Belize Times April 12, 2015

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The Belize Times THE BELIZE TIMES

12 APR

2015

Established 1957

12 APRIL 2015 | ISSUE NO: 4940

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

Santi Quits!!

Barrow’s leadership in jeopardy Pg. 4

Recently re-elected Belize City Mayor Darell Bradley is abandoning the city to seek personal political ambitions. In the course he has caused Santino Castillo to become a lame duck politician who is fading into political darkness

THE COLONIAL BOMB Ministry of Health runs out of Antipsychotic meds!!

Pg. 8

Premium Gas Now $9.30

Pg. 2

by Yasser Musa

Murders in Belize City, Seine Bight, OW and San Ignacio

Jose Jonathan Maderos

Pg. 23

George Richard Maskall

Pg. 23

Luke Palacio Re-elected BNTU President

Ricardo Triminio

Pg. 23

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OPINION OUT Humphreys’ Shameless and Insensitive Actions

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Dear Editor, Kindly allow me an opportunity through this medium to highlight the travesty that occurred in Dangriga and to call on every Dangrigana and all those who support us to unite to take a stand against the senseless political victimization and discrimination against our fellow Dangrigana, Garifuna brothers and sisters.

Wednesday 1st April 2015 marked 28 days since the people of Dangriga elected Francis Humphreys as Mayor of Dangriga. Humphreys who dresses like the Slave Master with his white colonial hat, is being true to his reputation and to the UDP’s shameless policy of UDP first, Belizean second and PUP last. Last week Humphreys demonstrated his lack of respect for his Oath of Office and to the Garifuna Nation by firing in the first instance six (06) Town Council employees. None of six employees committed any infraction except that they are perceived to be PUP and known Garinagu. These brothers and sisters were immediately terminated under the guise of restructuring and redundancy.

The election is over and the time to govern is now. The time to recuperate from all the wounds that were inflicted during the campaign is now. Unity is a collective and social responsibility and should be a priority of the Office

LOCAL 10 Apr

12 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

Ministry of Health runs out of Antipsychotic meds!!

Belize City, April 8, 2015 The health system has been spinning from one crisis to another. Reports from throughout the country indicate that there is a shortage of the important antipsychotic medicine, known as Risperidone, in Belize at this time.

of Mayor. Governance is about finding solutions to the problems of the municipality and not about adding insult to injury. Over the past three years the people of Dangriga, as confirmed by the Prime Minister in his March 2015 Budget Presentation, were punished for exercising their constitutional right to support a political party, in this case, a PUP Municipal Government in the March 2012 elections. Despite the focused punishment by a UDP Central, the PUP Municipal Administration did not fire anyone, not even the known UDP employees.

Now that Dangriga has eaten the poisoned carrot offered by Dean Barrow in his pre-election rally in Orange Walk, it is reasonable expectation that our people shall not be jettisoned out of our home like bad fruits.

Dangriga is blessed with several natural resources that can be used to create viable industries that will enable our people to earn a wage and live in dignity.

Dangriga voted a UDP municipal administration with the hope of getting needed support from Central Government so that we can increase the employment rate and reduce poverty. The Central Government and the Municipal Administration are now aligned; therefore, there should be no need for any further punishment.

Seemingly, under the watchful eyes of the Prime Minister, the Mayor’s prescription for productivity, progress and prosperity is victimization and discrimination against PUP and the Garinagu people of Dangriga.

I call on all the people of Dangriga, (Watina hun sun Dangrigana) and all who support equality and justice to denounce Humphreys’ senseless actions and for us to unite so that together we can take a firm stand against the Mayoral tyrant and any other who may oppress our people. Together we can stop any and all forms of victimization and discrimination. LET US DO THIS MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!!

Aba isieni, Major H. Gilbert Swaso (Ret’d) Former Mayor (2012-2015)

OUT Time to March for Jobs and Poverty Elimination

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Dear Editor, Concerned Belizeans need to consider having an unemployment March in Belize City to show the government that we aren’t happy with a life of endless Poverty.

Despite consecutive Budgets of over a billion dollars, more Belizeans are living in poverty today than 5 years ago. According to the Central Bank figures over 41 of Belizeans are living below the poverty line. That is almost half the population. Despite a billion dollar Budget, in Southside communities like Collet, Port Loyola, and Lake Independence many people have to eat noodles daily to survive, because they can’t find work. With over 12% unemployment over 35,000 Belizean can’t find jobs.

Across the country, thousands of Belizeans including hundreds of single mothers can’t provide for their families because they can’t find employment despite enquiring with all types of business every single day. That’s a fact.

The long list of persons waiting from three o’clock in the morning to see Ministers every Wednesday for assistance with small bills or waiting to get in the food pantry program is an indication of the hardship poor people are going through due to the high unemployment situation across the country.

Just as Antonio Soberanis was courageous to hold various marches to demand jobs for the people in the 1950, today we need people who are bold enough to hold unemployment marches to demand needed jobs and a better way of life for the Belizean people.

Sincerely yours, Gilroy Usher, Sr.

WEATHER 11 Apr

12 Apr

13 Apr

2015

14 Apr

At the moment Government pharmacies are no longer dispensing this medication. Risperidone is available at a few select stores, but they are sold at exorbitant prices.

Risperdone is a Second Generation (atypical) medication with very few side effects and is used to stabilize patients, who suffer from both bi-polar and schizophrenic disorders. While other medication, such as Stalazine, is available, these bring with it many side effects. Patients on Stelazine or a First Generation Anti-Psychotic meds will have many relapses, because they will be unable to deal with the side effects (pyramidal symptoms). As a result sufferers of these debilitating conditions are now walking a tight rope around the country; unable to find the funds to buy Risperidone.

The Government of Belize had been providing Risperdone free of cost at the Government Pharmacies since 2004, thanks to the efforts of former Minister of Health, the Hon. Vildo Marin, but it has now been stopped for unknown reasons.

The Cayo Consumer Organization is now seeking an appointment to meet with Managers at the Ministry of Health to seek to rectify this serious situation.

Experts say that the lack of medication can lead to severe to fatal consequences for patients as they no longer have their medications to bring about homogeneity to their dopaminergic systems. From probability studies, mental patients are not dangerous to society, but are very vulnerable to harming themselves, whenever the inevitable and full blown psychotic symptoms present themselves.

This is another example of how the incompetence of the UDP Government and the Minister of Health Pablo Marin and his CEO Peter Allen can have deadly consequences for the people of Belizean.

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

|

ISSUE NO: 4840

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz

|

$1.00

serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper.

Founder: Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price, People’s United Party Leader Emeritus EDITOR

Alberto Vellos LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams

OFFICE ASSISTANT

Roberto Peyrefitte Printed and Published By TIMES NEWSPAPER LTD. Tel: 671-8385 #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize

15 Apr

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12 APR

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

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4 04

12 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

Santi Quits!!

Barrow’s leadership in jeopardy

Dean Barrow Belize City, April 7, 2015 The United Democratic Party’s (UDP) race in Caribbean Shores is about to take an interesting twist as Area Representative Santino Castillo is planning to call it quits and surrender his Caribbean Shores standard bearer seat to recently re-elected Belize City Mayor Darrel Bradley, according to reliable sources.

Santi, we understand, has been consulting with close political allies ahead of the June 7th convention and his latest position is that he will not ride to victory but fade into political darkness.

Santi has tried his best to insulate Caribbean Shores from a divisive convention

Gaspar Vega and when it became public knowledge that Bradley the upstart newcomer was eyeing his seat, Santi made it publicly known that the party had been advising Bradley to instead focus on the Freetown Constituency which is held by the humble and hardworking PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca. That would not work on the stubborn Mayor, however, and rightly so since he knows he would get the lashing of his lifetime if he had gone that route.

Reports are that the Mayor was adamant about Caribbean Shores and he forced the Party into a deal. He would only run for Mayor in Belize City for a

second term if they opened the gates in Caribbean Shores. The Mayor ran, won and Santi has now been forced to jump back in a race set for June 7th.

Santi was initially up to the challenge. At the March 27th budget debate, he used his official podium to campaign as he asked “Cari-Shores voters to please come out on June 7th which is the day of my convention against Mayor Darrell Bradley and give me your vote of confidence once again”.

He also took another swipe at Bradley’s insistence on a convention so early in his second term, telling residents “You voted him as your mayor and I ask you today to keep him as mayor”.

An attack on Barrow’s Leadership While the Caribbean Shores race is, on the surface, about who will represent the UDP in that constituency, much deeper it is about the fragile leadership of the United Democratic Party.

Little do Belizeans know that the UDP is engaged in a bloody internal power-struggle. On the one side sits UDP Leader Dean Barrow and his advisor Mark Espat and on the other is the UDP’s northern political don, Deputy Leader Gaspar Vega and his advisor, UDP Chairman Alberto August.

Over the past weeks, there has been a sudden jostling of candidates in the UDP. Both UDP contenders Herman Longsworth and Phillip Willoughby for the Albert Division have been told to stand down and give way to Mark Espat-associate Tracy Taegar. It was suspected that Willoughby, who was being sponsored by Gaspar Vega, would have easily defeated Longsworth in a UDP convention. While Willoughby would

2015

still be no challenge for the PUP’s Paul Thompson, the real game is about who controls who in the UDP. UDP Leader Dean Barrow also abruptly announced last week that they will be removing the candidate for Orange Walk South, Juan De Dios, who has shown to be a political featherweight, even though they have not found a replacement. We are told that the UDP candidate was not even duly informed of that decision, but the autocratic move is meant to get rid of another Gaspar Vega ally in the race.

Information to the BELIZE TIMES is that the UDP plans to remove their candidate in Orange Walk South East Ivan Cowo and Orange Walk Central Denny Grijalva – all in a move by Dean Barrow to solidify his leadership. All the UDP candidates who faced and won conventions in the north were heavily financed

by Gaspar Vega, sources say.

The same is taking place in Belize Rural North, where the Gaspar Vega faction is fully behind disgraced Edmond Castro while the Barrow faction has been adamant about holding a convention and allowing Pastor Dwight Tillett to contest.

But in the Caribbean Shores division, Barrow is not getting his way. Darrel Bradley is strongly supported by Gaspar Vega. This support was boosted even more when Barrow publicly said that he was obliged by his longstanding relationship with the Castillo family, to support Santi.

That Santi, even with the Party Leader in his corner, has had to call it quits is a serious indication of Barrow’s leadership in deep trouble.

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12 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

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EDITORIAL What you see if what you get!!

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he unbelievable behaviour of Prime Minister Dean Barrow in rushing through a most egregious law two (2) weeks ago remains the number one concern of all right thinking Belizeans.

How could Mr. Barrow have sunk such low to put himself above the law, above the constitution and above the National Assembly?

