 2010

THE BELIZE TIMES

Disenfranchising Consejo Voters

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Monday, 13 May 2010

The Real People’s Banks…

I have never attended the Annual General Meeting of the Holy Redeemer Credit Union, so last month when Miss Jane invited me to attend, I readily accepted, even though I am a member of the La Inmaculada Credit Union. The meeting was lively, the crowd in an upbeat mood, overall it was a good experience.

During the meeting shareholders, including children—Miss Jane informed me that since the children were also shareholders, the children were welcomed - listened closely to the report. It was an impressive report, indicating that HRCU had total assets of $348.3 million; total loans of $218 million of which $77,768,477.99 were loaned out last year. This $77 million in loans were made up of loans ranging from housing to education and from medical to business.

Despite the slowing down of the Belizean economy, HRCU reported impressive profits, netting $25 million.

The best part of this is that like HRCU, there are other impressive credit unions around the country. Of late, La Inmaculada Credit Union (LICU) has been making great strides in modernizing and expanding its facilities. This weekend LICU will hold their AGM in Orange Walk Town.

At the AGM, they will report total assets of $25,408,065, a loan portfolio of $20,699,0404, of which $11,823,015 was loaned out last year. This $11,823,015 was loaned to 4,280 of their members.

Yet despite the hard economic times, and with all the problems in the sugar industry, La Inmaculada Credit Union will report a healthy profit and will recommend a dividend on savings.

Credit Unions in Belize are no longer these small financial institutions. All of them started off very small with a few members; today the credit union movement has a membership of more than 111,000, or one in every three Belizeans.

In Toledo in 2000, Mr. Oscar Requena and Mr. Fuentes, the then president of the Toledo branch of the Belize Teacher’s Union encouraged the teachers to start the Toledo Teachers Credit Union.

They started with 87 members and $7887.50 in capital. By 2009 they had grown to 5,300 members and capital of over $8.4 million Over the years, these institutions have grown not only in size but also in the services they offer. Today credit unions offer money transfers, provide ATM services, offer fixed deposits, insurance for its members and even assist in the preparation of legal documents, not to mention the size of loans that credit unions can offer to its members.

In 1986, after my brother and I had just graduated from university, we attempted to get a loan from the banks to start a business. We were rejected because we had no credit history and no one to guarantee our loan. Since we were both members of La Inmaculada Credit Union from boyhood, we managed to get a loan to start off our first business.

Like ours, there are thousands of stories where the credit unions have helped its members with loans ranging from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. And despite these huge numbers of mostly small loans, the delinquency rates or non-payments of loans of most credit unions are low.

For example, the latest report form the Central Bank stated that the delinquency rate at the banks range from a low 4.8 percent to as high as 22.6 percent. At the Belize Small Farmers and Business Bank, their delinquency rate is as high as 60 percent, while the delinquency rate at HRCU is 3.7 percent and at LICU it is 2.65 percent.

Many may ask, why have the credit unions been so successful?

The answer is simple; the members are the owners of the credit union. They elect their board of directors and have a close look at what is happening. Their interest rates are lower than the banks while at the same time the credit unions offer a wide range of services. With all this, they manage to keep their operating costs low and their profits go back to the shareholders.

In good times or bad, it is clear that Credit Unions in Belize will continue to grow both in size and strength and as they do they will continue to offer a wider range of services, rendering it the real peoples’ banks.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Contact: Mike Rudon For Immediate Release

PUP Calls for Immediate Action on Crime The increasing levels of violence, the hideous nature of some of these crimes, including grenade explosions, decapitation, murders in broad daylight and the increasing instances of involvement by police officers in serious criminal activities cannot continue.

The constant cry by parents and relatives of victims openly alleging that their loved ones have been victims of extra-judicial murders by police officers as well as the obvious lack of respect for people’s lives has brought us to a point where Belizeans not only fear the criminals, but also the police who are supposed to serve and protect citizens.

The emotional as well as the financial cost of this level of violence continues to rise adding more burden to our citizens who must pay for all aspects of crime from enforcement to incarceration.

Likewise, the situation is offering no real solutions to a problem which represents a consequential hurdle to economic recovery and the restoration of business confidence.

When a Government cannot protect its citizens from threats it has failed in its basic mandate.

Belize is fast headed towards a failed state and the Prime Minister and his Cabinet must be held accountable. The PUP therefore calls on the government to act immediately by replacing the Minister of National Security and to make drastic changes in the Command at the Police Department, as well as work out a comprehensive plan to immediately reverse this situation.

Government must act now and do so decisively.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

THE BELIZE TIMES

UDP Politics as usual

Mini-Iraq…

Belize is turning into our own little corner of hell, like a mini-Iraq. Every day residents of the city are treated to gunshots blasting like firecrackers, just much more deadly. As I write this, the latest victim is a child who was sitting innocently at home on her sofa. The bullets pierced the home and one of them caught her in the leg. I am reasonably sure that between the time of writing this and going to press, more blood will be shed on Belize’s streets and at least one more body will lie shrouded in the cold depths of the morgue. That’s how bad the city has gotten. The Police seem to have no answer to the escalating violence on the street and the policy-makers in government have gone deafeningly silent. We have to ask once again – when will Mr. Barrow heed the cried of a suffering nation and get rid of the Minister of National Security. The people are crying out for a change in the way things are being done, but Mr. Barrow has apparently been struck deaf and mute.

Brazen attack…

The attack this week on the Police and BDF personnel at the mile 3 checkpoint is just another indication of how bad things have gotten. For a long time now Belizeans have not been safe in our own nation. It was only a matter of time before the criminals started targeting our men and women in uniform. It is a miracle that after the shots rang out three bodies were not left sprawled on the ground riddled with bullets. Somebody needs to do something before things get much worse.

Very soon there will be parts of the city in which the Police won’t be allowed. Very soon officers ‘walking the beat’ will become the targets of the street’s hunger. Very soon everybody, including the Police, will be at the mercy of the criminals. That is where we are heading very fast. Why doesn’t anybody in power want to see? Has Mr. Barrow suddenly been struck blind?

Police brutality…

A man was viciously beaten by members of the Police Department, those very men and women who swear an oath to be our guardians and keep us safe. Apparently this man just had the misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was heading home past the checkpoint just when shots were peppering the Police building there, and by the time he got to Hattieville he was pulled over and pummeled. According to the gentleman, he was asked no questions, just hit repeatedly in the face with a handgun then kicked in the face over and over again while being held on the ground by an M-16 rifle to the face. Then he was driven to the Queen Street Police Station where he was left in the pan of the pickup like a display puppet for passersby. On the way to the Station the Police Officer with him spat on him. The he was taken to the hospital and when he was released from the hospital the next day, he was suddenly free to go home - no questions asked, no charges, nothing. This man was beaten by the Police for no good reason. Apparently nobody is safe in Belize, from either the criminals or the Police. The man said that he told his 10-year old son that if he ever sees the Police coming toward him, he should run away. Somebody should take a poll. I’m willing to bet that a lot of law-abiding citizens feel this very same way about the Police. But no worries, says the High Command. There will be an immediate investigation into the matter and those responsible will be charged. Our advice to the victim of the beating – don’t hold your breath. We’ve heard those words before, said with that same conviction, too many times to count. Nothing ever happens.

Crime statistics…

If there is any one thing that can be said about our erstwhile Commissioner of Police, it is that he is consistent. His statistics consistently reveal that crime is going down, NO MATTA WHAT! There were four murders just over the weekend and robberies galore, but you can bet your bottom dollar that the Commissioner’s statistics will reveal that crime has gone down. According to Mr. Jeffries, in the first quarter of 2010 compared to that same period in 2009, crime has gone down an amazing, incredible and unbelievable 30% plus. That’s huge. But it’s simply not true. Mr. Jeffries and his boss Mr. Perdomo would have us believe that this sense of escalating violence and brutality and bloodshed is all just a perception – we just think that things are really bad out there, but in reality we’re as safe as babes in a mother’s arms. Apparently these two gentlemen continue to pat each other on the backs and congratulate themselves on a job well done while the rest of the nation is crying

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out for succor. Up to this week on a talk-show, Mr. Jeffries maintained that crime is down. Like I said, he is consistent – consistently wrong, that is. Ask anybody.

Barrow’s release In a release issued from Mr. Barrow’s office, our Prime Minister finally admits that crime is a problem in Belize. Finally! The release states that ‘Cabinet is aware and accepts that the crime situation in Belize has reached crisis proportions.’ Eureka! Belizeans have only been screaming that little fact at the top of their lungs for months and months now. The streets have only been running red for months now.

Belize has only been named the murder capital of the world for months now. According to the release, Mr. Barrow’s government will now be embarking on a coordinated initiative to combat crime and violence. So what was the government doing before, exactly?

Nothing? Apparently that’s exactly what they were doing. Mr. Barrow should be ashamed to just now be ‘embarking’ on any initiative where it concerns crime. This release proves what we’ve been saying all along. Mr. Barrow has had his head buried in the sand while our youths have been gunning each other down on the street; while innocent victims have been falling to stray bullets; while our streets have become a battleground and while our citizens have been living in fear.

The PM concurs…

According to the Prime Minister, both Mr. Perdomo and Mr. Jeffries are liars who have been trying to pull the wool over the eyes of Belizeans. See, Mr. Barrow’s release talks about crime reaching crisis proportions and an increase in violent crimes, even as the duo over at National Security keeps telling us that crime is down. So who should we believe? Normally we wouldn’t lean too much in the direction of the PM, since he’s been known to play a little loose with the truth for his convenience, but in this case we’ve got to throw caution to the wind and side with the bald fellow. The evidence on the streets speaks for itself.

The reality is…

But Mr. Barrow’s release would be funny if the crime situation wasn’t so very serious. See, all of a sudden the PM is talking about crime reaching crisis proportions and the fact that there is a need for a ‘multi-faceted, broad based’ solution inclusive of a wide range of social partners. That sure sounds familiar.

Sounds just like something Mayor Moya said last week at her crime summit, actually.

And there you have it. The Prime Minister isn’t serious about this thing. His release is bogus. He was upstaged by Mayor Moya last week, since she took the ball out of his hands with the crime thing. So all he’s doing is taking it back. In fact he makes his intention very clear in the release – ‘the Prime Minister is committed to addressing this crisis and will provide the leadership and the political direction…’ See, there you have it. All he’s doing is telling the Mayor to back off because he is the head honcho. The release is all just more smoke and mirrors, nothing more. Mark my words – Barrow’s crime initiative will go the same way as his commission to lower the price of goods. So when last have you heard about that commission? Are you paying less at the store? See what I mean.

The Queen Square Market…

The scene between the vendors, city councilors and Boots Martinez was an ugly one - really ugly. They want the vendors to pay more for rent and the vendors are saying – boss, we just don’t have the money. We’ll cover that story somewhere else in this paper. But there’s another story here, and it’s the Queen Square Market itself. The brand new market was supposed to take six months to complete but it has been left unfinished and nobody’s even working on it anymore. That’s exceedingly strange. We understand the Deputy Mayor Philloughby is saying that the money has run out, and he is blaming vendors not paying rent for the market not being finished. But SIF projects don’t exactly work that way, if I remember correct. See, the Social Investment Fund secures funding from lending agencies like the IDB so the money is readily available from the very beginning. And those lending agencies are very strict about how that money is used. It’s not like the money has to be sourced as the project continues. I can honestly say that I’ve never heard about a SIF project not being completed because the funds ran out. This begs a lot of questions, especially with the new political directorate at SIF and the sticky-fingered suspects at the Belize City Council. Somebody needs to ask the pertinent questions!

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Sunday, May 16, 2010

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Mr. Barrow and the UDP boasted that they had removed GST from vitamins, and claimed that this move would benefit especially our children and the elderly. But Mr. Barrow did not tell the WHOLE TRUTH. Mr. Barrow did not mention that his zero rating only applies to certain solid vitamins. He did not tell Belizeans that all liquid vitamins will not only be subject to an increase in GST to 12.5% but will also be subject to a significant increase in duty and a 10% RRD. Mr. Barrow did not mention that liquid vitamins coming from Caricom Countries which did not pay duties before will now attract all those fees under the new tariff.

These include SSS Tonic, Scott’s Emulsion, Geritol Tonic, B Complex Syrups and many other vitamin syrups used by children and the elderly.

Mr. Barrow Does Not Care About the People!

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, May 16, 2010

The Streets Are Hungry…

Contributed It is a foregone conclusion that crime and violence in Belize are way, way out of control, especially here in the City. As the gruesome realities continue to smack us in the face on a daily basis, people are left to wonder how much worse it will get. We are only half way through the month of May and the number of bodies is stocking up at the morgue. The terrible thing is that this epidemic is spreading all across the country and the defense forces led by the “Impotent One” Minister Carlos Perdomo seem to have few or no solutions at all. Instead to fighting crime with an all out ground campaign the leaders at the Police Department have been trying without much success to fool the Belizean people by showing crime statistics that are down. The reality is that they are only fooling themselves!