Is it sheer arrogance and hubris that he is so all powerful and can do as he pleases? Is it that he is genuinely threatened by the enormity of what he has done since September 2012 in secretly withdrawing almost three hundred million dollars from PetroCaribe fund without any prior approval or compliance with the laws of the land?

Or is it the nature of a person transformed by despotism and power as he seeks a third term?

We think it is all of the above.

We think also that it is the nature of Mr. Barrow to behave as he has. He is what he is.

When Mr. Barrow became Prime Minister in 2008 he immediately set about to weaken the Constitution, which is the supreme law of Belize.

One of his several amendments was to remove the protection from citizens who discovered petroleum and other minerals under their land. They would have no right to go to the Supreme Court for a just compensation when the government took their petroleum and granted it to private corporations.

It was a bold and incredible attack on the rights of citizens. A challenge from Sir Barry Bowen in the courts halted the move.

One wonders why would a Prime Minister, within weeks of being in office, seek such a fundamental change that would serve not the interest of Belize but foreign companies.

The Prime Minister by another amendment successfully removed the security of tenure of judges of the Court of Appeal. This was done to the Justices while they were already lawfully appointed and sitting on cases. The move resulted in nefarious costs the nation with the loss of some of the most erudite Judges in the jurisdiction. President of the Court of Appeal Mottley resigned, keeping no secret as to the reason he felt compelled to leave.

Foreign judges have been virtually handpicked and placed on two year employment contracts in gross

violation of the constitution. Why? There was a proposed new law by which any person could be detained by the police and taken to prison for ninety days without being charged or taken to a court of law. Widespread indignation forced the Prime Minister to back down.

We have seen in just the past few months an almost erratic behaviour by a Prime Minister which brooks no patience with anyone who disagrees with him or holds a different view from him.

The Bar Association had dared to oppose some of his weird interference with the laws, the constitution and the justice system. His approach: attack the Bar Association and in fact break it up by passing a law to that effect.

With the Cane Farmers Association we have seen the same modus operandi. How dare these thousands of cane farmers not agree with the Prime Minister and his clear commitment to the American Sugar Company A.S.R.? His solution: pass a Cane Farmers Law to disseminate the age old caĂąeros association.

The country was left with its collective mouth open when the Prime Minister installed his inexperienced son as the head of the most financially liquid company, B.T.L. This company’s appropriation is the subject of constitutional challenge at the highest appellate court in Caribbean region, namely the Caribbean Court of Justice.

These behaviours are not isolated. They are examples of a deeper flaw for a megalomaniac whose sole ambition is to be the maximum leader.

As an individual Mr. Barrow has a long and sordid past of being a petty, quarrelsome, vindictive human being. Anyone and any institution which presumably get in his way is attacked, crushed and destroyed.

Against this background, this Prime Minister has introduced and rushed through his now infamous piece of legislation, which puts him above all persons and institutions including the House of Representatives and the constitution No one should be surprised that the Prime Minister has given himself such an overriding power to do as he pleases with hundreds of millions of Petrocaribe dollars. These things confirm that this is the type of person who is in charge of our country.

This cannot be allowed to continue.

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12 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

If the Petro-Barrow law is bad… why is it good for the UDP? Belize City, April 8, 2015 Senator Mark Lizarraga, Business Community

Yaya Marin Coleman – Activist

“I don’t even know the details, but the essence that I got made me know this “This Bill is intended to circumvent the reporting requirements established by the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act 2005.

“This Bill will have the effect of vesting in the Cabinet…the ultimate decision as to how funds will be spent and on what, removing all constitutional requirements among others for Parliament to play its role in the authorization of spending.

“This Bill will have the ultimate effect of emasculating and robbing the Belizean public of their right through their duly elected representatives of having a say through parliamentary debate.” – Senate Meeting, March 31, 2015 He Voted NO to the Bill!!

Senator Noel Leslie, Churches

“I believe that this matter could have been brought to the House of representative to be discussed with a plan…these are the things we would like to do, these are the amounts of money we need, to have a plan, and to lay it before the House for debate. We are not allowing the democratic process to be as dynamic as we would like to be.” – Senate Meeting, March 31, 2015 He voted No to the Bill!!

Marvin Mora, President - NTUCB

“…we are clear that we do not support that bill. We wouldn’t have supported that bill.” – April 2, 2015

is not good for us and the way things happens around here, whether we agree or agree not, they will ram it down anyways - you see me. So, we will have to pay for it. This is a loan that we will have to pay for. So, let the record show this is how I choose to show my discontent that I am not with it.” – Protest outside National Assembly, March 27, 2015 Statement by Christian Workers Union “The Christian Workers Union (CWU) denounces the PetroCaribe Loans Act, 2015 as lacking in transparency and

2015

accountability and for its attempt to validate and legalize outright illegal actions that go against the laws of Belize.

“Government’s recent actions reveal the highhandedness with which it abuses the law and exercises its parliamentary power, not to create better governance but to sanction its illegal, unethical and immoral conduct when dealing with the people’s affairs. CWU as a representative entity of the Workers in this country calls on the Government to repeal this Act and to apologize to this nation for the promotion and sanction of the break of our laws.” – Tuesday March 31, 2015

12 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

WOMAN IN THE HOUSE

By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

IN THIS TO MAKE IT!!

T

he long Easter weekend has certainly been a welcome break and a time to rest, recoup, and reflect. I give kudos to all Belizeans who have made the most of the down time, even though many pockets may not have allowed a Cancun or Placencia vacation. I for one agree that relaxation time does not mean that we have to spend loads of money. As a matter of fact when we live within our means, we can do so and not have to worry about paying bills later for activities and trips we really cannot afford.

There are beautiful places in Belize right in our own backyards. The very heavy rains, iguana rains, of the end of March caused the Mayflower

trees to blossom in all their glory by the beginning of April.

On the “Two Cents Cam” conducted by KREM Television’s Yaya Marin (a lady whom I have come to respect greatly for the principled stands she has taken against Governmental and Police excesses and corruption), Belizeans almost to a man and woman knew the exact length of our Barrier Reef. God’s goodness has indeed given this land and sea to us to appreciate and to cherish, with more and more Belizeans doing exactly that by being fully aware of the natural bounty we enjoy. Additionally, it seems that in total we cannot have asked for more beautiful weather conditions for the holiday.

It is no secret that in the People’s United Party we have

recently been through some trying times. We have indeed had to take stock of our present situation in order to re-dedicate ourselves to the work ahead. I believe that with the talented persons we have as our members and leaders, we will be equal to the tasks at hand.

We can feel very proud of our Senators and as well the Senators for the business community and the churches for not supporting the unlawful Petrocaribe Bill that the UDP Government forced through the House of Representatives and Senate with indecent haste and at Budget time. As well, we can feel heartened that Belizeans are not at all fooled by this latest most brazen act of the Barrow government to bypass all the tenets of good governance and the provisions and spirit of the Belize Constitution. Although so many people have become somewhat jaded and cynical about the raw partisan politics, our citizens are still showing a remarkable ability to sift through all the noise in order to discern and understand the reality of government’s most high-handed and flagrant violation of our legislative system and the Rule of Law. As I have said, within the PUP we have taken some body-blows.

In politics, however, as in so many

07 7 other spheres, we must rebound. A month or two is an eternity in political life. The foe is very formidable and focussed on nothing but partisan one-upmanship. The good of the country, in their view, does not even factor into the equation. The needs of the Belizean people, in their view, do not matter at all.

Winning at all costs is, in their view, the only thing of any importance. Shame!!

This is where our Party can seize the opportunities presented. Although our presence in the media is important and must not be underestimated as we bring the message of the PUP to the nation, my assessment is that we need much more to get on the ground, and into the homes to bring our campaign to individual citizens so as to motivate as many voters as possible to place their confidence in us.

It can and it must be done. The Barrow administration has gone past being bad for Belize. It is now a real and present danger for our Belizean freedoms and democracy. We in the PUP have the talents, the work ethic, and the tools to bring about the change. We are definitely in this fight to make it. With detailed focus and hard work we shall prevail.

12 APR THE BELIZE TIMES 0 8 8 2015 US Report raises THE COLONIAL BOMB by yasser musa 8 April 2015 This morning the Government and NICH announced their plan for a national COLONIAL MUSEUM in Belize City.

They proudly announced that $15 million dollars would be blown away on it.

They even had the nerve to print a document saying that such a project will: (a) increase people’s knowledge and appreciation of their colonial heritage, (b) increase their willingness to preserve the heritage and (c) increase their awareness of their self-identity and identity as citizens.

All three objectives are fundamentally flawed and smacks of intellectual arrogance and stupidity. Last year when the Minister of Culture announced that, “the Belize City House of Culture will be transformed and established as the national Colonial Museum of Belize,” I called it retrograde, racist and disturbing and that it is rank disrespect to our resistance heritage.

At today’s announcement they are now calling it the Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation, but that is just a cosmetic joke.

The crowd called NICH must mark

April 8th, 2015 as a celebration of colonial and myopic thinking.

My first line of attack is why aren’t we investing for example in the dilapidated Liberty Hall on Barrack Road and have a proper museum and creative arts center there? Also why are we putting all of the $15 million in Belize City and not $1 in the rest of the country in for cultural development?

My second attack and the one that is more important in my mind is that the $15 million should be invested in people.

We need to invest in developing our musicians, our artists, our writers, our historians, our researchers and our thinkers. We build up self-identity with people not sidewalks.

Nothing has been done at Nohmul since its destruction in 2013.

Nothing has been done by this NICH to advance the teaching of African and Maya History in our school system.

The problem is mental. We need a museum for the mind, the colonial mind.

And now they come with a $15 million BOMB to blow in our face.

alarm over Free Zone activities

Belize City, April 7th, 2015 The United States’ 2015 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) has raised alarm over activities taking place inside Belize’s free zones.

Two free zones operate in Belize’s jurisdiction, one at the Western border and the other at the northern border.

According to the INCSR report, “Belizean officials suspect there is money laundering activity in their two free trade zones, known as commercial free zones (CFZs). The larger of the two, the Corozal Commercial Free Zone, is located on the border with Mexico. The smaller CFZ, the Benque Viejo Free Zone, is located on the western border with Guatemala. The Corozal CFZ was designed to attract Mexican citizens for duty free

shopping; Belizean authorities believe it is heavily involved in trade-based money laundering and the illicit importation of duty free products”.

The business that takes place at the Free zones should be policed by the Financial Intelligence Unit, but the Unit is hampered by a lack of support. The INCSR report notes, “The FIU has a broad mandate and a small staff, and does not have sufficient training or experience in identifying, investigating, reviewing, and analyzing evidence in money laundering cases.

There is limited assistance from other law enforcement agencies, government departments, and regulatory bodies”.

The report which was filed before the U.S. Congress by President Barrack Obama listed Belize as a “Major Illicit Drug Producing, Major Drug-Transit, Major Money Laundering” country.

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12 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES THE BELIZE

2015

Team BelCal’s Justin Williams wins Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic

Belize City, April 4, 2015 Team BelCal’s Justin Williams brought home the garland to Belize when he won the 87th Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic held by the Belize Cycling Federation of Belize on the George Price Highway.

The race was decided in the last 30 miles when the lead breakaway of 11 riders splintered as Weisse and Jimenez-Godinez attacked, and only the Williams’ brothers (Justin and Cory) and David Henderson stayed with them.

This lead breakaway eventually opened a 40minute lead on the next chase group, and Byron Pope and Chris Harkey tried to bridge the gap, but it was too little, too late.

In the last miles into the city, it was Cory Williams on points sweeping the station prizes as his older brother Justin sheltered in the back of the pack conserving his energy

Albert Davis wins Bob Lightburn Holy Saturday Half Marathon Classic

Albert Davis

Juan Bulum

Belize City, April 4, 2015 19 year old St. John’s College Junior College student Albert Davis outlasted and outdid dozens of experienced marathoners as he won the 13.1 mile-long annual Bob Lightburn Holy Saturday Half Marathon Classic in 1:22:52. Davis won 3 trophies, a Brodies’ gift basket & a SMART phone.

Vashty Alarcon who represented the Belize Coast Guard, finished 22nd overall, but was the 1st Female to finish in 1:54:18. She won

Darwin Rhaburn

3 trophies, a Brodies’ gift basket & SMART phone.

2nd Juan Bulum - Belize Coast Guard 1:22:58 3rd/1st 30-39 Category - Darwin Rhaburn - 1:28:42 4th Jamal Galvez - Belize Coast Guard - 1:29:41 5th Deandre Reid - Police 1:30:25 6th/1st 40-49 Category - Joseph Carr – 1:30:31 7th James McFoy - 1:30:55 8th Rondre Lewis – SJCJC 1:32:34.

9th Kevin Salguero - 1:34:05

Scottie Weisse

Justin Williams

for the final sprint. Weisse jumped out first but Justin stuck with him and when Weisse faltered swung out and around him to take the win.

Williams completed the 142.8 mile ride in 5:54:39, 14 minutes over Ryan Bauman’s record set in 2008.

Williams’ prizes included almost $25,000 in cash prizes along with the champion’s garland of roses from Florasol and 5 trophies: the Cycling Federation’s trophy, the Elston Kerr Cup from Jex Trophy.com, a trophy from the Jeffery O’Brien family, the Altreith Smith Memorial trophy from the Smith family and the Ludrick “Buno” Smith Memorial trophy.

Below are the overall results: 2nd Scottie Weisse - Team Starlight of USA (5:54:39) Prizes include $3,400 in finish prizes, plus $4,135 in station prizes 3rd David Henderson Jr. – Team SMART Zoom (5:54:39) Prizes include $2,000 prize & 9 station prizes: $850 4th Yayir de Jesus Jimenez Godinez- Team Cancun (5:54:53) Prizes include $1,000 & 10 station prizes $1,775 5th Cory Williams – Team BelCal

10th/2nd 40-49 Category - Louis Haulze - 1:36:56 11th William Chuc - 1:40:50 12th Franz Vernon - Police - 1:41:50 13th Alex Alvarado - 1:44:28 14th/3rd 40-49 Category - Derrick Castillo - 1:45:19 15th/1st 50-59 Category - Albert Garnette - 1:45:26 16th Leon Bradley - 1:45:46 17th Mervin Hamilton - 1:49:46 18th Anthony “Ladies” Flores Sr. – 1:50:52 – 2nd in 50-59 category 19th Triathlete Anthony Leslie 20th - Registration No.1533 – 1:52:54 21st - Registration No. 1529 – 1:54:12 22nd Vashty Alarcon – Belize Coast Guard - 1:54:18 – 1st Female 23rd/3rd in 50-59 Category – Fernando Galvez – 1:55:50 24th/4th in 40-49 Category – Delton Mariano – 1:54:18 25th/2nd Female Category – Ashontie Carr – Belize High School – 1:57:03 26th Registration No. 1534 – 1:57:04 27th/5th in 40-49 Category - Eton Panton - 1:58:28

David Henderson Jr.

(5:54:53) Prizes include $800 prize & 21 station prizes: $2,950 6th Byron Pope – Team Benny’s Megabytes (6:01:07) –$600 prize 7th Chris Harkey (2003/2004 champ) – Team Starlight – $425 prize 8th Manuel Rodas – Team SMART’s Mexican import - $325 prize 9th Jose Choto – Team C-ray Road Addikz - 6:01:21 - $225 prize 10th/1st Master - Jose Robles- Team Western Spirits’ - $150 prize & $175 prize 11th Rashawn Bahati – Team Belize Link-UP of USA - $100 prize 12th Hector Rangel – Team Benny’s Megabytes - $100 prize 13th Bill Elliston (2005 champ) – $100 prize 14th John Delong - Team Starlight USA- $100 prize 15th Luis Alberto Balam - Team Predators - $100 prize 16th Leroy Cassasola - Team Santino’s - $75 prize 17th Tarique Flowers – Team Benny’s Megabytes - $75 prize 18th Richard Santiago – Team Digicell 4G - $75 prize 19th Shane Vasquez (2006 champ) – Team Western Spirits 20th Guy East – Team Santino’s USA import - $75 prize

28th James Lorenzo - 1:58:44 29th Joseph Sutherland – 2:02:26 30th/6th in 40-49 Category Nicolas Gomez - 2:02:39 31st/3rd Female - Lisa Jones – 2:03:02 32nd Ryan Jones - 2:03:03 33rd Henry Gabb – 2:05:22 34th Andres Grajales – 2:05:49 35th/2nd in 30-39 Category Nerry Waight - 2:06:50 36th/4th Female - Silvia Jacinto - 2:06:56 37th - Registration No. 1512 38th Shawdi Reyes - 2:07:59 – 5th Female 39th/1st in 60-69 Category - Sebastian “Saby” Nunez - 2:08:06 40th Egzine Richardson 2:09:06 – 6th Female 41st Ian Morrison - 2:11:20 42nd Carolina Dominguez – 2:23:00 – 7th Female 43rd Lauren Young – BDF – 2:25:59 – 8th Female 44th Stuart Tucker - 2:25:59.

45th - Registration No. 1508 46th Sahar Vasquez 47th Carmelita Kuylen

12 12 APR APR

Belize sailors train for ISAF World Class Regatta San Pedro, April 6, 2015 Eight young Belizean sailors of the Belize Sailing Association (BzSA) have completed an intensive 10-day training clinic on Laser class sloops conducted by the Sailing Center’s professional sailing Coach Juan Mazzini over the Easter vacation from March 28 – April 6. The clinic was the first step towards an international training course in Antigua, from which the young sailors may possibly qualify to compete in the 2015 ISAF Youth World Championship regatta to be held in Langkawi, Malaysia from December 27, 2015 to January 3, 2016.

The successful candidates were: Antonio Ricardez, 14, Belize City; Christopher Young,15,

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THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES

2015 2015

Corozal; Isaac Ritchie, 15, Placencia; Patrick Rhamdas,15, Placencia; and four from San Pedro: Jerdon Anderson, 15; Jorge Olivarez, 15; Blanca Velasquez,14, and Sarah White, 14.

Prior to this few of the candidates had had little more than a cursory introduction to Lasers on the 6 Lasers scattered around the country; but this situation changed on January 30, when the Belize Sailing Center in San Pedro acquired 10 brand new, race-rigged Laser Radials. With the support of the Association, the training was made available free to the young sailors.

Over the first 5 days, the young people learnt the ropes of making complex sail adjustments

the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) will hold a 5-day Laser Sailing Clinic at the National Sailing Academy from July 14-21, one of five such clinics which will launch the 2015 Youth Worlds Emerging Nations Programme. Those who made the cut were Antonio Ricardez of Belize City who won 1st place, Jerdon Anderson who was 2nd and the current Optimist Class champion – Blanca Velasquez as the Female representative, while Christopher Young will serve as alternate.

using 4 different lines, even in high winds; and for this they needed to be physically fit, as the task requires strength, flexibility and stamina.

Those who could not trim their sail correctly often took a swim as their boat tipped over. After learning the basics, the 8 sailors began competing in 12 races to prove their endurance and skill.

The top 3 sailors won invitations to further training in Antigua; where

Fred Usher Jr. & Sarita Morales win Bob Lightburn 2-mile Belize City, April 4, 2015 Fred Usher Jr. and Sarita Morales won the Bob Lightburn Holy Saturday senior 2-mile run, while Kenroy Hamilton and Ashanti Carr won the Junior 2-mile run from BTL park to S. John’s College Junior College and back on Marine Parade and Princess Margaret Drive in Belize City.

1st Fred Usher - 12:56 2nd Eldon Hamilton - 13:25 3rd Sarita Morales - 15:30 - 1st Female 4th Isela Skeen - 17:36 - 2nd Female 5th Teresita Grajalez - 17:56 – 3rd Female 6th Kyraam Gabourel - 18:24 7th Elena Usher - 19:06 – 4th Female Juniors 1st Kenroy Hamilton - 11:15 2nd Erwin Hamilton - 11:26 3rd Xavier Belgrave - 11:46 4th Xylon Belgrave - 11:51 5th Terrence Usher - 12:04 6th Jaheem Usher - 12:23 7th/1st Female - Ashanti Carr - 12:25 8th Alex Vargas - 16:17 9th Kareem Davis - 16:03 10th Derrick Leslie- 17:07 11th Anthony Flores Jr - 17:24 12th/2nd Female - Keria Davis - 21:15

Sarita Morales

Belize “Jaguars” prepare for Dominican Republic

Fred Usher

San Pedro, April 6, 2015 The Belize Football National Team will meet the Dominican Republic in a two-game homeand-away series starting on June 8th in Round 2 of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, after defeating the Cayman Islands in an away goal advantage.

Very little is known about the Dominican Republic here at home, so we will shed some light on that team. The coach is Jose “El Cheche” Hernandez, a former Colombian football star.

El Cheche has coached football

Ashantie Carr

clubs and national teams since 1998.

Before becoming DR’s head coach, he led the UTC first division team in Peru.

The team is made up of 23 players, but none of international superstardom. There are, however, seven players who are currently playing on international teams.