Belizeans know very well that Belize is a violent and unsafe place.

Frustrated by the inability of this UDP Government to arrest the escalating crime problem, I decided to try to find some answers on my own. My quest for answers as to why Belize has become such a violent society led me to where the violence is being played out - the streets.

Due to my involvement with

competitive sports for many years, I have been able to meet and befriend many people who have ties to the streets. Although the people who are running the streets today are a lot younger than I am, the guys that I know have a very good understanding of what is going on.

During these fact finding missions, my friends and I usually start out by talking basketball, especially since the National Basketball Association (NBA) is in playoff mode and the Celtics and Lakers are still going strong. This usually sparks some serious debate since Belize is divided into people who love the Lakers and people who hate them.

After the basketball talk we would go into how life has been. I must say that the vast majority of people that I have spoken to are struggling to make ends meet just like a great number of Belizeans all across this country. I would also ask: What is going on, in the streets? The responses have been constant. The “streets hungry” and the system is a joke!

The “streets hungry” is a common cry for many who live in poverty. When people cannot feed, clothe, provide shelter or send their children to school they become frustrated. The pressures to take care of the family are even greater on men (supposed breadwinners) and

that is just the way it is! As frustration builds, there seems to be an inverse relationship with the people’s ability to reason and to have tolerance. That coupled with the violence that is perpetrated on television, video games and music provides the enabling environment for the violence we see on our streets.

The cold truth is that too many of our people are living in subhuman conditions which have resulted in numbness towards crime and violence. According to my sources, the economic, social, political and judicial systems are all stacked against the majority of people who are poor and these systems are a joke. The slogan “Hold Hope High” used by this UDP government leading up to the general elections is but a distant memory. The hard cold truth is that our people believe that there is little or no hope for them!

Today Belize is faced with soaring inflation, rising unemployment, limited business opportunities, a decaying infrastructure, and social systems that are on the verge of collapse. The evidence is all around us to prove that the government of the day is an utter failure. I fully understand why our people have lost hope! Like they say on the streets, this government is chock full of ‘dead men walking!’

Give me strength and wisdom, When others need my touch; A soothing word to speak to them, Their hearts yearn for so much.

Give me joy and laughter, To lift a weary soul; Pour in me compassion, To make the broken whole.

Give me gentle, healing hands, For those left in my care; A blessing to those who need me, This is a Nurse's prayer.

Allison Chambers Coxsey

The Hon. John Briceno and the People’s United Party pay tribute to our Nurses on International Nurses Day. A Grateful Nation Owes You All A Debt We Can Never Repay…

Sunday, May 16, 2010

THE BELIZE TIMES

Bowen & Bowen plagued by third robbery

Another brazen, broad daylight robbery took place today at one of the bigger business establishments in Belize City. And while on All Fools' Day PM Dean Barrow and his Police Commissioner Crispin Jeffries told the nation it was a cop, Jermaine Mangar, along with others, who was the mastermind behind these types of crimes, one would wonder what these two gentlemen would have to say now about that since no proof has come forward against Mangar or any other officer.

This latest attack took place sometime after 8:00 am on Tuesday at the Bowen and Bowen Distribution Centre on Slaughterhouse Road, the same spot where in 2002 Patrick Robateau and Leslie Pipersburgh pounced, shooting a total of five people, killing four, including

British Lawyer Resigns from DPP’s Office

In another embarrassment to the Barrow government, British Crown Counsel Elizabeth Purcell has resigned from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

All indications are that the mess at the DPP Office has caused this latest resignation. The Belize Times had previously reported that there have been several resignations since Trinidadian Cheryl Lynn Branker-Taitt was handpicked

by Barrow and Elrington to be the D.P.P. Some of the Belizean Lawyers who have been frustrated out of their jobs are Merlene Moody, Tracy Sosa, Nigel Ebanks and now Mrs. Elizabeth Purcell who has left in disgust.

With Branker Taitt away on maternity leave there are only four lawyers working at the office to serve the whole country. Cecil Ramirez has over twenty years experience and should be the Acting D.P.P., but Barrow prefers a foreigner who can be manipulated. The other attorneys are Yohhanseh Cave, a Senior Crown Counsel, Trienna Young and Christelle Wilson.

Since the UDP became the government, the DPP’s office has gone from grace to grass under Branker-Taitt, with a record number of nolle prosequis and failures to get convictions against murderers.

Branker Taitt and Dean Barrow were publicly accused by Mayor Zenaida Moya of playing politics in bringing false charges against her. Most Belizeans are convinced that the charges against former Prime Minister Said Musa were as a result of dirty politics politics and had no substance. Attorneys for Musa had publicly stated that there was not even a police investigation in the matter yet the DPP, strangely, gave instructions for the arrest and charge of Musa. The Supreme Court threw out the false charges.

It is understood that the DPP has been running the office situated in Belize City from her private home in Belmopan via telephone and continues to collect a huge acting allowance even though she is on maternity leave.

a couple in the Belama Extension area whose car was used as a getaway vehicle after the robbery was committed.

According to reports, the

perpetrators of Tuesday's attack sat in a car outside the establishment and decided to strike before security personnel were on the scene, an interesting scenario

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which Police are looking into to see if it was orchestrated by someone from inside because of its keen timing.

One of the cashiers who were held up said there were a few customers inside and everyone had already been going about their duties for the day when two armed men wearing ski masks and dressed in full black entered and warned that it was a robbery in progress and ordered all to get down. One of the gunmen jumped over the counter and helped himself to the moneybags. A figure has not yet been released.

The whole thing was done in a matter of seconds and the culprits were off in the car. Police are looking for two suspects. This was the third attack on Bowen and Bowen since the 2002 robbery and killings. Meanwhile, for those killings Robateau and Pipersburgh have been sentenced to death by hanging but they've also been granted an appeal in the next session of the Court of Appeal.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Do they know…can they see?

By: Mike Rudon Jr. This weekend I’m ashamed to say I just wasn’t in the mood to get off my lazy butt and clean the yard. Okay, it wasn’t just this weekend…I’m known for my love of a lot of things (most of them bad) but one of them isn’t physical labour. Luckily I heard the sound of a weed-whacker from the yard in front of me, managed to catch the guy’s eye and gestured toward my yard. He nodded eagerly and I patted myself on the back for a job well done and settled in front of my computer. A little over an hour and a half later I heard movement in the yard so knew he was on the job and I was spared for another weekend. I know this seems rambling but bear with me…I’ve got a point to make. I usually do!

Eventually I roused myself enough to amble outside to see how near he was to completion and noticed that the yard party had grown considerably. The gentleman wielding the weed-whacker had now been joined by his wife, two sons about six or seven years old and a tiny daughter who couldn’t have been more than 4 years old. They were all hard at work. The wife was raking the yard, the two boys were filling the trash bags with grass and the little girl was rolling them to the side of the street.

Maybe it shouldn’t have, but watching that baby girl straining to roll a bag of grass out of the yard broke my heart.

There are so many ways in which this United Democratic Party government

has failed the people of this nation, so many ways. There were so many promises which have gone unfulfilled, so many great, glorious plans which have never been spoken after election night.

Absolutely nobody expected magic to immediately fill the air after February 7, 2008. Nobody believed that the streets would be paved with gold and every man, woman, child and patlicka would be living the luxurious life. Nobody thought that all the problems would disappear with the wave of a political wand. But everybody hoped for something, anything to happen. Even the most fervent of PUP supporters settled back and hoped against hope and despite past experience that this UDP government would work for its people and for this nation because, political

affiliation notwithstanding, we are all Belizeans, all one people.

But we were all betrayed by Mr. Barrow and his government.

The little girl rolling that bag of dirt out of my yard broke my heart, but there are thousands more stories much worse on our Belizean streets. Forget heart-breaking – some of the stories are gut-wrenching. Every day in this nation there are children who go to bed hungry because there is no money to buy food.

For some of us being broke means no money to order in Chinese food or visit the nightclub on the weekends. For too many being broke means that they are living without light or running water or proper toilet facilities in broken down shacks. For too many being broke means that children need to drop out of school and walk around the city begging for scraps. For too many being broke means that barely pubescent girl children are being sold off to perverts just to make ends meet.

Mr. Barrow and his administration may have ridden into office on a golden chariot, but they still have not done anything at all for these people, the poorest of the poor in our nation.

There have been no social programs, no poverty alleviation programs, no economic stimulation programs, nothing. There have been no new jobs, no real meaningful housing programs, no effective school subsidy programs, nothing. Taxes have gone up, the cost of living has gone up -

the cost of basic goods has gone up.

Industries like tourism which used to provide opportunities for Belizeans are in shambles, with resorts closing their doors and laying off staff. The crime situation is so bad that Belizeans live in fear and business owners open their doors everyday knowing that they are putting their lives on the line. Our streets are running red with blood, and there seems to be no light at the end of this dark tunnel.

Yes, nobody expected the UDP government to work miracles, but Belizeans did not deserve the UDP government which they got. There is absolutely no doubt that things are much, much worse for Belizeans since Mr. Barrow and his crew got into office.

They have no answer for escalating violent crime, no answer for the increasing cost of living, no answer for the deepening well of abject poverty, no answer for the economic stagnation, no answer for the growing despair.

As unlikely as it is, Mr. Barrow and his administration seem to not notice what is happening to our jewel under their watch. Do they know what they have done to our Belizean people? Can they see the misery which has overcome our nation?

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Sunday, May 16, 2010

on the WALL

THE BELIZE TIMES

s g n i t i Wr

conspiracy theorist Friday, May 7, 2010, 10:26 Price and Company again??!!?? During the last UDP administration, Manuel Esqivel (as prime minister) hired himself (as Price and Company) to provide photographic material and services to the Government of Belize and had the Belize Airports Authority (a statutory body) foot the exagerratedly expensive bill. That is one of the many reasons why the UDP were booted out of office the last time. Now they are at it again. They never seem to learn. I just hope the voters are learning. Help me finish the old saying: “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice shame on …” bern Saturday, May 8, 2010, 11:54 WE ARE TIRED OF THE MISCHIEF OF DEAN BARROW AND THE UDPIGS. THEY ONLY DESTROY OUR NATION. PLEASE PROTECT OUR NATION NOT YOUR POCKET. SHYNE: A CRIMINAL FOR AMBASADOR WHEY D HELL DEAN THE THINK. GUN AND AMMUNITION ARE DESTROYING OUR PEOPLE AND NOBODY CARES. Darius says: May 8, 2010 at 5:25 pm Listening to Manuel Heredia last night suggests to me that this gentleman does not know the importance of our fragile eco system, this area is too important for us to be even thinking about such a project.

Tonys says: May 10, 2010 at 10:45 pm Manuel Heredia is an IDIOT. He knows NOTHING about tourism. All he wants is for ALL the tourists to go to San Pedro ONLY and nowhere else in BELIZE. He does not care if the project might be bad for eco system once tourist go ONLY TO San Pedro.

BORN BELIZEAN says: May 10, 2010 at 2:38 pm how can a rat mind the cheese? Let’s be real City Council is responsible to keep the City clean of flith and not even that they cant do, and now they want to tackle crime.Please my people we need better

Melvin says: May 10, 2010 at 4:13 pm I believe if the governement{UDP} would have wanted to do someting about the crime situation,they could have done it by now,if they think for the safety of the Belizean people,what about the “CROOK REPORT” the man {mr.crooks} that was hired to work with the police dep’t to see how the police dept can improve,{actually he is wanted by police in jamaica} and what about the “MINISTER of defence mr carlos perdomo we haven’t seen him speak in the news about the crime situation,it looks like he is just one more “PUPPET” of mr. dean barrow…..I know that one of the crooks recomendation is for the gov’t to provide more people with employment{which we see is imposible under the UDP} and that Belize has been POLITISED” by the UDP\ meaning that everything is about politics ,and the gov’t is not paying attention about what the Belizean people are saying”.so that means the gov’t wasted his time to bring mr crooks to Belize,and how much money was he paid ? our TAX payers money. tim says: May 7, 2010 at 4:58 pm of course he is traveling on tax payers money – first class to Israel is roughly about 3000 + USD. That could have fed so many needy kids at school. what is the purpose of his trip??? what are these politician engaging into! Dean Barrow has to go!!!

Darius says: May 7, 2010 at 6:35 pm Israel did not support our quest for indpendence instead they sided with Guatemala, so i do not see the rational for this visit; had it not been for the press release from the Israeli Foreign Ministry we would not have known anything about it, why the secrecy? this one really smell fishy.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Senseless Mother’s Day Murders

While the rest of the country sent Mother's Day greetings to that special mentor in their lives, in two very separate sections of Belize two mothers were brutally attacked. One lost a son at the hands of a reckless cop; the other was murdered as she carried her toddler son on her back.