The DR team ranks 107 on FIFA’s rankings. They played a friendly match against Cuba on March 26th, and lost 3-0. This has made them very nervous as they prepare for Belize’s national team, who has been described by their local sports reports are a team with tremendous potential.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Recipe of the week Belizean Shrimp With Rice Ingredients 1 1/2 lbs. boiled shrimp 4 stalks celery chopped Dash Tabasco sauce 1 lg. onion chopped salt and pepper to taste 1 clove garlic minced 1 tin whole tomatoes 2 cups water 3 tbsps. cooking oil 2 cups rice

Directions: Fry rice, onion, garlic and celery in hot cooking oil. Add tomatoes, seasoning, shrimps, Tabasco sauce and water. Cover tightly and cook slowly for about 50 minutes, or until rice is soft, stir occasionally. Serve on large dish, decorated with pimiento strips.

Makes 6 — 8 servings.

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2015

12 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

POSITIVE VIBES RADIO 90.5FM | 102.9FM Sundays:

6 am Opening Transmission 6am to 7am Inspirational Music 7am to 9am Country Music 9am to 10am De Domingo a Domingo 10 am to 1 pm Repeat of Morning Whip 1pm to 3 pm Rural Talk 3pm DOCUMENTORY (ONLY ON VIBES TV ) ....

CBC CHANNEL 50 OR 60 & CCV CHANNEL 09 3pm to 4pm Music 4pm to 5pm Princess Shirley Talk show Tell Me 5pm to 7pm Reggae Sunday 7pm to10pm Love Bug Show DJ Alex

Mondays :

6:00 am Open transmission 6:10 am Devotion at dawn 6:20 am Children Program rise and shine 7:00 am – 10:00 am Morning Whip 10:00 am – 12 pm Eclectic Storm GMike Reid 12pm to 1 pm Easy listening music 12pm DOCUMENTORY (ONLY ON VIBES TV ) ....

CBC CHANNEL 50 OR 60 & CCV CHANNEL 09

1 pm to 5pm Music with Gerard Coleman 5pm to 7pm Recovery Monday DjPebblz 7pm to 9pm DJ/ALEX

9pm to 6am Repeat of Morning Whip and Overnight Music Playlist

Tuesdays:

6am opening of Transmission 6:20 am Children’s Programme Rise and Shine Boys and Girls 7am to 10 am The Morning Whip 10am to 1pm Music Gerard Coleman 12pm DOCUMENTORY (ONLY ON VIBES TV ) ....

CBC CHANNEL 50 OR 60 & CCV CHANNEL 09

1pm to 4pm Throwback Tuesday Keegan Lord 4pm to 6pm Dj Alex 6pm to 8pm Nice and Easy Tuesday Dj Jesse J 8pm to 9pm Music 9pm to 6am Repeat of the Morning Whip and Overnight Music Playlist

Wednesdays:

6am Opening of Transmission 6:20am Children’s Programme Rise and Shine 7am to 10 am The Morning Whip 10am to 12pm Eclectic Storm GMike Reid

12pm DOCUMENTORY (ONLY ON VIBES TV ) ....

CBC CHANNEL 50 OR 60 & CCV CHANNEL 09 1pm to 4pm Music Gerard Coleman 4pm to 8pm Explosive Musical Showcase DjPebblz 8pm to 9pm Outspoken with Katie Numi Usher and Micah Goodin 9pm to 6am Repeat of the Morning Whip and Overnight Music Playlist

Thursdays:

6am Opening of Transmission 6:20 Children’s Programme Rise and Shine 7am to 10am The Morning Whip 10 am to 3pm Music Gerard Coleman 12pm DOCUMENTORY (ONLY ON VIBES TV ) ....

CBC CHANNEL 50 OR 60 & CCV CHANNEL 09 3pm to 7pm Belizean Full a Talent Show Keegan Lord 7pm to 9pm Love Bug Show Dj Alex 9pm to 6am Repeat of Morning Whip and Overnight Music Playlist

Fridays :

6am Opening of Transmission 6:20 am Children’s Programme 7am to 10am The Morning Whip 10am to 12pm Eclectic Storm GMike Reid 12pm DOCUMENTORY (ONLY ON VIBES TV ) ....

CBC CHANNEL 50 OR 60 & CCV CHANNEL 09

Saturdays :

Jesse J

12pm to 1pm Easy Listening Music 1pm to 3:30 Music Gerard Coleman 3:30pm to 5pmDj Alex 5pm to 10pm Hyperactive Fridays Dj Pebblz and Jesse J 10pm to 6am Repeat of The Morning Whip and Overnight Music Playlist 6am Opening of Transmission 6am to 10am Music Gerard Coleman 10am to 1pm Combination Session Vibes Explosions, Dj Fire, Dj Pebblz and 1pm to 4pm Barbecue Saturdays Keegan Lord 4pm to 6pm Dj Mike and crew

6pm to 10pm Dj Reesh 10pm to 6am Overnight Music Play List

Text 600-1074

Call 650-8429

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12 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

Finally…Jaguar Paw Road Paving Underway!!

2015

UDP Neglects – PUP Works!!

Road repairs in Yo Creek Village

Cayo District, April 7, 2015 After witnessing the road conditions to Jaguar Paw deteriorate for the past years, the paving of the road is finally underway.

Thanks to the persistent lobbying of Area Representative Hon. Julius Espat, Frank’s Eddy community residents and tourism stakeholders the 5 ½ mile road is being paved at a reported value of $4.8 million.

As is expected, the UDP will try to take credit for the work, but it if so then

they must also take credit for failing to maintain the road, and once it had become badly dilapidated, taking three years to give it any attention while they spent millions and millions of dollars on political gimmicks.

Residents have concerned that they will be getting value for money, since the UDP is known to be using the infrastructure project to feed cronies and collect kick-backs to fund their political campaigns.

Yo Creek Village, April 7, 2015 For a long time the Hon. Jose Mai and the village Council have been asking the Ministry of Works to do repairs on Yo Creek village streets. The Ministry of Works has never done so. At the Inauguration of Orange Walk South highway, Hon. Mai spoke personally to the Minister of Works and requested his intervention. The Minister responded that he was unable to repair the streets in Yo Creek because his Ministry did not have money to do so. He referred the Hon. Mai to the Prime Minister.

When the PUP area representative finally made contact with Prime Minister Barrow, the Prime Minister told him that his Government was unable to allocate funds for the repair of streets in Yo Creek.

Hon. Mai did not give up,

however, and his persistence has proved worthy. With assistance of Tiechrob and Sons, the Hon Jose Mai procured fifty (50) loads of crushed material from David Dyck of Blue Creek construction who then provided two dump trucks to transport the crushed material. The total value of the work being done in Yo Creek is $ 5000.

Hon. Jose Mai and the Village Council and the residents of Yo Creek are grateful to Tiechrob and Sons and to David Dyck from Blue Creek Construction for their contribution.

12 APR

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

Rt. Hon. Said Musa’s 2015/2016 Budget Debate Speech March 26th, 2015 San Pedro Ambergris Caye has been described as La Isla Bonita. It is a beautiful island or perhaps more accurately a beautiful peninsula with long stretches of white sandy beaches, protected by the spectacular barrier reef; luxury homes and fabulous hotels and condominiums.

But there is a dark side to this beauty and opulence and that is the back a town areas like San Pedrito and San Mateo. There you will find people, workers living in swamp filth and abject poverty; areas where children have to wade through stinking disease – ridden, mosquito-infested, rat infested dung and garbage on their way to school.

San Pedro has become two towns, one that glitters for the tourists, the other that is a ghetto where hard working families live.

It is a symbol of what the country of Belize is fast becoming.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we may say we are living in one nation: A Belize sovereign and independent.

But in Belize of today our society is deeply fractured. So you may ask what does this have to do with the budget?

I would answer; it has everything to do with the Budget and with the economic policies that the Government pursues. Because in the midst of plenty as the Prime Minister tells us the country is enjoying, the easy money of the Petro-Caribe bonanza, the poor struggling working families are not feeling it. We hear talk of poverty eradication and poverty alleviation. But the truth is that while few well connected well off are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer. There is growing poverty and growing economic and social inequality in our Belize and I don’t see what this budget is doing about it.

Yes, it’s nice to have cement streets. The tourists and motorists love it. But who are the ones who suffer when it rains. It’s the people whose downstairs of their homes get flooded out because of poor planning and no proper drainage.

And what about the hundreds of dilapidated streets that remain abandoned with pot holes? And the thousands of families in rural communities across Belize and the thousands of farmers whose feeder roads are forgotten? And the hundreds of broken up streets and the hundreds of dilapidated shacks people live in right there in the heart of Southside Belize City represented by 6 Ministers in this Government? And the hundreds of unemployed young men and women, some in gangs, most just chilling on the street corner, hope-

less and jobless?

The mothers can get food pantry and boost says the Minister of Social Transformation. That is what a former US Senator Patrick Monaghan once described as “benign neglect” of the poor, the black and the other marginalized minorities. The many mothers who are branded PUP are denied even the crumbs. For them, it’s not even benign neglect. It is nothing.

The second fundamental flaw in this government’s approach to development as illustrated in the budget estimates come out of their reckless and overweening drive for big government spending on infrastructure most of which is non-productive and all of which is unsustainable. They are squeezing out and driving into the ground the small farmers and small business enterprises. The Rice industry in Toledo has already been destroyed. The Onion producers in the north watched as their crops rotted in the fields as the imports flooded the market by a corrupt, incompetent Marketing Board. The only people who are benefitting are the well-connected family related contractors and the few big multi nationals like ASR and the big people like the new owners of Caye Chapel and the Norwegian Cruise Ship owners of Harvest Caye who are getting millions of tax exemptions for many years to come. But that will still not encourage genuine investors who have been scared off by this administration’s penchant for confiscation in the name of nationalization.

It’s not only B.T.L. and B.E.L. What about the hundreds of hard working Belizeans, whose only “sin” in the eyes of these UDP rulers is that they supported or are suspected of supporting the People’s United Party? They have all been punished by seeing their farm lands and house lots, leases and titles cancelled by a callous iron-fisted government. The villagers of Silk Grass are but one example of the cruel abuse perpetrated by a corrupt dictatorial Minister of Natural Resources. The Gazette is filled with notices of leases cancelled and farm lands of poor farmers compulsorily acquired at the whim and fancy of this incompetent Minister that is destroying our agricultural base in Belize.

The PUP had a balanced approach to economic development. Our economic policy was based on the twin pillars of development: Agriculture/ Agro Industry and Tourism and the service sector. This is how we expanded food production for the local market – rice, beans, corn, chicken, meat, fruit and vegetables. This is how we expanded the sugar industry, the citrus industry, banana industry, the papaya and cacao industry, the fish and shrimp industries for the local and foreign markets, to bring in the foreign exchange and create employment in the private sector.

We also promoted the tourist industry in significant ways not only stay over arrivals but also significantly the cruise tourist industry. During the PUP, we saw cruise tourists arrivals increase from 94,000 to 1 million. The new oil industry BNE was an added industry that earned substantial revenues and created hundreds of skilled jobs.

Debt This Administration with its socalled muscular approach has a onetrack economic strategy: Borrow and spend.

When the UDP came into office in 2008 the total external debt of the government was $1.7 billion. Today after 7 years of UDP reckless and unaccountable spending and mismanagement the debt is now $2.7 billion.

This Government has indebted the nation by an additional $1 billion in 7 years. And that is not including the hundreds of millions that the Belize Government will in the not too distant future have to pay as compensation and costs with interest for the takeover of B.T.L. and B.E.L. It took successive governments since independence in 1981 to 2008, 27 years to reach $1.7 billion of debt.

It took the Barrow government 7 years to virtually double the national debt.

The UDP has doubled the so-called super bond.

And to add insult to injury on the very day when he presented his budget on Friday March 13th, the Prime Minister moved through all its stages in one day loans amounting to an additional $142 million.

Petro-Caribe is a Loan that has to be paid back The Prime Minister boasts that he will take full advantage of the Petro-Caribe bonanza, what he called: “This extraordinary opportunity gifted us by Venezuela”. The first thing he should tell the nation and as a responsible leader he should note: This $286 million and counting of Petro-Caribe is not a gift. It may be very generous subsidized fuel to Belize but it is a loan which will have to be paid back.

The second thing is this: because it is highly concessionary and subsidized fuel supplied to Belize, the Government should publicly express thanks and solidarity with the Govern-

ment and people of Venezuela.

The Venezuelan government of President Maduro is presently facing serious economic and political problems.

Mr. Speaker, is our government so mealy mouthed, so compromised by another nation that he is unable to take a principled public stance in support of the democratic right of the Venezuelan government and people to hold free and fair parliamentary elections, due later this year, their right to self-determine their own destiny and sovereignty free from any external intervention or interference? As the leader of a party – the PUP which negotiated the Petro-Caribe initiative in 2005, as the Party in government which secured generous grants from the government of the late President Hugo Chavez for housing, the healthcare to promote the N.H.I. program and to invest and save a hospital, and to assist in the construction of the Marion Jones Stadium, I have no hesitation to publicly express the profound gratitude of the Belizean people to the Government and people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and to further express our solidarity and support to this friendly Latin American nation. And I call on the Prime Minister to do the same.

The Deficit: No Primary Surplus While the Prime Minister can boast of his governments’ muscularity in spending millions of borrowed money, he makes no apology for running up a huge budget deficit of $141 million, over 4% of GDP. The even more disturbing trend is the abject failure of this government to realize a primary surplus. In last year’s budget presentation he said there would be a primary surplus of $37.2 million.

In fact he now confesses that far from being in surplus it will be a primary deficit of $50 million.

When the PUP left office in 2008 there was a primary surplus in the Treasury of over $100 million.

So how does the Prime Minister explain this gross miscalculation and mismanagement of the finances? He blames it on all his Ministers. It’s the political directorate he says. It is indeed. They, all of them, are so desperate to hold on to power and the Prime Minister is so desperate to want a third term that they will continue the spending spree; they will continue with the piñata bursting no matter the mess they will leave behind; and to hell with “statistics, damn statistics”! To hell with the dire consequences of unsustainable spending. The future be Continued on page 16

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Rt. Hon. Said Musa’s 2015/2016 Budget Debate Speech Continued from page 15 damned. They will continue to borrow and spend.

Deficit budgets will continue under the UDP. By their own projections for 2015/2016 in this budget there is a projected financing gap of $174 million. And as for taxes, the Belizean workers and business people should not expect any tax reduction under the UDP. Taxes Have Gone Up In fact according to the budget estimates, the recurrent tax revenue will further increase to $818 million in 2015. In 2010 it was $751 million. So in less than 5 years it has increased by $67 million. Income tax increased to $265 million from $210 million in 2010. That’s an increase of $55 million. GST which was raised to 12.5% by this government is expected to squeeze out another $339 million and is projected to increase further to $356 million in 2017/2018 if the UDP is still around.

You can shout all you like about no new taxes. They may not be new but they have become more burdensome on the people whose purchasing power has been shattered.

Light Bill gone up. Water Bill gone up. Trade license gone up. Food prices gone up. Basic medicines gone up. The poor people can’t tek it no more.

Jobs??

The Prime Minister talks about creating jobs. The infrastructure projects have generated some jobs but for most of the workers these are poorly paid temporary jobs. The ones who are making the millions are the well-connected contractors.

According to the Social Security figures, in the entire 7 UDP years in office only 10,000 were added to the employment roll and that’s in the public and private sector combined.

An estimated 5,000 young persons, graduates of High School and Junior Colleges are in search of a job every year. That’s 35,000 in need of a job over that 7 year period.

The Prime Minister deceptively stated that unemployment fell by 10%. According to the Review of the Economy – a document attached to his own budget presentation, the unemployment rate fell from 12.9% to 11.6% in 2014. That is according to the Statistics Unit of the government – a drop of 1.3%. One percent Mr. Prime Minister. Not 10%. We all know that you are given to histrionics and gross hyperbole. What a monumental deception!

Let me remind this Honourable House that when the PUP left office in 2008 the unemployment rate was down to 8.5%. You still have a long way to go.

Trade Deficit This budget continues with the old UDP policy of squeezing the pro-

ductive sector. With the result that exports are down and imports are up we now have the highest trade deficit for the past 5 years, with a widening trade imbalance of $337 million. Merchandise exports fell to $588 million while merchandise imports rose to $925 million. We are importing and consuming $337 million value of goods more than we are producing and exporting.

Judiciary: Less than 1% In terms of the budget estimates, we note that once again the plea of the third branch of government, the Judiciary, for an increase in budgetary support for the Administration of Justice has fallen on deaf ears. There is no real increase and the Judiciary will receive less than 1% of the budget.

For the operations of the General Registry, the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, the Belize Intellectual Property Office, the Belize Company Registry and the Magistrate Courts all that the government allocated was $8.7 million out of a budget of over $1 Billion.

Similarly for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Auditor General, no increase was budgeted.

What Transparency? What Accountability?

The OAS Committee in charge of seeing to the implementation of the Inter American Convention against Corruption in member states, following a visit to Belize last April recommended to government that it should increase resources to the independent office of the Auditor General. But this too has fallen on deaf ears. The OAS has recommended that the Public Accounts Committee be restructured and that the Integrity Commission be appointed and made functional. But this government has so far done nothing despite their boast about transparency and accountability.

Yes Rolling in Petro-Caribe Under the Ministry of Finance there is an item printed so small you would need a magnifying glass to catch it. But the figures are there.

Between 2012 and 2014 the government paid out the whopping sum of $13.8 million for legal and professional fees. We all know who received those fees. Family lawyers of the Prime Minister.

Health Yet for the National Health Insurance (N.H.I.) even though $1 million was budgeted last year only $250,000.00 was actually spent.

Talking about Health, it is unbelievable the government would cut the hospital medical supplies from $15 million to $9 million. It is any wonder that patients have to find that money to buy most of their medicines and prescription drugs from the private pharmacy.

But we are rolling Petro-Caribe money!

It is a downright shame, that the KHMH does not have a functioning sterilizer in the operating room of the

I.C.U. and patients have to be sent away without getting their surgery. But the Petro-Caribe millions are rolling.

The Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts has been without a functioning air conditioner system for over a year. But the Petro-Caribe millions are rolling.

Far too many young people are still dropping out of school because their parents can’t afford the school fees.

But the Petro-Caribe millions are rolling!

They have spent so far on the Marion Jones stadium $16 million and still can’t finish it. And there is nothing in the budget for the reconstruction of the Belize City Centre. They spent over a million to dismantle the steel structure. Nothing for the Punta Gorda Sport Complex which like the City Centre was demolished and a new one promised as an election ploy in the recent municipal elections. Yet the Prime Minister says his government is rolling in Petro-Caribe millions.

Berger Field is still a deserted wasteland despite the fancy artist conception billboard erected in grand style by the Minister of State for Sports.

Security The Government spent $114 million on National Security in 2014/2015.

Yet Belize still has the inglorious distinction of having one of the highest per capital murder rate in the world.

Belize City has become a killing field for our young people. Families have been crying out for justice for the past 7 years. But so many murders remain unsolved. The resources are going to the GSU to search and arrest for small amounts of weed but the C.I.B. is left weak and underfunded with the result that most investigations for homicide fall apart.

The proposed budget for 2015/2016 for National Security has an increase to $132 million. Will the Coast Guard Forward Base at Hunting Caye which was being built by a Guatemalan company with the approval of the Belize Government be completed now?

What is patently obvious Mr. Speaker is that with all the millions that was voted for the Ministry of National Security last year, crime and violence in Belize continues to rage and our National Security was blatantly breached when the young tourist police Danny Conorquie who was on guard at the Caracol site was executed in cold blood by Guatemalan bandits.

What is also unacceptable is that with all the problems of crime and insecurity in Belize, the Ministry of National Security’s budget was cut back whether through deliberate short-sightedness or gross incompetence in 2014.

Police Training was cut $900,000.

Crime Investigation was cut $700,000.

National Security Intelligence

12 APR

2015

was cut $500,000.

The Defence budget for the BDF was cut $761,000 even though uniforms, boots and equipment are in short supply.

The budget for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for oversees representation will see an increase from $12 million to $15 million.

On the proposed Referendum or Compromis, the government has spent so far $786,933 on public education. In the new budget, however, only the sum of $25,000 is budgeted. It seems clear that government has not received the expected millions they were hoping to get from the international community or is it that they have given up on wanting to take the matter to the I.C.J. Word on the street is that Minister Elrington is gung-ho but the Prime Minister, worried about his third term ambition, is having second thoughts.

While still on the budget we are being told again by the Prime Minister that program budgeting will be fully rolled out in 2015/2016.

But looking at the information supplied so far the so-called program indicators that should tell us the purpose, priorities and planned result of governments’ expenditures for each Ministry and department and agency are non-existent.

It’s all pappyshow. The Prime Minister says he is coming back to the House in 6 months’ time with another budget – a supplementary budget.

What a farce. You can throw this budget book in the garbage.

The government will spend as they like. The figures mean nothing.

In his conclusion to the budget speech, the Prime Minister seems to be reminding himself and the nation that this cycle of economics where the government is rolling in money will not last forever. He is conscious that borrowed money must be repaid.

But yet he cannot resist continuing with the wild spending since he must “take full advantage of the plenteousness of the era”.

Like all Shakespearian tragedies, pride does come before the fall. And the arrogance and the intoxicating effects of the power and money that this party in government is experiencing will induce them to bask in the glory of selfishness and greed to the detriment of the Belizean nation and people.

Yes, the PUP after the disastrous results of the municipal elections is down. But we are not out.

We have been there before.