When Police Constable 437 Alpheus Parham appeared before Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie today his face was expressionless as the charge of murder was read to him. Parham is accused shooting Alex Goff, 31, a handicapped man of Belize City to death inside the Caye Caulker Police lock up around 5:30 on Sunday evening (Mother's Day).

Goff had just moved to the island in January to try to better his life, but his dreams were cut short. It's no secret that he had been in trouble with Police before and had in the past faced some serious charges, but word is that he had relocated to Caye Caulker with the hopes of starting over, relying on the tourism industry and his limited mobility to offer whatever assistance or history of the island to tourists wanting to learn. We say limited mobility because Goff was paralysed on one side [and had a speech impediment] following a chopping last November in Carmelita Village, Orange Walk, which critically wounded him.

On Sunday afternoon, an intoxicated Goff was reportedly involved in a heated verbal exchange with the bartender of a business establishment and the police were summoned to remove him. Goff, however, who was with a friend, Kareem Bowen, decided with some convincing to leave the place voluntarily. Police met him leaving the business and took him into custody. But Bowen says from the time cops arrested Goff they started to beat him. Police also claim Goff assaulted them several times on the way to the station. But once there, his friends say they weren’t allowed to visit him and it was some youths on the basketball court

Zhen Zhennong

behind the station that heard the single gunshot that killed Goff. He received a bullet wound at close range to the forehead and was in a sitting position when investigators arrived to process the scene.

Goff's friends say it was highly improbable that he assaulted any officer because of his paralysis and also because he was handcuffed. But cops say he used his "good" hand to throw blows at them before he was handcuffed.

Parham, reports say, fled the scene after he allegedly shot Goff and could not be found until Monday morning when Police got a tip of where he was.

He was taken into custody and brought to Belize City where he was kept overnight to face his charge. He has not volunteered any details of the incident.

This is the second incident in recent times that has happened in Caye Caulker, and with such similarity. In 2003 ex- Police Constable Sheldon Arzu was charged with murder then the lesser charge of manslaughter of Ruben "Pony" Alarcon. He was found guilty and appealed, but the Court of Appeal upheld the 13 year sentence against him in 2007, despite arguments by his attorney, Lindberth Willis, that he acted in self defense.

Parham was remanded to the Hattieville Prison until June 14.

The second murder occurred in Santa Elena Town, Cayo, also on Sunday and claimed the life of Zhen Zhennong, 27. Zhennong and her family moved to Cayo from the People’s Republic of China less than 2 years ago looking for a better life. That life was cut short on Mother's Day as she carried her 6 month old son, Yan Yu, in a backpack on her back. Zhennong was shot shortly after 10:00 Sunday morning in her chest inside her business, Alwin's Restaurant. A neighbour only saw the killer’s shadow as he flashed past their window. The three youngsters who entered the establishment with robbery on their minds were prepared to carry out their mission as they carried knapsacks and wore cloth around their faces. According to San Ignacio Officer Commanding, Assistant

Commissioner Paul Wade, the culprits entered the restaurant and ordered food, which Zhennong's husband, Xinge Tan, went to prepare. While doing so, however, he heard a ruction outside, followed by a gunshot and when he ran from the kitchen he saw his dying wife on the floor. The three suspects had already fled, taking with them money and telephone cards.

The baby's life was spared because of the angle in which his mother took the bullet. If she had not turned just when she was shot, the bullet would have killed the baby. The shot penetrated Zhennong's body and then hit the wall behind her. While police have arrested three suspects, area residents say the loss of the young mother is a shame because she and her husband were very friendly people who were always willing to lend a hand.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Tourist Dive Project Approved Amid Controversy

Just as a number of San Pedranos battle their Area Representative for lots he is taking away from them to give to UDP cronies, the entire island now has to get used to a new tourism concept that many have concerns about.

The residents have raised key questions about an area called Mexico Rocks, about 6 miles north of the town itself and less than a mile from the reef where developer David Gegg has already signed an Environmental Compliance Plan with Chief Environmental Officer Martin Alegria for his project called Sea Trek. San Pedranos and environmental groups are very worried that the impact the project will have on the nation's sensitive eco-marine system could cause repercussions much more severe than the revenues can bring.

Ambergris Caye Citizens for Sustainable Development and Hol Chan Marine Reserve are against the project because there has been no consultation with them and also because there hasn't been any kind of in-depth study done in the area.

Dr. Ken Mattes, who is a Marine Biologist, strongly feels that any frequent contact with the seafloor or with the fragile corals or even stirring up the sediment on the bottom could cause irreversible damage. That's because constant stirring up of the sediments requires the corals to constantly be dusting off themselves, which stresses them. The impact constant trampling on the seafloor will cause on the corals, according to Mattes, is similar to what dredging does, only in a slower fashion.

But what will take many Belizeans by utter surprise is that not even the Area Representative and

Minister of Tourism, Manuel Heredia, supports the project. Heredia told a local reporter only last week on a television interview that "If it [the project] does not have the support of the local authorities then I am no part of that project.

That is my position on this one, cause it was said in the beginning openly, go to the Town Board, go to the Tour Guides’ Association.

And the last time I asked him again if he had gotten in touch with tour guides, he said it’s a waste of time... if the majority is against then I have to ride with my people."

Of course Gegg, a man who has been embroiled in controversial projects before, says his new project is as environmentally friendly as they come and is one which is being conducted in many developed countries. He said the Environmental Compliance Plan is a legal document which had to be met fully on his part and was only signed when the DOE saw that the steps are in place for the requirements to be keenly followed. According to Gegg, his project will see the installation of a rail along a path which will not impact any form of marine life or the sensi-

Headless bodies discovered in quiet village

The peace and quiet of the village of Buena Vista in the Cayo District was disrupted when Police stumbled upon the headless remains of two men, one an elderly citizen and the other a young man.

The discovery was similar to that of May 19, 2009 when another headless body of a man was found. This time, the victims are Guatemalans, Jairo Fidel Garcia, 21, and Jose Orellana, 75.

Their decapitated bodies were discovered at after 10 on Sunday morning and their heads had been removed with a machete.

The gruesome discovery was made on a farm about three miles away from the centre of the village and while cops are puzzled at the find, the heads are yet to be located. Police also cannot link the men to any illicit activity but have detained four suspects, including Victor Vargas, who had been previously charged with the incident of last year, but he was released after police could mus-

ter no eyewitness or tie him to the incident.

The victims were last seen alive by the farm owner on the afternoon of Friday May 7, but because of the early stage of decomposition, police believe that they were murdered probably just a day before the discovery was made.

Garcia's relatives have laid blame squarely at the feet of other villagers because of an ongoing rivalry. Like this discovery, the head of last year's victim has never been found.

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tive eco-system. The rail, he says, will be there to ensure just that because it will be placed several feet away from anything that needs protection, offering the tourist just enough range to see the wonders

of the ocean bed without causing any harm to it. The tourist then, will be connected via a rope to a barge above the water, allowing them oxygen and stability as they glide on the ocean floor.

As for contact with the seafloor, well, Gegg says that will only be sand. And in sharp contrast to what the Minister of Tourism alleged, that Gegg said meeting with the environmental groups would be a "waste of time" his reaction was that he will happily meet with them after he sets up for business.

As for the waste that the barge will accumulate, Gegg says that will be taken care of in a temporary holding tank until the end of the cruise when it will be properly disposed of.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Sunday, May 16, 2010

THE BELIZE TIMES

Did you know that next week Tuesday, May 18th is World Museum Day? Some of you may be wondering what a museum is, well let me tell you.

A museum is a place that collects and stores in one place things from our past and we can go there to view these things and learn about their history. You have many different kinds of museums there are: science and nature museums, art museums, historic homes, history museums, battlefields and even gardens.

I have only been Banquitas House of Culture but we have other museums in Belize try and see if you can find the names of some museums to visit below!

Belize Da Fu We Celebrating our Museums!

BENQUE HOUSE OF CULTURE MUSEUM OF BELIZE OLD BELIZE SERPON SUGARMILL THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE

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Find your way e z a m e h t h g throu

Color Me

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Cop Charged With Murder

Alpheus Parham

BELIZE CITY, Wed. May 12, 2010 Police constable Alpheus Parham, 34, resident of #20 Police Street, became

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

an inmate of the Hattieville Prison yesterday when he appeared in the #2 Magistrate’s Court and was remanded into custody after he was arraigned on a charge of murder for the shooting of Alex Goff, 31. Parham’s next court date is June 14.

Goff, who resided on Mopan Street, was shot and killed on Sunday evening, May 9, while he was in the detention cell at Caye Caulker Police Station.

According to reports, he was detained by Police because he was behaving disorderly at the Lazy Lizard Bar, located on the north side of Caye Caulker in an area called the “Split”.

Reports further state that Goff had an altercation with the Police at Lazy Lizard Bar before he was taken into custody.

Goff was sitting on the floor of the detention cell with his back against the wall when his assailant came and shot him once in his forehead, apparently from point blank range.

Police reports say that shortly after the sound of the gunshot, Parham who was off duty put a .38 revolver on the desk of the diarist and walked out of the station.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Cops Charged In Connection with Fatal Shooting

Cpl. Jorge Lemus

BELIZE CITY, Wed. May 12, 2010 Two police officers who were allegedly responsible for the death of Jamaican national Oneil Anthony Jones, 54, a resident of Ladyville who was shot and killed, were charged when they appeared yesterday in the #5 Magistrate’s Court.

Cor poral Jorg e Lemus

was charg ed with manslaughter w h i l e C o n s t a b l e L a z a r o C a t ch , 27 was charged with abetment of Manslaughter. No plea was taken from them because the offences are indictable. They were both released on bails of $5,000 and their case was adjourned until June 11. They were represented by attorney Dickie Bradley.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours of February 13.

According to reports, Jones was at Ruba’s Bar in Lord’s Bank when he got into a misunderstanding with someone at the bar. When the Police arrived at the bar they were told that Jones was the person causing trouble and Jones at the time was riding away. The Police pursued Jones and reported that when they caught up to him they saw him with something in his hand which resembled a firearm and he turned around and pointed the object at them.

Jones was shot three times by the Police and he died on the spot.

Dawdi, 71 Sentenced To 1 Year for Molesting 5 Year Old

Emmanuel Gabourel

BELIZE CITY, Wed. May 12, 2010 Convicted pedophile Emmanuel ”Gabourel,” 71, a.k.a.”Dawdi”, who was found guilty of aggravated assault of an indecent nature on a 5 year old female child, was sentenced to 1 year yesterday by #2 Court Magistrate Sharon Fraser. Before she decided on the sentence Magistrate Fraser heard a plea for mitigation from Gabourel’s friend, Chester Lee Pinks. Consequently, she

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only gave Gabourel, who had a previous conviction for a sexual offence, half of the maximum sentence, which is 2 years.

Gabourel was found guilty on April 15 but his sentencing was adjourned in order to give him time to prepare a plea for mitigation. Attorney Dickie Bradley at first represented Gabourel for mitigation purposes but he recused himself from the case.

The incident occurred on May 27, 2009. The parents of two daughters, ages 3 and 5 at the time, testified that they heard their children crying and when they went to Gabourel’s house, they found him in bed with the children.

They said Gabourel had removed the children’s clothing. The 5 year old testified that Gabourel touched her private parts with his penis.

Gabourel was not charged for the 3 year old because she could not give the Police an account of what happened. In his defense, Gabourel said he was beaten by several persons and he believes that he would have been killed if police had not arrived in time to stop the beating.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

THE BELIZE TIMES

HL’s Burger Employee Charged with Burglary

Nicole Lovell

BELIZE CITY, Wed. May 12, 2010 A repor t to the Police by Alvaro Avilez, 44, that his house on

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Ordonez Avenue was burglarized by his ex-common-law wife, Nicole Lovell, 31, has resulted in Lovell being charged with burglary. Lovell pled not guilty to the charge when she appeared in the #2 Magistrate’s Court on Monday, May 10. She told Magistrate Sharon Fraser that Avilez, who is the father of her child, made up the report because of a Family Court matter. She was released on a bail of $3,000 and her case was adjourned until July 12.

T he incident occur r ed at around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 9.

Avilez reported to the Police that when he arrived home he saw the lock on his gate was damaged and some of his clothes were in front of his house.

He told Police that when he went inside his house he saw smoke coming from his black valise and some of his clothes scattered on the floor.

Avilez said he made some checks and discovered that his Canon digital camera, valued at $800, was missing. Avilez said he also found that apart from his valise, his standing fan and 3 short pants were damaged.

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Neal Pen Road Resident Remanded For Firearm and Ammo Charges

Micah Thompson

BELIZE CITY, Wed. May 12, 2010 Micah Thompson, 30, who the Police reported they busted with a firearm and some cannabis, was charged with three offences when he appeared yesterday in the #5 Magistrate’s Court. Thompson was charged with keeping a firearm without a gun license, keeping ammunition without a gun license and possession of a controlled drug. He pled not guilty to the charges. Magistrate Albert Hoare explained to him that the Court

could not offer him bail because of the firearm and ammunition offences. He remanded Thompson into custody until June 11.