And just like the wondrous work of nature in the universe when the moon eclipses the rays of the sun there is darkness, it lasts only for a while. A bright sunshine soon returns.

Under the firm, determined and honest leadership of the Honourable Francis Fonseca, with the support of the Belizean people, the PUP will rise again.

12 APR

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

Reid Crossing the tee in Country

By G. Michael Reid From what was considered a mere expedition in 1928, the Annual Cross Country Classic has evolved into what remains the single most prominent sporting event in the country and the region even. We need to get this race placed on the International Cycling Calendar.

That would require of course, raising the bar and opening the race to professional riders which would also mean that our own local boys would have to step up their game considerably.

This year’s winner, 25 year old Justin Williams, the son of well-known and long-time contender Andrew “Caliman” Williams who himself has ridden many but has never won any Cross Country Classics. The elder Williams migrated to the US but has been returning each year religiously to partake in the Cross Country Classic. Williams has three sons who have followed in his footsteps and have taken up the sport of cycling. Champion Justin Williams himself has been riding in races in Belize for over ten years and has continually caught the eye of the racing pundits. This year, admittedly with the aid of some very hard pacing by his younger sibling, Justin was able to capture the coveted crown and make not only his father but Belizeans across the nation happy and proud.

For his efforts, the Champ took home the first place prize of $6,000 along with four trophies and numerous other prizes. A few years ago, someone conceived the idea of giving extra prizes to any homegrown Belizean rider who wins the rac-

for local Belizeans…”.

Caliman must be applauded for the role he has played in influencing and directing the career of this incredible athlete. Belize has reason to be proud of Justin. Does he deserve the incentive prize though, is the question that must be asked. While he is indeed a Belizean, and while he has participated in many races in Belize throughout the years, Justin Williams cannot in reality be considered a homegrown talent.

This then seems to contravene the spirit of the incentive. Having said that however, one would now need to question the wisdom of offering such a prize in the first place!

I have been writing for years that it is time for us to start viewing this Cross Country Classic in the light of say, a Tour de France.

This would mean that we stop expecting that a local rider will win every year and start looking at this race from the perspective of economic benefits. The Tour de France is the world’s most prominent and popular cycling race and has lengthened its reach to extend around the globe. Riders

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man seems humble, approachable and eager to share from his abundance of knowledge and expertise.

Controversy of course, is nothing new to the body politics of cycling in Belize and it is a wonder that this sport has been able to endure all these years. One incident that gnaws at my craw es. The rationale is that the bonus and which I will continue to write prizes would act as an incentive to about until someone takes nothe local riders who are believed tice, is an incident that occurred to have it more difficult than forway back in 1961. At that time, eign riders. As a result of being the races would finish near the the first Belizean to cross the finpound yard bridge and as a child; ish line, Williams also received an I distinctly remember watching additional bonus of $15,000 plus this one particular race. As per a parcel of land. This is where the tradition, we first made the ancontroversy develops. nual trek past the burying ground There is no questioning Wilto Georgie August Meat Shop to liams’ “Belizeaness”, and after watch the riders depart. There watching the garland captured was plenty excitement and shorttoo many years by foreign riders, ly after noon, word came that the most Belizeans readily embraced riders were nearing town. Three their prodigal son. The question riders entered town and there was has been posed however, as to huge roar when one ride, Edward the actual spirit in which the addMiguel, pulled ahead and crossed ed incentive is given. The excuse the finish line alone. Duncan Verusually given for Belizeans not benon and Edward’s brother Arthur ing able to compete with foreign sprinted for second with Vernon riders is that while the foreigners, winning the sprint. Realizing that in particular the professional ridhe had won, Edward threw up his hands in victory, similar to what Justin Williams did this year.

No one can begrudge the Williams brothers Unfortunately, unbeknown to most individutheir good fortune and opportunities but that als and riders even, the in itself would not have made Justin a association of the time had implemented a rule champion. To become a world class athstated that no one lete takes incredible sacrifice, hard work that should take their hands and commitment. off their handlebars. It was a most asinine rule and thank GOD, it has ers, can afford to spend a lot of from as many as 33 countries long been removed from the time training right, resting right compete and the last Frenchman books. Can you imagine howevand eating right, our local boys to win the tour was Bernard Hier, after training all year and ridhold jobs and can only afford partnault. This happened way back ing 140 miles to and fro in what time dedication to the sport. As a in 1985. Yet the French are not was back then even more gruelresult, the incentive was offered concerned since the Tour pumps ing terrain, to be disqualified for and the question is now: “does millions into the French economy such a senseless reason!

Justin Williams meet the criteevery year.

Many believe at that time ria”?

There is something that the that the decision was in symJust a cursory glance at Justin government can do. Let us for inpathy for Duncan Vernon. The Williams’ profile on the internet stance, compare what is allotted in man known as the “Veteran” reveals that this young man is no the budget for new vehicles, fuel, had continuously run into misordinary athlete. His resume is foreign travel and telephone calls fortune and was considered the impressive and his record of winas to what is allotted for sports; most unlucky cyclists of all time. ning big races, even in the interit is pathetic! Local athletes must Nevertheless, regardless of the national cycling arena, is extraorequally share the blame. The bigreason, it was a stupid decision dinary. Justin Williams is, in every gest problem with our local athand one that should be reverse sense of the word, a professionletes is not lack of money or lack at any cost. It would be too late al and was he not a Belizean he of training and certainly no lack of for Edward because unfortunatewould not have been allowed to talent. The biggest problem is a ly he is already deceased, but come anywhere near this race. lack of discipline and commitment. for the sake of integrity and the Many a foreign rider has been No one can begrudge the Williams many cycling fans who rememdenied entrance for qualificabrothers their good fortune and opber, that record must be set tions much less impressive than portunities but that in itself would straight. Edward Miguel should what Justin sports. Interestingly not have made Justin a champion. be given his championship, albeit enough, in an interviewe given to To become a world class athlete posthumously. This is important Channel Five in April of 2004, Calitakes incredible sacrifice, hard because it would move Edward man Williams himself had this to work and commitment. Let us not Miguel into the elite rank of foursay, “…I feel like the competition hate on Justin Williams but let us time Cross Country champions. with the foreigners really too high instead, learn from him. The young He deserves no less!

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12 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES PSL, Ltd. # 62,036 (“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that PSL, Ltd. has been dissolved as at 2nd April, 2015 and has been struck off the Register of International Business Companies.

CITITRUST INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Registered Agent

2015

For Sale

By Order of the Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Transfer of Mortgage made the 1st day of February, 2011, between THE DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION (the Assignor) SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., and ANDREA MICHELLE LORD, which said property was mortgaged by the said ANDREA MICHELLE LORD to the said DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION on the 15th day of October, 2010, and recorded at the Land Titles Register in Deeds Book Volume 32 of 2010 at Folios 579 – 624, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

THE SCHEDULE

Petroleum Services Limited # 17,229 (“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that Petroleum Services Limited has been dissolved as at 2nd April, 2015 and has been struck off the Register of International Business Companies.

CITITRUST INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Registered Agent

IRF Management, Limited # 77,126 (“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that IRF Management, Limited has been dissolved as at 2nd April, 2015 and has been struck off the Register of International Business Companies.

CITITRUST INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Registered Agent

F.R. Limited (formerly Canterra Resources Ltd.) # 9,322 (“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that F.R. Limited (formerly Canterra Resources Ltd.) has been dissolved as at 2nd April, 2015 and has been struck off the Register of International Business Companies.

CITITRUST INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Registered Agent

ALL THOSE Leasehold interest in all that piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 362 situate in the Sandhill Development Project, near Mile 16, Northern Highway, Belize District bounded as follows: on the North for 31.489 metres by Lot No. 341; on the South for 31.489 metres by Lot No. 379; on the East for 29.640 metres by a forty feet Road Reserve and on the West for 29.640 metres by Lot No. 363; containing 933.334 square metres as shown on Entry Plan No. 4844, Register No. 21 at the Office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys, TOGETHER with all Buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 31st day of March, 2015.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

Castillo de San Cristobal S.A. #135,742 (“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102(4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that Castillo de San Cristobal S.A. a) is in dissolution b) commenced dissolution on the 1st day of April, 2015; and c) Lugano Corporate Services Ltd. whose address is 7 New Road, Second Floor, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator of the Company Lugano Corporate Services Ltd. Registered Agent

12 APR

2015

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THE BELIZE TIMES

As BIG as you think you are...

Building on Kut Avenue

Building in Belama Ph. 1

Building on Western Avenue

Building on Euphrates Avenue

Building on Fabers Road

Building on Fabers Road Boots Martinez

Building on C.A. Boulevard

you’re living in a SMALL world

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12 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

SCIENCE & TECH R

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Human cruise control app steers people on their way Electrodes attached to legs can guide people wherever you want them to go via an app. Welcome to the bizarre world of electro-stimulation 2 April 2015 by Hal Hodson For a few days last summer, a handful of students walked through a park behind the University of Hannover in Germany.

Each walked solo, but followed the same route as the others: made the same turns, walked the same distance. This was odd, because none of them knew where they were going.

Instead, their steps were steered from a phone 10 paces behind them, which sent signals via bluetooth to electrodes attached to their legs. These stimulated the students’ muscles, guiding their steps without any conscious effort.

Max Pfeiffer of the University of Hannover was the driver. His project directs electrical current into the students’ sartorius, the longest muscle in the human body, which runs from the inside of the knee to the top of the outer thigh. When it contracts, it pulls the leg out and away from the body. To steer his test subjects left, Pfeiffer would zap their left sartorius, opening their gait and guiding them in that direction.

Pfeiffer hopes his system will free people’s minds up for other things as they navigate the world, allowing them to focus on their conversation or enjoy their surroundings. Tourists could keep their eyes on the sights while being imperceptibly guided around the city.

Acceptance may be the big-

There’s no such thing as a sex drive Misguided notions about our sexual appetites are missing the bigger picture and making people unhappy, says Emily Nagoski

Where are you going? (Image: Ingrid Rasmussen/Plainpicture)

gest problem, although it is possible that the rise of wearable computing might help. Pfeiffer says the electrode’s current causes a tingling sensation that diminishes the more someone uses the system. Volunteers said they were comfortable with the system taking control of their leg muscles, but only if they felt they could take control back.

One of the students compared the feeling to cruise control in a car, where the driver can take control back when they want it. “Changes in direction happened subconsciously,” said another.

Pfeiffer steered students manually, but the plan is to build the mechanism into other apps. Navigation apps, for instance, could steer people along their route automatically, meaning they never have to look at their phone or think about where they are going.

“When I use Google Maps and I navigate somewhere, I am always pulling my mobile out of

my pocket to check,” he says. “We want to remove this step out of the navigation process so you just say ‘I want to go there’, and you end up there.”

The system could also be used to direct crowds, not just individuals. “Imagine visitors to a large sports stadium or theatre being guided to their place, or being evacuated from the stadium in the most efficient way in the case of an emergency,” the team write in a paper that will be presented at the CHI conference in Seoul, South Korea, next week.

Evan Peck of Bucknell University in Pennsylvania says Pfeiffer’s system will stop us being chained to our smartphones. “We’re developing all this really wonderful tech and almost all of it demands our attention,” he says. “We build a navigation system, but then we have to stare at it.”

“Their goal is letting you use your attention on what you want to use it on,” says Peck. “It’s in your hands now.”

3 April 2015 by Alison George Why is there no such thing as a sex drive?

A drive is a motivational system to deal with life-or-death issues, like hunger or being too cold. You’re not going to die if you don’t have sex.

But biologists might say that if you don’t reproduce, that is a form of death Yes. That’s the argument that was used when desire was being added to the way sexual dysfunctions were diagnosed in the 1970s, to justify the framing of sexual desire as a drive. But when it comes to sex, there just isn’t any physical evidence of a drive mechanism.

So what’s going on?

If sex is a drive then desire should be spontaneous, like a hunger. When you see a sexy person or have a stray sexy thought, it activates an internal craving or urge for sex. That’s called “spontaneous desire”. It feels like it comes out of the blue. But there is another way of experiencing desire which is also healthy and normal, called “responsive desire”,where your interest only emerges in response to arousal. So, your partner comes over and starts kissing your neck and you’re like, “oh, right, sex, that’s a good idea”.

Do you think an absence of spontaneous desire is normal?

Yes. If our metaphor for desire is hunger, if you are never hungry for food there will be dire consequences and that’s clearly a disorder, right? That’s a medical problem that needs to be fixed.

But not experiencing spontaneous hunger for sex doesn’t have dire consequences; it is not a medical disorder. I think the reason we expect everyone to have spontaneous desire is because that’s how most men experience it.

What proportion of people experience desire in this way?

Roughly 70 per cent of men typically experience spontaneous desire and something like 10 to 20 per cent of women have spontaneous desire as their primary desire style. But for all of us it depends on the context.

What do you think about drugs being developed to treat the “lack” of spontaneous desire in women?

A drug called Flibanserin has recently been resubmitted to the US Food and Drug Administration, targeted specifically at spontaneous desire. I think its makers genuinely believe spontaneous desire is the only normal way to experience desire. I want us to start thinking of responsive desire as normal and healthy.

But many people who don’t experience spontaneous desire might like to...

Spontaneous desire is totally fun. But you’re not broken just because you’re not experiencing it. Spontaneous desire isn’t necessary for sexual pleasure. Is it more important that people crave sex than it is that they enjoy the sex they’re having? One of the best ways to make your sex life suck is to genuinely believe that the way you’re experiencing sexual desire is dysfunctional.

12 12 APR APR

2015

THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES

REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

El Salvador had more homicides in March than any other single month in a decade, a dark milestone that some attribute to the collapse of a gang truce and one that could mark a trend of greater violence to come.

Data from the National Civil Police show 481 homicides recorded last month, or more than 15 a day. April’s start is no better, with 73 killings reported in the first five days. At this rate, El Salvador is on pace to surpass Honduras as the deadliest peace-time country in the world.

Gang-on-gang violence, as well as attacks on police and Salvadorans in general is spiking in what authorities say is an attempt by gangs to pressure the government

Demonstrators in North Charleston, South Carolina, rally against what they say is a culture of racism among police

to negotiate issues raised as part of a two-year truce that fell apart in 2014. Others see it as a reaction to the new government’s iron-fist approach to the country’s two major gangs, Mara Salvatrucha and 18th Street.

Since taking office in June, President Salvador Sanchez Ceren has openly opposed any negotiations with gangs, which have as many as 70,000 members, according to various estimates, in a country of 6 million inhabitants.

Some 10,000 gang members are in prison.

Sanchez Ceren, a former guerrilla leader during El Salvador’s civil war, sent gang leaders back to maximum-security prisons from the less-restrictive facilities where they were moved just before the truce. His administration also has allowed National Police officers to carry their arms outside of work and advised them to use their weapons without fear in the line of duty or in defense of lives, including their own. Many of the gang attacks have targeted police.

So far this year, gang members have killed 19 police officers, compared to 39 in all of 2014, according to official figures.

“The gangs deliberately want to run up the numbers, deliberately increase the figures to try to pressure, to try to corner the institutions and the entire country,” Mauricio Ramirez Landaverde, director of the National Civil Police, said recently.

A few dozen protesters gathered peacefully Wednesday morning at North Charleston City Hall in South Carolina, less than 24 hours after authorities announced murder charges against a white police officer over the shooting death of an unarmed black man after a traffic stop.

Protesters handed out signs reading “Back turned, don’t shoot,” ‘’Black lives matter” and “Stop racist police terror.” One display included a wood cutout of a man in a hooded sweatshirt with angel wings.

It was originally left at the site of the shooting of Walter Lamer Scott Jr., 50. Prosecutors charge that North Charleston police officer Michael Thomas Slager, 33, murdered Scott.

Slager contended that he felt threatened and that Scott to grab his stun gun.

But a video of the fatal encounter, recorded on a cellphone, shows Scott running away from Slager when the officer opens fire, shooting eight times. Five of the bullets hit Scott, with one piercing the heart.

Scott was the father of four, family members told The New York Times.

Lance Braye, 23, helped arrange the protest for the group Black Lives Matter. “We have to take a stand on stuff like this,” he said. “We can’t just shake our heads at our computer screens.”

Protesters say North Charleston police have a habit of harassing black people for small offenses, such as the broken brake light that led to the traffic stop preceding Scott’s death.

Third of fighters in Yemeni conflict are children, UN agency warns Plight of children also worsened by means of hike in malnutrition and falling school attendance due to violence Almost a third of all fighters aligned with armed groups in strife-torn Yemen are children, a U.N. official said Thursday, with conflict also worsening the plight of young people via increasing malnutrition levels and an expected slump in education.

“We are seeing children in battle, at checkpoints and unfortunately among (those) killed and injured,” Julien Harneis, UNICEF’s representative in Yemen, said during a stop in Geneva.

Staff at the United Nations children’s agency and its partners estimate that around 30 percent of fighters in the armed groups were minors, he said.

In Yemen, it is has been common in recent years for boys to take up arms at ages as young as 14, lured by money and, in many cases, a sense of purpose.

Saudi Arabia, in coordination with a number of Arab Sunni-majority states, began launching airstrikes in Yemen last week in an attempt to rollback territorial gains by Shia rebels it says are backed by Iran.

A family enjoys the water near Brito, on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast, where construction is due to begin soon on a 172-mile canal that will carve through Central America’s largest lake, and rain forests and indigenous communities, before reaching the Caribbean waters at Rio Punta Gorda.

Titanic canal project divides Nicaragua Critics say world’s largest-ever engineering endeavor marks new era of colonization If a shadowy Chinese billionaire has his way, the fishermen’s shacks that dot the shores of Brito, on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast, will soon be barreled over. Waves of multiton trenchers and dredging machines will enter the mouth of the Brito River and churn their way inland before entering Lake Nicaragua, Central America’s largest and most biodiverse reservoir. Then they will slice their way through the rain forests, wetlands and indigenous communities that typify the country’s east, until they reach Rio Punta Gorda, on the Caribbean coast.

Finally, they will have given birth to the 172-mile Nicaragua Interoceanic Grand

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Protesters decry racism after South Carolina officer charged with murder

Homicides in El Salvador reach record levels as gang violence grows Fifteen people killed per day in March, as experts link rising violence to end of government truce with gangs

NEWS

Canal — what has been billed as the largest engineering endeavor in history.

But the project, which critics claim marks a new era of colonialism in Nicaragua, has so far raised eyebrows as much for its secrecy as for its titanic ambitions. More than two years after its announcement, a final exact route for the canal has yet to be pinned down. Very little is known about Wang Jing, the Chinese telecom magnate who has been granted a 50-year concession to build and operate the canal, with the option to extend the concession for 50 years. One has to strain to see signs of construction along the tentative route. And

Nicaraguans are still waiting for a long-promised environmental impact study.

In December in Brito, at a ceremony that has come to epitomize the project’s nebulous history, Wang inaugurated the canal’s construction. But independent journalists and international media were kept away from the event. Wang insisted that all the canal’s problems have been solved but provided no details. Among scores of questions, critics wonder how the Hong Kong Nicaragua Development (HKND) Group, the holding company created by Wang to finance the project, will raise the estimated $50 billion needed to complete the project in five years — a time frame that has been roundly panned as quixotic.

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THINK ABOUT IT OUR DEMOCRACY IS UNDER ATTACK We agree. The recent Petro Caribe/ Dean Barrow law is the worst piece of legislation to be passed since independence.

The intention of the law is worse than the law itself.

The effect of the law is something no true democracy can tolerate.

The Constitutional Opposition has a duty to our country to put out a policy commitment that when it becomes the government it will repeal the law.

The Opposition must also take careful legal advice and say in no uncertain terms that if the Prime Minister broke the law as stated in the amendment to the Finance & Audit Reform Act No. 31 of 2010, then the Prime Minister will be charged for each count of criminal wrong doing.

The amendment to the Finance and Audit Reform Act 2005 which is to be found in Act No. 31 of 2010 says as follows: “Section 24 is amended by adding subsection (2) Subsection (2) “Without prejudice to subsection (1) above, Every person who contravenes, or knowingly permits or suffers any other person to contravene, or instigate any person to contravene, any provision of the Act or any regulation made thereunder, SHALL be guilty of an offence and SHALL be liable on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such fine and term of imprisonment.”

This is the law that frightened the draws off the Prime Minister.

A legal challenge filed in the Supreme Court in 2014 exposing the gross abuses being committed in violation of the Constitution and the Finance and Audit Act, sent the Prime Minister rushing breathlessly into the National Assembly on the 20 November 2014 with a so-called Loan Motion. This Motion attempted to cover the abuse by the Prime Minister who was illegally and criminally using the Petro Caribe funds since September 2012 WITHOUT complying with the Constitution and the Finance and Audit Law. The Prime Minister was taking out millions of Petro Caribe dollars in 2012, 2013, and 2014 without telling the nation or the National Assembly. Neither did he bother to get approval from the National Assembly each time he took out, or borrowed huge millions from the Petro Caribe fund.

Knowing he had blatantly violated the Constitution and the law, the Prime Minister sought to cover his tracks and distract the media and the country by renting a crowd to shout roll out the Petro Caribe dollars.