The incident occurred at around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 9. The Police reported that acting on information they received they went to an apartment building, located at 46 Neal Pen Road.

According to the police, when they arrived they saw Thompson sitting on the verandah of the second floor of the apartment building. When the Police searched Thompson they did not find anything incriminating. But when they searched the verandah the Police reported that they found a 9millimetre pistol with 13 rounds of ammunition in its magazine.

The Police repor ted that they also found 30 grams of cannabis hidden under a butane gas tank that was on the verandah.

The Police also reported that they found $2,200 in Thompson’s room and they have held it for income tax purposes.

Three Charged for Harbouring Prison Escapee

Meselina Usher

BELIZECITY, May 12, 2010 Two men and a woman who allegedly kept prison escapee Jose Melgar at a house in Hattieville were charged with harboring a criminal when they appeared yesterday in the #2 Magistrate’s Court. They are Robert Mejia, 30, a mason residing at mile 16 on the Western Highway; M e s e l i n a U s h e r, 2 3 , a d o m e s t i c worker residing on Tamarind Street in Hattieville; and Darrell Lemmott,44, a security guard of Mile 17 on the Wester n Highway. They pled not guilty to the charge.

Mejia admitted that Melgar was at his house but he said Melgar

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went there and asked for food and he was not harboring Melgar. Usher and Lemott said they were visiting Mejia.

They were each offered bail of $2,000 and their case was adjourned until July 29.

T he incident occur r ed at around 6:50 p.m. on Sunday, May 9. The Police reported that acting on information they received they went to Mejia’s house and when they ar rived they found Melg ar there.

Besides Mejia, Usher and Lemmott were at the house, reported the Police.

Melgar was one of 5 prisoners who escaped from Hattieville Prison on April 25. The others are: Terry Bainton, Jose Cocom, Dennis Quilter and Juan Menendez.

Only Quilter is still at large.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Opposition leader wants Caribbean countries to carry out executions

CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC — Opposition Leader Dr Kenny Anthony today said that Caribbean countries should amend their constitutions in order to execute convicted murders without having to worry about the repercussions emanating from the London-based Privy Council, the region’s highest court.

Speaking on a radio broadcast, Anthony said the St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) if it is elected to office would amend the Constitution so as to ensure that convicted murderers are executed. He told listeners he believed in capital punishment.

“In the last five years I do not think the Privy Council has upheld a conviction by hanging by any country of the Commonwealth Caribbean. They have been singularly persistent in making sure that any

appeal that comes to them on the basis that someone has been sentenced to death by hanging, they will ensure that they reject the sentence of the court and allow the appeal on whatever grounds.”

Anthony said Britain had abolished hangings and that British judges were no longer deciding issues of hanging on judicial or constitutional grounds.

“What they are doing is basically deciding on those issues on ideological grounds, on political grounds, because in their own country they have decided that hanging is abolished and it is therefore immoral to engage in any judicial decision making that sanctions it in any jurisdiction.

“So once someone from the Commonwealth Caribbean has been convicted of hanging, once that appeal goes to the Privy Council it will find a way to make sure that that sentence is not carried out. That is St Lucia’s problem," he said, "So even if the Government of St Lucia for instance were to ensure that the appropriate order is given that hanging be proceeded with, once an appeal is made to the Privy Council there will not be any approval of any hanging.”

Anthony said if regional governments were to shun the Privy Council and proceed with executing convicted murderers it could result in both the government and the country being isolated.

Cayman must prepare for change

As a result of the change in economic and regulatory circumstances, the Cayman Islands financial services industry must undergo significant change if it is to continue to develop and maintain its contribution to public revenues.

That is the opinion of Anthony Travers, chair of the inaugural Cayman Finance Summit, who addressed the future development of the financial sector. Travers, an attorney, is also chair of the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange (CSX).

Mr Travers suggested that widely reported mischaracterisations and negative publicity against the Cayman Islands and other offshore jurisdictions were rooted in the hidden agenda of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD – an agenda he described as harmonisation of global taxes and the attacks on jurisdictions that provide competitive tax rates.

There has already been a decrease in business locally, Mr Travers said – noting that company incorporations are down some 38 percent -- something he said would continue for the foreseeable future as a result of deleveraging in the UK and US financial markets.

In response, the private sector and the government need to secure greater revenue from fewer transactions, he said, an effort that would require Cayman`s financial services industry to be of higher quality, including the development of a range of financial services not previously undertaken here, such as fund management, broker- dealer activities, investment and merchant banking and reinsurance, and the expansion of the fund administration industry.

He criticised “the highly restrictive immigration and rollover policies” that have contributed to the departure of fund administration jobs in Cayman, and which unfortunately coincided with the global financial crisis, causing a decline in business and a further decline in government revenue.

He said more has to be done to implement immigration policy to ensure that financial services organisations can obtain work permits when they want them, for as long as they want them.

“It is unrealistic to suppose that the highest quality financial professionals could be persuaded to relocate to the Cayman Islands on the basis that they would be replaced,” Mr Travers said.

He also referred to the “800 pound gorilla in the room” that had to be dealt with politically: namely, how to resolve the issue of ensuring long-term tenure for financial professionals versus the concerns of Cayman voters about ultimate political control.

The failure to integrate Caymanians into the workforce will not be resolved by replacing high-quality professionals as part of an immigration policy, he said. He pointed out that such a policy is counterproductive in light of the fact that employment in the fund- administration industry has stood at 50 percent Caymanian.

“Four hundred Cayman fund-administration jobs in Canada were 400 lost job opportunities for young Caymanians.” he said.

Mr Travers claimed that the recent fee increases imposed on the financial services industry are not sustainable. If they remain in place without a higher range and quality of service that would justify the higher fees, he said, the industry would soon be engaged in “a race to the bottom” with more competitive jurisdictions, resulting in a decrease in government revenue.

The development of a physical presence in the Cayman Islands by fund administrators, managers and broker-dealers is central and vital to the future development of our financial services industry, he said, in part because the lack of such presence would be used by the OECD to attack the legitimacy of this jurisdiction.

Mr Travers also claimed that US President Barack Obama and Democratic Senator Carl Levin, chair of the congressional panel that questioned Goldman Sachs officials about allegations of fraud raised by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), have made it clear that the “next round of attacks” will be based on a “lack of substantial presence” argument and that any strategies for refuting that attack are limited.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Protesters in Haiti demand Préval's resignation

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Acrid smoke filled the air outside the ruins of Haiti's national palace today as police fired tear gas to control a crowd of 1,000 people calling for the resignation of President René Préval in the largest political protest since the January 12 earthquake.

Trucks filled with riot police rolled behind the demonstrators as they jogged to the palace from a gathering place several miles (kilometers) away and chanted insults at Préval and his wife.

There was an anti-Préval demonstration last week in the coastal town of Jacmel, and many people have criticized the president's low profile in the chaos that followed the earthquake, but this was the strongest showing of opposition to the Haitian leader since the catastrophe. Protesters accused him of using the destruction as a pretext to stay in office beyond his term.

"He is profiting from this disaster in order to stay in power," said Herve Santilus, 39, a sociologist who was laid off a few weeks after the magnitude-7 quake struck and has not been able to find work since.

Some protesters wrapped the Haitian flag around themselves and carried water to sustain themselves through what was

expected to be a daylong protest.

Police shot into the air as people in the crowd threw rocks. Other shots also were fired, but it was not clear by whom.

There were no apparent injuries.

"Préval has used the drama that our county went through and turned it into an opportunity for himself," said Claudy Louis, 29, a schoolteacher. "Instead of looking out for the people, he quickly hatched a plan to benefit the small group of people around him, the bourgeoisie."

Small bands of protesters gathered in other cities including Petionville, where about a dozen young men played drums and blew horns to get attention.

A couple hundred government workers clutching pick axes and shovels also gathered nearby at the Champ de Mars national mall to demand that the US Agency for International Development pay them money they said they were owed for clearing earthquake rubble.

An estimated 230,000 people died in the 40-second quake.

Discontent over government policy and the squalor at makeshift camps has increased recently.

Préval announced last week he would stay in office up to three months past the end of his term, on February 7, 2011, if the presidential election is delayed.

BEIJING, China -- Grenada's Minister for the Environment, Foreign Trade and Export Development, Michael Church was one of six ministers who addressed the International Cooperative Conference on Green Economy and Climate Change in Beijing, China on Saturday.

Church used the opportunity to highlight the negative impacts of climate change on Small Island Developing States.

He paid special attention to Grenada and pointed to areas for cooperation within the framework of “Sustainable Development and Climate Change”.

“In most instances where there is significant evidence of the negative effects of climate change induced activities and events, it is the dwellers of the small vulnerable islands and coastal lowlands who are most affected and threatened,” Church said.

He said it’s glaringly evident that those who have not contributed in any significant measure to that global problem, are the ones most susceptible and affected.

While in China, the Minister held very

fruitful discussions with numerous Chinese Government officials on areas of bilateral development relations.

He was one of the few ministers afforded the opportunity to dialogue with the Premier of China. The areas of infrastructural development arising from the devastation of Hurricanes Ivan and Emily Solid Waste Management and broad technology cooperation especially solar energy technology were some of the areas highlighted.

One of the lessons that was emphasised by the Chinese officials is that the best way in which Grenada can attract invaluable development assistance was for her to totally mainstream climate change adaptation into its national development plans. China is in the process of finalising its twelfth five-year development plan.

During his stay in China, he met with Ambassador Marcelle Gairy, who shared very useful insights with him as to the existence of development opportunities and the mechanisms for accessing the fruits of those opportunities.

Grenadian minister highlights negative impacts of climate change on small island states

Sunday, May 16, 2010

THE BELIZE TIMES

Detenidos en Venezuela 19 colombianos que hacían tala ilegal

19 colombianos indocumentados que portaban armas largas y se dedicaban a una "tala indiscriminada" de árboles fueron detenidos en el estado de Miranda, informó este miércoles Radio Nacional de Venezuela (RNV), la cual señaló que no se descarta que formen parte de una "célula militar".

"Los irregulares fueron sorprendidos 'in fraganti' el martes en una zona boscosa de Yaguapita, en el sector Caño Dionisio del estado Miranda -al que pertenece una parte de Caracas-, en donde realizaban actividades de tala indiscriminada a la vegetación y árboles de la zona", detalló la emisora en su página web.

Tras dar cuenta de que además de las

armas largas "también se les incautaron varias armas de fuego de distintos calibres, cartuchos, entre otros implementos", RNV subrayó que "no se descarta que puedan pertenecer a una célula militar".

En la detención de los colombianos participaron militares de la Guardia Nacional Bolivariana (GNB, policía militarizada) y agentes de la Policía Municipal del municipio Acevedo y del Cuerpo de Investigaciones Científicas Penales y Criminalísticas (CICPC), detalló a RNV Juan Aponte, alcalde de la zona.

"La fiscalía octava se encargará del caso, a fin de establecer las responsabilidades correspondientes", añadió Aponte.

PRIMER CONSEJO DE GOBIERNO DE PRESIDENTA CHINCHILLA

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Ecuador prevé retomar las negociaciones con la UE

El canciller Ricardo Patiño, señaló que el país prevé retomar en junio próximo las negociaciones para un acuerdo de comercio para el desarrollo con la Unión Europea.

EFE Quito, Ecuador El ministro ecuatoriano de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio e Integración, Ricardo Patiño, señaló este miércoles que su país prevé retomar en junio próximo las negociaciones para un acuerdo de comercio para el desarrollo con la Unión Europea (UE).

"Entiendo que las primeras rondas de negociaciones van a hacerse los primeros días de junio, me parece que el 13 ó 14 de junio se ha definido ya la primera conversación y en dos rondas de negociaciones nosotros ya sabremos por dónde vamos", dijo Patiño en una entrevista en el noticiero de Ecuavisa.

Añadió que recientemente recibieron la información que solicitaron sobre el contenido de los acuerdos de la negociación de la UE con Colombia y Perú y que con ésta pretenden "conocer también sobre qué marco de negociación" van a actuar.

"Están haciéndose estudios, tanto en cancillería como en Senplades (Secretaría Nacional de Planificación), en relación a los posibles impactos de una negociación parecida a la que Colombia y Perú tienen y en los próximos días vamos a comenzar

esas negociaciones", añadió el titular de la diplomacia ecuatoriana.

"Sabemos que Europa no podrá firmar con Ecuador un acuerdo absolutamente distinto de lo que ha firmado con Colombia y Perú", dijo el ministro.