Despite free breakfast, free dinner and drink and free transportation with pocket money, and pulling out all stops, the aim of getting tens of thousands to support dropped through. Only about six thousand persons attended from all districts and villages. That amounts to a mere average of two hundred U.D.P supporters from each of the thirty one constituencies.

12 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

The problem is the Loan Motion is of no legal value. Someone must have told the Prime Minister the truth, the harsh reality of what his reckless and arrogant use of Petro Caribe monies was leading him to- possible jail and ignominy. We would like to think it is the Attorney General, whose legal position and portfolio responsibility places him as the legal adviser to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. But this is unlikely as he leaves major legal matters to the Prime Minister’s brother, Denys Barrow.

Denys being no fool would have told his brother that no court, no judge could uphold the serial abuse of the Constitution and the Finance and Audit Law. Ergo, the one of its kind, Papa Doc, Mobutu Sese Seko-type law passed recently. Its drafting is the product of desperation by those who are guilty, guilty, and guilty. It is admittance that a loan motion in late 2014 cannot outflank the dastardly deed of the Prime Minister abusing his authority and taking out monies unlawfully since September 2012.

So now a law has been passed to cover all the wrong deeds done since 2012. Unheard of.

But this bad, gangster law goes further. It not only seeks to provide a legal fig leaf for the unlawful behavior of wrongfully and criminally taking out millions without prior approval. The law has a Section 3 which gives the Prime Minister unlimited authority to continue taking out any amounts at any time without any prior approval of the National Assembly.

Such a law is anathema to democracy, to the rule of law, to good governance and to accountability, transparency and proper checks and balances.

The National Assembly has been transformed into a mockery. The Prime Minister has made himself all powerful regarding Petro Caribe millions. Oh what a web we weave when first we set out to deceive.

We must repeat: the Prime Minister has been secretly and possibly criminally removing millions of dollars of Petro Caribe monies since September 2012.

The abominable law, recently passed on a stormy Friday night, to the shame and disgrace of our nation, in seeking to protect the Prime Minister had to list the large number of millions that has disappeared out of Petro Caribe. It is whopping, humongous amount of 286 million dollars.

Two hundred and eighty six million gone from September 2012 up to February 2015. No wonder the Prime Minister has been behaving like someone who ‘knock dem head’.

It’s like the man has his own personal slush fund. Indeed, this is how Mose Hyde described the situation on Krem TV. On learning the real truth of what Mr. Barrow has been doing secretly these past two years. It is nothing short of shocking and despicable coming from no other than Dean Barrow, “Mr. Squeaky clean”. He ain’t been a guest on Mose’s show for quite some time now. We wonder why.

Belizeans have been duped. They’ve been had. They didn’t land on Plymouth Rock. Plymouth Rock landed on them.

That’s what Malcolm X would have said about Mr. Barrow’s unbelievable betray-

al of Belizeans and good governance.

We are in deep doodoo.

We are going up that proverbial creek and we ain’t got no paddle.

All that is necessary for bad people to succeed is for good people to do nothing.

OBAMA IN JAMAICA President of the mightiest nation on Earth, Barack Obama of the USA, is in Jamaica where he will meet with leaders of Caricom.

According to an American government spokesman, one of the issues on the President’s agenda is human rights.

It is not clear whether this is gay rights or the wider issue of governmental and Police abuses against citizens.

CROSS COUNTRY The annual Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic has become an annual heart breaker for Belizeans for years.

Once the proud reminder of our athletes’ stamina, strength and individualism, the race has been taken over by sponsors who import foreign riders to ensure their products take precedence over Belizean pride.

The race should be a Belizean only race. If we want to compete with foreigners let there be a separate race for that.

Secondly, we harbour doubts about the new rules and system of team sport. This ain’t no tour de France race.

We want to see an old fashion test of who is the strongest and the fastest individual Belizean rider.

This year, after all the “foreign competition” which for decades was supposed to be improving our cyclist performance; no record was broken. And a mere 23 to 28 Belizean riders completed the journey out of ninety odd riders.

Sad. COAST GUARD SHOOTS COAST GUARD In a sensational matter, a female coast guard is said to have shot a male coast guard. She was on Tuesday charged in Court for attempted murder.

Speculation, rumors and gossip are swirling all over the place, including social media.

Some consensus seems to be that the female is or was the victim of sexual abuse by male coast guards, one of whom was an American.

In the B.D.F., there have been heavy handed efforts to suppress ongoing complaints of rape and sexual abuse of female soldiers.

Women in these uniformed units deserve better treatment and better protection from male predators and those who have no respect for women, including senior officers who take these complaints lightly, at the Coast Guards and the BDF, both coincidentally trained, equipped and financed by the U.S.A. RAY DAVIS Ray Davis, former public officer who was selected by the trade unions to be the Union Senator has done a very bad thing.

The largest member union in the trade union congress is the public officers union which represents about eight thousand public officers. They know all about accountability and protection of public funds.

2015

The Public Service Union has had a long and noble history of standing up for our country, in particular for worker’s rights and national issues, and against any efforts at appeasement and sell-out when it comes to Guatemala’s claim to our country.

Indeed, in March 1981, the Public Officers Union was at the forefront of opposition to the British proposed “Heads of Agreement” with Guatemala.

Over the years a lower quality of leaders has found their way at the front of the Public Services Union. Having been among those supposedly fighting the former administration for better accountability of public funds and in the Vanguard for the passage of the Finance and Audit Act of 2005, their true colors have finally emerged.

With the arrival of the UDP in government in early 2008 the Public Officers Union went soft. Dylan Reneau has since been exposed as favoring the UDP over the best interests of Public Officers. Then irony of irony, Ray Davis instead of standing up for the Finance and Audit Act, kept silent during the Senate debate on the despicable Dean Barrow despotic law. Then the man refused to vote.

He meekly and sheepishly announced he was abstaining in the “for or against” vote. This is tantamount to selling out the very principle of the public officers union and the trade union congress which has subsequently publicly disagreed with Mr. Davis’ non-vote.

The proper thing for Mr. Davis to do is resign.

If not the member Union must force him out.

NOT ONLY DAVIS The name Ray Davis will now live on in infamy.

When the Union and by extension the country needed men of principle, he sold us out.

Davis is not alone. Rene Villanueva’s radio and TV have been abstaining. So too Channel 7 and the Reporter newspaper. Lois Young Barrow and the bogus Association of Concerned Belizeans, and Michael Young. ROCK and COLA have been strangely silent. The Chamber of Commerce too, although respect is due to Senator Mark Lizarraga. The Council of Churches and the Evangelical Churches are also silent in the face of an attack against the principles of good governance and the oversight role of the National Assembly.

SUBVERTING DEMOCRACY The Petro Caribe millions is being used to subvert the democratic process in Belize.

The Prime Minister, obsessed with getting a third term in government has secretly been misusing the Petro fund in engaging in naked vote buying, bribery and other election shenanigans.

Petro Caribe monies are kept outside the requirements of the Constitution, the spending is in violation of the all-important procedures of public tenders and value for money.

Petro Caribe funds should be for free High School, Sixth Form and University so that the nation can take a quantum leap in its ability to rapidly develop and prosper. The funds should be for top class medical services. The funds should be used for massive job training and apprenticeship programs. Also for huge investment in farming, agriculture and co-operatives.

Instead craziness is going on. And thievery and corruption and cronyism.

12 APR

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Murders in Belize City, Seine Bight, OW and San Ignacio Belize City, April 8, 2015 Despite commemorating the Holy Week in Belize, the number of murders spiked over the last nine days, with homicides in various areas of the country.

Last night, Wednesday April 9th, 25 year old Mark Anthony Rhamdas Jr. and his common law wife, 21 year old Etheline Mejia, were shot as they travelled on a motorcycle through an unnamed alley near Berkeley Street in Belize City when someone fired gunshots at them.

Rhamdas, who resides nearby at #39 Albert Street, was shot on the left side of his chest, while Mejia was shot on her left buttocks.

Rhamdas was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital but did not survive the injury. Me-

jia is receiving treatment and recovering.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday April 7th morning, Placencia Police found the body of 18 year old George Richard Maskall floating in a lagoon behind Seine Bight Village in the Stann Creek District.

Maskall was seen floating facedown in the water. When his body was removed from the lagoon, it was seen in a state of decomposition. An onsite post-mortem was conducted and the results found that the cause of death were stab wounds to the heart by a sharp object.

According to the family of the victim, he was a resident of Belize City who moved to Dangriga in fear that his life was under threatened because he was a witness to a mur-

der.

And while the Placencia Police were able to identify their murder victim, San Ignacio Police authorities have not. They found a male person of Mestizo descent lying in an unconscious state in the Welcome Center area around 1:27 in the morning of April 4th. The person was taken to the hospital and then rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for further treatment, but he died on April 8th.

San Ignacio Police have not been able to identify the person nor has been able to figure out who were behind what was the cause of the attack.

There was another murder in Belize City, which occurred on April 1st. 20 year old Jose Jonathan Maderos was the victim of a grue-

some stabbing murder in which the accused is his step-father 42 year old Patrick Castillo Sr. The incident occurred at #9 Kut Avenue, which turned out to be a bloody mess. Castillo has been charged with murder and Police continue their investigations.

In Orange Walk, businessman 57 year old Ricardo Triminio was the victim of a horrible attack which is believed to have occurred in the wee hours of Tuesday, March 31st.

Triminio was found inside his business establishment, Munchies Snack Shop, with multiple gunshot wounds.

Neighbors have reported that they heard the sounds of gunshot around 2:30 that morning, but did not report the incident to the Police.

Police continue to investigate.

Luke Palacio Re-elected BNTU President Belize City, April 9, 2015 The BELIZE TIMES has learnt that veteran educator, Luke Palacio, was re-elected as the National President of the Belize National Teacher’s Union as the BNTU’s National Convention held today, April 9th, 2015 at the Mount Carmel High School’s Auditorium in Benque Viejo del Carmen.

The news that Palacio, a known fire-brand, is once more the BNTU President is expectedly unwelcome news to the Barrow Administration who was forced after protests in Belmopan to give teachers an overdue salary adjustment, although it ended up being minimal.

Also elected to serve in the BNTU Executive is Mr. George Mejia as Treasurer.

Belize City, April 8, 2015 Before the March 4th elections, fuel prices were dropping like deadweight as the UDP Government pulled all the tricks to sweeten up the electorate.

Back then, just a month ago, Premium gas stumbled to $8.01 while Regular gas was $7.57 and Diesel gas fell to a low $7.21 in Belize City.

But with the election long gone, the Government has resumed its gouging tactics.

Regular fuel is now $8.88 while Premium shot up last week without any notice to consumers to $9.30.

Shame on GOB for hoodwinking voters. You know when the early election is coming when fuel prices begin to drop again.

CARTOON

Premium Gas Now $9.30

24

THE BELIZE TIMES

12 APR

2015