Sin embargo, "tampoco hemos aceptado que vayamos a firmar lo que Colombia y Perú han firmado. Por supuesto sería un absurdo que partamos de ese hecho pero, evidentemente, ese es un marco del que no podemos desentendernos", comentó.

Ecuador suspendió en julio pasado las conversaciones con la UE por las diferencias sobre el arancel del banano y una vez que se superó el asunto, comenzó un proceso de acercamiento.

presidente de Panamá, Ricardo Martinelli, dijo hoy sentir "lástima" por el ex general Manuel Antonio Noriega y creer que el ex dictador "ya pagó su pena".

"Yo creo que él ya pagó su pena, él es una persona... Yo le voy a decir la verdad, a mi me dio lástima cuando lo vi caminar", dijo Martinelli en referencia a las imágenes que pasó la televisión el 26 de abril cuando Noriega fue extraditado de Estados Unidos a Francia.

"Puede haber sido lo que haya sido aquí en Panamá (...) pero yo creo que en la vida uno tiene que saber perdonar, pasar la página", agregó el gobernante panameño en un programa informativo de la cadena de televisión local Telemetro.

Martinelli reconoció no obstante que Noriega hizo "mucho mal" desde que en 1983 asumió la jefatura militar y hasta la invasión estadounidense de diciembre de 1989, tiempo durante el cual se convirtió en el poder detrás de los gobiernos panameños de turno.

"A mi me hizo mucho mal, le hizo mucho mal a Panamá", agregó el gobernante, que como empresario y propietario de una cadena de supermercados sufrió pérdidas en los cerca de dos años de crisis que se vivieron en este país para combatir la dictadura militar.

Martinelli insistió en que su Gobierno también va a pedir la extradición del ex general para que cumpla las cuentas que tiene

pendientes con la justicia panameña, pero aseguró que las leyes de este país le permitirían cumplir su pena en su vivienda.

"De tener que venir aquí, a Panamá, tendría casa por cárcel, por las leyes de la República, que no las hice yo y que están ahí para cumplirlas", aseguró.

Sobre el proceso a que es sometido Noriega en Francia, donde en 1999 fue condenado en ausencia a diez años de cárcel por blanqueo de capitales procedente del narcotráfico, proceso que se le deberá repetir ahora, Martinelli dijo confiar en la justicia francesa.

"En Francia los procesos judiciales sí son expeditos. Ahí llegaste y pim, pum, pao, te resuelven, apelas al otro mes (...) ojalá hiciéramos lo mismo aquí en Panamá, donde un proceso demora una eternidad, una vida", dijo Martinelli.

Martinelli siente 'lástima' por Noriega y cree que ya pagó su pena PANAMÁ, (ACAN-EFE). -El

Con la inquietud de un escolar en su primer día de clases se mostraron los miembros del gabinete y los presidentes ejecutivos al compartir por primera vez un Consejo Ampliado en Casa Presidencial, éste martes. Hubo quienes estuvieron puntuales y otros corrieron para no dar una mala impresión en su cita con la presidenta de la República, Laura Chinchilla.

A las 7.45 a.m., los primeros en esperar en los sofás del Ministerio de la Presidencia fueron los miembros de la nueva junta directiva de la Refinería Costarricense de Petróleo (Recope), y el ministro de Descentralización y Desarrollo Local, Juan Marín, y ya para las 8 a.m. les acompañó la jerarca del Ministerio de Planificación y Política Económica, Laura Alfaro.

Antes de la hora convocada para el Consejo Ampliado, 8.30 a.m., llegaron el jerarca del Sistema Nacional de Radio y Televisión (Sinart) y Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED), Rodrigo Arias; del Instituto de Desarrollo Agrario (IDA), Rolando González; la ministra de Trabajo, Sandra Piszk; el de Seguridad, José María Tijerino; así como los ministros del sector económico, Mayi Antillón; del área social, Fernando Marín; Salud, María Luisa Ávila, y Vivienda, Irene Campos Rayando en la hora de la convocatoria estuvieron el ministro de Cultura, Manuel Obregón (llegó con su cabello recogido en una cola), el canciller René Castro y Anabelle

González de Comercio Exterior.

Definitivamente, los ministros que llegaron tarde fueron Francisco Jiménez, de Obras Públicas y Transportes, y Leonardo Garnier, de Educación Pública, ambos se bajaron de sus vehículos a prisa para subir la rampa que les llevaría directamente a la sala de Consejo, donde sus compañeros habían ingresado hacía cinco minutos.

Durante más de una hora los representantes de las entidades públicas mataron el tiempo conversando en el lobby de Casa Presidencial, que se hizo pequeño ante la presencia de la mayoría de presidentes ejecutivos de entes como el Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (Incofer) y el Instituto Nacional de las Mujeres (Inamu), ente otros.

Cuatro enfoques presidenciales El Consejo de Gobierno Ampliado tuvo entre sus objetivos la instalación de los cuatro consejos presidenciales: seguridad ciudadana y paz social, bienestar social y familia, competitividad e innovación, y ambiente.

Cada consejo cuenta con un plenario, integrado por los ministros y entes del sector respectivo; una Secretaría Ejecutiva, cuyos funcionarios se definirán la próxima semana; un consejo asesor que será ad honorem, y foros de consulta con la sociedad civil, a la cual se le rendirá cuentas cada seis meses.

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Sunday, May 16, 2010

Sunday, May 16, 2010

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Sunday, May 16, 2010

Sunday, May 16, 2010

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Georgetown Ibayani leads Caribbean Motors Cup football semifinals – 2-1 vs. Verdes Georgetown Ibayani leads the Caribbean Motors Cup football semifinals, upsetting the No. 2 seed Hankook Verdes 2-1 at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium in Independence Village last Saturday night.

Hankook Verdes drew first blood when they visited Georgetown Ibayani at home as Jose Monroy blasted in the first goal on goalie Elias Pelayo in the 7th minute of play, but Verdes’ 1-0 lead did not last long.

Deon Burgess delighted the Georgetown fans when he delivered the equalizer in the 17th minute, for

Ibayani to hold on to a 1-1 draw up until 3 minutes before the half time break, when Jamie Brooks goofed in giving up a penalty when he fouled an Ibayani player inside the goal area.

Darwin Castillo conver ted the penalty to give Ibayani a 2-1 lead in the 42nd minute.

Verdes tried to regain the offensive as Julian Maldonado replaced Amin August in the 53rd minute of the second half and a minute later Thomas Swaso relieved Ibayani’s midfielder Kenroy Arthurs. As Verdes’ frustration grew, striker Marlon Meza would be

ejected from the ball game with a red card in the 60th minute and the referee also sent off team captain Shamir Pacheco in the 75th minute.

The last straw for Verdes was when goalie Jamie Brooks became violently upset and got sent off also with a red card. Albert Cabral relieved Verdes’ striker Richard Jimenez in the 85th minute and Ibayani also brought in reinforcements as Keron Thomas relieved Vicente Acal, while Wasani Ramirez replaced Deon Burgess, Verdes also brought in Abner Guzman for Julian Maldonado to

replace Brooks in goal, and the Verdes’ defense prevented Ibayani from getting more goals in the second half, but they failed to tie the score before the long whistle sounded to a 2-1 win for Ibayani.

No. 4 seed Georgetown Ibayani had qualified to the semifinals by eliminating the Paradise Freedom Fighters 2-0 in last Wednesday night’s quarterfinals at the Toledo Union Field in Punta Gorda. Luis Torres scored the winning goal for Ibayani in the 80th minute and Thomas iced the win with a second goal in the 89th minute of play.

BDF leads Caribbean Motors Cup football semifinals – 1-0 vs FC Belize

The Belize Defense Force leads the Caribbean Motors Cup football semifinals, by a 1-0 win over FC Belize at the FIFA Goal Project in Belmopan on Sunday.

Lisbey Castillo and Orlando “Lichy” Jimenez” led the attack with the help of Ervin “Bird” Flores and Paul Nunez on the wings and Kareem Haylock, Khalil Velasquez and Gilbert Swazo at midfield.

We were 15 minutes into the ball game when Lisbey Castillo connected with a header to send the ball into the net, finishing a pass to center

from Orlando Jimenez, much to the embarrassment of FC’s goalie Elroy Rowley who was caught flat-footed with no time to react.

Delroy “T hinman” Andrews and Delwin Jones led the FC Belize counterattack, supported by Shawn Gill and Brian Martinez on the wings, and Jerome “Jaro” James and Roberto Bernardez at midfield, but they came up empty on every try.

Even when the BDF’s lead defender Jerome Serano had to retire from the field with a bad knee and Victor Nunez took over his slot, FC Belize could

not impress the BDF defense nor the scoreboard and the BDF held on to the 1-0 lead up to the half time break.

Andrews got an open look at goal in the 2nd half, but even with goalie Woodrow West down on the ground after deflecting a shot from Jerome James Andrews could not get the ball between the sticks.

FC Belize’s fire plug striker Jerome Archer entered the ball game for Shawn Gill and Delwin Jones created another break to score, but West intervened to frustrated Andrews again. As F.C. Belize’s frustration grew, they became unsporting and the central referee ejected Brian Martinez and Delroy Andrews from the ball game leaving the city boys with only 9 men.

F.C. Belize coach Anthony “Willie Beau” Ber nard introduced Chris Gilharry and Byron Usher into the ball game to relieve Orlan Lyons and Delwin Jones, but they still could not tie the ball game as the BDF also reinforced their defensive line with Michael Martinez and Moses Pop, relieving Erwin Flores and Paul Nunez.

Usher and Gilharry both got off shots at goal, but West was there to chill

things down, coolly collecting the ball and throwing it out to his midfielder to renew their attack.

The FC Belize defense of Albert Thurton and Ian Gaynair stopped the BDF from getting a 2nd goal, but a barrage of shots by Jerome James, Chris Gilharry, Byron Usher and Jerome Archer failed to impress Woodrow West or the scoreboard.

F.C. Belize had qualified as the No.3 seed to the semifinals by a 4-3 win over the San Pedro Sea Dogs in a penalty at the MCC Grounds last Wednesday night. The game went into overtime when the first 90-minutes were a nil-zip draw, and an auto-goal by San Pedro gave F.C. Belize a 1-0 lead in the 110th minute, but San Pedro kept their hopes alive when Cleon Henry equalized in the 112th minute, and the 2nd overtime period ended in a 1-1 draw.

F C B e l i z e wo n t h e s h o o t o u t 4-3 when Harrison Tasher, Delroy “Thinman” Andrews and Christopher G i l h a r r y c o nve r t e d w h i l e o n l y Francisco Norales, Gabriel Hicks and Jairo Sandoval converted for the Sea Dogs. Leon Cadle scored the winning penalty in sudden death.

O. Walk Running Rebels double Belize Bank’s Rising Stars 92-46 in Digicell Junior basketball The Orange Walk Running Rebels blew away the Belize Bank Rising Stars 92-46 in the Digicell “Balling for Life” junior basketball tournament at the Belize City Center last Friday night.

Jarrel Velasquez led the Rebels with 19pts and grabbed 4 rebounds while Michael Martinez tossed in 16 pts and grabbed 11 rebounds to give the Rebels a lead of 23-9 in the first quarter.

Rising Stars’ Dale Tillett responded by draining in a long trey as he led with 13pts also grabbing 2 rebounds. Andrew Ortiz tossed in another 12 pts for the Stars and played big D in the paint grabbing 9 rebounds, while Lindon Reneau tossed in 9 pts and grabbed 10 rebounds, but they could not contain the Rebels who led 43-20 at the half

time break.

Rebels’ Jamal Harris poured in 14pts and snagged 4 rebounds and Marcel Richards added 9 pts and grabbed a rebound as they continued to lead 69-33 by the end of the 3rd quarter.

Rebels’ captain Randy Usher hit a long trey as he added 7pts; Roger Reneau drove to the basket for jump shots to score 6pts, while Ronald Sutherland grabbed 5 rebounds and scored 4pts on the put back. Darren Herrera scored another 9pts and snagged a rebound. John Diaz tossed in a final bucket for their 92-46 win.

Rising Stars’ Hakeem Arzu tossed in two buckets for 4pts and grabbed 2 rebounds, Bryton Meighan finished with 5pts and Peter Mckoy chipped in 3pts and grabbed 2 rebounds.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Belize Bank Sr. Bulldogs crush Creative Graphic Impressions 90-86 in Digicell basketball The Belize Bank Bulldogs crushed the hitherto undefeated Creative Graphic Impressions 90-86 when the Digicell “Balling for Life” senior basketball competition continued at the Belize City Center on Friday night.

Rupert Brown led the Bulldogs with 20pts and grabbed 2 rebounds as he led the Bulldogs to a 20-20 tie in the 1st quarter. Creative Graphics’ Geovanni Lennon answered with 17pts and snagged 13 rebounds.

Creative Graphics’ Andre Almendares, Harris Patten and David Rowland didn’t show up on the CGI bench until the 2nd quarter, but Almendares hit 2 treys as he shot a game high of 22pts, 16 of them in the 2nd quarter and grabbed 8 rebounds to lead CGI to a 43-41 lead at the half time break.

CGI’s veteran Mark Bainton also drained in 2 treys to add 15 points and

grabbed 4 rebounds, while Harris Patten tossed in 14pts and grabbed 4 rebounds to keep them up 68-65 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Paul Swasey kept the Bulldogs in the game as he drained in a trey to add 18pts while grabbing 10 rebounds, and team captain Darwin “Puppy” Leslie added 17pts and snagged another 9 rebounds CGI’s Winston Augustine drained in a trey as he added 7pts and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Myron Flowers and David Rowland added a bucket each but the Bulldogs took the game away in money time. Lennox Bowman tossed in 12pts and snagged a rebound while Deandre Robinson also tossed in a trey to add 7pts. Marcel Orosco scored a trey as he added 8pts and grabbed 11rebounds, while Earl Ferguson was good for 5pts and Rosco Rhys drained in a long trey.

Corozal Nizhee spanks Santa Elena Synergy 2-1 in Superleague football

Corozal Nizhee posted their 3rd win in the Belize Bank Superleague Football competition in a 2-1 blast of Santa Elena at the Santiago Ricalde S ta d ium in Coro zal on Sunday afternoon.

Darnell Mossiah and Sergio Gilharry led the Nizhee offensive, backed up by Javier Pott, Julio Tun, “Gigante” and Christian Pena at midfield.

The visitors’ drew first blood w h e n S t a n l e y “ R i c e ” Ro b i n s o n blasted the ball past Nizhee goalie Howard West in the 25th minute of play and defenders Jose Lara and Tony Gonzalez helped the Santa

Elena Synergy to hold on to their 1-zip lead up to the half time break.

T he Corozal fans roared and tr umpeted their approval when D a r n e l l M o s i s a h d e l ive r e d t h e equalizer for Nizhee in the 57th minute.

Synerg y’s Robinson and Dean Flowers counter-attacked furiously in a vain attempt to regain the lead, but they could not get by the Nizhee defense anchored by veteran Antonio Castillo, Andrew Allen and Kenny Canul, and it was Sergio Gilharry who delivered the game winner in the 87th minute.

In other games around the league,

a single strike by Leonard Valdez in the 9th minute of play was enough to give the Placencia Assassins a 1-0 win over Belize United F.C. at the M.C.C. grounds on Sunday afternoon.

On Saturday night, the City Boys blew away Cayo South United 2-0 at the M.C.C. grounds. Tyrone “T-bone” Muschamp ran thought the Cayo defenders to score the City Boys’ winning goal in the 2nd minute of play. Then the Cayo defenders goofed in giving up a penalty and Raymond “Killa’ Gentle issued no pardon as he converted in the 22nd minute. The visitors tried to regain the initiative, but the city boys’ defense had shut

up shop and denied any goal until the final whistle.

The defending sub-champions San Felipe Barcelona suffered their 2nd back to back loss when they visited Hattieville F.C on their home turf at the Hattieville Football Field on Sunday. The visitors drew first blood when Christopher Hendricks scored the first goal for San Felipe in the 5th minute of play, but Albert Arnold soon delivered the equalizer for Hattieville in the 22nd minute, much to the embarrassment of San Felipe’s goalie Bryan Hernandez, and Paul Smith scored the winning goal for Hattieville in the 82nd minute.

Queen Square girls win 2-0 in Primary schools football T h e Q ueen S qua r e A n gl i ca n Primar y School girls, St. John’s Anglican Primary School and St. Martin de Porres RC School girls all posted wins when the Belize City Primary Schools football competition got underway at the M.C.C. grounds this past week. Last Tuesday when the competition beg an, Kedidra Tunn scored a hat trick, scoring all

three goals to lead the St. Martin’s de Porres RC School girls to win 3-0 against the Holy Redeemer RC School girls.

In Game 2, the girls of Ebenezer Methodist School and the Muslim Community School battled to a 1-1 draw with Shanifa Waller scoring for the Muslim Community girls, but Monica Rowley

equalized the score for the Ebenezer girls. On Wednesday, the St. John’s Anglican Primar y School girls won 2-0 against the Queen Square Anglican School girls with strikes by Kishay Bevans and Roslyn Smith. On Thursday, the Belize Elementary School girls won 2-0 against the Muslim Community

School girls when Balika Meighan scored the winning goal and Alexis Musa iced the win with a 2nd goal.

No girls’ games were played on Friday due to a schedule change, but this Tuesday, the Queen Square Anglican School girls posted their 1st win 2-0 over the St. Ignatius School girls with goals scored by Renesha Aranda with 1 goal and Claire Gentle with 1 goal.

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Sunday, May 16, 2010

Belize Telemedia & BATSUB each win 2 back-to back in Interoffice volleyball

Defending interoffice volleyball champs Belize Telemedia and the British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB) each posted back to back wins at the Belize City interoffice volleyball competition at the Belize City Center on Tuesday night. The match between Belize Telemedia and last year's runner-up First Caribbean was in effect a re-play of last year’s championship final. Andrew Kelly, Eros Dawson, Adrian Mahler and Otis Clother led the Telemedia attacks, hammering kills on balls set by Emily Turner-Audinett and Melanie Blake who also received and volleyed to keep the ball in play, to win the 1st set 25-14.

The First Caribbean crew fought back valiantly and made a real contest of the 2nd set, before they succumbed in the 2nd set 23-25. In the second match, interoffice volleyball newcomers BATSUB made it 2 wins in a row overcoming the stubborn Brodies-Milo team. Brodies’ Milo had improved considerably over last year, and Ashley Hemsley, Deon Chimilio, Adrian Garcia and Leon Jones led the attack, hammering home kills on balls set by Adelita Gillett and Shanisha Martinez to win the first set 25-16. Derek Miller, formerly of First Caribbean Diamonds, led the BATSUB counterattack with the help of Rushane Murray and Darrel

Diaz, who hammered in kills on balls set by Keisha Martinez and Sarah Bullock, while Sgt Gary Drury volleyed and tricked the ball over to win the 2nd set: 25-15 and they prevailed in the 3rd see: 15-9.

On Saturday Brodies’ Milo had also won the first set 25-17, when they challenged defending champs Belize Telemdia in the opening game of the tournament. Telemedia rallied to win the second set 25-18 and took it away in the 3rd set: 15-9. BATSUB also won their debut game over Atlantic Bank in 2 sets. They dominated the first set 25-16, but Atlantic Bank’s Jermaine Tillett and

Kyle Miller’s blocking won them points as they and Boisrand Panton and Melissa Vanzie hammered kills on balls set by Shamira Usher and Tanisha Encalada, who also served and volleyed to keep the ball in play.

The Bank squad led in the 2nd set, but the BATSUB team tied the score at 18-18 and won the 2nd set and match 25-22. The competition continues on Thursday, with Atlantic Bank vs.

Belize Telemedia; Brodies-Milo vs First Caribbean and San Cas vs BATSUB. On Saturday, Belize Telemedia takes on BATSUB; First Caribbean takes on Atlantic Bank and Brodies-Milo takes on San Cas.

Ebenezer & St John Vianney boys win primary schools football

The boys of Ebenezer Methodist School, St. Mar y’s Gover nment School and St. John Vianney all enjoyed victories when the Belize City Primary Schools football competition continued at the M.C.C. grounds over the weekend. When the competition began last Tuesday, in Game 1 the Holy Redeemer RC School boys

opened their season on the good foot with a 2-0 win against the St. Martin’s De Porres RC School boys with goals by Charles Forman and Rudolph Belisle.

Also last Tuesday, in Game 2 the Muslim Community School boys posted a 1-0 win against the Ebenezer Methodist School boys with Gilroy

Thomas scoring the winning goal.

On Wednesday the Queen Square Anglican School boys drew 1-1 with the St. John’s Anglican Primar y School boys; Winston Guy scored for St. John’s and Jason Anderson equalized for Queen’s Square. Also on Wednesday the Calvary Temple School boys were a shoo-in for to a 3-0 win when the Buttonwood Bay Nazarene Schoolboys forfeited their scheduled game. In Wednesday’s third game the Queen Street Baptist School boys won 2-0 against the Ephesus 7th Day Adventist School boys on strikes by Stephaun Goff and Denmark Gill.

On Thursday, Winston Guy scored a hat trick as he led the St. John’s Anglican Primar y School boys to their first win 7-0 against the Stella Maris School boys; Jerome Goff, Ornell Williams, Andre Andrewin and Emerson Kelly also scored one goal each.

Also last Thursday the Muslim CommunitySchool boys posted their 2nd win 1-0 against the Belize Elementar y School boys when a BES player deflected a shot by Gary Young in the BES goal. On Friday, the St. John Vianney RC School boys posted their 1st

win 2-1 against the Calvary Temple School boys. Randy Franklin scored the Vianney boys’ 1st g oal, but Kenneth Guerra equalized the score for a 1-1draw at the half time break intermission. In the 2nd half, Shemar Moore scored the winning g oal for St John Vianney’s 2-1 win. On Saturday the St Mary’s Government School boys stomped the St John Vianney boys 3-0 with g oals by Naim Wilson, Tyrel Roches and Sean Young. In Saturday’s 2nd game, the St. Ignatius RC School boys drew 2-2 with the Trinity Methodist School boys. Steven Dillett and Christian Ancona scored for the Nashus’ boys, but Elwin Pollard equalized the score at 2-2 with 2 goals for Trinity Methodist. The Ebenezer Methodist boys won 1-0 against the Wesley Upper School boys with a strike

by Giovanni Broaster. When the competition continued on Tuesday, May 11, the St. John Vianney School boys won 3-0 over the St. Ignatius School boys with goals scored by Brandon Flores, Calvin Reneau and Randy Franklin.

The St. Martin’s De Porres School boys battled to a scoreless draw with the St. John’s Anglican Primary School.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

THE BELIZE TIMES

No Sacred Cows…

By: Mike Rudon Jr. Is that the squealing of pigs in the distance? Hahahaha! I’ve been told it is, since I deliberately haven’t picked up a copy of the Perspective. If I did, I would be forced to play the pious Christian and say – I forgive you all, not because you know not what you do but because you’ve got the ‘open mouth insert bubby’ thing going and life haad out ya! I didn’t feel in a very forgiving frame of mind on Friday, hence the reason (thanks Mayor Moya) no Perspective. But I meant what I wrote last week – this is not about those superb writers (insert snicker here) from the Perspective. And truth be told, I feel a little funny responding to people who don’t have the balls to put their names to what they write. Sad that the one who does have the balls to put her name to her article doesn’t have the mental capacity to match, but hey, you can’t win them all.

Anyway, many years ago in my writing I was accused of having no sacred cows. Remembering that got me to wondering why I’ve been pussyfooting around the issue here instead of getting to the point. Sure as hell there is much more at stake now than when I was writing back then. Anyway, it’s very simple so let me break it down.

In 1998, in 2003 and in 2008 my energies were focused to returning the PUP to power under the leadership of Mr. Musa. Towards the end I wasn’t happy with a lot of the things being done by the leadership of the PUP but I worked for Mr. Musa nevertheless. See, he was the leader of the PUP and our supporters needed us to return the PUP to power. I have the greatest of respect for Mr. Price, but getting closer to 2008 I was forced to disagree with something he said – no man is greater than the Party. Back then I thought that that mantra meant that nobody could disagree with what the leadership of the Party said or did, regardless of what they said or did. That irked me just a bit because I thought that the country and the people should be much, much bigger than the Party. Now I realize that Mr. Price was right – no one man should be bigger than the Party which is owned by all its members across the country - it was just that the Party had been so dominated by two men, Mr. Musa and Mr. Fonseca, that they had become the Party. It wasn’t about the people anymore.

But still I worked to return the PUP to power in 2008, under Mr. Musa as leader. We lost badly and to this day any-

body would be hard pressed to prove to me that Mr. Musa and Mr. Fonseca were not the main players in that defeat. That is my opinion. Things just happened the way they happened, bad decisions were made, wrong things were done and our Party was damned near broken to pieces.

I still never disrespected Mr. Musa. I have held varying opinions of him, but I never disrespected him and I worked for him to the end. The closest I’ve gotten to actually losing my respect for Mr.

Musa is right now. See, when Mr. Musa won leadership back in 1996 I’m sure there were those who didn’t like him, but differences were put aside for the good of the Party and we swept to resounding victory in 1998. So what exactly is going on now? Johnny Briceno won the leadership in 2008 – not by acclamation or underhanded scheming but by an election at which a majority of PUP supporters registered their support for him. So what the hell is the problem?

Mr. Musa has stated repeatedly that he has no wish to vie for power of the PUP again. As far as I’m concerned after 2008 that wouldn’t be an option anyway! So then why haven’t Mr. Musa and Mr. Fonseca applied their very generous resources and experience and wisdom to returning the PUP to power under the new duly elected Leader? Why knows?

Best speculation is that after being in complete control of the Party for 10 years they don’t want to let go. Well, see – that choice isn’t theirs to make either.

The people made that in 2008, remember?

I’m a lot sick and tired of the games.

I’m tired of Mr. Musa claiming that he has nothing to do with the Perspective when most of the players in that maudlin comedy are under his control. If Mr.

26 Musa cared about the PUP, he would use his still considerable power (in that quarter, at least) to put an end to the personal attacks on the leadership. There is not enough space here for me to go into the games being played. But I will say this – I wish that Mr. Musa would use his wiles and resources to help the PUP and the PUP Leader.

Johnny Briceno will not run the PUP the way Mr. Musa did, as a fiefdom with a ruler or two. But that does not make Mr. Briceno weak – far from it. I do not presume to speak for the leader of the PUP, although I can call him a friend the way I never could Mr. Musa.

My leader has earned my respect and loyalty through his character and integrity and for no other reason. I wonder if my friends at the Perspective can say the same of their ‘leader.’ But I say that only to say this – I have come to know something of the man Mr. Briceno is, and he has depleted his supplies of patience and tolerance for petty games. The PUP will move on as the people’s movement, to serve the people. It will do so regardless of the games being played. Mr. Musa and his so-called ‘faction’ have apparently decided that they will not be a part of this people’s movement. That is their choice to make. Que sera sera!

Sunday, May 16, 2010

THE BELIZE TIMES

The Crime March in San Pedro

Last week the San Pedro Town Council and Belize Rural South Area Representative and M i n i s t e r o f To u r i s m M a nu e l Heredia joined the march against crime on Ambergris Caye. The march was the brain child of the different neighborhood watch groups who, time and time again, have been clamoring for something to be done to address the crime situation on the island.

After numerous attempts to find a solution, the watch g roups decided to take to the streets, but the elected officials jumped on the bandwagon to claim fame.

For the neighborhood watch groups to organize themselves as one band and show how disappointed they are with central g over nment and the way they are handling the crime situation is good of them. For the locally e l e c t e d U D P mu n i c i p a l i t y t o join the march is hypocritical.

If they so much desired to do something about addressing the crime problems on the island, they would have done so a long time ago. The truth of the matter is that they have the political power to pressure their central government to adequately address the crime issues. What was shocking to us was to see the senior Cabinet Minister Junior Heredia show up with his face of brass and march.

The elected Cabinet Minister had no shame to march along the very same groups who have been singing to him for months that things are out of control on the island. By his own admission, Junior Heredia said on national radio that “something drastic has to be done to address the crime situation on the island.” So can Junior Heredia tell us what drastic measure his government is taking?

The people have spoken by saying enough is enough and marching through the streets on San Pedro, but the big question now is what’s next?

Showing your tired political face at the march is not enough for us, Junior. Can you tell the people of San Pedro what Cabinet said about the march? You have the time to sit in Cabinet and

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discuss stupid, inconsequential issues; how is it that they have not discussed the crime situation on the most important tourism destination? We are yet to hear the UDP g over nment’s police plan of action for the island when it comes to crime. Where is the 360 degree policing plan for San Pedro, Ambergris Caye?

What is really surprising is that moments after the crime march, Junior was heard saying that him marching had nothing to do with finding solutions. From what we were told, for Junior Heredia it was about claiming fame while at the same time sending a message to his incompetent and lamebrained cabinet colleague, Carlos Pe r d o m o. W hy wo u l d Ju n i o r want to finish Perdomo? Junior’s declaration seems to me like he is stomping a beaten man that is already on the ground. So my next question to Junior is why and on whose order are you sending that message to Perdomo? It is common knowledge that Perdomo is nothing but an excellent example of complete failure, but for senior cabinet ministers to behave like disgruntled lovers is something else.

For Junior to march against crime in San Pedro and claim fame and to send a message to inept Perdomo is shameful. Junior should have taken such issues to Cabinet and pressured his Cabinet colleague and government to take the “drastic actions” which are so clearly necessar y. If Junior stands beside his people as he continuously claims, then do the right thing; tell Perdomo that the people of San Pedro want his resignation and pronto. If Junior has sufficient bolas, then he needs to stop playing footsy with such a delicate situation and do the right thing. The people on Ambergris Caye will not stand and wait until something even more drastic happens for some drastic measures to be implemented. Do it now! Enough is enough, we are tired of Perdomo, Junior and the stack of incompetent UDP fools.

Send your letters to the editor to:

mike_rudon@hotmail.com

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S

PON DI GULLY

D Bafana Bafana World Cup E

By: anthony sylvestre Montevideo is a sprawling port city of over one million people situated on the south coast of Uruguay along the Atlantic Ocean. According to Mercer Human Resource Consulting, in 2007, it provided the highest quality of life in Latin America. But Montevideo is celebrated internationally not only for its opulence. It is in fact the birth place of FIFA World Cup football.

An international football powerhouse at the time, Uruguay hosted and won the first FIFA World Cup which took place in Montevideo in July, 1930.

But the road to Uruguay’s hosting the first FIFA World Cup started eight years

earlier.

In 1924 at the Olympic Football Tournament in Montevideo, Uruguay defeated Switzerland to emerge as the Champion. Four years later, at the Olympic Football Tournament in Amsterdam, Uruguay defeated its South American rival and next door neighbor, Argentina, to repeat as Olympic Football Champs.

But FIFA, which in 1914 had assumed responsibility for the organization of the Olympic Football Tournament, wanted its own tournament of Football World Champion. Its President Jules Rimet was relentless in bringing this dream to a reality. When the FIFA Congress decided on an official FIFA World Championship in May, 1928, the World Cup, as they say, was born. And Uruguay, being the two time Olympic Champions was selected host country.

That first World Cup in Montevideo did not see the participation of as many countries as in recent years; in fact only 13 nations participated in that first World Cup- seven South American, four European and two North American nations. The finals of that World Cup saw a repeat of the 1928 Football Olympics with Uruguay and Argentina clashing and Uruguay emerging as the first World Cup Champs.

Fast forward to the year 2010.

This year, the global phenomenon that is the World Cup is being staged in South Africa- the first time in the Cup’s history that an African nation is hosting it. Thirty two nations in the month of June in South Africa will meet on a football pitch and determine world dominance.

Teams don’t get to play in the World Cup by mere invitation as in 1930. There is the agonizing, dizzying, almost incomprehensible odyssey that each nation (except for the host nation and defending champions) must embark on to secure a slot in this battle of thirty two nations.

We in Belize all know too well how difficult a feat this is, compounded by the tumultuous mad-r—s that continues to take place in our FIFA sanctioned national football association.

There are no countries from the Caribbean in this World Cup. The two countries on the Korean peninsula will be there though. The European teams number the most at thirteen. But there are six African nations in this World Cup, one more than the South American continent.

My sentimental favourite is the host South Africa Bafana Bafana team, donned in their yellow and green jerseys like the Jamaican Reggae Boyz of 1998.

The South African team was expelled from FIFA in 1976 after the Soweto uprisings. But the country was re- admitted into FIFA in 1991 following the end of apartheid and the development of a multi-racial South African Football Association. The nickname Bafana Bafana, which in Zulu means “the Boys”, was then given to the team.

It is no small achievement to host a global event like the World Cup, and South Africa, two decades after apartheid, has done a phenomenal job so far.

They, however, to sustain history and as

Sunday, May 16, 2010 all previous host teams move on to the second round, must jar with perennial favourites France, two time champ Uruguay and Mexico in their Group A matches.

France, Mexico and Uruguay are ranked 10th, 17th and 18th respectively in the FIFA April top 25 ranking list. The South African Bafana Bafana team, however, was not ranked in this list, but two African nations Cameroon and Nigeria were at 19th and 20th respectively. So, it does seem a long shot for the Bafana Bafana team to do well and say, reach the semifinals.

But there is a mystique about the South African Bafana Bafana team. Perhaps the same colossal strength of the South African people that lifted them up from apartheid will power them through their Group A first round matching. And too, the dollar factor is in itself a colossal motivating factor for the Bafana Bafana team. South Africa has invested $5,000,000,000 (3.5 billion British pounds) building stadiums, roads, and public transportation linkages. BBC’s sports editor David Bond reported in his blog on Tuesday that this World Cup will generate more money than any in the history of the event.

All that aside though, there is a certain euphoria and rush football fans across the globe get when the World Cup comes around. Maybe it is the breathtaking extraordinary moves on the football pitch by a Thierry Henry or a Ronaldo (who by the way has the record for the most World Cup goals with 15), or maybe it is just the jaw dropping spectacles of the football stadiums built just for this event that comes around every four years.

Either way, this World Cup gives me a special joy to know that it is being hosted in mother Africa.

One day, just maybe one day, we too will witness our beloved Belize in the World Cup.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

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The Worst of Times‌

Contributed Belizeans just now are being pummeled by the skyrocketing cost of living and sorry to say, there is no sign of relief in sight, particularly from the government of the Prime Minister Honorable Dean Barrow that has done little so far to mitigate the accompanying suffering. In fact, it is expected that the economic conditions in the nation will only get worse and fast, further cutting the purchasing power of the consumers. Without warning on Wednesday, May 5th the price of a gallon of fuel once again went over the dreaded $10 mark.

Now it was only in March 2009 in his Budget presentation that Mr. Barrow himself pledged that he would revise downward the price of a gallon of fuel if it were to cost more than $7. Although the price surpassed that mark before the month was out and has trended upwards since, inching towards historical highs, the consumers have yet to see the promised adjustment. And they should not expect to see one any time soon either as the higher fuel prices make it easier for Mr. Barrow to raise the much needed money to close the more than $60 million budget gap.

The increase at the pumps, however, will surely result in more pain for the consumers. Without a doubt, the higher fuel prices will increase the operating costs, particularly transportation, for the importers, who will pass on the hike to the retailers, who will not absorb

the sharp increase but will pass it on to the consumers, who have already been pinching every cent of their paychecks just to eke out a living and have seen their standards of living fall by the wayside. No one can argue that a simple visit to the grocery store today blows the household budget.

But while the prices of the goods on the shelves and the utilities almost always go up, the already meager salaries of the workers have not kept pace with the crippling cost of living. And perhaps as a result of the manifested inability of Mr. Barrow to balance the Budget, the government, the largest employer in the nation, is more than likely to freeze wages and consequently there will be no cost of living adjustment. That means that all public service officers, including nurses, police officers, soldiers, and teachers, with their fixed

incomes will inch closer to the poverty line.

In effect, the consumers are spending more to survive, but earning the same. This means that they have little or no savings in the banks or credit unions; they can no longer afford to build a house, pay the ever increasing school fees, provide a balanced diet for their families or buy simple treats such as ice cream for their children. Indeed, life in the nation has become “haada� since February 2008. But at the same time, Mr. Barrow is conveniently blaming the crippling cost of living on the global financial crisis without providing any cushioning or solutions.

It is clear that these are not the best of times for regular, hardworking Belizeans, but the same cannot be said for the immediate family of Mr. Barrow and the select few persons who make up the inner circle

of the governing United Democratic Party. High paying contracts to fill public service jobs and perks such as travel to far away exotic lands and late-model sport utility vehicles with unlimited fuel have become the norm for the close relatives and friends of ministers and area representatives, failed politicians, and various wealthy die-hard UDP supporters.

But no one in the UDP has gotten fatter at the public trough than the immediate family, including First Wife Emeritus Lois Young, of Mr. Barrow, who seems unperturbed over the possible abuse of his office and conflicts of interest. His two children, Anwar and Deanne, with Young may now be considered multimillionaires in only two years courtesy of the hardworking tax payers.

Even the prodigal son, the criminal deportee Jamal, who in his music berates Mr. Barrow for siring and abandoning him, has been appointed as a musical ambassador. Imagine that.

But it is unacceptable that Mr. Barrow and his cabinet ministers can employ and obscenely remunerate their children, spouses, parents, and in laws while the average, hardworking Belizean is struggling to survive the crippling cost of living. It is clear that they, who campaigned against cronyism, nepotism, and corruption in government, are making a mockery of the democracy of the nation.

This is a remarkable achievement even for Mr. Barrow, who claims ad nauseum that accountability and transparency are the bedrock of his government.

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Sunday, May 16, 2010

Sunday, May 16, 2010

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BDBA extend condolences to the family and celebrates the Life of Aubrey Lopez

The Belize District Basketball Association would like to extend its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Aubrey Lopez. Aubrey was the captain and team leader for the Belmopan Bandits basketball team which is currently the league leader in the “DigiCell ballin-4-life” Basketball Tournament underway at the Belize City Center.

As testament to Aubrey’s prowess on the court, the below table outlines his stats for the four games played,

These stats are a testament of Aubrey’s life; for he knew when to lead by example as shown by his production in the game against Brothers Habet Berger Boys. He knew when to lead from behind (a skill only possessed by those who God bless and anoints to do his work) as shown against Jamborees. And he knew when to be that firm, reassuring, all encompassing team captain, setting the pace for his teammates to equally share in the sacrifice his team need to get that “w”…this he did against EbonyLake and Black Dynamite.

These four games are but a mere drip in the vast ocean of Aubrey’s illustrious basketball career; but we share them with you to demonstrate that Aubrey was a “big Man” in basketball simply because basketball made a “big Man” out of Aubrey. He would have it no other way.

Off the court and in his professional life Aubrey was an educator, doing God’s work by making men and women of the boys and girls he taught at E.P. Yorke High School. So you must understand why we at the BDBA feel we must all celebrate the life of this great Belizean sportsman, educator, mentor, father, son, friend, team mate. Aubrey was a Senior member of this our basketball family, and he will be dearly missed; he was a “big man mongst wee men” and his star will forever shine in our hearts and minds lest we forget to keep him there.

“R.I.P AUBREY LOPEZ, A SENIOR MEMBA AH WI BASKETBALL FAMLI…GONE BUT WILL NEVAH BE FORGOTTEN….”

706

ANNOUNCEMENT - THANKS The family of the late Horace Walwin Young deeply appreciates the support of all those who supported the family in celebrating his life and mourning their loss. We also thank those who befriended, supported and helped him in his life. It is never possible to list all those who give support but we thank the Methodist Church and the Wesley Community, the Palace Nursing Home and Baptist Memorial Hospital in Miami, the Belize Judiciary, the Members of the Bar Association, members of the Library Association, his many friends, those who attended the services of thanksgiving in Belize and Miami, those who could not attend but whose thoughts were with us, those who sent floral arrangements, cards, called, emailed or texted, or stopped us in the street – we were touched and will never forget.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Audrey Matura-Shepherd, VP Oceana 610-0702

Sunday, May 16, 2010

May 11, 2010

OFFSHORE OIL EXPLORATION IS A DEFINTE “NO” FOR BELIZE Seismic testing and eventual drilling will affect the livelihood of an entire nation and both our fisheries and tourism industry can collapse Oceana is opposed to any offshore drilling in Belizean territorial waters and says all it takes is one spill of the magnitude of the Gulf Oil spill for Belize to lose everything. The recently released map prepared February 2010 by the Geology and Petroleum Department has confirmed previous speculation that massive oil exploration concessions have been granted throughout the country of Belize. This map shows that even the territorial waters of Belize has been divided up amongst eight of the seventeen companies which are grantees of these lease.

Oceana is gravely concerned with the concessions already granted in Belize’s territorial waters especially seeing that they include declared reserves and national parks. A decision of this magnitude that can wipe out our tourism and fishing industry, eliminate our marine food security and devastate the viability of coastal communities, should be a transparent process with input from all social partners and the general public. It is therefore necessary for the Government to promptly explain the rational behind the massive parceling of our marine territory including areas encompassing our reef and atolls.

Oceana’s VP for Belize, Audrey Matura-Shepherd stated that “while we wish for our country to develop and progress we cannot do so to the detriment of our long-term survival. The recent spill in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana has shown us that even a rich and highly advanced country like the great USA is not equipped to handle such disaster, and thus this should teach us to proceed with much caution as one accident ten times less can wipe out our entire coastline and send Belize into an economic depression never seen before.”

In addition Oceana calls on the people of Belize to become more informed and involved in this issue since it will not only affect those living along the coast or near inland wells. The people of this country stand to gain very little from any oil exploration since as the recent disclosure of BNE’s operation and agreements have shown the bulk of the wealth from oil extracted does not remain in Belize.

Belize as a country has not become any richer; nor any more developed as a result of the ongoing oil extraction taking place since the returns do not measure up to the risk taken. This risk is even more grave in our waters because of the ocean currents and the fragility of the marine eco-system.

Oceana calls on the Government of Belize to place a complete halt on all planned offshore exploration and to revoke all leases presently granted on our territorial waters.

(See Map Attached)

Sunday, May 16, 2010

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Sunday, May 16, 2010

THE BELIZE TIMES

The UDP is IMPOTENT on CRIME!

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Perdomo for incompetence.

On Tuesday of this week Mr. Barrow’s office sent out a release stating that - Cabinet is aware and accepts that the crime situation in Belize has reached crisis propor tions, both in ter ms of the increase in violent crime, especially in urban areas, and the lack of confidence in the Police Depar tment created by the rash of incidents in which Police personnel have themselves allegedly acted illegally causing injury to the innocent and in some cases loss of life.

It is unbelievable that only now is Cabinet ready to accept that crime has reached crisis proportions after so much blood has already been shed and the nation is paralyzed by crime. It is also unbelievable that Mr. Barrow’s release confirms what Belizeans have been saying all along – the statistics coming out of the Police Department are bogus. Although the Minister of National Security and his Commissioner of Police maintain that crime has gone down 30%, Mr. Bar row’s release ver y specifically mentions the increase in crime. His release also specifically mentions the lack of confidence in the Police Department.

The Opposition maintains that the release by the Office of the Prime Minister on Tuesday is just a lukewar m response to g rowing public pressure. Nowhere in the release does the Cabinet offer even one concrete suggestion or initiative which it plans to implement to reverse the shocking trend of crime.

The release from the People’s United Party calls for an end to the useless and meaningless babble and an immediate move to decisive action – ‘Belize is fast headed towards a failed state and the Prime Minister and his Cabinet must be held accountable…Government must act now and do so decisively!’

their accounts, some goes to someone else’s account and their names are on their receipt."

Meanwhile, the matter of the status of the completion of the market itself is another question mark for the irate vendors. The new Michael Finnegan Market should be completed within the next 6 months, but that might take a little longer because Singh says the second phase of the project is still awaiting approval from the funding agency, the IDB. And that has led to yet another problem for the vendors. Because of the delay, the owner of the land which they temporarily occupy at Pound Yard, Arun Hotchandani, is asking the

Council to pay up $17, 000 per month for the space. That only translates to one thing - raise the rental of market stalls yet another time. And how much you ask? Well it goes back to the double price of $250 per month.

That doesn’t sit well with the vendors, who claim that they are already barely able to survive on what they make.

At a meeting held at the Commercial Center, the situation got very testy with Minister of Works and Deputy Mayor Philloughby hurling insults at the vendors who dared to protest the increase in fees.

From all appearances and from past experience with the Council, the monies paid in by the vendors may never be found or accounted for. And now they are being asked to pay even

more because of a situation which is completely out of their control.

For whatever reason, the Belize City Council has not been able to complete the new market as promised, and now the vendors will need to pay for their negligence and incompetence.

This situation is reminiscent of the City Council being unable to pick up the garbage in the city, then turning around and charging residents and businesses an increased garbage tax.

The Belize Times predicts that the anger which greeted Minister Martinez and the Deputy Mayor at the Commercial Center will be just the tip of the iceberg if this Belize City Council continues to chance the poor people of Belize.

Ashcroft is no longer cordial.

Mr. Barrow, during a debate in the House of Representative stated that he had received campaign

financial contributions to the Conser vative Party in the UK is but that “he was no friend of Mr. no secret. Whether Ashcroft’s Ashcroft.” influential role in the Cameron Mr. Hague is indeed a friend Administration and his friendship of Mr. Ashcroft and Mr. Ashcroft’s with the new Foreign Secretar y

will influence how Mr. Hague and D ow n i n g S t r e e t i n t e r a c t s w i t h the Prime Minister and this UDP Administration will be something many will watch with interest.

David Cameron is the new Prime Minster of the United Kingdom.

After days of shuttle talks between the Conser vative Par ty with the Liberal Democratic Party and between the Labour Party and the Liberal Democratic Party, a deal was struck which allowed the Conservative leader to be invited to Buckingham Palace by Her Majesty the Queen where he was sworn in as Prime Minister.

The deal that was reached between Mr. Cameron’s Tory Party and Mr. Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democratic Party was reached on Tuesday night after days of talks which resulted in the resignation of Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Mr. Cameron's arrival at Number 1 0 D ow n i n g S t r e e t , t h e o f f i c i a l residence of the British Prime Minister, marks the end of 13 years of Labour rule. The 43 year old Conservative leader is the youngest British prime minister since 1812.

Cameron’s Party won the most seats in last week's general election, but fell short of the 326 seats needed to secure an overall Commons majority, r e s u l t i n g i n a h u n g Pa r l i a m e n t .

After days of talks with the Liberal

Democrats - the UK's third biggest party - a deal was reached which will allow Lib Democrats leader Nick Clegg to assume the office of Deputy Prime Minister and 5 other members of his Party will also be invited to serve in Cameron’s Cabinet.

In a joint press conference in the Downing Street garden, Mr Cameron said the coalition government could mark a "historic and seismic shift" in British politics. He said they had discussed having a minority Conservative government, supported by the Liberal Democrats on key votes but had concluded that was

"uninspiring". Instead the Prime Minister opted to share power with a party with whom the Tories have some fundamental differences.

One of the major differences which had to be dealt with was that of political reform. When pressed by reporters during a joint press conference with Nick Clegg, the Prime Minister, in response to a reporter’s question about his comment that Clegg was a joke, apologised, saying: "If it means swallowing some humble pie, and it means eating some of your words, I can't think of a more excellent diet."

No one knows how long this coalition will hold and how Cameron and Clegg will make it work, since the Liberal Democratic Party is closer to the Labour Party in terms of ideology.

To add to that is the fact that there has not been a coalition government in the United Kingdom since the 1970’s.

Two significant issues that were discussed in this arrangement that may be of interest to Belizeans is an agreement on holding a referendum on political reform and on immigration.

On immigration the agreement is that the government will discuss the possibility of putting a cap on the number of immigrants that will be

allowed into the UK. On political reform the plan is to call for a referendum on an elected House of Lords. The House of Lords is in many ways the equivalent to our Senate and currently its members are appointed.

Here in Belize, in February 2008, a referendum was held to determine if members of the Senate should be elected. Although the motion was carried, the new Prime Minster, Dean Barrow rejected the results and instead amended the Constitution to reconfigure the Senate. Even though the motion to reconfigure the Senate passed through both the House and the Senate, the Prime Minister is yet to institute these changes.

It is noteworthy that two years after the Belizean people decided in a referendum that the Belizean democracy would be better off with an elected senate, a decision denied by this Barrow Administration, the people of the United Kingdom may get to decide if they would prefer to do away with a system of appointments for one where all their legislators are elected.

T he first Cabinet of Prime Minister Cameron is scheduled to meet shortly.

was much more than a teacher. For the students, he was a father figure and a close friend whose life was snatched away far too soon.

Lopez had just borrowed the car Police have impounded, a light blue Nissan Altima, from a friend who works at BTL that night and returned to school where he joked

around with fellow teachers. But it was when he left that he met his awful fate. That car was intercepted near the Queen’s Square Market with blood stains and a .38 Smith and Wesson brand revolver inside.

Three of the occupants escaped towards the Pound Yard Bridge but two others were captured inside the car. They are expected to be charged on Friday with his murder.

Prince Street residents have reported hearing a gunshot and then they observed a light blue Nissan Altima speed off at around 11:30 that night. Lopez’s body was found lying face down with a gunshot wound to the left side of the head.

The Belize Times expresses its deepest condolences to Mayor Simeon Lopez and his wife on the loss of their son.

(Continued from page 1) which have Belizeans living in fear.

As late as Tuesday, the Ministr y of National Security still insisted that major crimes were down by an astounding 30% plus in the first quarter of 2010. Up to this week, the Prime Minister of Belize had also been silent on the issue of crime, saying when pressed only that he feels that his Minister of National Security has been doing the best he can. That hasn’t been good enough for Belizeans who have been increasingly vocal in their demands for the Prime Minister to fire Mr.

More Money Missing…says Singh!

(Continued from page 1) was using a system which is not at all efficient. Singh said "money goes to sundries...I went to check and I couldn’t find out where the money was going...I wasn’t shown no record. All I was told is that sometimes the money goes to sundries. That means they don’t know where the money comes from; if it’s from markets, from liquor license or something so they call it sundries...we were having this problem still of the last two or three months lately. Whenever I go out there I would check the people’s arrears, I would take some of their receipts in and we still have this problem where some of their receipts goes to sundries, some goes to

Ashcroft’s Close Friend... contributions from Lord Ashcroft

(Continued from page 1)

Cameron, new UK Prime Minister

Veteran Teacher & Baller Gunned Down cope with the loss. For them, Lopez (Continued from page 1)

teacher since 1999.

The motive is not yet clear, but cops strongly suspect that the men wanted the car that Lopez was driving in order to carry out some other act of violence or crime. The heart-wrenching news has left the student body and his fellow teachers in a state of shock as they try to

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